Betty Labastida has dedicated her life to service, from her early career as a public health nurse to her role as a nurse practitioner for the U.S. Department of State in various global missions, including assignments in Pakistan, Nepal, Peru, Russia, Somalia, Kenya, and Hong Kong.
Born just 12 miles from the Mexican border, Betty’s remarkable life is a testament to the immigrant experience. Even as a young child, Betty knew she wanted to pursue nursing, and she was very aware of her unique status in her own family. As the only child born in the U.S., Betty has been a citizen since birth, and she still remembers the effort her own parents put into becoming citizens themselves. “A lot of people are looking to be able to give their children more than they had dreamed. I’m the dream, you know. I’m living the dream that my father envisioned for us.” Betty was the first person in her family to go to college, even though she was the youngest of four. “I was the only one to finish university, and I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. My dad couldn’t have been prouder.”
From her childhood in rural California to her pioneering career as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Betty has lived her life at the intersection of personal exploration and public service. She’s driven by a simple yet powerful philosophy imparted by her father: “You don’t get where you are by yourself; people help you along the way.” This credo has guided her every step of the way.
When she was ready to leave the State Department, Betty chose to anchor her life in Napa Valley, drawn by its community-oriented spirit and the promise of giving back. “I thought it would be a good mix for us,” she says, reflecting on her decision to move from Hong Kong to St. Helena as her daughter approached high school.
“One of the times that I’d come to visit the Napa Valley, I subscribed to the St. Helena Star newspaper and I had it mailed to me overseas,” Betty remembers. Seeing an article in the Star about Ole Health, she knew what her next step would be. “I thought, oh, I want to do that. I want to be there. I didn’t get the job immediately, but it eventually worked out.”
Betty was still working at Ole when she first learned about NVCF’s One Napa Valley Initiative (ONVI) through Laura Lopez, a lawyer at the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA), who inspired her to volunteer at the monthly citizenship workshops.
As ONVI’s longest-standing volunteer over the past 12 years, Betty has assisted dozens of applicants in tackling the extensive and daunting paperwork required for U.S. citizenship. “You try to get through the entire application with somebody in one sitting,” Betty explains, highlighting the challenge of recalling detailed personal histories required for the forms. “It’s quite a lengthy form and people come with different levels of preparedness.”
The application asks for detailed life histories, including dates of all foreign travel, dates of employment, and past residences. “It’s really hard to try to put that information together,” she explains. “Even where people have lived can be hard. If you lived in one apartment for only a few months before moving somewhere else—what were those addresses? Even work history is hard. Some people’s jobs were seasonal.” Betty relies on her empathy and positivity to guild people through these questions.
At 78, Betty’s zeal for volunteerism remains undiminished. If the One Napa Valley program were to vanish, Betty fears the loss would be profound. “I think a lot of people wouldn’t have the opportunity to become citizens,” she worries, underscoring the initiative’s crucial role in fostering inclusion and opportunity.
Betty Labastida’s story reminds us of the impact one individual can have on the lives of many. Through her dedication and the ongoing efforts of the nonprofit partners behind the Initiative — IIBA, On the Move, Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center, and UpValley Family Centers — the promise of American citizenship continues to be an attainable dream for thousands of residents and workers in Napa Valley.
