Meet Ivan Sanchez
At first sit down with Ivan Sanchez; one would not suspect there is so much content and substance in such a young package. However, assumptions are often wrong. After sitting down with Ivan Sanchez in the heart of the East end of Houston (also known as EADO); I learned there is so much about his journey that makes him a HOUnique asset to the Houston community.
We met at El Mesquite Restaurant; an Eastend staple that has been family owned and operated for over 30 years. Over traditional barbacoa, al pastor, and sides; Ivan shared his story of resilience and (what his mother called) “tenas.”
Like many Houstonians, Ivan is a transplant who migrated to the United States from Colombia when his family sought refuge from the capitalist regime of Pablo Escobar. His father stayed behind sending his mother, Ivan, and his siblings to the United States. Without his father, Ivan’s mother was the central figure for him and his brothers. Ivan often says he was “born in Columbia, raised in Miami, and matured in Houston.” He admits the hard work and perseverance of his mother provided opportunities to him and his brothers he now understands many youth are not afforded. Sadly, his mother passed away from cancer yet she remains a key motivator in all that he does.
Ivan made no excuses for some of the bumps he’s had along his journey as a youth. It was a difficult time for him not really finding what he was passionate about until he decided to “focus not on immediate gratification, but instead on the long-term educational process of building relationships to help himself and the masses.” He’s not only built and sustained relationships but has also founded an organization called Houston Millennials to share lessons learned and provide a road map and guidance to young people who are passionate about activism. He serves as the president and offers his experience working for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and serving on Mayor Sylvester Turner’s task force.
Ivan is a role model and has been an activist on many issues including the rights of janitorial workers in Houston, immigration rights, and most recently served as the catalyst for the implementation of the rights of immigrants to obtain the COVID vaccination in Houston and nationwide.
After a hard fought race for Congressional District 7 seat against Lizzie Fletcher in 2019, Ivan can be found at the business his mother founded (Gold Quest Mortgage) crafting multi-million dollar commercial lending transactions; including a 6-acre $4.1 million contract on which he is currently working.
You can find Ivan enjoying his down time with his dog Bella and a rescue cat he took in named Gatito (means “cat” in Spanish).
