From the Fields to the Floor: Teresa Alonso León on Justice, Policy, and Oregon's Senate District 11

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem!

In this episode, recorded live at Metronome Studio, host Jacob Espinoza sits down with Teresa Alonso León — former Oregon state legislator and current candidate for Senate District 11 — to discuss her remarkable journey from migrant farmworker to lawmaker, and her vision for the communities she hopes to serve.

In this episode, we cover:

1. From the fields to the floor: Teresa's inspiring path from migrant student to state legislator
2. Running a multilingual campaign and the power of meeting voters in their own language
3. Protecting Oregon's immigrant community amid rising fears and federal pressure
4. Landmark legislation Teresa championed, including paid family leave, health care for all kids, and Oregon's sanctuary law
5. Tackling homelessness through mental health investment, affordable housing, and wrap-around services
6. The broken bridge between education and employment — and how to fix it
7. Urban growth boundaries, affordable housing, and the real cost of building in Oregon
8. Why your local vote matters more than you think — and how to make sure you're registered

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 – Welcome to Metronome Studio
2. 02:10 – The power of personal invitations and community events
3. 04:30 – Kids, phones, and growing up connected
4. 08:11 – Senate District 11: Teresa's background and motivation for running
5. 11:00 – From migrant student to GED to college — Teresa's education journey
6. 14:49 – Getting into politics: city council, state legislature, and beyond
7. 20:03 – Running a multilingual campaign in 2016
8. 22:29 – Why Teresa is running again — and what's at stake for immigrant families
9. 27:28 – Homelessness, mental health, and the housing crisis
10. 35:00 – Workforce development, the trades, and closing the education-to-employment gap
11. 43:41 – Legislation Teresa is most proud of
12. 47:46 – Health equity and access to care for all Oregon kids
13. 49:01 – Affordable housing, urban growth boundaries, and protecting farmland
14. 56:37 – Get out and vote — why local elections change your life