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June 2011
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Journal of the American Latino Dream
22
Volume 7
{June 2011}
Issue 10
Health myth or home remedio? Does your nana tell you medical truths or is she just passing down family fables? Maybe a little of both
54
The creme in the middle
Dr. Emily Zaragoza-Lao shares her perspective on the importance of self-care and avoiding the Oreo cookie effect
42 7 8
From the editor
What is the best thing para tu salud?
41 Those who serve 29Gomez Movin’ up Detective Daniel Romero – investigator of joins the Raza Development Fund; Wilcox crimes against children on MALDEF BOD; MAHC elects Ortiz; Fernandez is Youth of the Year
¿Será posible?
Honey, where’s Fido’s Xanax?
12 LP journal Census sense; CIFO promotes Latin American art; uh, did Obama say something about immigration reform?
14 Vibe Arizona Science Center never ceases to a-maze; NHL contest (not hockey); Ocote Soul Sounds serves up capirotada
19 Rincón del arte Amanda Soares and The Samba Project – para los brasileiros
32 Entrepreneur Mark and Rebecca Tafoya cater to Latinos
43 Education Meet Matthew Baral, ND, naturopathic pediatrician; Komen’s free conference for breast cancer survivors; summer classes para o la familia
at AZ Laser Skin Rejuvenation Center
33
Briefcase
Going for the big pescado; CPLC helps Freddie Mac borrowers; ASU/W. P. Carey & SRP’s Small Business Leadership Academy
37 SoCareer you want to be a doctor, but not quite sure
about “modern” medicine? Maybe naturopathy is more your ... cup of tea
47 Health
Cuando calienta el sol, aquí en el verano ... stay sun-safe this summer
50 Time out
Felicia Romero, pro figure competitor and model, trains those who have similar aspirations
53
P.S.
Humility is not oppression
Coming in July:
for love of country www.latinopm.com
¡ June 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
5
Allstate Fema We will have to switch out this page oscar arnold
As a home, I know it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Especially when what’s on the inside is everything you own. 9LU[PUN& .L[ JVU[LU[Z VUS` ÅVVK PUZ\YHUJL and protect everything you own. Because when you rent, I’m just not really a home without everything you put in me. So ask HIV\[ H JVU[LU[Z VUS` ÅVVK WVSPJ` [VKH` Whether you’re celebrating a new baby, marriage or retirement, I can help you with your changing insurance and financial needs.
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9150 W Indian School Rd Ste110A, Phoenix OscarArnold@Allstate.com Subject to availability and qualifications. Insurance offered only with select companies. Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Allstate Life Insurance Company: Northbrook, Illinois © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company.
¡! from the executive editor
June 2011 Publisher/CEO Ricardo Torres Executive Editor/COO Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D. Editor Rosa Cays Art Director Charles Sanderson Contributing Writers Catherine Anaya, Erica Cardenas, Dan Cortez, Robrt L. Pela, Stella Pope Duarte, Georgann Yara, Emily Zaragoza-Lao
Homegrown health myths and remedios By Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D.
For many, walking around THe House bareFooTed is a big no-no. FrencH
pedicured toes or not, the practice is frowned upon as distasteful. Most importantly, say some, it’s a sure way to catch a cold. Ditto for wearing open-toed shoes or sandals during the winter. The operating logic is when your feet get cold, you get a cold. Does it sound familiar? While experts have debunked the above as myth and discarded the correlation between being cold and catching a cold, there are many health-related, culturally rooted beliefs and practices that inform our experiences. Whether we accept them as
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true or discard them as myths is a different story, and the same goes for the way in which we treat an actual cold. (Caldo de pollo?) In this month’s cover story, Georgann Yara explores culturally rooted health myths and home remedies. We are reminded that long before GNCs and vitamin shops popped up in every strip mall, many abuelas and abuelos stocked up on herbal teas and infusions thought to treat a laundry list of ailments. Over the past decade, the medical establishment has been more receptive to homeopathic and naturopathic medicine. There’s been an increased emphasis in treating the whole person and not just the symptoms or the disease. This trend has made possible the development of what previous generations may have viewed as an oxymoron: cutting-edge, natural therapies. And, of course, there’s a growing industry in this field. Curious of what it takes to become a doctor in naturopathy or holistic health therapy? Go straight to the Career section where Erica Cardenas presents the lay of the land for these and other increasingly popular professions, along with their respective academic requirements, salary ranges and career outlook. Busy professionals and stay-at-home folks alike need to make room for a new top priority: self-care. As Dr. Emily Zaragoza-Laos shares in My Perspective, in order to live a healthy and balanced life, we need to make time for ourselves. Although it may seem counterintuitive to the self-sacrificing types, taking care of oneself first is critically important for individuals also caring for other people, whether it be a spouse, children or aging parents. Like the life insurance commercials, just ask yourself, who will take care of them if something were to happen to you? We must also do our part to be healthy for our pet’s sake. I’ve heard before “When mommy is happy, everyone is happy,” and as Robrt Pela writes in Será Posible, some suggest that this includes our pets as well, meaning, cuando mamacita está feliz, también está el perro. (Entrepreneurs out there: perhaps a line of lavender and chamomile tea biscuits for Fido?). !Salud! www.latinopm.com
¡ June 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡! ¿Será posible?
See Spot run (to the shrink) By Robrt L. Pela
i probably sHouldn’T admiT THis,
but I’m concerned about my cat’s happiness. “I worry that Ernie’s sad and lonely when we leave for work in the morning,” I confided the other day to my spouse, a long-suffering fellow who’s heard this all before. “He looks so forlorn when we’re on our way out the door.” “He’s a cat,” Hubby told me, rolling his eyes. “When we’re not here, he’s sleeping.” I hope he’s right. But I worry that my little grey cat is stressed out because we’re rarely home, and that it’s going to start affecting his health. And, as it turns out, I’m not the only one who thinks so. Dr. Paul McCutcheon, a veterinarian with more than 45 years experience in pet care, agrees with me. He writes in his new book, The New Holistic Way for Dogs and Cats (Random House, $18.99; www.newholisticway.com), that if Fido is listless, disobedient or frequently sick, it may be because he’s stressed out. “A lot of people think that stress is something that only affects humans, but it’s a very real threat to the health and happiness of their pets, too,” McCutcheon says. Seriously? So when my neighbor’s dog was rushed to the emergency veterinary hospital last week to have a pair of espadrilles removed from his stomach, it wasn’t actually because Pooch had eaten a pair of shoes, but because he was emotionally disturbed? According to McCutcheon’s line of reason, my neighbor’s dog swallowed footwear because he was bummed out about something. The good doctor believes that pet
Your thoughts? Tell us what you think. Send your thoughts to editor@latinopm.com 8
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stress is always linked to both bad behavior and to serious illness, and that every pet owner should – ¡mi vida! – not only keep an eye on Puss’s mental well-being, but learn to recognize the type of stress that she’s feeling. “It is important to distinguish between acute stress, immediate and intense, versus chronic stress, a real drag on wellness that results from a long-standing cause of stress,” McCutcheon writes. “Tune into the kinds of stress that affect your pet and stress-proof the ways you look after their daily needs. For instance, boredom and loneliness are probably the most damaging stress factors in a pet’s life.” OK. So I’m not alone in my fear that Ernie’s ennui might be getting the best of him. But some of McCutcheon’s advice seems a little out there. He suggests using one’s vet as a kind of life coach for a fourlegged friend; someone who can provide guidelines for Fido’s play habits or Fluffy’s diet. (Personally, I like to pick out Ernie’s cat litter myself, and prefer to call on my vet only for booster shots and glandexpressing chores.) Junk food has to go, too, McCutcheon says. It’s a no-brainer that processed pet foods are evil and can lead to a variety of health problems, but the good doctor’s solution – that pet owners switch to raw foods – is a bit much. I’m happy to sit still while Ernie naps on my lap, but I draw the line at shopping in the refrigerated
Latino Perspectives welcomes feedback from readers regarding published stories or topics of interest. Please include your name and phone number. Mail letters to Editor, Latino Perspectives, 3877 N. 7th St., Ste. 200, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Or, e-mail letters to editor@latinopm.com.
section of a “pet specialty shop,” as McCutcheon recommends, for fresh food that provides kitty with a more balanced diet. The place where I really part company with McCutcheon is when he suggests supporting my pet’s present and future wellness by managing my own stress levels at home. “Just as pets can sense anger, fear or illness in us – which explains why pets try to comfort us when we’re sick – they can also sense our stress,” McCutcheon writes. “By addressing the stress in our own lives, we can help keep our pets stress-free and prevent many of the common illnesses that plague them, making them happy and healthy companions for a long time to come.” I get it. I could be more relaxed about life and probably should stop freaking out when my favorites get voted off of American Idol. But, as much as I love my little silver tabby, I’m not willing to restructure my entire life for his benefit. I think McCutcheon is really onto something early in the book, when he writes that the best place for some pet owners to start is by not becoming a pet owner at all. If you’re never home and are distracted by chores and homework when you are, consider a turtle or a goldfish – but not, McCutcheon suggests, something fuzzy that wants your attention from time to time, and whose health might be compromised when you can’t provide that attention. I, on the other hand, own a cat. And so I’ve purchased some nice catnip for Ernie. He can just get stoned and pass out while I sort through my own mess.
Editorial mission statement Latino Perspectives creates community, cultivates cultural pride and provokes, challenges and connects Latinos who are defining, pursuing, and achieving the American Latino Dream.
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ยก June 2011!
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This collection of 3D puzzles, full-body games and mind-bending adventures is sure to challenge, entertain and amaze visitors of all ages.
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Conversation starters from the world around us
12 LP Journal
Business census; Obama’s “stand” on immigration policy; CIFO for art’s sake
14 Vibe
AZ Science Center offers a-maze-ing fun; NHL photo contest; Taurus released
17 Anaya Says Anything is possible
i say...
We’ve always said October 21 was the day …
—California preacher Harold Camping, after no physical Rapture happened on May 21 as he had originally predicted
As my healing begins after this crazy week I ask for privacy!
—Arnold Schwarzenegger’s daughter Katherine, ironically, via Twitter
photo by megan resch
I’ve heard from girls that are in high school, they’re 16, 17, and they’re like, ‘I came out to my mom,’ or ‘I came out to my friends, and thank you for helping me do that.’ —Naya Rivera, who plays Santana in the TV series “Glee,” on the feedback she has received after her character came out of the closet
page
19
Amanda Soares sings for los brasileiros in The Samba Project
www.latinopm.com
¡ June 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡!¡!
LP journal
It’s a big target of about 50 million – and growing.
Ahead for business According to last year’s U.S. Census, the Hispanic population in America has grown 43 percent in the past decade. But while hundreds of American-based companies have developed sales and employment practices targeting this market segment, many others are just getting started. “More companies want to understand more and hear from experts with insights and experience in this fastgrowing community of 50 million people,” says Nan Wu, conference director of the World Research Group, a U.S.based development company that creates strategies for corporations that want to grow their business. “Most marketers agree that 2011 is expected to be a breakout year as Hispanic marketing matures across both traditional and digital marketing platforms.” Toward that end, executives from virtual and brick-and-mortar companies including Google, Walmart, General Mills and Aetna 12
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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will gather at the Hispanic Reach Conference, to be held in Dallas later this month. The conference will feature corporate executives, consultants and agency principals who will present case studies and other practical perspectives on the growing Hispanic market. Leading sponsors for the event include Terra (terra.com), a global digital media company serving the Hispanic community. The numerous seminars, speeches and presentations will emphasize how marketers from across all industries can improve bottom-line results by making culture a salient part of marketing to Hispanics. The long list of topics and marketing tools offered at the conference provides some unintentional irony: While keynote speaker Dr. Felipe Korzenny will discuss Hispanic Marketing: Connecting with the New Latino Consumer, his new book about how to reach an Hispanic consumer that may not be plugged into the Internet, Jorge Ortega, cofounder of Newlink America,
www.latinopm.com
will moderate a live, interactive session in which marketers will discuss online marketing strategies in a discussion broadcast live via the Web. The event will take place on June 22 and 23 at the Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown in Dallas, Texas. For more information or to register, visit worldrg.com/hispanicreach.
Obama on immigration For many months now, Hispanic organizations have criticized President Barack Obama’s stand on immigration policy. Citing the president’s ambivalence, activists have pointed out that Obama claims to favor immigration reform and amnesty even while immigration authorities are imposing strict enforcement of deportation laws, kicking out more undocumented immigrants than any other administration, Republican or Democrat, in the history of the presidency. But Obama’s speech on immigration reform last month in El Paso, Texas, was met with more than the usual skepticism from Hispanic activists and
concerned citizens alike, who recognize that the 2012 presidential elections could pivot on the Hispanic vote. The American Immigration Council (AIC), a liberal Washington advocacy group, has been most vociferous. In a statement released shortly before the El Paso speech, the group wrote: More than two years into the Obama administration, it is still unclear whether President Obama’s immigration agenda will ultimately be remembered as an enforcement-driven enterprise, or one that uses the full force of executive branch authority to improve our badly broken system. [T]he President continues to voice support for comprehensive immigration reform that would create a new immigration system that is more fair, just and practical than the unworkable system now in place. On the other hand, the administration repeatedly trumpets the fact that it is
LP journal deporting more people with greater efficiency than its predecessors. The common bond among the many pro-reform groups is a call to Congress to stop delaying and enact comprehensive immigration reform. Representatives from nearly all of them point out, in muckraking releases and newspaper commentaries, that the president made comprehensive immigration reform a front-burner issue when seeking the Hispanic vote during his 2008 campaign, then failed to follow up after his election. Is this, they wonder, merely more of the same? Both the AIC and other concerned groups are calling for specific remedies to the immigration issue. Among the requests is a guest-worker system that gives temporary
employers easier and more predictable access to low-cost migrant labor. And a reform package that includes the DREAM Act would make it easier, activists believe, for the children of longtime-resident illegal immigrants to stay, study, work and serve in the U.S. And a distinction between issues of immigration and that of border security wouldn’t be a bad idea, according to most action groups, because border security is so often held up as an excuse for Congress’s inaction on the bigger package of reforms. “President Obama must make a choice,” AIC’s press release concludes. “He can use the executive power at his disposal to begin implementing our immigration laws in a more just and humane manner, or he can continue ramping up deportations as he waits
A poster from the 2008 presidential campaign, showing a sense of hope for Obama and immigration reform.
endlessly for Congress to pass immigration reform.” Will he? Time, fast running out, will tell.
For art’s sake Herman Felipe Kaizedo has a new exhibit. The painter, a Colombian born in Miami, investigates human idiosyncrasies and ethnic culture in large pieces that contain references to time and place. And until now, he’s all but languished in obscurity. But thanks to a newly revamped website launched by the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (CIFO), Kaizedo and others like him will now have greater presence, both online and in the art world. The new website (cifo. org) includes new features and functions that will allow CIFO to fulfill its mission of promoting art from Latin America on a global scale. At its core is something called the CIFO Art Community, a groundbreaking, interactive, online presence that will serve as a virtual meeting place for collectors and fans of contemporary Latin American art. There, links between and among artists, curators, museums, arts-funding institutions and art lovers operate through personalized profiles, forums and galleries. Elsewhere, the new website’s Interact section includes a blog and links to social media functions like Twitter and Facebook, allowing CIFO’s audience to stay connected at all times. Those who make their living in the art world – or attempt to – are especially excited about the new site’s key feature called Fund-AProject. In this section of the www.latinopm.com
¡!
site, artists, curators and art institutions interacting with the CIFO Art Community are able to post specific projects through a funding-themed portal, and can request funds for any ongoing arts project. It is, according to Miami art scene queen Ella FontanalsCisneros, a place where one can create a self-made grant of sorts, with financial support from outside sources, including arts institutions, fans and the general public. “The foundation has assisted over 50 artists from all over Latin America in the production of new work,” Fontanals-Cisneros says, “and we continue to select emerging and mid-career artists as recipients of our annual grants. But Fund-A-Project is CIFO’s newest initiative in furthering the foundation’s mission to promote contemporary art from Latin America.” Also integral to the new website is its Museum and Curator Network, an interactive community where curators, art professionals and museums can join the artists signed up for the CIFO Art Community to initiate dialogue about upcoming shows and to tip other artists off to upcoming grants programs. But it’s the newly enlarged space for visuals that has artists most excited. Kaizedo, one of the artists participating in a new CIFO exhibition, has two new paintings posted at cifo.org, Where It Meets Waist High and Beyond the Highway, and can drop in whenever he likes to check out comments from fans who are, thanks to this high-profile new website, just discovering his work.
¡ June 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡!
vibe
A-maze-ing
100 days of NHLs
stARtINg JuNe 19, vIsItORs tO tHe ARIzONA sCIeNCe
NO, It’s NOt 100 dAys Of dIsCussIONs ON WHetHeR tHe
Center will be able to participate in another interactive exhibit: Mazes. The exhibit features mind-bending adventures and 3-D puzzles in 9,000 square feet of hands-on and walk-through labyrinths and displays. Mazes is designed to educate, entertain and amaze toda la familia. Challenge your senses with a feast of visual trickery inside the giant Maze of Illusions. Get tangled and untangled in the Web Maze or get lost in a network of color in the Color Maze. And don’t worry: These mazes are minotaur-free. The Arizona Science Center is at 600 E. Washington Street and open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit azscience.org for more on this and other amazing exhibits.
Phoenix Coyotes stay or go; nor is it related to the National Hockey League. Rather, it’s the National Park Service’s 12th annual National Historic Landmarks (NHL) photo contest, which began April 22 and continues through July 31. Participants can submit up to 10 original photos, one per landmark. But remember, not all historic landmarks are open to the public; so use your creativity and common sense when shooting your fotografías. To locate a NHL nearby and read the contest rules, as well as instructions on how to submit your pics, go to the National Park Service website at nps.gov/history/nhl. Say ¡queso! Painted Desert Inn in Navajo County AZ by sayre hutchison, 2008 nhL photo contest
Get more Vibe at www.latinopm.com
Folktronic funklore If yOu’ve eveR HAd capirotada, yOu KNOW It’s A mIxtuRe
up the ingredients!). Once you dare try it, though, the mixture makes sense, as do the different flavors and textures. Ocote Soul Sounds’ fourth and latest album Taurus is just like a capirotada: an intriguing blend of folktronica, pan-Latino analog funk and psychedelic Afro-Cuban rhythms. The 12-track project from the ESL Music label includes psychedelic cumbias, hip-hop, enchanted instrumentals, Somali and Ethiopian melodies, an Italian folk-inspired tune and its share of socially conscious lyrics. The talented cerebros behind Ocote are Adrian Quesada (founder of Grupo Fantasma, the Latin funk orchestra) and Martín Perna (biodiesel eco-preneur and founder of the afrobeat band Antibalas). More info at http://ocotesoul.com. ¡Bravo, muchachos! 14
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Images courtesy of arIzona scIence center; natIonaL park servIce
Of things that don’t seemingly belong together (we dare you look
Vibe
¡!
Lola's Voicemail: Callista .... Mrs. Gingrich? ... I’m CAllINg tO tell yOu I tHINK yOu
Tree of Sighs and self-identity AltAgRACIA vIllAlObOs lIved A HAppy
life with her entrepreneurial parents in the border town of Mezquite, Sonora, when tragedy strikes. The protagonist of Lucrecia Guerrero’s first novel, Tree of Sighs, then finds herself orphaned and dependent on an aging, broke and often distant grandmother. Altagracia’s worst fears are confirmed when she’s sent off to the U.S. with a recently widowed americana who, she’s led to believe, will provide her a nice home, nice clothing and eventually a college education. But lo and behold, what awaits her on the other side of the border is life as an enslaved “muchacha,” a maid. She escapes her captivity and assumes yet another identity, Grace Sloan. The opening chapter is set in Brockton, Indiana, in 2000. Altagracia, now happily married, goes by Grace Thornberry. Her past is as distant as the border town she left as a child, but then a phone call threatens her new found stability, forcing the character into a physical and spiritual journey to the border and northernmost regions of the self. Guerrero’s prose is full of surprises, as is Grace’s past. Bilingual Press 2011 ISBN: 978-1-931010-74-0 314 pp. $17 paperback
are brilliant. Your travails as a political spouse and marketer extraordinaire of Newton Leroy Gingrich’s born-again, political persona are fantabulous. Like Dante Alighieri’s Beatrice, you’ve illuminated the former speaker’s path and inspired his mind, heart and soul. Thanks to you, Newt converted to Catholicism and you have become a touchstone in his political campaign and his Gingrich Productions business venture. Some even suggest that your Catholic choirgirl devotion has helped rewrite his past. Thanks to you this conservative “family values man,” who has been married three times, is able to tour the nation with a straight face, screening documentaries about your Holiness Pope John Paul II and about “the importance of our Creator to our nation’s founders and their successors.” Muy inteligente. He has been known to speak truth to power (like when he grilled President Clinton for lying under oath about what he was doing under his desk at the oval office) but I’m not sure he has chosen truth over power (wasn’t he having an “affair” with you at the same time? One that lasted “just” six years?). Is it true that he served his high school geometry teacher, also his first wife, with divorce papers at the hospital after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer? A former aid claims Newt thought she wasn’t “young enough or pretty enough to be the president’s wife.” I’ve also read that he proposed to his would-be wife número dos before divorcing his teacher and then, in a cruel twist of fate, left wife No. 2 after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and told her, while cheating on her with you, “I can’t handle a Jaguar right now. All I want is a Chevrolet.” Ouch! Not a very nice thing to say to someone with MS. Plus, Callista the Chevy?! You may be 23
years his junior, but I’m not picturing you as a Chevy. But as they say, “Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.” Of his shortcomings and indiscretions, your viejito quips, “I felt compelled to seek God’s forgiveness, not God’s understanding, but God’s forgiveness.” How do you argue with that? Smart. And you are very smart, too, and creative. You have an upcoming children’s history book featuring “Ellis the Elephant” American history from an elephant’s perspective. How subtle. Before I forget, and just in case, here’s a list of influential power players you need to put on speed-dial to help get you through your hubby’s run for the GOP presidential nod. In this order: St. John Chrysostom, patron saint of speakers and preachers (his body was weak but his tongue was powerful) St. Bernardine of Siena, patron saint of marketing (long before guerilla marketing existed, he came up with the symbol of a blazing sun with the inscription JHS) St. Thomas More, patron saint of politicians (aka “a man of all seasons,” he taught us that government should be an exercise of virtue) St. Monica, patron saint of married women (she was a triple dare: prudent, patient and persistent) St. Eligius, patron saint of jewelers (in the event half a million in Tiffany jewelry is not enough) And of course, if all else fails, there’s my consentido St. Jude, patron saint of lost causes. But be warned: He doesn’t like it when people cry wolf. Remember, not all is lost until it’s lost, so you can get busy with the others and get to him when you really need him (like in a month or so). Buena suerte.
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photo courtesy of LatInpoInte
¡!
Pocho keen
Vibe
Like peachy keen, pero different Land of ... plenty? Latin Grammy Award winners Los Tex-Maniacs
Tejano music convention returns to its roots CAesARs eNteRtAINmeNt CORpORAtION,
the world’s largest casino-entertainment company, and the branding agency LatinPointe have announced they are taking over the National Tejano Music Convention and returning it to its place of origin: Las Vegas. (Yeah, the land of the other original Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower and Venetian gondolas). Although launched in sin city eight years ago, the convention was moved to the Lone Star State, where it remained for four years. Now in its ninth edition, the annual convention has grown to become one of the largest Latino music events of its kind in the U.S. of A. The meet-up allows for music industry producers, performers, booking agents and fans to come together for a two-day extravaganza. Concerts, industry workshops and dance classes are some of the attractions. Of course, visitors can buy CDs, tejanas, pointy boots of all kinds and lots of Texas-sized, blinged-out belts and buckles, too. This year’s event is set for August 12 and 13 at Bally’s Las Vegas. Confirmed headliners include Grammy and Latin Grammy award-winning artists: Jimmy Gonzalez Y Grupo Mazz, Flaco Jimenez, Elida Reyna, Los Tex-Maniacs and Chente Barrera. Get your dancing botas ready!
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WHeN A sIxtH gRAde KId WINs tHe
school spelling bee, the last thing that should be on his mind is whether he gets to stay in the country or has to go back to one he hardly remembers. But that’s exactly what happened to me. We were living in the shadows here in los estados unidos at that point. Even though my family had come here legally, we did technically overstay our visa. I was little at the time and always thought we sneaked in. I’m sure my questions about how we got here weren’t my mom’s favorite to answer. We had followed my grandfather, her father, who was a bracero in the Southwest and later a saranjero working in and around the fields in Glendale. We had a decent life in Mexico, but our family was all migrating to California and Arizona to be together. It didn’t seem that anyone was really paying that much attention to people like us back then. Still, through the help of Friendly House, my parents applied for and, thankfully, received permanent residency for our entire family when I was in the sixth grade. I had just won the spelling bee and soon after, we were off to see the good people at INS in El Paso, Texas, to find out if we could stay in our adopted country. Had our fate been different, I remember thinking, I wouldn’t have survived in the wilds of Mexico. I surely would have dried up in the dusty Sonoran Desert, forced to sell Chiclets to American kids who I could easily out-spell and who couldn’t possibly love America more than I did. I couldn’t even bounce a soccer ball on my knee like all the other Mexican kids!
After all, my brothers and sisters and I, through school, sports and television, had become all-American kids. We played football and not futbol, we favored Al Green and Earth, Wind and Fire, eschewing Vicente Fernandez and Los Hurricanes del Norte. Our tías, who were in high school, made sure we assimilated quickly. This story isn’t too different from that of a lot of kids who are brought to the U.S. at a young age. Except of course, the part about getting our “green cards.” Like I said, that was a different time. We would be hard-pressed to come to the U.S. in this manner today, just as it is almost impossible for families to apply for legal residency. Today, whenever I visit Mexico, I get emotional when I see poor kids in border towns who could possibly have a world of potential, but are stuck in a world that seems to limit that potential at every turn. Then I think of the kids who somehow got to the other side and are now facing limited opportunities and even a fate of deportation as they graduate from school. Listening to the debate about how to handle America’s DREAM kids, I don’t believe the answer is “sending them back where they came from” or even “where they belong.” Who is to say where anyone belongs, when you think about it. There’s something to the saying, “Home is where the heart is.” Besides, America’s DREAM kids would be just as lost as I would have been back then. Worse still, we would be adding fuel to the social fire that is Mexico these days, and robbing this great country of a natural and valuable resource.
Vibe
¡!
Image courtesy of cIty of scottsdaLe
Anaya says
Scottsdale turns 60 The city of Scottsdale is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its incorporation with celebrations throughout the month. Here are three of our picks: The 36th annual Mighty Mud Mania is taking place, rain or shine, on Saturday, June 11 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road. Youngsters 7 to 17 will enjoy the traditional mud pit and mud obstacle course; kiddos 6 and under get to enjoy their very own mini-mud course. Participants must wear shirts and laced-up, closed-toed shoes. Sorry, no chanclas. If you prefer something less messy to celebrate “The West’s Most Western Town,” the Scottsdale Urban Chase Family Scavenger Hunt and an oldfashioned Cowboy Campfire at the Civic Center Mall are scheduled for June 18 and June 24, respectively. Festivities conclude on June 25th with a special Mayor and City Council Breakfast. Early birds can rejoice with a free birthday cake buffet at 7:30 a.m. at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, followed by a celebration and entertainment by the City’s Singing Cowboy Gary Sprague and activities for los chicos, including an egg relay and other vintage games. Visit scottsdaleaz.gov/scottsdale60 for a complete list of events and activities.
Anything is possible By Catherine Anaya
lAst deCembeR I stARted tRAININg
for my second Boston Marathon this past April. It was my fifth marathon, so I was familiar with the 18-week training that goes into preparing for it. The toughest part of the training, though, didn’t come from the miles of running. It came from the slight anger from my teen daughter, who at times looked at my commitment as selfish, since it meant I sometimes missed or showed up late to her games. I found myself pleading my case for why running this particular race was so significant. “It’s the Boston Marathon,” I’d tell her, “the oldest and most prestigious marathon to run, because not just anyone can participate.” A runner has to run a previous marathon in a certain time to qualify for Boston, and I would be running it again four years older than the last time. Still, it seemed my 14-year-old just didn’t seem to get it. Or even want to get it. So, I took her with me. I wanted her to witness firsthand how the city of Boston wraps itself around this signature event. I wanted her to hear from the other runners about why Boston is such a feather in the cap of a marathoner. I wanted her to see the hundreds of thousands of spectators who brave the chill to cheer from the sidelines. I wanted her to be there to see me cross the finish line. Only then, I thought, could she truly understand
the sense of accomplishment that comes from hard work. I’m proud to say I finished in 3:29:58 – 9 minutes faster than my last Boston run in 2007. But the supreme high hit when I immediately heard my daughter shouting, “Mom, Mom, Mom!” at the top of her lungs to get my attention. I will never forget the look on her face. She beamed with a grin of intense pride from ear to ear. Her first words when she hugged me? “I’m so proud of you, Mom. This is the best day of my life.” Words don’t begin to express how I felt. I just knew I never wanted to forget how she felt. So, I asked her to detail her feelings that day in a letter to me as a Mother’s Day gift. She said she cried as she wrote it. I cried as I read it. My favorite part: “When I watched you cross the finish line on April 18, I realized how truly amazing you are. I immediately began to feel emotional … I had chills running down my body as I saw you walking towards me. It was a truly inspirational moment for me … because you haven’t just inspired me to do something specific like run a marathon, but instead you have inspired me to follow my dreams in life…. It made me realize that with hard work, anything is possible.” She got it. And no marathon can ever capture this sense of accomplishment.
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¡ June 2011!
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17
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rincón del arte
¡!
Para los brasileiros Amanda Soares, singer, songwriter, guitarist
and Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter Amanda Soares has been surrounded by music her entire life. A journalist by day, Amanda currently works for univisionarizona. com, covering news and events relevant to the Latino community. She juggles a tight schedule between journalism and music, also playing in festivals, events and cafés all over Arizona with her Brazilian-fusion group The Samba Project. In February, Amanda released her debut album The Samba Project – Live 12.12.10. She took a few minutes from her busy life to share her passions with Latino Perspectives.
Why Brazilian music in Arizona? Since moving to the Valley nearly seven years ago from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, I found myself craving being back around my culture and what I knew. So, I started taking what was mostly a childhood hobby and made it a profession, playing small Brazilian events as a way to bring the flavor of my homeland back to my life and to the lives of other homesick brasileiros. Little did I know Americans would also love what we do, and now we play in various events all over the state. Last month we played at the Scottsdale Festival of the Arts, Fountain Hills Spring Concert Series, various carnaval events, along with our regular performances in local bars and venues. Those shows usually bring a good Brazilian crowd that comes and dances all night. It’s a lot of fun playing for Brazilian people.
Your new CD: It was recorded locally at the MADCAP Theaters in Tempe with our main formation: Johnny Finn (percussion), Manny Brito (bass) and me, plus nine other musicians, the best Brazilian and jazz cats in town. This album is more of a jazz approach to what we do, although it does have some of the more “lively” grooves from Brazil. Our
goal at the performance was to take listeners through a “musical tour” of Brazil, with rhythms from baião to samba, and even a little cha-cha thrown in for good measure.
Education: I’m an ASU alumna, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Broadcast Journalism program, class of 2008 Influences: I love strong female singers and groups. There’s something about girl power that really calls to me. Brazilians Marisa Monte, Maria Rita and Esperanza Spalding are some of them. But I also love guys like Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Djavan and Bob Marley.
photo by megan resch
HAIlINg fROm tHe lANd Of CAetANO velOsO
Next: I’ve been composing a lot lately and hope to record an album soon with original work. Meanwhile, I hope to continue with my music, journalism and spiritual work, bringing the community together through art and culture in a fun and relaxed way. That’s why I play music – to bring people together and help us all remember what feels good and unites us, regardless of our background. For more informação, a performance calendar or to listen to The Samba Project - Live 12.12.10, go to thesambaproject.com or contact Ms. Soares directly at amanda@thesambaproject.com.
Help us highlight the local arts Send information to editor@latinopm.com.
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¡ June 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡!
de veras
C
an the saliva of a pregnant
woman provide relief for her child’s bee sting? Is an herb garden just as effective as a medicine cabinet? And is Vicks VapoRub really the cure-all-in-a-jar? At least one of these questions will make most Latinos chuckle or smile as they reminisce about fond memories of their nana or tía, who likely treated those theories as gospel. When it comes to at-home health care, the Hispanic culture is a fountain of beliefs, legends and ritual that has survived for centuries, many with roots in indigenous mores. Some view them as fiction and old wives’ tales. Many Latinos, however, continue to keep an open mind, whether they choose to label them as tradition or curanderismo. And in a time when people of all ethnicities are searching for more natural and holistic methods of therapy, the power and practice of these historically and culturally valued treatments is an idea whose time has come – again.
Tradition in the modern world To this day, Scottsdale resident Joe Ray cannot stand the menthol-laden scent of Vicks. As an asthmatic child growing up in rural western Arizona, Ray recalls his mother, a native of Sinaloa who grew up in a ranching community, rubbing it on his chest, and then covering it with heating pads and “a bunch of weeds.” “It brings back memories. I think I must’ve been traumatized by it,” Ray says laughing. “I don’t know if it helped.” He remembers elder women debating over homegrown remedies for everything from colds to muscle aches, arguing over whose cure was the most effective and which ones were bunk. Ray, who owns a Phoenix branding agency, recalls drinking his mother’s strong teas concocted from a cornucopia of herbs and other plants. “My mom always had mint, aloe and other [herbs] that generally were meant for something or other. I didn’t like getting shots, so … this was the lesser of two evils,” Ray says. Maria Larralde, an interpreter for the Maricopa County Integrated Health System, encounters many of the old-time 22
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traditions in modern-day emergency and examining rooms. Once, Larralde was called to a pediatric emergency room where a pregnant woman had brought her older child in for a bee sting. The woman licked her finger and rubbed saliva onto the sting. Larralde said the child immediately appeared to feel better and the wound did not swell up. The woman told Larralde she was able to do this because she was pregnant, therefore, somehow, giving a healing quality to her saliva. “You learn something new every day,” says Larralde, who has been an interpreter for the health system for two years. For many of Larralde’s patients, the hospital is their last resort. Their first option is often a curandera or curandero, because they are usually more accessible and always more affordable. Once Larralde assisted a patient who was sent to the emergency room after losing consciousness. A diabetic, the patient was ingesting an herbal tea to lower her blood sugar levels, as instructed by a curandera. But she was drinking so much of it that, over time, decreased sugar levels caused her to lose consciousness. By the time some patients make it to the hospital, their health has deteriorated and they are very sick, sometimes with cancer or another fatal condition. In some of these cases, patients or their family members do not want to know the prognosis, because they believe knowing will bring death sooner, Larralde says. “That’s where doctors have a conflict with family members, because doctors have to tell the patient. Sometimes the patient will say, ‘I don’t want to know.’ It’s cultural,” she says. Patient advocacy is a key component of Larralde’s job, so in these cases, she helps bridge the gap between the physician’s recommendations and the patient’s comfort level. Many times, incorporating the home remedies that have been passed down through generations is what puts patients at ease. Perhaps the convenience of having what was in your mother’s garden or kitchen pantry is just as comforting as a bottle of painkillers or trip to the dentist.
The cure is in la cocina
Herbs and natural remedies are commonly used in Hispanic cultures. See if any of these ingredients bring back any childhood memories. Note the conditions they are believed to help cure.
Aloe: Anti-inflammatory, diabetes, peptic ulcers, asthma, colds, wound healing
Lavender:
Anxiety, insomnia
Brook mint:
Anxiety, insomnia
Linden:
Insomnia, hypertension, headaches, nervous tension
Chamomile:
Insomnia, GI disturbances, cough, skin conditions, hemorrhoids, anti-inflammatory
Oregano:
Colic, muscle pain, cramps, expectorant
Clove: Toothache
Passion Flower: Anxiety,
hypertension
Cod liver oil: Asthma, expectorant
Peppermint:
Eucalyptus:
Colic, indigestion, flatulence
Cough, asthma, bronchitis
Garlic:
Star anise:
Hypertension, cough, infections
G.I. disturbances, respiratory tract infections, colic
Ginger:
Nausea, rheumatoid arthritis, anorexia, migraine, toothache
Valerian: Ginseng: Stimulant,
diuretic, digestive aid, stress, improve athletic stamina, hot flashes, depression, asthma, cancer
Sedative, stress, migraines, cramps, depression, hot flashes.
Source: American Pharmacists Association
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While in college, Ray had a bad toothache. He couldn’t afford to go to a dentist, but needed relief fast. He remembered his mother using onions to cure such ailments, so he sliced an onion and ate it like he would an apple – just like his mother and abuelitas used to do. “When push comes to shove, you go back to what you know, I guess,” said Ray, who doesn’t clearly recall whether it worked. “Maybe it did work. Or maybe it was just believing it would.” Larralde says, “Home remedies must work if they’ve been around this long … There must be truth to it.”
A history of healing Many beliefs have been around for centuries. One myth dooms an unborn baby to having a cleft palate if his mother watches a lunar eclipse during the pregnancy. This has Aztec origins, says Seline Szkupinski Quiroga, assistant professor at the School of Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies at Arizona State University. The belief is that an eclipse was a bite on the face of
the moon, so if a mother watched it, the same fate would happen to the face of her unborn child. Other strong Latino health beliefs revolve around the mixing of hot and cold or wet and dry conditions contributing to illness or recovery. These have indigenous origins as well. “You can find vestiges of earlier medical systems that predate colonial encounters. If you dig deep enough, that’s where you find the roots,” Quiroga says. In her Latino health issues class, Quiroga asks students to share any beliefs or traditions they’ve heard of or used in their families. Most have to do with childhood illnesses or are tales that transcend the races, such as going outside with wet hair will make you sick. Many involve pregnancy or early childhood development, such as sour breast milk resulting from a mother who is angry or agitated while breastfeeding. Treatments for children, like using mint tea instead of aspirin, are traces of a time when people didn’t have access to medical care and used natural remedies,
Quiroga said. Some of her students talked about drinking flat cola for an upset stomach, a belief that stems from societies living in places where water was not safe to drink. “I’ll ask someone to describe a home remedy and someone else will say, ‘I know that,’ and another will say, ‘I do that,’” Quiroga says. “A lot of students don’t realize these home remedies really have a tradition.” Although most healthcare practitioners may dismiss these remedies, Quiroga says mainstream companies produce and sell herbal teas, salves and other concoctions as treatment for a variety of disorders. The healing properties of aloe have made the plant a major selling point for many lotions, gels and creams. Quiroga says research in the area of Latino health traditions and remedies is new and limited, but embracement of them has little to do with education or acculturation status. Instead, it is dependent on an individual’s personal stance. “Now more research is being done on whether it is the placebo effect or is it
Nana knows best ... or does she? Many of the more popular traditional beliefs are related to pregnancy. While several are dismissed as old wives’ tales, a few continue to hang around and inadvertently cause a little anxiety for the already concerned mother-to-be. However, these traditions are part of what makes the culture and its history so fascinating and vibrant. Remembering them also helps keep the culture alive. So, it’s OK to heed the loving warnings of your nanas, tías and other caring mujeres, but just keep in mind what is real and what is myth. Here are some of the more common stories expectant Latinas have likely heard. Do any sound familiar? We thought so. 24
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Tale: If your belly is pointy, the baby will Tale: Tie a hair to the mother’s wedding be a boy; if it spreads out to the sides, the baby will be a girl. Truth: This is one of the most widespread myths, but it has no foundation. Belly shape actually has to do with the mother’s build. If the mom is small and thin, her belly will look different than if she is bigger and taller.
Tale: If your face looks rounder, the baby will be a girl; if you gain weight on your rear end, the baby will be a boy.
Truth: Where a pregnant woman carries her
extra weight has to do with her own body type, not with the sex of her baby. If a woman tends to accumulate extra pounds on her rear rather than her belly or other body parts before pregnancy, the same thing will probably happen when she’s expecting.
band and suspend it above her belly. If the ring goes around in circles, the baby will be a girl; if it sways from side to side, the baby will be a boy.
Truth: This myth belongs to the kingdom of magic and to the art of moving the ring using the hair. No scientific theory proves that the movement of the ring is in any way related to the baby’s sex. Tale: You can’t take a bath during pregnancy, because the dirty water will reach your baby.
Truth: As long as the water isn’t too hot, you’ll find a bath very relaxing, especially near the end of your pregnancy. The uterus is sealed by a mucus plug that protects the baby.
actually working. But remedies should not be dismissed offhand. If they didn’t work, they wouldn’t be used,” she says.
Integrative health care, Latino style In the 21st century, tradition and modern medicine are more often partners than rivals anymore. Well-known curandera Patricia Federico treats clients through her practice, My Madre Tierra/Utopia Therapeutic, LLC, at The Retreat at the Farm at South Mountain. Sometimes she asks patients what their physician has prescribed; based on that information, she recommends herbs, vitamins and breathing exercises. Stress is the No. 1 reason Federico’s clients come to her. Physical injuries ranging from muscle strains to broken bones that are not healing properly are the second. Some are baby boomers who have been told they need to cut back on sugar and caffeine, or adults who are about to undergo surgery and want to speed up the healing process.
Tale: If you eat a lot of cheese or dairy
products, your baby will be born with cradle cap.
Truth: Cradle cap — those scaly or crusty patches that appear on some babies’ heads — is not related to what the mother eats. It’s caused by excess oil in the baby’s scalp. It’s harmless and very common, regardless of how many dairy products a mother consumes. Cradle cap eventually goes away.
Tale: If you watch a lunar eclipse during your pregnancy, your baby will have a cleft palate.
Truth: This ancient myth has been traced back to the Aztecs. They believed that an eclipse was a bite on the face of the moon. If a mother watched it, the same thing would happen to her baby. For protection, the mother carried something metallic, such as a safety pin, on her underwear. The truth is, a cleft palate is caused by a blend of genetic and environmental factors that in no way include the planets.
For these patients, Federico works on their lymphatic system and positive imagery via massage. She conducts short ceremonies customized for each client. “The curandera looks at the patient in a holistic way. It’s not just about the physical or emotional, it’s about the whole person,” she says. “It’s accepted in a way where it’s more integrative with their health care.” Over the years, traditional remedies have become more acknowledged. And many Latinos, like Ray, have learned to appreciate the tradition they dismissed as youths. “In my teen years, when you think you’re smarter than your elders, I thought this stuff was savagery. But when you become an adult, you start reverting back to that,” Ray says. “Society is becoming more open-minded about it.” In his volunteer healthcare work with Latinos in rural areas, Ray says many are not willing to give up their remedies, so providers are learning to accept this while also recommending they take conventional medicines.
“If a doctor tells to them stop, it’s not always in the best interest of the patient. They’ve been taking these herbs for so long, it’s part of their diet. There has to be a cultural understanding,” Ray says. “Modern doctors can have [an] adverse affect by pooh-poohing these remedies. Ultimately, it will crush their patient’s spirit. The big thing is having faith and believing they will work.” Federico says she hopes to encourage the Latino community to reeducate themselves on and be open to this ancient healing art and the traditional beliefs and remedies. Most of her patients are second generation, with a handful of firstgeneration clients. She has several who are not Latino. “What we believe creates our reality. If we believe the work is going to help us, then we are creating that as our reality. It’s very important to have those beliefs,” she says. “We have so many wonderful technologies that enable us to see inside the body, but at the same time, to integrate this kind of work is just like … icing on the cake.”
Tale: If you see something ugly when you’re pregnant, your baby will be ugly, too.
Tale: How you move can endanger your baby. For example, if you lift your hands above your head, your baby could be strangled by the umbilical cord.
Truth: What you see during your pregnancy
has no effect on your baby’s appearance. Genes determine your baby’s looks.
Tale: Babies who don’t listen to music during pregnancy end up being deaf.
Truth: Once your baby’s ears have devel-
oped, he or she will be able to hear your voice and certain things that happen around you. Although it’s said that babies prefer classical tunes, what he or she listens to from the womb won’t affect hearing one way or the other.
Tale: If you have heartburn, your baby will be very hairy.
Truth: This is one of the more widespread
myths, but in reality, the amount of hair depends on the genes your baby inherits. Heartburn during pregnancy is related to other factors, such as the tissues being more relaxed because of hormones or the pressure of your uterus on the stomach.
Truth: The movements of your arms are in no way related to the movements of the umbilical cord. Some babies are born with the cord wrapped around their neck, but it’s caused by the baby’s own movements inside the womb. Tale: If you don’t eat a lot of fruit during pregnancy, your baby will be born “dirty.”
Truth: There is no way of preventing your baby from being “dirty” at birth. Newborns are covered with a white, fatty matter called vernix caseosa, which protects their skin as they float in the amniotic fluid in the uterus. Source: Lourdes Alcañiz, author of Waiting for Bebé: A Pregnancy Guide for Latinas www.latinopm.com
¡ June 2011!
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602.530.6900 • hov.org
Your not-for-profit hospice since 1977
Hospice of the Valley cares for the Hispanic community Hospice of the Valley offers personalized health care to support patients near the end of their lives.
“Everyone with Hospice of the Valley really cares about me. They make you feel comfortable.�
“We are very respectful of families’ wishes and traditions, and we always want the family to be in control of their decisions and the care of their loved ones,� said Maria Rebozo, Hispanic community liaison.
Hospice care is delivered by a team that consists of a doctor, nurse, nurse’s aide, social worker, chaplain and volunteer. Bilingual staff members and volunteers serve bilingual patients. Additional services include massage, music and pet therapy, as well as grief support.
Hospice care usually is given in the comfort of patients’ homes. Inpatient hospice homes also are available Valleywide for patients who need roundthe-clock nursing care for limited periods of time. “Hospice of the Valley has been really good to me. Every time I need something, they take care of it,� said patient Joe Pacheco of Phoenix.
Services are provided at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. Medicare and private insurance companies cover the cost of care, which includes medications and medical equipment. Because Hospice of the Valley is not-for-profit, no one ever is denied service because of inability to pay.
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A program called Arizona Palliative Home Care extends services to seriously ill patients who are not ready for hospice, but could be within a year. There is no charge to patients and families. To learn more about Hospice of the Valley, call 602.530.6900 or visit hov.org. Click on the “en espanol� tab to access the Spanish portal.
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3TATE &ARM "LOOMINGTON ), s An Equal Opportunity Employer
¡ June 2011!
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32 Entrepreneur Mark and Rebecca Tafoya open second AZ Laser Skin Rejuvenation Center
33 Briefcase
Whales and sales: going for the big pescado
37 Career
Naturopathic medicine traces its roots back to Hippocrates. A holistic approach to health care
Movin’ Up
Photo by c sanderson
RDF hires Gomez
Guadalupe Gomez joins Raza Development Fund
Guadalupe Gomez has joined Raza Development Fund, Inc. (RDF) as senior loan officer. Gomez will be responsible for developing business primarily in Texas and New Mexico. The RDF is a support corporation of the National Council of the Raza and the largest Latino community development institution in the U.S. Gomez has over 25 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. Most recently, he served as business development officer for Phoenix-based Sonoran Bank.
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¡!
movin’ up
Supervisor Wilcox joins MALDEF
MAHC elects Ortiz
Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox has been named to the board of directors of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, community education and litigation in critical social policy areas, including education, employment, political access and immigration rights.
Tony Moya
Phoenix College honors community partners Phoenix College held its 6th Annual President’s Golden Bear Partnership Awards ceremony last month and recognized individuals and organizations for their contributions and support to the college. Among the 2011 honorees: Tony Moya, Raul H. Castro Institute advisory committee member; Leslie Lindo, Sonoran SBAP, and Gregory E. Torrez, PC president’s advisory council.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale’s Rose Lane Branch, was chosen over seven other candidates from clubs across the state. She now advances to the regional competition to be held in July in Newport Beach, Calif. Regional winners compete for, among other things, an opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. and meet President Barack Obama at the White House.
Joseph Ortiz, director of public and community relations for the Roosevelt School District, has been elected to the board of directors of the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens (MAHC). MAHC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a focus on improving the quality of life for Latinos in Mesa and the East Valley.
Biz Journal announces 40 under 40
Blanca Williams
Forty talented jóvenes will be recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal at a reception and ceremony this month. Among the 2011 class of 40 under 40 are: Cynthia Aragon, Arizona House of Representatives; Bill Barquin, Cesar Chavez Foundation/ Campesina; Anabell Castro Thompson, Hospice of the Valley; Laura Gonzalez, ASU Biodesign Institute, and Christopher Nieto, Shepley Bulfinch.
Williams joins Azteca America
ATHENAPowerlink participants announced
Tucsonan Jose Luis Olmos has been hired by the state of Sonora’s tourism department to lead its PR and promotions efforts in Arizona. In his new capacity, Olmos will execute public relations and advertising campaigns for the Latino and general markets in Southern Arizona.
The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce selected five local companies to participate in its prestigious yearlong mentoring program, ATHENAPowerlink (APL). Now in its ninth year, the APL program offers participants mentoring and education and connects them with customized advisory panels to address the challenges of their respective businesses. Participants include Así Marketing owned by Letty Alvarez, and Netcor owner Rafael Cortez.
Blanca Williams, a 12-year veteran of Univision television, has joined Azteca America as its new regional account manager. Williams will handle national accounts and secure new local business, and will be responsible for developing marketing strategies for the Spanish-language TV network.
Sonora names local PR liaison
Fernandez is Youth of the Year Olga Fernandez, a senior at Saguaro High School, was named Boys & Girls Club State Youth of the Year. Fernandez, a 10-year member of the
Movin’ Up Know someone who has been promoted, elected or honored? Send us the news of their achievements! Email movinup@latinopm.com 30
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Hidalgo joins Morrison Institute board Last month, Edmundo Hidalgo, president and CEO of Chicanos por la Causa, joined the board of advisors of Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy. The institute, an independent and nonpartisan center of research, analysis and public outreach regarding Arizona issues, is part of the College of Public Programs in the School of Public Affairs at ASU.
ALAC elects new board members The Arizona Latin@ Arts and Cultural Center (ALAC) announced the election of a new chairman and board of directors. Francisco X. Gutiérrez, who has served as ALAC’s general counsel since its inception in 2007, is the new chairman of the board. William James Fisher will now serve as general counsel. New board members are Claudio Dicochea, Nuvia Enriquez, James E. Garcia, Casandra Hernandez, Ruben Hernandez, Al Preciado and José Leyba.
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Having concrete dreams and goals, and the perseverance to accomplish them, play a big part in your life’s success. So does having a financial plan that sustains them. At Wells Fargo, we listen and understand your life’s objectives before we present you with financial solutions. From investments to planning for your children’s future, from home mortgage to retirement, we offer an array of financial products and services to help you through every stage of your life. To learn more about how Wells Fargo can help you today and for years to come, call, visit our website at wellsfargo.com, or stop by and talk with a Wells Fargo banker today.
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entrepreneur
Perfecting la piel
Mark and Rebecca Tafoya, owners, AZ Laser Skin Rejuvenation Center Elevator pitch:
Photo by mark tafoya
We’ve taken AZ Laser from one clinic in 2008 to a thriving business and two locations three years later, one in Glendale and the other in Chandler. We cater to Latino men and women who want to look and feel their best. All of our services are administered with the highest degree of safety and expertise. Our services include laser hair removal and cosmetic procedures such as facials, microdermabrasion, Botox and Restylane treatments. State-certified, medical-laser personnel perform all procedures. We also recently launched our own skin care line, AZL, and a new laser hair removal certification program.
Business buzz: We’re a husband-wife duo providing skincare services to Latinos in the Valley – in language and in culture. All eight of our staff members are bilingual, and we take extra steps to cater to our community. AZ Laser Skin Rejuvenation Center (azlazerclinic.net) has also been voted the Best Skin Care Clinic in the Valley by Gannett for the fifth consecutive year.
Biggest business challenge: Being
Build relationships, analyze risk and be honest.
organized in every aspect. It’s difficult to be organized when you’re in charge of everything and try to do everything at once.
Best advice you have received:
Milestone: Every week and every day is a
Entrepreneur action:
Never give up and always try to find ways to make it through.
What prompted you to open AZ Laser? We grew up in a business environment. We believe in a strong work ethic and we started our own business when the opportunity presented itself.
Best thing about small business ownership: Driving your own course and being captain of the ship.
milestone. We are always looking forward to what the next day will bring, and every day there are new challenges and new opportunities to take care of. For us, waking up every morning knowing that our business is growing is an accomplishment.
Business advice: Assess risk, but don’t be afraid to go for it.
The future: The next step for AZ Laser is to identify regional markets where we can expand.
Suggest an entrepreneur
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Whales and sales Going for the big pescado
In 2008, BarBara Weaver SmIth and tom Searcy
published Whale Hunting: How to Land Big Sales and Transform Your Company, a book that uses the whale hunter’s story as “a metaphor for the business development strategy and sales process of a modern business.” The story goes like this: For many centuries, the Inuit people, who inhabit the Arctic regions of the world, have risked survival to hunt whale, the largest game on earth. To do this, they endure freezing weather and navigate perilous waters and ice floes. The question posed by Smith and Searcy is, “Why risk so much when they could have fish and caribou so much more easily?” The answer: A single whale can supply a village with nourishment and oil for a whole year. Smith and Searcy believe it’s the same in business – small fish will sustain you, but landing the killer whale account can keep you thriving for years. And although going for the big game is not the sales path of least resistance, the reward is typically worth the energy and risk. They even use terms like scout, hunt and harvest in their guide. According to Whale Hunting, success in the modern-day, corporate environment means to “scout” and “hunt” the big pescados; go for the humpbacked Hewletts and IBM belugas in the sea of business. In light of this analogy, the AZSBDC Network is offering a two-day program called The Whale Hunter’s Process on Wednesday-Thursday, June 22-23, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 2400 N. Central Avenue, Suite 104, in Phoenix. Recommended for small business owners, CEOs, VPs and directors of sales, the workshop is designed to help small businesses compete in the “new normal” and increase their business. A few strategies participants will learn include how to • develop a client target filter • evaluate buyer needs versus company skills • and map the sales process. SBDC counselors will lead the workshop. The fee for the program is $295.00, acceptable in cash or by check. Online registration is available at maricopasbdc.com or by calling 480-784-0590. Incidentally, The Whale Hunters (a trademarked name, by the way) is based in Tempe, Arizona, with
chapters in New York, Indianapolis and Florida. You can find out more about the founders, read their blog and join their online community at thewhalehunters.com.
CPLC housing “gurus” to assist Freddie Mac borrowers Did you know that Arizona ranks among the country’s top five states in foreclosure rates? More than 100,000 homes across the region are vacant, according to recent reports. And unfortunately, with vacancies come neglected lawns, contaminated swimming pools and vandalism, putting entire neighborhoods at great risk – and not just financially, but also physically and psychically. To help the state steer clear of ranking in the top four or higher, Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC)
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briefcase
has launched a public awareness campaign to help at-risk homeowners avoid foreclosure. Delinquent Freddie Mac borrowers in need of help are encouraged to call 602-253-0838 or visit the CPLC Borrower Help Center, where certified housing counselors offer solutions at no cost. The CPLC public awareness campaign, which will continue through November 2011, will be disseminated via public service announcements on Valley radio stations and grassroots outreach at community events, where CPLC housing counselors will be available to talk to homeowners and provide them with valuable information. The CPLC Borrower Center is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center is located at 1242 E. Washington Street, Suite 102 in Phoenix. For more information, please call 602-253-0838 or visit cplc.org.
Small biz help from ASU & SRP The W. P. Carey School of Business and Salt River Project (SRP) will soon begin their fourth annual Small Business Leadership Academy. The 10-week academy begins on August 31. Top professors from the W. P. Carey School of Business teach one night per week, making it convenient for business owners. Classes focus on business strategy, team building, negotiations, procurement and competition through service offerings. Scholarships to the academy will be made available for the first time this year , thanks to the academy’s major award sponsors: Arizona Lottery, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and U.S. Bank. Also, as in past years, SRP is giving a number of scholarships to its current suppliers and small business customers. Applications for this year’s academy are due June 17. To qualify,
400 BC
1946
The term cancer originates.
3000 BC
Signs of cancer found on bones from ancient Egypt.
applicants should come from small companies that have been in business for at least three years; have annual revenues between $1 million and $10 million, and have fewer than 100 employees. Applicants must be able to attend all scheduled classes and related activities. Those who complete the program will receive four continuing education units (CEUs) from Arizona State University. These units are widely used as a measure of participation in noncredit, professional development courses. For more information, call 480-9658006 or visit wpcarey.asu.edu/sbla. Current SRP vendors can also contact Art Oros, SRP procurement services manager, for information about this year’s SRP scholarships at 602-2368773 or art.oros@srpnet.com.
Chemotherapy is developed.
1899
The X-ray revolutionizes tumor discovery.
briefcase Arizona MBC to get $1.5 million federal grant The U.S. Department of Commerce has approved a contract worth nearly $1.5 million over the next five years to fund the federal Minority Business Development Agency Business Center in Arizona. The Phoenix office, the only one in Arizona, is one of 27 MBDA business centers across the country. Also known as Minority Business Centers (MBCs), the agencies are designed to create jobs and promote economic growth among minority-owned businesses in the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Alika Kumar, director of the MBDA Business Center in Phoenix, said her staff will be actively involved in securing large public and private contracts, financing transactions, stimulating job creation and retention, and facilitating access to global markets. Formerly known as the Arizona Minority Business Enterprise Center,
the MBC in Phoenix is operated by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and is mandated to assist eligible minority-owned businesses. The Phoenix center is slated to receive $290,000 a year for the next five years, though the renewal of the contract is contingent on the center meeting its annual performance goals. The funding is used to cover the center’s operating expenses. A major goal of the MBCs is to help minority-owned businesses increase exports as part of President Obama’s National Export Initiative. A new Commerce Department directive allows local offices to enter into cooperative agreements with MBC offices nationwide. Minority-owned companies with annual revenues of more than $1
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million, or firms that participate in high-growth industries (green technology, clean energy, health care, infrastructure, broadband technology and others) can learn more about the MBC in Arizona at azmbec.com or by calling 602-248-0007, or via email at alikak@azhcc.com.
MLB All-Star Dance-A-Thon Baseball fans can dance all night at the first-ever All-Star Charity Dance-A-Thon on Saturday, July 9, at the Phoenix Convention Center, benefitting cancer-fighting NPOs. Participants will dance to an eclectic mix of music from 3 p.m. to midnight, Arizona time. Find out who the guest choreographer and other VIP guests will be and register at allstargame.com.
Send your briefcase items to editor@latinopm.com.
The history of cancer meets a future of hope. Banner Health is teaming up with MD Anderson Cancer Center, ranked # 1 in cancer care by U.S.News and World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” survey, to open Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. Soon we’ll fight cancer like never before with a
powerful combination of groundbreaking treatments, revolutionary facilities, and the world-class expertise of professionals like Medical Director, Edgardo Rivera, M.D. (pictured here). It’s time to expect more in the battle against cancer. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center – bringing new hope to cancer patients. Opens September 26 at US 60 and Higley Road
2011 Banner MD Anderson Cancer
Center opens in Arizona.
1976
American Cancer Society recommends mammograms.
BannerMDAnderson.com
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Connect with us: FacebookTwitter
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Ask the pros pros... Dr. Shauna Birdsall, ND, FABNO
Director of Naturopathic Medicine Cancer Treatment Centers of America 14200 West Fillmore Street Goodyear, AZ 85338 Office: 1-800-333-CTCA
Q: Can vitamins and natural supplements be dangerous? A: Natural products can be truly helpful when used properly,
but they can also interfere with the effectiveness of some prescription medications. In addition, some supplements have associated risks for those with specific health concerns such as asthma or diabetes and high doses of some supplements can create a toxic situation in the body. It’s important that all supplements are taken under the guidance of a physician, preferably a naturopathic physician. When I first meet with my patients, we review all of the supplements they are currently taking. I work with my patients to educate them on which supplements are beneficial for their individual needs and which are not. Tell your health care providers about any alternative practices you use, including dietary supplements. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
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Some signs to look for:
No big smiles or other joyful expressions by 6 months.
No babbling by 12 months.
No words by 16 months.
To learn more of the signs of autism, visit autismspeaks.org ˆĂ&#x; Ă&#x;!UTISMĂ&#x;3PEAKSĂ&#x;)NC Ă&#x; !UTISMĂ&#x;3PEAKS Ă&#x;ANDĂ&#x; )T SĂ&#x;TIMEĂ&#x;TOĂ&#x;LISTEN Ă&#x; Ă&#x;DESIGNĂ&#x;AREĂ&#x;TRADEMARKSĂ&#x;OWNEDĂ&#x;BYĂ&#x;!UTISMĂ&#x;3PEAKSĂ&#x;)NC Ă&#x;!LLĂ&#x;RIGHTSĂ&#x;RESERVED
Knowledge is power. Build trust and share your wisdom with Named one of the "Top 10 Golf Courses To Play in Phoenix" by Golf Digest Come and see for yourself. The Legacy Golf Resort 6808 South 32nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85042 602-305-0550 www.legacygolfphoenix.com
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the community right here in Ask the Pros. Contact a sales rep today call 602-277-0130 ext. 25
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Healing holistically Naturopathic medicine offers careers rooted in tradition
By Erica Cardenas
nature IS the healer of all dISeaSeS.
¿De verdad? This philosophy invokes opposing viewpoints – nonetheless, it is one derived, in part, from Hippocratic teachings dating back to more than 2000 years ago. Today, naturopathic medicine continues to grow in popularity and acceptance as people continue to look for alternatives to conventional drugs and surgery. But let’s preface this discussion with a brief history lesson, shall we? The roots of naturopathy can be traced back to the teachings of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, and Galen, the second-century surgeon and philosopher. In fact, many of its healing traditions trace back to religious tradition and folk and Native American medicine. The actual term naturopathy was first used around 1895 to describe the growing number of doctors and healers who believed that treating the person and promoting health were more important than simply alleviating the symptoms of disease. During World War II, natural healing was pushed to the background by the development of medical technology and the increased use of drugs, such as penicillin and morphine. Then, in the late 1960s, natural medicine began to regain respect, with the ideas, philosophy and medicine behind naturopathy increasingly gaining acceptance today. Which leads us to the next important question: Can one establish a thriving career within the field of naturopathic medicine?
Medicina naturista The career options in naturopathic medicine are actually quite promising. Let’s first begin with an overview of a naturopathic doctor, or N.D., who teaches his or her patients to use diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and cutting-edge natural therapies to enhance their bodies’ ability to ward off and combat disease.
Naturopathic doctors work in private practices, hospitals, clinics and community health centers. They treat all medical conditions and provide both individual and family health care. Among the most common ailments they treat are allergies, chronic pain, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, obesity, respiratory conditions, heart disease, fibromyalgia and more. Much like medical doctors, an N.D. performs diagnostic tests and physical examinations using traditional procedures, like x-rays and ultrasounds. But unlike medical doctors, a naturopathic physician treats illnesses using alternative and natural techniques. Cristina Romero-Bosch, N.D., of Iluminar Therapy in Scottsdale, explains why she knew naturopathic medicine was her calling. “I come from a long line of conventional physicians in my family and I grew up in a typical Hispanic household where there was good food and lots of laughter,” she says. www.latinopm.com
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career
“When you got sick, herbs were rubbed on your chest or you were fed some caldo.” Romero-Bosch had good intentions of continuing the family tradition and going into conventional medicine. Her father, a psychologist who studied acupuncture in China, was instrumental in opening her mind – and heart – to the naturopathic side. “My dad had attended a conference where he learned about naturopathic medicine and he told me all about it,” says Romero-Bosch. “He encouraged me to look into the field, and so I did. After I learned more about naturopathic medicine in comparison to traditional medicine, I just knew it was the perfect fit for me.” Her practice, Iluminar Therapy, American Family Insurance believes thatspecializes in the evaluation and effective American Family believes thattreatment of metabolic conditions when you bringInsurance your creativity, energy Americanwhen Family Insurance believes that you bring your creativity, energy and experience to the professionalsuch as fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, American Family Insurance believes that when you bring your creativity, and you're experience to the professional world, bound forenergy success andchronic fatigue and appetite and weight when you bring your creativity, energy and experience to bound thewhy professional you're for success andmanagement. greatworld, fortune. That's American Family and experience to the professional world, you're bound for success and great fortune. That's why American Family Insurance is looking for entrepreneurial, As for the education and training needed you're bound for success and greatworld, fortune. That's why American Family Insurance ispeople looking forwant entrepreneurial, motivated who to becometo become an N.D., the schooling is right in great fortune. That's why American Family Insurance isAmerican looking for entrepreneurial, motivated people whoInsurance want to become Family agents.line with that of a medical doctor (M.D.). Insurance ispeople looking for entrepreneurial, motivated who want to become American Family Insurance agents. For example, an N.D. will attend a We'll provide the resources and support motivated people who want to become American Family Insurance We'll resources andcan support youprovide need tothe get started.agents. You takefour-year, graduate-level naturopathic American Family Insurance agents. We'll provide the of resources and support you need tofinancial get started. Youand canother takemedical school and is educated in all of advantage support We'll resources and support advantage financial support and other youprovide need professional tothe getof started. You can take development services.the same basic sciences as an M.D. In you need to get started. Youand can take development services. advantage ofprofessional financial Ifsupport other success is what you'readdition, an N.D. also studies holistic and advantage of financial support and other If success is what you'renontoxic approaches to therapy, with a professional development looking for, comeservices. join our family. professional development services. looking for,for come join our family.strong emphasis in disease prevention and If success is what you're Visit amfam.com more information. If success is what you're Visit amfam.com information.optimizing wellness. looking for, come for joinmore our family. But the training and education doesn’t looking for,for come joininformation. our family. Visit amfam.com more stop there. Visit amfam.com for more information. In addition to a standard medical Josh Pelligreen curriculum, the naturopathic physician Josh Pelligreen is required to complete four years Jpelligr@amfam.com Jpelligr@amfam.com of training in clinical nutrition, Office: (602) 225-3740 acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, Office: (602) 225-3740 botanical medicine, psychology, and Ext. 58007 Ext. 58007 counseling (to encourage people to make Cell: (602) 377-3691 lifestyle changes in support of their Cell: (602) 377-3691 personal health). A naturopathic physician takes We look forward rigorous professional board exams, so We look forward to speaking with you that he or she may be licensed by a state to speaking with you or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician. Romero-Bosch is a graduate of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, which is only one of
Find Find success success Find success within Find success within within our within our family. family. our family. our family.
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American Family Mutual Insurance Company ¡ June 2011! www.latinopm.com and its Subsidiaries American Family Mutual Insurance Company Home - Madison, WI 53783 and itsOffice Subsidiaries American Family Mutual Insurance Company
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four accredited schools of naturopathic medicine in the U.S. and the first of its kind in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The college offers a four-year, professional-level Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.) program and non-degree coursework. In states that license naturopathic physicians, including Arizona, the profession is regulated. Naturopathic physicians must pass either national or state board examinations and must have received an education from an accredited, four-year, graduate level, naturopathic medical school. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment opportunities for N.D.s are expected to increase by 13 percent by 2018. The salary rate is comparatively good. In 2008, N.D.s were reported to take home an annual income of over $65,000. As naturopathic medicine continues to gain recognition from patients, N.D.s will not run out of jobs. Romero-Bosch points out a challenge of the naturopathic field as it stands today. “One thing to point out to prospective students of the field is that there is no guaranteed residency at the end of your four years of school,” says the 33-year-old doctor. “With traditional medicine, there are programs where they match students up to a job. With naturopathic medicine, there is no such mandatory program.”
Body, mind y alma On the holistic health therapy side, massage therapy, nutritional counseling, herbology, chiropractic and reflexology are just a few of the many career choices available. The “holistic” approach to medicine, simply put, is a way of treating the patient as a whole. In other words, when a patient presents symptoms of an underlying disease, all aspects of the person’s health are considered in the diagnosis and treatment. This means the various physical, psychological and spiritual processes are considered in the treatment. The yearly salary of a holistic health practitioner will vary depending on the
career specialty, experience, place of employment, and the work done to earn credibility and build a strong client base. Employment prospects and salary potential in holistic health are as diverse as the types of medical practitioners who apply it, from conventionally trained physicians to massage therapists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of a chiropractor in 2009 was $67,650. The BLS also reported that nutritionists and dietitians earned a median income of $52,150. So, where can one look for education and training in holistic care? The Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), located in Tempe, is licensed by the state of Arizona and accredited by ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training) as a private college for holistic healthcare careers and continuing education. One of the many holistic types of degrees offered through SWIHA is their Holistic Healthcare with a Concentration in Massage Therapy degree. To give you an idea on program requirements for such a degree, the program exceeds the 700-hour requirement for massage therapy training in Arizona. Upon completion, students are prepared for an entry-level position or may choose to begin their own practice. Completed in as little as 11 months full time, or 22 months part time, this 750-hour program includes all of the core competencies required of a classically trained massage therapist, plus additional hours of training in one or two primary specialty areas. According to the BLS, today’s massage therapist charges an average of $60 for one hour of massage and earns an average annual income of $29,250 providing 15 hours of massage per week; with the top 10 percent earning $66,323 or higher for full-time massage work. The field of chiropractic also is another career possibility within the naturopathic and holistic fields. Dr. Lori Contreras, owner of Phoenix Family Wellness, is a doctor of chiroprac-
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tic (D.C.) who opened her own practice in February of this year. She describes her passion and love for the field. “Through my practice, I get to see patients go from a state of health where they were relying on medications and were at the end of their rope … to their bodies performing the way they were meant to perform, and becoming new, healthy individuals [and] no longer need drugs and medications,” says Contreras. Contreras offers a variety of services through Phoenix Family Wellness, including chiropractic care, nutritional counseling, lifestyle “coaching” and more. Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the spinal column and the nervous system. The philosophy behind it is that when someone suffers interference or misalignment in these systems, they become more susceptible to disease. In general, students complete a fouryear bachelor’s degree prior to starting their chiropractic education. Earning a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree typically involves a minimum of 4,200 hours of combined classroom, laboratory and clinical experience, and takes an average of four years to complete. The majority of chiropractors in the U.S. work in independent practices. According to salary.com, average salaries for chiropractors range from $68,791 to $103,218 annually, with the lowest 10 percent earning $52,885 per year, and the top 10 percent making over $117,000 per year. In general, self-employed chiropractors make a higher income than salaried ones. Geographic location plus the chiropractor’s individual qualities, level of experience and accomplishments also influence earnings. When it comes to your health and wellbeing, the 34-year-old Contreras says it’s really all about the approach. “In our culture, our nanas have that special soup or tea they give us when we’re sick … things passed on from generation to generation,” she says. “It’s really all about keeping that mentality of embracing and using natural approaches to care.”
Oportunidad en la era digital
Oportunidad en la era digital How do you become among the most reliable and trusted providers of communication and entertainment services in America? By connecting people with nearly endless opportunities to learn, grow, share and succeed. With Cox Communications, there’s no shortage of possibilities for our customers or our employees. Add your talents to the team that’s advancing communications into the Digital Age. Establish a career connection with a real, and rewarding, future with one of the industry’s most respected and exceptional employers. To learn more about Cox Communications, or to apply for open positions, visit us online. Crece con nosotros.
www.cox.com/coxcareer
EOE www.latinopm.com
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RAISE A BUD RAISE MONEY FOR MILITARY MILITA T RY FA TA F FAMILIES MILIES
This summer, Budweiser will donate up to $2,000,000 to Folds of Honor, including a donation for every Budweiser sold.* The Folds of Honor Foundation provides education scholarships for the dependants of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving. So just by enjoying a Budweiser with friends, you’re helping the families of our military heroes that protect our great nation. Budweiser, Proudly Serving, Those Who Serve. *Maximum donation of $2,000,000 includes $100 for every home run hit in select professional baseball games, 5¢/case of Budweiser sold, 5/26 – 7/10, and $46,500 for Dave Winfield’s 465 career home runs. For details, visit facebook.com/Budweiser
Limited Edition Cans
©2011 Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Budweiser® Beer, St. Louis, MO
Protecting los niños Detective Daniel Romero, Phoenix Police Department
Years of service: Eleven years. I worked out of South Mountain precinct for the first seven years as a patrol officer. Professional honors: Medal of Merit, Community Policing Award, Employee of the Month at South Mountain Precinct.
Photo courtesy of Phoenix Police dePartment
Duties: I currently investigate crimes committed against children, which include child abuse, child neglect, child molestation, sexual abuse, sexual assault and cases of sexual conduct with a minor. What made you want to become a police officer? I actually wanted to apply for the U.S. Marshals Service and needed law enforcement experience. I applied with Phoenix police, was hired, and it turned out I found a great home.
Memorable mission: When I was working as a patrol officer, I was asked to work a month-long assignment investigating money laundering and human smuggling cases with DPS. Based on the success of that DPS investigation, I was asked to work a three-month, undercover assignment to assist in the Maryvale Revitalization Project. Both assignments were rewarding and great learning experiences and helped me get my current position.
How do you “decompress”? Nothing beats a hike or an off-road ride out in the desert to clear your head. Most weekends you’ll find me in the Superstition Mountains, the Mogollon Rim, or Sedona/Flagstaff area. The rest of my time off is spent with my girlfriend or with family; I realize I would not be where I am at today were it not for them.
Service satisfaction: Working with a great group of people. I’ve learned so much from everyone I’ve worked with – from my partner in patrol to my current partner as a detective. There is also no better feeling than to have a case go to trial and have the bad guy convicted.
If not detective, what would your job title be? My intent during my last years at ASU was to go into teaching. My mom, several aunts, uncles and cousins are teachers; it must be in our blood. I still consider the possibility of becoming a teacher once I retire.
Advice to others considering police work: Go for it! I can’t imagine anything more rewarding.
Nominate a candidate
Help us acknowledge those who serve. Men and women currently in the military or a first responder. Send your info to editor@latinopm.com. www.latinopm.com
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summer
classes
Whether your goal is to earn your bachelor’s degree, update your job skills, or simply learn something new — get a head start by taking classes this summer at a Maricopa Community College.
Ten colleges, two skill centers, specializing in certificate, degree, and university transfer programs.
Summer Classes Starting Soon | maricopa.edu/explore The college of you.
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Saturday, July 16, 2011 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
for more information: 602-495-3791
Desert Sky Mall 7611 W. Thomas Rd. (75th Ave and Thomas) Phoenix, AZ 85033
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Proactive pediatrics Matthew Baral, N.D., treats and educates
In our medIcal culture of treatIng the symptom
rather than preventing the disease, it’s refreshing when the latter is the chosen approach, especially with the youngest patients of all. And Dr. Matthew Baral chooses the latter. A naturopathic pediatrician, Baral also teaches his patients – and their parents – how to prevent future illness. Naturopathy is based on the belief that the human body has an innate healing ability that can be enhanced by natural means. This philosophy was ingrained in Baral from the start. “My parents were strong proponents of natural medicine,” he says. “They raised me vegetarian and used herbal remedies when I was sick.” Both of his parents were high school teachers; his mother also taught yoga. It’s no wonder a component of Baral’s interactions with his patients, and the public, is education. He teaches about the latest natural therapies, diet and exercise. He instills the importance of lifestyle changes to maximize the body’s ability to evade and fight disease. He also informs his patients about environmental toxins and how they can affect a child’s health, in the short term and later in life. He combines modern medical science with traditional, naturopathic approaches in his comprehensive treatment plans. Baral says his Latino patients are definitely receptive to natural medicines, although some families prefer conventional medicine. “But most are happy to treat their children naturally,” he says. “It’s a pleasure to talk with a parent who is familiar with herbal medicine, since I use it so often.” Baral received his naturopathic medical degree in 2000 from Bastyr University, a nonprofit, private university world renowned for its stringent curriculum and stalwart research. In his third year of medical school, Baral took a pediatrics class. He saw working with children as “an opportunity to affect a patient’s life at the most influential time possible.”
Naturopathic pediatrician Matthew Baral
Baral says hands down, obesity and the resultant diabetes that comes with it later in life is the most prevalent problem among children It is estimated that 50 percent of Latinos will develop diabetes in their life. “This is such a travesty,” says Baral. “It can take decades off someone’s lifespan and it is absolutely preventable.” As if his private practice of primary pediatric care at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine isn’t enough to keep him busy, Baral has a second private practice in Phoenix where he treats children with autism and their related conditions. He also serves as the medical director of the Hamilton Elementary School Clinic, a free pediatric clinic that provides care to the students of one of the most impoverished school districts in Phoenix. He is also the chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at SCNM. He designed the first Naturopathic Pediatric Residency program in naturopathic medicine and serves as its director, and he is the founding and current president of www.latinopm.com
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Design
future your own
Register Now!
www.phoenixcollege.edu 44
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¡ June 2011!
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the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Baral is also the pediatric contributing editor to the Natural Medicine Journal and the International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine, and has co-authored the first textbooks on pediatric integrative medicine, including Dr. Andrew Weil’s Integrative Medicine Library. And lest anyone think he’s a slacker, Dr. Baral stays in touch with his patients and “followers” via his website, Twitter, RSS Feed and Facebook, spreading awareness about natural medicine as much and as often as he can. It’s understandable that he hasn’t had time to post an article on drmatthewbaral.com since last summer, but his tweets and Facebook posts are current. He recently tweeted “Almost HALF of [U.S.] kids are sick! A shift needs to occur in healthcare for children. This is stunning. #FB http://bit.ly/mTrbHO,” and posted on Facebook, “Kids never been as sick as now, and getting worse. Focus on prevention, enviro, nutrition if we want change, IMO http://reut.rs/kiu0Uw.” Between teaching pediatric classes at SCNM, Baral is a regular speaker at the Phoenix Autism Society of America and American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. And when he’s not doing that, he’s conducting his own research on autism and prenatal care, among other studies. And how does he stay healthy on top of it all? “I have a daily meditation practice, and do yoga five-six days a week,” says Baral, “and I eat healthy and take time off when it’s needed. Being disciplined about taking time off to rest in order to stay balanced is just as important!” For more information about Dr. Baral or SCNM, visit scnm.edu.
also welcome to attend. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Survivor Education and Empowerment Conference will take place on Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue in Chandler. The event will feature a main panel discussion, two breakout sessions and a chance for participants to network over lunch, which will be provided. The main panel discussion, scheduled at 11:45, is entitled, “Reducing Your Future Risk of Breast Cancer by Nurturing the Mind, Body and Spirit.” Morning breakout sessions will cover topics such as “Newly Diagnosed: Financial Assistance Options and Navigating the Resources Available to You and Your Family,” and “Breast Cancer and Your Relationships: How to Approach Challenging Emotional, Physical and Sexual Issues.” Registration is required. Participants can register by emailing their name and desired breakout session to info@ komenphoenix.org by Friday, June 3. To learn more about the Survivor Education and Empowerment Conference, visit komenphoenix.org or call 602-544-2873.
MIM fun para los chicos The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) is offering a Summer Series for Kids (and teens!). Workshops will be held in June and July, with special guests and performances. Here’s a tiny taste of some of the workshops being offered:
Free Komen conference for breast cancer survivors
Taiko Drumming Who: Teens ages 12-16 What: Eileen Morgan will teach about the history of Taiko drums, the significance of Japanese music and how they can express themselves through music. When: Saturday, June 18 at 10 a.m. Cost: $20 per child
The Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will host a free community conference designed to help breast cancer survivors learn more about their disease, connect with local resources and network with fellow survivors. Co-survivors are
Flamenco! Who: Kids and teens ages 6-16 What: Lena and Chris Burton will teach Spanish flamenco dancing! The younger set will learn basic flamenco dance
so I can make a difference.
Casey Brown
Moonscape photography What: Adam Rodriguez levels this class for amateur photographers. The focus will be on creativity and experimentation to learn elements of lighting, exposure, camera settings and more. For digital or SLR cameras – with tripod. When: Wednesday, June 15, 7-10 p.m. Cost: $45 for members; $56 for nonmembers
Psychology major, Class of 2011
The dirt on compost What: Kristen Battafarano will teach tricks to providing the right environment for composting in our desert climate, as well as which compost systems are easiest and most efficient. Composting is free, smart and easy, and will make a world of difference in any garden. When: Monday, June 13, 6-9 p.m. Cost: $30 for members; $38 for nonmembers
nau.edu/discover
The idea of going to college can be intimidating, not just for students, but parents, too. Fear not, estimados lectores. Right in downtown Phoenix on the second floor of the Burton Barr Library, College Depot is offering special weekly camps over the summer that will focus on college planning based on age and grade, and will include how to pay for college, college life and career exploration presented through fun activities and by guest speakers. Each camp runs Tuesday through Friday. Here’s the schedule: 9th graders – July 26-29, 1 to 3 p.m 10th graders – June 7 -10, 2 to 4 p.m. 11th graders – June 14-17, 2 to 4 p.m. 12th graders – June 21-24, 2 to 4 p.m. 6th / 7th graders – July 12-15, 1 to 2:30 p.m. 8th graders – July 19-22, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Space is limited – students should sign up based on their grade going into high school this fall. To register or for more information, call 602-261-8847 or email college.depot@phoenix.gov. For a complete list of workshops and events, go to phoenixpubliclibrary.org/ collegedepot. Students can also follow via Twitter at twitter.com/CollegeDepot.
I encourage students
College Depot gets students ready
Pruning trees and shrubs (taught in Spanish) What: Jaime Toledano will teach the art and science of good pruning, including how to prune young trees for good structure; the five types of pruning and when to use them, and how to avoid the two worst pruning mistakes. (This class will be offered in English on August 17.) When: Saturday, June 11, 8-11 a.m. Cost: $30 for members; $38 for nonmembers
Dr. Sara Alemán
For more information, visit themim.org or contact MIM Education at 480-478-6000 or education@theMIM.org. The MIM is at 4725 E Mayo Boulevard.
A Phoenix Point of Pride for good reason, Desert Botanical Garden is offering plenty of classes sure to pique everyone’s interest with one topic or another, ranging from photography and geography to cooking and compost. Here are just a smattering of this summer’s selections:
Professor, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Kalimba Magic Who: Kids ages 6-11 What: Mark Holdaway will share his knowledge of kalimbas (thumb pianos!) and the African culture. He will also teach kids how to make kid-friendly kalimbas and will tell a story using the instrument. When: Saturday, July 23 at 10 a.m. Cost: $20 per child
Now, something para los adultos
The Difference that Matters.
patterns and vocabulary, and teens will go more in depth and visit the MIM galleries to learn more. When: Saturday, July 9 – 10 a.m. ages 6-11; 1 p.m. ages 12-16) Cost: $20 per child (Adult attendance is not required at the 1:00 session.)
Desert Botanical Garden is nestled in the Papago Buttes at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway. For more information about DBG and other classes offered throughout the summer, visit dbg.org. www.latinopm.com
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Latino Perspectives Magazine
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NO ONEâ&#x20AC;Ś IS IMMUNE TO CANCER
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University of Minnesota Dept of Therapeutic Radiology and Radiation Oncology 420 Delaware Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 Tel: (612) 273-6700 Fax: (612) 273-8459 Chihuahua Oncology Center Hacienda del Valle 7120 Fracc. Plaza las Hacienda C.P. 31238 Chihuahua, Chih
GORDON L GRADO MD, FACRO, FACR, Medical Director
Rays in Arizona They’re stronger than you think By Robrt L. Pela
now you’ve really done It. after fter an afternoon of
high-seas sailing – or maybe just several hours of poolside snoozing – you’re toasted. Red as a lobster. Burned to a crisp. Everything hurts. We’ve all sustained a sunburn, but few of us would risk another if we knew just how serious the damage from one can be. A sunburn is produced when the ultraviolet rays in sunlight damage the deeper layers of the skin. The resulting irritation to the skin, blood vessels and associated tissue causes the inflammation we’ve come to call a sunburn. The accompanying pain comes from the nerve cells within the skin, which are stimulated during the inflammation process. But that ache is a lousy indicator of when it’s time to come in out of the sun: It can take up to twelve hours after sun exposure for the pain to start. The degree of pain is directly related to the severity of the burn and the size of the affected skin area. There’s no such thing as a better sunburn, but some are less dangerous than others. A typical sunburn – referred to as a superficial or first-degree burn – is painful without being touched, but the redness and associated discomfort improve after a couple of days. A seconddegree burn produces deeper damage of the skin and is always more painful. In addition to the discomfort, your skin will blister, and your burn will take longer to heal – usually two or three weeks. Second-degree burns occasionally leave a mild scar. A third-degree or “totalthickness burn” fries all the layers of your skin and may land you in the hospital. Healing takes many weeks and always results in scarring. Unless you’ve been lashed to a post in broad daylight without any sunscreen, there’s no excuse for sunburn. According to Sharon McKenna, manager of the Arizona Department of Health Services’ SunWise program, a daily application of any sunscreen or moisturizer with an SPF
(sun protection factor) of 15 or higher will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. “Applying sunscreen should be a part of our daily routine,” McKenna says. “And don’t be fooled into thinking that more expensive means more protection. A generic sunscreen will give you the same affect as a twenty-dollar tube will. Likewise, don’t go overboard and try to avoid the sun completely. That’s not healthy, either.” McKenna points out that sunburn doesn’t pick and choose among ethnicities; folks with darker skin tones are also susceptible to the sun’s damaging rays. “We think of skin cancer as something that happens to blond-haired, blue-eyed people,” she says. “But a recent study shows that skin cancers have increased eight percent among Hispanics. There’s especially increased danger of sun damage here in Arizona, where we have more than 300 sunny days per year, and where we tend to wear less www.latinopm.com
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Dental Consultant for Glendale, AZ 85383 Delta Dental of Arizona www.deltadentalaz.com 5656 W. Talavi Blvd. Glendale, AZ 85383 www.deltadentalaz.com
Q: Did you know you can pass bacteria from your mouth to your Q: child’s? Did you know you can pass bacteria from your mouth to A: child’s? Much like a cold, the bacteyour ria in your mouth are contagious. It happens transfer A: Muchwhen like ayou cold, the bacteyour into your ria insaliva your mouth arechild’s contagious. mouth. Typically, thistransfer takes place It happens when you through natural behaviors, your saliva into your child’ssuch as sharing utensils,this blowing mouth. Typically, takes on place food to cool it or even kissing through natural behaviors, such your little one. Babies are actuas sharing utensils, blowing on ally born without any harmful food to cool it or even kissing bacteria theirBabies mouth. once your littleinone. areBut actubacteria theharmful mouth, ally borncolonize without in any your child more prone to bacteria inwill theirbemouth. But once cavities incolonize baby and permanent bacteria in the mouth, teeth. If you have a history of to your child will be more prone poor oral withpermanent frequent cavities in health baby and cavities, particularly teeth. If you’re you have a history of likely to pass the germs along. So poor oral health with frequent keep your own particularly mouth healthy cavities, you’re by maintaining good diet, likely to pass theagerms along. So brushing,flossing, and regular keep your own mouth healthy visits to the dentist. Alsodiet, cut back by maintaining a good on saliva-transferring brushing,flossing, and behaviors regular – suchtoasthe sharing utensils andback visits dentist. Also cut toothbrushes, blowing on your on saliva-transferring behaviors child’s and cleaning off – such food, as sharing utensils and your baby’s pacifier with toothbrushes, blowing onyour your own mouth. child’s food, and cleaning off your baby’s pacifier with your
The suggestions and opinions of the adown mouth. vertisers on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of Latino Perspectives Magazine
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clothing and to expose more of our skin to the sun.” Once you have a sunburn, according to Phoenix-based dermatologist Melvyn Alan Chase, it’s best to stay out of the sun for a few days. Chase suggests nonprescription painkillers other than aspirin, which dilates blood vessels and can make your skin hurt more. He also cautions against most over-the-counter treatments, but says that ointments or lotions containing local anesthetics such as benzocaine and other sensitizing agents are a good idea. “Keep in mind that nonprescription sunburn products, like cold creams and moisturizers, may reduce sunburn pain, but they don’t speed healing. And please don’t put butter or other gooey substances on the burn. They just plain don’t help.” Another mythical sunburn cure that Chase cautions against is vitamin C. While some studies suggest that 2000 mg of vitamin C a day or use of vitamin E will reduce the risk of sunburn, neither will hasten healing once you’re burned. On the other hand, topical vitamin C creams like Cellex-C, when applied directly to the skin, will help some by decreasing the severity of a sunburn once you’ve sustained one. Because steroid creams are no better
than cold-water compresses in relieving sunburn symptoms, Chase recommends cold tap water, applied in a compress, for 30 minutes four times a day. And while he always recommends that we drink more water, he says dehydration in connection with sunburn isn’t likely. “You’d have to burn a pretty large area to dry yourself out all that much.” Taken soon after a sunburn, a prescription medicine called Indocin will help reduce pain, redness and swelling. And among nonprescription treatments, dermatologists most often mention Dermatique Cell Renewal Formula, a therapeutic skin care regimen that nourishes the process of skin renewal by feeding epidermal building blocks and restoring skin tone and moisture. Some of the best remedies for sunburn can be found in your vegetable crisper, according to Tina Gooch, a self-professed “hippy healer” and former holistic medicine advisor who works out of her home in Glendale. “A raw potato is your best bet for healing a sunburn,” Gooch says. “Cut it in half and spread the sap over the sunburned area. It’ll immediately cool your skin and relieve the pain. Or get your hands on some chamomile. Dilute the sap in warm water,
Heal the burn
You’ve felt the burn. Here’s a quick checklist of what to do next: • apply cold compresses to burned areas. • take cool baths a few times daily. • don’t “pop” blisters. • take tylenol or motrin for pain. avoid aspirin, which dilates blood vessels and can make your skin hurt more. • drink plenty of water. • apply aloe gel to sunburned (not blistered) skin. • seek topical relief from anesthetic creams containing benzocaine or lidocaine.
• use antibacterial and antimicrobial soaps and antiseptics to prevent infection. • Keep your skin from drying out and tightening with moisturizers, but avoid oil-based products and ointments. • look for these changes in birthmarks and moles, which can signal skin cancer: asymmetry, jagged or uneven borders, differing shades of brown and black, changes in size. • contact your doctor if you experience high fever, chills or vomiting. • Wear sunscreen to prevent future burns.
Tripping the light: all about your UV index â&#x20AC;&#x153;uVâ&#x20AC;? stands for â&#x20AC;&#x153;ultraViolet,â&#x20AC;? as in the Kind of light that causes tanning and sunburn. this same light can also lead to skin cancers and premature wrinkles, so getting to know your uV index is essential if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning some fun in the sun. the index was designed to consider all the elements that alter ultraviolet ray penetration. these include cloud cover, haze and the amount of ozone in the local atmosphere. a reading of 0-2 is minimum, meaning not much ultraviolet light is getting through. a 3-4 reading is low; 5-6 is moderate; 7-10 is high; and anything greater than 10 is very high. use the uV index to determine how long to stay in the sun: a fair-skinned person can get a sunburn in 13 minutes with a very high reading. for the lower levels, it can take from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the level. Keep in mind that a uV reading can change in a short amount of time as the sun changes intensity. and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to best the uV index with a higher sPf lotion. use a lotion with an sPf of at least 15, regardless of the uV reading. better yet, to be completely safe, stay in the shade.
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DENTISTRY WHILE YOU SLEEP and sponge it all over the burned area. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your best bet.â&#x20AC;? Gooch is also a big fan of aloe vera as a sunburn soother. Straight aloe is best, she says, and can be purchased at most drug stores. Aloe-based burn balms are also effective, and can shorten the life of your burn and make it a less painful experience. Sunstroke and heat exhaustion, the complications most often associated with sunburn, are best treated by a professional physician, says William A. Binder, a dermatologist in private practice in Bakersfield, Calif. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Symptoms of sunstroke, an occasional and very dangerous secondary condition of sunburn, include nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, and require immediate first aid attention.â&#x20AC;? If an immediate trip to the local emergency room isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possible, Chase recommends rubbing the skin with cold water or alcohol, with the aim of bringing your body temperature down to at least 102° F. Heat exhaustion is less severe, with symptoms that include fatigue, dizziness and nausea. Getting your temperature to just below normal with a cold water bath and lots of small sips of water is advised. All sunburns lead to the same unattractive end: peeling skin. As nasty as it is to walk around shedding sheets of dead epidermis, more lasting conditions
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like melanoma skin cancer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; can result from excessive exposure to sunlight. Each new sunburn, according to Binder, increases the risk of skin cancer a little more by damaging the material in cells that make replication possible. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Melanoma is especially dangerous,â&#x20AC;? Binder says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;because it can spread quickly, affecting the internal organs and result in death.â&#x20AC;? According to the American Cancer Society, nearly one-third of Americans will eventually develop skin cancer. Whether your burns are first or third degree, sun damage is permanent and irreversible. And even if you manage to avoid sunburn altogether, extreme sun exposure and sunbathing produce gradual skin damage. At the very least, regular overexposure to the sun can age your skin prematurely, cause sagging, wrinkling, wart-like growths and a leathery appearance. More frightening than ending up like an old handbag is the fact that this damage may not be immediately apparent: Ten to 40 years can pass between the time of sun exposure and the time the skin shows signs of sun damage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nothing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not even the best tan in the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is worth that kind of health risk,â&#x20AC;? Binder says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell my patients all the time: Forget about sunbathing. You might be a little pasty, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll live longer.â&#x20AC;?
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YOU CAN CHANGE A LIFE. REALLY.
Beauty and brawn Felicia Romero reaps rewards as trainer and competitor By Rosa Cays
BE A HERO! BUILDING FUTURES MENTORING PROGRAM Our Building Futures Mentoring Program is one of our most rewarding services, and we are in desperͲ ate need of mentor volunteers. We have so many great kids, ages 6 to 18, who are at risk due to low selfͲesteem, social isolation, family problems, etc., Ͳ who just need a friend, a role model. A person who can spend a little time sharing interests, listening and ultimately raising a child’s selfͲconfidence and outlook on life. You would be amazed at what an afternoon at the ball game or a trip to the park can do for a child in need of adult companionship and guidance. Give us a call or email and we’ll explain how our program works, and how you can change a life. Really.
To learn how to become a Mentor, contact the following directors in your area: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee Kate Clarno 602Ͳ212Ͳ6179 kclarno@vosymca.org Mesa Susan Long 602Ͳ212Ͳ6186 slong@vosymca.org Carefree, Cave Creek, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale Barb Harp 602Ͳ212Ͳ6289 bharp@vosymca.org Central Phoenix, South Mountain, Chris Town Marta Grissom 602Ͳ212Ͳ6187 mgrissom@vosymca.org Maryvale, Glendale, Southwest Valley Jessica Mena 602Ͳ212Ͳ6192 jmena@vosymca.org Regional Director Robert Neese 602Ͳ212Ͳ6071 rneese@vosymca.org
Youth Development Healthy Living Social Responsibility
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angela dixon photography
When Felicia RomeRo Was a teenageR
growing up in Arizona, the last thing she was thinking about was ever becoming Ms. Figure Olympia. She was too busy playing softball, volleyball and running track. Raised in a family of natural athletes, Felicia spent most of her time competing in sports. She made the varsity softball team her first year in high school. In college, she became a personal trainer to pay the bills and played outfield for Arizona State University, traveling across the country and to Paris and Greece, where the ASU team helped train Greece’s national team for the 2004 Olympics. Felicia graduated with aspirations of becoming a lawyer, but her personal trainer business was booming. Helping others get fit was so rewarding, she changed her focus. In 2004, she entered her first figure competition – and that was all it took. She loved the mental challenge of training; she loved the competition, and the competition loved her. In 2006, Felicia competed in her first national pro show and took first place in her class. And it was in 2009 that she took the crown of Ms. Figure Olympia. Since then, she’s collected quite a list of pro-show wins and has been the cover girl for many a fitness magazine. Last spring, Felicia partnered with fellow figure competitor Whitney Jones and opened AZ Pro Physiques (azprophysiques.com), a training studio in Gilbert. Felicia also has a separate business called Team AFD, a contest prep team based out of AZ Pro Physiques that trains national and pro-level competitors in figure, fitness, bikini, and men and women’s physique. We caught up with Felicia between workouts ...
You have competed in figure athlete and figure model competitions with much success. Do you still compete? I still compete at the pro level. I compete in the figure division, which is a marketable, mainstream look – athletic, tone body, but not overly muscular. The body has to be symmetrical.
How do you prepare for a competition? I usually start my contest prep about 12 weeks out from a show. I train five days a week, do cardio every day and stay strict with my diet for three months. I stay mentally focused and consistent leading into the show.
What have you won lately? Most recently, fourth place at the Figure International, which puts me
at No. 4 in the world at what I do. I also placed fifth at the Olympia, the biggest competition of the year. I have four pro wins under my belt as well.
Healthy Employee is a Happy and more Productive Employee! A
Is the dark tan mandatory? Yes, competitors must be very tan. A tan body shows muscle better onstage. It also highlights tone and shape.
Do men compete in figure athlete and model events? Men do compete. The
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National Physique Committee (NPC) just introduced a men’s physique division. This allows men to fitness model and compete.
Phone: 602.404.9622 Email: corporatewellness@vosymca.org Website: www.valleyYMCA.org
What do you like most about your work? Who is your client? I love helping people get into the best shape of their life. It is so rewarding to see them make a lifestyle change for the better. My clients are women of all age groups wanting to tone up, lose weight and looking for a lifestyle change. I train both men and women, but I typically train more women. About 30 to 40 percent of my clients Latino/a.
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Next professional goal: To place in the top three in the next Olympia and to become a bigger name in the fitness industry.
FREE Health Assessments . FREE Fitness Classes including Zumba, Body Pump, and Yoga . FREE Water Fitness Classes . FREE Amazing Kids and Teen Center while you work out for Family Memberships . FREE Senior Programs
Is there an age range for women who want to become a figure athlete or model? There is no age range
Reduced Rates on Swim Lessons, Youth Sports, Summer Day Camp, After School Programs . Priority Registration for all YMCA Programs . Access to computerized Fitness Software.
to become a figure athlete or model, but most women are in their 20s and early to mid 30s.
Any advice for future figure competitors? Have a goal and stick to it. This sport is very subjective and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As long as you realize that and have fun doing it, this sport can be very rewarding.
Felicia Romero, Ms. Figure Olympia
The YMCA has something for everyone: kids, teens, adults, & families. Come visit and let us show you why a YMCA membership is your best choice! Youth Development Healthy Living Social Responsibility
www.latinopm.com
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When other carriers say they have affordable quality dental & vision plans for individuals, we just smile.
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Get family coverage. Get Delta Dental. At ASU Preparatory Academy, we prepare every student to become a college graduate by teaching a strong foundation in basic subjects, complemented by arts, global awareness and community embeddedness. Free, innovative public charter school! Free all day kindergarten Free tutoring, after school and summer programs Supportive, safe, learning environment Highly qualified teachers Earn college credit in High School Space is limited. Attend an information open house: 6 p.m., Thursday, June 2 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 7 2 p.m., Monday, June 13 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 6 The Phoenix campus is located Downtown at 735 E. Fillmore St. For more information or to schedule a tour, call ASU Preparatory Academy-Phoenix campus at 602.257.4843.
asuprep.asu.edu 52
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Humility is not oppression By Stella Pope Duarte
Recently, i pResented a talk and had
with me my mother’s apron, an heirloom I take with me on my travels. It is a simple cotton apron punctuated here and there with safety pins, and in the pocket, another safety pin holds rubber bands for putting up your hair when you’re cooking around the stove. My mother always told me, “Never go out without a safety pin – something could tear or snap, and you’ll be standing there, naked!” Those words were ingrained in my mind, and as I’ve traveled with her well-worn apron, I have had many opportunities to prove her correct. I’ve needed the safety pins! So far, the rubber bands remain intact; no fire-raising events have occurred. I’ve held her apron many times in my hands, and perhaps if I lost it on an airplane, and someone found it, they would declare it a rag. It has faint food stains on it and seems to be worthless in the eyes of someone who did not know my mother. For me, it is a symbol of humility and self-sacrifice, the humble service of a beautiful Irish Latina woman who thought of only one thing: her family. Humility, as portrayed by my mother and many others like her, is the freedom to serve another gladly and as an expression of love. One of the phrases common in the history of the
Latino world is: A sus ordenes. Strictly translated it means, “I am at your orders.” Tell me what to do and I will do it. This blatant attitude of absolute respect and deference to another permeates the Latino culture, yet it has no place where oppression abounds. Oppression, which tested the very fabric of humility, was inflicted on our ancient ancestors the Mexicas (Aztec) by the Spanish as they conquered the Mexica Empire ruled over by Moctezuma. The natural humility of the Mexicas, which included welcoming even your enemy, was brutally tested in 1519 when the conquistador Hernán Cortés stepped off a Spanish galleon to claim what would become Mexico for Carlos V, the King of Spain. Cortés struck a tree with his sword in the presence of his notary public, and the whole land that lay before him, in his mind, was now officially owned by Spain. He was sure that his reward would be great, and that he would be set up for life. Actually, the opposite happened; he died in obscurity and his feats as a conquistador were not something the king of Spain would even discuss with him. With conquest came the subjection of the Indian nation under Spanish rule, a harsh rule that included severe penalties
for infractions to the law as set up by the Spaniards. Forced labor, the rape of the indigenous women and discrimination by skin color, class and race was the tragic backlash of oppression. Still, in their heart of hearts, the Mexicans, now Chicanos and Latinos, cling to the attitude of humility that marks them as willing to serve those they love, right or wrong, good or bad, often to the bitter end. Humility is like my mother’s apron. It is very simple and often is seen as something worthless in a world beset by competition and climbing the corporate ladder. However, its merits can still find a place in the Latino culture as we move into leadership roles and gain much-deserved success. We are learning to celebrate, gratefully, one another’s successes and can take humility to a new level, one that will dismantle oppressive political ploys with a steadfast eye for service.
Stella Pope Duarte was born and raised in South Phoenix. She began her writing career in 1995 after she had a dream in which her deceased father told her that her destiny was to become a writer. Her work has won awards and honors nationwide. www.latinopm.com
¡ June 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
53
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my perspective on: self-care
Avoiding the Oreo cookie effect Taking care of yourself first
More perspectives
Send us your perspective on whatever moves you. Email editor@latinopm.com.
By Emily Zaragoza- Women are so busy Lao, M.D. these days, trying to balance their lives with caring for their family and careers that it is hard for them to take the time to care for themselves. Some are caught in the “Oreo cookie effect”: taking care of their own children and their aging parents. As a family doctor, I see many female patients that fall victim to doing too much for others. They wait until everything is done for their children, their jobs and their extended family before looking inward and providing selfcare. Consequently, with the stress of such a hectic life, my patients only find rest when their immune systems are compromised and cannot fight simple viral infections anymore. Instead of resting and providing self-care, they continue to care of others until the simple infection becomes complicated, prolonging their illness and adding more stress to life. Self-care is a concept not common in the United States; however, it has been studied and promoted by the department of health of London, England, in their self-care report in 2006. Self-care is a daily part of life – when an individual cares for his or her own health and well-being. Most care in life is self-care. This includes maintaining good physical and mental health, meeting psychological and social needs, and preventing illness or accidents. Caring for minor illness will help prevent future medical complications. Properly following up on chronic conditions on a regular basis to prevent acute episodes is self-care. Finally, self-care is maintaining health and wellbeing after an acute illness from the hospital. Self-care empowers people and avoids unnecessary and costly health care. In London, minor illnesses account for 75 percent of ambulatory visits to the doctor, of which 40 percent of the doctor’s time is spent dealing with self-treatable illness. Several of my patients have adopted self-care as a tool to help them find balance in their lives. A working mother 54
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ June 2011!
www.latinopm.com
with a teenage daughter started to see me regularly after being seen in the emergency room for chest pain. She is morbidly obese at 350+ pounds, with multiple medical problems all related to her obesity. She works full time and takes care of her disabled husband and newly widowed father. She has no emotional support from her husband and has not developed many friendships. When her 14-year-old daughter came into the office for a pregnancy test, this sent her into a panic and chest pain. I began seeing her every two weeks at my practice at St. Joseph’s Hospital over the past three months to help her gain control of life. She took needed time off work to set her priorities and started delegating tasks to her teenage daughter to help with the household chores. She started to meditate and take time for herself, like walking to provide exercise and clear her mind. She is able to control her panic attacks with deep breathing exercises. She has started to sleep better and make healthier food choices. The impact of self-care on patients shows better symptom management, such as reduction in pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue. Patients have improved feelings of well-being and overall quality of life and greater independence. The impact on medical resources in London showed significant reductions in the number of hospitalizations, visits to the general doctors by 17 percent and reduction of prescribed medications by patients. In our fast-paced world of e-communications – email, texting, Facebook and Twitter – we have made life more complex and perhaps cause more stress rather than ease. Women need to empower themselves to set priorities in their busy lives. The top priority is self-care, so they are able to take care of others who they love and love them. Emily Zaragoza-Lao, M.D., is a physician and teaching faculty member in the Family Medicine Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. She is board certified in family medicine, with special areas of interest in women’s health and adolescent medicine. As medical director of the Family Medicine Residency Program, she oversees the clinical teaching of the resident physicians. She is also an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
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