SENATE RESOLUTION
8700
By Senators Fortunato and Wagoner
WHEREAS, This resolution recognizes and celebrates Yolanda Cortinas Trout-Manuel as the first Latina Queen of Walla Walla Cinco de Mayo, a title she earned at the age of 16, honoring her historic achievement and her lifelong dedication to community service, cultural representation, and public leadership; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Cortinas Trout-Manuel was crowned the first Latina Queen of Walla Walla Cinco de Mayo in 1968, in a pageant led by Linda Franco and her mother, Emma Cortinas, marking a meaningful milestone for the Latino community and reflecting progress, inclusion, and the celebration of cultural heritage in Washington state; and
WHEREAS, Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and raised in Walla Walla, Washington, Yolanda Cortinas Trout-Manuel is the eighth of 18 siblings and the daughter of the late Mike and Emma Cortinas, experiences that shaped her lifelong commitment to leadership, family, and service; and
WHEREAS, For more than 15 years, Yolanda Cortinas Trout-Manuel operated a bilingual early learning and daycare program in Walla Walla, through which she supported working families, strengthened early childhood education, and promoted bilingual and bicultural learning, including service throughout 1996-2007; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Cortinas Trout-Manuel's lifelong commitment to service began in early learning and family advocacy, through which she ensured that children and families had access to safe, nurturing, and culturally responsive environments; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Cortinas Trout-Manuel served on the Auburn City Council beginning in 2014, providing years of dedicated leadership focused on transparency, public safety, and community engagement; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Cortinas Trout-Manuel demonstrated a strong commitment to youth empowerment, and she supported and expanded youth leadership programs and engaged young people with local government; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Cortinas Trout-Manuel consistently emphasized the importance of community engagement through regular town halls, thoughtful surveys, and open dialogue, believing that accountable and accessible government empowers residents and strengthens democracy; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Cortinas Trout-Manuel's guiding belief that progress is achieved through collective action, often expressed in her words, "It's not about me, it's about all of us," shaped her approach to leadership and public service; and