Riverbank Voices Ep. 4 featuring Mayor Rachel Hernandez

Today, we have a very special guest—Mayor Rachel Hernandez of the City of Riverbank. We’ll be talking about her journey into leadership, what’s happening in Riverbank right now, and what the future looks like for our city.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello everyone and welcome to the Riverbank Voices Podcast. We're so excited you're joining us today. This podcast is led by students and focuses on the people, stories, and issues that shape our community. Today we have a very special guest, Mayor Rachel Hernandez of the City of Riverbank. We will be talking about her journey into leadership, what's happening in Riverbank right now, and what the future for our city looks like. Thank you so much for being here, Mayor Rachel Hernandez. Let's get started.

SPEAKER_02 0:29

I want to almost call this meeting to order. I'm going to use the gavel here so we can get this podcast going.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

Yeah, I agree. So throughout Riverbank, I've seen like through the Youth Council and other ways people are getting involved. I think honestly, Riverbank is just mostly community-driven.

SPEAKER_02 1:15

Yeah, yeah. And that's why those three words, it's I think it takes all three of those things to be able to effectively work together to get through hard times and then celebrate the good ones.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

Yeah, I agree. Christian. Yeah, I totally agree as well. I've seen the city council master plan and how we're trying to bring more opportunity here, but how Rachel's also trying to connect with the community and get uh community insight. And I think she does that so well. So thank you so much for that. So before becoming mayor, what's something about you that most people might be surprised to learn?

SPEAKER_02 1:53

Um, hmm. I am a very open and accessible person. Then maybe I would say that uh in high school, and when I was younger and before that, I did not participate in any leadership type programs. Um I think what really pushed me to be involved more formally in leadership is all of the missed opportunities that I had, or maybe the programs that I didn't have uh an opportunity to be involved in because of um the different things that that, you know, being first generation, being younger, brought. And so uh leadership, formal leadership really came in later in life for me.

SPEAKER_00 2:36

That's truly such an inspiring story. How uh it's an inspiring story that how you didn't pursue leadership in high school inspired you to pursue leadership later on in life. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

Well, I actually have like a bit of a sub-question. Uh how do you think students or just like younger people that are pursuing leadership roles like in high school will be as they're older? Like, how do you think that will affect what they do when they're older?

SPEAKER_02 3:06

Do not participate.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

But do currently, like in high school.

SPEAKER_02 3:10

It I mean, you both are great examples, and our camera person is a great example of being involved now. You are getting to build relationships, you're getting to uh understand the formal infrastructure, you're able to build and kind of go through these hard lessons, right? Of uh growing into leadership. So you all have definitely a hand up.

SPEAKER_01 3:35

I would agree. I think the setting that the leadership's taking place, like in school, I think that's a good place to start and a good place to like build fundamentals. And I think like once we get further, I think that will really impact the way the world is shaped by students.

SPEAKER_02 3:55

No, we need we need young people involved, so it's awesome that you're doing it.

SPEAKER_01 3:59

One more or one question. What inspired you to get involved in local government? Like, was there a moment in school or after where you decided, oh, I'm going to be mayor, or I'm going to get involved?

SPEAKER_02 4:12

I so being deciding to be mayor was definitely like one moment of leadership where um I was on the city council for four years. I ran in 2020. And during that time, if y'all remember, there was a lot of wildfires happening. There was um a lot of civil unrest going on um with law enforcement in the community, and um we were approaching the pandemic. And so there was it was a big time of figuring out um, you know, how you wanted to show up in the world. And so I ran for city council at the time, had just gotten my master's degree um and uh in uh public service and local government, and it felt like a great time to be when I was younger at the time, obviously, and it felt like my voice was needed, but not only that, but people wanted to be listened to at the time. And so those four years leading up to running for mayor were just an extension of that.

SPEAKER_00 5:11

Thank you so much for that answer. So, about that, what is one challenge you feel River Bank is currently struggling through, and how do you plan to help address it as mayor?

SPEAKER_02 5:22

Um I would say uh with all the puns intended, maybe that we are at a crossroads where um we are a thriving city in a sense, right? Um there's a lot of commercial, there's homes, single-family homes being built. Um we have a very young community. Um, the median age is around my age in my 30s, and um that means there's young families too. So I think we're at a point where we need to be proactive. We need to be proactive about um connecting with each other, about informing each other so that City Hall makes decisions based on the feedback that you all have. And so I think it's affordability. I think it's uh creating opportunity and in every sense of the word for families and for young people.

SPEAKER_01 6:12

Aaron Powell What's one lesson which you've learned through leadership that's just shaped the way that you see Riverbank?

SPEAKER_02 6:20

Um that it is a it is not a solo job. Um it I don't think anything could be done uh with one person, you know, holding the information, uh having the relationships, or or knowing the infrastructure. And so something that I've learned is that it just it definitely takes a community to get things done.

SPEAKER_00 6:42

Why is it important for the mayor to have a strong and positive relationship with the Riverbank Unified School District and the superintendent? And how does that partnership benefit students and the community?

SPEAKER_02 6:52

Um, like I just mentioned, it is not a solo job. And so I think a lot of people don't understand that uh within the city government, we have certain roles where we have to make sure that our roads are kept well, that we have housing available, that we um are building enough a fund base to be able to provide services through parks and recreation, that your toilet flushes every time you want it to flush. It's things that you don't think about from a daily basis. But then on the other hand, you know, we have our um school district and our superintendent and the school board who lead our young people and who lead our education system. And we want to really rely on each other to do that. So I definitely think it's such an important relationship that we have so that we push the community forward together.

SPEAKER_00 7:44

Yeah, and considering that some of these youth may be our future leaders, potentially future mayors, city council members, or we're working in these city departments, that's crucial because we're building who is gonna build Riverbank. I want to add on to that.

SPEAKER_01 8:00

I think I've seen maybe not improvement, I've seen change in schools through things like student boards or like what we have at Riverbank, we have the superintendents like student council. And I think just highlighting student voices overall is really important. And I think that it's really going to reflect how these people change and shape their communities around them when they get older. One more question. What's one project event or change happening in Riverbank that you're especially excited about right now?

SPEAKER_02 8:34

I feel like I can name one project, one event, and a change that's happening. But we'll try and stick. You can do all of them. One project. Um I would say to what you just said, it's having the youth involved. So we started a youth council this last year, and actually we have folks here who are a part of it and really spearheading that first cohort. Um, but it's setting a um standard to be able to do that. And again, with the partnership with the school district, it's the same thing that the same standard that you all have there. Um, what that's putting students first and your voices first. So that's exciting. The event we have going, um, I would say we're we're reenvisioning what the traditional events have been here in the city. So the A de Muertos has been super exciting. Um, the state of the city is coming up, and we'd love for all the young people to come to hear about uh where the city is headed, where it was the last year. Um it's an annual event uh that I'll give a speech about. Um and a change again, it's it's almost like we're we're coming back to the same thing over and over, but it's really like community building.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Aaron Powell Well, how you highlighted like we're coming back to the same thing over and over, I feel like that really does highlight the like necessity of elevating and highlighting youth voices and ideas because they can bring about real change. And as you said, it's important.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

Yeah. Yeah. When you think about the future of Riverbank, what do you hope today's students will remember about the decisions being made now?

SPEAKER_02 10:09

That we are putting your voices first. And um, any any decision that happens, uh, I personally try and do a lot of work around communicating to you all. Uh, our city is doing that work, and our individual council members are as well. And we're keeping in constant contact with uh your leadership at the school district. And so anytime something happens, I never want it to be a surprise. I hope that it's never uh something unexpected or or new, rather that you're part of the pro decision-making process.

SPEAKER_00 10:40

Yeah, and I think you do an excellent job at that. Uh looking at your social media, you have connected with about 5,000 people, which is roughly one-fifth of our city. And you really keep us informed. So thank you for that, Rachel.

SPEAKER_01 10:57

So, one like this is my last question. What's your favorite place to eat or like hang out or just relax in Riverbank when you're not like on the clock as mayor?

SPEAKER_02 11:06

Oh my gosh. I have uh two rescue dogs, and so I take them to the parks. Our parks are amazing. You know, there's a lot of open space. Um the small businesses depends. I coffee is definitely one of my food groups, so I'm either at Balo Santa or get toasted, um, or eating just anywhere locally.

SPEAKER_01 11:28

Yeah, I think honestly, I think eating locally is probably one of the best ways to like experience and try new things.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

And with events such as Taste of Riverbank, which you actually put on, we get to actually explore the gastronomy that comes with the city of Riverbank. We're truly so diverse, and there's something pretty much on every big street that you can find.

SPEAKER_02 11:53

Thank you for bringing that up. I it was uh last year was the first year. I in my personal capacity hosted Taste of Riverbank, and there were about 18 uh local to Riverbank businesses giving out samples of their food. Um, I raised enough money to make the tickets affordable, accessible, to give back to these small businesses, and to donate to um a local nonprofit.

SPEAKER_00 12:18

Thank you so much. And it's for a good cause, so it's a win-win.

unknown 12:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 12:23

So lightning round, quick pics, coffee or tea? Morning person or night owl. And what would be one word to describe your leadership style?

SPEAKER_02 12:32

Coffee, night owl, and accessible.

SPEAKER_00 12:37

And then could you elaborate on why you prefer those options?

SPEAKER_02 12:42

Um, coffee is uh is a horrible habit, but it's so good. And support locals. It keeps me awake on those night owl days that I have during the day where it's a lot of meeting with folks and connecting. So at night I'm able to decompress and kind of process through the different things. Um and then what was your last one? Oh, accessible. Because yeah, I I I feel that um with with any with any leadership position, to be truly representative, it means uh repr like looking like your community. And so I'm proud, um, I'm proud to be first generation, like a lot of our community is. I'm proud to speak Spanish, like uh a majority of our community speaks. I'm proud to uh be young-ish and uh be connected to you all.

SPEAKER_01 13:34

Yeah. And I think accessibility really is a great word to describe your leadership style. Like through your social media presence alone, as Christian touched on earlier, the amount of people you've been able to reach and the amount of people you're still reaching, I think it's honestly amazing.

SPEAKER_02 13:51

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 13:52

You've truly represented our city at so many great levels. So thank you for putting us out there.

SPEAKER_02 13:59

Yes. And uh as always, if there's um any question or concern or anything, um just like the adults in the room, the young people in the room matter just as much. So uh no, we're we're putting you guys first.

SPEAKER_01 14:13

Yeah, and I think that's a great place to stop. Uh thank you, everyone. This brings us to the end of today's episode of the Riverbank Voices Podcast. We want to give a huge thank you to Mayor Rachel Hernandez for taking the time to share her story, her leadership journey, and her vision for the future of the city. Conversations like these remind us that local leadership matters and that voices of students and community members play an important role in shaping what comes next. Thank you to everyone for listening and supporting this student-led podcast and allowing us to connect to what's happening here in Riverbank. Be sure to stay tuned for future episodes as we continue to highlight the stories and people that make our community so strong. Until next time, this has been Riverbank Voices.

SPEAKER_02 15:04

That being said, this uh podcast is adjourned.