Season 5 - Episode 4: Randy Nuñez, Ed.D. - It Is Time: The Power of Maíz
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It is time. Time to remember where we come from.Time to honor what has always sustained us.
Maíz is more than food—it is memory, identity, and resistance. It carries the stories of our ancestors, the wisdom of the land, and the strength of our communities. From kitchen tables to community gatherings, maíz reminds us that nourishment is not just physical—it’s cultural, spiritual, and deeply rooted in who we are. In this episode of Adelante Leadership, we explore the power of maíz—how something so simple holds generations of knowledge, resilience, and connection. We’ll talk about how it feeds not just our bodies, but our sense of belonging, and why reclaiming these traditions matters now more than ever. And we ground this conversation in lived experience. Dr. Randy Nuñez, son of Petra and Ambrosio Nuñez—who migrated from Sinaloa, Mexico through South Texas to Washington State as farmworkers in the 1960s—brings forward a story rooted in land, labor, and legacy. Raised in the Yakima Valley, in a community shaped by both hardship and resilience, Randy’s journey reflects the very essence of maíz: enduring, life-giving, and deeply connected to community. Despite growing up in the midst of poverty and violence, he was surrounded by family and mentors who nurtured his path toward education and collective action. Today, as someone who recently earned his Ed.D . in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington, Randy continues that legacy—working in public education as an equity and justice organizer, training and coaching educators in service of youth. His story reminds us that maíz is not just what feeds us—it is what forms us.
Because this is not just about corn.
This is about power.
This is about remembering.
This is about coming home.