Today we’d like to introduce you to Stevens Orozco.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Stevens. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story. Well, I am an educator, writer, community organizer, political activist, and currently a candidate for U.S. Congress. I am the youngest of three sons to immigrant Colombian parents. I grew up aware of my parents undocumented status, along with the awareness of the stresses and anxieties that an undocumented status causes. This shaped my view of the world and what justice really means to me.
I’ve lived in Houston since 2006, and since my arrival, my focus has been on how I can improve the conditions of my family’s life, and of the lives of the people around me who struggle as we do. When I started my late college career in 2013, I began setting up student group meetings at Lonestar CyFair. I focused on current events dialogue and community service initiatives.
In 2014, as I began to transition to Texas Southern University in Third Ward for my History degree, I also became involved in local protests and rallies for Mike Brown and the Ferguson Uprising that summer. A group of activists and myself came together to begin organizing for justice during the spring of 2015. That group became known as Truth2Power (T2P). The first rally we organized was for Sandra Bland at the Waller County Jail. We held a vigil everyday for her that summer. A group of us would go everyday to stand in the hot sun to remember Sandra. Many folks from around the country sent help and also visited during those weeks of vigil.
After the summer, I began my Fall semester and T2P turned its focus toward the 2016 election. Our focus wasn’t on the Presidential — even though I traveled around the country (Standing Rock, Philly DNC Convention, Democracy Spring D.C. Protest) to connect with other activist speaking to the national issues — our attention was on the local Harris County District Attorney and Sheriff. The result were the #ByeDevon and #RonGone campaigns that were started by a coalition of grassroots organizations. Color of Change and Texas Organizing Project would later join and pick up the campaign mission as well.
The result at the end of election night on November 2016 was a 20 year low voter turnout nationally, but here in Harris County, we broke voting records. They key to the victory, was our social justice centered campaign which highlighted the institutional racism and discriminatory policies of both D.A. and Sheriff. This lets us know that social justice is a winning political strategy. Texas will later enjoy the strategy for a 2018 Beto-mania induced “Blue Wave” that gave hope to flipping the state for the first time in decades.
Since graduating from TSU in the spring of 2017, I have dedicated my time working as the content manager and show host (Raw Politics) at All Real Radio in Third Ward, as well as becoming a teacher on the northside of Houston. Since then, I have watched the country fall into further turmoil, I’ve remembered many of the signs I pointed to five years ago when witnessing the rise of white supremacy terrorism and right wing extremism, and today I want to do more for the people who have been suffering under tremendous fear.
The addition that we are facing a climate emergency and economic inequality mount on the concerns that I have carried since I was six-years-old, fully aware of being a citizen and my family being undocumented. So I decided to run for Congress with the hope to serve the people of Texas’ 18th Congressional District in Houston.
My greatest hope is to inspire people into action and to save the planet from disaster. Side by side with all of our sleeves rolled. We have the greatest task of all time. Let’s make history. Let’s Push Forward!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, definitely not easy. I had to step away from organizing in the spring of 2017. I found myself frustrated with the cozy relationships between local elected officials, non-profits, and influential activists. I saw too much danger in the political developments and no political will to confront them.
I focused my energy on All Real Radio and the Third Ward community. I created beautiful relationships and projects during that summer. #YouAreEnough with visual artist PlutoLenz, The Love No Limit Show with Josie Pickens, and Imagine a World with Secunda Jospeh, are a few of the projects that came out of that time where I needed to heal in community and let go of the battle mode for a while.
Eventually, my path to teaching opened up and I was able to continue to grow in community. After two years away from consistent organizing and embracing communal love, I decided to run for office.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Orozco2020 story. Tell us more about the campaign.
I am known for being a consistent voice in the political community. Even in my absence from organizing spaces, I would always find opportunities to connect and facilitate community building opportunities. I pride myself in keeping my political morality free from unethical compromises. My activism has reached the point that its reputation precedes me.
As a radio show host, I took on the persona of “The Problem Child,” as I would express my political frustrations on air with many local influential guests. I always have looked for the opportunity to open space for conversation. I believe that in order to make a change, we must start with those face to face talks about who we are and what we truly want. What does that look like in self-reflection, in community, and bigger picture wise, in a national and global view.
As a teacher, I more and more have become known as that activist who seeks to inspire minds to act. My lessons always finds the spaces where students get to ask the questions that make them want to take a closer look at the world. That has been my favorite part.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and work?
I have stopped looking at luck as a factor. My spiritual spaces have given too many examples of timing and alignment with purpose and pure intentions. The power of positive communal love has added a divine touch to what most would call luck.
This alignment has played a powerful role, as it expects as much from you as you would want from it in return. The role always being one that holds you accountable. Everything I have done in my work has been based on this foundation. It is what feeds my faith and courage to act.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Orozco2020.com
- Phone: 2819439500
- Email: info@orozco2020.com
- Instagram: @Orozco4Congress
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Orozco2020/?eid=ARCFY52JlCgezKvdnUY5pcX5KkkCF28yCYU-c7QqDdXyJLPTbGLqgKyAvH8Of5yqUy-WLCPlFLhT3Pp2&timeline_context_item_type=intro_card_work&timeline_context_item_source=517700307&fref=tag
- Twitter: @Orozco4Congress
- Other: https://ballotpedia.org/Stevens_Orozco
Image Credit:
Headshot: Lauren Gadson, Photoshoot: Danie Tillman; Steve Gonzales Houston Chronicle 2019, Sara Samora The Venture 2016,Brett Coomer Houston Chronicle 2017
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