Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Foster

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I was born and raised in Mexico City. While there, I fell in love with a 4th generation Californian, who was born in Berkeley. Our paths were meant to cross and be together! Later on, I came to the Napa Valley and soon after, became an immigration consultant, where there was such a need for those who didn’t understand the system. As an immigrant myself, I could identify with my clients, of which 80% were Latinos. I always understood their needs, their culture, and their language. This was my passion for three decades.

When you are a mixed couple, it is hard to compromise on what to do about culture, traditions, and even food. But fortunately, we agreed to give our children a bicultural upbringing, which enriched them in many ways. So, being with abuelitos and family in Mexico City, it was easy for them to understand the language, and enjoy the food and traditions.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Even though I worked in Mexico City, with the financial district as a bilingual executive assistant, it was different to come up to the US and hear English 24/7. My in-laws didn’t speak any Spanish, so I was frustrated at the beginning, but I took English and computer classes at the College. Also, my mother-in-law was my best everyday tutor; each of us carried a dictionary that we called our “Bible”, as we opened it all the time and never left the house without it. Little did I know that all this would come in handy in the near future to understand and help my community. Also, as a foreigner, I was introduced to the American culture and holidays, so different from my beautiful City, where you get together with your family and suddenly it’s a party! My American family celebrated December 25th, but I said “What about Christima’s Eve — December 24th?”. So, my sister-in-law insisted on celebrating it too! And since then, we waited for not only Santa Claus, but the “Three Kings” (Los tres Reyes Magos).

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I continue to support and stay close to my community, volunteering my time to outreach. I produced a bilingual radio talk-show, and I’m currently the host of the award-winning “People’s Choice 2023” TV show, Charlando con…Teresa Foster, which airs in Napa, American Canyon, Marin County and Vallejo, My goal is to educate our immigrant and Latino community on the issues that quite often are totally new to them. I’m currently involved with the following boards: Women’s Club of Napa Valley, as their P.R. person, Advisory Board for 10,000 Degrees Organization that helps students that are 1st generation going to college with scholarships and helps them until they graduate. I also donate time to The Cancer Society-Discovery Shop as their “Virtual Shopper.”

In addition to my service on radio and T.V., I was active on the board of directors of the Napa County Hispanic Network, of which I was President and received a “Lifetime Achievement” as well as “Friend of the Network”. I was a member of the Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center Board of Trustees, as well as the Community Outreach with Health Care for the Poor committee and Chair of the Latino Advisory Committee for PQVMC; Advisory Committee of COPIA; Board of Directors for Hospice of Napa, now Providence Callabria, President of the Advisory Committee for the Napa Valley Adult School, for which I was honored to receive the California State “Citation of Merit Award,” Ole Heath Medical Center, Napa County Hispanic Network as Ambassador, and Napa Valley Museum with La Maleta Mexicana. I was the first Latina to be the Chair of the Chamber Connection, my theme was: “Connections without Borders”, Co-founder of the Latino Leader’s Roundtable Luncheon and Board of Directors member for Ole Health Medical Center; Board of Directors for Fair Housing of Napa Valley and Chair of their 2nd Gala “Noche de Catrinas – A Night to Remember.” and I wrote the column “Crossing the Line”, which at one point appeared in 7 newspapers in northern California.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?

The role of Luck came as the Hostess of the TV Show Charlando con…Teresa Foster, in that I saw the opportunity to invite different non-profits, law enforcement, schools, colleagues, diplomats, etc to be my guests and give their information to our Spanish-speaking audience to learn about services, prevention, scholarships, and events, so they can be educated, and at the same time to know what’s going on in their community. This gave me the chance to reach out to many instead of just a handful. Charlando con Teresa Foster in 2025 will be celebrating 25 years on the air and I couldn’t have done it without the help of my community and those who trust me in doing it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wwwteresa-foster.com

Image Credits

with the group at Charlando con….Teresa Foster which you can see in YOUTUBE under the same name. Teresa and a Farmworker, curtesy of Victoria Alvaro late 1990’s, Teresa….Camara, Action at Channel 27/28 Now