32 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 16-22, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com FACE TO FACE Monica Andrade is a Salinas native who found her home in Soledad, where she has lived for the past 12 years. During this time, she has become an advocate for equity and social justice. Last year, Andrade and the Soledad Committee for Voting Rights challenged the City Council’s decision to approve a five-district map with a rotating mayor. They collected enough signatures for a referendum. In March, voters rejected the measure by a massive margin, with over 80 percent of the votes, instead favoring four districts and an at-large mayor. (Andrade’s husband, Fernando Cabrera, is a councilmember.) But there’s much more to her community engagement than politics. As a child, Andrade loved playing soccer. Her mom signed Andrade and her sister with a boys’ team, as there wasn’t a girls’ league in Salinas at that time. “We felt like we had something to prove to them—that we belong, that we can keep up,” she recalls. Andrade has worn different hats throughout her life. She served in the Army for over seven years, helped create a girls’ soccer league in Salinas and was a referee. She’s currently a parent educator with Door to Hope, a nonprofit that provides a variety of behavioral health and substance abuse recovery services, including a treatment center for women struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. In March, Andrade was recognized as State Sen. Anna Caballero’s 2024 District 14 Woman of the Year for the Salinas Valley. When she isn’t working or volunteering, Andrade studies human development and family services at CSU Monterey Bay. Weekly: Woman of the Year. That’s a high honor. Andrade: When I received the call, I honestly thought they probably wanted me to give them a couple names. What do parent educators do? My job is basically to help parents connect with their children in meaningful ways, where they get to play with their child, get to know their child. It might seem trivial to others, but that’s a child’s first experience in school, and how are parents prepared for that journey? [I enjoy] seeing the learning that takes place with just the simple act of playing. Did it cross your mind to run for council instead of your husband? We debated that. I wanted to go back to school, and it wasn’t so much that you need a degree to be in the city council, but finishing my degree is a personal goal and it needs my entire attention. In a certain way, I can do more away from the dais. You started a girls’ soccer league. The president of the boys’ league said, “You guys are getting older and I think that Salinas is ready for a girls’ league. Let’s hit up all the high schools.” We made flyers. We were spreading the word. We were the first team to be registered. We needed to make sure that this worked, because we needed to have our space and we knew that there were other girls and women who just wanted a space to play. The only time that we could play soccer was during the high school season. That was three months out of the whole year. Ten teams were formed. It was pretty amazing. Do you attend Monterey Bay F.C. games as a spectator? Yes. My husband doesn’t know we are season ticket holders [laughs]. He was like, “No, it’s too expensive.” But we all have to have a hobby. Something that distracts us, something that brings us joy. Soccer has formed a lot of who I am. Were you also accomplished in the Army? I went into logistics in the military, 92-Alpha, and we basically worked with trucks of all sizes—ordering and making sure that all the vehicles were up to standards. At the end of our deployment, we got a recognition that our unit was the one with the least amount of vehicles down for the entire deployment. Our motivation was that our friends are going to be in these vehicles. Our mentality was as if our family was riding in them, because they needed to come back. Where do you see yourself in the future? Helping make policy or develop programs or making our services more effective toward [meeting] the needs of our communities. Those ideas have to come from the people who live in the community, who work in the community. Missions Accomplished Monica Andrade is a trailblazer, a community problemsolver and a college student, seeking to keep on learning. By Celia Jiménez Monica Andrade focuses her efforts on helping people, but she’s also an animal lover. She has eight pets: two dogs, three cats, a turtle and two goldfish. DANIEL DREIFUSS SWEET SIBLINGS Princess and Roscoe are bonded 6-year-olds who are a bit shell-shocked right now after losing their home. Once settled, they are a perfect combination of elegance, charm, playfulness, and affection. Princess enjoys cuddling and soothing you with her purrs, while mischievous Roscoe delights in new adventures and entertaining antics. Together, they will bring joy and warmth to your home! Check out this twosome at www.gocatrescue.org and while there fill out an adoption application! Contact goldenoldiescats@gmail.com to sponsor our next ad. 831.200.9700 www.gocatrescue.org Top: Roscoe Left: Princess Cadbury Want to meet Cadbury? Please fill out our online adoption questionnaire. Things to love: approx. 10 years old - 9 pounds - male - Chihuahua mix Cadbury is an energetic buddy full of tail wags and joy! He loves lounging with his people, enjoying hikes, and is a fantastic car co-pilot. Friendly with dogs but not cats, Cadbury seeks a feline-free home. His behavior with children is yet to be observed, but he’s likely a great companion. Ad Sponsored by Judy LeRoy With Lasso If you’d like sponsor our next ad, please give us a call. 831-718-9122 | www.PeaceOfMindDogRescue.org P.O. Box 51554, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
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