Episode 141: Supporting Leaders to Facilitate Change with Dr. Rick Rodriguez of The Rooted Life
Dr. Rick Rodriguez is a first-generation Mexican American who has lived through and acknowledges the challenges that individuals and communities of color face across our systems. Guided by these experiences, he co-founded the Rooted Life, a bilingual coaching and consulting business that incorporates research-based frameworks to trigger thinking, strategy, and collaboration.
Rick and I had a long conversation about his childhood and the inspiring women in his life — his mother and grandmother. We also get into the systemic barriers in education that were not designed to serve people like him and how that motivated Rick to work in education. This episode will leave you inspired and energized!
Topics Discussed:
How Rick’s job as a banker was transformational
The antiquated nature of our education systems
The Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware
Resources mentioned:
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Read the transcript for this episode:
Welcome to Educator Forever, where we empower teachers to innovate education. Join us each week to hear stories of teachers expanding their impacts beyond the classroom and explore ways to reimagine teaching and learning.
Dr. Rick Rodriguez is a first generation Mexican American who has lived through and acknowledges the challenges that individuals and communities of color face across our systems. Barriers to success have further fueled his mission to ensure that the work is laser-focused on removing such barriers and mindsets for others. Rick brings experience from the corporate K 12 and social sectors, where his leadership has incorporated collaborative approaches to strategies, structures and frameworks that center on the needs of individuals, teams and systems. He is the co founder of the Rooted Life, and is a strong believer in the reality that, Si se puede. He is determined to lead efforts that bring about what is best for all. Welcome, Rick, I'm so thrilled to have you on the podcast.
Rick Rodriguez
Yes, thank you, Lily.
Lily Jones
Absolutely. It's my pleasure. So I always start with the same question that you can take in any direction you want, which is to tell me about your professional journey, or your journey as an educator?
Rick Rodriguez
Sure, and honestly, like it's not just a journey as an educator, it's a lived experience, right?
Lily Jones
Right.
Rick Rodriguez
I think ultimately, what I have learned is like my mother was an educator, even though she wasn't formally an educator. My grandmother was an educator, even beyond her lack of XYZ. I'm a first generation Mexicano Americano. My parents are both from Mexico, both from Mexico City and Guanajuato, the most beautiful places in Mexico and beyond. And although they lacked the language, they lacked the education, they lacked the wherewithal of how to navigate systems, they did not lack a sense of grit and a sense of perseverance and a sense of epic work ethic. And beyond that, they did not lack the dream. So I am fortunate enough to have navigated systems now in this country. I was born in South Texas, Laredo, just south of the border, literally next to Nuevo la dedo Tama Lily pass. So we just shared a bridge with Mexico, literally. And beyond that, I realized that there was something special beyond poverty, right? Like there was a little like speck of like you can do something about doing something different, and I'll show briefly. Growing up, I remember my summers were spent always at summer school, not because I lacked, like the grades, but because my mother knew that if I was in that summer school, I was going to be doing something that was not conducive to something that was going to be positive in my life, part of those summers were also spent alongside my mom. I'll share this. My mother was a cafeteria lady, and she always was mindful of this was the schedule that I need to take care of my kids, because I need to navigate one where they are in the school, but then ultimately also, how do I have the flexibility to provide for them? And part of my summer is because we needed to bridge finances. I remember specifically like our summers were spent in the kitchen, like cutting up fresh fruit, Sandia, melon, mango, Coco, strawberries, grapes, and this was fruit that wasn't like that we were going to eat. This was fruit that we were packing up into cups we were adding our Limon Faheem, little lemon, salt, and my mom and I would hit the streets selling fruit cups. And I share that because education is like so much more than so much more than. Yes, I reflect right now, and I'm sure I'll get emotional at some point, butmshe taught me so much more than I have learned with an education.
Lily Jones
Yes.
Rick Rodriguez
The education, the systems that were built to not serve people that look like me and that's unfortunate. I remember, after graduating from my graduate program at University Houston, I saw a picture and it was our, what I call our first family picture. It was, I'm the youngest of five, by the way.
Lily Jones
I'm the youngest of three.
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, youngest. We were favorite, right?
Lily Jones
I hope so.
Rick Rodriguez
But it's my siblings, my parents, and I'm not in the picture technically, but in my mother. I'm in my mother's womb, and she's graduating with her GED at age 38.
Lily Jones
Amazing.
Rick Rodriguez
And I reflected on that after graduate school and realizing, like, holy crap. Like education is the key, the access. And although they weren't explicit about that being the pathway, they knew,
Lily Jones
Yes.
Rick Rodriguez
So, like, I can't even imagine, like, my mother's own journey to say, Here I am pregnant with my fifth child, and I'm getting my GED, like, the most basic access to education.
Lily Jones
But how amazing. I mean, how a mate like that's such a powerful story and shows so much about her. I mean that it's also never too late to do something like that, and that she worked all this time in various ways, like I see work as a very broad term, right, right? We get to this point, and I think it's just really affirming. And I also want to highlight something you said about that it's like the lived experience of being an educator, and that we need to think more broadly about educators. I think we're all, in some ways, educators, everyone, and we're also always a student. You know, we all live in this like duality of like learning something new all the time, hopefully, and also being able to teach other people and serve other people in that way.
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, 100% and that's what's from my perspective, often missing.
Lily Jones
Yes. Oh, me too.
Rick Rodriguez
[Inaudible] so by like teach the test, or like teach to the curriculum, or teach to XYZ. I think about my own lived experience coming into education, navigating systems that weren't built for us again, but growing up in South Texas, education was okay,right? Like everybody was Latino, everybody spoke Spanish, my teachers, my administrators, you name it, like we were in our own little bubble, but it also kept us from concerns with that. It's very cyclical. It is very cyclical, even within small communities. And I realize ultimately the side note, like growing up knowing that I was struggling with my sexuality, was like, I can't do this here.
Lily Jones
Yeah, so hard.
Rick Rodriguez
It's hard, like, in a community that's very, very Latino centered, very machista, very Catholic. I was like, Who am I within this? And realized, like, I need to get out.
Lily Jones
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And it's like, I mean, I'm all about creating places where everybody can be their full selves. And it's hard when you can't be your full self in a place you know, where you feel affinity for.
Rick Rodriguez
Home.
Lily Jones
Yeah, where it is home in a lot of ways, right? Like there are so many beautiful parts, I'm sure you know, but then feeling like you don't belong at home, that's not a good feeling for anyone.
Rick Rodriguez
That was, that was very real for me. I left home at age... I think I was still 16, You know what like out super smart. I think I am still a little bit.
Lily Jones
I think so.
Rick Rodriguez
But I realized, like I graduated as a junior in high school, and it was because my mother had me in summer school, throughout every summer, like there was something innately intentional about access and opportunity that I learned, even though I didn't think about it till like, later years. So I left, I left, I left to, like, explore what college could look like in another city, which wasn't very far. It was just San Antonio, Texas, just like hours from home. I didn't know like what I was going to study, because I also didn't have that like, proper guidance in high school of like "you're smart and you can access something beyond San Antonio." We'll talk about this in a bit too of like how our systems are built to not provide access, obviously. But I think that was a blessing. It was a blessing for me, it was a blessing for me that, although scary, was like, I can't do otherwise. If I stay here, I'm not going to be okay.
Lily Jones
Yeah, good for you. I mean, how brave too to be able to take that move and to know what you need, even when it's hard, and put yourself in an environment where it feels more of what you need there,
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, just exposure, right? And exposure is one of the things that oftentimes our kids don't have access to.
Lily Jones
Yes, yes, absolutely. I mean, I think we were talking about this a little bit before, but like so much of it comes down to seeing possibilities for yourself. We all are taught various sides of ourselves, narrow visions, sometimes, of what we can do or can't do. And so seeing people and having, you know, on a very basic level, it's like it's a quote, unquote, role model, but it's like so much more, right? Like just seeing people who have walked these different paths that you haven't even imagined, and have gone through struggles and hard decisions that you haven't been through or you are going through as well.
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, I agree. And I'll say one thing is, my mother always taught me, despite our circumstances growing up, she always shared, and I'll share it in Spanish and then translate: nukas Perez, get the Uday lograr to Smith us. Pero cuando lores, i right? So don't expect anybody to help you reach your goals or your dreams, but once you fucking get there, like, make them sure you're helping everybody else.
Lily Jones
Yes, chills, I love that. Yes, yes, absolutely, absolutely, yeah. So tell us about Okay, so then you went to college. Tell us about that. What happened?
Rick Rodriguez
What's interesting for like, first gen individuals is we can't just go to college. Yeah, sure. My story like, I can't just go to like, a four year university and like, play on the quad and like shit like, no hacky sack, yeah, I worked full time. Sure, yeah, full time always, like, through undergrad, graduate school, doctoral program, full time worked. It wasn't an option to just have school and afford it? Afford it, quote, unquote.
Lily Jones
Sure.
Rick Rodriguez
So I went to school in San Antonio. I was not your traditional, like, four year student. I probably lasted about seven years for my undergrad across three or four school systems in San Antonio. But what was unique is that I started working for a bank at age 18, and that was transformational for me.
Lily Jones
How come? Can you tell us about it?
Rick Rodriguez
I got hired as a teller at Wells Fargo Bank a long time ago. I was 18. I was barely eligible to get hired for a bank. And that was... There was something about a leader within the within the branch that saw in me to say, I want to hire you. Maybe it was the language. Maybe it was the opportunity and access to like, translate and have conversations with the population that the branch served. Maybe it was them seeing like that innate like, drive and vision of like, I want to do more and want to do better and because of be better by but there was something special there that they hired me, and I worked at the bank for nine years.
Lily Jones
Wow, amazing.
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, and I, you know, climbed the ladder, quote, unquote, navigating systems, became a leader within the bank, and ultimately realized I was chasing something that wasn't true to what my mother taught me. I was chasing the $1. I was chasing a title.
Lily Jones
Sure.
Rick Rodriguez
And in 2015, after graduate school, I realized -- for what?
Lily Jones
Yeah. Okay, so let's talk about that. Because I feel like many of us have had experiences like that, where, like, we have this moment of clarity, of like, well, why have, why am I even in this situation, like all these things that we. Thought we were working towards, or things we wanted, suddenly become clear that it's not exactly what we want. And so how did you grapple with that? How did you find your way through that?
Rick Rodriguez
Well, I will say this, I'm a firm believer in executive coaching. I'm a firm believer in reading books about like, self help, self development. I'm a firm believer in therapy. That was part of that journey back in 2015, and it was a year long process for me to realize, like, why am I doing this? For? Who am I doing this? And what is the long term? Like, goal, right? Like, in, in the corporate side, it is different, right? Like, cool, there's, there's an aspect of service, but, like, you don't see the true impact?
Lily Jones
Sure, yeah.
Rick Rodriguez
So I had the, I had, I was fortunate enough to be in a position to then reach out to individuals and networks and volunteer to write like volunteering, like getting exposed, right? Like even postgraduate school, to get exposed to spaces that you're not innately um, often privy to Sure? Yeah, absolutely, your point. We're continued learners, lifelong learners. Period that opened up my eyes, it opened up my eyes, I came across a beautiful partner that I've been with for 12 years now that worked in education, previously wonderful. He always came home and felt so much like love and joy for the work that he did. And I was like, what is that? Yes, what you're happy like, not to say that we don't run into that in this world, either, but that, like opened up my my window of what could be. I stepped outside of my comfort zone, right? I think ultimately, networking, connecting, being within organizations that are community centered can expose people beyond, to ensure that there's a lens into and whether, like, whether you're looking for a job and or you're navigating self or you're navigating your current like work environment. You need people Yes, period. Yes. You need people around you who are going to challenge your thinking. You need people who are going to affirm you hopefully or maybe guide you in a pathway that you didn't think was possible, and that, for me, was was eye opening when I transitioned, and it was a 180 from corporate to education.
Lily Jones
So what did you end up doing next?
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, so I knew that... I'll also say this, I think when I retire, maybe I'll be a classroom teacher.
Lily Jones
Cool.
Rick Rodriguez
...because that is so fucking amazing. Like I do a lot of walkthroughs in schools, I have the opportunity to be supporting educators and then students, and that's where the magic happens. But I knew that that is not enough, especially coming from corporate like I wanted to make change at the system level. Yeah, so I joined Houston ISD back in 2015 and I joined the college readiness team because college was such a thing that I had to navigate and wasn't as fluid as people think that I was, like, you know what everyone else needs to be able to access beyond what people say, like, cool, Four year ride or whatever. Like, no, that is not norm. That is not the norm, by the way.
Lily Jones
Yeah, absolutely.
Rick Rodriguez
And even if it is, like people, you know, students head into the first year and then they drop out. I'm like, no, like, there's something there that's that's more beautiful than reality. With the college readiness team, I had the opportunity to oversee programs at a large school system in Houston, the largest in Texas, overseeing college access right like and ensuring that I was creating programs for financial aid, guidance and or access. To career pathways, and that was, that was what gave me access to then navigate leadership.
Lily Jones
So question with this: I'm curious about your experience, you know, going through school, having your own experience in college, being a little further removed from school systems, and then suddenly being dropped into this giant public school system, and what, what was your, what were your thoughts there? Like, what was your experience to kind of coming back to a school system or seeing it with these different eyes?
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, I will say this my, my perception prior to was: "Cool. Education sounds right. They have it figured out, because they're educating everybody, and they're providing systems and supports too." And then being in that space, I was like, oh shit, we have nothing to put out.
Lily Jones
Sadly true. I'm like, shaking my head, but I'm like, I feel you. Yes.
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah. I mean, keep it in the podcast or not. But like, that is my, my perception of education, like, figure it out, period, and then...
Lily Jones
Antiquated.
Rick Rodriguez
Absolutely. 100%. it is very Yes. I'll get to that shortly. But what I what I realized was there was so much that I learned from the corporate side around systems, processes, frameworks, like, get this thing, yes, yeah. And that's what I realized coming into education, like, I can bring in this lens to, like, make things work at the foundational level. What I learned within banking was relationships at the core, period.
Lily Jones
Yeah, great, yeah.
Rick Rodriguez
Whether it's with a classroom teacher, an administrator, an instructional coach, a system leader, a board member, a legislative or policy advocate like you need to share your story, connect with people at the humanistic level, And then within that, you have buy in.
Lily Jones
Definitely. Absolutely, and I appreciate what you said, too. I appreciate what you said about like, making things move more smoothly, because I think that's a frustration that I definitely saw in school systems, and many teachers feel, you know, I felt like I knew what to do to meet the needs of my students often, but often didn't have the means or the time or the support or the resources to do it, and that any change that needed to happen, like, just had to go through so much bureaucracy and so many things that it was like, I just need to give this kid a break outside. Like, can I just let him run outside? Like, that's all he needs, you know, and it would just not happen in my even, like in my career as a classroom teacher,
Rick Rodriguez
yeah, yeah. And, you know, whether you're in the classroom level or I was a manager's level at that district, two things that I heard from people when I joined the school system. One was learn everything you can and get out. And then two was because my my approach is very relationship based, like I will go over barriers to get to the place that I need to to ensure that the project or program or goal is met. Somebody told me, You can't do that. You have to go through me then go through like there's a process. And I was like, Absolutely not.
Lily Jones
No. Oh. And then you think of like, I mean, that's like, so many teachers teach from this place too, right? Of being like, these are the steps you need to follow, and it's very compliance based, and it's very like, right or wrong, and less focus on this outcome that we like, communally, want. And so I think I see the contrast right of you coming in and be like, I'm doing this thing. This is what we're here for. Like, I'm going to get it done, which I am here for that. And then school systems and even teachers who internalize this have been like, well, that's not the right way to do it.
Rick Rodriguez
100%. Oh my god, yes. The mind, the mind, the mindfuck is real.
Lily Jones
Yes, totally. And then it's like, uh, I mean, I could talk about this forever, but it's like, it even comes down to things that happen in the classroom, right? Like traditional ways of like, quote, unquote discipline that are very much like these rules that we kind of arbitrarily have created that don't make anyone. Feel good, and certainly don't make people feel free, and then we're just like focused on managing these rules which are made up, rather than actually supporting people.
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, there, there's, there's some beauty within that, right? Like we all have to, we all have to learn that game. It's a system. It's it's a sector and landscape that we're navigating. And this is cross industry, sure, not just education like this. Is any other entry that you come across. If somebody is just trying to do good by they have to navigate so many layers actually get the thing done, or hopefully feel that they're doing something that gets the thing done.
Lily Jones
Yes, yes. It's both and, like, Absolutely, absolutely, yeah. So okay, so then you were working in the school district, and you said you were learning about that's kind of where you shifted into a leadership mindset of like, supporting leaders. Can you talk to us about that?
Rick Rodriguez
Sure? Yeah. I mean, ultimately, I think Houston ISD. And side note, I also spent time with with a charter school in Houston for a short minute, and then realized, as I navigated leadership spaces, I was typically often the one of one or one of two people in the room who reflected my community right, knowing that We were serving systems that provide equitable education to who majority students of color, there were a lot of people that were making decisions, that were navigating their own lens of leadership in service of and I realized, like, where am I within this, and where are people within this, and why are, why? Why? Why? Why? I'm gonna bring this back to, like, childhood. Yeah, please, right, like toddlers. What do we ask? Why? Period, yes, why? But why? But why? But why? And then like these systems teach us, or like assimilate us to not ask.
Lily Jones
Yes, yes. It's the best question in any situation. I mean, I talk about the time when designing curriculum like you got to know why. Why are you doing it this way? You know, kids have to know why. Why are they learning it and so in your life too, right? Like, why are you living your life this way? Like, the question, question for everything
Rick Rodriguez
That at the end, for sure but, but I realized, like, why, right? Like, why am I the only one? Or, why am I elevating the voices of even though, like, the stories of our students, our families, are so much more powerful than me in this title or in this role, I'm not here for that. Yes, right? So then, then I realized and came across a powerhouse organization in education, nonprofit called Latinos for education. And at that point, I was at the charter school organization some and it's always been somebody tapping me on the shoulder right saying, like, Hey, Rick, what about like, I see this in you. I know that you are. I think that you can. Why not? You again, always based in relationship, always based in interpersonal like, community. Allow me people see me, but also to see them. That's what leaders want. And at that point, I realized, like, how can I then be a larger voice within right to then have reach impact at a larger level. And I will say Latinos for Education allowed me that access great, like they saw something that was like, okay, Rick can do something bigger than and within it, it it was very central, right? Like, I am very much about my Latino community. I'm very much about how we bridge identities with other with other communities, be it our API or like, black community, or you name it. Yeah, great at the end of the day. Like that is where it's at. But had the opportunity to then start overseeing programs for that organization. And within it, we were very mindful of a few things. How do we connect people? Connection? How do we empower them? How do we build capacity, and then how do we position them to then dream and think beyond?
Lily Jones
Yeah, I love that.
Rick Rodriguez
Right? So serving teachers in the classroom, administrators, school system leaders, school board members, and overseeing those programs for me, taught me there is a way.
Rick Rodriguez
There is a way.
Lily Jones
Yes, absolutely, absolutely. And I'm curious of like, is that way the same for students and for leaders? Like, is this a is this a way of just being a human? You know that people can learn? Is it applicable in the same way, or is it different?
Rick Rodriguez
Well, you know what I think about, like Maslow's like, theory of like, basic needs. We all want the same thing, right? Like we want love, we want care, we want affirmation, development, like, you name the things that are basic to all of us. Yes, we're all navigating systems, sure, yes. But ultimately, I have conversations with senior leaders nationwide and with classroom teachers. I have conversations with students and parents and they all want the same thing, right? Like they all just want, like, opportunity, access, love, affirmation and like the support within it.
Lily Jones
Yes, absolutely. And like, I think that's an awesome way to connect it, you know, like, yes, of course, people have a wide variety of different experiences and systems that they're living within and all the things. But there's also this fundamental part that we can really come together around, you know, or at least make visible,
Rick Rodriguez
yeah, yeah, yeah. I, I'm here for it. I, I struggle with it too. I'll be honest. I struggle with it because I still have to play the game.
Lily Jones
sure, yeah,
Rick Rodriguez
The code switch. I still have to, you know now I work for a nonprofit that serves multilingual learners, and I work on the development side of things and to show up in spaces with fundraisers or funders in which I have to, like, say, or like, play the game, or, like, put on the show. "Please help us. Yes, like, that is also real that's been equipped to navigate that space.
Lily Jones
Absolutely, absolutely, I mean, so challenging. And also it's like having the language to explain it to, you know, being like, okay, like, I know that I have to do this because of this. I can imagine that that also is a powerful piece that sometimes people don't have, right. Like, you walk into situations or places where you don't feel comfortable, you don't feel a part of this community or this culture, and if you don't have language to describe what you're feeling, sometimes it can just make you internalize it.
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, yeah. I mean that that that's that is also why my partner, Jesse, and I a few years ago realized, like, there's something missing, and what can we do to, like, bridge that gap. So although we both work nine to five for nonprofit organizations, there was a little dream that we had, right, a little dream that was probably stemmed from our ancestors, like what is, what is really important, and we both navigated space and places in which were audience to someone who doesn't reflect our identity and and In full transparency and education, oftentimes, there are individuals who I'm going to just name it like, they're Anglo, they're affluent, they're like a lot of just like people that are that have a voice over and that was absolutely not like you're in this space. Is telling me how to feel about my identity and how I navigate the system?
Lily Jones
No, yeah, totally no. So problematic. Like, absolutely yes, I have, you know, seen that and definitely live in the privilege of being a white woman in education, in a system that's so inherently flawed also that and and then when there are a guise of like, we're teaching for equity, or we're doing this thing for equity, sometimes it just really is so far from equity that it's hard to wrap your head around why, what is happening.
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, that is so real. And you know, that's why we also launched the rooted life, rooted with intentionality, because our our races, our roots, are beyond what we know and beyond what we have assimilated into. Unfortunately and within this work like, that's what we're aiming to do at Rooted Life. We support both, you know, schools, nonprofits, public charter, you name it. Like, we support organizations that are ready, like, do different by like. How do we reclaim language? How do we reclaim identity and culture? How do we reclaim those pieces of us that we've let go of navigating leadership that are detrimental to the people that we serve, if we still continue to operate from the same way, and then in turn, how do we empower everybody else? Because it's not sustainable as leaders either.
Lily Jones
Yes, so powerful. And that's really, I mean, it's so beautiful what you're building and what you and your partner are building together, and I appreciate the wide lens that you're taking to it, and I'm curious you can just tell us a little bit more about like, what are your offerings?
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, so at Rooted Life, we do a lot of equity based coaching with leaders, so one on one coaching, this is not necessarily your executive coaching approach. Of like, how do you get to the next title, or how do you get to the next level? But ultimately, you like coaching. Of like, why, why do you want to get there? And is it worth it? And like, is it wholesome to you? Yes, I love that. Well, lot of work around retreat facilitation for for school systems as well as nonprofits and other organizations, so that senior leaders start to see each other as humans versus titles. What we've seen is that when you work in a school or organization that has senior leadership, there's still a disconnect, whether you're chief XYZ, CEO XYZ, why? Like, what does that mean for the team, right? Like, do they care about your kid that's sick at home, or do they care about your, you know, aging parents? Do they care about right? Like, how do you pour yourself into being fully, vulnerable and transparent in these spaces to get to a place in which we just have community first.
Lily Jones
Yes, that's so powerful. And I think that often we like take on these structures that we know, right? Like, we start a business and we're like, oh, I'm talking about myself here, you know, I started business, and then they're like, Oh, I'm the CEO, because that's like, what I feel like I should be. But then it's also like, but I don't want to be right like, I don't want to recreate this like power dynamic or this like structure within my team that actually is harmful. And so I appreciate the like examining right of like, sometimes we just do the thing because we're thinking that's what we're supposed to do, but often we've taken on something that we actually don't believe in.
Rick Rodriguez
Right, exactly, and because it's oftentimes the thing that we can control.
Lily Jones
Yeah, yeah.
Rick Rodriguez
Like, we know that we can check the box and be like, cool, check.
Lily Jones
Exactly.
Rick Rodriguez
Who's the best leader at the thing?
Lily Jones
Yes. Done and done.
Rick Rodriguez
Did it feed me? Like did it feed my soul? And what was that? What was that experience for the team that I support? Was I mindful of the things that they're also navigating beyond the thing that you said?
Lily Jones
Hmm, yes, absolutely. And so I'm curious a little bit just, you know, a lot of our work at Educator Forever is supporting teachers who are wanting to make a change in their life, wanting to be able to teach in the way that they know works for students. So wanting to be able to make a change in education in some way, but also are working in this system that, as we talked about, is very archaic and slow moving, and so I'm curious if you have any advice for them? Like, how to work within that system, to create a life that feels more aligned for them and also to have a bigger purpose?
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah, I wanted to share one thing, and then I'll dive into this. But I want to briefly share something that I do not own nor have rights to, but something that we incorporate into what we embed within Rooted Life. And that's the Five Regrets of the Dying. I don't know if you....
Lily Jones
Yes. I love it. Yes, yes. Keep going.
Rick Rodriguez
So I'll share these as just context. Bronnie Ware is a end of life care nurse, and within the support that she was providing her her her patients, realized that there was a theme of at the end of the day, like, what matters. So here are the five regrets: I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. I wish I hadn't worked so hard. I wish I had the courage to express my feelings.I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I wish I would have let myself be happier. /right? So for any educator that's out there, lean in like we all have a journey. We all have a story.
Rick Rodriguez
We all want to do good by, because we also see ourselves within the students. We see ourselves within the families that we support, and that is not sufficient enough, right? Like pouring into others is not sustainable. So I think within it, I would encourage our educators in the classroom or as administrators, or across the spectrum: How are you choosing you?
Lily Jones
Yes.
Rick Rodriguez
How are you choosing you within it and for what? And is it worth it, and does it allow you the space and capacity and time to then continue to pour into yourself, into yours, be it your kids, be it your family, be your parents, but within it, like don't lose sight of we've worked so fucking hard to get to a place In which we now have influence over whether you're a classroom teacher, you have an influence over a whole population of students. And I'm sure so many of us can think of like that one teacher that said or that thought, or that saw, like this kid or you or whatever, like they're going to do something great. You still have that power. Quote, unquote, so within it, like, how do you do it? In a way that feeds you, yeah, feeds your soul in a way that feeds your your innate being, and you have a voice. I'll say that. Like we have a voice as we navigate bureaucracy and politics within the system, don't lose sight of your voice.
Lily Jones
Yes, absolutely. I mean, I think that's so key, and I think that oftentimes, you know, we were sitting at meeting on our educator forever network where people who are in the classroom are just like, Oh, I just forget what I even like, until it's the summer, you know, I forget what I enjoy, I forget. And I felt like this as a teacher sometimes, like, oh, I have friends. Oh, I have, you know, like, that's not a way to live, and that's not helping anyone. And I think that, like, the intentionality of being like, centering what you need to and what you want as an educator is so important. Like, when I think about my own kids and their classroom teachers, like, I want their classroom teachers to be living like fully-expressed lives, and I want them to be nurtured, and I want them to be well rested, and I think that's the best model anyone could possibly give my children and everybody's children. And so really leaning into like teachers as whole humans is so important.
Rick Rodriguez
100%. 100%. And it sounds easier than it is done real. So what's that? One little step you can take, right? Like, what's that one little step that you can say, "I'm caring beyond the students that I'm serving and I'm caring about me."
Lily Jones
absolutely, absolutely. And so I have one more question for you. Well, actually, two more questions, but one's basic. On your website, it says the Rooted Life was built and thanks in part to our ancestors, our upbringing and our roots. And I love that line. It's so beautiful. And so I'd love to just hear from you. What do you what do you think your ancestors want? And what do you want? And what's next?
Rick Rodriguez
Maybe this is the space where I get emotional, but....
Lily Jones
Me too, I'm here for it.
Rick Rodriguez
I think about primarily my my grandmother, Santa Galindo, my mother's mother that showed pure love. Pure love. She was the homemaker, and her role was to take care of everybody. Everybody. Right? Like her, kids, grandkids, great grandkids, until the day she died.But I share gratitude for that, because even if we lack, to my earlier point, the language we lack, the education we lack, the access to navigating systems. What we don't lack is the opportunity to show love and care, right? And there were so many sacrifices dealt and done with from our grandparents, you know, generations, maybe our parents themselves, especially for those of us who have had access to navigate, how do we get to this country of quote, unquote freedom for all? That is why. And at the end of the day, like when I when I realized her last day because we saw her a few weeks before she or actually a few days before she passed.
Rick Rodriguez
She always just gave us the sign of the cross. She always shared love. She always made sure that we were loved. And I think for me, personally, her showing that, not only for me, but for my partner, Jesse,she didn't care. She didn't care that we were gay.
Lily Jones
Yeah, great.
Rick Rodriguez
Like period. Like, they just wanted pure love and joy, and a lot of us don't have the opportunity to reflect on that.
Lily Jones
Yes, I mean, that's such an amazing blessing and model that even on your deathbed, you're like showering people with love and joy, and like seeing that light in them and putting that light on them, like, what an amazing model of how to live.
Rick Rodriguez
Yeah. And innately, like, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do that for everybody else. Yeah, yes, whether you're blood related or not, like, we're familia.
Lily Jones
Yes, yes, I love it. And so thinking about what's next for you, you know, what do you imagine for the Rooted Life for you as an individual? What do you see coming? Or what do you want to see coming?
Rick Rodriguez
I think what I want is to continue to just share knowledge through our through our journeys, all of us, we have built knowledge. We have built knowledge of our lived experience as it relates to cultural identity, language, but we all we've also built knowledge around the systems that we navigate, and people need access to that, and I want to provide access to that via Verde, because I know that our systems, unfortunately are not always going to be able to be that place for them to have that access.
Lily Jones
Yeah, beautifully said. So, Rick, it's been such a pleasure talking with you like truly so inspiring, and I've just loved our conversation. Can you tell folks how they can connect with you?
Rick Rodriguez
Si. Gracias, Lily. You can connect with me via multiple channels, but our website is www.therootedtlife.org. You can reach me via email at Rick R, I C, K, at the root@life.org, or on LinkedIn. Just search for. Rick Rodriguez, and I will find you. You will find me. Ultimately, I hope that you find yourself within any of it and within it remain relentless, relentless in the work, and choose you when you need to, but within it, always in service of the people that still lack access and opportunity, because we all deserve what we've been able to attain.
Lily Jones
Absolutely. Thank you so much. Rick.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai