[on-screen text] [music] -When I say Farmersville, what comes into your mind?

-Yes, I think that Farmersville is lower class, really.

There is not really that much here.

-It is an old, old community.

In the '30s, it became a tent city for The Grapes of Wrath.

Therefore, Farmersville is a bit of a laughingstock in the valley.

This is the reputation it's had for years, and nothing is being done to change it.

Symptomatic in that the name is "Farmersville."

When you think of "farmer," unfortunately, you think of a big straw hat and hayseed, rural.

-I don't know if I'm going to stay here or not.

I really doubt it, but I'd hate to see Farmersville just die off.

[cars driving by] -People here, they all moved out.

Married people from out of town and moved out.

-You go downtown, everything's painted different colors, and it's like little TJ.

-Got to figure out how to maintain Farmersville.

-Keep up with it, just to keep the town more alive.

-We need a little bit more infrastructure.

Being a small community, I don't know if that'll ever happen.

[music] -When you venture out of Farmersville, and you realize that some of the other smaller towns, "Why do they have that?

Why don't we have this?"

You do see certain things.

You see downtown when you come play over here; the fields are a little nicer.

That's when you start to realize.

[birds chirping] -One of the reasons why I actually have dedicated to help Farmersville more because one of the things that we were lacking here is getting resources and adult participation.

[children talking] -See, a kid that his parents are low income, he figures that he can't afford to keep going to school because he figures that he has to help his parents.

In most cases, the parent does need that help from his boy or even a girl.

-[Spanish language] We came here to better ourselves and our families.

The ranchers want their fruit picked.

They don't care if we die from hunger.

We aren't asking for something that's unjust.

We're just asking for something that should be ours.

My wish is to give my children an education so they won't have to work in the fields like we do.

-[Spanish language] -My mom and my dad, as well, when we first moved here, worked in the fields, and a lot of my tías and tíos, even my older sister, she worked.

I'm blessed that they provide me with all the stuff I need so I don't have to go work with them.

I do know that I want to get a doctorate so I could like, -"She's a boss."

-Like, "I have a doctorate."

I can't remember-- -Bro, can you imagine somebody from Farmersville with a doctorate?

-[Spanish language] [Spanish language] [Spanish language] [Spanish language] -We have very little recreational facilities for the young here.

-Here in Farmersville, I work in after-school programs to teach these kids how to be better every day, stay off the streets, and stay out of trouble.

-Every parent wants their student to be successful.

Our job is to guarantee safety, the great conditions for learning, and then provide an avenue for our students to be successful.

What is negative about that state?

Absolutely nothing.

[music] -One of the main things we have to do is get better organized.

-I think that Mexican-Americans should have more of a part of the governing our city, because it's run by whites.

Everybody's white; the city council.

If they had a part in this, maybe it'd be a more-- -Women who are in Farmersville do not participate here.

I don't think women are really accepted yet in government.

-I am Tina Hernandez.

I am the first female mayor of the city of Farmersville.

Touching base with the little kids, and they want to meet the mayor, and she's a female.

When I talk to the kids, I'll tell them, "You never know, you might be the next mayor."

From the beginning of getting on council was, "I want our city to be self-sustainable."

We get grants and things like that, and the reason why we get those grants is because we can't afford it.

We don't have a tax base.

We now have our very own fire station.

This is actually the first fire station for the City of Farmersville, and we got that through a grant because it's a positive thing, but then I'm always like, "It's about time.

It's about time.

What's next?"

[applause] We have businesses, we have more tax base, and with that, if we wanted to build something, hopefully we can do that, and we don't have to ask the government for help.

[cars driving by] [music] -What keeps a person here?

Well, I think it would be the friendly people.

The people here are not phony.

-Whatever you may hear, it's actually a good community.

-It's not bad.

-I've left my garage open all night, and nothing's been gone.

These are all good neighbors, these people around here.

-I just wish people saw that we're people, too, and we're not just some nobodies.

Many of the people here in Farmersville, I feel, are destined for success.

-I'm glad I have my small community who makes me strong.

-I will not accept any conclusion that just because one is poor, they can't have pride.

I will not accept that.

I think one can be poor and still have pride, and I will not accept it on a community basis, either.

[music]