By Sheri Leigh, first published in the Benicia Herald on July 27, 2024

There are many unsung heroes who are quietly hidden away in our small City of Benicia. Today, I want to recognize and honor two of those heroes who are just getting started – Joanna Toledano, age 17 and Roxane Bernahe Nunez, age 18. These close friends and recent BHS graduates are already on a mission to help the underserved survive and thrive.

Joanna is an only child, born to Mexican-American immigrants from the State of Morelos. She grew up in Benicia and attended the public school system all the way from elementary school through high school. She enjoys hanging out with her friends, dancing, and science. She graduated with honors and in the top 10% of her class. She plans on attending Diablo Valley Community College for the next two years and then transferring to St. Mary’s College in Moraga to begin her preparations to become a Nurse Practitioner.

Roxane, also an only child, lives with her mother and grandmother, both of whom immigrated here from Torreón, Mexico. Like Joanna, Roxane went through the Benicia school system and graduated with honors, receiving The Golden State Merit Diploma Seal for outstanding grades. She spends a lot of time with her family and friends and works at a local restaurant. Roxane is looking forward to attending the pre-nursing program (Allied Health) at Diablo Valley Community College and finishing up her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at UCLA or Sacramento State. Eventually, she would like to volunteer in foreign countries where she can help provide necessary medical care to those who don’t have access. Roxane was inspired by her mother who wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse, but didn’t have the proper guidance to help her navigate the complicated process to get to college and was unable to afford it without financial aid.

Roxane and Joanna are the first ones in their family to graduate from high school and will be the first to attend college.

Both young women are exemplary, but what makes them stand out is their dedication to their community and the unparalleled service work they performed. Roxane and Joanna spent a great deal of their senior year researching how to access local free and low-cost services for food, housing, legal and medical care and providing this information to people in need. And they did this on their own. It was not a requirement, nor an assignment. They saw a need, and together they decided to do something about it. For this, the girls were the first recipients in Benicia to receive the prestigious California State Seal of Civic Engagement award. And their work on this project inspired Roxane and Joanna to remain committed to helping those who most need it.

Also behind their motivation to help the disparaged is their personal experience. As American girls born to Mexican parents, Roxane and Joanna both feel they are part of two distinct cultures, yet don’t completely fit into either. Both girls were born in the United States, and neither one has ever been to Mexico, so in many ways they feel 100% American. They are also very proud of their Mexican heritage and very much relate to being Chicanas. For example, because of their love for the Spanish language both girls sought and earned the California State Seal of Biliteracy for their high level of proficiency in Spanish, as well as English.

Living in a Mexican family comes with cultural expectations that are different from most American households. For example, the family is the center of Mexican culture, and they are expected to participate in more household chores and spend more time with their family than their white friends. However, because they are part of a minority, they often feel less recognized for their achievements than white students. Joanna expressed her dismay when she saw other dancers in her troupe being selected for primary roles while she was overlooked, not because of their superior dance skills, but because of the white European-American beauty standards of our society. And sadly, both young women have been and still are regular witnesses to or are recipients of random discriminatory and racist remarks and behaviors. Joanna even overheard one outspoken woman say to her father, “You shouldn’t be making that kind of money,” as though someone like him doesn’t deserve to earn a good living.

And with the increased activities of immigration under the directive of the federal administration, some of their friends and family members have become fearful and reclusive, even when their immigration status is solid. Both Roxane and Joanna know people who are not attending social events or classes, or going to work or even to the doctor because they are afraid of being arrested and deported.

Joanna and Roxane want to dedicate their lives to helping those who feel isolated, can’t afford necessary things, and are unable to live a free and productive life. They want to continue their efforts to help connect available services to the people who need them. Their intended career paths are leading them to a life of service by bringing basic health needs to an underserved population.

When asked what advice they would give to other young people, Joanna and Roxane had similar responses. They advised young people to live in the moment and be grateful for the good times. In their experience, nothing is permanent – not even your sense of well-being or safety. And their biggest piece of advice is to never let the fear stop you.

These Benicia girls are both fearless and unstoppable!