Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: Gilroy educator honored as Assembly Woman of the Year for 29th district

“Rachel has committed her entire life and career to educating and uplifting our young people”

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By Robert Airoldi

Congratulations to Rachel Perez! She was recently named by Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) the California State Assembly Woman of the Year for the 29th Assembly District

Throughout her career, Perez has shown a profound dedication to educating young people. In 1989, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year by Gilroy Unified School District after she established the Pregnant and Parenting Teen program. She is also responsible for overseeing the establishment of the Gavilan College noncredit program, which has offered free services to thousands of students since its inception. In total, Perez devoted 43 years to ensuring student success before her retirement in 2014.

Perez has remained dutifully involved in the Gilroy community. She currently serves as vice president on the Gavilan College Board of Trustees, a position she was elected to in 2016. Additionally, her family helped organize the Latino Family Fund de Gilroy to offer specialized programs, grants, and scholarships for young Latinos in the community. Perez currently serves as the organization’s chair.

“Rachel has committed her entire life and career to educating and uplifting our young people,” Rivas said. “I’m proud that she is the 29th Assembly District’s Woman of the Year, and I thank her for everything she does to improve student outcomes in our community!”

Perez said she was grateful to be recognized.

“As a mother and lifelong educator, I know our young people are pouring over with potential and have bright futures ahead of them,” she said. “It has been my goal to support every student along their academic journey. It brings me so much joy and pride to see the amazing things my students have gone on to achieve and I am honored to have been able to help them along.”

Join San José resident Yosimar Reyes as he shares his amazing journey as a poet 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Gilroy Library. In his talk “We Came to be Triumphant/Venimos a Triunfar,” he will dive into the cultural wealth of queer and the Mexican immigrant community.

Reyes was appointed to the honorary position as the Santa Clara County Poet Laureate for the 2024-25 term. He draws inspiration for his poetry from his experiences as an immigrant from Guerrero, Mexico, as well as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. During his tenure, he will be responsible for promoting poetry at local events, representing the county through poetry-related outreach, and serving as a resource for the Santa Clara County Library District

A former Lambda Literary Fellow and Undocupoets Fellow, Reyes has toured the country delivering keynote addresses, writing workshops, and performing his one-man show, “Prieto,” which explores his coming-of-age story.

“I am a proud product of an undocumented immigrant community in Eastside San José,” he said. “It is an honor to represent us in such an esteemed position.”

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and initiatives led by Yosimar Reyes as he works to bring the power of poetry to the Santa Clara County community — including at the Gilroy Library this month.

The Gilroy Youth Commission hosted the OpportuniTEEN Fair on March 23 for local high school students at Wheeler Center. The first-ever event featured local businesses (Gap, Gilroy Gardens, Swan Aquatics), nonprofit organizations (Community Solutions, Youth Alliance), and government agencies (city of Gilroy, Gilroy Library).

Teens found out about the latest job, volunteer, and internship opportunities in Gilroy. The Gilroy Youth Commission, which organized the entire event, is an 11-member City Council appointed body that discusses the latest issues impacting the youth and teens of Gilroy.