Sandy Garcia ’08: Community Connections

“Our Place in Walla Walla” is a biweekly column that seeks to help Whitman students, many of whom are living in Walla Walla for the first time, learn more about the rich and complex landscape and history of the Walla Walla Valley. This semester, each piece will examine a different element of the area through interviews with local leaders. The Wednesday following publication the featured guest will be on campus to have lunch with students and discuss anything that interests them about Walla Walla. Unless stated otherwise, the ideas of the guests are their personal views and do not represent organizations they are affiliated with. If you have ideas or questions about this series please contact Noah Leavitt at leavitns@whitman.edu.

Sandy Garcia ’08 graduated from Walla Walla High School (Wa-Hi) where she was a leader of the Latino Club. After graduating from Whitman College in 2008 as a Mathematics & Economics major she went on to earn a law degree from the University of Idaho. In 2012, Garcia passed the state bar exam, becoming the first Latina to be sworn into the Walla Walla Bar Association.

Sandy and I spoke on a recent sunny afternoon in Walawála Plaza.

How are you involved in the Walla Walla community?

I’m a supervising attorney for Legal Counsel for Youth and Children. I also manage the youth homelessness program for Walla Walla County. I am part of the YWCA board of directors and also the Board of Trustees for the Blue Mountain Community Foundation. I try to stay involved with Walla Walla Valley nonprofits and the equity and access work going on in Walla Walla Public Schools.  

How does your work help you understand our region?

As part of the Anchor Communities initiative, one of the aspects of managing the youth homelessness program is about creating connections with community partners and maintaining rapport.  So, I try to stay connected with The Loft, the local middle and high schools, and other community agencies.  I work closely with the Blue Mountain Action Council (the running joke is I should have an office there since I’m there all the time). For the boards—that involvement keeps me in tune with what’s going on in the region and lets me share ideas with local leaders. 

What is something you learned about Walla Walla growing up here that informs you today?

Since I was born and raised here in the Walla Walla Farm Labor Homes (before it became Valle Lindo) I was aware that the agricultural labor force was the Latino population. However, I wasn’t aware of how much of a percentage we actually were in the overall population. I didn’t realize until I moved back [after law school in Idaho] that we’re at least 35% of the population—that’s a lot! I’m also learning now from my husband (who works in the local wine industry) how agricultural workers in the vineyards are treated. We’re making connections to Vital Winery (founded by Whitman alum Ashley Trout ’03) and what they’re up to bringing health care resources to grape pickers. I’m becoming more knowledgeable about what the Latino population in town has or does not have access to. Even when you think about Latinos not having access to the court system—we have only one certified Spanish interpreter for the county, to cover all the cases—that’s not sustainable.

In what ways is Walla Walla diverse?

This has definitely increased over the years. Right now, I’d love to see more diversity downtown in terms of the stores. But if you look at the restaurant scene—it’s very diverse. Look at the new Trinidadian food truck! I think we are getting more diverse in terms of the views of people who live here. The demographics of our population—that’s more incremental. Like racial diversity is low here—that aspect is about the same as about 10 years ago. 

What do you think Walla Walla will be like in five or 10 years? 

Ideally, it would have more affordable housing. I think the current housing situation is creating a divided economy here. I think a lot of apple orchards will be gone and replaced by vineyards.   From my Whitman graduation in 2008 to coming back six years later and seeing orchards taken over by vineyards—wow! I do think our population will get more racially diverse. I think we’re definitely getting more viewpoint diversity, there isn’t the same thinking by everyone. I believe that’s partially by making strides to improve housing and attracting new people to this area. 

But I do hope this place stops being a “retirement community.” It seems like people are coming here later in life and so the age of our population is staying up. But school enrollment is going down! I hope that trend gets reversed. 

What is an aspect of Walla Walla that you might want to become more involved with or connected to?

I have pretty much all my family living around here and so after school sports is interesting. I don’t have kids but I love watching the news about all the new sports facilities and courts and JROTC training facilities going in for our young people to be able to use. I have nieces, nephews and a sister who are all at Wa-Hi. I also have a sister and brother in the middle and elementary schools. That’s one of the reasons I’m on the WWPS Equity and Access committee—this topic is close to home for me! 

Is there anything else Whitman students should know about our community that you haven’t discussed?

I think Whitman does a good job now helping students get out of the bubble. When I was a student it really was a bubble. I remember my parents, who live a few miles from campus, complaining that I had disappeared! I love that now that kind of isolation doesn’t seem to exist as much. I see students more active in the community. The students should know that Walla Walla natives are nice! Maybe way out in the boonies some people might be more close-minded but here in town Whitman students will have pleasant experiences getting to know people they meet. So, don’t be scared! Join things. Get out there!

Beyond the interview:

Garcia will be available for questions and further conversations on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at noon in Reid Campus Center, room 207. The Career and Community Engagement Center will provide lunch for the first 10 students in attendance. Questions or ideas? Please contact Noah Leavitt at leavitns@whitman.edu.