Coffee and Conversation 

The Minority and Underrepresented Veterans Division is hosting a virtual Coffee and Conversation with Deputy Secretary Xóchitl Rodriguez Murillo. This is a great opportunity to meet and greet with Xóchitl and to discuss issues that are especially important to minority veterans.

Sit and sip with us on Friday, April 30 at 10 a.m. to ask us questions, share ideas, and learn more about our Division and how we continue to support underrepresented veterans. All veterans and family members are invited to join the conversation, which will take place via Zoom. 

 In coffee meetings, people converse freely and openly because there is no formality, making this an ideal way for ideas to be formed. A conversation is democratic, no single person holds the big stick; individuals are free to dialogue and express the real issues or roadblocks to benefits. We’re excited to hear from you and look forward to your thoughts in better ways of reaching our minority and underrepresented veterans in California.

Register here

Xóchitl Rodriguez Murillo, Deputy Secretary, Minority Veterans Affairs

Xóchitl Rodriguez Murillo was appointed on October 17, 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom as Deputy Secretary for Minority and Underrepresented Veterans at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. She serves as Councilmember to the City of Woodland since 2016 and as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve since 2012. She deployed with the Army from 2004-2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and received the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device and Global War on Terrorism medals (expeditionary and service).

Xóchitl previously served as Mayor to the City of Woodland from 2018 to 2019. She served the California State Legislature from 2008 to 2019 under different capacities, as Appointments Consultant to Speaker Rendon from 2018 to 2019, Legislative Aide to Assemblymember Caballero from 2017 to 2018, Member Consultant to Speaker Atkins in 2016, Clerk to the Secretary of the Senate in 2016, Field Representative to Assemblymember Santiago from 2014 to 2016, Assistant to Speaker Pérez from 2012 to 2014 and Daily File Clerk to the Assembly Chief Clerk from 2008 to 2012.

Xóchitl holds a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from the University of California, Davis and an M.A. in Spanish from the California State University, Sacramento. She is a member of the American Legion Yolo Post 77, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1985, California Latino Capitol Association Foundation and the University of California, Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association. She currently resides in Woodland with her husband Antonio.