Life & Work with Jesus Martell Gonzalez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesus Martell Gonzalez.

Hi Jesus, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m originally from Claremont, California and I moved to Bakersfield five years ago. My intent was to only stay a year, but I got a great job, met my fiancé, and fell in love with the city. Now I’m very proud to say that we’ve built our very first home right here in the heart of the central valley. I work in the healthcare industry by day, and as a podcaster by night. I’m a social connoisseur, and Bakersfield has given me the opportunity to connect with some very interesting people. These connections have enabled me to be involved in some pretty unique projects.

One of my current projects is a podcast called hellobakersfield! I am part of a diverse group of four hosts where we focus on sharing the many incredible stories of inspiring change-makers in our community. These changemakers come from a variety of backgrounds and varying industries. These changemakers make Bakersfield a vibrant place to live, and our work helps to uncover these hidden gems!

I’m constantly inspired by the many young people who have moved here and continue to transform the city with their innovative ideas. They’re making Bakersfield into an innovative community of creation and a place where people want to live to be because of the many growth opportunities. I just love that. When I first moved, I had a really negative perception of the central valley and Bakersfield. I didn’t let my negative perceptions go and immerse myself in what the city had to offer. I knew I needed to break down those mental barriers, so I started going to social and networking events around town and started getting involved. This change came from within. When I began to shift my mentality, I began to meet so many wonderful people, and my feelings of where I called home began to brighten.

One of the first social events I attended was hosted by Be in Bakersfield a social group working to connect up and coming community influencers under the umbrella of The Hub of Bakersfield non-profit group. I loved the aesthetic, the stories, and the mission this group was bringing to the table, it was a completely different take on what I had experienced, and I knew I needed to be a part of it. Through Be in Bakersfield, I became engaged with the community and began to build my network of friends. Bakersfield is such a beautiful, vibrant town filled with raw talent and invigorating ideas challenging the status quo. Bakersfield is a community filled with limitless opportunities as long as you’re willing to put in the work. Here, you can make your dreams come true. I’d love to see Bakersfield continue to grow and transform into a vibrant city with a thriving urban core.
– https://www.beinbakersfield.com/read/jesusgonzalez.

We all face challenges but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a totally smooth road moving to the central valley and establishing a life for myself. As an openly gay Latino man, I found it difficult to find acceptance in various professional circles, however, being authentic to who I am has enabled me to build strong friendships and opportunities for myself that I may not have had otherwise. A key reason why I decided to join the hellobakersfield! podcast was so I could share my story and experiences in hope that it might help others in the LGBTQ+ community who might be thinking about moving here or who currently live here and are afraid to be their authentic selves. You should never have to pretend to fit in someone else’s box so that others will accept you. The central valley has provided me with so many opportunities for growth professionally and personally and I would hate for anyone to miss out on that based on negative perceptions. I’m not saying the central valley is perfect by any means, there is huge room for improvement when it comes to creating diverse and inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in professional and social settings, however it feels really good to know that my work through the podcast is playing a small role in changing perceptions and building a better community for everyone.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Aside from my work on the podcast, I am also a project manager for one of the largest federally qualified health centers in California. I’m mostly known for my work on the hellobakersfield! podcast and for being a community advocate. I’m most proud of my work on the hellobakersfield! podcast with my friends and being able to facilitate important discussions to challenge antiquated perceptions and traditional ways of thinking. We embrace diversity and find strength in the people of our community and are very purposeful in highlighting their incredible stories to spread inspiration.

What does success mean to you?
Success to me is being able to feel fulfilled at the end of the day. It’s being able to change hearts and minds through conversations and social interactions so we can build a more inclusive community for everyone. When we lift each other up, we all succeed.

Contact Info:

• Email: hellobakersfield@gmail.com
• Website: https://thehubofbakersfield.org/programs
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesusmartellgonzalez/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellobakersfield/?hl=en
• Other: https://hellobakersfield.libsyn.com/