Gurdeep Shergill is an educator, realtor, “Shaan Punjab Di” radio host, and Fresno planning commissioner. Before joining the panel for “How Does the Central Valley Harness Its Power?” at Arte Américas, in Fresno, California, he joined us in the green room to chat about Batman, the Golden State, and “It’s a Wonderful World.”
What’s your favorite book?
Rich Dad Poor Dad. That book changed my life, because it taught me about finances, it taught me about real estate, it taught me about money.
What is your favorite locally grown food here in the San Joaquin Valley?
I love strawberries. I have a personal connection to them. When I was a child—I was 13 when we came here from India—my family used to work in the farms in Livingston, and we used to pick strawberries, and the guy who owned the farm, he was like, you know what, after you’re done, eat as many strawberries you like, no problem.
Now I usually support my local farmers, mom-and-dad types. Every other day I buy strawberries from the local farmers, and they’re so fresh. They go bad after the second day, so you’ve got to finish them within 24 hours.
What is your song of the summer?
My song of the summer would be “It’s a Wonderful World.” I play that song in my class whenever I want to uplift my students and myself. I say, it’s a wonderful world, man.
Do you have a fictional character that you identify with?
My son loves Batman. He’s like, “Yeah, daddy, he protects the city, man. He’s so well off, he can just chill, but look, he’s protecting his people.”
That’s kind of what I do, at least for my community in Fresno. Whenever there is a problem in somebody’s household, they call me. Sometimes before they call the cops, they call me.
What’s one thing you’d put in a time capsule to explain California today?
California is the best state in the world because it’s so diverse. I feel at home, I feel loved. This state gives everybody a voice. It doesn’t matter who you are. So I would put the U.S. Constitution in there because that’s what gives you the opportunity—the law of the land.
What’s one hope you have for California’s future?
I just hope California keeps providing opportunities to the youth. When I went to college, my dad worked minimum wage; he was making like 5 bucks, 6 bucks an hour, so I got financial aid. I feel proud whenever I pay my taxes now. I have probably given the government 1000% what they gave me, but when I needed help, I got help.
Just keep on uplifting the youth, because eventually it’s going to come back. We can have successful youth, or we will have dependent youth. Then who’s going to take care of the of the country? Of the state?