Lexington Native Ricsy Sanchez Paves a Path of Public Service and Advocacy

Ricsy Sanchez, a Lexington native whose family moved to the United States from Honduras in the 1990s, is building a life rooted in public service and advocacy. At just 11 years old, she arrived in Lexington and has since cultivated a deep connection to her community, a connection she now uses to champion the needs of the Latino population and address what she calls the nation's "wicked problems."

A graduate of Lexington Senior High School, Sanchez continued her education at Davidson-Davie Community College, earning an associate's degree in science. She then went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina, where she majored in political science and minored in social economic justice. This academic journey laid the foundation for her current career and future aspirations.

Today, Sanchez is a customer service representative with the City of Lexington's utility department, a role that puts her face-to-face with the community she serves. She sees her work not just as a job but as a direct way to connect with residents and understand their needs. It is this hands-on experience that has fueled her desire to return to college for a third time, where she is currently studying public administration.

Sanchez, the youngest of five children, is driven by a strong sense of purpose. She feels a profound need to be a voice for the Latino community, a group she believes is often underrepresented. She acknowledges that her journey has not been without its challenges, particularly the struggle of navigating the complex world of college financing as a minority and feeling like she didn't belong in the political field.

Sanchez is acutely aware of what she calls "wicked problems"—issues so complex and interconnected that they cannot be solved by a single person or administration. She identifies these problems as homelessness, mass incarceration, housing insecurity, and the opioid epidemic. She wants to be an advocate for these issues, believing she can find new ways to approach them, even though she recognizes that change is often slow and "your hands are tied in most situations."

Her future is focused squarely on the field of public administration. She dreams of working with the mayor of Lexington and other cities, engaging with city council, and tackling more complex issues. Her ultimate goal is to one day run for office, perhaps even for the House of Representatives, seeing herself in a position of power on both a local and national level.

Sanchez encourages all immigrants and members of the Latino community to learn from the past. "If you want to know where you are heading, go back and look at the past to see what worked and what didn't," she advises. She stresses the importance of doing your own research and forming your own opinions rather than being guided by what you see or hear on the news.

Sanchez is quick to credit key figures who have helped her along the way. She highlights her professor, Mr. Nichols, who was instrumental in helping her return to school with scholarships and donors, using his own word and bond to ensure she succeeded. She also holds her father as her greatest role model, a man who beat the odds after a devastating car accident in 2008 left him with a one percent chance of survival. After being in a coma for a year, he has since made a remarkable recovery, and his resilience continues to inspire her.

Ricsy Sanchez's ambition and drive are evident to anyone who knows her. As a former classmate, I have always admired her commitment to excellence and wish her nothing but success in her future endeavors as she continues to serve her community and fight for the change she believes in.