www.latinopm.com
OCTOBER 2011
plus: The power of optimum life balance Anaya: The bond of sisterhood
ARIZONA EDITION
komenphoenix.org
19th Annual Susan G. Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure®
Step Up and Help Deliver Our Promise. 10.09.11 Sunday, October 9, 2011
This year’s Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure theme is “Step Up and Help Deliver Our Promise,” a reminder that the Race is much more than a one-day event. The Race allows the Komen Phoenix Affiliate to remain committed to ending breast cancer throughout central and northern Arizona year round.
You can join Komen’s Step Up Challenge by: 1 Registering for the Race online at www. komephoenix.org by noon on Friday, Oct. 7 or in person at the event.
2 Joining Komen’s Pledge Program and committing to raise even more toward the cure, while earning exciting incentives along the way. Funds can be turned in through Oct. 31.
Race Schedule 6 a.m. 6:15 a.m. 6:45 a.m.
Race Site Opens Survivor Parade Line-Up Survivors’ Parade and Celebration Post Parade: Kids Area, Survivor and Co-Survivor Area
7:15 a.m.
1-Mile Walk/Run
8:05 a.m.
Breast Cancer Survivor’s 5K Run
8:20 a.m.
5K Run
8:40 a.m.
5K Walk
10 a.m.
Awards Announced Note: All events are non-competitive
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Journal of the American Latino Dream
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Volume 8
{October 2011}
Issue 2
28
The end of breast cancer
Local communities are coming together to raise awareness among the different cultures in our state
Party at the Herberger
Latino Perspectives celebrated its seventh anniversary downtown in the Herberger Theater Art Gallery
42 7 8
From the editor October brings awareness to our Hispanic heritage, breast cancer and AIDS among Latinos
¿Será posible? Anti-DUI app for Latinos; no VPLs in Florida
31
Movin’ up
Chávez heads up Girl Scouts USA; Solley joins AWEE board; 40 under 40 Hispanic leaders
37 Entrepreneur Timothy Eli Castro carries on family tradition with TECA roofing company
49 Education and higher education; Coach Lopez bids Latinos farewell; recession and Arizona children 53 Health
Getting the word out about HIV/AIDS: the key to awareness among Latinos is education
12 LP journal Briefcase 39 Paleta Big guns for Bennett; Gov. Martinez’s hypocrisy; poder; drumming up profits; start-up Memorandum of Understanding
56 Time out The folks at Golden Gate Community Center are
14 Vibe Gin Blossoms’ Valenzuela hosts show at TCA;
59 P.S.
angels; MLK Award nomination time
Zarco and Xico celebrate Día de los Muertos; photographers share global perspective
19 Rincón del arte Joseph “Sentrock” Perez, visual artist
43 Career Nine ways to achieve optimum life balance, according to Sheri Riley
47 Those who serve
living their own version of Hoop Dreams
Eréndira: symbol of national pride
perspective 60 My Anel Vizcarra Marquez finds the strength of hope through faith.
Oscar Navarro-Perez, firefighter, Goodyear Fire Department
edition exclusive 62 Digital Guest op eds by mayoral hopefuls Greg Stanton and Wes Gullett; and District 5 city council candidates Brenda Sperduti and Daniel Valenzuela
4th
Coming in November:
annual salute: honoring those who serve www.latinopm.com
¡ October 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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Why did you grow up to be a doctor? So I can help kids be healthy and safe.
Why?
Because you can’t go everywhere covered in bubble wrap.
Why?
Because you’d look kinda funny. That’s why.
Scott Elton, MD – Pediatric Neurosurgeon Pediatric Neurosurgery – just one of the many specialties at Cardon Children’s Medical Center. Dr. Elton is not just a physician, he’s a parent, so he really understands how to treat kids. He’s passionate about giving his patients the kind of care he’d want for his own children. This mindful approach is just what you’ll find with the many other pediatric specialties at the new, state-of-the-art Cardon Children’s Medical Center. Our colorful world is full of child-friendly amenities designed around the unique needs of kids. More importantly, you’ll find pediatric specialists who have years of experience giving kids the individualized care they deserve. So they don’t have to go through life covered in bubble wrap.
On US 60 just east of 101. Watch personal stories from our caregiving team at BannerHealth.com/WhyCardonChildrens. Twitter
Find a pediatric specialist: 602-230 - CARE (2273). • Help support Banner Health’s nonprofit mission: 602-747-GIVE (4483).
Connect with us: FacebookTwitter
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¡! from the executive editor
October 2011 Publisher/CEO Ricardo Torres Executive Editor/COO Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D. Editor Rosa Cays Art Director Jorge Quintero Contributing Writers Catherine Anaya, Erica Cardenas, Dan Cortez, Ruben Hernandez, Jonathan Higuera, Robrt L. Pela, Stella Pope Duarte, Sheri Riley, Anel Vizcarra Marquez Director of Sales and Marketing Carlos Jose Cuervo Advertising Account Executives Grace Alvarez and Barry Farber Webmaster QBCS Inc.
Contact Us
www.latinopm.com P.O. Box 2213 Litchfield Park, Az. 85340 602-277-0130 Advertising: sales@latinopm.com Editorial: editor@latinopm.com Design: art@latinopm.com
Subscriptions
For home or office delivery, please send your name, address, phone number, and a check for $24 to Latino Perspectives Magazine at the address above. Subscriptions also available for credit-card purchase by calling 602-277-0130. Visit www.latinopm.com/digital for a free digital subscription. Latino Perspectives Magazine is published 12 times a year and is selectively distributed throughout Arizona. The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted by Latino Perspectives Media, LLC, all rights reserved, and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.
It’s good to be aware By Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D.
This October, as we observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month,
we are proud to partner with the Phoenix affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure to remind our readers that regular breast cancer screenings and early detection can save lives. In the U.S. each year, about 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the latest figures of the American Cancer Society, while nonHispanic white women develop breast cancer at higher rates than Latina/Hispanic women, Latinas tend to be diagnosed with larger tumors and late-stage breast cancer, thus increasing their chances of dying from the disease. Their five-year survival rate is 86 percent compared to 91 percent for white women. But why? It may be a combination of factors, like the lack of access to health care or the lack of information and education. And we all have a role to play in increasing awareness about breast health. Talk to the women in your life about selfexaminations, clinical breast exams and the different screening options available, depending on each woman’s age and risk level. If you are unsure about your risk level, talk to your doctor or a health professional you trust. Reading Anel Vizcarra Marquez’s My Perspective on page 58 will remind you that twenty-somethings can get breast cancer, too. I remember once talking to a friend’s mother who, at 65, vehemently refused to get a mammogram, a pap smear, or a checkup of any kind. She sternly told me that only her late husband was allowed to see her or touch her “ahí.” I know she’s not alone. Read on and visit komenphoenix.org to learn more and get involved. While on the topic of health and disease prevention, this month we devote our Health department to HIV/AIDS, as October 15 is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. Once again, the statistics and disparities are not encouraging: Latino men and women are diagnosed with AIDS at rates three and four times higher than their white non-Hispanic counterparts and account for about 205,000 cases of the approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. today. Apropos, we say bravo to our friends at the Southwest Center for HIV/ AIDS – later this month they’ll hold a groundbreaking ceremony of their new location and Center for Health, Education and Community Wellness. Their new 60,000-square-foot facility will be on the corner of Portland Street and Central Avenue in Phoenix, in the building formerly occupied by Channel 12. Lastly, we invite you to check out latinopm.com and sign up to receive our digital flipbook edition via email. In this month’s digital edition, City of Phoenix mayoral candidates Greg Stanton and Wes Gullett, and Phoenix City Council District 5 candidates Brenda Sperduti and Daniel Valenzuela share their perspectives as they prepare for the November 8 runoff election. Find these guest opinion editorials and more in My Perspective. Hasta la próxima.
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¡ October 2011!
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¡! ¿Será posible?
Estoy tomado By Robrt L. Pela
I see London, I see France
Photo by Jorge Quintero
This just in from the Too Ridiculous
There’s a newish phrase in the
American lexicon: “Is there an app for that?” And now, when someone asks if there is a cell phone application for determining whether Latinos are drunk or not, the answer is “Yes. There’s an app for that.” No, really. Based on R U Buzzed, an English language iPhone app released in late 2009, the just-launched Estás Tomado? is a Spanish-language version of the app sponsored by the Colorado Department of Transportation and targeted to the Android market. Tomado allows imbibing users to, in either English or Spanish, calculate their own blood alcohol level, presumably so that they can then choose between driving themselves home or grabbing a ride with a friend. By entering their weight, gender, time they started drinking and number of drinks they’ve consumed (hic!), Android users
Your thoughts? Tell us what you think. Send your thoughts to editor@latinopm.com 8
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ October 2011!
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can discover exactly how loaded they are at any given moment. The app, which has been downloaded close to a quarter of a million times since its release last month, even doles out advice, suggesting that tipsy drinkers call a cab and even offers to dial the number for a local taxi service. CDOT offers the service, according to its website, to help laypeople understand how few drinks it takes to pass the legal blood alcohol level in Colorado. The app is part of the department’s ongoing attempt to curb the number of deaths in auto accidents. Last year, 80 Latinos died in traffic accidents in the state and about a quarter of those were drivers who’d been drinking. One can’t help but wonder how long it will be before there’s an app that provides common sense to those who need it.
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.
To Be True (But It Is) Dept.: A new Florida law has been passed that bans the wearing of saggy pants on high school campuses. We kid you not. The law is the brainchild of Democratic State Sen. Gary Siplin of Orlando, who pushed for six years to enact the so-called Pull Your Pants Up Law. Siplin finally got his way this past spring and last month visited returning high school students at their first-hour classes, his hands filled with leather belts. The decade-old fashion trend of droopy drawers revealing colorful boxer shorts has its roots in rap and hip-hop music, which may be why Siplin was met with stern opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union, whose members felt that his proposed law targeted blacks and Hispanics, who are most likely to “dress hip-hop,” as Siplin has said. Although the Florida legislature voted overwhelmingly to enact the droopydrawers ban, they stopped short of Siplin’s attempts to criminalize saggy pants. Instead of tossing poorly belted teens into jail for daring to show off their Hanes, the law instead punishes repeat offenders with suspension from school and from school-sponsored extracurricular activities. “We want our kids to believe they’re going to college, and part of that is an attitude and part of that is being dressed professionally,” Siplin told Reuters in August. Which leaves concerned citizens with a single question: Are the folks who kick kids out of school for having saggy pants officially known as suspenders?
Editorial mission statement Latino Perspectives creates community, cultivates c u lt u ra l pr ide a nd provokes, c ha l len ges a nd con nec t s L at i nos who a re def i n i n g, pu rsu i n g, a nd ac h ie v i n g t he A me r ic a n L at i no D re a m .
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Conversation starters from the world around us
12 LP Journal
Ken Bennett’s big guns; Gov. Martinez’s abuelo; MOU ceremony
17 Anaya says
Sisterhood is the strongest bond
19 Rincón del arte
Joseph “Sentrock” Perez, visual artist
i say... I’m asking everybody in the Latino community – not just here, but all across the country – lift up your voice. —President Barack Obama seeking support for the American Jobs Act at last month’s Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute annual gala
I’m a woman, but I’m super-exaggerated with my boobs, my ass, my makeup and my accent. When I get ready for an event, I always look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘I look like a transvestite!’ I love it. —Actress Sofia Vergara
courtesy of Bob Rink
Let me tell you, yes, yes, it was me … I am tired now of lying, of lying to the public and of lying to myself.
page
14
—Retired boxer Oscar de la Hoya referencing 2007 photos of him in drag attire. He had originally claimed the pictures were altered
Capitolio by TEOE founder and photographer Bob Rink
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¡ October 2011!
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¡¡!!
LP journal
One man’s gun is another man’s scrap metal.
Big guns for Bennett Secretary of State Ken Bennett isn’t just about foreign policy. He’s also committed to rescuing old gun barrels from the scrap heap. In August, Bennett launched Salute the Fallen, a privately funded program whose single mission is to save the colossal metal guns salvaged long ago from the military ships USS Arizona and USS Missouri, now rusting in a heap on the East Coast, from being melted down. Bennett proposes that Arizona residents chip in, purchase the gun barrels (which are little more than metal tubes), and donate them to the state. The gun barrels could, Bennett posits, become part of a monument to our namesake battleship alongside the USS Arizona’s anchor at the Capitol. But first we’ll need to scrape together the half-million dollars it would take to buy them and have them professionally cleaned and shipped here 12
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by December 7, the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In a press release, Bennett pleads for the wellbeing of the guns from the USS Arizona, whose demise began America’s involvement in World War II, and the USS Missouri, where Japan’s surrender ended it. The 14-inch USS Arizona gun barrel weighs 70 tons; the 16-inch USS Missouri gun barrel weighs twice as much. Both pieces of history are languishing at U.S. Navy storage facilities in Virginia and Maryland. “Veterans have a direct and emotional connection to [the gun barrels], having served,” says Bennett, who’s trying to raise the $500,000 through sponsorships and donations at the website gunstosalutethefallen.com in order to mitigate the taxpayer burden. “It seems to be something we should have in Arizona.” Others think the guns should be sold for scrap. “It would serve our state a lot www.latinopm.com
better to sell these guns and use the money to pay for education funding,” says Tom Sarda, who’s been prowling local political websites and posting warnings about Bennett’s plan. A veteran himself, Sarda is planning to launch a website opposing the purchase of the guns. “These guns represent a very bad memory that doesn’t have much to do with our
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez
state,” he says. “The bombing of Pearl Harbor is the story of a sitting duck called the S.S. Arizona. Let’s don’t waste money on a ship that’s already been memorialized in Hawaii.”
Not with mi abuelo, you don’t Fans of immigration reform and anyone who isn’t crazy about New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez have been celebrating
LP journal lately. The Republican governor, who’s gone after Texas Gov. Rick Perry for signing a bill extending in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants, admitted recently in an interview that her paternal grandfather was an undocumented immigrant. Martinez, who typically uses the term “illegal immigrants” to describe undocumented citizens, told an Albuquerque Univision affiliate last month that her father’s father came to America “without documents.” “Wait a minute, Gov. Martinez’ grandfather was undocumented, and now she’s leading a crackdown against undocumented workers in New Mexico?” wrote Frank Sharry, executive director of the proreform group America’s Voice, in a press release. “It’s a good thing she wasn’t governor during her grandfather’s day.” If Martinez’s detractors are happy, it’s because she’s done more than tip her hat to hypocrisy. “[T]he possibility of Martinez ending up as a 2012 veep candidate? That might be over,” Adam Serwer wrote in Mother Jones not long after Martinez’s admission. Serwer, who’s dogged Martinez about a recent guest spot on the Laura Ingraham syndicated talk show in which Martinez criticized Perry’s approach to immigration reform, has also opined in print about how the New Mexico governor appears to believe that immigrants should be punished for decisions made by their parents. “You can’t take that kind of logic too far though,” he writes. “Then you end up supporting something like the DREAM Act. That would be
really bad, because someday one of those children, or their children’s children, could end up doing something terrible, like getting elected governor of a state.”
Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m labor protected It may have been little more than a publicity stunt to shine light on work that’s been ongoing for years, but the recent ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Mexican Consular Network and the Phoenix branch of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division appears to have made its point. “It’s true that we’ve been doing this work for years, to shore up and endorse partnerships between federal and state labor authorities,” Eric Murray, the department’s district director in Phoenix, admits. “But this is a way of bringing out work to the public’s attention. People don’t really know what we’ve done to work with the consular. Now there’s an education component and a real effort to promote an ongoing
dialogue about labor laws on both sides of the discussion.” The memorandum will enable the Department of Labor to share information and coordinate law enforcement with participating states, presumably leveling the playing field for law-abiding employers, and ensuring that legal immigrant employees remain protected in the workplace. Present at the ceremony were Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix Víctor Manuel Treviño (who signed the MOU), heads of the four other Mexican consular offices in the state, and Consul General of Guatemala Julia Guzman, Consul General of Honduras Astrid Camper, and Consul General of El Salvador in Tucson José Joaquin Chacon. The ceremony and the memorandum are both projects of Labor Rights
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¡!
Week, an annual initiative and joint effort of the Mexican Embassy and the Department of Labor. “They’re about getting rid of the hatred and prejudice against the immigrant community,” says Jose Carnevali, the department’s media flack. “We want to find new solutions to address labor rights and migration, at a time when everyone seems to want to just go after immigrants and send them back where they came from.” Thus far, the response to the memorandum has been positive, Murray says. “Most questions, since we’ve signed the document, have been about how to implement new rules about equity in labor. The next step is to meet with our counterparts at the consulate to discuss the educational strategies, and what labor laws do and don’t do. After that, we can start to develop networks and establish some real union leadership.” And, perhaps, to plan another ceremony to sign a document celebrating work that’s been getting done for years.
¡ October 2011!
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¡!
vibe
Art of life and death
Valenzuela headlines Songwriters’ Showcase
The Día de Los Muertos tradition in Arizona was
almost unknown when Chicano artist Zarco Guerrero and the art group Xicanindio revived the Aztec rite in Mesa. The nonprofit staged the first festival in Pioneer Park in 1980. Today, this Mexican holiday is almost as popular as Cinco de Mayo. That’s why the Arizona Latino Cultural Center (ALAC) will honor Zarco with a special one-man, multimedia exhibition titled Calacas y más from October 3 through November 30. The show also commemorates the 30-year anniversary of the first festival. The show will display photographs of past community celebrations, masks, paintings, large puppets, sculptures, ofrendas (altar offerings) and a special Día de Los Muertos art installation. ALAC is located in downtown Phoenix at 147 E. Adams. For more information about ALAC, visit alacaz.org.
Jesse Valenzuela, the founder of the Gin Blossoms
and the writer of the band’s Top 40 hit “Until I Hear It From You,” will be joined by three local musicians at the Songwriters’ Showcase VI on Wednesday, November 16 at 7 p.m. at the Tempe Center for the Arts. As a songwriter and performer, Tempe native Valenzuela has sold more than 10 million records. You’ve probably heard his songs in movies and on TV shows, too. The Songwriters Showcase is reminiscent of Austin City Limits, with the performance and interviews locally televised on KAET Channel 8 and the Tempe 11 channel. Tickets are available at the box office, 480-350-2TCA (2822), or online at tempe.gov/TCA/ showcase.htm.
Get more Vibe at www.latinopm.com
Unity through a lens formed Through Each Others Eyes (TEOE) with a new vision to create global, cultural harmony by having pro shutterbugs document different countries. TEOE founders include Bob Rink, the retired official photographer for the city of Phoenix who has documented Havana, Cuba, and Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. He also started a film fest in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico. This international project also teaches Arizona students to document their lives with a camera and pen, and shows their work in offices and schools. On Wednesday, October 19, TEOE is hosting its inaugural Exposure 2011 fundraiser from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Phoenix Art Museum. An auction will offer framed photos and photography adventures led by some of Arizona’s best photographers. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at www.teoe.org or by emailing exposure@teoe.org.
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clockwise from top left: Photos courtesy of Zarco Guerrero; TCA; Bob Rink
In 1996, a group of Arizona’s finest photographers
Vibe
Photo by Harry Shunk, courtesy of The Juan Downey Foundation
ASU Art Museum triptych
¡!
Lola's Voicemail:
Aborigines and “ethnic” hair The headline on the CNN website
Anaconda Map of Chile (detail), by Juan Downey, 1973
The ASU Museum has a reputation as
one of the best university museums in the country, partly due to its focus on artists from Latin America and the United States. This fall, several of the museum’s galleries showcase works by Latino artists. In a show that runs through December 31 at the Ceramic Research Center, Franco Mondini-Ruiz, a Chicano/Italian artist from San Antonio, Texas, has rummaged through the ASU Art Museum ceramics collection to create a unique show titled Dulce: Bisque Without Borders. Another piece of this exhibit is titled Limpia: Revisiting the Collection. In Limpia, Mondini-Ruiz cleans out ASU’s stored ceramics and places them in a fascinating format. San Francisco-based artist Rico Solinas has painted uncommon art museum buildings on common handsaws, from the Louvre to the Hermitage to ASU’s own museum, a body of work that took 13 years to produce. This exhibit, 100 Museums: Paintings of Buildings That Have Paintings Inside, reflects his thinking that truly creative art doesn’t have to be on canvas and can be reproduced, literally, on cutting edges. This show runs through November 26. The third element of this art triptych is the work of video-art pioneer Juan Downey (1940-1993), who one art magazine called “brilliant and idiosyncratic.” Juan Downey: The Invisible Architect delves into the myths of European culture and the foundation of Latin American identity. This exhibit runs through December 31. Learn more at asuartmuseum.asu.edu.
caught my attention. It was outrageous and funny in an involuntarily pathetic kind of way. Scott Beason, a Republican state senator from Alabama, was in hot water for calling black residents of Greene County, Alabama, “aborigines.” I had to put on my reading glasses to make sure I was reading correctly. “That’s y’all’s Indians,” said one Republican colleague, also from Alabama. “They’re aborigines, but they’re not Indians,” Beason replied. ¡¿Qué, qué?! Seriously? I had to pause and reread the first paragraph twice. This reminded me of a woman who phoned the other day asking to speak with me. I knew she was selling something, as only telemarketers and my mother (when agitated) call me by my full, legal name, which is a mouthful. Before I could utter “I’m sorry, but we are in the Do Not Call Registry,” she proceeded to tell me about a limited-time offer: a five-ounce sample of a new shampoo and conditioner line formulated for ethnic hair. “What do you mean, for ethnic hair? I asked, and then added, “Isn’t all hair ethnic?” “Um. You know. Uhh ... for hair that’s … frizzy. And difficult to … to … tame,” she finally uttered. I let out a long “AAAAAAaah!” as if a slow-to-glow incandescent light bulb had turned on in my head. Having sensed the tension, she blurted out, “I’ll, I’ll send you the free sample in the mail … to thank you for your time today,” which had amounted to a full 40 seconds by this point, “and I’ll also include an exclusive promo code for 20 percent off your first online order.” At the time, I had quesadillas in the comal and no intention of telling the telemarketer how I truly felt about her exclusive offer and her presupposition that my hair needed some taming. I simply said “Awesome. Thanks,” and hung up.
“It’s not her fault,” opined my viejo when I told him about the call. He speculated she was reading from a script and just trying to make a buck to feed her family; that she wouldn’t be getting her commission because I hung up on her and interrupted her sales pitch. Awww…. But long after that phone call, I kept thinking about the ethnic hair shampoo. I was bothered by the thought of being bothered by it. But then a rapid succession of hair terminology came to mind. Pelo malo, pelo bueno, pelo lacio, pelo chino, pelo grifo, pelo quebrado. It took me years to figure out why some people say pelo quebrado to refer to wavy and not “broken” hair; or pelo chino to refer to curly hair when people from China generally have straight hair. The answer is fascinating. I won’t bore you with it, but suffice to say, some sociologists believe the term originates with the “china poblana” – you know, the romanticized women from Puebla, Mexico, with the beautiful sequined gowns and the thick braids? From Puebla, not China. And then there’s the deeply and culturally rooted bias that gave birth to the term pelo malo as opposed to pelo bueno. Two weeks later, the travel-size, exclusive offer arrived in the mail. And guess what? The bottle claims it can “turn seriously damaged hair into manageable hair!” So the assumption was not only that, given my name, I’m “ethnic,” but that my cabello was seriously damaged and unmanageable. Argh. And how does this relate to the senator from Alabama who called blacks in Greene County aborigines? Simple. The genius marketers behind this haircare line, like the senator from Alabama, can be well intended, but their word choices convey ignorance, bias and a sense of superiority. What role racism, political correctness and plain stupidity play in both of these totally unrelated instances, I don’t know.
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¡ October 2011!
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¡!
Pocho keen
vibe
Like peachy keen, pero different Photo courtesy of AHC
It ain’t easy being cheezy every Latino kid should know
certain stories of inspiration, so it’s fitting that the one about how Cheetos Flamin’ Hot came to be is one for the history books. So here it is, in rapid-fire succession:
Ray Villareal and some of his favorite things.
Stories of us The Arizona Humanities Festival
on October 22 describes itself as a “celebration of the cultures that surround us, the stories that define us and the histories that connect us.” The festival bill runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix. This multicultural expo offers exciting examples of the philosophy that to truly understand another culture, you must experience its arts. This arco isis of cultural expressions includes Tucson students performing original corridos; ASU School of Music students staging scenes from a Mozart opera; ASU professor Ted Solis demonstrating Javanese gamelian music; Japanese taiko drumming, and the Tucson Lion Dance Team presenting the traditional Chinese Lion Dance. Authors Sarah Cortez, Ray Villareal and others will discuss and sign their books. Dr. Eduardo Pagan of ASU will share his experiences of solving history’s biggest mysteries on PBS’s History Detectives, and films on Apache skateboard culture, Mexican music history and Arizona Westerns will be viewed. Add booths selling ethnic foods and a wide array of fun kids’ activities and this arts smorgasbord organized by the Arizona Humanities Council demonstrates how rico Arizona’s diversity truly is. For details, visit azhumanities.org. 16
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Hispanic janitor cleaning up Cheetos spilled from a broken assembly line takes a bunch home, spices them up, returns to share with co-workers who go “Eejole, que tasty. Y caliente.” Said janitor, inspired by corporate message of acting like “owners,” calls company CEO (no one tells him he’s really not supposed to do that), who then flies to his Frito-Lay plant in northern California to hear a presentation about these new spicy Cheetos. Asked how much market share they could get, janitor freezes for a moment, thinks of actual aisles in markets, stretches his arms out and says, “This much market share.” Cheetos Flamin’ Hot are born and soon become one of the highest-selling products for PepsiCo, Frito-Lay’s parent company. Janitor buys several doublebreasted suits, and an improbable, brilliant and lengthy career begins. Whew. Genius, right? Pues, sí, como no. And just as amazing as this story, and maybe not as cheesy, are the life experiences that propelled PepsiCo executive Richard P. Montañez into marketing greatness. They involve a burrito, a green bus and a cookie. Montañez told his story at a recent appearance in Phoenix: It’s lunchtime and he’s the only kid eating a burrito around him. Embarrassed, he puts his burrito
back in the bag, goes home and asks his mom to make him a bologna sandwich con un Twinkie instead so he could fit in. His mom, a marketing genius herself, makes him two burritos the next day and says, “Here, make a friend.” The next day he’s selling ‘em for 25 cents cada uno! He’s still upset that he and the other Latino kids have to ride a green bus to school while the others get to roll up in a yellow one. Surely, the bus is a reminder to many who pick grapes for the wineries in the area: behave or back across the line they go. Then there’s the cookie. An afterschool reading program brings two trailers to school; one is for the little brown kids and the other for every one else – but that one has cookies. The young, future spicy-Cheetos inventor says, “Forget this, I want a cookie.” Ignoring cries of “You’re in the wrong line, ese!” he says, “No, I’m not, this one has cookies!” Little Richard gets a big lump in his throat as he gets ready to enter the offlimits-to-brown-kids trailer and is met by two ladies, who fill his pockets with delicious cookies. At every step, he learned to not let anyone take away his glory and to believe that he is a genius. In his mind, he already had a Ph.D. He was Poor, Hungry and Determined. So, his presentation to corporate honchos years later really wasn’t that improbable after all. They would have never realized they had a marketing genius on their hands if the ex-burrito pusher would not have believed it first.
Vibe Happenings at Phoenix Art Museum
¡!
Anaya says The bond of sisterhood By Catherine Anaya
Photo by Ken Howie
“Sisters is probably the most
Giorgio di Sant’ Angelo, Italian (1933-1989). Bodysuit, skirt and belt, Jane and Cinderella, summer 1971, Lycra and nylon; printed wool, cotton velvet and voile.
Fashion’s original wild child Giorgio di Sant’ Angelo launched his
distinguished career with a photo shoot in the Arizona desert in 1968. More than five decades later, his revolutionary influence can still be observed in current fashion trends. Giorgio di Sant’ Angelo, a fashion design exhibition now on view at Phoenix Art Museum, is the first museum retrospective to explore the designer’s legacy. “Sant’ Angelo was an artist with the exceptional ability to see beyond the established fashion norms,” says exhibition curator Dennita Sewell, “creating designs that were revolutionary in every sense, from the fabric, to the cut, to his interpretation of cultural influences. His dynamic creativity defined him as a designer.” Giorgio di Sant’ Angelo rose to prominence during the late 1960s with his exuberant and colorful accessories and collections. With an eye for fantasy, Sant’ Angelo created expressive collections that merged his own Latin upbringing with gypsy, Aztec, American Indian and Asian influences, among others. The exhibit features more than 40 ensembles and accessories, along with never-before-released runway footage, interviews, photographs and sketchbooks. Giorgio di Sant’ Angelo is on view through February 12, 2012. Visit phxart.org for more information.
competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.” That’s a quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead and perfectly describes my sister and me. She’s four years younger, and what I remember most about our early years is being protective of her. Except for her messy side of the bedroom we shared, I adored her. The relationship changed dramatically a few years after our parent’s divorce and subsequent nasty custody battle that resulted in my father gaining full custody of us (not common in the 1970s). My father sent me to live with my mother, something both my sister and I very much wanted all along. Even though living with Mom meant moving 12 times in six years – sometimes in a place with a bedroom, sometimes without – I was with mom, and my sister wasn’t. Her anger and resentment over it boiled until Dad finally gave her the boot, too. The years of separation broke our sisterly bond and we grew to despise each other. She’d steal my clothes, egg my car, and even shaved one side of her head and dropped out of high school. We had nothing in common, and the distance between us only increased when I left for college. But things started changing when I took my first television job in south Texas. I was making so little money, it was tough to pay bills and buy groceries. I opened the mail one day and found the loveliest letter from my sister, who worked as a receptionist, making more money than me.
She wrote how proud she was of me for graduating college and working hard to follow my dream. Along with the note, she sent money, promising to help whenever she could. That one act of support meant the world to me, and we started growing closer. She married shortly after me and delivered her first and second child shortly after I gave birth to mine. Even her divorce followed soon after my own. She brags about her big sis, asks for and gives advice when needed, and is willing to pounce on anyone she thinks has harmed me. She was in the room when I delivered my son and is there at the finish line each time I’ve run a marathon. She’s my second biggest cheerleader. And somewhere along the way, I’ve become hers. She’s talented with interior design, fashion and makeup and hair. She’s a terrific mom, raising her girls single-handedly right now while her husband, an activeduty former marine, serves 18 months in Afghanistan as a contractor for a military defense company. She comes off like a firecracker, but is really a sparkler at heart. This month, my little sister turns 40 and I couldn’t be more proud or grateful for the woman she’s become. I don’t know who said, “Chance made us sisters, hearts made us friends,” but I’m blessed to call her both. Catherine Anaya anchors CBS 5 News weeknights at 5, 5:30, 6 and 10 p.m. She is the mother of two, a marathon runner and motivational speaker. Reach her at canaya@kpho.com, connect with her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.
www.latinopm.com
¡ October 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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FIRST BI-ANNUAL CALA FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 14 NOVEMBER 16 JOIN US FOR THIS INAUGURAL “CELEBRACIÓN ARTÍSTICA DE LAS AMÉRICAS,” A SHOWCASE OF LATINO ARTS IN ARIZONA! AUG 19 - OCT 1: VISION GALLERY RAICES: HONORING CHANDLER’S HISPANIC FAMILIES
OCT 6 - 31: CALVIN CHARLES GALLERY EL ARTE DE GENNARO GARCIA
SEPT - NOV: CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX FIESTA DE LAS AMÉRICAS
OCT 6: PHOENIX BOYS CHOIR IN CONCERT WITH SCHOLA CANTORUM DE MÉXICO
SEPT - NOV: ALAC MEXICAN ARTISTS JUAN CHAWUK, NICOLAS DE JESUS & JACOBO ANGELES SEPT 17 - JAN 28: TEMPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS MIXING IT UP: BUILDING A CHICANO/CHICANA IDENTITY SEPT 24 & 30, OCT 1, 2, 7 & 8: ¡TEATRO BRAVO! FRIDA KAHLO BY RUBÉN AMAVIZCA SEPT 27 - OCT 2: ASU GAMMAGE WEST SIDE STORY BY LAURENTS, BERNSTEIN, AND SONDHEIM
OCT 7 - 23: ASU SCHOOL OF THEATRE AND FILM ZOOT SUIT BY LUIS VALDEZ OCT 9: TEMPE TARDEADA 13th ANNUAL HISPANIC FESTIVAL
OCT 29: MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM TONES OF NATURE: A TRIBUTE TO ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM OCT 29: ASU SCHOOL OF THEATRE AND FILM BORDERLANDS: NO ROOSTERS IN THE DESERT OCT 29 - 30: MESA ARTS CENTER DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION NOV 5: XICO 32ND ANNUAL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
OCT 16: CULTURAL COALITION REVIVING OUR CULTURAL ICONS
NOV 5 & 6: SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS SERGIO MENDES AND LA GRAN FIESTA
OCT 21 - NOV 6: NEW CARPA THEATER AMEXICA: TALES OF THE FOURTH WORLD BY JAMES E. GARCIA
NOV 6: WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL ALTURAS: A COLORFUL WORLD OF MUSIC
SEPT 30 - OCT 1: THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY DOC SEVERINSEN AND THE SAN MIGUEL FIVE
OCT 22: AZ HUMANITIES FESTIVAL STORIES OF US : STORIES THAT DEFINE AND HISTORIES THAT CONNECT US
SEPT 30 - OCT 4: SCOTTSDALE FILM FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT ON LATIN AMERICA
OCT 22 - NOV 13: CHILDSPLAY THE SUN SERPENT BY JOSÉ CRUZ GONZÁLEZ
OCT - NOV: DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS AND OFRENDA & MASTERS OF OAXACA
OCT 27 - 30: ARIZONA AUDUBON SENDERO ENCANTADO/ENCHANTED TRAIL
NOV 12 & 13: HEARD MUSEUM SPANISH MARKET FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT CALAALLIANCE.ORG
SPONSORED BY: KEMPER AND ETHEL MARLEY FOUNDATION
J. W. KIECKHEFER FOUNDATION
MARGARET T. MORRIS FOUNDATION
BRUCE T. HALLE FAMILY FOUNDATION
rincón del arte
Spreading the love
¡!
Joseph “Sentrock” Perez, visual artist
Your story: Born in 1986 and raised in West Phoenix. Raised by mom and stepdad; I consider my stepdad equal to my real dad. My biological father was in and out of being locked up my entire life and is currently in prison for another three years. In the first grade, I worked on my first mural with muralist Martin Moreno. During my high school years, I picked up graffiti and breaking. I graduated in 2004, the first of my immediate family to graduate from high school, so that was a big thing. After high school, I struggled with community college for a semester and then moved to Orlando for about a year. I came back to Phoenix and teamed up some homies from the ‘hood and started a crew called For The Love. It was a group of breakers, graff writers and DJs to pretty much spread the love, and the love of hip-hop in the streets. Had my first solo art show, Steady Rockin’, in 2008 at La Melgosa in the Grand Avenue Arts District. Been showing ever since. No one in my family was ever an artist so this whole world is very new.
Career highlights:
The People’s Biennial, SMoCA, 2010; group show at Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, 2010; Big Brains Award, New Times, 2011 (awarded to individuals for their creativity and investment to their community); director of Rise Project 2010 and founder of Rise Project Gallery 2011; The People’s Biennial, SMoCA, 2011. vas
Untitled, acrylic on can
Education: Public Allies, 2009-2011 – a nonprofit leadership development internship at ASU; West Valley Arts, 2003-2004 – high school artist apprenticeship in public art.
Describe your work:
Images courtesy of the artist
My art is a reflection of my mind, of everything I feel and see. I use my art to communicate as if I’m having a visual conversation with the viewer. My art comes from a pure desire of channeled expression. My style comes from graffiti, a raw art form I learned from the culture; I apply that to my work. I also take from my upbringing and my environment around me. I guess I could say it’s graffiti pop surrealism, ha. You can ask a critic about that.
Untitled, acrylic on canvas
Favorite work of art:
Anything that is genuine, relevant, original and makes me think outside my normal paradigm. It doesn’t matter the medium; if it’s a painting with oil, acrylic, sculpture, poem, performance – anything. As long as it hits the heart and mind.
Next: Group show at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, October 2011 Website: sentrockart.com
Bird City, acrylic on canvas
Help us highlight the local arts Send information to editor@latinopm.com. www.latinopm.com
¡ October 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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I was caught off guard when a test showed I had a forerunner to esophageal cancer. Mayo listened and made me feel everything would be okay. My answer was Mayo Clinic. Benny Andujar, Orange Park, FL
Cancer specialists at Mayo Clinic worked together to develop an effective chemotherapy program to meet Benny’s physical and emotional needs—especially since he had already received unsuccessful treatment by other doctors. The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is one of only 40 National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, and is the only multi‑site facility in the southwest. To schedule an appointment, visit mayoclinic.org/cancer or call (800) 446‑2279.
STEP UP
and help deliver the promise for the curE O
ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Latino Perspectives Magazine is proud to partner with the Susan G. Komen Phoenix Affiliate to spread the word about this pervasive disease. Read the next few pages to find out what your neighbors are doing to educate members of our communities about breast cancer. Promotoras, community ambassadors, survivors and teams of men participating in the Race for the Cure, and many others, are doing their part to fight this disease and bring it to an end. After all, Nancy Brinker has a promise to keep. www.latinopm.com
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Komen Phoenix establishes Communities of Color Leadership Council
W
hile the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® promise – to end breast cancer forever – is universal across the globe, the means of achieving this promise vary considerably among cultures. This is especially true in Arizona, a state rich with cultural diversity, history and traditions. Recognizing that one message does not fit all, the Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has established the Communities of Color Leadership Council (COCLC) to expand its reach within its service area of central and northern Arizona. The council, made up of community leaders representing local African American, Asian American, Hispanic, Native American, and immigrant and refugee communities, is working to develop and implement unique outreach strategies for breast health and breast cancer awareness among diverse demographics. The Komen Phoenix Affiliate contracted with Sistas of AZ last year to develop and oversee the COCLC. Sistas is a Komen
grant recipient dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles among women of color. The council’s goals are to: • create culturally relevant Komen messaging on breast health and breast cancer; • develop culturally sensitive solutions to disparities in specific communities; and • build relationships and partnerships within communities of color through outreach activities. Among the affiliate’s inclusion efforts this past year was to recruit additional Community Outreach Ambassadors (COAs) from various communities of color, specially trained volunteers who share Komen messaging at public events, such as health fairs. Through partnerships with organizations such as Valle del Sol and their 2011 Hispanic Leadership Institute, more than 20 new ambassadors have recently joined the program. In late August, the Affiliate held its first dedicated training session for Spanishspeaking COAs.
“The reach that these volunteers will have within the Latino community is immeasurable,” says Anabell Castro Thompson, Komen Phoenix board member. “It will allow us to participate in more health fairs and other events, increasing awareness across a demographic that doesn’t always have access to crucial information and resources.” The COCLC has also been actively working to increase participation in the annual Susan G. Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure, which takes place this year on Sunday, October 9. For example, the council is hoping to attract new participants by bringing a cultural showcase of entertainment to the event. If you would like to get involved in the COCLC, or if you’ve been touched by breast cancer and would like to inspire others by sharing your story, please contact the Komen Phoenix Affiliate at (602)544-CURE (2873) or send email to info@komenphoenix.org.
Latina a Latina Project fosters breast cancer awareness For many Latinas who speak only Spanish, getting factual information and advice from a trusted source when it comes to breast cancer awareness can be difficult and problematic. Lack of access to information and resources and cultural norms with respect to privacy, not to mention fear of the unknown, may prevent many from recognizing the signs of breast cancer early, thus hurting their chances of a successful outcome. The purpose of the Latina a Latina Project, which emanated from a partnership between Phoenix College’s Raul H. Castro Institute (RCI) and Cartwright School District’s Family Resource Center, has been to provide a lifeline to Spanish-speaking Latinas that could help save their lives and keep them and their families from the trauma that comes with battling breast cancer. Ever since the program started in April 2010, more than 150 Latinas who reside in or near the Cartwright School District have been touched by the program, which provides them with breast cancer awareness and breast health information in their native language and in culturally appropriate settings. 22
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¡ October 2011!
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“The results have been amazing,” says Maria Enciso, who led Phoenix College’s involvement in the program before stepping down as director of the Raul H. Castro Institute earlier this year. “They tell the story of a community’s desire to learn, their commitment to learning and their trust in the program.” The project, which received start-up funding from the Susan B. Komen Foundation, relies on promotoras to interact with the women and impart information, advice, guidance and resources to their peers. By sharing the same language and cultural experiences of the women they are interacting with, they are able to more effectively influence actions among the women. And they are often from the same neighborhoods as the women they are reaching. An important feature of the Latina a Latina Project is the implementation of “cafecitos,” or coffee klatches, to bring together women from local neighborhoods to discuss breast cancer issues with promotoras in a casual environment. In turn, the women learn how to recognize the signs of breast cancer and what preventive measures to take when it comes to their health.
Komen Phoenix has raised, granted more than $20 million N
early 30 years ago, Nancy G. Brinker made a promise to her sister Suzy that she would do everything in her power to put an end to breast cancer. And every day, the Komen Phoenix Affiliate is dedicated to making that promise a reality. In April, the affiliate awarded more than $2.2 million to fund breast cancer screening, education, treatment and research. More than $1.7 million funded 19 community grants throughout central and northern Arizona, while more than $540,000 went toward national research efforts. Since its inception in 1993, the Komen Phoenix Affiliate has granted more than $20 million, making it the largest private grantor of breast cancer funds in Arizona. The community grants program allows Komen Phoenix to carry out its mission of saving lives and ending breast cancer forever by partnering with nonprofit organizations throughout medically
underserved communities. Seventy-five to nonprofit organizations that provide percent of net proceeds generated by innovative, nonduplicative breast health the annual Komen Phoenix Race for the and breast cancer services directly to the Cure and other programs stay within medically underserved, uninsured or the service area of central and northern underinsured. The services must be proArizona. The remaining 25 percent funds vided within the affiliate’s service area, the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure which includes Apache, Coconino, Gila, breast cancer research program. La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal “Part of delivering our promise is and Yavapai counties. working day to day with our community partners to ensure that the women in our community do not go without vital screening and treatment services while we navigate the changing healthcare landscape, both locally and nationwide,” says Beverly Kruse, Komen Phoenix executive director. “Collaboration is key to reaching our goal, and we’re fortunate to work with so many organizations whose missions align with ours.” Recipients of the Komen Phoenix Affiliate’s 2011-2012 community The annual community grants share information about local breast cancer resources at a grants program awards funds roundtable discussion in April 2011.
Now the RCI would like to expand the program to include a screening component for Latinas participating in the project. Ofelia Cañez, the new director of the RCI, is working on securing partnerships with the bilingual nursing students from Phoenix College and South Mountain Community College to provide breast cancer screenings for the participants and continue the collaboration with Cartwright. “We would like to improve the ability for Latinas to find their way into the healthcare system,” says Cañez. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. Latinas. About 14,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in U.S. Hispanic women in 2009, with more than 2,200 cases resulting in deaths. Latinas with breast cancer are more often diagnosed at a later stage – when the disease is more advanced – than when discovered in non-Hispanic women. The project serves the Phoenix community of Maryvale, which has a high population density of Latinos of low socioeconomic status. Census figures show the residents of Maryvale have great needs and limited resources when it comes to healthcare access. The Cartwright District is bound north to south from Camelback Road to Van Buren Street and east to west from 43rd to 83rd Avenues. One unique aspect of the project is the ages of the promotoras, which range
from 18 to 65. This allows three different age groups (18-30, 31-45 and 46 plus) to have a community health advocate from their own generation. “In the Hispanic culture, it can be considered disrespectful for a younger woman to offer advice to her grandmother or another older female relative on breast cancer issues,” says Enciso, who led RCI’s involvement in the project during her tenure with the organization. “The generational grouping ensures a more comfortable environment for Latinas to learn about this health concern.” So far, the results of the cafecitos have been positive. Many of the participants have shared their fears, experiences and questions. And although the gatherings are designed to be small, the number of women from the community who have attended and participated has surpassed expectations. The original grant called for educating 100 women from the community and ended up serving more than 150 women. Many of the women will also benefit from materials found in resource kits delivered to every school in the Cartwright School District. A nonprofit organization, the RCI is a “do tank” that focuses on issues that affect the Latino community in Arizona, with emphasis on education, health and human services, leadership and civic participation. Last fall, it staffed a booth at the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure.
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¡ October 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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Local Latina survivor becomes breast cancer activist L
ike many survivors, Veronica has sometimes wondered, Why me? Sometimes, she gets angry with her body, feeling that it has betrayed her, even after years of diligent screening efforts. But instead of staying angry, she’s channeled her energy into activism, working to ensure that other families don’t have to experience what her family has endured. Veronica was only 35 when she was diagnosed for the first time in 2005, after discovering a lump during a breast self-exam. Within two weeks, she had surgery to remove her right breast. After reconstructive surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy, Veronica was on the road to recovery. But five years later, she ended up in the emergency room for an unrelated issue. During her hospital stay, doctors discovered that Veronica’s cancer had returned – although she didn’t have symptoms. Veronica was put on hormone therapy and advised to have a hysterectomy, an especially emotional procedure as it meant that Veronica would not be able to have children.
“I had very different emotions the second time around,” says Veronica. “I felt like, ‘God, I already went though this. Why is this happening again? What did I do wrong?’ You feel like your body has betrayed you.” Veronica relies on a wide network made up family, friends, faith and three separate support groups to help her through the emotional aftermath of fighting cancer. But she also has another powerful weapon in her arsenal: knowledge. Having watched her mother battle cancer when Veronica was only 19, she knew what to look for. But she wants to make sure that other women also have that advantage. “With cancer, access to information is power,” she says. “And because of cultural and financial barriers, the Hispanic community doesn’t always have access to that information.” In the past several months alone, Veronica has attended a conference on living with metastatic breast cancer and has traveled to Washington, D.C., to urge legislators to continue funding for breast
cancer research. In July, she graduated from the National Breast Cancer Coalition Project LEAD in San Diego, which trains women to become advocates for breast cancer research. She was one of only four Latinas in the program and the only one from Arizona. “In our culture, we’re often afraid to go to the doctor. We’re afraid of what we’re going to hear. We’re afraid to tell our family and friends. And because of that, we’re often diagnosed later,” she says. Veronica carries breast cancer information with her everywhere so that she’s ready to spout off statistics or dole out advice on screening programs at any moment. She encourages friends and coworkers to join her at the annual Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure, an event she has supported for years. Her goal is to get others talking – and acting. “Twenty years ago, when my mom was diagnosed, people didn’t talk much about breast cancer, but today it’s all around us. Who doesn’t know someone who has had breast cancer?” she asks. “I cannot stress enough the inportance of breast self-exam.”
2011 HLI class steps up to help deliver The Promise The 2011 class of Valle del Sol’s Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) is stepping up to help Susan G. Komen reach out to the Latino community in the Valley and raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. Compadres for the Cure enter the race Marco Hidalgo and a group of mostly Hispanic men have formed Compadres for the Cure to raise money to fight breast cancer. The Compadres are participating in the 2011 Phoenix Race for the Cure and hope to raise $1500, enough to pay for ten mammograms. To join their team or to donate, contact Marco Hidalgo at mhidalgo@ hispanicfund.org or visit the Susan G. Komen Team Fundraising website at komenphoenix.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/teams and search for team Compadres for the Cure.
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Bilingual Community Outreach Ambassadors (BCOA) Martha Salas and a group of fellow HLI classmates are working closely with Anabell Castro Thompson, board member of the Phoenix Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to recruit and train BCOAs. Martha, who works for American Express, recruited colleagues at work and at her church. The group is now comprised of 25 volunteers ready to serve the community. Last month, they participated in a health fair at the ChildHelp Cummings Community Center and will volunteer for an upcoming Univision 33 phone bank. They will be on-site volunteering at the October 9 Race for the Cure.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® is proud to be the Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
2011 Survivor Area Sponsor to support breast cancer survivors and their caregivers
602-207-3333 • cancercenter.com © 2011 Rising Tide.
Faculty Positions The Evergreen State College, a progressive, public liberal arts college emphasizing intense interdisciplinary study and collaborative team teaching, is currently recruiting for the following positions: n 2D n 3D
Art: Photography Art: Ceramics
n Psychology
n Public
n Creative
n Communication/Journalism
Writing
Administration, Tribal Governance
For complete job announcements and to apply visit: www.evergreen.edu/facultyhiringg The Evergreen State College is committed to building a diverse and broadly trained faculty. We encourage candidates to apply who have experience in pursuing innovative and engaging teaching strategies working with faculty from other disciplines and who have experience working with diverse and underserved populations. Salary for all positions based on experience and degrees, with excellent benefits package, including same-sex domestic partner benefits and relocation. AA/EOE/ADA
The Evergreen State College n Faculty Hiring n L2002 n 2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW n Olympia, WA 98505 360.867.6861 n www.evergreen.edu
Presented by MIM and the Compound Grill
Mariachi Pasión Thursday, October 20 | 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Free with museum admission Mariachi Pasión, an all-female group, will share with guests the beauty and emotion that is rooted in mariachi music. See this group again at MIM on November 5 & 6 at “Día de los Muertos: A Celebration of Life through Music,” in partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM
www.theMIM.org | 480.478.6000 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85050 Corner of Tatum & Mayo Blvds., just south of Loop 101 in Phoenix
MIMphx
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¡ October 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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7
Anniversary
We had a grand time this past September 9, celebrating our anniversary with LPM readers and friends. More than 250 guests enjoyed the fiesta at the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix and were treated to the live music of Gustavo Angeles and Resonancia, scrumptious Mexican fare from Tortas
th
Celebration
PaquimÊ and an opportunity to view the art exhibit Arizona Centennial Artists: Arizona’s Early Women Artists, on view at the Herberger Theater Art Gallery. A big gracias goes to our readers, contributors, advertisers and to our generous sponsors for making this milestone possible. See you next year!
Check o
om ut more photo s of the event at latinopm.c
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2011-06-09 11:39:16
37 Entrepreneur
Timothy Eli Castro carries on family roofing company TECA
39Briefcase
Paleta poder; drumming up profits; start-up angels; MLK Award nomination time; Hispanic data; MED Week
43Career
Nine ways to realize optimum life balance
Movin’ Up Chávez picked to head Girl Scouts of USA
Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of the USA
Anna Maria Chávez, who was deputy chief of staff for urban relations and community development for former Arizona governor and current U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, will become the chief executive director of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Chávez takes over as the iconic Scouts undergo a transformation from a service organization to a youth leadership program. She will
Anna Maria Chávez is the new chief executive director of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.
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¡ October 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡!
movin’ up
also oversee the group’s firstever, national fundraising campaign in 2012. An Eloy, Arizona native, Chávez is a Yale graduate and attorney. She has held top posts in Arizona state government and vital positions in the U.S. government. Chávez was chief executive director of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas before being promoted as the national organization’s 19th director. She will assume her new office at the Girl Scouts National Convention in November.
Carmen Cornejo
Three join Sí Se Puede The Chandler-based Sí Se Puede Foundation announced the addition of three elected members to its executive board. John Hernandez, president/CEO of PRfect Media, is the new chairman. Pablo Cavazos, managing partner of Pablo Cavazos, CPA, PLLC, is the new treasurer, and Carmen Cornejo, owner of Critical Mass Communications, is the new secretary. The Sí Se Puede Foundation provides
at-risk youth a support system to encourage educational achievement.
Solley elected to AWEE board Anna Solley, president of Phoenix College, was elected secretary of the board of directors of the nonprofit Arizona Women’s Education and Employment.
40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 The 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 Awards, presented by Chicanos Por La Causa and BlueCross BlueShield of Arizona, recently unveiled its 2011 winners. This year, SRP’s Tony Moya will be honored with the inaugural Líder Award. Other award recipients include Alexander Anaya, Amy Felix, Andrea Diaz, Angela Gonzales, Angelica Degadillo, Beethoven Felix, Carlos Duarte, Christina Spicer, Daniel Fernandez, Diana Payan, Dulce Matuz, Elmer Ramon, Gabriela Cardenas, Ixchel del Castillo, Jacob Rosell, Jaime Natividad, Jennifer Sanchez, Jessica Aquino, Jesus Acosta, Jimmie Munoz and Johnny Rojas. Also, Jose Rivas, Jose Romero, Joseph Larios, Lilia Alvarez, Lisa Torres, Lorenzo Castillo, Mari Valenzuela, Marian Zapata-Rossa, Marisol Flores-Aguirre, Marithe Sandoval, Maritza Felix, Mary Parada, Noemi Bohn, Rebecca Jimenez, Rosa Villalpando, Sergio Cossio, Suzie Ortiz Ratley, Tanya Muniz, Xavier Carpio and Zipatly Mendoza.
Rivera-Ashford’s work celebrated Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford’s book My Nana’s Remedies/ Los Remedios de mi Nana, received two prizes in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest. Her book earned first place in the Cultural Diversity category and in the Family Matters category. It also received honorable mention in the Educational category. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press published the book.
Esquer at ASU law college Andrea Esquer has joined the Civil Justice Clinic’s homeowner-advocacy unit at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University as assistant director. Esquer was formerly an assistant to Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
Flinn-Brown fellows selected The fall 2011 Flinn-Brown Leadership Academy fellows have been announced. They include Magdalena Barajas, advisor to the Pima County Board of Supervisors; attorney Tony Gonzales of Flagstaff; Daniel Gonzales Jr., intern in the office of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords; Lea Marquez Peterson, president/CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Beatriz Elisabeth Rendon, ASU associate vice president for educational outreach. Four other Arizonans
Movin’ Up Know someone who has been promoted, elected or honored? Send us the news of their achievements! Email movinup@latinopm.com 32
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ October 2011!
www.latinopm.com
have been tapped for the Spring 2012 Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy including Carl Zaragoza, deputy state director, Stand for Children, and Deborah Gonzalez, chief academic officer, ASU/University Public Schools. The Academy is a project of the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership.
Norma Mendoza-Denton
Mendoza-Denton receives civil discourse grant Norma Mendoza-Denton, an associate professor of linguistic anthropology at the University of Arizona, is among four researchers selected to receive grants from UA’s newly created National Institute for Civil Discourse. Mendoza-Denton’s research focuses on “conflict talk” during town hall meetings hosted by former Arizona Rep. Jim Kolbe, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords during the 2000s. She hopes to develop a better understanding of the microdynamics of conflict, particularly in town hall meetings.
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Hispanic Herit
Cox Honors Local Latino Leaders We’re thrilled to honor these leaders who represent our Latino community in an outstanding way Julio Herrera
Director of Multicultural Markets for Cox Communications.
F
or the 7th year in a row, Cox Communications Arizona is paying tribute to local Latino leaders during Hispanic Heritage Month: individuals who serve as an example of leadership and service in our communities. The honorees are featured in 30-second public service announcements airing on Cox Channels from September 15 through October 15. Honorees were also part of a Su Vida show segment that aired on September 28th and they were recognized on the field during the Arizona Diamondbacks game on September 24th. “We’re thrilled to honor these leaders who represent our Latino community in an outstanding way,” said Julio Herrera, Director of Multicultural Markets for Cox Communications Arizona.
On behalf of Cox Communications Arizona and Latino Perspectives Magazine, congratulations to the 2011 honorees!
2011 Hispanic Heritag
Juan Villa
Journalist, researcher and published author Juan is an award-winning journalist. He currently serves as news director of Phoenix’s Univision 33 station. He previously worked at Telemundo in several roles, including Executive News Producer and Community Relations Manager. He has received several awards by the Arizona Press Club and the National Association of Hispanic Publications. He is an active member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and serves on the Arizona Latino Media Association’s Board of Directors. Juan has served as speaker in several international academic and journalism conferences in countries such as Mexico, Israel, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Spain and the U.S. One of his academic essays was published by the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. In 2011, the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues published his book “Coyotes en el Cine Fronterizo.”
Dr. Lou “Dr. O
President, Associatio in Higher E
Dr. Louis Olivas h in executive devel and teaching at se lege, and universit native Phoenician sultant, instructor executive develop Fortune 500 comp Arizona State Uni assistant director f tive Development from 1982-86. He the Management School of Busines search emphasis is small business ma demographics–m has been awarded Award” by ASU u the “Teaching Exc Center for Execut
tage MontH
s During Hispanic Heritage Month
ge Month Honorees
uis Olivas O”
, American on of Hispanics Education
Luis Gonzalez
Special Assistant to the President & CEO
One of the most popular figures in Arizona Diamondbacks’ history is Luis Gonzalez. Maybe because of the way he interacted with has an extensive background fans or his game-winning single in Game 7 of lopment, public education, the 2001 World Series, which gave the organiecondary, community colzation its first World Championship. In 2010, ty levels. A third-generation Gonzalez entered his second full season as a n, he has served as a conSpecial Assistant to the President & CEO with r, and developer of various the D-backs. He rejoined the organization in pment programs involving 2009 after retiring as a player following his panies. Dr. Olivas joined 19-year Major League career. Gonzalez assists iversity (ASU) in 1979 as D-backs’ President & CEO Derrick Hall and for the Center for Execuother departments throughout the baseball t and served as the director and business side of the organization. He also e is a tenured professor in continues to interact with season ticket holdDepartment, W. P. Carey ers at special events, meets corporate partners, ss. His teaching and reand fills in on the D-backs’ radio and televiis in entrepreneurship, sion broadcasts. Through the team’s Training anagement, and Hispanic Center camps, Gonzalez interacts with chilmarketing perspectives. He dren and participates in the annual weeklong d the “Outstanding Teaching Fantasy Camp. The “Going Gonzo for Kids” undergraduate students and initiative he started in 2010 through the Aricellence Award” for ASU’s zona Diamondbacks Foundation, contributed tive Development. $100,000 in its first year to a variety of Arizonabased children’s charities.
Roxanne Wingate
Cox Community Relations Specialist, Cox, Arizona Roxanne Wingate serves as Sr. Community Relations Specialist for Cox Communications Arizona. In this role, Roxanne supports Cox’s community relations strategies by coordinating corporate sponsorship fulfillment and managing the employee Board Leadership and Cox Volunteers programs. Roxanne also assists with the development and execution of strategic community partnerships, with an emphasis on multicultural outreach. Roxanne is also involved with Cox’s Diversity Council and Latino Leadership Council. Prior to joining Cox, Roxanne served as Traffic Safety Specialist for AAA Arizona where she helped promote and facilitate the Club’s traffic safety programs and initiatives and served as the spokesperson for Spanish-language media interviews. For more information about Cox Communications, visit
www.cox.com
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Three generations and a roof
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entrepreneur
Timothy Eli Castro, president/CEO, TECA
Founded:
May 2005
Highlights:
Recently surpassed three million dollars in sales; opened offices in Texas and Missouri; assisted with disaster relief in Joplin, Missouri, and acquired McIntyre Industries, an insurance claims specialist firm.
Business buzz: We are launching a new division to capitalize on the green roofing industry with CERATECH, a coating product that goes on just about anything and can reduce heating/cooling costs by over 30 percent. Life as an entrepreneur: Thrilling!
Companies you admire most: Sundt Construction and La Raza Three traits of a successful entrepreneur: Confidence, humility and patience.
Inspirational reading: Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, which illustrates how unrelated industries impact each other.
Historical figure you’d like to meet: Benjamin Franklin. His creativity, out-of-the-box thinking and devotion to the greater good are lessons that still resonate today.
Best advice: When I was 22, I attended mass in Madrid, Spain, in a 400-year-old cathedral where an elderly priest simply said, “Relax, your time on this planet is very short.”
Photo by Melissa Donaldson
Tell us about TECA: Three generations of quality roofing craftsmanship fused with three generations of insurance expertise creates the highest-caliber roofing establishment that has expanded to a geographically diversified company, setting new standards in efficiency, industry knowledge and customer satisfaction.
What prompted you to start your own business? I welcomed a new challenge and believed I had something unique to offer to the industry.
Favorite aspect of owning a small business: No need to submit requests for time off.
Important business milestone: It’s personal – I was able to buy my mom her dream car and a house!
If I could start over … I would take more notes.
Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: Business model! Business model! You will work very hard in all directions if you are not focused on a goal, and a business model is the blueprint for success.
Biggest business challenge: The pressure of understanding my decisions, good or bad, and how they impact my team on a daily basis.
Life lesson: Growing up, I experienced many challenges associated with being raised by a single mom in a lower social economic status. I believe these hardships and trials laid the foundation for my dedication to community service. Part of that passion translates into TECA’s continued philosophy to give back. We recently completed a home remodel project for a veteran who served in Iraq and continue to support programs such as Mujer Inc., HandsOn Greater Phoenix, and we work with the Red Cross in disaster relief. Website:
tecanow.com
Suggest an entrepreneur Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
www.latinopm.com
¡ October 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
37
?
Ask the pros... David Camacho
Special Assistant to the President and Associate Vice President for Diversity at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Q:
We noticed that NAU is a top degree producer for students of color. Explain the university’s commitment to diversity.
A:
The university’s culture of inclusion is reflected in our values, strategic priorities, curriculum, and student support services. As a result of this commitment, NAU leads the nation in awarding baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees to students of color. In particular, NAU is a national leader in awarding baccalaureate degrees to Latino students: Top 10—Education Top 10—Hospitality administration and management Top 20—Liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and humanities Top 40—Natural resources and conservation Top 40—Public administration and social service Top 50 -- Health professions Top 50 -- Nursing Top 50 -- All disciplines combined
Based on analysis from U.S. Department of Education reports.
Harry Garewal, MBA
President Your Neighborhood Healthcare Center 3306 W. Roosevelt St. Phoenix AZ, 85009 P. 602.278.4930 F. 602.269.7772
444 W Osborn Rd, Ste 301 Phoenix AZ, 85013 P. 602.889.9401 F. 602.889.9404
Your Neighborhood Health Center (YNHC) is a group of medical, educational and business professionals who began working on a new model for health care in 2002. Ours is a market-based system for acute medical care, psychological evaluation, and treatment, with nutrition and wellness components launched in 2008. Our model addresses the shortage of primary care providers in the United States both in the short and long-term need. We provide enhanced efficiencies through use of technologies and business management techniques, reducing redundancies through effective utilization of human resources, management and claims clearing. Our model provides management groups with fiduciary responsibility and accountability ensuring quality of care at a reduced cost. We transfer responsibility and accountability from the employer and the healthcare system to the individual while providing universal coverage at a substantially reduced cost. Our successful model allowed us to open our second clinic on August 1, 2011.
The suggestions and opinions of the advertisers on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of Latino Perspectives Magazine
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www.latinopm.com
¡!
:
Paleta poder Sweet success in a down economy
next time you happen to be in your local grocery
store, don’t be surprised to see Paleteria La Michoacana (PLM) products in the freezer. You may be more familiar with the name on the package, La Indita Michoacana. The Modesto-based maker of Hispanic-oriented ice cream and other frozen novelties is broadening its product distribution. That announcement came after the company, started in 1991 in Turlock, California, reported stronger than expected growth for its product lines in the first half of 2011. The growth has been attributable in part to launching new product varieties with healthier ingredients. Leading the way are the company’s new agave fruit ice popsicles. The plant, primarily from Mexico, produces several pounds of edible flower. The stalks are roasted to provide a sweet extract called aguamiel, which is similar to sugarcane without the negative health effects, says the company.
Total frozen novelty retail dollar sales: $2.1 billion
Ice Cream Bars with stick (Paletas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.4% Sandwich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.5% Frozen Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.5% Ice Cream Cones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.8% Ice Cream Bars without stick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.0% Fudge Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.9% Cups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9% Push Tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0% Cream Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4% Cookie Sandwich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.7% Italian Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.6% Bite Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.8% Sorbet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6% Frozen Yogurt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2% Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.7% Source: Information Resources Inc.
According to Ignacio “Nacho” Gutierrez, president of PLM, “Agave pops provide all the enjoyment of water ice popsicles in various flavors, but are friendlier to people looking for great-tasting, sugar-free options.” Another growth driver has been the company’s ability to expand the number of distributors nationwide. “We have great distributors that have helped introduce our product throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, the Intermountain West region and the Midwest,” said Patricia Gutierrez, PLM’s executive vice president. In 2009 and 2010, the company made substantial investments to expand its operating platform to accommodate anticipated rapid growth. It expanded its production facility and logistics capabilities by building an 18,000-square-foot freezer; it grew its DSD fleet to over 50 trucks; it revamped manufacturing lines, and opened depots in new markets. Those capital investments were aided by a $3.5 million equity investment from the Central Valley Fund, a venture capitalist firm. “Nacho and Patty have done a great job as pioneers in the fast-growing, Hispanicoriented frozen novelty segment and have some great opportunities ahead of them,” said Jose Blanco, partner at the CMV. www.latinopm.com
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briefcase
Drumming up profits If you’re looking for a way to energize workers during the annual sales meeting or company conference, you might want to consider the Drum Café, a company that provides motivational team events that tap into your primal urge to pound. The group’s drumming experience could leave your employees feeling a little more energized and united. At least that’s the hope of the countless companies that have used them for company events. From Google to Intel, the Drum Café has beat out rocking reviews. As the company says in its own literature, “In these times of doing more with less, it has never been more important to inspire your people to be the best they can be.” The company, which has regional offices, says it can help its clients increase sales revenue through its particular brand of motivation. Check them out at drumwestcafe.com.
Start-up angels
We’ll give you what you need to succeed—
40
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The idea that someone may actually give you money to help your company get a product to market may sound farfetched for many small entrepreneurs. But it’s a common practice in the U.S. for companies with something promising to sell. Granted, many of the products are often high-tech or medical in nature, but it’s still an avenue for an entrepreneur to get a capital infusion. And as you may have deduced, the money is not simply given with no strings attached. It’s considered an investment by the giver and they want to see returns on that investment. One of the largest regional gatherings of these angel investors and venture capitalists, the Invest Southwest and Venture Capital Conference in the Rockies (VCIR) 2011 Fall Conference, will take place November 2-4 at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix. This year’s event connects the region’s most promising startups and emerging growth companies with an audience of hundreds of venture investors, entrepre-
neurs and service professionals from all over the globe. They gather to see the “best of the Southwest” present their business plans and investment opportunities. Presenting companies at Invest Southwest have received more than a quarter billion in investment dollars since its inception in 1992, and companies that have presented at VCIR over the past 10 years have collectively generated nearly $5 billion in exit value for their stakeholders. Presenters from past conferences have included regional success stories Ventana Medical, NetPro, Vivid Semiconductor and AutoXray. Last year, Snahel Patel of Sokikom won best presentation honors. The Scottsdalebased company innovated social-learning software to help elementary school students learn math. Another company announced that they had secured $1 million to support their growth. This year, the presenting companies have already been chosen, but the planning process to compete for that opportunity begins long before the deadline to apply. Does your company have what it takes to attract the attention of these investors? Then get ready for next year’s conference. Visit http://investsouthwest.org for more information.
Nominations sought for Dr. Martin Luther King Awards Do you know someone whose sense of equality and fairness has led to compelling accomplishments? Or someone who has a made a difference by promoting social and economic justice and civil rights? If so, you may want to consider nominating her or him for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Award or the Calvin C. Goode Lifetime Achievement Award. The Phoenix Human Relations Commission, in partnership with the city of Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department, is seeking nominations for people, including youth, who have made an impact on the quality of life of Phoenix residents and who have contributed to creating a compassionate and socially just community. Those selected will be honored at the
briefcase annual Arizona Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration event on January 13, 2012. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made Phoenix a better place to live by promoting social and economic justice and civil rights. Candidates for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Award must embody the ideas of Dr. King through their personal commitment to human relations and social justice. For details or nomination forms, call 602-495-0358, or visit phoenix.gov/eod. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 14.
Hispanic data Amid all the hoopla and celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15, some government agencies actually produce enlightening data about the nation’s Latino community. To wit, the Census Bureau compiles facts and figures that when taken together, paint an illuminating portrait of Latindad in the U.S. Here are a few of the gems:
Population: As of April 1, 2010, the Latino population of the U.S. stood at 50.5 million. This does not include the 3.7 million residents of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
Growth: The percentage increase growth of Hispanics between April 1, 2000 and April 1, 2010 was 43 percent, making Hispanics the fastest-growing group. Hispanics are projected to be 30 percent of the nation’s population by 2050.
Subgroups: About 63 percent of Hispanic people in the U.S. were of Mexican descent in 2010. Another 9.2 percent were Puerto Rican, 3.5 percent Cuban, 3.3 percent Salvadoran, and 2.8 percent Dominican.
States: The number of states with at least a half million Hispanic residents are
¡!¡!
Oportunidad en la era digital
Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virgina and Washington.
Business: The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2007 was 2.3 million, up 43.7 percent from 2002. Receipts: Receipts generated by Hispanicowned businesses grew to $345.2 billion in 2007, up 55.5 percent from 2002.
Sectors: About 30 percent of Hispanicowned businesses were in construction and other services sectors; 50.8 percent of the receipts of Hispanic-owned businesses were concentrated in wholesale trade, construction and retail trade.
Income: The median income of Hispanic households in 2009 was $38,039.
MED Week The theme of this year’s MED Week Breakfast and Business Expo will be Emerging Industries and Markets: A Blueprint for Success. The November 18 event at the Arizona Biltmore will honor Arizona companies with its Minority Firm of the Year awards in the areas of construction, manufacturing, retail energy, global technology and global supplier/distributor. Awards will also be given in the areas of media, advocacy, access to capital and distinguished supplier diversity. A business expo presented by the Grand Canyon Minority Supplier Development Council will follow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is a collaboration between the MBDA Business Center, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Grand Canyon Minority Supplier Development Council. To nominate a firm, go to mbc-az.com. For more information on the expo, visit gcmsdc.org.
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
Send us your briefcase items
Have a business story idea? Email us at editor@latinopm.com.
EOE
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9/26/11 11:35 AM
¡!
9 ways to realize optimum life balance By Sheri Riley
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many
of us work eight hours per day, commute for at least one hour per day, spend at least two hours eating, watch TV for five hours each day and spend nearly two hours a day using a computer for leisure activity, such as online games, research or social media. That’s nearly 18 hours, which doesn’t even include the multiple hours needed for our evening slumber. Clearly, we spend more time on what we aren’t than we do on who and what we are … and want to be. For many high achievers in particular, the problem is not how to get things done but rather how to balance it all. They focus on one area of their lives where they excel, yet feel unfulfilled. With this in mind, I offer nine methods to help high achievers tap into the other 90 percent of “who they are,” beyond “what they do” and realize greater life balance, joy and fulfillment in kind.
1: Healthy living is about more than diet There is more to life than making more money or earning a fancy job title. And, there is more to living healthfully than what you eat or how you exercise. Other lifestyle decisions, such as those related to marriage, parenting and friendships, all factor into one’s healthy sense of self. Healthy living requires being true to yourself and being truly “present” when you’re with loved ones. Healthy living is also a frame of mind. If your thoughts are self-destructive, this negativity will manifest itself in your body through stress, anxiety and other adverse physical conditions, and can undermine your personal and professional relationships with others.
2: Peace and a positive mind Cultivating and maintaining a peaceful life must be a goal of paramount importance. Distractions and life’s distresses will pull you away from this goal each and every time you allow it. Your thoughts are the training ground and springboard for your overall disposition and perspective on life. Many accomplished people are constantly striving
for what’s next. While not entirely a bad thing, when your desire to achieve becomes bigger than your desire to be, your existence will be likened to a hamster running in an endless circle, never at peace and never at a point of rest.
3: A giving heart and spirit Most know that giving back to society and those in need is one of the most meaningful activities we can engage in. In fact, many successful people believe that giving is directly tied to their continued success. Having a giving heart and spirit not only creates more opportunities for you, but also allows for your continued success to manifest in your life and others: what impacts one impacts us all. www.latinopm.com
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¡!
career
Accomplishments come from the work of our hands and minds, but true success and fulfillment comes from donating your time through charitable work or financial donations, or allocating precious time to family and friends. Being present and accessible to loved ones is the ultimate gift for others – and yourself.
4: Live in your P.O.W.E.R ™ Tap into your personal P.O.W.E.R.: Perspective, Ownership, Wisdom, Engagement and Reward. Perspective cultivates recognition of what is draining and what is enriching your life. This leads to Ownership of your relationship with yourself and with others. It allows you to establish personal boundaries and define what and where you give of yourself and your time. This understanding of your own truth is a major component of Wisdom, which is gained from how you implement your experiences into your life and evolve your thinking and good judgment. This enlightenment
brings consistent Engagement in the quality of your life. Your desire, energy and personal engagement will motivate you to stop spending 100 percent of your time on 10 percent of who you are – this is your Reward.
5: Less work, more opportunity When you are constantly working, you seldom recognize your achievements. Without taking time to recognize your accomplishments, you are constantly stretching for what’s next and never appreciate and enjoy what you have completed. This cycle often leads to burnout, health issues, personal relationship issues and low self-esteem. And many times does not clearly define a moment of victory. When you change your mindset from working to maximizing opportunities, you reposition your thought process and how you approach your life. You are able to separate and segment your work from other areas of your life because maximizing the opportunity has a beginning and an end. You are quicker to recognize when
400 BC
Signs of cancer found on bones from ancient Egypt.
6: Happy is a choice When you truly desire to live a life that is fulfilled in all areas, you are destined to have more to do than you have the time, energy and ability to accomplish. And when you have so much success, opportunity, potential, etc., that you can’t manage everything, you can become overwhelmed. Know the plan for your life is perfect and the struggles are never to defeat you but to make you stronger and uncover your true power. Surrender and find peace living in the overflow, joy and abundance of being overwhelmed.
7: Build lasting confidence If you have the confidence and belief that you can have what you want and that you deserve it, it’s available to you. This does not mean confidence in your academic degrees, knowledge, job title or social status.
1946
The term cancer originates.
3000 BC
to end or remove yourself because you understand what is meant to be an opportunity, not a burden without benefit or value.
Chemotherapy is developed.
1899
The X-ray revolutionizes tumor discovery.
career Instead, it is about having a pure and honest confidence in the person you are. Many successful people have achieved career success through their fear of failure. And while such fear can be a powerful and effective motivator, it can limit your sense of accomplishment and impede growth in other areas of your life. For many high achievers, confidence is built on external validations like applause, accolades, wins or promotions. And their ensuring quest to feel this rush keeps them from being engaged in other areas of their lives. True confidence should come from a life well lived and enjoyed, not the proverbial feathers in your cap.
8: Have courage, be faithful Stepping out of your fears and into your greatness requires great courage. Sometimes we are so busy with the work of life that we don’t sit still and take the time to listen to our hearts. Being courageous means not allowing life to destroy your dreams and to live in
the now, in the presence of your power to receive the fullness of all life has to offer. It takes courage to be honest with yourself, acknowledge your personal truth and be present in your quest to live that truth. The easiest thing for high achievers to do is be successful. But living in the fullness of who they are and want to be and maintaining their success takes true grit.
9: Live exponentially Exponential living is achieved through excellence in your personal, spiritual and emotional health, and balance in all aspects of your life. It is achieved by building and maintaining personal spirituality; loving and caring for yourself; spending quality time with yourself and your family; recognizing your success and living in your own truth. When you live exponentially, you are comfortable with who you are, separate from what you do. It’s when you live in a
¡!
state of true contentment and are present with yourself and others while you pursue and maintain excellence in all aspects of your life. Often, high achievers are limited by their success because they are only living in the accomplishments in one area of their lives. Or, they have reached their career goals, but now know there are other facets of life they want to pursue but don’t know how, why or where to start. Exponential living gives them the power to be true to themselves and achieve balance between work, family, friends, healthy living and spiritual commitment to manifest a life that is genuinely complete and content. Sheri Riley is the founder and chief partnership strategist of GLUE, Inc. and creator of the Exponential Living program (exponentialliving.com), which helps individuals create balance among life’s key areas in ways that promote a higher standard of excellence.
The history of cancer meets a future of hope. Banner Health has teamed 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. We’re fighting cancer like never before with a powerful combination of groundbreaking treatments, revolutionary facilities, and the world-class exper tise 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.
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Living his dream Oscar Navarro-Perez, firefighter, Goodyear Fire Department Years of service: Volunteer, 7 years; full time 4 years
Honors: Hometown hero award Proudest moments: The swearing in of my U.S citizenship, my fire academy graduation and my wedding.
Learning experience: Interacting with people and attending to their needs has taught me about respect, discipline, confidence, integrity and morals. academy in August 2007. One day while we were practicing hose placement for car fires, our training captain kept yelling at us to pull the hose closer and to go around the car, back and forth to each side. It was 115 degrees outside. We were wearing our firefighter gear and pulling 200 feet of charged 1¾ hose. We were tired and moving slow. Our captain kept yelling to not stop. As my partner was on the nozzle controlling the stream of water, I dropped the hose behind him, and he lost control of the hose. He sprayed the training captain, not once but twice, with a strong water stream right to his face and body. What happened afterward was not funny to us, but it was for the training crew as they watched the whole scene.
courtesy of goodyear fire department
Funny anecdote: I was in the Goodyear fire
Greatest satisfaction of serving:
Why did you decide to become a firefighter? A high school friend’s dad was
The look on a person’s face when we arrive at the scene, and knowing that I helped someone in an emergency situation or saved his or her life. I hope my health allows me to continue working as a firefighter until my retirement. I will have my 20 years in the fire service at age 38.
the assistant fire chief for the Gila Bend volunteer fire department. He took me to the fire station and asked me if I wanted to join and be a volunteer firefighter, but my plan was to join the Marines and travel the world. After spending a couple of hours helping wash the fire trucks one evening, we were about to leave the station when a call kicked out for a car accident. They asked if I wanted to go; they didn’t have enough manpower to deal with the call. I jumped on the truck and assisted on scene by holding a girl’s head while they put her on a backboard. I thought it was the coolest thing to be part of a team that helps other people. I wanted to be on that team.
In closing: I am a proud Mexican, but I love the U.S. and will serve it by being a firefighter. I came from a poor family and now I am living comfortably, loving my job and have my own great family. I am the chair for our fire union charities committee. During the school year, I love to teach the fundamentals of fire science at a local high school. I feel this country gave me a new life and the opportunity to do whatever I wanted, so in return, I can pay back by helping those in need. I encourage people to serve in any way possible. Give back to this country for the freedom it gives us to do whatever we want and live our dreams.
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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Join the Party! A FREE Celebration of Latin and Hispanic Cultures
November 5 + 6 Saturday and Sunday Noon – 6 p.m. FREE Admission Scottsdale Civic Center Park Presented by
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Latinos and higher education More need to graduate and earn degrees As the United States pursues the goal of once
again having the highest percentage of college graduates in the world by 2020, increasing this number has become the focus of national and state post-secondary policy goals, according to recent information published by the National Council of State Legislators (NCSL). This means in order for the U.S. to have the highest percentage of college graduates, 13.4 million more adults need to earn degrees by 2020. To reach this goal, almost a quarter of these additional degrees need to be earned by Latino students. In other words, 3.3 million more Latinos need to earn a degree in the next nine years. This will require eliminating achievement gaps and increasing completion. It’s becoming common knowledge that Latinos are the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the nation, yet according to studies, they have the lowest college graduation rates. Improving these rates has become an important issue for all states. As a part of this overall effort, the NCSL recently released two new briefs at its 37th annual Legislative Summit in San Antonio this past August. The first brief, Investing in Higher Education for Latinos: Trends in College Access and Success, offers a look at the achievement gaps in each state and highlights the areas that could be targeted to improve Latino student success. So, according to this brief, where does Arizona stack up? First, because of the particularly rapid growth in the younger Latino population, the report notes that “K-12 schools are of vital importance because they are responsible in ensuring that students are prepared for post-secondary education.” In Arizona, Latinos make up 41.4 percent of the K-12 population. As more Latinos graduate from K-12 schools, the number of Latinos attending college has increased.
The growth of the Latino population on college campuses has been much slower than at K-12 schools, however, because Latino students are not enrolling at the same rate as their white peers. Affordability, family and work obligations, and lack of information about financial aid and college life are some of the barriers cited by Latinos to completing their education. Of the states with large Latino populations in college, the highest graduation rates for Latinos are seen in Arizona and Florida, and the lowest are found in New Jersey, New Mexico and Texas. The largest achievement gap is seen in New York, which has a 32-percent graduation rate for Latino students, compared to almost 52 percent for white students. Although the graduation rate for white students in Arizona (51 percent) is close to New York’s graduation rate, the gap is significantly smaller; almost 44 percent of www.latinopm.com
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Heart. Mind.
It started as a decision of the heart. To do more for my neighborhood … dedicating myself to something I believe in. By helping others, I’m building a business that will last. Imagine what you can build if you put your mind to it.
Latino students graduate within three or six years. But simply enrolling in college does not guarantee graduation. Only 36 percent of first-time, full-time Latino students earn a degree within six years, compared to 49 percent of whites. In fact, according to the brief, Latinos have the lowest educational attainment rate. Only 19 percent of Latino adults have a degree compared to 42 percent of whites and 26 percent of African American adults. The gaps between attainment rates of Latino and white adults, consistently large across states, are particularly noticeable in states that have sizeable Latino populations. For example, Arizona is among the states in which Latino attainment rates are lower than the national average, coming in at 15.8 percent. A few suggested strategies to improve
Latino college access and success include the following:
• Consider funding or incentives to help institutions expand student support services that help students progress from first year to graduation. • Ensure that Latino students have evening, weekend and online options for taking courses and obtaining a degree. • Help reduce remediation of Latino students by improving high school standards and better linking to K-12 exit standards with college entrance requirements. The second brief released by NCSL, Investing in Higher Education for Latinos: Payoffs for State Economies, takes a look at how improving college completion rates for Latino students can be a mechanism for strengthening economies. The report notes that “by 2018, 33 percent of the country’s jobs will
Latinos as a percent of public postsecondary students
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2009 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 2010.
require at least a bachelor’s degree, and 29 percent will require some college, a certificate or an associate’s degree; the jobs that require post-secondary degrees are high skilled and high paying – the type that bring a great return on investment to a state’s economy.” It’s no surprise that higher incomes mean higher tax revenues for states. College graduates pay more in income and sales taxes and depend less on social service programs such as food stamps and Medicaid. States save an average of $1,377 annually in Medicaid costs for every person with a college degree. States also spend less on unemployment benefits. The unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders in June 2011 was 4.4 percent, compared to the overall jobless rate of 9.2 percent. The brief notes that although linking higher education and economic development policies are important for a state’s future, it’s also important to help students complete their degree programs. For example, states can invest in certain high-demand fields, such as engineering, but when students do not complete the engineering degree, neither the state nor the student benefits. Full copies of the NCSL briefs may be obtained on their website at ncsl.org.
Esteemed coach bids farewell Dave Lopez, Saint Mary’s Catholic High School boys’ basketball coach of 18 years, recently announced that he was stepping down from his coaching position. Throughout his seasoned career, Coach Lopez was instrumental in building of one Arizona’s premier basketball programs, which included leading teams that produced five Arizona high school players of the year, two of which now have NBA careers and play for the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns. Since 2000, the Saint Mary’s Knights have made it to the final four on seven occasions. Coach Lopez’s teams reached
the final four in the state tournament for four consecutive years, 2007 through 2010, and reached the state finals three years in a row, becoming one of only a few teams in Arizona history to achieve such an accomplishment.
Recession impacts Arizona children The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released its 22nd annual KIDS COUNT Data Book, which this year takes a particularly close look at the “harm children suffered due to the down economy,” an area in which Arizona children hit high statistical numbers. Eight percent of Arizona children live in families hit by foreclosure, which is twice the national rate, and more than one in five children in Arizona lived in poverty in 2009. More specifically, the U.S. Census data from the American Community Survey shows that close to half of the children growing up in legislative District 14 in Central Phoenix face the additional daily challenges of living in poverty. The rate is nearly the same in District 15. “The research and data tell us that children who grow up in low-income families are less likely to successfully navigate life’s challenges and achieve future success,” said Patrick T. McCarthy, president and CEO of the Casey Foundation. According to Data Book, child poverty is strongly linked to the education level of mothers, another indicator showing dramatic variation across the state. In legislative District 16, made up largely of South Phoenix and Laveen, 43 percent of all mothers who gave birth in 2009 did not complete a high school education, whereas in District 20 (Ahwatukee, West Chandler and South Tempe), only 7 percent of all mothers who gave birth in 2009 lacked a high school diploma or GED. Visit datacenter.kidscount.org for more statistics or to download the complete Data Book, including interactive maps and graphs.
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Getting the word out about HIV/AIDS
The key to changing awareness in the Latino community is education, experts say By Robrt L. Pela
Irma Benitez’s doctor refused to tell her she’d
tested positive for HIV. “My brother told me,” the 32-year-old Tijuana-born schoolteacher remembers. “He took me to see the doctor after my husband died, and the doctor called my brother with the test results. I am a woman, so I am invisible.” Also, she says, she’s an outcast. Told as a child that AIDS was a disease only harbored by “prostitutes and sinners,” she found it difficult to talk to her family and friends. She moved to a mostly Hispanic community outside Dallas, Texas, “to get better treatment for the AIDS,” she explains. “I joined a Spanish-speaking church, and I met with the priest, and he said, ‘Let us pray for forgiveness for your sin.’” Irma never returned to the church. “The doctors here are better than in Tijuana,” she says. “I have disability benefits from my job and a Spanishlanguage support group for help.” But what Irma really wants is answers. “How come my support group is the biggest one at the center where we meet?” she wonders. “Are there really more Latinos with AIDS than any other group?” Much has been made lately of reports on the increasing number of Latinos in America – especially as National Latino AIDS Awareness Day approaches on October 15 – about how the current rate of population growth in the United States is being driven by the Latino community, whose numbers will continue to grow. But while Latinos account for 15 percent of the American population, they make up a more sobering 18 percent of people living with HIV. Worse yet, 19 percent of new AIDS diagnoses in the U.S. are Latino men and women. That means that the rate of AIDS diagnoses among Latino men and women is three and four times higher, respectively, than their Anglo counterparts.
Today, approximately 1.1 million people live with HIV/AIDS in the United States, including more than 205,000 Latinos. According to a new HIV incidence report released in August by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latino men who have sex with men have moved from being the fourth most impacted population to being third; African American gay men continue to dominate new HIV infections, followed by Anglo gay men, Latino men and African American women. The devastating impact of HIV and AIDS on the American Latino community affects not only the health of Latino communities but the wellbeing of the nation as well. But why, this many years into the global AIDS crisis, are a disproportionate percentage of Latinos being affected? www.latinopm.com
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There are several reasons, according to Dr. Louis Velasco, an attending physician at Gilbert Hospital who sees many Hispanic patients who don’t know the first thing about AIDS and its transmission. People of color in America are, unfortunately, more likely to earn below the national poverty level, which often means a more limited access to quality health care. A potential for increased rates of incarceration among minority groups also contributes, because HIV tends to spread more rapidly among prison populations. Finally, the importance placed on traditional masculine roles in much of Hispanic culture serves to further increase risk factors among same-sex encounters in this demographic. As scary as all these numbers are, what’s even more alarming is the potential for an ongoing increase among Latinos with HIV and AIDS. Currently, one in five children under the age of 18 in America is Latino – and 13 percent of new infections in the United States are among people aged 13 to 24. Because young people often consider themselves immortal and aren’t as keyed in to issues of health, they’re more likely to be at increased risk of infection. And according to a recent survey of 21 major U.S. cities, more than half of the Latino youth infected with HIV were aware of their status before seroconverting to AIDS.
The breakdown: HIV diagnoses among adult and adolescent Hispanics/Latinos by transmission category
Male
Female
10.5% Injection drug use (IDU)
A Program Partnership Between:
“It’s essential that we do something about the impact HIV is having on the Latino community,” Velasco says. “And that something is education.” This means educating the more forward-thinking youth population – the very population that’s contributing to the rise in Latino AIDS cases nationwide. Youth are, according to Velasco, less swayed by social stigmas attached to HIV and AIDS than their parents might be. If there’s anything to be hopeful about, he says, it’s that a youth population at risk for any illness is more easily educated about prevention. “Sex education classes in public schools can go a long way toward teaching young people how to avoid STDs and AIDS,” he says. “They’re also better at getting the word out about prevention.” That’s because there’s an important trickle-down effect when teaching kids about HIV prevention says Daniel Leyva, the Latino Religious Leadership program director at the Latino Commission on AIDS. “A lot of these kids go home to adults – parents and older brothers and sisters – who may not have access to prevention news. A lot of times, the young people are the children of immigrants who may not speak English, and their children or grandchildren are the ones who are translating or disseminating the prevention messages for them.” AIDS activists are hopeful that a new, more aggressive curriculum in New York’s
0.2% Other*
4.1% MSM and IDU
20.3% Injection drug use (IDU)
0.6% Other*
8.1% heterosexual contact 77.1 % Male-to-male sexual contact (MSM) Generously funded by:
79.1% heterosexual contact
* Other includes hemophilia, blood transfusion, perinatal exposure, and risk factor not reported or not identified.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Surveillance Report, 2008; vol. 20. Published June 2010. Accessed October 7, 2010. 54
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It’s essential that we do something about the impact HIV is having on the Latino community ... —Dr. Louis Velasco, attending physician, Gilbert Hospital middle schools and high schools will become a nationwide trend in Latino AIDS education. “That’s usually how it works,” Leyva says. “Education reform starts in Manhattan or Los Angeles, and pretty soon everyone’s looking for funding to implement a similar program.” This new, more aggressive curriculum, proposed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will mandate two semesters of sex education – one in junior high, the other in high school – where the former requirement was a single semester, with curricula decided by each school’s principal. The mandated classes will be AIDS specific, with lessons on how to use a condom and the risks of unprotected sex. The new classroom policy is part of a larger effort by the Bloomberg administration to improve the lives of black and Latino youth. The future of the Latino community’s HIV/AIDS crisis hasn’t been left
entirely in the laps of our youth. The American Red Cross has launched a culturally specific program, developed in Spanish by Hispanics, that’s based on the philosophy of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, whose work emphasizes plática or dialogue about transmission, sex stigmas and drug abuses. Freire’s learning method encourages an exchange of ideas and experiences within a group to empower them, and there’s an emphasis on taking his messages back into the student’s community – a crucial element in reversing the increase in AIDS cases among Latinos. “It has to happen,” says Irma, who’s recently discovered she’s pregnant. She doesn’t know if her baby will be born with HIV, but she knows one thing for sure. “My baby will know about how to stop this disease. How to stay healthy. And how to be part of a solution and not just a statistic.”
Celebrating Our First Century of Hope 1912-2012 In 1912, community volunteers came together to address the critical needs of homeless and neglected children in Arizona.
Today, as Arizona’s Children Association celebrates 100 years of providing services to children andfamilies in need throughout the state, we look forward to providing a second century of hope to our communities.
Some hope These new statistics, cited in the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation HIV/AIDS Policy of August 2011, offer some hope for Latinos dealing with HIV: • Among the non-elderly (ages 18–64), Latinos are more likely than whites to report having been tested for HIV in the last 12 months (24 percent, as compared to 15 percent). • A recent survey found that Latinos express concern about HIV/AIDS. While about one in 10 Latinos name it as the most urgent health problem facing the nation, about three in 10 name it as a more urgent problem for their community than it was a few years ago. • The number of deaths among Latinos with an AIDS diagnosis decreased 6 percent between 2006 and 2008; deaths among blacks and whites also decreased.
Keep Hope Alive for children and families. Text “NINOS” to 20222 to donate $5 today or visit www.arizonaschildren.org.
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Golden Gate’s campeones on and off the court By LPM staff
Golden Gate Community Center will proudly house the Maryvale Adolescent Providers Partnership Basketball League’s blue and gold, four-foot-high, traveling basketball trophy. It is a proud moment for the youth, parents and staff alike, but it is also a proud moment for this special community. If you are familiar with the area, you can surely agree. Seventy-five years ago, nestled in a small-town Phoenix barrio, a thriving immigrant community utilized Golden Gate Community Center as its trusted touchstone. Incorporated in 1952, Golden Gate was a true community center, offering a well-baby clinic, sports activities, a home training course and a kindergarten. Displaced by the construction of Sky Harbor Airport in 1986, many residents of the old neighborhood traveled with Golden Gate to rebuild their community near its new and current location at 39th Avenue and McDowell Road. Sadly, most tight-knit communities, once disrupted, fail to hold together. The Golden Gate Community Center fought the odds and continues to do so 25 years later, a testament to its importance to the community. (LPM has published several feature stories on the historical significance of the Golden Gate barrio. Visit latinopm.com to read more on the topic.) However, the area has its share of concerns. The geographic area served by Golden Gate is at risk in many ways. It is a high-crime area with many instances of gang-involved activity, domestic violence, drug and violent crimes. There are limited community sports and recreation facilities in the surrounding neighborhoods (only one of eight elementary schools has a gym). Without structured after-school 56
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PhotoS courtesy of Golden Gate Community Center
For the second year in a row, the
Golden Gate Community Center was founded in 1936 by the Episcopal Church as the East Madison Street Settlement.
program activities, youngsters are left vulnerable to recruitment by area gangs and street drug usage. A local resident of the area and a Golden Gate community center advisory board member, Ida Peña, said at the time of the center’s relocation, “I don’t have to be told where the need is – I live in the middle of it. I’ve seen the young people hanging out on the streets because there’s nothing to do, and know of old people who stay inside their homes because there’s no place for them to go.” That was 25 years ago. With a mission to provide programs and services that improve the quality of life for children and families in west central Phoenix neighborhoods, Golden Gate has provided a safe learning environment for those surrounded by poverty, gangs and crime. Each year, the center offers thousands of children, teenagers, adults and seniors in the surrounding largely Hispanic neighborhoods affordable access to recreation and personal development activities, education classes and preventive health services.
In 2004, a merger with Arizona’s Children Association allowed Golden Gate to develop significant partnerships with organizations across the city and county, which brought unique and innovative programs to the center. The philosophy at Golden Gate is one of partnering with community residents to determine their needs and design programs from the ground up. One of Golden Gate’s many partnerships is with the Maryvale Adolescent Providers Partnership (MAPPs) in an effort to discover gaps in the services offered to youth in the local community and work together to find solutions. It is through this partnership that the MAPPs Basketball League was created in 2009. Today, dozens of youth fill the center each weekday when the Isaac District schools let out, serving youth ages 7 to 17 in an after-school program that offers structured sports, homework help, arts and crafts and more. Activities are scheduled from the last school bell until parents return home from work.
The structured sports programs offered at Golden Gate are intended to be fun and educational; teamwork and sportsmanship are always a part of the team experience. With coaches that are both teachers and leaders, the program focuses on skill building, gaining selfconfidence and learning to deal with disappointment and success while ensuring respect for other players and the referee. It’s from these structured sports classes that youth like Edward are recruited to join the basketball league. A 14-year-old team member, Edward has been attending the center since he was 10 and he’s not shy about what he’s learned while at Golden Gate. “I have learned a lot there and being there keeps me safe,” says Edward. “The best part of being on the team is how it feels. I don’t usually win anything, but when it comes to basketball, that’s my thing. If it wasn’t for everything Johnny taught me, I would be nothing. He watches me play and if he sees me do something wrong, he’ll show me the right thing to do.” During the beginning of the season, scheduling difficulties meant that the team’s practices were held only once a week on the day before game day, but the youth would spend much of their time playing on their own or holding impromptu practices. As the summer program began, structured practices were again limited, but the youth stayed focused and practiced every spare moment they could. The team was not only winning games but also winning by very large margins. Most games were won by more than 20 points. The Golden Gate basketball team has now won the MAPPs championship for the second year in a row. But ask any team member and they’ll tell you that it’s not just about winning. Their wins were accompanied by respect for each other, their opponents, the referees and the game. For Coach Johnny Gonzales, the highlight was not just winning the trophy – that was the icing on the cake. “When the final game was over,” says Gonzales, “both referees made it a point to come up and tell me how respectful my players were and
to compliment the sportsmanship they demonstrated. I was very proud to know that people did not just notice our youth’s talents on the court, but that they were able to see how good our kids really are as people.” With a smile on his face, Gonzales The team, front row from left to right: Danny Castro, Janae Gonzales, Lizbeth Castro and Edward Garcia. Back row from left to right: Coach Johnny Gonzales, Omar Gonzalez, Pablo adds, “That’s what Navarrette Jr., Mark Perez, Juan Nunez and Vicente Lujan. Golden Gate is about. Good things happen here. These kids learn, relate to them in every way, from the school they grow, and we can see their progress they went to or the gangs that surround on a daily basis. They learn that they’re them. This is where my heart has always not just representing themselves; they’re been … and it still is.” representing their community. Golden Gate “Walking by that trophy on a daily bameans a lot to them and it shows. For many sis is a reminder to everyone that enters the of them, this is their second home and they center that goals aren’t reached by taking want to take care of it.” shortcuts. It takes dedication and believing in yourself,” Gonzales says, “and it’s a Gonzales knows what he’s talking reminder to all of us that all of us can reach about because he was one of these kids our goal no matter where we come from.” once upon a time. Johnny grew up in the neighborhood and attended Golden For now, the four-foot-high traveling Gate’s Head Start program when he was trophy will remain at home in the lobby five years old. In junior high and high of Golden Gate for another year, and school, the center’s after-school programs the team will be busy on the court in the were his refuge on a daily basis. He has hopes of continuing their winning streak seen firsthand how participating in group next year. Buena suerte, Golden Gate! sports can be a very important part of a young person’s development. There is no charge for local youth to participate in after-school recreational activ“I’ve seen positive changes in the develities – but this program is underfunded. opment of these kids. I was just like them If you’d like to learn how you could help, once. I needed role models at that time and please call Coach Johnny Gonzales at I found them in the staff at Golden Gate. 602-233-0017. To learn more about GoldI chose to work here because I knew the en Gate, visit goldengatecenter.org. impact I could make on these kids. I could
Golden Gate is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The community center currently serves over 7,000 children, youth, adults and seniors annually through a wide variety of minimal or no-fee programs. www.latinopm.com
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P.S.
Stella Pope Duarte
Eréndira: symbol of national pride By Stella Pope Duarte
In the month in which our thoughts
turn to the controversial “discovery” of America by Christopher Columbus, now named el día de la raza in honor of the native peoples who already inhabited the “New World,” we pause to take a close look at courageous people who fought for their homeland, winning battles that would miraculously alter the history of future generations. Such a person was the famous Tarascan woman, Eréndira. In the years following the conquest of Tenochitlán, in the court of King Tzinzicha, ruler of the Tarasco kingdom, lived a young woman whose name would become synonymous with the word warrior. Her father Timas was one of the king’s most trusted advisors. His daughter, Eréndira, was known for her beauty and for her dedication to her fellow Tarascans living in the state of Michoacán. Among Eréndira’s many suitors was a young man named Nanuma. He was saddened by Eréndira’s rejection of his marriage proposal and eventually came to understand that her coldness was rooted in her fierce pride of the Tarascan culture and her determination to preserve it at all costs. “Why do you not think of protecting the kingdom
instead of bothering me?” she asked Nanuma one day in exasperation, as her people lay in wait, dreading the advance of enemies led by the Spaniards. Nanuma, on the other hand, had other thoughts about the preservation of his people. He was in agreement with King Tzinzicha that the invading Spaniards were too well armed and had formed too many strong alliances with enemies of the Tarascans. There was nothing to do but set up peace negotiations with them. At the thought of not fighting the invaders, Eréndira became even more passionate about her beliefs. Sickened by the king’s decision to bend under Spanish rule, she enlisted the support of her father, who also pledged to fight for the homeland. Eréndira herself forged the flame of national pride at a religious festival in Queréndaro, as she enlisted the king’s daughter in joining her in singing patriotic songs. The young women sang so passionately about Tarascan history, traditions and culture that the king decided to do battle with the invaders. During one of the battles, Eréndira’s father captured a beautiful white stallion, which he gave to his daughter. The horse played a part in Eréndira’s thirst for justice as she rode through the countryside, a woman enraged at the Tarascan king’s decision to make peace with the Spaniards after all they
had suffered. Eventually, Nanuma took his revenge on her, killing her father and mother as he sought to abduct the girl who had rejected him. Now it was Eréndira’s turn to search for Nanuma, and this she did until she found him, and with the help of her powerful horse was able to trample him underfoot. The history of Eréndira took a surprising turn after the conquest of her people. She went against Fray Martín de Valencia, accusing the Spanish priest of seeking to destroy their gods, only to find that the priest had become a true friend of her people. Because of the sincerity of the priest, she gained enough trust to be baptized a Christian, and it is recorded that through her anointing of the priest’s body at his death, she preserved it for eternity, weaving her own story with that of her people. Had Christopher Columbus ever met Eréndira, he might have formed a new vision of the people he so willfully sought to conquer. Perhaps the face of this one Tarascan woman would have reminded him that courage is something not easily conquered.
Stella Pope Duarte was born and raised in South Phoenix. She began her awardwinning career in 1995 after she had a dream in which her deceased father told her that her destiny was to become a writer. Contact her at stellapopeduarte.com. www.latinopm.com
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my perspective on: strength in hope
Faith as medicine
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By Anel Vizcarra Hope can mean Marquez different things, depending on the situation you find yourself in life. At age 28 and a single mother, I was diagnosed with stage 2 ductal carcinoma breast cancer. I don’t think the name is so important. I was, however, so ignorant about breast cancer that I was afraid. I was afraid I would make a wrong decision about my treatment. In doing my own research, I learned that being so young increased the probability of recurrence, even if I went into remission after the first treatment. I read about percentages, treatments and side effects, but not much made sense. I started reading more and more, but the more I read, the more confused I was. There are never guarantees in life and cancer is not like a lottery, where you leave it to chance. The decisions you make today will definitely affect the outcome tomorrow. I survived the six months of chemotherapy, the lumpectomy and the radiation treatments. I thought I had conquered the disease, but only four years later, the cancer came back, this time to my breasts and lungs. My agony started all over again, as I found myself in a hospital room pondering the doctor’s words: “People in your condition live from a few weeks to a few months.” I thought of my son, who was only 9 years old and needed me. I wondered, Why me? Four years back, I had been reading about treatments, I had gone to see three different doctors, but it didn’t matter because I was facing cancer again. And this time I was told that I had little probability of surviving it. How do you fight against the odds? I found the answer in my prayers. I turned to the only unconditional and complete love: God. I knew that His love would hold me and pull me through. I turned myself into a believer. Instead of just looking for treatments and
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better options, I turned to the Bible and learned about hope and my love for God. Isaiah said, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” My faith started growing and I shared my beliefs with my doctors. They encouraged me to believe and to pray. I enjoyed a very short remission, took a break from chemotherapy, but my cancer went into the pericardium in my heart. Finally, after a total of 18 agonizing months of treatments, my cancer went into a longer remission; PETScans were clear, I could breathe better. It was then I earned a new name. My oncologist named me the “miracle patient.” And the miracles continued to happen. A few months later, I was planning the trip of my life. I was on my way to celebrate my 35th birthday in France by welcoming Lance Armstrong into his fifth victory of the Tour de France. I had my U.S. flag in my case, ready to cheer the cancer champion. My trip didn’t happen. I fell while running in the LAX airport, victim of cardiac arrest. Here we go with percentages again. Only 5 percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest survive. Again, I did. I now have an implantable defibrillator, which has saved my life four more times. Now, like a nightmare that never stops, cancer has come back two more times. I am currently undergoing my fifth battle with cancer, and I find myself the most hopeful since it all started. I believe in God, I believe in his promises. I live in peace. Cancer has taken a lot of things in my life. It took my hair, my eyebrows, my strength, my energy, but it has never taken my hope. On my way to recovery, I have met people who believe that one day we will exist in a cancer-free world. I have helped in any way possible; I am an advocate for knowledge, I am a schoolteacher, and I believe that information is power. I volunteer for agencies such as Susan G. Komen, which has helped me spread the word that prevention is a big key to success and victory. However, we must recognize that victory is preceded by hope. I am not worried anymore. I eat healthy, live a plentiful life, I have a good relationship with God, I am obedient to his word and I know that for every time I face such a burden, my hope will help me rise and shine again. Anel Vizcarra Marquez is originally from Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico. She is a schoolteacher, knowledge advocate and cancer survivor.
RAUL H. CASTRO I N S T I T U T E
O F
present the fourth annual salute
Nov. 16 at the Wyndham Hotel, 11:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M. Join us in saluting Arizona’s top WWII Hispanic American Ace and U.S. Naval Hero, the late Arthur Van Haren, Jr. as well as the brave individuals profiled over the past year in Latino Perspectives Magazine.
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my perspective on: a shared vision
A brighter future for Phoenix
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By Greg Stanton I know firsthand that the possibilities
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in the city of Phoenix are limitless. I grew up in West Phoenix, and my wife Nicole and I are now raising our two children here in Central Phoenix. I am running for mayor, because I believe in a vision for Phoenix that will bring a diverse, robust economy with high-paying jobs, stronger, safer communities, and a continued appreciation of the culture and diversity that has helped Phoenix thrive for so long. I believe that together, we can build a brighter future for Phoenix. I will be the education mayor – our investment in education determines the strength of our economy. As mayor, I will: • Invest in early education programs and ensure that afterschool programs across the city receive the support they need. • Work with companies in Phoenix to ensure that our city gets its fair share of the education tax credit and I will personally ask every business to invest in Phoenix’s education. • Create a mayoral roundtable with mayors from around the state to discuss the pragmatic ideas and solutions that are improving the education of students in Arizona. I will use the bully pulpit of the mayor’s office to advocate for more support for education. By strengthening our communities and reaffirming our commitment to diversity, we can build an economic future that puts Phoenicians back to work. When I am mayor: • I will work with local and small business leaders to place a renewed focus on their development, creating the opportunities for growth that Phoenix needs. • My administration will work closely with the
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Greater Phoenix Economic Council to attract sustainable industries such as biotech, health care and solar that will bring quality, highpaying jobs to our city. My plan to streamline Phoenix will become a reality, and we will cut government red tape that hinders needed economic growth. Phoenix needs an optimistic vision and a strong leader to lead us out of this recession, and that is what I will bring to City Hall.
This election is too important to allow special interests and lobbyists to take control and drown out
As Mayor, I will work with companies in Phoenix to ensure that our city gets its fair share of the education tax credit and I will personally ask every business to invest in Phoenix’s education. the voice of our diverse communities. My opponent, Wes Gullett, is a career lobbyist who has made his living protecting the powerful and politically connected leaders of our city. While I served the public interest for nine years on the city council, representing the 6th district, and two years as deputy attorney general under Terry Goddard, Mr. Gullett lobbied for large corporations – putting their interests before that of our communities. When I am mayor, you will never have to question who I am working for – I don’t have any rich or powerful clients – I will be working for you. I am proud of the continued support that my campaign has received from all local and state public safety and first-responders groups. Their support, coupled with the support of the hardworking men and women of our city and the local and small business leaders that create the jobs we need, has helped create the largest grassroots movement Phoenix has ever seen in a municipal election. I am honored to have the support of Congressman Ed Pastor and Councilman Michael Nowakowski, who have consistent records of putting the public interests first. I am focused on working with people of all backgrounds and all beliefs to develop the best solutions for Phoenix that will benefit every citizen, not only the politically powerful or connected. My campaign has never been about me – it is about vision we share for our great city. Phoenix can be the best city in America, and by investing in smart
economic growth, stronger local schools, and safe, diverse communities, we can build the brighter future for Phoenix that we all desire. I ask for your support because together, we can make our optimistic vision a reality. Greg Stanton was raised in West Phoenix by a family committed to giving back to their community. He attended Marquette University and earned the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, a national award for students committed to pursuing careers in public service. After earning his law degree from the University of Michigan, Greg returned to Phoenix where he practiced education law at Jennings Strouss and Salmon and later Quarles & Brady LLP. In 2001, he left private law practice to serve on the Phoenix City Council, where he represented the sixth district for nine years. In 2009, Greg joined the state attorney general’s office as deputy attorney. Greg and his wife Nicole have two young children, Trevor and Violet. Nicole is a prominent local attorney who recently received the YWCA business leadership award. Greg wants to be our next mayor to make Phoenix a city that his children – and all children – can be proud to call home. A city with strong schools, safe parks and neighborhoods, a vibrant arts community, and an environment that supports locally owned businesses, diverse industries and high-wage jobs. Greg shares this vision with his supporters, and is working with them to make it a reality. www.latinopm.com
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my perspective on: changing the status quo
Making Phoenix great
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By Wes Gullett
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To make Phoenix great, we have to keep
a laser focus on the economy and creating jobs. I believe I’m the candidate best suited to do that. Having never served on the city council, I’m not tied to past decisions. We need a clean break from the failed policies of the past that my opponent has voted for and endorsed. One of the first things I will do as mayor, to provide relief to Phoenix residents, is immediately repeal the food tax. This tax is hurting those who are suffering most in our community. Our unemployment remains above 9 percent, and demand at our local food banks is at record highs. Many are struggling to put food on the table, and this tax is just another barrier for them. It is also taking $50 million out of our economy. My Government Reform Plan would pay for the repeal, without affecting essential services or impacting police and fire. By rolling back the double pensions we give to the city’s managers, moving to performance pay and finding efficiencies, balanced with modest cuts, we will have the money to provide Phoenix families relief. I fundamentally believe the food tax is wrong and that we must decrease the cost of government while providing the same level of service. Next, as mayor, I will keep a laser focus on job creation and make sure that every action taken, law passed and policy adopted at the city of Phoenix has a positive impact on our economy. We need less government, not the 40 plus ways to grow government that my opponent has proposed. I have outlined bold and aggressive pension reform, regulatory relief and a comprehensive Seven Point Jobs Plan, all aimed at getting our
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economy moving, reducing the costs of doing business in Phoenix and getting people back to work. For example, I will not continue the water rate increases that my opponent voted for. The rate increase has taken millions of dollars out of our economy and increased costs on small business and Phoenix families. Third, we need a government we can afford. The city cannot keep doing the same things it has done in the past. Every day I hear about the incredible economic disconnect between our city government and Phoenix families. The best part of this campaign
I will keep a laser focus on job creation and make sure that every action taken, law passed and policy adopted at the city of Phoenix has a positive impact on our economy. We need less government ... has been knocking on the doors of Phoenix voters, asking for their support. At nearly every single door, I find someone who says, “Enough already, enough!” No more food taxes, no more water rate hikes, no more fees on small business, no more quarters in the downtown parking meters, no more city pay raises, no more pension scandals and no more double dipping. The bottom line is we need a government we can afford, and we will not get it with the “business as usual” approach of the entrenched interests at Phoenix City Hall. My fourth priority is a safe city with strong neighborhoods. The most sacred responsibility of city government is public safety. If we do not feel safe in our homes, our places of work, our schools and our neighborhoods, we cannot succeed as a city in the long term. We need a police department we can count on, with leadership officers we have confidence in and we have faith in as a community. The former police chief resigned nearly a year ago, yet the search for his replacement has barely begun. Arguably, the police chief is the single most important position in city government. Our economic recovery depends on using the besttrained, best-equipped, and best-led police force to target emerging criminal elements before they get a foothold in our neighborhoods. The connection between public safety and thriving neighborhoods cannot be over-emphasized. In fact, my budget will
link a cutting edge public safety operation to our long-term economic recovery. I started this campaign 10 months ago as the long-shot outsider up against the status quo of Phoenix, aiming to challenge the old way of doing business with new ideas and fresh eyes. The pundits and pollsters said I’d never get this far. But if our success so far is any indication, tens of thousands of Phoenix voters agree with these priorities. On November 8, the voters of Phoenix will have a very clear choice to make in this election between two extraordinarily different candidates with different backgrounds and approaches to government. Together we can change the status quo and make Phoenix the greatest city in America. Wes Gullett is a father, husband and businessman devoted to creating jobs and reforming Phoenix City Hall. Wes brings an outsider’s perspective – with the experience and knowledge to change the status quo. He is a founding partner in First Strategic, Communications and Public Affairs, where he has directed strategic communications planning efforts for businesses and job creators in fields ranging from energy and education to health care and professional sports. He and his wife Deb have three children, Kelly, Catie and Nikki, and reside in Phoenix.
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my perspective on: the value of service
Working together for the common good
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By Brenda Sperduti
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Family, neighborhood, community. These aren’t just words – they’re the bedrock of a prosperous state and nation. Strong families – where parents have jobs that enable them to provide their children with safe and secure homes, good educations and the blessings of faith and tradition. Where elders are respected and can enjoy the rewards of a life well lived. Vibrant neighborhoods – where people know and care about the families next door; where streets are safe and secure; where home ownership is affordable and families can live and play without fear. Thriving communities – with good public schools, transit, parks and libraries – where people want to live and work, and where small businesses flourish and provide good-paying jobs. We all share these values, no matter our origins, education or financial status. I’ve spent my entire professional life working with organizations that promote these values. It began with 20 years in community relations for major corporations in the Valley. One of my key responsibilities was determining how the companies’ multi-million-dollar philanthropy budgets could do the most good and make a real difference in the communities we served. That brought me into close contact with nonprofit organizations in health care, human services, education and the arts, organizations that provided programs and services to communities throughout Arizona. I was able to establish long-standing and meaningful relationships with many wonderful individuals and groups serving the Latino community, including Friendly House, Chicanos por la Causa and Valle del Sol. I will forever remember working with some of the most inspired individuals in our state – people like Pete Garcia, Luz Sarmina Gutierrez, Congressman Ed Pastor, Consul General Ruben Beltran and State Senator Robert Meza. In 1993, American Express, my employer at the time, offered a program where employees could take time off to work for their community. I was selected for the program,
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and was given the opportunity to spend six months dedicated to community work at a nonprofit of my choice. My goal was to select an organization where I could get close to the people who benefited from the group’s work, rather than spend all my time in an office. One of the first agencies I thought of was a small program in the Town of Guadalupe. When I arrived at Centro de Amistad, its dedicated CEO Santino Bernasconi greeted me. He was an amazing man, filled with a heartfelt commitment to improving the lives of his neighbors in this poor, urban town nestled between Tempe and Phoenix. His agency’s work was focused on healthcare outreach to people of the town who come from two cultural worlds,
The work I’ve done, the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met in the last 37 years living in Phoenix have opened my eyes and my heart to the value of service and of working together for the common good. Yaqui Indian and Mexican American. I was impressed by the big impact this small agency made on the community and spent six rewarding months helping them convert a run-down property into a vacant lot and new plans to build an annex that is now used as a community center for their many worthwhile programs. I am so grateful for that experience. The people of the town were gracious and warm, welcoming me with open arms. I felt like I was at home. And my life turned a corner. My work with Centro de Amistad led to my leaving the corporate world for the first time, to pursue meaningful experiences where I could work directly with nonprofit organizations and causes that had personal significance for me. I put that experience to work at home as well. When my husband Tom and I moved into our neighborhood seven years ago, we immediately got active in our Neighborhood Association and Block Watch. We started by organizing our annual neighborhood parade and by creating and distributing a neighborhood newsletter. We’ve continued those activities, and we’ve personally gotten engaged with just about every issue that would have an impact on our neighborhood. For example, I’ve served on committees related to the Light Rail extension through our district and have gotten involved in traffic, community policing and zoning issues. We’re fortunate to live in a neighborhood where our daughter Piper can attend Sunnyslope High School, a great public school with a dedicated faculty. I want all our children in all our districts to enjoy the same benefits of
good public schools. The work I’ve done, the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met in the last 37 years living in Phoenix have opened my eyes and my heart to the value of service and of working together for the common good. It’s why I’m running for the Phoenix City Council seat representing District 5. My promise is to join the city council as an independent voice and to fight for the values we all share: for strong families, vibrant neighborhoods and thriving communities. Together, we can make Phoenix one of America’s great cities. Brenda Sperduti, president of Sperduti NetWorks LLC, moved to Phoenix with her family after graduating high school in 1974. She attended Maricopa Community Colleges, ASU and University of Phoenix. She is currently enrolled at Grand Canyon University completing a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Professional highlights include managing community and government relations for Wells Fargo Bank, AT&T and American Express over a 20-year time span beginning in 1983. Following a successful corporate career, she shifted focus to grassroots issue management and civic engagement, worked at the Arizona Town Hall and then starting her own consulting business. She has professionally advocated and worked with a long list of nonprofit and for-profit clients in many fields, including arts and culture, health care and early childhood development. She is married to Tom Whalen and together they have three children, all residents of District 5. www.latinopm.com
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my perspective on: strength at home
Advocate for neighborhoods By Daniel
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Valenzuela
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We live in a great and diverse city.
Phoenix has the solid foundation that a worldclass city needs. But our days of seemingly endless streams of residential development and big-ticket, taxpayer-supported projects are now behind us. Just as in our own households, the challenging economic times we live in have impacted our city and our city government. And the emerging economy coming out of this recession is bound to change us – forever. We’re looking inward. We value our homes even more as we watch far too many neighbors lose theirs. We value our jobs as too many of our neighbors face unemployment. And more than ever, we cherish our families and our heritage as we contemplate the new challenges of the future our children and we will face. City government needs to look inward as well. The immediate future of Phoenix will be determined not by the bold initiatives of the past that made us a world-class city, but in fulfilling our basic needs and responsibilities to the people. And those responsibilities, those basic needs begin in our neighborhoods. For Phoenix to remain the vibrant and strong city we want, we must have strong neighborhoods. We can have all the sports arenas we want, all the parks that we want. But they won’t make for strong neighborhoods. We must have strong neighborhoods. And why not? After all, our neighborhoods are where we live. It is where we are raising our children and where they go to school and play. It is where we work, or want others to work in successful businesses that meet our needs, which adds to our tax base. It’s our refuge. It is where we should feel the safest. Our neighborhoods are our home. For many of us, our home is where we will make the largest single
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investment in our lifetime. As a husband, parent, firefighter and community advocate, neighborhoods have been the focus of my professional career as well as my service to the community. And that’s why I am a candidate for our Phoenix City Council in District 5. For our neighborhoods. So, what do I mean—for our neighborhoods? First and foremost, it means a commitment to strong neighborhoods. For example, jobs. Our economic development efforts in recent times have focused largely and successfully on those big, bold opportunities in solar,
For Phoenix to remain the vibrant and strong city we want, we must have strong neighborhoods. We can have all the sports arenas we want, all the parks that we want. But they won’t make for strong neighborhoods. the biosciences and other high-wage sectors. But our commitment to economic development must also include aiding our existing small businesses. As our city councilman, I will focus my efforts on advocating for policies and programs that will preserve existing jobs and encourage new ones in our small business sector, where most new jobs are created and what makes for stronger neighborhoods. Strong neighborhoods also depend on good, safe schools. I reject those who say schools aren’t a city responsibility. Our schools shouldn’t be viewed as someone else’s responsibility – teachers, parents, the school board. Because whether we have children in our schools or not – Sonya and I happen to have two children in school – we all have a stake in strong schools. Strong schools provide the trained workforce we need to attract companies with good-paying jobs. That makes for strong neighborhoods. City government needs to be as forceful in advocating for strong schools down at the Capitol. When I say our neighborhoods, I mean safe neighborhoods. I’m a career firefighter, but I’m not talking just about fire and police protection. I’ll use my public safety experience to keep our first-response resources at the level of staffing and training we, the community, deserve. But other factors make for safe neighborhoods, factors that are sure signs that a neighborhood is up for grabs if we fail to perform in these areas. I’m talking about an aggressive crackdown on graffiti and enforcement of building codes, before one home or building becomes a
foothold for the spread of blight and crime. I mean our neighborhoods with a high quality of life. The quality of life we all enjoy should not be taken for granted. With our decreased city resources, we must prioritize maintenance of existing infrastructure, parks and libraries instead of building new ones. Future development must pay for itself instead of burdening taxpayers. This is the philosophy I have taken in my service as a member of the Maryvale Village Planning Committee, and one that I will continue to adhere to as our city councilmember. I’m not a career politician. I’m not seeking to go to City Hall because I think I have all the answers. Rather, it’s because I am prepared to ask the right questions. Is it good for people and families? Is it good for neighborhoods? Will it make them stronger? I believe strong neighborhoods will strengthen our city. I respectfully ask for your support. Thanks and God bless. Daniel Valenzuela is a Special Operations firefighter, community relations division manager and public information officer for the Glendale Fire Department. He is a member of the 9/11 Memorial Commission, a founding member of Glendale’s Hope (Glendale Firefighter Charities), and president of the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters (NAHF). Valenzuela is also a board member of the Labor’s Community Service Agency, a Phoenix social service organization.
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Thanks to the many sponsors and supporters of the 21st annual Profiles of Success. The funds raised through this event support Valle del Sol’s many programs and services, which are helping thousands of men, women, children, families and the elderly in our community.
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