ARIZONA – Last week, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) traveled across Phoenix and Yuma County to hear directly from Arizonans, meet with local leaders, and host a town hall on workforce and immigration issues.

In Phoenix on Tuesday, Senator Gallego spoke with small business owners and local community leaders at an event hosted by the Tempe Chamber of Commerce. Gallego then headed to Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe, a historic Black-owned restaurant in Phoenix, to celebrate Black History Month alongside Black leaders from across the Valley and Mrs. White herself.

Senator Gallego presents Mrs. Elizabeth White, owner of Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe, with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in her honor

Later in the week, Gallego toured and welded at Sheet Metal Workers Local 359, a five-year, college-accredited apprenticeship program where workers can earn good-wages while they learn, met with leaders in the West Valley, and convened his Labor Advisory Board — a group of labor leaders from across Arizona who help guide his work on workforce development and fair wages.

On Thursday, Gallego traveled to San Luis to meet with experts from the Greater Yuma Port Authority to discuss the role ports of entry play in strengthening Arizona’s economy, supporting jobs, and facilitating cross-border trade.

Gallego then visited Southwest Junior High, where he answered students’ questions and spoke about the importance of hard work, overcoming obstacles, and believing in yourself.

Senator Gallego with students at Southwest Junior High in San Luis

He then swung over to the city of Somerton where he met with city officials and the Director of Housing of America to discuss city updates and tour a new affordable housing build.

Later on Thursday, the Senator hosted a town hall in San Luis focused on immigration and workforce issues impacting border communities.

See coverage:

Senator Gallego hosts a town hall in San Luis, a border town in Arizona

Friday morning, Senator Gallego joined workers in Yuma County to harvest produce at Western Growers, a local lettuce farm. He then toured the University of Arizona Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture to see firsthand how the center’s research is advancing innovative farming solutions for desert agriculture.

WATCH MORE: Arizona’s Family[Phoenix, AZ]

Senator Gallego tours the University of Arizona Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture

See more coverage of Senator Gallego’s trip below: