When Felisa Gonzalez thinks about her role in the Yakima community, there’s a phrase that resonates with her: “Because I can, I do.”
The 32-year-old has built a life rooted in advocacy, working with groups across the valley to give back.
Originally from Wapato, Gonzalez graduated from Heritage University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. From there, she moved to Virginia to complete her graduate studies in communication and advocacy at James Madison University — but ultimately, the Yakima Valley called her back.
“When I was in graduate school, I kind of had this unsettled wrestling of like, ‘I’m not actually able to do what I want to or have that connection’ because I was in a community that I didn’t know,” she said. Returning to Yakima — a place where she had a deep knowledge of community needs, and who to ask for help — felt like the best way to use her skills.
Now, Gonzalez works as an office manager for La Casa Hogar, a Yakima-based nonprofit that provides opportunities for education and connection for Latino families. She also works as a part-time writing tutor at her alma mater, Heritage University, and volunteers with the National Alliance on Mental Health and as a mediator with the Community Peace Center of Central Washington.
“I think the most rewarding part of the (mediation) work is helping bridge the communication towards a better understanding between the individuals … who previously had a tough time talking to each other but can walk away with a better understanding of where the other person is coming from,” she said.
As a new Yakima City Council member, Gonzalez said she’s excited to step into service in a new capacity and learn more from her fellow council members.
If there’s an opportunity to engage with a cause she’s passionate about, the answer is probably “yes.”
“Because I know that I have the capacity, or I’m in a place in my life where I’m able to, then why not be that person?” Gonzalez said.
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