Raul

I was born and raised in a small village called Veracruz, Mexico, in a modest home with eight family members. Life changed dramatically when I was still very young — my father left, and my mother was suddenly faced with the tremendous challenge of raising six children on her own.

From an early age, I stepped in to help care for my siblings and support our household. I entered the workforce young, taking on all kinds of sales jobs in the retail industry. Even then, I carried a dream deep in my heart — to one day open my own retail business. But given the hardships we faced, that dream always felt out of reach.

As time passed, the economic situation in Veracruz remained difficult. After doing everything I could to help stabilize my family's life, I made one of the hardest but most hopeful decisions of my life: I moved to the United States in search of opportunity and a better future.

My journey in America has been nothing short of an adventure. I first settled in the Fruitvale District of Oakland, where I began working as a dishwasher in a local pub. I worked my way up — from dishwasher to busboy, and eventually to cashier. Each job was a stepping stone, and through hard work and perseverance, I managed to save enough money to finally take a leap of faith.

Eighteen years ago, I opened Fashion Palace, the retail business I had always dreamed of. It's not just a store — it's a symbol of resilience, vision, and community.

Since then, I’ve remained deeply rooted in the Fruitvale community. I’m a proud political activist and community advocate, always seeking ways to give back and support local efforts around civil rights, community development, and economic opportunity.