Our President

My name is Rick Gonzales,  Jr., President of the Mexican American Concilio of Yolo County.  I am married to Erlinda Gonzales and we have four children, Eva Martinez of Davis, Alma Gonzales Glawson of Rohnert Park, Rosie Gonzales, and Rick Gonzales of Ewa Beach, Oahu Hawaii.  I have four grandchildren,  Rosie and Analiza Martinez of Davis, and Ricardo and Riana of Hawaii.

I was an elementary teacher in the Sacramento City Unified School District.  I became a member of the Concilio in 1995, first on the Board of Directors and then was voted Vice President.  In 2000, I became the President.  I was re-elected President in 2004 and 2008.

I grew up in Woodland, graduating from Woodland High School in 1964.  After graduation from high school, I joined the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1967 after serving in Vietnam.  I enrolled and graduated from Sacramento City College in 1969 and later graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 1972.

I began my teaching career at Sacramento High School in 1972 as a Special Education Teacher.  I coached the varsity soccer team (men's and women's) until 1990.  In 1993, I returned to CSU, Sacramento to earn a Master's Degree in Educational Administration.  Upon graduating in 1995, I became Vice Principal at Luther Burbank High School in Sacamento.  I eventually went back to my first love of teaching at the elementary school level as a P.E. teacher. After eleven years teaching elementary P.E., I retired in June 2008 with thirty- seven years of service.  I was charter member of the first Davis Human Relations Commission in 1983 and became chair in 1988.  I was appointed to the Yolo County Fair Board  Board in 2000 by former Governor Gray Davis. We improved the Fair by increasing revenue every year since 2000.  I was terminated in 2007 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As leader of the Yolo County Concilio, I am very proud that the main focus of this organization is to give scholarships to deserving high school students in Yolo County as well as adult grants to persons in need and organizations who help the low income population of our county.

I would like to invite everyone to our Annual Recognition Dinner/Dance on the third Saturday in October at the Yolo CountyFairgrounds in Woodland.  We honor the top fourteen Latino students (one female and one male from each Yolo County high school).  They are nominated by their schools and are recognized for their GPA as well as community/school involvement. At this event, we also honor 10-15 adults who have made a positive impact on the Latino Community.

"Our next fundraiser will be held October 17, 2009...".  Please join us and support our scholarship program.  Calendar of Events