Patricia Perez and Norma Perez

00:03 My name is Norman, Anna Faris and I am 51. I have two grown children and two grandkids, and I am here on this, wonderful day to interview my sister Patricia Perez.

00:17 Patricia Perez, I'm 61 years old today is June. 19th, 2021. I'm in Eagle Rock Los Angeles, and I'm being interviewed by my sister, not Melina Perez.

00:37 Well, Patricia, Our Story begins not too long ago. But yes, in a way long time ago. Remember the day that we met tell me a little bit and the day that we met. I know it's crazy, isn't it? They were sisters that we talked about the tea that we know which is crazy. But that is that is such a story, you know, like that and actually go to my I had known about you for for sometime, you know, what heart, another sister and you know her sister Eden. They had to hold because you guys knew each other from school or something. And you guys were friends and eaten it would always come and and tell me, you know, we do have another sister and Norma and she's waited. But by then, you know, we said, you know of my other other sister Louisa was at that time, you know, just

01:37 Labels, so I was taking care of her. My hands were full and you didn't keep saying, you need to meet Norma. You need to meet Norma and and I was just like, you know yet my hands were so full of being a caregiver for you Lisa.

01:58 So you didn't force the issue and I'll never forget us together at her wedding. So that is true. I had my cousin from Mexico who I had not seen for years at the table. I had a crew Suisse and then I have the pleasure of meeting you has to adjust to, you know, gives herself a little background, Our Father, you know, that, you know, are and we kept it is who, you know, we lost a couple of years ago. He told me about you and you know where we are siblings, you know, by father and we have four of us lived in the sand.

02:45 For the longest time I wanted to meet you. But then again, you know, he was telling us, you know, it's not the right time not the right time and it was so funny to say, you know, I have a sister and a brother and another sister and sister of it, but we didn't have the time to meet each other until a wedding. We met each other on a wedding. It's so, you know, it took that day, but then it took more years to get to know each other. And then I was looking at a restaurant. I was a single mother and then you offered me a position at this big company that everybody knows if public relations and you changed my life. And I'm working at this big company and you made my dreams come true. And I want to talk about that because you made a lot of people's dreams come true too. But before we get there, I want to know really who is Patricia.

03:45 Part of our story. I want to know, you know, where did you come from? And I'll sew buttons that way cuz there's a lot of things. I don't know about. You still, you know, where were you, born and upbringing, send because we have to start from the beginning. So, you know, tell me a little bit about you. Yeah, but first of all, you know, each other even though we're sisters, but what I absolutely love is that many times, you know, our history either it could you can either let us thank you or you rise above it and and and and with us, I mean no no thanks to our father little boat boat and Ray kissing you. But no thanks your father. We all came together, you know, all these siblings, you know, half-brothers and half-sisters we all came together. And I mean, I I couldn't be prouder of my life, wouldn't be stronger and more complete because of all of you.

04:45 And I think that's also a really great attitude, even because I know like you, you and I both have other siblings from, you know, that Mom's side. And so it is that flexibility that that I love, you know, it in our family. But I do want to tell you not about that that we do come from a long line of very strong women. My, you know, my dad's grandmother, you know, our great-grandmother. She was in Pancho Villa's Army. I know, she knew she wasn't. She was a bunch of yes, and I have pictures with her. I don't remember her because I was, you know, really young but I went because I was raised by my grandparents. So when I was little, I would hear all these stories. All these time is in, vitro that stories about her.

05:39 But she was a Pantera the Midwife the Midwife in by phileas Army and in those, you know, and I know times are the women traveled with a troops. That's that's why many are great. And, for example, our grandmother was born in modified texts. We have another great, aunt, that was born in Brownsville, you know, which till whenever like a bunch of yesterday would come to the u.s. To get money into a little, women will have babies. So that's why all, you know, all our plans were born All Over, Texas. And that's, I think one of the reasons why I ended up in in Texas, but I wanted to share us a story that my grandmother would share about her mom. Is that I tell you my my your our great-grandmother was

06:31 Midwife. And so she delivered the babies of all the women in the camp. And sometimes when the women would lose their husbands in the war, they would continue with where they would continue with the, with the troops. It will continue in in battle other soldiers would just take them on. And so sometimes you have to deliver her husband's babies. And and I remember my grandmother telling me that my husband's not like a pair of shoes that you don't throw them away when they don't fit you or the style is gone, you know, and so managed, it takes a strong woman to do that, you know, to hang in there and let alone be embattled. But let alone, you would women have to do, you know it in battle and be a midwife. And and so I think those jeans,

07:31 Continue because I see how how strong women are in our family and even even my mother for example, even my mother.

07:46 You know Mike my husband, I'm sorry. My dad obviously married a very strong woman. She was attracted to the strong woman. My mother was a bit older than then my dad and and then when you know, she got pregnant and he took off and and she was there with with two baby girls, you know, my sister Louisa and with me and job. And at that time, I mean she was poor and she was Mexico, Port, not us. This is dirt floor.

08:19 You know, cardboard box door and I was, you know, since I was born in the United States, she gave me to my grandparents to raise and so I never meant, I never lived with my mother. I never lived with my mother and I never appreciate it. That sacrifice until I became a mother and just thinking about what it would take to hand your baby off to another person to raise just because you know, that they would give that baby a better. Life is is unbelievable to me that it's a strong woman to take to make a strong woman and I and I, I see it in you all the time. But what part of Mexico is it? Do you know, you lived at me? Cuz then I know that, you know, throughout Mexico, but the place that I know you.

09:19 Length and width very hard core. Well, my my mother's family was from the language. I never lived with him. I just heard about them and then they all came, you know, to Juarez and you know, where in El Paso and of course, you know, my grandparents when they came to the United States and put like one sport in the US is that this is what you do and that's when you and I were raised and

09:52 The funny thing is that, you know, we were really tell you, we were raised by our grandparents, but it was almost like a halfway house of family because Louisa and I were there. But then we had cousins and, you know, third cousins and second cousins in and show our whole lives. It was always like full of kids, which I can I cannot leave. And I tell you once again, now that I'm older, I can imagine at my age right now, having may be living with like five teenagers and one house and that's what my grandfather did Imagine. But you never turn down family and you do what you need to do, but I think that's also what the rate of descent the

10:38 I like compassion and empathy and giving back. I have a really really strong in my core descendants of giving back to others to my community. I think it comes from our history from my grandparents, never turning anybody down and they needed us, you know, they were welcomed my grandmother. I remember you then, you know, when I was little part of my job was at lunch time. She would send me, do you know, give food to some of the older, the neighbors, and I didn't, I didn't realize it, but which I did not mind, you know, I would go take the plates and then have to run and collect the place. That would love such thing as paper plates, that, you know, so I would run and do this food food delivery person.

11:38 Soup, that was dangerous, but

11:43 You know, she did that and we were, you know, we were before we were even with that. She still felt this sense of. Let's get back and I think this stop the sense of obligation to give to others and do better and no matter how bad you have it just people who have a war since I think wasn't still twist, we were kids but I wanted to share some of these stories with you and Norma because you don't know this, you know, any we know we know each other but we really don't you don't know what what did it what inspired you when you were in elementary school, you know, and motivated to do to be where you are right. Now, you know that the reality is in El Paso in the Barrio. I mean, you don't know what you don't know, my my baby green growing up was to working out.

12:43 The factory because the factory was right there in a block from from our house though. Bata factory with a mate slacks. And you know, at 3 or 5:00 would be the the ladies walking out of their Factory. And we would play by putting tape that would, I would put Band-Aids around my fingers and that was because I wasn't working late it because they would. So, you know, they would so and sometimes, you know, they would get the ladies would get cut. So when I was a little girl, that was my big dream, so I would put little tapes, Band-Aids around my finger is pretending that I was working lady.

13:21 And so that was my Big Dreams, you know, working in a factory. And then, you know, going to school and I went to school in the Barrio. I didn't even realize that I was in the Honor Society. I didn't realize how easy school came to me. I didn't realize things were easier for me. You know, I never sends how difficult it was for others. It was just like, oh, I would read something and then get a raise and I didn't spend that until later when people start talking about college. And then I said, what

14:07 And also, that's who is your, who is your inspiration, what teacher, you know, gave you that key of education and said, hey, you're going to call it. It was, we had. Yeah, it was actually through Sports, it was through mr. My penis and mrs. Contreras, a little Patterson that they were the one, who, who would talk about, you know, college and other opportunities. And they would do that with, without many of the students through Athletics, through Athletics, because they didn't even know that, you know, my, I guess my ability to educate my GPA. They do, you know, they just knew me as me and they saw the potential and it what was talked about having bigger dreams and going off to school, but they were talking about, you know, go to LA or go to New York or, you know, they would talk about

15:07 Go to UTEP, go to Sul, Ross, go to just, so we knew what we knew it in El Paso. And then when we Solutions was the first one who believed in Paso, so she left and came out here with my dad, you know, he was living in in Los Angeles and and then she realized man their jobs at schools is opportunities. And so then she went back home and said we're all moving to LA. And so what sports did I know? Embarrassing Lee? Well, what no, actually, you know, I used to play volleyball which was you, no fun in a really fun cheerleading because there were that many sports or cheerleading to come to. This is an embarrassingly basketball at 5 feet. All I played basketball with and that's the part that is hilarious to this day. Frank, my husband and I

16:07 Show me because my friends whenever the school was winning by like 30 points and they were 10 seconds left or so. They would start sanding Pad. See. I did not know that. I didn't know you were into or to this is something. So let me check and Norma. I am so sorry. I haven't told you this but seriously, it Sports is what really transformed my life. Not only did it. Give me the discipline, the competitiveness. I mean, that's why I'm like Riven when it comes to my competitive Spirit was because of Athletics and we were a tiny. No, nothing School in the Barrio, but the coaching staff lettuce department. They didn't treat us as such they pushed and pushed and pushed. And I mean, these are the old days, you know, they would never get away with it now.

17:07 But you know, we were all City Champs in the bar. So I have got to control fees and stuff like that. But you was really Athletics. That gave me that sense of of accomplishment of camaraderie, of teamwork, of setting goals, but really it's a competitiveness and now that I own a business, I mean, it in business, you get kicked around a lot, you know you, there's, you know, really high highs and lows but it's that sense of picking yourself up and being better than you were yesterday and trying hard. All of that. I really, you know, the tribute to my coaches and these people inspired me and

17:59 Leah Patterson tiny. Is it was it was a private school in the last because my grandfather did not want me to go to the public school, you know, I was getting into a lot of fights, you know, I was up here, you know, that girl games and not have me going to to the high school even though it was a block away from our house. So he found out about this little private school. It was a Methodist School in the body. He found out that I mean, of course they had to issue which he could not afford, but he heard about Athletics. And he said, do you play sports had never even picked up a ball at that? So during the summer, I learn how to play volleyball and then they have their little tryouts. I tried out and I made the team and that's how I was able to get a scholarship. So my grandfather said you're going to need to learn some sport girls.

18:59 I picked up a ball and learn how to play volleyball over the summer. And that's great. That's the opposite team from University and you guys have some amazing, you know, your picnic or or Gatherings at your house and I love to be there cuz you're always lying to divide a teens and it's amazing. But you're at your first day in college. Do you know, how did you feel coming from a small? Venus school to Vista ganttic University? You know, how did you feel if you feel like an outsider needed to feel, you know, how I'm making it? How is your days there? Cuz I know that I would feel.

19:41 Differently. And did you feel like, you know, what, part of something new, you were finally successfully coming in at your place that you feel at home. And how is your your your stay there? It was a combination of things. My entire High School, the entire High School in a tussle was smaller than one of my classes at UCLA. I mean I had classes at Waterworld almost 500 students, you know, I'm in auditory big on Troy and I remember it and no matter where you go, you find somebody who, you know, somebody you met a friend of a friend families of Super Market grocery in all the time. And I remember sitting in my class and UCLA and looking around wondering like, who do I know here and realizing you nobody?

20:33 And then walking around campus. If we was a combination of things, one thing was that it was overwhelming uuc just California and how Lush and green BB gun from the desert. I mean, desert desert, right? So you come and I'll send the Lawns and flowers and just a beauty of the campus is just overwhelming and then the number of people. And but the thing that really ticked me was that this is not just me is, even now that UCLA has this this program called Jennifer 12th strangers, while we're alumni can host students to dinner and students are usually overwhelmed when they go to UCLA because they were rock stars in high school and then they come to you say,

21:33 Play Under average and that's what happened to me. Now that I was a rockstar, but you know, I have such a wonderful High School experience and then you come to this University and you realize you're just ordinary.

21:49 And so that was my opening. But I tell you you have to pull, you know, dig deep, deep deep to pull, you know, all the strength of all these forever. I got this sense of accomplishment to do that because I think I was ready to quit, you know, every day of the week and yet I think I was one of my proudest moment. It was when I got my diploma.

22:19 My UCLA diploma because, you know, I did it. Without, of course, scholarships. I did it. I had to work and I was working full-time. Going to school full-time caregiver of my sister at that time, but my grandfather because that was the other thing that I was a grand piano for my grandfather. And when I receive my diploma, it was, it was

22:47 The proudest moment of my life.

22:51 I wish I could have been there, and he said, you know, your accomplishments there. Did you feel you you found your identity, you know, you know, I know that they have support groups like the one you mentioned, you know, that dinner for 12, stranger there. What were your barriers, you know, at that point and how did you find your support, you know, during that time? You know, how how did you find? You know that, that he'll that you needed to climb? And you knew you got now your full-time job and you know, you were caregiver. And then of course you were also, you know, somewhat taking care of Lisa, even though she wasn't at that time yet, but still hurt our sister. Yeah.

23:41 You know, and it's it's also difficult. Let me know. You know, I love you CLA, but I was a commuter I was a commuter student so I couldn't enjoy really get a living on campus or are enjoying the full experience. The college experience because you know, you couldn't then the other thing is that, you know, you have to work your all that and then coming from it was pretty much. I'm a Chicano City. I mean, I think it's like almost 78% of the city is Mexican, Mexican Mexican. So then coming here, right? This is what I actually am in one second while and that was the first time I realized I was a minority.

24:25 I never had seen myself as different doors on my door and then all the sudden, you know, I saw myself as a minority, which was you no different. The the coolest thing was that I was an English major, and there was one other Latina English major, and we found each other. My girlfriend's Behavior Turner and Sylvia Turner, and I found each other at UCLA. And we immediately gravitated to each other and we're like cleaning on for dear life. Right? As it said, let us into this day. She lives like, you know a couple of miles away from me with them friends since but it was wonderful that all the sudden I found somebody, you know, kindred spirit somebody who had a similar experience and so yeah, it would it help me sleep.

25:25 Me and to this day. We're still friends. Good friends. Then you start working for this company BP. How is your your experience coming into this, you know, company and then you become part of the YMCA at the time, cleaning their Communications. And and then all of a sudden night. I received this call from these two guys telling me that they want to start the nation's, you know, what was the first national Latino own Communications agency? And

26:13 It if I wanted to join them. And, you know, it scary coming from an organization that was a hundred and fifty years old going to wonder was a startup but I thought sure why not. I was young, I was going to do it now is the time and so I did I I took the plunge and we started BP at the time and we had our moments, you know, his many business owners may know, the moment when you're starting up and it's payroll time and you show up at the bank with all your credit cards in you say, how much can I get in this car? And how much can I get in the other? So the employees could get paid.

26:57 And, you know, fortunately that did not last very long or Janet Lee, you know, in a year or two we were doing great and we've never looked back but it really did start. I know they've got it started with his vision. It started with his vision of not only doing great work, right? A lot of Latino Communications agency in national scale, but the other passion was that we wanted to help diversify the communication profession. We didn't see a lot of Latinos in Communications that were major companies that were marketing to 2. Oz. Of course, people saw the writing on the wall. The population growth that was taking place, but the people leading those efforts, when did not reflect us or culture did not understand us. So that was one of our driving principles. You know, what's 2?

27:57 The war-torn that effort educating the clients and then helping, you know, people that's why we started immediately. As soon as we started the company. We started an internship program, a paid internship. How many internships you do at that time? Where you from day one? We paid entrance. We my partner, John into that. They helped found the hpra, the Hispanic public relations Association. Try to trying to use their professional skills to advance the profession.

28:32 Amazing. What has been one of your, you know, biggest challenges, you know working with this company at the very beginning that you thought you were just going to throw the Hat.

28:44 What what are the challenges was that? You start many people start a business because they do something. Well, so we all thought we had this Vision. We were getting good in Communications, but nobody starts a business making. No, I'm going to do, you know HR and I'm going to do it, you know, a piano spreadsheet and you know,

29:07 You know, all these compliance, the requirements and certification and so the the challenge was doing what you do and becoming a business at the same time.

29:22 So that that was a little bit of a learning curve for us to start functioning as a real business. We knew we nailed, we have the skills. We knew that we didn't know the business side of running an agency. And so at that point, I became the managing partner because I was the one who or what? You don't take all these duties on. So there was a little bit of a learning curve. We were okay until you from the communication side. We understood. We did well, but it was that that rose that learning curve. That was a serious dump for us.

30:10 From all your clients and don't mention, which ones have you picked, you know, as a, as a good example or as they would say, keep learning from all of them, you know, that you understand more and more the business of PR. You know, I don't want to take one. I really it's all of them, because the great thing about owning your own business is that you can pick your clients. I mean, you really do once you pass that curve where you need the money, then you can pick and choose your client. So now, I'm extremely fortunate that every I'm proud of every single, one of my of my clients. And now I am mature enough and strong enough that I really use that opportunity to, to teach them and help them grow his company.

31:10 Can understand the Multicultural markets, a little bit better than when, before I started. And so, you know, when I still continue the the tenants that you're the principles of when we started our business, I still continue them today hiring and training, good, people, and giving them the opportunity to enter this amazing feel. Well. I just wanted to say on a personal note that you change and inspired me more than anybody. I think in the company, I am a single mother and I work in a restaurant that it was pretty much taking my whole time and you offered me a position. And of course you offer me something else, then that still has to come by. I'm still paying for that. But anyways, I could change my life because when I joined VP, it was some

32:10 A totally new for me. I learned what precipitation was hard work. I learned, of course, the field of PR and, and I was working at that time for a social media, Which social media. Now means totally something different, and I had the wonderful experience of of starting or working with you, the five a day camping. And I doubt that was fun. And I got to know. Fresno. And Visalia really? Well, we, we were very blessed to work with the Disney name of the Disney campaign. And then, from there, I transition and I remember when they offered me, the job, I went to your office and I said I'm talking to you as my sister, not as my boss. They're offering me the position. What do you say? And you like, almost to make my head. Let you know, what the hell?

33:04 We can go for it and it doesn't work. You know, you can always come back and I was very blessed for that and I've been there went 16 years now. So if me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for always being my New Year, myself made my rock and dumb. I've always admire you for forgiving us that opportunity and I just for me but for many many people that I've worked in your company and I just wanted to ask you, how does it feel to be like we say in Spanish? I'm a mother Los pollitos. What is how do you feel knowing that so many people have been in your in your in your company and have grown to be so successful. Some has started their own PR companies as well as some have been in. So many big corporations. And you know, how does that make you feel?

33:53 Of course, proud, incredibly proud but really, I mean, the the pride comes with just giving them the opportunity than they would if they would have done great, no matter where because these are good people, talented people like you, all you needed was an opportunity. That's all. So the pride is being able to have something to offer them to you know, launch them because this is you know, the cream of the crop, you know that they're all outstanding and it just give me a great pride to know that I played a real small role in their trajectory because you seriously not my just with your talent with your skills, with your personality. You would have done. Well, no matter where, if you had stayed there you would have did, you know opened up ten restaurant? And I don't know what because, you know, that's who you are. And the fact that are real.

34:53 Pause the music through this field makes me proud, but I just think that, you know, you just see, I'm, I'm proud that I can see the

35:07 Yeah, the diamond in the Rock at that. I'm proud of, you know, the other thing I don't have many regrets in my life actually know. I have a bunch of regrets but I wouldn't change one thing. You know, it's like, yes, I regret lots of things but I would not change one thing because that's you know, that made me who I am. But if I could change, one thing would be that I wouldn't have told Irene. I didn't want to meet you before, you know, my my I tell you I was overwhelmed. I was you know, I felt like I was drowning, you don't be my sister's caregiver was practically a full-time job.

35:50 And you know, it and just staying afloat, still running my company and being with her and I just I felt like I couldn't take more when in reality. I should forget it. I just have one final question.

36:07 How do you want to be remembered among all your peers among their family among everybody? That loves you care for you. How do you want to be remembered really? Just

36:19 Then I gave him my all and I know that I had that I didn't leave anything behind, you know, what other sports you do now. Just leave it all on the field. And that was it that I used to every single moment to push equity and inclusion and diversity and just raise people's expectations. And that what, that's it. You know, that's what I want to be known for for just

36:47 Yeah, giving it my all.

36:50 And you did and you are and you continue doing it and I'm just going to say I'm very proud of you. You're not just my sister. You are my rock. Like I say, and if you don't like it.