August 1956 Mr. and Mrs. Camacho and their four children immigrated to the United States via the
boarder of Southern California. With only what they could carry, this was the total sum of their
belongings. Hopping onto a greyhound bus that listed Los Angeles as its destination, this was the start of their American dream. Joel was the youngest at only two years old, and lacking the ability to speak English, they would face the challenges of assimilating into a new county and culture.
Attending school would not come easy and Joel struggled due to the language barrier. It was not until around the age of seven that he was able to understand and speak English. At a young age he found himself translating for his mother. The family would move on average once a year for the next
seventeen years. Moving from East Los Angeles, South Central and in between. Always seeking a safe place to raise their children.
In the summer of 1973, after attending community college, Joel enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of nineteen. After a four-year enlistment and traveling the far East, he was discharged from active duty. Not long after, seeking more travel and adventure, he enlists in the United States Army and spent five years living in Germany. Within two years after returning from Germany he deployed to Suadi Arabia and Iraq in the first Gulf War, Desert Strom. After 23 years of active duty, he would retire with the rank of First Sargeant, E-8. During his tenure on active duty, he completed a Bachelor of Science in Health care Administration. His day would start at 5 AM, he would then rush to class at 5PM and would not get home until 10:30. This would be his routine, four days a week, for two years.
After a successful, colorful, and adventurous military career, Joel worked in the healthcare field, with non-profit organizations and in the public service sector. His work history was mainly management, supervision, and providing leadership for all under his charge. While working full time as a Washington state auditor, he began and completed his master’s degree in psychology. He spent many years working in higher education, his last position was that of the Veteran academic advisor at College of the Mainland. Although he retired in January 2023, his desire to serve and share his educational and work experiences have not faded.
His character, his beliefs, the self-imposed standards, and scruples are rooted deeply in his life’s experiences. Having grown up in the sixties, he witnessed the struggles of the civil rights movement, the demonstrations against the Vietnam War. He recalls the glow of the fires in the sky during the Watts Riots. His life has been forged by the diversity of counties, cultures, and people he has interacted with throughout his life’s journey.
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Thank you for your support! I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Email us at: jcamacho4mayor@gmail.com
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