Watsonville 4th of July Parade grand marshal honored for dedication to community

Starting from scratch and having nothing as a child. Gina Castaneda faced adversity not a lot of people have climbed out of. In Watsonville, the city honored her as a woman whose troubled childhood inspired her to give back at the Independence Day Parade on Saturday.

Castaneda rarely made it to the annual 4th of July parade in Watsonville as a child.

“I didn’t really grow up in a family that was supportive, or did pro-social activities,” Casteneda said.

At 11 years old, she didn’t even have a place to call home.

“It was really, really hard growing up and I remember living in parks here in the community, on the levee with my mom because we were homeless. And we were truly impacted, poverty, there were days we went without eating. I remember as a young person going through garbage cans to feed myself,” Castaneda said.

Although she was surrounded by gangs, drugs and violence, she wanted her life to be different.

“And that’s when I worked really hard to change my life and really took into consideration I wanted to change other young peoples’ lives,” Castaneda said.

Now a Santa Cruz County juvenile probation officer, she founded the Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy to help kids succeed on the field and in life.

“She motivates you into doing good in soccer, but not only soccer, also school wise, outside of school, behaving, talking good to your parents,” player Cesar Padilla said.

It’s just one of the many things she does now to support youth in Watsonville. This 4th of July she had no trouble making the parade, honored by the community as Grand Marshal.

“I’ve watched her go above and beyond to think outside of the box,” Police Chief Manny Solano said.

The Fourth of July means different things to different people. For Castaneda, it means giving kids the freedom to succeed.

“She’s a great coach, she’s taught me soccer since I was small,” United Soccer player Denise Sanchez.

She teaches every kid to never give up.

“If somebody is out there listening to me, happiness is out there, reach for the skies, education is the key, and you can do it, don’t ever give up,” Castaneda said.