Experienced. Effective. Ready!

In this special episode, I had the honor to have a conversation with Galilea Martinez. Not only is he thriving right now but she is also running for OKCPS School Board District 7. Her passion and dedication is so profound that she is breaking the glass ceiling and keeps aiming higher. We talked about our childhoods, being neighbors and even on what she would do different in our schools if given the chance. I hope you enjoy this episode and you go vote for her on April 7th, 2026. 

Theme song produced by Aura Stella and pixabay.com and edited by Tony Hernandez. 

For more information on this and every episode, contact us at FullOfBrownPodcast@yahoo.com

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Hello everybody, this is Tony Hernandez with the Fool of Brown Podcast. Welcome back. I've missed you. I've I've been off for quite a bit, but I'm back better than ever. I hope. If you are a new fan of the show and you're listening for the first time, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome. I hope you get to stick around for a very long time. If you're an old listener, welcome back. Thank you for sticking around with me and for letting me have the show and be producing episodes for you. I am really grateful, all of you that have been sticking with me now. But today I have a guest, Galilea Martinez. Her and I go way back, actually. We've been friends for a very long time. Not only me and her, but me and her family. I love, love, love her family. We have been close for a very long time. So I was really happy to have her on my show and have her come share with us. Fun fact, she's running for candidacy for Oklahoma City Public Schools, School Board District 7. So I was just really happy to have her here to share her experience. So anyway, I'm rambling. Without further ado, let's all welcome Galeria Martinez from Oklahoma City. So anyway, thank you for being on the show. Yeah, thank you for having me. I'm so excited. I am so happy that you're here. So for people that don't know you, tell them your name and a little bit about yourself.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

Yeah, so I always hate that question.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

I never and you know what? People wrote me saying that, like, it's so awkward. Like, cut that out.

SPEAKER_00 1:46

I'm like, yeah, but no, but you need to introduce yourself. Right.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

And I was like, but they're like, well, you can do it. I'm like, yeah, but I don't want to speak for them. Doesn't it? You know, but if it makes you comfortable, tell them a little bit about yourself.

SPEAKER_00 1:58

Okay. Well, thank you for if it makes me comfortable. I appreciate that. You're welcome. My name is Galilea Martinez. I grew up here on the south side of Oklahoma City. See, now I'm just going on my door knocking, like speech that I do. Is that how you introduce them? Yeah, so I can I can do that too. Whenever I knock on a door, I say, Hi, how are you? And you know, I come in with energy so people can reciprocate it back. And I say, Hi, my name is Galilea Martinez. I grew up here on the southeast side of Oklahoma City, just on the other side of Shields. And I say that in particular because, you know, if you grow up here on the south side, you know that on the other side of Shields, on the other side of the train tracks, you know it's a little bit different than the rest of the south side. It is different. It is different. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:43

And so even the tagging's different.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

Even, yes, thank you. The tagging is different, it is very different. And so I always tell I always tell folks that and they understand then a little bit more of my background and where I grew up just saying that. And then I, you know, I just go based off of, you know, I grew up here in Oklahoma City. I attended Capitol Hill Elementary growing up, and then I went to public charter schools after attending a public elementary school. Where'd you go? I went to Dove. Oh, how was that? It was really good. Yeah, it was very strict. But like really, yeah, but I I liked it because I was in a strict family, so going to strict school just makes sense. You know, you didn't. Yeah, I figured. So I went to Dove Science Academy for middle school, and then for high school, I went to Harding Fine Arts also Academy. But it was really great because I got science integrated curriculum in middle school and then arts integrated curriculum in high school.

SPEAKER_02 3:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:42

So that's also really fun because imagine just learning about trigonometry, but you have to make a rap song about it for your grade, right?

SPEAKER_01 3:51

So you say a rap song?

SPEAKER_00 3:53

A rap song. Like a song. Like you have to create Cardi B rapping. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Really?

SPEAKER_00 3:58

And so I mean, you really get to learn about the sin, cause, and tan in that kind of way for Trig.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

I probably would have learned if I had that.

SPEAKER_00 4:06

Yeah, no, it was really fun. Um, and so that's kind of what I just tell folks, you know, on the doors, and that way they get to learn a little bit more about me. But you know, I grew up as the youngest uh child in my family. I do have a little sister, but you were the longest. I was the youngest. You know, you know this. Yeah. So she came around when I was 14, and I still see myself as the youngest.

SPEAKER_01 4:30

I do too. Not not to disrespect your sister, but I really because for the longest time, like you were the youngest. So I really were.

SPEAKER_00 4:38

Yeah, and I still feel like I am the youngest.

SPEAKER_01 4:39

So I mean, not we're not gonna point her out, but you know, she's older now.

SPEAKER_00 4:44

She is, she's 14.

SPEAKER_01 4:45

Okay, you said it. Okay, I don't want to say yeah, okay. How is that?

SPEAKER_00 4:49

Because that's it's good. It's good. I uh I see her as an only child, and I can see that. You know, we grew up, my four siblings and I, we had a two-parent household growing up, and so my parents are divorced now, and so she lives with my mom, and I see her as an only child. She gets her own room for one. She doesn't have, you know.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Does that make you jealous?

SPEAKER_00 5:13

It does, it does. I didn't get my own room until I was like 17. And even then, I still shared with her.

SPEAKER_01 5:19

And I don't know if you want me to say it or not. I can cut it off. We were neighbors for a long time. So I spent a lot of times in your house.

SPEAKER_00 5:25

Yeah, you know the funniest thing, the memory that just came back is that I'm nervous. No, your sister, I don't know if you remember this, fell on me one time and I broke my collarbone because of it. What? Yes, I don't remember that. Was I there? I don't know. You guys were all fighting on the tree, like you guys were all fighting in the backyard. I don't know. And so it's like a vague memory.

SPEAKER_01 5:49

For security reasons, let's say I was not there.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 5:53

Hopefully, I wasn't there.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

I was really young.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

That sounds very painful, though.

SPEAKER_00 5:57

Yeah, it was.

SPEAKER_01 5:58

Did you hit her back?

SPEAKER_00 5:59

No, because I just started crying.

SPEAKER_01 6:01

Wait, how old are you?

SPEAKER_00 6:02

I had to be like five.

SPEAKER_01 6:04

Oh, you were young, young. Young, young. I would hate her too.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

No, I love her. I love her. I also funny story. My dad sent me a home video that he took of us when we took your sister to California. And I'm bullying her in that video.

SPEAKER_01 6:20

She yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:22

It's so like I feel really bad.

SPEAKER_01 6:25

Do you? I do. I wouldn't.

SPEAKER_00 6:27

I was such a little spoiled brat.

SPEAKER_01 6:29

So yeah, but she was also very um particular.

SPEAKER_00 6:33

No, we love her. We love her. But, anyways, yes, going back, you grew up next to us. Yes. So we had a lot of time together. I mean, I don't remember any of it because I was younger, but I remember seeing your face a lot and your sisters, and you know, she was best friends with my sister, my older sister. So it was really great growing up in a big family for me because I always had someone to hang out with, yeah, or someone to bully me. And it builds character, you know, as the youngest.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Hey, look, you're on this podcast. This is your chance. Go ahead and get even with your siblings. What do you want to say?

SPEAKER_00 7:05

I love them.

SPEAKER_01 7:06

You know what? You're better than me.

SPEAKER_00 7:08

Yeah. I appreciate you. I love them all so much. You know, like I said, they would point at me and say the whole quere llorar, quere llorar, but I hate it. You know, I would cry, unfortunately. But it builds character, it's okay. It really does. It really does.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

You know who comes to my mind all the time? Your dog. My dog. Mugsie. You guys had a dog.

SPEAKER_00 7:28

Muggsy. Muggsy. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:29

What did it call that dog was always in my yard, not a complaint.

SPEAKER_00 7:32

Yeah, he was always in your yard. That's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 7:35

But I I don't know why randomly I'm like, oh, I wonder what happened to that dog. And I don't want to ask.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

Well, he lived a really long life.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

He did, okay. He did.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

And then he uh it got to the point where he couldn't walk anymore. And so we put a math like in the back, you know, like a hammock, and we would stick his little feet through there and just kind of move him around so he could still be around. And then, you know, eventually he just passed away from old age. And it was really sad. I remember that day because it was really cold outside, and my dad made Fernie dig the hole in the backyard, and it was really cold. And so I remember him being really mad because it was freezing.

SPEAKER_01 8:12

Only Fernie though.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:14

Baco could have done it.

SPEAKER_00 8:16

I can't remember where he was, but I remember it was my dad and Fernie back there. Yeah. Yeah. He was a really sweet dog.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

He was a sweet dog. You guys were really good to him. Oh, thank you. Yeah, you guys were a really good family to him.

SPEAKER_00 8:27

He was a little German Shepherd mixed with the Golden Retriever. He just had a lot of energy throughout his life. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

I interrupted your introduction. I'm so sorry.

SPEAKER_00 8:36

Oh no, I forgot. I was introducing the side. South side, sorry.

SPEAKER_01 8:39

You can please shut me up at any time. I talk too much.

SPEAKER_00 8:41

I completely forgot. So yes, I grew up here on the southeast side of Oklahoma City. I've stayed here my whole life. I've had opportunities to leave at this point. I have a career in public service adjacent. So I work in kind of like a consulting side with election administrators now. But before that, I was running political campaigns here in the state of Oklahoma. And I did that all through college. I graduated from OU with a degree in political science and public administration. So I'm doing what I went to school for, right? And that's super fun and I love it. And the reason I got into it was because I was part of a group called Lulac when I was young.

SPEAKER_01 9:20

I've heard of them.

SPEAKER_00 9:23

We need more people.

SPEAKER_01 9:24

I actually wouldn't mind. Okay, I would love to. Yeah, I'll talk to you after this.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

But it's called the League of United Latin American Citizens. And it was a really big part of my life whenever I was 14 and all through high school because it was the first time that it felt like I learned about civics and I learned that we actually have a voice and we can make a change. And that really got me motivated because my parents are undocumented or they were undocumented. I was the only documented person in my family. So I never saw people, you know, using their voice because we were always told, you know, just stay under the radar, don't make noise. If you see a police officer, just look the other way. You know, yeah. And so this was the first time that I was being told, no, use your voice. Your voice is really important and you can actually make a big change. And so I was part of it when I was 14. And then I was taken to their national conference when I was I think again like 14, 15. And then you were young. I was young. Yeah. I was actually surprised my parents let me go.

SPEAKER_01 10:26

That's good though.

SPEAKER_00 10:27

It was good. Yeah. We went to Las Vegas. That was my first conference that I did with them. And our mentor, he he's now passed, but his name is Rey Madrid. He pushed me to run for a national position. And, you know, I was like, that's scary. I've never done anything like that. But he was like, no, go ahead and do it. And so I did it. And then I became the national vice president for the youth for the region. And that opened so many doors for me. I, because I did that, I was now traveling quarterly, going to DC. It opened just my eyes to what a different world looks like, you know. And again, I grew up on the southeast side of Oklahoma City. So I didn't know anything of, you know, what it's Capitol Hill, what is DC, like things like that. So then I went from, you know, being here and then every other month flying alone to Washington, DC at such a young age and, you know, sitting at tables with corporations and making decisions about how they're going to spend their money on the youth nationally for Lulak. And so I was making presentations for like McDonald's and Microsoft and talking to executives. And it was just so eye-opening. And I was like, yeah, this is what I want to do. I went to college for that, but it was also the experience of growing up as you know, with immigrant family. And even though I am documented, it still affected me. And this is the silliest story of how it does. But there was one time growing up where I had saved so much money because I wanted a new iPhone. And it was my first one that I wanted to grab. And you know, it was whenever the color iPhones were coming out.

SPEAKER_01 12:04

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like the physical phone with the color. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:07

So I saved up the money for my first job working at Journeys at Crossroads.

SPEAKER_01 12:13

And Crossroads. Yeah. Oh my God.

SPEAKER_00 12:16

Yeah, that was my first job. It was so fun. I loved it. I saved up the money and I told my dad, you know, let's let's go to the store. I'm ready to buy my own phone. I'll pay for my own line. And he was like, no, Mija, like you need a valid ID. And I don't have a valid ID because you know the laws in Oklahoma, if you're undocumented, you can't have a valid license. And I didn't know that you needed a license to open a phone line, but apparently you do. So he has his phone service with ATT. I beg him and I'm stubborn. So we end up going, and you know, I'm sitting there, bright-eyed, excited. We get to the checkout and they ask for his ID. He hands it to them and it's expired. And so they said, you know, sir, it's expired. We can't use this. And they take us out of the store, and that's it, you know. And so I was so disappointed and disheartened because I was like, What do you mean I can't get a new phone? I like I saved up for this. And I know it's such a silly story, but it's little things like that that it's a reminder of how sometimes when you're undocumented or this world isn't made for you, you're seen as a second-class citizen.

SPEAKER_01 13:20

Yeah, I was gonna say, isn't that sad at all? Because I remember when I was younger, Blockbuster was around.

SPEAKER_00 13:25

Oh, I love it. The one next to McDonald's.

SPEAKER_01 13:27

Yeah, I couldn't get a membership because I didn't have a license. Oh, I'm sorry. And it's little things like that that I don't think people realize how much impact it does have. Little changes here and there, like that actually does shape you to let you know you're not the same.

SPEAKER_00 13:43

Exactly. Forgetting that I am supposed to just introduce myself and I've already gone on some. No, no, no, no, no. This is perfect. Yeah, I think that we'll just we'll just send it there. That's my introduction.

SPEAKER_01 13:54

No, but you know, this is important because people that are gonna be voting, you know, they need to know who you are. And this is part of, you know, I would assume, you know, because I can vote or else, you know, I would, but I would want to vote for somebody that I can feel like I can connect to, you know, that I can trust, that I can feel like we're the same in some areas.

SPEAKER_00 14:15

And I definitely agree. And I think that's one big thing about this race in general that is actually really exciting is that, you know, I know I shouldn't promote my opponent or anything, but I am really excited to see that the both of us grew up in the area, you know, our entire lives. And I think that's really fantastic because before that you would usually see that it's people moving into the district and then just running, whether it's for this race or for a house district or state senate, whatever it may be, usually because this is a safe democratic area. You see a lot of people moving in, running for office, and then they move on with their lives and don't necessarily let the people that have lived here represent the people, you know. So it's exciting, and I love that that's changing, and I love that we're all younger Latinos across Oklahoma City are being motivated to run for office and you know, make exercise their vote. And I think that's a really exciting thing.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

Isn't that awesome? Because I feel like lately more has been more like seen that our community is getting more involved, you know, more interacting with now, if I could say it this way, without a shade of fear now, like even though we're living in these times that are still very maybe even more scary than before, but it feels a little like we're more united now.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

Yeah, no, I definitely agree. And I think a little bit of that comes with the sense of security with documentation, right? And I think the other side of it is the security of education because a lot of us took the advice from our parents that came to this country at a young age and said, you know, you're gonna go to school, you're gonna get a degree, and you're gonna get ahead in life. And I'm seeing that with folks from my generation, you know, I'm 28, and so I'm seeing a lot of younger people being involved too. And I think that's fantastic. And I think it does come with the security of knowing that this is your home and making it yours, and that's beautiful, especially in a state like Oklahoma. Yeah, I think it's amazing to see.

SPEAKER_01 16:13

Yeah, and because when when you mentioned the South Side to me, that feels like home.

SPEAKER_00 16:18

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 16:18

Yeah, when you said, you know, on the other side of the train tracks, I know exactly what you're talking about.

SPEAKER_00 16:23

And when you said Blockbuster, it's like, yeah, it's the one across from the Walgreens, it's closed down now, but you know, right next to the McDonald's. And that's what that was the Sunday routine. We would go pick out a movie and then get our little McDonald's and go watch our movie.

SPEAKER_01 16:37

Which was terrible because you now you can preview previews. Back then, you just got the movie hoping it was a good movie, and then if it wasn't, you just wasted your money.

SPEAKER_00 16:45

Yes, but regardless, and then you would wait till next week, right, and then you could go get another movie then.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

And make sure you rewind the video tape. Oh my gosh. If you did not, you get a fee.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

Yes, I I you do remember that. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:57

I remember we specifically bought like one of those cassette rewinders, so we wouldn't get fees.

SPEAKER_00 17:01

That's so funny. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 17:02

I mean, I don't even know how eventually I got a blockbuster card. I think my friend got it for me, but no, I love it.

SPEAKER_00 17:08

And I will say that's something that I miss is the physicality of things as well. You know, everything is a subscription nowadays, and that's a whole tangent for another time too. A whole ray I can go on about capitalism and private equity, but we'll save that for a while.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

Oh, I want to hear.

SPEAKER_00 17:22

Oh my gosh, I have so many ideas, but I will say that also does kind of feed into our school board race because I don't know if you've noticed, but so to talk a little bit about the district, it's Oklahoma City Public School Board District 7, and that's South Central and Southeast Oklahoma City. And the schools, the high schools in there are Capitol Hill High School and Southeast High School. So all of the elementaries and middle schools feed into those two high schools. Okay. And Southeast High School is an application school, so not every student, yes, still, so not every student has the opportunity to go to Southeast, which means that Capitol Hill High School is really truly our only like real public school in the district where it accepts anyone, regardless of your grades, background, what have you. But they're getting a new school building.

SPEAKER_01 18:14

I saw that.

SPEAKER_00 18:15

Yeah, and it's really exciting. It's coming from some tax bonds that were voted on in 2022 by the public.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

And so it's looking really good.

SPEAKER_00 18:23

It's so pretty. I've only passed by it, but you know, one of these days I'm hoping I can go.

SPEAKER_01 18:28

Because I went to Capitol Hill.

SPEAKER_00 18:29

Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 18:31

Yeah, I would have graduated from there. That's another story. I don't want to get mad. I I went I'll do I'll say it briefly. I went to Grant for junior year. Yeah. And I didn't like it. I went back to South Capitol Hill, and it turns out that at Grant they gave me all the wrong classes junior year. So I had to do junior and senior year and senior year. So they're like, if you want to graduate with in time, and I made that a goal. I'm like, I want to graduate the year that I'm supposed to. Yeah. I had to go to Santa Fe South to take classes at night, and then so I could graduate on time.

SPEAKER_00 19:01

That's so hard to do.

SPEAKER_01 19:03

That was really hard. I lost hair. I lost hair. I had bugs. It's funny now, but I remember the day that I graduated, like I looked at myself in the mirror and I cried because I was so proud of myself that I I did it. Wow, that's really but I would have graduated from Capitol Hill if I had the chance. I wanted to graduate from there.

SPEAKER_00 19:28

That's genuinely so insane that you were taking the wrong classes.

SPEAKER_01 19:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:33

This is why we need good people in our public system.

SPEAKER_01 19:38

People, somebody should have noticed.

SPEAKER_00 19:39

Somebody should have noticed.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

Yes. I agree.

SPEAKER_00 19:42

I definitely agree. There, I mean, the your school board representative would have noticed it, but somebody should have noticed, and the system should have been in place so that that would have would not have happened.

SPEAKER_01 19:52

Right. But nobody should have had you back then.

SPEAKER_00 19:54

You know, I do too. No, but they're getting a new school building, and it's really exciting. And the reason I connected to private equity is because they're getting a new career and technology center being put in all the high schools. And in Capitol Hill, they're focusing a lot on construction, culinary, hospitality.

SPEAKER_02 20:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 20:17

Uh, I know I made that face too when I first thought about it. But then I thought about it a little bit deeper, which is, you know, in this age of AI and this age of private equity, right? And the rise of capitalism, it's getting a little bit harder and harder to ensure job security. I'm sure we've all been there, right? You know, AI is taking over jobs and you know, it's it's just getting it's just getting harder. And so at first, a lot of the conversations that they had on the school board whenever they introduced the kind of skills that they would have at Capitol Hill were surrounded about race. And rather if we were, you know, making them laborers because the population there, the demographic is very Hispanic heavy. And I was like, okay, maybe this is where the conversation is going. But the way I think about it is also we're supplying the skill sets that a lot of our students can have immediately after graduating high school. Okay. And I'm hoping that we can pair it with a lot of business operational sides too. So that way then they have the ability, the skill set to do the labor, but also the ability to pair that with a business certificate. So that way they're starting businesses here on the south side, staying here, and then helping their families get ahead, right? Okay, yeah. So that's the way I see it. And those are the kind of questions I would ask if I was on the school board. Yeah, because I think it's a little short sighted even to think about race here, because I think the people that are setting these motions into plan, I think they're coming at it from a good point. And when you think about it in terms of, you know, private equity and the rise of AI, you know, I don't know if you know this, but private equity firms are going. Around the country and buying up mom and pop shops for, you know, smaller things like um, you know, HVACs and you know things like that. Or like, you know. So I think this is a good way to kind of combat that as well and also prepare our students as they're going through it.

SPEAKER_02 22:15

Right.

SPEAKER_00 22:15

And I know it's working because I run with students with this organization called Course for Change. And one of our students goes to Capitol Hill High School, and I was talking with her about her plans post-graduation. So she's a junior now, and she was telling me that she plays soccer, and she wasn't sure if she wants to continue playing soccer into college. And I was like, well, it's a really great way to get a scholarship, you know, and get funded. But then she was telling me that she's also going through a business certificate program with MetroTech right now. Oh, and it's paired with the culinary skills segment of the career and technology that they're hoping to bring into Capitol Hill. Oh, gosh. And so she was telling me that she also feels prepared to start her own food truck already and start her business. That's where she was like, I don't know if I want to go to college or if I just want to open a business. I was like, wait, that's actually really exciting to hear because this is exactly the kind of programs that they're hoping to continue on and evolve in. I I mean, I want all of our kids to go get four-year degrees, right? Because I really do think education is life-changing. But I also know that having that independence at such a young age and already thinking about the possibilities of ownership is huge. So I am just fascinated by these kids. And I think, you know, being on the school board gives you that ability to kind of have the choice for your district as to what kind of opportunities are you going to present, not only to them, but really all of the kids in Oklahoma City. And the decisions that you make today are truly going to last for a generation or two.

SPEAKER_02 23:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:51

Because these facilities that are being built will be around for the next hundred years. And so it's really important that we're considering so many, you know, different opportunities, but also thinking about it holistically and not being stuck on the race or you know, the demographics of it. I think it's gonna just continue to evolve, but rather really thinking about it from all points and also thinking ahead so that way our students are prepared whenever, you know, AI does continue to rise, or you know, whenever we are continuing to think about it holistically, asked you, you know, where we're headed as a student.

SPEAKER_01 24:27

Right, or whatever changes we're about to face beyond that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, exactly. Okay, I'm gonna ask you a dumb question.

SPEAKER_00 24:33

Yeah, there are no dumb questions, by the way.

SPEAKER_01 24:36

If you could tell us, the listeners and myself the anatomy of the position you're running for, that way we can understand what that position means.

SPEAKER_00 24:47

Yes, this is such a good question. And I love the way that you framed it as the anatomy because government really truly is a body, right? Um, so I would say for your school board, local school board, it ensures that your superintendent is staying accountable to the goals that they've set. And so you're supposed to be focused on student outcomes. And I say supposed to be because a lot of school boards focus on adult problems instead of student problems, and they center adults rather than well, just like the teachers, the children, you know, it's like holistically all adults. Gotcha. But I will say Oklahoma City Public Schools is currently part of an association that is reframing the way that they write their metrics and their goals. So it's really fun to see how they're now thinking about student issues instead of adult issues and how they're framing their metrics and their goals around it. I attended one of their trainings that they did. It was three hours long, but it was I know, I know, but it was also really fun to see how yeah, it was just really fun to see how we can reframe our thinking to ensure student success is always centered.

SPEAKER_02 26:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:00

But to to to you answer your question about where it lives, you know, in the body, you do have your state superintendent, and they're the ones that set a lot of the goals and metrics for the state.

SPEAKER_01 26:12

So you would be above them.

SPEAKER_00 26:14

No, I would under them. Under them, yes, and then you also have your your secretary of education for the state. And then they kind of set the policies and procedures for everyone across Oklahoma, and then you also have your national, you know, and they set those national standards of where our children should be. And so nationally tells the state, the state then takes that and then tells all the different counties and cities how they should achieve the goals that have been set.

SPEAKER_02 26:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 26:44

And so then your school board takes that and they ensure that the superintendent is meeting those goals, but also doing so in a way that is effective for the children in the jurisdiction that they're responsible for.

SPEAKER_01 26:58

It sounds like a lot of work.

SPEAKER_00 26:59

It is actually a lot of work.

SPEAKER_01 27:01

Yeah. But you don't once you hear like the way it's clustered, like webbed, yeah. It sounds like a lot of work.

SPEAKER_00 27:08

I will say though, you don't, it's not like a flashy position. And I think that's part of the problem with the apathy that has been going on in education in the state in general. I'm sure you know we're 51st in education as it is. Yeah. Um, and we've been in this position for quite a while. I mean, we've been teetering between the three to five lowest spots for I want to say almost the last five years, if not more. And I believe a lot of it is because of apathy. You know, the school board, especially here in Oklahoma City, you get paid$25 per meeting, and the most you can get paid is$100 a month. So it's not flashy. Um you're meeting on Mondays at 5 30 p.m. And the meetings can sometimes go on for four to five to six hours. So it is a really big commitment for really any person to do. But the decisions that you make, again, you're overseeing the budget, you're, you know, ensuring that the superintendent is doing what they said they're going to do. You're making big decisions about, you know, different schools that are asking for authorization to, you know, become part of the district. And it is really impactful, but because of the the constraints and because it's not flashy, we have a lot of folks that are just appointed instead of elected. These are elected positions. But since no one signs up, there's not a real competition. And they just appoint someone. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:36

So then they don't do a good job. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:38

They so then they don't really have that accountability or transparency to the voter or to you know their constituency just as it is. But that's why I'm really excited for this race, too. It's the first time that we have a race in district seven in over a decade, which is huge. Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:56

I am so proud of you.

SPEAKER_00 28:58

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 28:58

I'm very happy and very proud of you. Thank you. Because if anybody can do it, it's you have heart.

SPEAKER_00 29:03

I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_01 29:04

It needs somebody that I'm just so excited for our kids. But that's what it that's that's what that position needs. Yes, you know, because I mean, if you grew up in the south side, because we have listeners from everywhere, but here in Oklahoma City, the South Side, we're known to be the troubled area. We're known to be, you know, but there's so much hidden talent, there's so much hidden, you know, so many smart individuals that just need that one person to believe in them. Yeah. Which leads me to my next question, if I can. Yeah. Is there anybody in your life that influenced you like in school?

SPEAKER_00 29:34

Oh my gosh, that's such a good question. So, yeah, so I want to say something real quick to what you mentioned is the talent part is yes. And I think that's why I'm really excited for this race too, because it even with again, I shouldn't be mentioning who I'm running against, but even then, like it shows the depth of the South Side and that there's so much talent here. And it's such a beautiful thing to see that you can have two people that grew up from the same area and you know, have now graduated with their degrees, and it's like that talent and that depth exist and the potential is there. We just have to continue to invest in it. Yeah, and so I am super excited to see that. I'm super excited that the voters are being connected with and people, you know, the South Side is being talked about, and that is amazing and lovely. But to answer your second question about who's helped out, oh my goodness, I have had so many mentors in my life, and this is also a big part of why I'm running and what I'm hoping to establish if elected is more mentorship programs, more adults and young people's lives. Again, my parents came here undocumented, they never finished middle school, and so they didn't necessarily know how to navigate, you know, going into college or navigate high school. My dad, for him, it was always just go and get a job. Like, what are you doing applying to all of these different scholarships and programs? And why are you always so engaged in things in high school? And for my mom, it was like, no, like go to school, that's why we came here. You're going to go to four-year college, you know. And so they made sure that we always had adults in our lives that were putting us on the right path.

SPEAKER_02 31:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:09

And so for me, that came through again, through that organization, Lulac. Again, it was people like Rey Madrid who ensured that he was always pushing me to do things I was uncomfortable with, like speaking in public and fundraising. He would literally drop us like a van of kids of five, seven kids. He would just drop us off in like middle of Southside and say, okay, you guys are all gonna go to a restaurant and you all have a goal of raising a hundred dollars and you're gonna go out and get that money. And we would go and talk about the organization and you know, fundraise for you know, whatever our programming was for that year. And it's scary to do, but we we did it, you know. And so it's people like that that just never gave up on us and ensured that we were always on the right path. For me, for you know, getting involved in more of the politics side of it too. I um this is a little juicy, but I actually I got kicked out of Lulac when I was in high school too. What? Yeah, I uh it's it's also part of it, right? I I um didn't necessarily align with some I can't remember, but it was some decision that one of the mentors wanted us to do, especially me at the national level, because I was on that position and I didn't agree with it, so I didn't push for it and I told them no, and I said, I'm actually going to go for opposition here, and I think that's okay. And because of that, they kicked me out, and I think, you know, looking back on it, I'm like, I was just a child.

SPEAKER_01 32:42

But does it did it make sense though?

SPEAKER_00 32:43

It did not make sense, okay. It did not make sense, and I removed myself really because they they put me in a room and they said, you know, it's either you stay or I go as like the mentor that was in charge of our group. And I said, Well, I know our group really loves you, and it's okay if I step away. So I ended up stepping away, but that really stuck with me because you know, this was something that I loved for so long in high school, and suddenly it was like, Oh, okay, like I can be ostracized, right? But then I found really good people that took me under their wing who, you know, were from, you know, just like a different part of town, and they showed me what politics is and they showed me what campaigning is and how I can still make my voice be heard. And, you know, because of them, I was able to go into this career of working in campaigns and recruiting people to run for office. So I think really there has always been someone there for me. If with it was my soccer coaches when I was younger, and then it was, you know, people like Ray, and then people like Mary Sosa, who she was the first campaign I worked on, and she's also now past, unfortunately. But, you know, I worked on her campaign for HD 89, which is where we are now, I think. I'm not quite sure. Also, like southwest Oklahoma City, and I saw how she would gather her neighbors and just talk about different issues, and you know, she was just such a bright light in her community. And, you know, unfortunately, she lost to a white man, and that was part of my also awakening in politics of being like down with the system, like this isn't how it should be. But again, it was people like her who just continue to say, No, just keep at it, stay pushing. I know we lost this one, but change is coming and we can we can make it happen. So really, so many people that poured into me, and I'm so grateful for it. And that's why I do, you know, groups like Course for Change, where I run with kids. And I know sometimes I don't even run with this sometimes. Sometimes I'll just run alone, but I know that it means a lot showing up and and just being there in case they have any questions. And so programs like that, mentorship is just so important, and it's really not even about the activity, it's just about being another adult in their lives as kids that they can rely on and have the conversations with, you know. There was one group that I recently went to, the Lulak Kids. I'm still part of it now as an adult, but there is also a group of youth, and I attended one of their panels for college, and it was beautiful to see because there is, you know, a panel full of women, and then a lot of the girls or people in attendance were girls. There was only two guys there, which I thought was kind of silly. Men have to step up.

SPEAKER_01 35:31

I will tell you this women are braver than men. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 35:37

I mean, they gotta step up. I don't know. Maybe they're busy making money.

SPEAKER_01 35:40

No, I agree with you for sure. No, no, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:42

Like maybe they're busy making money or something. I don't really know. We're not we're just we're scared. Just playing Fortnite. It's okay.

SPEAKER_01 35:50

Right.

SPEAKER_00 35:51

But one of the girls, she uh, you know, asked a question and she was like, This might sound silly, but what is a sorority and how can I join one when I go to college? And I was like, wait, that's actually a really powerful question because I had the same questions when I was going through, you know, my senior year, but I was too scared to ask because I didn't necessarily know what it was. And my sister was part of a sorority, but you know, she was at a different school than I was going to, and it's just different environments. So it's really encouraging to see that we're still creating safe spaces for each other to learn and be a part of this, and it's really encouraging to see how it just continues to grow, especially as a Latina, especially you know, growing up on the south side. And ah, I just love it. So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:40

I'm gonna ask you a question. Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?

SPEAKER_00 36:44

I consider myself as an extroverted introvert, or maybe an introverted extrovert. I don't really know.

SPEAKER_01 36:52

Okay, this is why I'm asking is because like I was gonna ask, and we don't you don't have to answer this. Being a woman, being a Latina, being, you know, whatever it is that under the umbrella that people think it's you know, do you ever get imposter syndrome?

SPEAKER_00 37:06

Oh my gosh, all the time, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_01 37:09

How do you handle that?

SPEAKER_00 37:10

Oh, I just have to remind myself how far I've gotten without necessarily the inside help. And the reason I say that is because nepotism is real, and it doesn't have to be, you know, you're just a Hollywood actor and you're a Neppo baby. It is real in all of the ways. It's real in all the ways that you know all the Tupperware I have is from Tupperware, and it's because my mom used to sell it. Like that is nepotism in a way. Yeah, and I've never had to pay for it, but it's also I still have some of it from your mom. If any of anybody needs any, my mama has the hookup.

SPEAKER_01 37:48

Actually, she's probably gonna call me after this and asking me to give it back because Tupperware, you know, it's there. Call my mom. It is good Tupperware, I'll just do it. It really is, it really does last.

SPEAKER_00 37:59

I I enjoy it. They have good designs, they really do. I really do love them.

SPEAKER_01 38:03

Plug into your mom for sure.

SPEAKER_00 38:05

Yes, but no, like I've seen even now in my job, you know, how napotism is real. I see how executive directors from different organizations that I work with at the national level will bring their kids to a conference, for example. And, you know, they bring their kids to the happy hours, and I watch them, you know, network with other CEOs and vice presidents from organizations. And really, I mean, why else would you bring your kid other than trying to find them a job? And I've also seen how parents who are those same, you know, directors or VPs from different organizations will just straight up send me their kids LinkedIn and say, This is my child. Like if you all have any opening soon, let me know. And it works, is the thing. It works.

SPEAKER_01 38:51

And so whenever you can make me mad, but I know it makes me mad too.

SPEAKER_00 38:54

But whenever I go through imposter syndrome, I remind myself that you know, there's a lot of people that help me along the way, yeah. But at the same time, I had to really navigate this path on my own. And I I know there's been a lot of people that have paved the way, but you know, I came up as a Latina, and at the time that I was working in politics, there wasn't as many Latinos involved. And if they were, it was a little gatekeepy. So I had already been ostracized by that community, and so I didn't feel like I could necessarily go to them, but you know, I I pushed myself out there and I made my own path. I couldn't find it here in Oklahoma City, so I found it through national organizations, and it was really through, you know, just that not quitting and always putting myself out there. And yeah, I am, I want to say I am an introvert sometimes because that's what I was asking because I I've known you since you were since you were a kid.

SPEAKER_01 39:50

That's like I could just want to remember you being very reserved, very quiet, which is not a bad thing, but to have this kind of position or be wanting to be part of this position must take a lot of energy, it does, and a lot of you know time, but internally energy, you know, because if you're not used to being now extroverted, you know, now you have to. You you know, you're talking about going door to door. I wouldn't be able to do that because I consider myself as kind of like you, like in an introverted, extroverted, depends on the day.

SPEAKER_00 40:20

It does take a lot of energy. There are doors where I've been knocking for eight hours already, and it's one of my last doors, and I knock, and then I completely forget why I'm there, and they're staring at me, I'm staring at them, and I'm like, Oh my gosh, I'm just so sorry. Like, I've been doing this for so long today. And I I hate that they catch me at that point, you know, but it is it is hard working a full-time job and doing this, which is basically another full-time job on top of it.

SPEAKER_01 40:48

Yeah, and then also if I can say it's hard to interrupt you. No, you're so good, like having this kind of position, whether you're in it or you're campaigning for it, can be kind of lonely because it's something that you're feeling internally alone. People are around you, people are gonna see you, but it's it's a battle that you have to go within yourself first. And the reason why I'm mentioning that, not to be like be Debbie Downer about it, but it's because as it's showing me the power of how much you want this, that you're pushing yourself even further than any normal person would. Because a normal person that would be considered themselves extroverted would won't have that problem. We have that problem, yeah, but even then you're still pushing yourself to your limit and getting to that goal no is not an option for you. You know what I mean? Yeah, that's why I'm mentioning it. Not because I want people to see like no, I just want people to know that this is part of the excellence that you're bringing to this role because you're giving your all, you're giving your energy, you're giving, you know, well, yeah, your all.

SPEAKER_00 41:53

And I really appreciate you saying that I feel you really make people feel seen. So thank you for that.

SPEAKER_02 41:59

You're welcome.

SPEAKER_00 42:00

I really do appreciate it because there are moments, you know, even again, not necessarily even for this position, but within my career track where I've, you know, I was 14 getting on a plane alone to DC, a place I've never been, and no one in my family has ever been. No one had ever been on a plane before, and I remember being so terrified, right? And so it is those moments of being alone and being like, what am I doing? you know, and just being scared about it, but going for it anyways, because you know it's always going to be better on the other side. For sure. And you know that at the end of the day, there's people that made the sacrifices for you to follow your dreams, and so you have no other choice but to go ahead and do that. And thank God I've been able to figure it out right, paying the bills and following my dreams, and continuing to have a passion for life, right? And that's just such a you I not unique, but like that's just such a special thing to have because coming from a generation of women who, you know, all they knew in life was I need to get married and I need to have kids, and then I'm going to stay at home and provide for them. So it really is just I do get introverted, I do get scared sometimes, but at the end of the day, it's about realizing the first woman in my generation of women to be able to pick my own lane and do the things that inspire me and you know, win or lose. This has just been such an amazing thing to do for the Southside, too.

SPEAKER_01 43:28

You know how important what you just said was? No, so you're the first one to do this.

SPEAKER_00 43:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:35

You know, that alone you should be very proud of yourself.

SPEAKER_00 43:38

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 43:39

And and I'll I'll say this on behalf of the I don't represent the whole South side. Yeah. But I will say we're behind you. You know, we're here for you. I mean, I don't know how much we can all do individually, you know, but I I do want you to remember whenever this comes out, all the listeners that are gonna hear this, we're all in agreement with you. We're all behind you, we'll support you. Emotionally, some of us will do it monetarily, you know, or however we can, but you're not alone and we got you.

SPEAKER_02 44:06

I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 44:07

So hopefully it's a win.

unknown 44:09

Hopefully.

SPEAKER_01 44:09

Because you vote, we vote, I'll write it down. April 7th. April 7th. Yes. When do we know the results? Is it that day?

SPEAKER_00 44:15

That day at 7. So you know, voting ends at 7 p.m. And I work in elections. So I used to work in campaigns. And whenever I worked in campaigns, I was like, I want the results at 7.01 p.m. You know, like I want to know really quickly. And now that I work on the other side where I know the mechanisms that take in place to ensure one, that you can vote, and then two, that everything is counted accurately. I'm like, nah, we we have to go in time. Yeah. Yeah. And so it's it's really respectable on both sides, but you know, we'll probably know closer. It's a small race, there's not that many precincts. And, you know, because it is a race in the middle of April and we will be the only one on the ballot for this district. Okay, the probability of folks going out to vote is really low. And again, because there hasn't been an election for over 10 years, the probability is even lower than what it usually is.

SPEAKER_02 45:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 45:09

So, you know, hopefully people go out and vote. I really hope so. And hopefully they're they remember, but we should know by 720, 715.

SPEAKER_01 45:20

Oh, that early. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 45:21

Yeah. So I'll I also say that because, you know, on the campaign side, so on the election side, whenever a polling location closes, you will tape up the results to wherever the polling location is. Okay. So then campaigns will send out runners to go to every polling location, take a picture, and then you kind of have the math already calculated on an Excel sheet somewhere. Okay. And you just plug in the numbers as they come in. And so campaigns usually know way before the public knows who won or lost a campaign. Gotcha. So realistically, we should know by 7.10, 7.15, but accurately by 7.20, 7.30.

SPEAKER_02 46:02

Gotcha.

SPEAKER_00 46:02

So no, it's it's gonna be exciting. And you know, like I said, win or lose, I have just I'm so proud that we did this race to begin with because there wouldn't have been a contested race if we hadn't put our name down. And, you know, it's really important that voters have that transparency, but even like way more than that, it's important to show to people that the South Side is here and that we exist. And in a city where we're winning NBA championships, and God willing, we continue to win them, uh, that our schools are up to par and we have to be able to compete on all levels because Oklahoma City deserves that. We're an attractive city, we continue to build with different programs, and our education has to be one of them. It cannot keep lacking the way it has.

SPEAKER_01 46:48

Yeah. If you were to change something that would be changed that would be done differently within the education system here, what would you change?

SPEAKER_00 46:56

Oh, that's such a good question.

SPEAKER_01 46:58

And I'm sure it's like it's it's a it could be a lot because so much can go into, you know. But if you were like you yourself would make a decision on what we need to change first, or maybe what would you prefer to change first? What would what would it be?

SPEAKER_00 47:13

Well, that's where I think about it in a perfect world, right? What like are we hoping to get to the level where it's where there's equity across the board and or at a level where we're already equitable and then dreaming beyond that, right? So I think for this district in particular, in our schools in Oklahoma in particular, we're consistently fighting against people with ideals that keep pushing us back. So if I had a magic wand, I would make it to where education is just purely, truly nonpartisan and there's no religious, you know, uh things going in, laws, what have you. And it really just is about the children and not thinking about all the extras of your personal biases as adults. I think that alone could get us to a place where we're at an equitable place with the rest of the country. I think the rest of it comes with ensuring that there's enough resources for all of the children, regardless of where they are. And that's, you know, something that we really need, especially in this district where, and I hate going off all the numbers, but in this district, it's a I want to say about 93%, maybe more or less, Hispanic. And of those, 98% live in poverty of all kill kids that are enrolled in our district. Also, of those, you know, there's 50% or more that are learning English as they're going into school. And I say these numbers because I see myself reflected in them. I, you know, I grew up in poverty. I didn't know I did until I went off to college, and I was like, dang.

SPEAKER_01 49:02

That's another topic for another empty. Yeah. Because when I found out that we were broke as hell, I know that hurt my feelings.

SPEAKER_00 49:08

I said, wow, I just thought we were eating beans and rice because it was not a necessity.

SPEAKER_01 49:15

What do you mean? So many things we've learning as adults. So many things.

SPEAKER_00 49:19

We had that Kool-Aid too, and you know the little cans of juice that come in and you gotta do it.

SPEAKER_01 49:25

Yes, I missed that sometimes. So good. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:28

But who knew? Who knew? I didn't know. And you know, thanks to my parents, I had no idea that that's how we were living.

SPEAKER_01 49:35

I'm kind of glad that you know, in a way, they didn't let us know. Oh, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 49:40

Yeah, I mean, I but I mean the weight on their shoulders, though, you know so much, and again, that's a whole separate conversation, too, of what yeah, of what our parents go through. But I think that's also another magic wand I wish I could do for education because family engagement is so important and it helps lead our students to success. And I know again in this district in particular, where so many of our parents are dealing with those type of issues, it keeps them away from putting their full attention on their kids. And so if I could wave a magic wand, it's ensuring that our parents have their needs met so that they can then pour into their kids.

SPEAKER_01 50:14

Right, mentally, monetarily, and yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:18

And, you know, I will say we do have parents that care, right? And I think our public charter schools are have become an option for parents that care because parents that care see that sometimes, you know, our public education isn't up to par, but we have different options to go to. And so that's what my parents picked, and what many other parents in the district picked too. I want to say maybe one in every three or four doors that I knock right now, and they have kids and they're in school, they're at a public charter school. And when a child enrolls in a public charter school, that money that was supposed to be in public education follows the child to that public charter school. And that's great, but it also takes the funding away from our public schools. And that's not to say that our public schools aren't necessarily not greatly funded because they do have good funding. They actually have more funding than our public charter schools, but our public charter schools are outperforming our public schools by about 30% with the same demographics, same socioeconomic status, and you know, the numbers are there. So something is broken in our system. And I think the school board has a chance to really look at it. And I think the more we have these contested races, the more that we have people that grew up in the district that understand the nuances that is going through it. But also the more we have people that understand the systems and the real issues at play and are willing to do the research and not just fall on what somebody else wants you to vote for or because you know somebody else is helping you get into this position. As, you know, when we have those people that are really looking at the details and caring about our children, I really think we're gonna start seeing changes. And yeah, I agree. Yeah. And they saw it happen in Missouri. So I want to say it was, I can't remember what city in Missouri I wish I could, but in Missouri, they were one of the lowest performing states in the country. And they started paying more attention locally to their boards and also, you know, doing those student outcome metrics. And because of that, they started seeing more success. And they also started seeing that the community was more involved in their school boards as well, wanting to run and wanting to be part of it. And that led to, you know, better metrics, better outcomes for our children. So, again, I am such a nerd about this, but I really hope it all ties together.

SPEAKER_01 52:51

It does, it does. And I mean, you I don't think you're a nerd at all. This is things that we it's common sense, but it's not said. You know, obviously we all know we all need a little push here and there, but we don't say it, we don't talk about it. You know, we don't until now don't have anybody representing that part of our voice, you know, that says, Okay, education is very important. What are we gonna do about it? Exactly, you know, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:13

And like I said, it's not flashy, so why do it if it's not like a super flashy thing? But I think that's why we should have people do it because it's so important. And I mean, this really is about the future of our students and our city, and we want to live in a place that's thriving, not just that looks the part, but that really truly is the part.

SPEAKER_01 53:34

And well, I can't wait to see the people and generations that you encourage by doing this, you know, because there's many generations behind you. You know, I was a generation before you, not to date myself or not say how old I am, but I was before you, and now I'm looking at you. There's generations behind you that are looking at you that oh my god, this is a tangible thing I can actually grab and and and accomplish, you know.

SPEAKER_00 53:58

And I will say that's also such a beautiful thing, right? And I think that's how we continue to grow as a community, but also, you know, as people that are here in the state of Oklahoma, I've have seen how decisions are made in places like DC and you know, at the congressional level, and how they sometimes override states like us because it's a flyover state, and who cares, right? When they're making decisions about Latinos in the country, they mainly look for Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, but no one cares about the great, you know, soft plains here that we have, which is our Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas. And I've gotten to see a lot of our Hispanic population through funny and ironically enough, church activities, right? You know, we grew up in the same church and it's very Latino heavy, very Hispanic heavy. And because of it, we got to travel to different states growing up, and you see that connectivity, connectivity there. Yeah. And so I know that the populations are growing. I know that it's not just something that I witness with my own eyes.

SPEAKER_01 54:59

But like, I was gonna mention that earlier, but I don't want to like put it in there.

SPEAKER_00 55:02

You're so good.

SPEAKER_01 55:03

But I was like, I think that's one of the things that that did teach us, you know, the the the kind of going out and leaving the state, and you know, besides you know, your your trips or whatever. I took a trip in high school and that was the best thing that could have happened to me.

SPEAKER_02 55:16

I love yeah, for journalism. Oh, that's so cool.

SPEAKER_01 55:20

I mean, those kind of things inspire a person.

SPEAKER_00 55:23

No, they do, and if we have more of that, you know, and seeing more people like you, you know, and just having that I I guess that pride of being who you are. And I think that's also really important, and something that could be lost in some of our kids, especially being second generation. I'm not, but I know a lot of our kids, I mean, and a lot of my friends have kids now, and some of them are in, you know, an elementary or growing up, and they may not know this the his the Spanish language, and so they, you know, just ensuring that you know culturally who you are and being proud of it, but also being proud of you know being from the the homes that you grew up in and you know being low income, like it's okay and it's amazing because then you just have this wider landscape to grow from and to grow into.

SPEAKER_01 56:12

Yeah. Dare I say a new frontier with Galilea Martinez?

SPEAKER_00 56:16

A new frontier. Yes, yes, exactly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 56:19

Okay. We have a tradition on the show. Every time we have a guest, okay, have a lightning round.

SPEAKER_00 56:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 56:25

Okay. Do you mind?

SPEAKER_00 56:26

No, of course not. I thought we were gonna take a shot or something.

SPEAKER_01 56:30

If I only knew. No, it would probably help my throat too. Okay. Number one, who are the three most influential people in your life?

SPEAKER_00 56:38

Oh, okay. Oh, and it's a lightning round. Oh my god. Okay, my mom, my sisters, and or can I can that count as one? Yeah. My sisters. And siblings. Yeah, my siblings. Yeah, I'm sorry, no offense to my brothers.

SPEAKER_01 56:52

I understand that.

SPEAKER_00 56:53

Uh so definitely my mom, my sisters, and I want to say also my nieces. Like, I hate to keep it in my family, but it really is the generation before me, the generation I grew up with, and then what I hope to make in the future with my my nieces.

SPEAKER_01 57:06

Yeah. Are you the cool aunt?

SPEAKER_00 57:08

I hope to be.

SPEAKER_01 57:09

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 57:10

I hope I am.

SPEAKER_01 57:11

I'm the cool uncle for my sister's kids.

SPEAKER_00 57:13

I I do go to Target and buy them a lot of toys.

SPEAKER_01 57:15

So yeah, yeah, yeah. We're on the same boat. How would you like to be remembered?

SPEAKER_00 57:21

Oh, I want to say kind and warm. Warm and welcoming. I hope that's how I'm remembered.

SPEAKER_01 57:27

I think so.

SPEAKER_00 57:28

Yeah. I hope everyone leaves, you know, feeling that I gave them a sense of peace and a space to be who they are.

SPEAKER_01 57:38

Truly.

unknown 57:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 57:39

Sweet.

SPEAKER_00 57:40

Which I would say you give that off, Tony, too. So thank you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 57:44

Thank you. I appreciate that. Do you believe in second chances?

SPEAKER_00 57:48

Absolutely. Yes. Do I believe that whoever you wronged should forgive you? No, but I do believe that you each everyone deserves a second chance. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 57:59

Okay. What is your last Google search?

SPEAKER_00 58:02

Oh my gosh. This is kind of scary. Where's my phone?

SPEAKER_01 58:05

Feel free to look at your phone.

SPEAKER_00 58:07

It genuinely might be something like my where to buy socks.

SPEAKER_01 58:11

No, like about your campaign.

SPEAKER_00 58:13

Oh, that's so funny. It's Black Coffee Teotihuacan.

SPEAKER_01 58:17

What?

SPEAKER_00 58:18

It's so black coffee is a DJ, and he's having a set in Teotihuacan, which is the pyramids in Mexico. And so I bought a ticket without letting anybody know. And now I'm like, actually, I do want people to come with me. So I've been trying to find a ticket.

SPEAKER_01 58:32

Do you want me to cut this out or leave it in?

SPEAKER_00 58:35

No, we can leave it in. I'm so excited. It's super fun. So where is this? In Mexico. So you know the pyramids in Mexico? Yeah, in Mexico City. So they're doing a set there, like a DJ set.

SPEAKER_01 58:47

Literally there.

SPEAKER_00 58:47

Yeah, literally there. And like, imagine how fun that would be. So I'm so excited and I'm looking for tickets. If anybody has when is it? April 18th.

SPEAKER_01 58:58

Oh, it's soon.

SPEAKER_00 58:59

Yeah, so it's after the election, and it's just a good way to de-stress.

SPEAKER_01 59:03

And celebrate.

SPEAKER_00 59:04

And celebrate, God willing. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 59:06

Okay. Finish this phrase. The way to my heart is hot Cheetos. I love that. Everybody else trying to be like, oh my way to my heart is he-danny.

SPEAKER_00 59:17

Red dye 40.

SPEAKER_01 59:18

Right. Have you tried the new ones without the die?

SPEAKER_00 59:21

No.

SPEAKER_01 59:22

Would you try them?

SPEAKER_00 59:23

I would, but they look ugly.

SPEAKER_01 59:26

Maybe we're just gonna do it.

SPEAKER_00 59:27

Actually, I haven't even seen them.

SPEAKER_01 59:29

You haven't?

SPEAKER_00 59:29

I haven't. No, it's funny because anytime I travel, this is so dumb too, but I do a lot of solo traveling. And the last time I went was to Paris, and I kid you not, I was yes, by myself. I took I was there for two weeks, and I think I took like three bags of Hon Cheetos with me. Like the tiny, like small one. No, it wasn't. Three of the little ones? Well, not like the little tiny ones, but like the normal size. The normal size. No, like the just like a normal size bag. Okay. You know, not the family size, but the grab and goes.

SPEAKER_01 59:59

Yes. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:00

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:01

That's still not enough though. I didn't think so.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:03

It didn't last me for two weeks.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:04

Is the food different over there?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:06

It is. It's very different. I'm lactose intolerant, doesn't hurt my stomach. I know.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:10

Our process food.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:12

The wine also did not give me hangovers.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:14

Really?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:15

Yeah. It's because it's organic.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:18

What do you think people misunderstand about you?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:21

Oh. I think my my seriousness, like I think people think intimidate I've heard actually that I'm I can come off as intimidating, especially at work with interns.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:33

And I am not as like I am serious, but I'm also not a serious person.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:38

Like I you're serious when you need to be.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:41

I'm serious when I need to be. But it again, I yeah, we'll leave it there.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:45

You think that you have a professional face?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:47

I think I have a resting bitch face.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:50

I don't think you do.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:51

Thank you. But the older I get, the more I'm like, maybe I need some Botox here in my crows, you know.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:56

What is your favorite dessert?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:58

Ooh, teramasu.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:00

Where is the best place you have had it at?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:02

Oh, this is such a good question.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:04

Because I can the only place I've had it that I the sad part is that the best one I've had is at Sam's Club.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:10

Mmm, interesting.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:11

I know.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:12

Okay. I uh want to say there's this I don't remember the name of it, but there's a restaurant in Palo Alto in California that has really Katira Mazu. Um, it's right across the Nobu. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:26

My mouth watered a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:28

Okay. What song do you currently have on repeat? That I'm interested to hear that one.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:34

I don't know. That's what I'm thinking. I think I go like through phases.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:39

Should we say artist, maybe?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:41

Artist is always going to be bad bunny, unfortunately. So it's like not really creative. There is a song that I've been playing a lot for my campaign. So one is Optimista. Uh, and I can't remember the artist, but I really like it because it just talks about like optimism and like having you know when you say like playlist for your like campaign, do you mean like you hear it before you go out? Or just like I hear it throughout like whenever I'm feeling down or I'm like, oh my god, I'm so tired. Or you know, I start second guessing myself. Yeah, I'll play that one, and then there's one by Ellie Golding, the one that's like, anything can happen, you know. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that one I thought you've been playing on repeat too. Because I'm like, truly, anything can happen, you know?

SPEAKER_01 1:02:21

Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:21

And we can really make some really good differences, and that's what's so exciting. Yeah, yeah. What makes you smile? Everything.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:30

You are always smiling.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:32

The flowers, being here. Like even before coming, I was on a run and I wasn't feeling my best. But throughout that run, you know, we start on do you know where the rowboats are? Like where what is like it's like called the adventure district, but it's where they all the rowing happens downtown.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:50

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:51

So we start our run there and then we go down, and you're on the other side of the river. So you're on the north side of the river. Okay. Um, and it always makes me smile because again, I grew up on the south side. So when I'm running, I'm looking like towards the south side, and I'm like, wow, like you know, you're on the other side of the bridge. And then whenever I was growing up at Capitol Hill Elementary, at the end of the school year, we would always go to a park. And so I see that park. It's like a skate park. Oh, yeah. So I see that park on the run too, and it makes me think about those moments. And that's a long run. Yeah, well, a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:28

Yeah, I'm looking at the distance.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:30

Oh, and then I also we don't run all the way over there all the time, but I used to play soccer on the Agnew fields, and so whenever we run through there, it makes me smile because I remember those times that I was playing soccer, and so, anyways, on this run, we then go through Scissortail Park, and usually there's a little pavilion, and someone is having a kinsa practice there, and that always makes me smile. But this time it was my little sister having the kinse practice, yeah. And so I was like, Oh, that's so sweet. And that just like it filled me with so much joy seeing her and her little friends, and also like seeing us taking up space and you know, hearing like Korilos playing, and yeah, it just it makes me smile so much and seeing all the people at home, like, yeah, and just seeing people enjoying all of the investments that the city has made for us to enjoy it. So, like, yeah, all of that makes me smile.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:22

Yeah, that's a good answer. I like that. Okay, last question. But if heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say to you when you arrive at the pearly gates?

SPEAKER_00 1:04:34

You know, let Jesus dab me up and say good job.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:41

Jesus dab you, yeah. Just you know, like you did so good job.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:48

Yeah, because it's not that serious, you know. That's really it.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:53

Yeah, yeah, that's a beautiful answer. Gally, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:57

Thank you too.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:58

I appreciate you being here.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:59

I really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:00

I hope you enjoyed this.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:02

I really did, and please keep doing this again. Like I said, it's amazing that you have such a welcoming spirit and let people share a little bit about what they're doing or have gone through. And I think everybody needs a little bit of that. So thank you so much. I agree.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:15

Thank you. Thank you. Cheers. Well, cheers to you, and hopefully, but if you have the capacity to go vote, please go vote.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:23

Yes, please go vote.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:25

Oh, any last message you want to do.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:26

Yes, go vote April 7th, follow us on social media, just Martinez for OKCPS on Facebook. I'll tag them when this comes out. Yeah, yeah, on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram. And then if you're not registered to vote, register to vote. You can't register you can't register now for this race, but you can always vote in other races. And don't think that your vote doesn't matter because I have seen elections be lost by one vote. So your vote does matter. And if you can't vote, then still find a way to be involved because your voice is important regardless. And there's a way that you can make a difference too.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:59

For sure. Is there anywhere where people can donate?

SPEAKER_00 1:06:02

Yeah. Martinez for okcps.com. There is a contribution button. It is big. You will see it. You can give money there. And you know, yes, donations are important. Unfortunately, that is a part of running for office. It's the part that I hate. But it is something that's necessary. It is necessary. Yeah. But you know, maybe one day we'll tackle big money in politics and get rid of it.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:27

That's a different episode. We've we have like four episodes that we need to cover. So you need this is your home. This show is your home. So please come back whenever you feel comfortable coming back. I'd appreciate it. I thank you for being here. Thank you for taking time because I know you right now time is crucial. So thank you for hosting again.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:46

So fun. And I hope people tune in and continue to listen to all the great people all the great guests that you're gonna have on as well for this season. I'm excited.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:54

For sure. Yeah, for sure. Well, thank you guys for listening. If you're still listening, hopefully you're still listening. And this is where we part ways. So we say bye. Alrighty.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:02

Bye. Bye.