Former NASA astronaut José Hernández knows what it’s like for a place and its people to be defined by their reputation. He also knows perseverance when he sees it.
Hernández grew up in Stockton, where he worked early mornings as a farmworker before going to school. He dreamed of traveling to space but faced a difficult path as he navigated life as a first-generation citizen and the first in his family to attend college. He was rejected by NASA 11 times before finally earning a spot in the astronaut corps on his 12th application, inspiring the Hollywood movie “A Million Miles Away.”
If you go
What: Former astronaut José Hernández is the keynote speaker for the Richmond SOL Community Awards dinner.
When: Sat., Aug. 8; doors open at 5 p.m.
Where: Richmond Police Activities League, 2200 Macdonald Ave.
So naturally, determination is the quality he admires most in others. It’s one of the reasons he agreed to come to Richmond Saturday to serve as the keynote speaker for Richmond SOL‘s first community awards banquet.
Jesus Roberto Felix, a former Richmond SOL soccer player who now helps lead the youth sports nonprofit that shaped his childhood, was a persuasive force in securing Hernández’s appearance. He normally has a four-year waiting list for speaking engagements.
“It was the folks (from SOL) that were insistent, persistent; and I appreciate their perseverance,” Hernández told Richmondside. “The community reminds me of my community growing up in Stockton, and this group seems to be doing a great job at reaching out to the community.”
Richmond SOL wants to highlight people making a difference
Both cities, he said, have long battled negative stereotypes that often overshadow their positive attributes and the people working every day to improve them.
“We need to toot our own horn,” Hernández said. “There’s vast opportunities in both communities, and the only way you’re gonna take advantage of them is to make people aware of what the opportunities are … and by having these types of events to celebrate the accomplishments of our folks.”
That sentiment is what inspired Richmond SOL’s first such event.
Founded in 2003, Richmond SOL, short for Sports, Outreach and Leadership, has spent more than two decades using youth sports to build confidence, leadership and opportunities for young people. What began as a volunteer-run soccer organization now serves hundreds of children through competitive and recreational soccer while also operating Richmond’s first community-based girls volleyball program.
Felix has watched that evolution firsthand.
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“It doesn’t matter where you start, it matters how you get there and where you end up.”
— Astronaut José Hernández
“Richmond and the league has changed so much because people have stepped up to the plate, and people have put it upon themselves to make the city better,” Felix told Richmondside. “Richmond is a very community-oriented place and we just want to continue to celebrate that.”
About 20 years ago, Felix was one of the children running across Richmond soccer fields in a Richmond SOL jersey. Today, he helps guide the organization that once guided him.
Back then, the league would find space at Nicholl Park and just play, he said. The organization also hosted an annual Thanksgiving drive to give back to the community.
“Now there’s systems in place … and we are getting data-driven results (on what works best for our community),” Felix said. “Before, it used to be just a food drive. Now there’s a clothing drive, haircuts for folks and an actual sit-down meal on Thanksgiving Day.”
Felix said neither Richmond nor Richmond SOL changed by accident. It happened because volunteers coached another season. Educators mentored another student. Community leaders organized another event. People kept showing up.
“And if there’s something you know about Richmond is that we love giving awards out, we love commemorating people,” Felix said. “And I think we had a good problem, which is that we had a lot more people worthy of an award than we had awards for.”
The Aug. 8 honorees include former Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter, who will receive the Sports Award; Miriam Wong, executive director of The Latina Center, who will receive the Outreach Award; and Jose de Leon, executive director of West Contra Costa Unified School District, who will receive the Leadership Award.
Felix emphasized that it isn’t a fundraiser. While tickets cost $100, most of the proceeds will cover the event costs, with about 400 guests expected. As part of Hernández’s appearance, a portion of ticket sales will benefit his nonprofit, Reaching for the Stars, which provides science and technology education and scholarships.
The former astronaut, who flew one mission with Space Shuttle Discovery and now works as a motivational speaker, said he has a more than four-years-long waiting list and usually never lets anyone cut the line. This time he made an exception for Richmond SOL.
“The people that contacted me can be credited for persevering so much,” Hernández said.
Felix said he worked hard to get Hernández because he believes his story will resonate with Richmond residents.
“I think his story touches on a lot of things: hard work, perseverance. But he also talks about the value of education,” Felix said. “I just felt like he was a phenomenal candidate to have, and a lot of what Richmond resembles, you know, perseverance, value of education, reaching for your dreams.”
Felix said he understands that the $100 ticket price may be steep, especially for young children, so he encourages people to reach out to SOL to work out different pricing.
“We’re happy to work with other schools, especially schools if they want to bring students,” Felix said. “We want this to be for the community.”
Hernández said while he expects city leaders, elected officials and changemakers to be at the event, he really hopes the room will be filled with children.
“Imagine what I can do when kids see me in person, and especially kids that perhaps look like me, talk like me, and perhaps come from similar socio-economic backgrounds,” Hernández said. “ I think it sends a powerful message that you know it doesn’t matter where you start, it matters how you get there and where you end up.
“I not only give them a license to dream big, but I show them how I did it, so that perhaps they can take that recipe and apply it for their own goals,” Hernández added.
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