Familia Gonzalez

Arturo Gonzalez immigrated to the U.S. alone in 1979 and later settled in Mecca with his family in 1996. After following the crops for many years, Mr. Gonzalez found new opportunities in landscaping. His wife, Teresa, continues to work in the fields during the grape season and she also works at a major resort in Palm Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez own their own home and reside in North Shore, a colonia in the southeastern desert of the Coachella Valley, with their three children, Arturo, Fabiola and Mayra. The oldest daughter, Belen, is now married and lives with her husband, Carlos Favela, and their newborn baby in a trailer park in Thermal. Every Sunday, the Gonzalez' hold mass in their yard, and their children participate in delivering part of the services in Spanish. Mayra, who teaches catechism to the younger children that live in their community, is also a high school student and a student researcher for the UCR/Ernesto Galarza Applied Research Center.