Faces of West County: Rhonda Findling

Social justice activist Rhonda Findling spent her career helping disadvantaged students navigate college, and now that she's retired, she's doing the same thing.

Though a bit short, Rhonda Findling stands out in a crowd. For starters, her cropped, white, spiky hair, gives her away. Add to that, an energy and verve that belies that white hair and a fierce spirit that just won’t stop, and viola, you got someone you’ve just got to meet and get to know.

Where and when were you born, Rhonda? 

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961. By age two, my family had moved out to Los Angeles. 

Your family? 

Well, I’ve got a sister, and two brothers. My spouse Heidi and I have two daughters, Sonia and Kira. No grandkids yet! 

My parents are both still alive and still in L A. 

Your father’s story is especially compelling. 

My dad was a Holocaust survivor from Germany who lived in hiding from age six to nine. He was hid in a large castle in the south of France with many other kids. He was rescued, together with his four siblings, and made it to the states before the end of the war. For all five siblings to have survived was remarkable. Their parents and grandparents weren’t so lucky. None made it out. 

My mother, also Jewish, was born and raised in Detroit. 

The Holocaust still figures in a big way with you, more than 80 years after the fact. You live in a very sweet, semi-rural neighborhood in South Sebastopol, but when I stop in, your door was double locked. You immediately joked that they were your Holocaust locks. You explained that your father, who had lived in hiding, was a fanatic about being safe in his own home. 

I grew up in the LA suburbs, but it may as well have been the South of France during the war in the early 40’s all over again! I inherited many of his fears. Unfortunately, I’m here in bucolic Sebastopol, and I still feel compelled to double lock everything. 

Congratulations on your recent retirement. Tell us about your work at the JC. 

My life was centered around the SRJC, and of course our kids. My work always focused around serving underrepresented/first generation/low income/mostly students of color/mostly Latinx, students. By first generation, I mean, the first generation in the family to attend college. I was a counselor in EOPS, a state program meant to help those first generation/low income students. They were both economically and educationally disadvantaged. The parents of these kids know so little about how higher education works. Their kids come to us with huge challenges on many levels. … I loved my work. It was my passion. 

You aren’t entirely retired, are you? 

I’m still involved, but only once a week as an adjunct in a program that I developed, The Second Chance Program. It’s for formerly, and currently incarcerated students. We started out with only a handful, and now we’re up to more than 150!. 

How long did it take to get there? 

In 2018 I got the green light to build the Second Chance Program, and two years ago, I expanded the program and began a partnership with Sonoma County Juvenile Hall and the JC. Today, I only serve the Juvenile Hall kids. There are 26 incarcerated youth taking online courses. We had our first JC graduate in May. He had taken all his classes while in custody at the hall. 

Is he going on with his studies? 

He’s applying to CSU BA programs on-line, pursuing sociology. He’ll probably be in custody until he’s 25. I’m so proud of this young man. … I see how education transforms people. Recidivism among anyone engaged in educational programs during their time, is significantly lower. (Of course those who are drawn to studying, may already be less inclined to return to criminal behavior.) It is just so powerful. .. I can’t tell you how much I love this work, and can’t believe I’m still paid to do it. 

I’m sensing that your father has something to do with this. 

The model of transforming one’s life through education, comes directly from my father, Martin. His mother was illiterate, and his father a laborer with no education. My dad, who had dropped out of high school, (his wartime experience screwed him up in many ways), picked himself up, put himself through school, and eventually became a lawyer! When that happened, and I remember it, our economic situation changed dramatically. 

What’s that a tattoo of on your arm? 

It’s the Tree of Life, in memory of my grandmother who was gassed in Auschwitz, on August 2nd, 1943. Eighty years ago next week. It’s on the same spot of my arm, that the Nazis used to tattoo numbers on prisoners. 

You’ve got a very short, spiky haircut. Does that mean anything? 

Well, I consider myself gender queer. Other than that, it doesn’t. (Rhonda laughs.) 

I wasn’t a typical girl. From age one I didn’t want anything to do with girl things. It was trucks, cars, and balls only. I grew up so confused because I was so boy-like. I’ve never wanted to transition to male, but simply consider myself gender-queer. 

My spouse gave birth to both our daughters. That was just never in the cards for me. 

Was having two moms difficult for your kids? 

At the time, in the local Sebastopol schools, they were pretty much the only two-mom kids, and the only two Jewish kids in their classes. It’s always hard for kids to be different. I remember one dad at some event who asked my daughter, “Where’s your dad?” Kira responded that she had two moms, and the guy just didn’t get it. Even at Kaiser, nurses would see two women with a child, and would assume that I was the grandma. Now, I do have grey hair, but some people just don’t get it. This was 20 years ago, and hopefully things have changed since then. I know they have. 

Can I ask about your kid’s orientation today? 

One hetero, and one non-binary, but in a relationship with a man. A Jewish man who we love! 

So where do you shop? 

Oliver’s, Cotati. 

Never Safeway? 

Maybe for their gluten-free cauliflower crust pizzas. You can only get those at Safeway. 

Do you workout? 

Every single day, my whole adult life. I have to. I’m compulsive about it. I ride my bike up hills, use the stationary bike, do aerobic kick-boxing, play tennis, some stretch-band work. I’ve gotta move. 

What else? 

I study Spanish twice a week. I’m a mentor at The Roseland University Prep High School. I have a mentee who I’m helping apply to the UCs. Great kid. And I do abortion rights work. Helping women in states where they don’t have access. 

Hey, you want something done, ask a busy person. That’s all? 

Well, I’m involved in a group of children of Holocaust survivors who go around speaking at schools about not just the Holocaust, but about similar things happening today. We address racism, homophobia, bullying, the rise of racism, anti-immigrant sentiments. I’m basically a social-justice activist. 

Okay, as long as you brought it up, how do you really feel about the right-wing Israeli government and their move to authoritarianism? 

Utterly disgusted. And equally disgusted by the horrific actions of the Jewish settlers. More Jews need to be willing to speak out. 

Okay, let’s not totally open that can of worms, but I know that this is something both of us are deeply disturbed by. 

I’ve always been a racial justice ally at the JC, and am really proud of that. As Jews, I feel it’s our responsibility. We should know from racism. 

Last good book? 

I’m not really a big book reader, but I’m reading Isabel Allende’s last book, The Wind Knows My Name, and I can’t put it down. 

Last one. You’ve got 50 extra bucks. Who do you give it to? 

Here’s three ideas: 

Lideres del Futuro, a local group that supports immigrants. 

The Sonoma County Jewish Community Free Clinic in Santa Rosa. They give out free healthcare to the uninsured. 

Humanidad, a group that supports bilingual therapy services, also in Santa Rosa.