OCA - GREATER SEATTLE CHAPTER
Velma Veloria: Community Hero
By James Kuo, May 2003
OCA-GS Essay Contest Winner
“We've told you about this for years! And you've done nothing about it! Now look what has happened!” The memory of a small woman barely five feet tall shouting down the mayor still manages to conjure up feelings of awe within me. From that first encounter with her to today as I reflect on what she has accomplished, 11th District State Representative Velma Veloria has always stood out as someone I respected and admired for her leadership, kind personality, and strong commitment to advocating for equality.
Velma Veloria will always be one of my role models because of the tremendous leadership ability she has shown. Time and again, she has not been afraid to voice her opinion and organize support for causes that others would shy away from. Veloria organized review classes for prospective medical personnel from the Philippines when the US government required them to pass a state board examination geared towards native-born students. As a state representative, she has proved her leadership on an international scale by leading trade delegations to Asia and the Pacific Rim and a humanitarian mission to Cuba to strengthen functional ties. When state legislation on “anti-terrorism” was being shepherded through the legislature, she spoke out and was one of only a few representatives that voted against it, even with the risk of being labeled unpatriotic because she knew that it was wrong and unfair. She has also demonstrated her remarkable leadership ability by continually doing outreach at community events where she puts people at ease with her considerate personality.
Representative Veloria has always struck me as one of the kindest people that I know. Her office is always an open door for her constituents and anyone else that would like to share their opinion. She often greets people that she knows with a hug, showing compassion and empathy. When my peers and I in the Northwest Asian Weekly program were at a conference with the former mayor, he tried to write us off by speaking over our voices. Representative Veloria passionately came to our defense and made sure that our voice would be heard.
I have great respect for Velma because the voices that she advocates for are often the ones that usually go unheard. When the Seahawks built their new stadium, she pushed them to expand food service options to include Asian cuisine and Mexican food. She has sponsored bills to make housing more available for the poor and has advocated for poorer communities where and factories and the pollutants they emit fill the air. Last July, she rushed to aid a woman who was imprisoned by the INS for meaningless reasons. She also has sponsored legislation to protect victims of trafficking and domestic violence, people who often keep silent until it becomes too late.