Virginia Ramirez, City Council Candidate

A newcomer to city government, Virginia “Vicky” Ramirez has a lot to prove.

Born and raised in Salinas, Ramirez, 28, grew up with parents who worked in agriculture; her father picked celery and her mother picked mustard seed. She was raised in a predominantly Mexican community and sees her fluency in Spanish as a special skill that can help her connect with more people in Richmond.

After moving to Richmond with her family in 1997, she went on to graduate from UC Berkeley with a degree in social welfare. She was initially unable to find work in her field after graduating.

When she finally found a job a Target, she said yes.

She now works as an immigration legal assistant at Catholic Charities of the East Bay, a nonprofit that provides social services for Alameda and Contra Costa counties. She still works at Target on Sundays.

The reason she is running for city council, is to connect people with services.

“How do I get in here to connect people with the city?” Ramirez said. “They think that city council is unreachable.”

If elected, Ramirez intends to push for affordable housing policies. She is a member of Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, an organization working toward “housing and worker justice”. Ramirez is passionate about fighting for housing for all and is a strong proponent of Proposition 10, which aims to make rent control more accessible across the state.

Alma Galvan, a best friend of Ramirez and past volunteer with Catholic Charities of the East Bay, said the candidate is known for her loyalty and dedication. “If she has a deadline, she’ll make it happen,” Galvan said. “If she says she’ll be there, she’ll figure it out one way or another.”