Gerardo grew up as a child of the movement witnessing the farm worker struggle evolve since 1962. Alongside his father he worked the Robert Kennedy Presidential Campaign in Los Angeles in 1968. Participated in the Coachella grape strike in1969 and later the grape boycott in the greater Los Angeles area. In 1971 his family moved to the UFW Headquarter in La Paz where his father’s role was as Cesar Chavez’ bodyguard. In 1972 Gerardo worked on the Arizona Governor recall campaign where the slogan ‘Si Se Puede’ originated, During Cesar’s fast in Arizona and other times he occasionally backed up the security detail. Also while living at La Paz worked on the Proposition 22 campaign in Los Angeles. In 1973 traveled to the grape and lettuce Boycott in Detroit Michigan. Returning from the boycott he volunteered in Fresno at the UFW’s First Constitutional Convention as Base Communications Operator for security. Moving back to Tulare county in 1973 worked for RAYO (Real Alternatives for Youth Organization) as a community youth advocate representing minors and their families in court during the Juvenile Justice System Process. Developing recommendations for the judge other than incarceration. With “Libre, Inc.,” and” Proyecto Adelante.” Worked as a counselor motivating and assisting high school students to enroll into Colleges and Universities. He attended a Private Campesino Jr. College named, “Collegio” De La Tierra in Del Rey, California. While in College he was part of, and toured with, a street theater troupe named “Teatro Del Barrio Libre”.

During those Collage years he took time off to work on the Proposition 14 campaign in San Francisco and Sacramento where he was lead picket captain. After the prop 14 campaign he returned to the “Colegio”, completed his courses, and was in the top three of his graduating class. In the late 70’s went to work with the UFW Law Office in Salinas. He traveled to Calexico and Mexicali tracking down plaintiffs in a lawsuit against growers. In the 80’s worked for the UFW Service Center at the Forty Acers in Delano as a amnesty legalization administrator, legalizing undocumented field workers. Four years of Federal Government employment in the US Treasury Department. Two of those years with (PSP) Processing and Special Projects. In the 90’s and early 2000’s spent over ten years as a criminal investigator during which one murder case he worked on was featured on “Cold Case Files” – “Baby for Sale”. Seven of those years investigating was for the Child Protective Service where he also served five years as Local Chapter President of SEIU. Prior to Covid19 he worked seventeen years crossing the United States conducting interviews for an international research company. Gerardo is looking forward to once again being of service to the communities in the San Joaquin Valley. His passions before the age of 30 were boxing, wrestling, karate and meditation. His passions now are photography and writing.