In late 2024, Rachel Hernandez ran a successful campaign to become mayor of Riverbank, California. A small town at the top of the state's central valley, Riverbank may not fit into what you imagine as California. There are no beaches or Hollywood signs here. The town follows the rhythm of the harvest with workers passing through following the crops. If Riverbank isn't your typical California town, Rachel Hernandez isn't your typical mayor. But she doesn't shy away from that fact.

Hernandez has made her identity a central part of her governing and campaigning. She's young. She's Latina. She's the daughter of immigrants. She's a renter, not a homeowner. In this way, she represents exciting generational changes in who is claiming stewardship of American cities and towns. How does she do it? The answer is actually pretty simple: partnerships. This episode of Building Local Power features Rachel Hernandez sharing her insights on all that and more. Have a listen to what the future of local governance looks like.
The Secret Mall Apartment was their way to become developers in their own right. In the wake of corporate developers claiming every inch of available space, these artists found some space of their own to develop, hidden in plain sight within the mall. The project is the subject of the new documentary Secret Mall Apartment, and one of its stars joins us on this episode of Building Local Power. Our conversation with Adriana Valdez Young explains why the apartment was more than just a prank, how the mall forever altered Providence, and why inclusive design is essential for healthy urban development. Listen in, and never look at a mall the same way again.

For the full transcript and related resources, visit the episode page:
https://ilsr.org/articles/blp-rachel-hernandez-on-governing-as-a-first-generation-mayor