In this episode of Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington sits down with Cecia Alvarado, an independent political consultant who has spent years organizing within Nevada's Latino community. Cecia arrived in the United States from Costa Rica at 16 — alone, with limited English, and quickly placed in ninth grade despite her age — and has been navigating broken systems ever since.

Erika and Cecia cover a lot of ground: why Latino voters supported Donald Trump not once but twice, the "mariachi politics" that Democrats rely on every October, and why waiting your turn is advice women of color simply can't afford to take. Cecia also opens up about her own 20-year journey toward U.S. citizenship — still in progress — and what it's like to be "too American" in Costa Rica and "not American enough" at home.

This is a candid, honest conversation about identity, immigration, political power, and what the American dream actually looks like when you've had to fight for every piece of it.

Topics covered: Latino voter trends, the 2022 primary, immigrant experiences, political consulting, civic engagement, and the ongoing work of building community in Nevada.

(00:00) - SNC S3 Cecia Alvarado - "Pura Vida" Alvarado FULLFINAL
(00:41) - Introduction
(03:18) - Cecia's Origin Story: Coming to the U.S. at 16
(16:33) - Entering Politics: The Trump Effect
(20:27) - Why Latinos Voted for Trump
(33:48) - Empowering the Latino Vote
(53:30) - The Long Road to Citizenship
(59:53) - What Is Democracy?
(01:03:15) - The American Dream Reimagined
(01:15:16) - Advice for Women of Color Running for Office