A girl’s 15th birthday party, or quinceañera, in Los Angeles, went beyond the traditional ceremony celebrating the transition of a girl into a woman, and became a double rite of passage, celebrating the transition of a young, ordinary citizen into an active, promising community leader. Our correspondent in Los Angeles, Rubén Tapia, witnessed Kenia Castillo’s symbolic party.
Kenia Castillo with her parents, Maria Estrada and Luis Castillo. Photo Couresty of the Castillo Family.
“Let’s hear it for Kenia on this beautiful night!” cries the M.C.
At her traditional 15th birthday party, Kenia Isela Castillo receives the usual greetings from family members and friends, but she’s also congratulated by some unexpected people, like the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti.
“With much love on your special day, Kenia, I wish many more years of joy for you to continue helping me as your mayor to make this city, our city, a more fair place, full of opportunities for all,” says Garcetti in a video message.
Mayor Garcetti met Kenia when she was just three years old, during a protest outside City Hall. Then Councilmember Garcetti, he held her in his arms and since then has kept in close contact with Kenia’s mother, María Estrada. Kenia was born in Los Angeles. Her parents are Mexican immigrants. Her mother is a janitor and also a well-known union activist.
Kenia in the arms of the then-councilman Eric Garcetti. Photo Courtesy of the Castillo Family.
“I was so happy when Kenia swore Mayor Garcetti in,” says Estrada.
Kenia’s father works as a tailor. Both would qualify under President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program, or DAPA. During the party, Kenia takes advantage of the moment to reflect publicly on the effect that a judge’s decision to block DAPA has had.
“We were really happy, because not only were my parents going to qualify, but also my aunts,” says Kenia. “It isn’t just one family, but 5 million families that would benefit.”
Kenia’s mother, María Estrada, agrees.
“We have fought for so many years and we are not going to let down our guard now,” says Estrada. “We know right now there is a presidential campaign and they are all attacking each other, but in the end, both Democrats and Republicans need the Latino vote.”
And for that to happen, says Estrada, they will have to win over young people like Kenia, who belong to a generation of children of undocumented immigrants who value the importance of political participation.
Kenia Castillo celebrated her new role as social activist. Photo: Rubén Tapia.
At her young age, Kenia has already started on her own path of social activism. She is one of the founders of the group “Children Over Politics” made up mostly of undocumented youth who last year fasted for a week in solidarity with the Central American children who were detained on the border when they fled violence in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.
“We raised money and collected food for them and we took it to them in San Diego,” remembers Kenia.
She has her heroes. There are two main leaders that Kenia says guide her activism.
“César Chávez and Martin Luther King have inspired me the most,” she says. “César Chávez fighting for the farm workers when they didn’t want to pay them what they owed them and they didn’t want to give them health benefits.”
The Secretary-Treasurer of United Service Workers West, Alejandra Valles, has followed Kenia and other union workers’ children’s activism closely.
The group Children Over Politics during their hunger strike. Photo Courtesy of the SEIU Nurse Alliance of CA.
“To be here with her today, seeing all the potential she has, all the support, not only from this union, but from the community and politicans like Mayor Garcetti, is really important,” says Valles.
Valles is so enthusiastic that she uses these words about Kenia during her birthday party: “We know that one day we are going to see her as governor, senator, or as the first woman mayor of Los Angeles.”
By Rubén Tapia
