How the Valley Is Losing Young Talent
One Modesto Junior College student tells us why he and his peers are leaving the Central Valley.
Jesus Ruiz-Leja is an eighteen-year-old student at Modesto Junior College. Among friends he goes by “Jesse.” We met Jesse at El Rematito, the outdoor market in Modesto, where he sells nuts and candied fruit on weekends. “I am lucky to have this job through a friend. It’s hard to get internships or break into the job market here. Everyone wants experience, but how do you get it?” Jesse is studying computer science because it’s the only way to get a job outside the Central Valley. “This is no place to make a living or start a family. I’ll probably move to a big city,” he says.
On weekends, El Rematito is the hub for the local Latino community, which comprises nearly half of the district’s residents. Stalls are bursting with Mexican delicacies and fancy clothes; couples dance to a live band; families enjoy Sunday lunch; kids ride ponies. Everything is spiced with chiles and beer flows freely. It’s unfortunate that the young talented people need to move away from this vibrant and welcoming place. Who will represent them in Washington to advocate for real opportunities in the Central Valley?
