By his own account, Cesar Fierros wasn’t interested in much during high school. But in his senior year, he listened to then-presidential candidate Barack Obama give a speech.
The words stirred Fierros. He was left inspired.
But the motivation wasn’t instant, taking time to propel Fierros toward his goals.
He delayed going to college. When he finally enrolled at Pima Community College, he dropped out. He got a job, then was laid off.
“I hit rock bottom,” said Fierros, now 26.
All the while, however, the forceful, hopeful words that he heard from President Obama resonated with him.
Deep inside, Fierros knew he had to persevere, pay heed not only to Obama’s words, but to his father’s advice to be an active member in his community and to participate in the political process.
It all came together — the words, the ideas, the values — when Fierro returned to Pima College and took an American government class taught by longtime instructor Erich Saphir.
Saphir became Fierros’ mentor.
“He was somebody who struck me with the enthusiasm he brought to the subject,” said Saphir, who has taught political science at Pima for 20 years. “He really worked for it.”
The two talked often about politics, government, civic duty and Fierro’s future. Saphir admired Fierro’s focus on setting goals and his eagerness to apply the knowledge that he learned in the three classes he took with Saphir.
Fierro’s transition continued at the University of Arizona, where he majors in law and public policy. His commitment to community was deepened as he immersed himself in organizing on behalf of immigrant rights and voter registration.
He underwent a transformative experience.
“I learned a lot about myself, about my passion for politics and for public service,” said Fierros, who has worked as an intern in the Tucson office of Congressman Raúl Grijalva.
In government and public policy, Fierros understands that decisions made in Washington, D.C., in Phoenix and at the city level directly affect people.
When legislators fail to raise the minimum wage in the face of opposition from chambers of commerce, for example, he sees how working families struggle to put food on their tables.
When legislators refuse to reform immigration law and adopt comprehensive, sensible reform, he sees immigrant families with blended legal status struggle to remain together.
When legislators put up barriers to voting, making it difficult if not impossible for citizens to register to vote and to cast ballots, he sees how legislators choke off the democratic process.
“I always ask myself why,” Fierros said.
This summer, Fierros is an intern in the D.C. office of Phoenix Congressman Ruben Gallego through a program sponsored by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
Fierros is spending long hours in the muggy capital researching, writing, attending lectures and soaking up all that he can before he returns home for his final semester at the UA.
The 2008 graduate of Flowing Wells High School plans to move on to graduate school to study foreign policy.
In the Washington internship program, Fierros is one 38 selected from hundreds of applicants.
The interns reflect the wide diversity of Latinos from 34 colleges and universities. Nearly all come from homes whose family incomes are less than $45,000 a year, according to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
The interns gain work experience and develop leadership skills, which they take back to their home towns, where they’ll work with community groups to encourage more civic participation and voter turnout.
“My dad always has voted,” Fierros said.
And that is one of the key messages that Fierros will help spread.
“If you’re not participating in the political process,” he said, “you can’t have informed decisions.”
