From the Fields to the Floor: Teresa Alonso León on Justice, Policy, and Oregon's Senate District 11
Episode Description
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:
From the fields to the floor: Teresa's inspiring path from migrant student to state legislator
Running a multilingual campaign and the power of meeting voters in their own language
Protecting Oregon's immigrant community amid rising fears and federal pressure
Landmark legislation Teresa championed, including paid family leave, health care for all kids, and Oregon's sanctuary law
Tackling homelessness through mental health investment, affordable housing, and wrap-around services
The broken bridge between education and employment — and how to fix it
Urban growth boundaries, affordable housing, and the real cost of building in Oregon
Why your local vote matters more than you think — and how to make sure you're registered
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome to Metronome Studio
02:10 – The power of personal invitations and community events
04:30 – Kids, phones, and growing up connected
08:11 – Senate District 11: Teresa's background and motivation for running
11:00 – From migrant student to GED to college — Teresa's education journey
14:49 – Getting into politics: city council, state legislature, and beyond
20:03 – Running a multilingual campaign in 2016
22:29 – Why Teresa is running again — and what's at stake for immigrant families
27:28 – Homelessness, mental health, and the housing crisis
35:00 – Workforce development, the trades, and closing the education-to-employment gap
43:41 – Legislation Teresa is most proud of
47:46 – Health equity and access to care for all Oregon kids
49:01 – Affordable housing, urban growth boundaries, and protecting farmland
56:37 – Get out and vote — why local elections change your life