FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Since the beginning of this year, Nicholas Madrigal has been working as the Latino Liaison for the City of Fresno.
“The Latino population coming in from the south of the border to this city needs representation,” said Madrigal. “I think having the representation and having someone that has access to resources or that can bridge the gap and can connect them to the right resource is life-changing.”
Madrigal now represents the largest demographic in Fresno County, having the opportunity to outreach and build connections with the Latino community.
The role in the Office of Community Affairs aims to have Madrigal connect services and resources to Latinos within the city.
Each week he works with different community-based organizations, like the Civic Center, Centro la Familia, and the Education and Leadership Foundation to make sure that when people come to him with a question, he has an answer.
“I think the most important thing that I have heard is that people are very honored to have someone from the city represent them and understanding the needs of the Latino community, and getting them the right resources, so they can have a better life,” said Madrigal. “And we can help provide solutions for the issues that they have on a day-to-day basis.”
Born in Mexico, Madrigal came to the U.S. when he was just 12 years old.
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Growing up his father worked in the fields, teaching Madrigal to work hard while emphasizing the power of a good education in order to have a better life.
Now his parents are proud to see him in this role, staying humble and keeping the values he was raised with close to his heart.
For Madrigal, speaking Spanish and English is an important part of what he does each day, translating, while also making sure materials are in Spanish so that Latino and Latina business owners understand and do not have to go over another hurdle.
“Once I speak Spanish to them, it opens the conversation and I notice that they can trust me about different issues that they don’t want to share with anyone, especially immigrants with different status in this country,” said Madrigal. “They can come to me, they can speak to me openly and everything is confident. And if I have the resources within the city I provide to them, if don’t have the resources, then I can send them to other community-based organizations.”
Madrigal hopes to encourage young Latinos to take advantage of resources, get a good education, and to make positive decisions in their life while being proud of where they come from.