Ceci Velasquez in Working Towards a Second Session in the Arizona State Legislature

By: Cindy G. Castillo

“I’m not a politician. I’m a mother first.”

That’s the message that drives Ceci Velasquez as she prepares her journey towards a second session as House Representative. She serves Legislative District 29 at the Arizona Legislature, covering west Phoenix, Glendale and Litchfield Park.

“[Motherly] instincts will always be part of my decision-making, and that’s what makes me real,” Velasquez said. “My son, he just came out of prison after seven years; it was really hard, but I learned through that process that I need to get more involved.”

Ceci was born and raised in Phoenix and is a second generation Mexican-American. Using her 12 years of experience as a social worker for the State of Arizona, she has now become a vivid advocate for education, equality issues, and juvenile justice causes.

She recently founded the Arizona Guidance Organization, a nonprofit organization that provides support to families with incarcerated loved ones.

“We want to just give them the resources and connect them with the right people,” she said, “even if it’s just visitation or background checks to visit their loved ones. I’ve been there, and I just want to be a resource for people so they can understand the process.”

Charlene Fernandez, Representative for Legislative District 4 says she feels proud of the work Velasquez is doing to help her cause. “She taught me a lot about the prison population, and how when we put somebody in prison, it affects not only that prisoner, but the whole family and people don’t think about that. She really brought that to my attention and I’m really proud of her nonprofit.”

Velasquez earned her associate’s degree and paralegal certificate from Phoenix College and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in nonprofit leadership and management from Arizona State University. She’s also become an advocate for education, equality issues, juvenile justice causes and at-risk teens.

Having been re-elected for a second term, Velasquez says she feels energized, and ready to start making a change.

“I’m a little scared, it’s hard work, but I’m excited,” she says, “getting re-elected, you are expected to be at a certain level, and I really want to make some changes. Instead of pushing through good legislation, we’re fighting off bad legislation.”

Not only does Velasquez see a plan for the future, but she’s also looking forward to the legacy she wants to leave once her session is over.

“I want to set the goal of doing something good. If I don’t come back, I want to leave a mark, I want to do something to give back,” she explained. “The fact that I’ve struggled in my life is what makes me feel like I should be here. There needs to be a voice of reason, someone that has been there and that has struggled.”