latinopm.com
DECEMBER 2011
Charting the Course for a School of Our Own
ARIZONA EDITION
Socially Responsible Giving
By Diana Diaz
Health: Holiday Stress? Humbug!
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Journal of the American Latino Dream
23
Volume 8
{December 2011}
Issue 4
54
Advocating for autism school
Diana Diaz and other community members chart the course to establish a new school for children with autism
Holiday stress
It’s a joyous time of the year, right? For many, ‘tis the season for stress. Learn how you can avoid the added anxiety
42 7 8
From the editor This holiday season, give from the heart
27 Urias Movin’ up 39 Arts Education funding slashed drastically in Arizona; gets Torch of Liberty from ADL; Capobres NCIHC uses UA program as model; Manzanita joins Catholic Charities; Zaragoza named member at Braun Siler Kruzel PC
¿Será posible?
Mixed messages from Walmart; Without Men is without a film festival
12 LP journal Olivia, we hardly knew ye; not so Super Bowl; policía state
14 Vibe Indian Market at Pueblo Grande Museum; doo-
wop show at Mesa Arts Center; farolitos light up Desert Botanical Garden
19 Rincón del arte Rafael Navarro, visual artist
31 33
Entrepreneur
Mina Hernandez wants Fasheners® to become the next household word
Briefcase
Phoenx NSHMBA named chapter of the year; social security benefits going up; HARP help for homeowners; Arizona gets SBA grant; do you love or hate social media?
36 Those who serve
LPM and RCI pay their fourth annual salute to Those Who Serve at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Phoenix
Foundation offers low-cost college courses; get educated about your pet’s teeth
out 46 Time Is getting healthier on your list of New Year’s
resolutions? Get a kick-start by participating in a charity run or walk
49 P.S.
Christmas under the San Miguelito Vine
perspective 50 My Armando A. Contreras, president and CEO of
United Cerebral Palsy of Arizona, on overcoming cultural taboos
Coming in January: 2011 in review latinopm.com
¡ December 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
5
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¡! from the executive editor
December 2011 Publisher/CEO Ricardo Torres Executive Editor/COO Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D. Copy Editor Rosa Cays Art Director Jorge Quintero Contributing Writers Catherine Anaya, Erica Cardenas, Armando A. Contreras, Dan Cortez, Diana Diaz, Ruben Hernandez, Jonathan Higuera, Robrt L. Pela, Stella Pope Duarte 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.
Giving from the heart By Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D.
The holiday season provides a great opportunity to reconnect with
family and even rekindle friendships long neglected by the hustle and bustle of daily routines. Read a holiday story to a small child and you’ll be reminded by the sparkle in their eyes what the magic of the season is all about. It’s not about the presents, it’s about hope. Sometimes, though, we are too frazzled to notice and partake in it. If the thought of hosting a holiday feast or heading to crowded shopping centers in search of the bueno, bonito y barato present for everyone on your list makes your stress levels soar, Robrt Pela’s Health feature is a must-read. Did you know stress affects our body at the molecular level? Read on to find out what you can do to prevent and repair the invisible yet harmful damage caused by stress. Although economists contend the local economy is picking up and that 2012 looks brighter, there are still many vulnerable groups in our communities who have been hard-hit by budget cuts, job loss or homelessness. We can all make a difference, however small, in our community. Check out our Socially Responsible Gift Guide and learn about what local nonprofit organizations are doing to support Arizonans in need. Instead of fighting with frenzied shoppers over bargain deals, consider making a gift that matters; a gift that counts in more ways than one. You can donate to a qualifying charitable organization and claim a tax credit of up to $200 if filing taxes as single or head of household or up to $400 for a married couple filing a joint return. Visit the Arizona Department of Revenue’s webpage (azdor.gov) to learn more about how the Charitable Tax Credit works. Diana Diaz, a local mother of two, knows about giving from the heart and about giving gifts that matter. Many families may even soon benefit from her efforts to provide a free and quality education for children with special needs. In this month’s cover story, Diana shares with us the story of her son Sammy and how his autism diagnosis changed her life and prompted her to do more to meet his academic and therapeutic needs. Along the way, she learned 1 in 100 children in Arizona are affected by autism and that many times, schools and parents alike have little or no training to help these children thrive. To address this, Diana, along with a dedicated group of individuals, is hard at work envisioning and planning what they hope will become the first charter school in Arizona focused on children with autism. Parents and caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders or developmental disabilities will be excited to know the plan includes grades K-12, a “whole-family” approach, and even afterschool therapies for kids. Consider donating your expertise and enthusiasm to this project. On behalf of the LPM family, we wish you happy holidays.
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¡ December 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡! ¿Será posible?
Here’s to your health By Robrt L. Pela
Just past the blue-smocked greeters,
in towering, brightly colored stacks, the snack-food onslaught begins. At Walmarts nationwide, Cheez Doodles and Pop-Tarts and MoonPies line shelf after shelf. Front aisles and face-out displays in nearly every department are filled with sweet snacks and cellophaned salty treats. Junk food is a staple at Walmart. And so it’s amusing – some would say confusing – that the retail chain’s Walmart Foundation announced last month its financial support of an initiative to help Latinos make healthy food choices. Latinos Living Healthy: Salud Es Vida, a project of the civil rights organization League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), will target overweight Latinos with propaganda and seminars devoted to teaching healthy food options, the importance of exercise, and raising awareness about health problems typically faced by Latinos. Throughout 2012, LULAC will offer ad campaigns and a series of workshops and health fairs aimed at forwarding healthy goals – all funded by a $500,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation. While Walmart Stores, Inc., maintains a distance between its parent company and its granting foundation, there’s some real irony
Your thoughts? Tell us what you think. Send your thoughts to editor@latinopm.com 8
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ December 2011!
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in the fact that a chain that offers mounds of junk food on nearly every aisle is getting behind a community health initiative. “The obesity epidemic in this country is predominately among the underserved and minority communities,” LULAC’s national executive director Brent Wilkes said in a statement lauding the program. “This is no random act – an alarming amount of people in low-income communities cannot afford healthier food options, lack knowledge about nutritious foods, and often live in rural areas that don’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.” One wonders if Wilkes has wandered the aisles of any local Walmart. We did. The Walmart Supercenter at 35th Avenue and Thomas, to be exact. In its grocery aisles, 13 vegetable options were offered, and six different fruits were for sale. Throughout its grocery and on end-cap displays in both the market and the adjoining department stores, a whopping 117 different processed snack foods were available. Perhaps LULAC can use some of the Walmart money to create health-warning stickers to attach to the junk food sold in its benefactor’s stores: “¡Ojo! Esto es malo para tu salud!”
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, P.O. Box 2213 Litchfield Park, Az. 85340. Or, e-mail letters to editor@latinopm.com.
Girls on film Human rights activists and fans of
cinematic girl-on-girl action are bummed these days. It seems that Without Men, an English-language film starring Kate del Castillo, Christian Slater and Eva Longoria, was scrubbed from the Barcelona International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival last month when it was announced that the film’s lesbian scenes would be deleted. “The audience will not understand the film because all the lesbian scenes are cut out,” says Xavier Daniel, director of the festival. “We’re angry that a distributor can modify the content of a film. It is unbelievable that this can happen in the year 2011.” The movie, about a Latin American village that limps along after its male population is forcibly recruited into war, is written and directed by Gabriela Tagliavini and based on a Latino-centric novel by James Canon. It played briefly in the U.S. this past summer, and is set for wider release early next year in Spain. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Daniel and film-fest organizers dropped the film rather than run a censored version. But Tayrona Entertainment, distributor of the film in Spain, claims they edited the film to make it more “palatable” for mainstream audiences. Company president James Ordonez backpedaled with a press statement that claimed, “Without Men was never conceived as a lesbian story but as a comedy about situations that happen to a town when all men are sent to war....” Ordonez goes on to say that “to participate in a festival of this nature is against the [intention] of the film and will confuse target audiences.” Interesting: one of Longoria’s lesbian scenes was actually retained in the film; there’s proof in the trailer made to promote the film in Spain and Latin America, which actually features brief clips from the allegedly excised scenes. We guess Longoria’s scene is ... uh, palatable.
Editorial mission statement Latino Perspectives creates community, cultivates c u lt ural pr ide and provokes, challenges and connec ts L at inos who are def ining, pursuing, a nd ac h iev 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
Olivia still got votes; notso-Super Bowl 2015 in Arizona; policía state
17 Anaya says Rincón 9 1 del arte One word: passionate
Rafael Navarro, visual artist
i say... I’m happy to say I don’t think that I’ve said anything inaccurate in any of the debates. And I’m extremely grateful for that. Photo by Adam Rodriguez Courtesy of Desert BotanicaL Garden
GOP presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann in an interview with NPR
You try concentrating with Mitt Romney smiling at you. That is one handsome dude. Rick Perry to David Letterman, on why he performed poorly in a televised GOP debate
How do you say ‘delicious’ in Cuban?
page
14
Luminarias light a path at Desert Botanical Garden
Herman Cain, after sampling café cubano and croquetas at Versailles Café in Miami
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¡ December 2011!
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¡¡!!
LP journal
The withdrawal method wasn’t in time. Sham candidate Cortes still managed to get 252 votes.
Olivia, we hardly knew ye We can’t make this stuff up. Sham Senate presidential candidate Olivia Cortes, who withdrew her name from the Russell Pearce recall election ballot in October when it was revealed that she was running for office in order to steal votes from contender Jerry Lewis, still managed to receive a whopping 252 votes last month in the early November recall election. While some wonks are suggesting that Cortes took 1.29 percent of the total vote simply because voters were unaware that her candidacy was a sham and still thought they were voting against Lewis by voting for Cortes, the likely truth is somewhat simpler. The conservative political action committee Safeguard Arizona’s Future backed now former state Senate President Russell Pearce, the target of the recall election. PAC placed tens of thousands of automated telephone calls to Democrats, suggesting to voters that writing in any name other than Lewis’s would count as a protest vote in Pearce’s favor. In the end, only 51 votes went to write-in candidates, suggesting that Cortes’s 252 wasted votes came because her name remained on the ballots, which were printed before her withdrawal. 12
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Those 252 Legislative District 18 voters appeared to be saying, “Why write in another candidate’s name when we can upset an election by choosing a sham candidate?” Hispanic activists, concerned about post-election fallout over Cortes’s role in the sham, continue to trail this unfortunate chapter in local politics. The Arizona chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association, in conjunction with several other Latino organizations, recently sent a formal request to Arizona Attorney General Tom
Horne, demanding an investigation into the events that dragged Cortes into this mess in the first place. Which means this story won’t be ending anytime soon.
Not-so-Super ... Bowl? Ongoing national boycotts of Arizona following the passing of Senate Bill 1070 don’t appear to have had much staying power. When the National Football League announced last month its intention
LP journal to hold Super Bowl 2015 in Arizona, Hispanic activists cried, ¿¡Qué creen?! The NFL and its players, activists say, are supporting Arizona’s harsh immigration law by not choosing any other state (Florida was a contender, according to polls, until the last minute). But this isn’t the first time that a professional sports league has chosen Arizona since the boycotts were announced. This past July, Major League Baseball held its all-star game in downtown Phoenix, despite pleas from Latino and migrant organizations to boycott the event. A protest staged outside Chase Field was a failure; sports fans walked past the smallish group of protestors on their way into the park. Margaret Moran, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, was among the first activists to take a stand against the Super Bowl’s pending visit. “Instead of supporting efforts that would encourage stakeholders and community leaders to build alliances and redirect state politics away from hate-based legislation,” she says, “the NFL has chosen to prove an economic shot in the arm to a state that will only continue to oppress an already disadvantaged community.” Despite studies that claim that the estimated post-boycott economic loss to Arizona is close to $140 million, many organizations that called for boycotts have considered them ineffective and have called off their embargoes. In October, the Washington-based National Council of La Raza, one of the nation’s most prominent Hispanic groups, nixed the on-again, off-again boycott of Arizona it launched in May of last year. La Raza claimed, in several press interviews, that its boycott had effectively discouraged businesses from doing business with Arizona, and other states from enacting laws similar to S.B. 1070. Targeting the NFL, they believe, will do little more for the state. Moran isn’t convinced. “In light of Arizona’s hate-based legislation,” she says, “the action taken by the NFL serves as an endorsement of the state’s
abhorrent actions against the Latino and migrant communities.”
Policía state “Mexicans, we’re raised not to ask questions,” says William De La Torre. “In our culture, we’re taught not to make waves, just to let it go. And, you know, this time someone got murdered, and I can’t just let it go.” De La Torre is referring to his cousin, Tim Salazar, who died in 2007 after, according to police reports, falling from a bridge while on a hunting trip. “My cousin was bludgeoned to death,” insists De La Torre, a retired Phoenix police sergeant who claims that his family has boxes of supportive evidence: reports from the Gila County medical examiner, who first ruled the death an accident and later changed it to “undetermined”; a coroner’s report that contradicts existing autopsy photos, and reports from forensic experts who found no corroborative evidence. All this may prove that Salazar could not possibly
¡!
have died from a heart attack after sustaining a fall from a bridge. “If he’d fallen from a bridge, the Department of Transportation would have been notified,” De La Torre says. “But they have no record of such an occurrence, which was our first clue that there was foul play.” Thus far, the family has met with resistance from authorities about reopening the case, which the Gila County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed is closed. The same investigators who initially deemed Salazar’s death an accident implemented a recent review of the case, according to De La Torre. De La Torre says he and his family aren’t giving up, and that they’ll continue to collect evidence and to dog the Gila County police department about reopening the case. “We shouldn’t have to do this investigation ourselves,” De La Torre says of his family. “But the police department is not doing the job that taxpayers are paying them to do. If we were wealthy ranchers, or well connected, or if we were white, this would not be happening to us.”
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¡ December 2011!
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vibe Doo-wop stirs magic memories
Indian Market at Pueblo Grande The richness of our state’s Native American cultures
Remember when the doo-wop band Los Dinos in the
will be showcased at the 35th Annual Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market on Saturday and Sunday, December 10-11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual event features 200 Native artisans selling jewelry, pottery, paintings, sculptures, Kachinas, carvings and other cultural objects from their respective tribes. For a peek at the list of market artists, go to pgindianmarket.com. Activities will include traditional music and dance performances, cooking demonstrations, Native food vendors, a fashion show on Sunday, and a daily raffle with artisan prizes. The Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park is located at 4619 E. Washington Street in Phoenix. Admission is $5 per person and children under 12 are free. This price includes free entrance to the museum and tour of centuries-old homes and a ballcourt ruin of the Hohokam culture. Parking is free and the museum grounds are walking distance from the Metro Light Rail.
movie Selena were chased out of a Corpus Christi bar with a rowdy crowd screaming, “We wanna dance!” Well, the distinctive harmonies and styles became the soundtrack of a whole generation of music fans. On Saturday, December 17, at 8 p.m., A Holiday DooWop Show will be at the Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater. Recall the magic moments and memories in your life as you swung and swayed to Chris Montez singing “Let’s Dance” and “All You Had to Do Was Tell Me,” Kathy Young performing “A Thousand Stars” or the soulful Marcels doing “Blue Moon.” And how about Bobby Lewis belting out the bluesy “Tossin’ and Turnin’”? Tickets are $32 and $48 to sigh, stomp and shout with the original stars of these classic tunes, and you can buy them online at mesartscenter.com or call 480-644-6500. The Mesa Arts Center is located at 1 E. Main Street in Mesa.
Get more Vibe at www.latinopm.com
Luminarias provide holiday glow The cheery warmth of luminarias first
appeared historically around the 16th century, derived from a Spanish tradition of lighting bonfires along roads to guide people to Midnight Mass on the final night of the celebration of Las Posadas. They were originally called “farolitos,” Spanish for little lanterns. Today, luminarias have become a Southwestern holiday tradition. In the Valley, the annual Las Noches de las Luminarias occurs nightly at the Desert Botanical Garden, 5:30-9:30 p.m., December 1 through December 30. Walk under the stars among nature, guided on sandy pathways by 8,000 hand-lit, paper beacons. Along the way, experience the delightful desert plants and flowers, and enjoy 10 performing musical groups. This year features Mariachi Pasión; the Reed Family with Margo, Michael and Francine; a Native American flute soloist, a blues band, The Dickens Carolers, jazz, handbell ensembles and more. More info at dbg.org. 14
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clockwise from top left: Photo by Ken Ross Photography; Courtesy of Mesa Arts Center; Courtesy of Desert Botanical Garden
¡!
Vibe Happenings at Phoenix Art Museum
¡!
Lola's Voicemail:
© 2010 Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale, Arizona
Yard-long churros and the fight against obesity
Last month, as I quipped about
AZ State Capital FLW - Frank Lloyd Wright, Arizona State Capital, “Oasis,” Phoenix, Arizona, 1957
Regarded by many as the greatest
American architect of the 20th century, Frank Lloyd Wright was a champion of organic architecture. His visionary designs emphasized use of natural materials, harmonious integration of building and landscape and high functionality. Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture for the 21st Century explores the tenets of Wright’s organic architecture – appropriateness to time, place and people. Many concepts developed in Wright’s revolutionary work are central to today’s sustainable, green architecture movement. This new exhibition, opening December 18, explores Wright’s relevance through a survey of more than 40 of his architectural projects, including rarely seen drawings, large-scale models and furniture, along with archived video and photographs. To celebrate Arizona’s upcoming Centennial, a special focus of the exhibition will be a large model and drawings of a new Arizona State Capitol building proposed by Wright in 1957. Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture for the 21st Century is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and Milwaukee Art Museum in conjunction with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The exhibition will be on view December 18, 2011 through April 29, 2012, and is included in general museum admission. For more information, visit phxart.org.
deceitful advertising practices used by marketers of some fitness and body enhancement products, a dear comadre reminded me that my somewhat imperceptible love handles are a joke compared with the national obesity epidemic. True; it’s all relative. Two decades ago, there wasn’t a state in the nation with an obesity rate above 15 percent. That’s no longer the case. In F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health reveal that 38 states have obesity rates of over 25 percent. Twelve states fare even worse with rates above 30 percent. ¡Jesús, María y José! If you are doing the math, only one state did relatively well in the survey. Coloradoans have the distinct privilege of being the leanest in the nation, with a, ahem, mere 19.8 percent obesity rate. Despite knowing the facts and the stats on the subject, it wasn’t until a recent trip to Disney World that those figures took shape right before my eyes – literally. Reality hit me as I walked Main Street among a good portion of the 33.8 percent of adults and 17 percent of children in the nation who are obese. As I stood in line to ride “It’s a Small World,” it became evident the people around me were not small at all. Au contraire. Many fellow visitors to the Happiest Place on Earth were very big, circumference-wise. I suddenly felt like an extra in a sequel of the documentary Super Size Me: A Film of Epidemic Proportions. Although I’m prone to hyperbole, my viejo can back me up on this one. We saw Disney enthusiasts galore holding a smoked turkey leg as big
as a mini Chihuahua in one hand and a churro almost as long as Darth Vader’s light saber in the other. De veras. I’m sure these images made an impression on my hubby, as he has not gotten anywhere near the flour tortillas since we returned from our trip. He even became visibly excited after reading the news about a new breakthrough in the fight against obesity. He’s been so hyped about it, he’s told me about it five times. As it turns out, his excitement may be justified. Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston injected “couch potato” rhesus monkeys with a drug that destroys the blood vessels that support fat cells. This strategy of targeting specific cells and annihilating them is known as angiogenesis inhibition and is used in some cancer drugs. After 28 days on the drug, the plump monkeys shed 11 percent of their weight and 27 percent of their abdominal fat with no significant side effects. This is exciting because the drug attaches itself only to white fat cells, the kind linked to Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Also cause for jubilation is the fact that once released into the bloodstream, the fat doesn’t disrupt the metabolism or mess up the arteries. Instead, it’s burned as fuel. Cool, huh? The bad news is that the lazy monkeys gained all the weight back just two weeks after they stopped taking the drug. Conspiracy theorists would have me believe this is on purpose. A dream come true for big pharma! For sure, I’ll keep an eye out on this. If it doesn’t trim my waistline, I’m sure its stock will fatten my skimpy retirement account.
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¡!
Pocho keen
vibe
Like peachy keen, pero different
A very Pocho Christmas Photo courtesy of Simon Burrow
Growing up, I had a love-hate
One of the maps on display at Changing Boundaries
Changing Boundaries maps regional history Christopher Columbus didn’t trust
maps. “For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps,” notes one of his quotes. Too bad. It was Columbus’s wrong turn in 1492 that incited a mass migration from Europe to the New World, and to one specific region, which, four centuries later, came to be called the U.S.-Mexico border. Over that time, the almost 2,000-mile shifting line drawn by the illusions, greed, aspirations, fears and politics of different countries has evolved from nonexistent to a fence some would love to electrify. Through February 10, 2012, Changing Boundaries, a map exhibition that illustrates how the present U.S.-Mexico border region has changed over the past 400 years, will be on display at ASU’s School of Transborder Studies at the Interdisciplinary B Building on Cady Mall at the Tempe campus. Changing Boundaries displays rare historical maps from the collection of Simon Burrow, who curated the exhibit on the school’s walls. Over the past 25 years, continues on page 17
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relationship with Christmas. I used to love the idea and what it represented, but hated the part about not getting as many presents as the other kids. I knew we couldn’t afford gifts outside of clothes and the occasional toy, so it wasn’t so much that as much as the pressure that came the next day, and especially when we returned to school where everyone was giving extended reports of all the great toys and other awesome presents they got for Christmas. My usual response to the metiche would be something like, “You know … clothes, some toys. Nothing special.” It was hard figuring out what felt worse: not getting any cool presents or being a mentiroso about it. That might be the reason that children of parents who grew up poor are often lavished with presents and oftentimes become the ones asking their notso-fortunate schoolmates what they got for Christmas. It’s a vicious cycle. That’s precisely what has me a bit vexed as this holiday season approaches. We have a son who is almost two years old and who has a very good understanding of toys – he has a ton of them already, mostly from family members, especially from my in-laws, who understandably want to spoil their first grandchild. One recent Christmas, I witnessed a kid open one pretty awesome present
after another. The adults were oohing and aahing, but the kid would promptly set aside each present after a quick inspection. It was almost as if the kid was looking for a golden ticket inside dozens of candy bars. Each present, lacking that golden-ticket appeal, registered the same on the excitement meter: meh. Did I mention they were all awesome presents? I wanted to take some of them in the next room and play with them – and they were girl’s toys. I was a bit horrified, but not at the kid. It wasn’t her fault; she was accustomed to receiving great gifts on a year-round basis, something that I and many other kids have never had the good fortune to experience. On that rare occasion when the presents went beyond a new pair of socks or maybe jeans and a nice new shirt, the buzz of a new toy would last until mid-January. And that’s a wonderful feeling, something every child should experience.
Vibe
¡!
Anaya says Image courtesy of Simon Burrow
Full plate of passion By Catherine Anaya Colonel Carlos Butterfield’s map of the United States and Mexico published in December 1859 (Johnson and Browning Publishers) is from the map collection of Simon Burrow. According to Burrow, who curated the exhibit, it was unclear in the United States in the 1850s how land acquired from Mexico would be divided. This map illustrated a proposal that would have divided the New Mexico Territory on the east-west axis. continued from page 16
Burrow, who owns maquiladora factories in Mexicali and Tijuana, has acquired maps from rare book dealers from around the world. The maps date from as early as 1597 and show the explorations, conquests, claims and counter claims of Spain, France, United States and Mexico that have resulted in the current official boundary. The maps show how California was depicted as an island populated by Amazons and where laid mythical places such as the treasure cities of Cibola – the Seven Cities of Gold. “What I want to do with this collection is to give people an opportunity to think about borders and migration in a different way,” writes Burrow on his website at changingboundaries.com. On Thursday, January 19, 2012, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the 207 Gold Room in the Memorial Union, Burrow will discuss the maps as art as well as the history behind them. A reception at the School of Transborder Studies will follow the event. RSVP by January 6 at http://sts.asu.edu. Visitors can view the exhibit weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For additional information about group tours, call 480-965-5091 or check online at http://sts.asu.edu.
My news director recently asked
me to come up with a word that would best describe me. I wracked my brain for days thinking of the right one, since I consider myself a multidimensional person. I wear so many hats (mom, television journalist, magazine columnist, marathon runner, motivational speaker) that coming up with a singular description almost seemed impossible. Then it hit me. I have my hand in many different pots, but I believe I approach each with passion. That’s it, my one-word description: passionate. This passion leads to a very full plate. And for the first time in my life, I can honestly say my plate is full of all things I love and am passionate about. But I didn’t reach this point quickly or easily, and that’s something I recently shared with a friend struggling to find her way out of a personal funk. My path to passion began when I returned to the Valley nearly nine years ago. I swore I would no longer let my job define me. I was more than just a news anchor and I wanted to flex every facet of my evolving self. But personally, I was at a crossroads, knowing I didn’t want to be married anymore. With a one-month-old son, though, I felt I owed it to him and my daughter to stick it out. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what made me personally happy. I discovered a newfound joy in my job in
using it as vehicle to help make a difference in the community. It’s what I call “community-minded journalism.” When I finally decided to divorce, it was liberating on so many levels. For the first time in a very long time, I felt I could live my life the way I wanted, not the way it was expected of me. The more I focused on the positive things, the more inspired I became in wanting to share some of that sense of empowerment with other women and continue to give back to the community. I’m still a work in progress, but it really took stepping back, taking control of my life and prioritizing the things that I consider truly important that has led me to feeling like I’m living with passion. I’m more protective of my time and strive to spend it with people and doing things that are important to my big picture of core values and beliefs. I’ve learned to come to the table of life from a positive place with a feeling of gratitude for all that’s been given to me, even those rough roads I’ve had to travel – because without them, I wouldn’t be able to measure how far I’ve come.
Catherine Anaya anchors CBS 5 News weeknights at 5, 5:30, 6 and 10 p.m. She is a mother of two, a marathon runner and motivational speaker. Reach her at canaya@kpho.com, on Facebook, Twitter and at catherineanaya.com.
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Wright’s visionary designs emphasized the use of natural materials, harmonious integration of building and landscape and high functionality.
December 18, 2011 through April 29, 2012
Left: Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin, Spring Green, WI, 1956. Photo by OBMA. Courtesy Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ. The exhibition is co-organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum and Phoenix Art Museum, in collaboration with Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ. Presenting sponsors: APS, Bank of America, The Virginia M. Ullman Foundation, Virginia G. Piper Exhibition Endowment Fund. Major sponsors: J.W. Kieckhefer Foundation, Sharon and Lloyd Powell. Supporting sponsors: Meritage Homes Construction, Inc., Lila Harnett, Connoisseurs Circle. Promotional support provided by Univision Arizona and The Phoenician.
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ÂĄ December 2011!
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rincón del arte
¡!
The real and surreal Rafael Navarro, visual artist Influence: I grew up in Mexico City, a cosmopolitan city full of history and visual stimulation that fed my curiosity and increased the desire to create. I visited often its historic buildings and museums and would just lose myself there for hours. I wish I had an artist mentor growing up; despite that, my desire to create things with my hands was always very strong. I remember once at a young age, I watched a documentary on TV about the Belgian artist Rene Magritte; I was profoundly moved by it – very strong work full of mystery and anguish. Other works I remember were by Rufino Tamayo and José Chávez Morado, among others. Every day I would pass by the murals of Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Juan O’Gorman on my way to the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Creating art since: Always, but more formally around 1993. I had my first shows at Jose Galvez Gallery in Tucson. I am not sure if the gallery is still there. I have been in Arizona since 1989. Education:
I am mainly a self-taught artist, but I have taken some art courses at Phoenix College and Scottsdale and Glendale Community Colleges. I would say that I have learned mainly by putting my hands on whatever medium I am working on.
Images courtesy of the artist
Describe your art: Various artists, especially surrealist Rene Magritte and the cubists, influence my art, but I always like to explore an idea utilizing different materials. I have worked with wood, metal, paper, ceramics, found objects and printmaking. Medium of choice: I have no preference. I always say that the idea dictates the medium. I try to avoid solvents; I think I have developed sensitivity to them after working for many years with oil-based inks for printmaking. Now I work more with acrylic paints rather than oils, although I love the brilliance of color that you can obtain with oil paints. Other than that, I am always open to experimentation and exploration.
Top: Transposition, acrylic on canvas, 38” h x 48” h Bottom: La Espera (The Wait), mixed media on wood, 20”h x 30”w x 3.5”d
Favorite art: I have many favorite works of art, but one of my favorite artists is James Turrell and his installations using light and space. His work affects you on a deeper level, changing your perception through your senses.
Website: phoenixartspace.com/rafael
Help us highlight the local arts Send information to editor@latinopm.com. latinopm.com
¡ December 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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Charting
the course for a school of our own
W
e all want the best for our children: health, happiness and growth. We want them to make progress and mature to be fulfilled, productive adults. When we send them to school, we’d like to think their minds are being filled with knowledge, that they’re acquiring new skills and furthering their intellectual development with rich, engaging experiences led by caring educators. We’d like to think they’re developing socially by connecting with peers and making friends. Although school is supposed to serve this purpose, it is not always a given. Many great schools and teachers prevail in Arizona, but it’s no secret there are huge disparities in public education and even within school districts. In many cases, huge disparities exist between students who have parents who advocate for their education and students who are left to fend for themselves. This is especially true for students in special education. By
normal baby. He crawled, cooed, babbled and reached many of his milestones on target. He was a quick learner. I was teaching him Spanish and he could say and point to most of his body parts in both languages! He was social and delightful, a perfect little bundle of joy. Everywhere we went, everyone fell in love with his big blue eyes and his infectious, drooly, baby smile. At about 15 months, he just wasn’t the same. After a while, I noticed he wasn’t using his words, wouldn’t play little games I had taught him and was throwing bad tantrums all the time. There seemed to be an endless series of doctor appointments, evaluations and sleepless nights trying to console Sammy while I devoured Internet information trying to find answers. He was sick more often, would stay up all night, and so began a bad, downhill spiral that now seems like a blur. My second child was also born during this time. As we tried to figure out what could be wrong with Sammy, I was terrified for my new baby girl Sofia. I had read that if you have one child with autism, there was up to a 30-percent chance siblings could be affected. I was juggling a lot at the time, and it was hard to accept there was something really wrong with my beautiful boy. Sammy’s official autism diagnosis was confirmed at 2 years and nine months. Although his father, a physician, and I were fairly certain he had autism well before that, the delay in obtaining a diagnosis occurred because it took several months before we were able to get an appointment with a developmental pediatrician. By that time, we had already started programs at the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC), where I learned that the best way to teach Sammy and other children with autism is through a strategy called Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). I didn’t just learn this in theory, I saw it in practice. Like many kids with autism, Sammy was extremely difficult to engage and had very scary tantrums when people tried to connect with him. At SARRC, I got to watch a highly trained therapist work with Sammy through closed-circuit television over a period of several weeks. The difference was nothing short of amazing. Here was my child,
Mak ing case the for a sc focu ho o l sed on ch i l d w ith ren auti sm Diana
My story
Diaz
My immersion into the world of raising a child with special needs began when my son Sammy was about 15 months, when I saw major regression in his development. As I did my research, I was heartbroken and terrified when I feared he probably had autism. At first, Sammy seemed to be the most delightful 20
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Photo by Meghan Sanchez courtesy of Diana Diaz
Diana Diaz and family
who would constantly run around in circles, not look at people and scream at the sight of strangers, now engaged with a therapist, following directions, using words and actually learning. As I watched Sammy through a monitor, all I could think was, ¡Gracias a Dios! I was so grateful there was a strategy that actually worked. After attending many programs at SARRC, we began the business of setting up a home program for Sammy: 20 to 30 hours of ABA therapy per week, speech therapy and occupational therapy. It was not easy to build the network that would become Sammy’s “team.” There is a shortage of quality therapists, and kids can remain on waiting lists for months or even years. It is the same scenario with developmental pediatricians and other medical professionals who diagnose and treat autism. I remember feeling so desperate to get Sammy started with therapies, that on one occasion, I knew our neighbor was using a speech therapist for her daughter, so I chased her down after one of her sessions and asked if she would work with my son. I found out from other parents who the best agencies and therapists were, got on their waiting lists and called at least once a week
to try to secure a spot for Sammy. It was exhausting, but I wasn’t going to sit back and wait. While we built a great home program for Sammy, I knew he needed a quality preschool program to start working on his social skills. We found Chrysalis Academy, a wonderful private preschool for children with autism that uses ABA strategies throughout their curriculum. Sammy did well there, but then it was time to transition to public school. Public school was a rude awakening. It was clear to me the teachers weren’t trained to work with children like Sammy, although the districts claimed to have “autism programs.” Administrators looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if they had an ABA-based program. ¿Cómo es posible? It baffled me then as it does now that schools are reluctant to use a method that is scientifically proven to improve symptoms of autism and move kids forward in their functional and academic skills. Sammy reverted back to having tantrums for a good part of the school day, and I could tell the teachers were at their wits’ end. At that time, in 2007, children with special needs
were eligible for the state voucher program, which allowed parents to send their kids to private schools. We applied for the voucher program and sent Sammy back to Chrysalis Academy. In 2008, just as Sammy was making gains again, we were devastated to learn the voucher program had been overturned and our only choices were to pay about $24 thousand dollars in tuition for private school or return Sammy to public school. By this time, I was a newly divorced mom with two little kids. Public school was the only option we could afford. We decided to give public school a try again and hire an advocate to help us implement best practices in Sammy’s education. Sammy is now 9 years old and in third grade, and it is still an uphill battle to get the school to implement ABA strategies with fidelity. We are working with an advocate again to help us improve Sammy’s situation at school. I know my story is not unique. In 2007, I returned to SARRC, not only for programs for Sammy, but for a job. My role was to provide outreach and services to Hispanic families living with autism. The job was a natural fit and one I felt passionate about taking on. I remember in those early days latinopm.com
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The y at trib the u amo huge l te to a ng Lati eap nos n in c reas in a e utis m awa rene ss what was most comforting to me was talking to other autism parents who could offer compassion, understanding and direction, as there is so much to learn. I felt fortunate to be there for other parents, especially Spanishspeaking families. Although it was wonderful to empower parents with the knowledge and information they received at SARRC, it was frustrating to have limited options for them once their SARRC programs were completed. Time and time again, parents would come into my office devastated over the injustices their children were suffering in the school system. They talked about their children being bound, injured, ignored, left in soiled clothing, moved from school to school; the list of complaints is heartbreaking. Most of these parents didn’t have the tools or resources to advocate for their children like I do. The language barrier, lack of understanding of their rights and financial hardship makes it difficult for parents to speak up and be heard. Nevertheless, I connected families to services at our own center and other agencies, but didn’t have much to offer in terms of alternative schools.
Autism in Arizona schools
Autism is the fastest-growing, serious developmental disability affecting 1 in 70 boys and 1 in 100 children in Arizona. A 2009 report by the Centers for Disease 22
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Control and Prevention states autism rates are soaring and notes there was a 144 percent increase in the diagnosis for Hispanic children. Though CDC investigators concur there has been an actual increase in autism cases, they attribute the huge leap among Latinos to an increase in autism awareness, physicians conducting more evaluations and a widening of the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders. Many school districts are struggling with the boom in autism cases. With so many competing interests at a typical public school, families struggle daily to get the services their children need to learn. There is a critical gap in services for this population of children. Until recently, the only education options for parents were settling for substandard special education programs in public schools or paying extraordinary tuition costs at private schools. It wasn’t until this year that the Empowerment Scholarship Account program was signed into law, offering parents of special needs children the opportunity to use state funds to enroll in private schools. Although the amount may fall short of the tuition rates of many private schools that cater to autism, it’s still a great opportunity to offset some or most of the costs. The special needs community is hopeful this program will stay, considering children with autism are just as entitled to a free and public education as other children. It’s wonderful to see that the charter school movement is offering more and more free and public education options for Arizona students and families. It’s very exciting to know that my typically developing daughter Sofia can go to a school that focuses on the arts, science or a college preparatory academy. These choices empower parents to actively seek out schools that meet their children’s needs and are held to strict performance standards. I think autism parents should also have school choices that specialize in providing best practices for their children. My own struggles in improving Sammy’s education
and hearing from so many other parents who are facing the same reality have led me to start a team that will open a charter school focused on children with autism. I realize our goal is ambitious, but it’s not impossible and we’re not alone.
Arizona Charter Schools Association offers a roadmap
In my quest to educate myself on just how I would open a charter school with a focus on children with autism, I talked with many of my mentors in the education community. One of them steered me toward the Arizona Charter Schools Association. The association offers many valuable support services for existing charter schools and also offers help for those of us who want to start a charter school. They have a program called Charter Starter, which offers various levels of support, but the program I became interested in trains and coaches high-capacity teams in developing a quality charter school that meets the needs of its community, improves student achievement and maintains a high level of performance throughout its existence. The program is very hands-on and includes direct guidance for teams through a series of comprehensive trainings, individualized consulting, visits to excellent schools and guidance from charter experts. The goal is to help teams successfully complete the lengthy and rigorous application requirements of the State Board of Charter Schools and eventually set up excelling, sustainable schools. Teams must apply for this highly selective program by submitting an application and participating in an interview process. When I came across the Charter Starter program, as they say, “Me cayó del cielo.” I immediately notified my team and we all agreed the program aligned with our philosophy of advocating for school choice and building high-quality schools. We were thrilled to find a program that would help us take our plans for the Arizona Autism Charter School from vision to reality. In early October, we decided to apply as a team and I am thrilled to report we were selected. Eileen Sigmund, Esq., president and CEO of the Arizona Association of Charter
Schools, is a tremendous force in our state’s education community and concurs that, “the prospects of opening a charter school focused on meeting the needs of students with autism will be life-changing for the population it serves.” An amazing staff of education professionals, including Andrew Collins, director of school development, surrounds Eileen. Since the inception of the federally funded Charter Starter program in the fall of 2010, Collins and his staff have guided 10 school teams through the State Board of Charter Schools’ application process. He has high hopes for a school that can meet the needs of the autism community. “A charter school that serves students with autism well can provide a much-needed resource for the community, but will be very challenging as a business model. Success in this school will depend on collaboration with parents, school districts, the business and philanthropic community, and various other community organizations,” says Collins.
Goals for the Arizona Autism Charter School
The Arizona Autism Charter School will be a state-of-the-art school that meets the needs of students on the autism spectrum. Our target area is within the Phoenix Union High School district. The goal is to offer grades K-12. The curriculum will be based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as it is the “gold standard”
and has proven to be the most effective, research-based strategy for children with autism. As a public charter school, it will be open to all students, but will focus on meeting the needs of students with autism and related disorders. Student-staff ratios will be optimal for children with autism, and both teachers and paraprofessionals will be trained in autism and ABA strategies by masters in the field before stepping into the classroom to work with children. Parent training and involvement will be a requirement as it is critical for the growth of children with autism. Our vision is to offer a whole-family approach by creating a school that will also serve as a hub for families affected by autism. Parent education and after-school therapies, such as facilitated social groups, speech and occupational therapy, will help families by offering a one-stop shop that meets the needs of their children. The need is great within the Hispanic community, therefore all services for parents will be available in English and Spanish. As Andrew Collins states, the success of this project will require support and collaboration from our community’s education and business leadership, and our team is on a mission to acquire that support. ¡Vamos a tocar muchas puertas!
The founding team
Two key members of our founding team are Gregory and Josephine Torrez. Gregory Torrez is best known for being the proprietor of the family-owned Azteca Wedding Plaza located in the heart of downtown Phoenix. The Torrez family has a tradition spanning over 60 years in community advancement and has been a true champion in supporting education causes. While working at SARRC, I learned that the Torrez family had a connection to autism. Gregory’s 18-year-old grandson is on the autism spectrum, and the family has been advocating to improve
The Arizona Autism Charter Scho o l w ill be a state-of-the-art scho ol that meets the needs of students on the autism spectrum
his education for his entire school career. When I approached Gregory with my idea for a charter school for children with autism, he understood exactly why it was needed. He and his daughter Josephine have been instrumental in promoting the Arizona Autism Charter School among an amazing network of community leaders they call friends. Mary McEvilly-Hernandez is the general manager of a Spanish radio conglomerate and the mother of 20-year-old twins. One of her children is on the autism spectrum. I first approached Mary in 2007 when I was helping Autism Speaks and SARRC promote their first walk for autism in this market. I thought Hispanic outreach was critical for this event to raise awareness about autism among Latinos. Mary and I soon realized we were kindred spirits as we shared so many of the highs and lows of raising children with autism and an undeniable passion for helping the Hispanic community. I immediately thought about her when I started to form my team for the Arizona Autism Charter School and her support has been without question. Her expertise in reaching the community will be instrumental as the plans for our school come to fruition. Ron Harrison has been by my side for the last two and a half years and is all too familiar with my struggles in ensuring a good education for Sammy. When I told him about my idea for the school, he exceeded my expectations by offering to help with our communications and business plans, and has been a hands-on leader on our team. His years of experience in communications services, his MBA and his business development background will be essential in drafting and executing our business strategy. Our collective goal is to join other community leaders who refuse to ignore the growing phenomenon of autism, who want to give these children the best chance at learning and the best chance in life. We feel it is our duty to make these children a priority by offering them a quality education. And we’re not willing to sit back and wait. To learn more about the Arizona Autism Charter School, you can contact Diana at DDiaz@latinopm.com. latinopm.com
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A Stepping Stone Foundation-Educating Two Generations Together for Twenty Years The earliest years of life are the most important and fragile in a child’s life. When you begin life with parents who love you but have few or no resources to support you, your community should be there to help. Please invest with us in our children, who will enter school ready to learn and in their parents, who will be prepared to support them. Help us empower and motivate young children and their families to life-long change through high quality education. asteppingstone.org
AJTC is a professional theatre company dedicated to promoting universal understanding and tolerance through theatre. Our nonsectarian programming reaches across ethnic and religious boundaries to bring together people of all backgrounds. Our summer theatre camps are in need of scholarship funding to make sure every child who wants to attend can do so. azjewishtheatre.org
The DOVES® program assists victims of late-life Domestic Violence (ages 50+) overcome the unique challenges older victims face. DOVES® provides support Groups, Emergency Housing and two-year Transitional Housing. Call the 24-Hour Senior HELP LINE for more information: (602) 264-4357 (HELP) Program of the
Give with purpose and gusto Hope for Today….and for the Future Arizona’s Children Association serves vulnerable children and families in every county in Arizona. With your help, we will continue to be there for the vulnerable children, struggling parents, families in crisis and victims of sexual assault who need us.
Golden Gate Community Center has been a beacon of hope for families in south and west Phoenix for 75 years. Your support of our programs and services children, teenagers, adults and teens is more crucial in this difficult time than ever before.
Learn how you can create hope today! 2833 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix 85004 hope3ways.org 800-944-7611
For more information: 1625 N. 39th Avenue, Phoenix 85009 goldengatecenter.org 602-233-0017
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Socially Responsible Giving Guide
Care about building our Valley’s future Hispanic leaders? Give a gift that helps all Arizonans. Not only will your contribution aid low-income Latino families wanting to attend faithbased schools with 99% graduation and 97% post-secondary rates, you’ll also receive a tax credit— meaning zero cost to you. Take the credit! catholictuition.org
Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) is a community development corporation committed to building stronger, healthier communities as a lead advocate, coalition builder and direct service provider. CPLC promotes positive change and self-sufficiency to benefit those it serves. The organization serves communities through four primary lines of business: Education, Economic Development, Housing and Health and Human Services. For more information about CPLC, visit cplc.org. To find out about volunteer opportunities, please email volunteer@cplc.org.
Your support matters. Here’s how you can help. Girl Scouts builds girls of courage confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Support the Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council to ensure that every girl who wants the opportunity to participate in Girl Scouts has the chance to. For more information on how to support Girl Scouts: girlscoutsaz.org 602-452-7000
JFCS is one of the largest providers of mental health and counseling services to Latino children and youth. A nonprofit, non-sectarian organization, JFCS provides behavioral health and social services to over 30,000 children, families and adults throughout Maricopa County each year. Reduce your AZ state taxes with the Working Poor Tax Credit by donating to JFCS before Dec. 31st, 2011! jfcsaz.org 602-279-7655
• • • • • • • • •
Visit the museum Attend a concert Dine in the Café Volunteer Make a gift Join our Circle of Friends Become a Founders Wall donor Purchase a gift card or shop in the Museum Store Sponsor a concert, exhibit, or education program theMIM.org 480-478-6000
By supporting the Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, you help continue a 20-year tradition of providing education, screening, treatment and hope to Latinos throughout central and northern Arizona. Your generous support ensures we meet the needs of our community, by providing resources such as Spanish-speaking Community Outreach Ambassadors to those who otherwise might not have access to lifesaving information and services. Komenphoenix.org 602-544-CURE (2873)
Socially responsible giving A MESSAGE FROM THE VICTORIA FOUNDATION As the nation’s largest and emerging group, Latinos need to make a direct investment in their communities, and in this country’s future. Consider The Victoria Foundation as the platform from which YOU can bring about positive change in your communities and in America . The Victoria Foundation 1122 East Buckeye Road, Suite B5 Phoenix AZ 85034 thevictoriafoundation.com 602-253-9533 – Office 602-253-6327 – Fax
Valle del Sol is one of Arizona’s largest nonprofit organizations helping men, women, children, families and the elderly each year through counseling, support services, and leadership development programs. Valle del Sol’s culturally diverse, bilingual staff provides a wide range of programs and services for the entire family. Our mission is“Valle del Sol inspires positive change by investing in human services to strengthen families with tools and skills for self-sufficiency and by building the next generation of Latino and diverse leaders”. Socially Responsible Giving Guide
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Happy Holidays
Wishing you peace and joy throughout the New Year.
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31 Entrepreneur Mina Hernandez has invented the modern-day safety pin
33 Briefcase
Phoenix NSHMBA is chapter of the year; Great Recession hits Hispanics hard; Social Security benefits on the rise; HARP help for homeowners; Arizona gets SBA grant; social media’s sway
Movin’ Up Urias receives Torch of Liberty from ADL
courtesy of lisa urias
Lisa Urias, president of Scottsdale-based Urias Communications, received the Torch of Liberty Award from the Anti-Defamation League during the group’s annual awards dinner program held last month. The award singled out her contributions as a founding board member of the Arizona Latino Research Enterprise, a group of Latino professionals seeking to spur civic engagement and provide a more well-rounded portrayal of Latinos in Arizona, and more recently, her involvement with the Real Arizona Coalition,
The Anti-Defamation League honors Lisa Urias with the Torch of Liberty Award
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¡!
movin’ up
a group of business and community leaders seeking to promote comprehensive immigration reform and portray Arizona as a more moderate state than national headlines have described.
nine new advisory council members: Richard Alvarez, Juan Astiazaran, Don JensenBobadilla, Manuel Chavez, Yolanda Peralta, Liana Ramirez, Eric Rodriguez, Royna Torrez and Alexandra Zavala. The Aguila Youth Leadership Institute is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering and preparing Latino/Latina youth for college admissions and graduation. The institute’s approach is based on greater cultural understanding as a guide to personal, academic and professional excellence as future leaders.
Flores honored by CAA
Steve Capobres
Catholic Charities hires Capobres Catholic Charities Community Services has hired Steve Capobres as vice president of business development. Capobres oversees the agency’s marketing, development housing and social entrepreneurial initiatives. He joins Catholic Charities with more than 20 years of government and consulting experience, working with state government for community development and affordable housing. As the executive director of the Collaboration for a New Century, he worked within the community to assist low-income families in receiving human services.
Nine join Aguila council The Aguila Youth Leadership Institute recently appointed
The Children’s Action Alliance (CAA) honored Armando Flores, a retired APS executive, as an outstanding children’s advocate. The CAA presented Flores with the Horace Steele Child Advocacy Award. Flores is a former member of the CAA’s board of directors and is now director of operations and community relations for the baseball program at Arizona State University.
Renee Garza, Lucas Hall, Yeltzi Velazquez, Zacary Zamora, Erika Escalante and Martin Cordova Paredes. Mesa High School Teen Mentors honored were: Oscar Varela, Jonathan Sosa, Felix Alvarado, Jessica Carrillo, Andrea Fimbres, Jose Garcia, Maria Ruiz, Victoria Duran, Samuel Moncayo, Genero Aguirre, Oscar Alvarado, Lillian Santander, Luis Mimila and Karina Ontiveros Casas.
Orozco recognized by lawyers association Judge Patricia Orozco was honored by the Arizona Women Lawyers Association for her important contributions to the law profession and for helping advance the role of women in the legal system. Orozco was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2004 by then Gov. Janet Napolitano. Prior to the appointment, Orozco was the Yuma County attorney. She was born and raised in Tucson, and earned her J.D. and B.A. degrees from the University of Arizona.
MAHC honors leaders
Phoenix College president inducted into Nogales High School Hall of Fame
The Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens honored community activists in the areas of leadership, education, public policy and economic development at its 9th Annual Mesa Latino Town Hall. Community Award winners were Judge Matt Tafoya, John Whiteman, Sen. Rich Crandall and Manny Frklich. The Youth Award winners were Jasmine
Phoenix College President Anna Solley, Ph.D., was inducted into the Nogales High School Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 29, 2011, along with 12 other distinguished alumni of the school. Solley graduated from Nogales High School in 1967 and went on to receive her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education
Movin’ Up Know someone who has been promoted, elected or honored? Send us the news of their achievements! Email movinup@latinopm.com 28
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and a doctorate in higher and adult education from Arizona State University. She has worked as an educator for 38 years and this year celebrates her 35th year as an employee of the Maricopa Community Colleges. She has been president of Phoenix College, the flagship college of the 10-member Maricopa Community Colleges, since 2005.
Juan Pablo G. Zaragoza
Zaragoza named law firm member The Scottsdale law firm of Braun Siler Kruzel PC has announced that Juan Pablo G. Zaragoza has been named a member of the firm. Zaragoza’s areas of practice at the law firm include estate and business planning, probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and litigation related to these areas. He received his J.D. and B.A. degrees from the University of Arizona, and received an LL.M. degree in taxation from the University of Washington. Zaragoza was born in Mexico and raised in Tucson.
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Member Preview December 1 – 4 General Public December 8 – 11, 15 – 23, and 26 – 30 Hours 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Performing Nightly at Las Noches de las Luminarias Dickens Carolers • Domingo DeGrazia & Beth Daunis • Ken Duncan • Mariachi Pasión Pick & Holler • Reed Family featuring Margo, Michael and Francine • Sonoran Jazz Project The Sugar Thieves • Traveler • Handbell Ensembles (Programming subject to change)
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entrepreneur
Better than safety pins Mina Hernandez, creator and owner of Fasheners® by Classy Chica Founded:
2010
Left: Photo by Finding Joy Photography; Bottom: courtesy of Mina Hernadez
Elevator pitch: Have you ever used a safety pin to secure your clothing? Well, so have I. Fasheners was inspired by my personal battles with wardrobe malfunctions. Although a quick solution, safety pins project an unpolished look, especially while working in the corporate office environment. Looking for a more fashionable way to secure my clothes, I created a new fashion fix-it accessory called Fasheners by Classy Chica. Featuring embellished industrial strength magnets and pins, Fasheners provide an easy and stylish way to fasten your fashion with style. You will be able to tailor your clothing to fit your body shape and cleverly conceal peaking undergarments at a very modest cost. What prompted you to start your own business? My love of fashion, inspired by my abuela Magdalena. I know she would be extremely proud that I took the idea of custom tailoring to a different level with my Fasheners. They enable women of all shapes and sizes to have the ability to custom tailor their clothing without spending a lot of money on expensive alteration fees.
In one word, your life as an entrepreneur: Grateful. Company you admire: Nordstrom, Inc., because they are devoted to offering their customers exceptional service, selection, quality and value, all things I aspire my business to be.
Three steps to be a successful entrepreneur: 1) Pay it forward. Whether it’s time as a volunteer, gift-in-kind donations or monetary donations, make it a point to find a charity that you can support. A portion of my proceeds goes to Dress for Success in Phoenix. 2) Never be afraid to ask for feedback. In order to grow, you need to be open-minded and invite others to share their opinions. 3) Network and collaborate. Not only does this provide exposure to your business, but it also enables you to support others trying to succeed in growing their businesses as well.
Important business milestone: Every day is a new milestone. I have successfully worked through the process to establish Fasheners as a registered trademark.
If you could do it all over again, what you would do differently? I would have embraced the potential of social media at the inception of my business.
Advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs: Be diligent, be patient and be YOU. Your vision:
Making Fasheners a household name,
like the safety pin.
Company info and website: fasheners.com and facebook.com/Fasheners
Suggest an entrepreneur Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
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Movin’ up!
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Phoenix NSHMBA named chapter of the year By Jonathan Higuera
The Phoenix chapter of the National Society of
Hispanic MBAs was recently honored with the chapter of the year award by the national group at its annual conference in October in Anaheim, California. The Phoenix chapter received the award in Tier 1 category for its increased membership, sponsorships (toward scholarships), compliance with national guidelines and benchmarks, said Maria-Elena Ochoa, executive vice president of the local chapter. Tier 1 is for the largest chapters. The goals support NSHMBA’s mission to increase the number of Hispanics completing graduate business programs and enhancing the national organization. “We do everything because it is the right thing to do,” she said. “But [the national group’s] determination was based strictly on the metrics.” The local group has nearly 600 members in the Valley. To keep them engaged, the chapter holds many events during the year and jumps at the opportunity to partner with other groups. In addition to providing professional support to its members, the MBAs also get involved in community outreach. For example, they have been a presence at the Aguila Youth Conference for the past several years and have mentored more than 200 students. “We want folks to be aware of the benefits of an enhanced education,” said Ochoa, who is the chief of medical operations at Mountain Health and Wellness. “We know Latinos are underrepresented in terms of the percentage of MBAs in this country and we want to get more young Latinos in the pipeline.”
To check out the group’s upcoming events, go to nshmba.org/phoenix. The 2011 Phoenix chapter board members are Pablo Rodriguez, president; Maria-Elena Ochoa, executive vice president; Ian Vasquez, financial officer-treasurer; Veronica Nevarez, compliance officer; Angie Mortemore, events officer; Elaine Slater, marketing officer; Gina Herrera, membership officer; Eric Rodriguez, education officer, and Claudia Sloan, president emeritus.
Great Recession pummels Hispanic household wealth Median household wealth among
Hispanics fell drastically from $18,359 in 2005 to $6,325 in 2009, according to a report by the Pew Research Center’s Social and Demographic Trends project. The 66-percent drop was the largest among all racial and ethnic groups and was largely attributable to plummeting
house values. The Great Recession has battered Latino household wealth, researchers found. During the 2005-2009 period, household wealth for African Americans fell by 53 percent while among white households it declined by only 16 percent.
The report, drawn from data in the Survey of Income and Program Participation, found that in 2005, Hispanics derived nearly two-thirds of their net worth from home equity. Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of Hispanics lived in states hit hardest by the housing downturn. latinopm.com
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Oportunidad en la era digital
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briefcase
Social Security benefits to rise in January The increase in Social Security benefit payments starting in January will
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¡ December 2011!
receiving some relief from announced changes to the federal government’s Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). In essence, the changes mean more homeowners who are underwater (home value is less than what they owe) will qualify to refinance at lower interest rates. The changes increase the allowable ratio of amount owed versus home value, thus
making more homeowners eligible to participate. They will also receive lower refinance costs and fees. The catch is Fannie Mae, which backs nearly half of all mortgage loans, must back the loan and the homeowner must have owned the mortgage prior to June 1, 2009. To see if Fannie Mae backs your home loan, go to fanniemae.com.
provides Arizona grant to increase exports
Funds authorized in the Small Business Jobs Act of 2012 were awarded
Crece con nosotros.
34
be welcome news to many of the Hispanic retirees and others drawing the government pension check. Starting in January, about 55 million Social Security recipients will receive an average increase of $39 a month in their check. That’s close to $470 a year. During these times, every little bit counts. It could also pump more consumer spending into the dour economy. In December, more than 8 million people who receive Supplemental Security income, which is the disability program for the poor, will receive an average increase of about $18 a month. Recipients of Social Security have not had an increase since 2009, mainly because inflation has been low. Increases are tied to the cost-of-living index. “These payments mean that people who worked hard for decades are protected when they leave the workforce,” said Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva. “Most American retirees aren’t sitting on piles of money, as Social Security opponents like to imagine.”
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through a competitive application process with a goal of increasing small business interest in exporting and increasing the value of those exports. The Arizona grant will be distributed through the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program. The SBA will conduct a new competition for STEP program grants this winter, with awards announced in September 2012. Firms interested in applying, should check the list of organizations serving Arizona that can help with the process at sba.gov. Funded by federal grants and matching funds from the states, the STEP grants are meant to provide • support for small business participation in foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips; • subscriptions to services from the Department of Commerce; • website translation fees; LATINO PERSPECTIVES • design of international marketing media; 5/1/2011, 6/1/2011, • trade show exhibitions; 7/1/2011, 8/1/2011 • participation in training workshops, and 9113976-IN86098 • other export initiatives determined to be appropriate by the SBA. COXCOM For more information about the STEP program, visit sba.gov.
2.3681” x 9.8125” Heather Mansfield v.2
briefcase
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Social media’s sway with small business iContact wants to know if small business owners love or hate social media when it comes to their business needs. In fact, it is offering $10,000 each to two businesses that submit the best video to them explaining why and how they love or hate it. A winner will be chosen from the “love it” and the “hate it” categories, with second-place finishers receiving $2,500 each. The contest comes after iContact commissioned a study that found that about three-fourths of small business owners trust and use social media, whether it’s Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or Groupon. But the level of positive vibes ebbed and flowed depending on each specific social media tool. Groupon received the most negative responses, with 70 percent of small-business respondents proclaiming they hated it. But even within that category, the negativity was less so from professional services such as spas and salons and greater among financial services firms. Facebook had greater “likes” among small business owners, with 76 percent reporting favorably. Nonprofits and education-related firms had the greatest adoration for the social media phenomenon while
entrepreneurs in finance and insurance were less warm and fuzzy about it. “Small business owners are a great barometer for these social products and platforms,” says iContact CEO Ryan Allis, “because when something helps them hire, sell or otherwise proves valuable, they’re passionate proponents. But when they are strapped for money and time, they’re quick to say if something is not worth the investment of either.” Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they liked the professional networking site LinkedIn, with those in professional services giving the most love at 82 percent favorable. Twitter still had holdouts, with 46 respondents saying they “hated it.” The largest segment of haters for the 140-character service came from professional services. Google+ hit a gray area, with 52 percent unsure of its value. Still, 48 percent loved it. “It’s not surprising there are a few staunch holdouts,” concluded Ryan. “But the social revolution is here, and threefourths of our respondents find tremendous value in it.” For more information on the contest rules and deadlines, visit social.icontact. com/icontact.
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Have a business story idea? Email us at editor@latinopm.com.
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Event pays tribute to Arizona’s brave A World War II ace fighter pilot and 11 community heroes
versions have been contributed to the state library’s Arizona Memory Project, where they are accessed on average 600 times each month by users all over the world. “Perhaps the best way we can repay our debt to those who have served so selflessly is to tell their stories in order to inspire a new generation of leaders to serve our country and our state,” said Phoenix College president Anna Solley, Ph.D. Speakers and special guests at the luncheon included Diane Van Haren Halvorson; Mayor-elect Greg Stanton; Peter Hayes, SRP’s senior vice president of community affairs, and Elisa de la Vara, district director for the office of Congressman Ed Pastor. Latino Perspectives Magazine wishes to thank SRP, the Raul H. Castro Institute and the following generous sponsors for making this fourth annual event possible: American Family Insurance, APS, The Arizona Lottery, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Hospice of the Valley, Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, Miller Coors, Phoenix School of Law and Rio Salado College. We hope you can join us at the Fifth Annual Salute Honoring Those Who Serve in 2012.
All photos by Jorge Quintero
were honored at the Fourth Annual Salute Honoring Those Who Serve event at the at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Phoenix on November 16, presented by Latino Perspectives Magazine, the Raul H. Castro Institute (RCI) at Phoenix College and SRP. CBS 5 News chief journalist Catherine Anaya and Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos emceed the event. With family members in attendance, tribute was paid to the bravery and leadership exhibited by sons and daughters, friends and neighbors, and mothers and fathers who have proudly served and are serving our nation. The luncheon paid special tribute to the accomplishments of the late Arthur Van Haren Jr., one of Arizona’s most decorated fighter pilots. A Legacy of Courage: The Story of Arthur Van Haren Jr., written by historian Jean Reynolds, was presented at the event as the latest addition to a collection of seven books published through a partnership between Latino Perspectives Magazine and RCI. To date, over 2,500 copies of the books commemorating the lives and achievements of Arizona’s notable Latinos have been donated to public libraries and high schools in the state. Digital
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Arts funding slashed Vital policy issue for Arizona By Erica Cardenas
Arizona once ranked 25th in the nation in
legislative arts appropriations – now it’s ranked last, with all legislative support for the arts cut to zero in the 2012 budget according to Arizona Indicators, an online information resource and analysis tool that centralizes data about the state and its communities. The data shows an alarming decline over the last few years, with Arizona dropping from 47th place in 2010 to 49th in 2011 and now … nothing given to the arts. The essential role of arts and cultural organizations in Arizona’s economy makes this a pressing policy issue for the state. In fact, Arizona Town Hall chose arts and culture as the focus of its 98th town hall and report. Despite boasting a commission on the arts, the picture looks grim when it comes to public resources for the arts in Arizona. A former leader in arts funding, legislative appropriations dropped to $665,600 in 2011 from $956,000 in 2010, which in turn was down 34 percent from 2009, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Legislative Appropriations Annual Survey, FY2010 and FY2011. Nationwide, the average legislative appropriation for state arts agencies is $4.8 million, ranging from over $41 million in New York to less than half a million in other states. In the U.S., there are more than 600,000 businesses involved in the arts (whether creation or distribution), employing 2.9 million people. Communities consistently find that the arts play a crucial role in their local economic development efforts with important direct and indirect effects. What are some examples of such effects? Direct efforts include increased jobs, sales and public revenues. Indirect efforts enhance a community’s overall image and contribute to the attraction of new residents, employers, tourists and investors. Americans for the Arts recently released its 2010 Creative Industries report, focusing on arts-related businesses that “range from nonprofit museums, symphonies
and theaters to for-profit film, architecture and advertising companies.” Arizona has 11,600 such arts-related businesses employing a total of 47,712 residents. Of these 11,600 Arizona businesses, 1,163 are nonprofit arts, culture, humanities, fairs and international cultural exchange entities. The 2009 report, Arts and the Economy, by the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices, points out that nonprofit arts organizations provide educational and outreach services that help to cultivate demand for arts experiences – and, consequently, they benefit arts industries in general. In Arizona, per capita appropriations averaged 44 cents last year, but have now been eliminated. While per capita expenditures have decreased over the last few years nationally, from 96 cents in 2010, to 87 cents in 2011, most states have preserved some level of funding. According to Arizona Indicators, funding is being cut for these activities in spite of their contributions to an important economic sector – one that employs a lot of Arizona residents. 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.
Some nonprofits serve as catalysts or incubators, providing essential advocacy, design, communications, training, education or planning services to artist entrepreneurs and for-profit creative businesses. One such organization is Arizona Action for the Arts, a statewide nonprofit arts advocacy membership organization focused on promoting public dialogue, public policy and legislation favorable to the arts, which also serves as a resource for increasing public funding sources. Along with its allied organization, the nonprofit charitable arm Arizona Citizens for the Arts, Arizona Action for the Arts strives to increase “discussion and awareness of the importance and impact of the arts in achieving quality of life, educational excellence and economic health for all Arizonans and Arizona enterprises.” Other nonprofits are direct producers of artistic goods and experiences. Examples of these abound throughout Arizona and include the performing arts, visual arts, film/radio and museums. And others are the “anchor” attraction in a community whose audiences provide essential business for nearby retail, restaurant and hospitality providers. The Heard Museum is one of many notable anchor attractions. Arts-related businesses have actually increased in Arizona since 2008. As of January 2008, there were 10,590 arts-related businesses employing 46,000 people – in January 2011 these numbers increased to 13,781 businesses and 47,762 employees. These data points, taken from the Dunn and Bradstreet database by the organization Americans for the Arts, explain the role such businesses play in building and sustaining economic vibrancy: “These arts-centric businesses employ residents, spend money locally, generate government revenue and are a cornerstone of tourism and economic development.” For more information, visit arizonaindicators.org. Arizona Indicators is a project of Morrison Institute for Public Policy and is made possible by support from the Arizona Community Foundation and Arizona State University.
UA program a national model The University of Arizona’s
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translation and interpretation program was recently one of 10 in the nation that the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) studied while drafting its training and certification standards for working in health-related fields. The UA translation and interpretation program served as a model for NCIHC, which reviewed programs at nine other institutions and companies in states that included California, Minnesota and Massachusetts. Housed in the UA’s department of Spanish and Portuguese, the program now supports nearly 170 students majoring or minoring in the program. It is one of few programs in the nation
offering an avenue toward actual degree attainment. After an extensive review of curricular materials, the committee noted that the UA program and nine others chosen for review were “built on the best knowledge and expert opinion available to date about what every interpreter needs to know and be able to do and the most effective instructional methods for helping interpreter candidates master these knowledge and skill areas.” Data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the work for translators and interpreters is expected to grow much faster than the average type of job in the U.S., at least through 2018.
Local nonprofit offers low-cost college courses The Manzana Foundation, a local
501(C)(3) education nonprofit, recently announced a consulting contract with Navajo Technical College, a fully accredited college from New Mexico to offer college extension courses in Phoenix. The eight-week evening courses are offered to students at $90 per credit hour with a focus on college English, science, math, computer sciences and Dine’ Native language course. In addition, there are no residency requirements for students to enroll, and
courses are transferable to major universities. It’s noted that this project will “allow all students, including Dream Act students, to continue their college education at a reasonable cost.” All classrooms consist of a minimum of 15 students, with new classes scheduled to begin in December. For more information on the Manzana Foundation community college program, contact the law office of Ben Miranda at 602-495-8888.
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Valley-wide pet education The Arrow Animal Hospital Group, a cooperative group of 16 individual
animal hospitals around the Valley, has launched a comprehensive pet dental campaign in hopes of educating the community at large on the importance of regular and preventative pet dental care. With a key focus on mass education, the campaign targets how dental care keeps more than just a pet’s teeth from going “bad.” In fact, more than 85 percent of dogs and cats over four years old have some form of periodontal disease, a painful inflammatory condition in which bacteria attack the gums, ligament and bone tissues that surround and support the teeth. “Dental disease is the most common problem we see with pets on their yearly physical exams,” says Dr. Stuart Sherrell of the Arrow Animal Hospital of Phoenix. “Pet owners are usually surprised at the amount of tartar their pet has, as most owners do not commonly look in their pet’s mouth to check the teeth. It’s our hope that this campaign will elevate the awareness of why it’s so important to take care of your pet’s teeth.” All 16 Arrow Animal Hospital Group clinics are participating in the Valley-wide educational dental campaign, and are offering customers a $50 coupon that can be used toward dental treatments for their pets. The campaign runs through the end of December. Customers can access important pet dental facts and tips via the campaign blog at petvetarizona.com/pethealth-blog and on Facebook via Arizona Pet Vet.
Fo l l ow us on www.phoenixcollege.edu
Have an education story idea? Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
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NAU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution/UM_08.10
Make a difference and protect the rights of Older Adults.
DID YOU KNOW? Northern Arizona University is a national leader in awarding Baccalaureate, Masters, and Doctorate degrees to Hispanic students. We are committed to creating a culture of inclusion. To discover how we can help you achieve your goals,
Become a Long-Term Care Volunteer Ombudsman and provide support to residents of long-term care facilities.
Learn more by calling the 24-hour Senior HELP LINE at 602-264-4357(HELP) or via email at answers@aaaphx.org Visit www.aaaphx.org 42
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visit nau.edu today.
Based on analysis of U.S. Department of Education reports submitted by institutions.
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Holiday stress? Humbug! Christmas, Chanukah, New Year’s … stress. Right? Not necessarily By Robrt L. Pela
It’s December, and you’re going mad. There just
aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done – shopping for and wrapping a pile of presents; buying and trimming a tree; addressing holiday cards; going to temple; visiting Santa at the mall. Add to that the stress of your workaday life and the horrific tales of the world’s woes on the evening news, and, well, you just want to go ho-ho-home and cry. The holiday season is traditionally stressful, and there’s no denying that the media bombardment of the 21st century feeds our Yuletide stress levels. But there are ways to crank down our end-of-the-year anxieties, experts say, and enjoy a little more fa-la-la-la-la. Simply put, stress is the body’s response to any perceived threat. Whether the stressful situation is physical or psychological, our bodies undergo a dramatic “fight or flight” reaction fueled by a complex cascade of chemicals. The hypothalamus gland, alerted by the brain of pending danger, produces a hormone that prompts the adrenal glands to release an energizing hormone known as adrenaline. Proteins are converted to sugars to provide readily accessible energy. Blood is diverted from your digestive system and other nonvital systems and pushed to your muscles to make you faster and stronger than you would normally be. The result is a speedy pulse, higher blood pressure, and heightened awareness – a response we call stress. Unfortunately, the body’s response mechanisms haven’t changed all that much over the centuries. They continue to react as if those long holiday lines at the department store checkout were a herd of wild buffalo headed our way. The addition of holiday-related stress to our already over-programmed lives is so subtle, we’re barely aware of it, according to author and stress expert Joseph Michelli, Ph.D. He recommends striking a new
balance during the holiday season by stepping away from some of the day-to-day things that stress us out. For starters, Michelli suggests limiting our intake of world news in December. “The media shapes our sense of safety in the world around us,” he says, “but most of us aren’t tracing its effect on our well-being.” A string of minor stresses – a violent YouTube clip on Tuesday night, a worrisome television news story on Thursday latinopm.com
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Learn the signs at autismspeaks.org
Early diagnosis can make a lifetime of difference.
Today, 1 in 110 children is diagnosed.
My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism.
derful Life, anyone?) For many people, watching a sad movie is a good thing, Sharp insists. “It’s a healthy way to experience sadness in a controlled way,” she says, likening the experience to a ride on a rollercoaster. “Rollercoasters are scary, but you know you’re safe. It works the same way with sad movies. They provide a safe way to tap into our sadness, which – let’s face it – we sometimes need to do.” Tears might be good but, as Reader’s Digest once suggested, laughter may be the best medicine. In an experiment using laughter-provoking movies to gauge the effect of emotions on cardiovascular health, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore recently proved that laughter is linked to the healthy function of blood vessels. When volunteers were shown a segment of a violent war film, their blood vessel lining developed a potentially unhealthy response called vasoconstriction, which reduces blood flow. Volunteers shown bits of a comedy, on the other hand, experienced an expansion of these
Autism is getting closer to home.
My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism.
morning, a week’s worth of tabloid headlines – can all cause our bodies to build up a response that’s as dramatic as a reaction to a serious threat, Michelli says, and can leave you feeling exhausted. When these built-up stresses repeat themselves over time, the feeling of exhaustion can become chronic and spin off into other health risks that last well past the holidays. Fans of reality shows who are stressing out about whether their favorite contestant is about to be voted off an island or out of a singing competition can comfort themselves with a friendly reminder, according to cinematherapist Conni Sharp, Ed.D. “Everyone knows that a portion of all reality shows are staged,” says My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. Sharp, who assigns films to patients as a My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. means of opening communication about My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. what’s troubling them. “Instead of worryMy friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s sonyour hasfavorite autism. ing that guy is about to lose, My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. focus on all the national attention he got d’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. while he was on the show. That’s the good d’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. d’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. part of the reality.” My friend’s uncle’s secondson cousin’s son has autism. Holiday movies can be cheery, but d’s uncle’s second cousin’s has autism. My friend’s uncle’s secondson cousin’s son has autism. d’s uncle’s second cousin’s has autism. many of them are quite sad. (It’s a Won-
Yes, Virginia, there is a stress-free Try these stress releasers on for size: Exercise can relieve stress brought on by too much
Autism is getting closer toholiday home. cheer. When you’re jogging or doing laps
in the pool, it’s harder to focus on something
Today, 1 in 110 children is diagnosed. Autism is getting closer to home. that’s bugging you – like what to get your kids for
Early diagnosis make a lifetimeChanukah of difference. this year. Exercise relieves the pent-up Autism is getting closer can to home. oday, 1 in 110 children is diagnosed. energy brought on by too much stress and
Today, 1 in 110 children is diagnosed. y diagnosis can make a lifetime of difference.
increases fitness, which helps your body cope with stress. And it’s never too early to start burning off Learn the signs at autismspeaks.org those extra holiday pounds by joining an exercise earn the signs at autismspeaks.org group in December. Learn the signs at autismspeaks.org Early diagnosis can make a lifetime of difference.
In her book Managing Your Mind and Mood Through Food, M.I.T. researcher and nutritionist Judith J. Wurtman, Ph.D., notes that during times of stress, eating three smaller, protein-rich meals keeps blood sugar at a constant level, providing more consistent energy, which you may need to stand up to holiday stress. 44
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ment. “One intriguing possibility is that laughter releases brain chemicals that may crosstalk with blood vessel chemicals to produce this effect. At the very least, laughter offsets the impact of mental stress, which is harmful to continued good health at any time of the year.”
same tissues, thereby increasing healthy blood flow – the same response created by aerobic exercise. “We don’t know the precise mechanism that accounts for the relaxation of the blood vessel lining in response to laughter,” says Dr. Michael Miller, who led the experi-
Supplements for stress The Physician’s Desk Reference Family Guide to Nutrition and Health suggests that stress can cause the release of certain chemicals that lead to the production of free radicals, the highly destructive compounds that can burn up key molecules within our cells. To help prevent or repair the damage these compounds cause, consider these tips: • The ravages of stress can be patched up with a daily dose of antioxidant vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, and B-complex, all available at your local health food store. • Stress depletes energy, so power snacks – complex carbohydrates like bagels, cereals, and fruits – are a good idea when you’re frazzled, especially at a time of year when trays of cookies are everywhere. • Stress increases your body’s need for nutrients. Nutritionists often recommend supplements containing such nutrients as calcium, potassium, zinc and magnesium to ease the ravages of stress.
holiday afoot Tell everyone you know that you want Santa to bring you a year’s worth of free massages or a book about the joys of meditation. Meditation and massage are great, because they help you relax and clear your mind. If you’re not thinking, then you’re not worrying, and your body has a chance to snap out of that fight-or-flight mode brought on by stressful holiday stuff.
Keeping disturbing images at bay has a deep effect on our health and well-being, according to Doro Kiley, a professional life coach who teaches Buddhist meditation practices as a means of balancing the stresses of daily life. These images cause a rush of adrenalin that our bodies become addicted to, so cutting out late-night news shows or any other program that might cause you grief too close to bedtime is a good idea. Kiley suggests going out for a run or a swim after catching up on your favorite stress-inducing programs, or taking a walk around the block after the nightly news and just before bedtime.
As a Girl Scout volunteer, you’ll add meaningful experiences to girls lives and to your own as well. Tackle everything from global warming to election reform. Travel to incredible places. Share your personal passions and create experiences together you’ll never forget.
interested in volunteering? volunteer@girlscoutsaz.org
119 E Coronado Road | Phoenix, AZ 85004 602.452.7000 | 800.352.6133 www.girlscoutsaz.org latinopm.com
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Kick-start 2012 in motion Participate in a charity run or walk
If you are planning on making fitness and exercise part of your
New Year’s resolutions, now is a good time to do the math and determine how many miles you’ll have to run or walk to burn off the calories from the holiday tamales (or turkey tortas). Below we have compiled some fitness events for you to consider. Make it a date and sign up your better half as well, or make it a family affair. Either way, you’ll feel good after the workout and even better knowing you contributed to a worthy cause.
Calorie calculator Net Calorie Burn/Mile Running .63 x your weight (in lbs.) Walking (3-4 mph) .30 x your weight (in lbs.) The “Net Calorie Burn” measures calories burned minus basal metabolism. Scientists at Syracuse University consider this the best way to gauge actual calorie burn. The walking formulas apply to speeds of 3 to 4 mph. At 5 mph and faster, walking burns more calories than running. (Source: “Energy Expenditure of Walking and Running,” Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise, Cameron et al, Dec. 2004. )
400 BC
1946
The term cancer originates.
3000 BC
Signs of cancer found on bones from ancient Egypt.
Arizona Concerns of Police Survivors’ 8th Annual Run to Remember When: January 7 @ 8:00 a.m. Where: Verrado High School. 20050 W. Indian School Road in Buckeye, AZ Why: All proceeds of the run/walk will go to the families of fallen officers that will be honored at National Police Week in May of 2012 and to the Arizona Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors for ongoing retreats and seminars. Registration: 5K Fun Walk/ Run, $20; Law Enforcement 5K Walk/ Run, $15; Law Enforcement 10K Walk/Run, $15; and 10K Run, $20. Website: arizonacops.org
Chemotherapy is developed.
1899
The X-ray revolutionizes tumor discovery.
Arizona Disabled Sports’ 3rd Annual Run, Walk and Roll 5K/10K When: January 7 @ 7:00 a.m. Where: Tempe Town Lake Beach Park. 620 N. Mill Avenue in Tempe, AZ Why: To raise funds for Arizona Disabled Sports to offer yearround sports and recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Registration: 5K/10K Run, Walk or Roll, $25; 1-Mile Fitness Walk, $25; Half-mile Kids’ Fun Run, $10. Race as a team and receive a discount. Prices are good through January 1. Website: runwalkrollaz.com
Team MS Rockstars @ PF Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & Half Marathon When: January 15 @ 7:30 a.m. Where: Half Marathon starts from Downtown Tempe on Mill Ave & 3rd St. Marathon starts from Downtown Phoenix at CityScape. Why: Every hour, a person is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. MS is the most common neurological disease leading to disability in young adults. The National MS Society’s team, MS Rockstars,
is participating in the event to raise funds for the organization and awareness about the disease. Registration: $100.00. MS Rockstar team members are required to raise at least $1, 750 to “help end MS” and fund programs and services through the National MS Society. Participants receive “Ridiculously Epic Perks” the day of the event. Individuals who have already fundraised for an MS event in 2011 can be credited up to $750 toward their fundraising goal. Website: msrockstars.org
4th Annual Family Fitness Run/Walk When: January 22 @ 8:00 a.m. Where: Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School. 360 S. Twelve Oaks Boulevard, in Chandler, AZ Why: To encourage families to be healthy while having fun. Funds raised through the event benefit Paloma Elementary and Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School. The run/walk is designated as a city of Chandler Centennial event. Registration: 1. 3-Mile Run/Walk $ 15; 5K Run/ Walk, $25 for adults and $20 for K-12 students. Family rates and special discounts for both races are available. Prices are good through January 13. Website: familyfitness5k.blogspot.com
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.
Call (480) 256-6444 to schedule an appointment.
2011 Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center opens in Arizona.
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1976
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American Cancer Society recommends mammograms.
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THE NUTCRACKER WITH THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY SYMPHONY HALL Ballet Arizona invites you to be our guest
Latino Night at The Nutcracker December 18, 2011
Reception 4 pm • Performance 5:30 pm RSVP for this FREE special event by Dec. 14 with Nikki Younger at nyounger@balletaz.org
Client: Ballet Arizona
Job: BAL-173 Latino Perspectives Nut Ad
Final size: 8.5” x 5.5”
Colors: CMYK
Bleeds: YES
Created by: DAVIDSON & BELLUSO • 602.277.1185 • www.davidsonbelluso.com
Expensive habit. Free to quit. I’ll help. Arizona Smokers’ Helpline 1-800-55-66-222 or ASHline.org 4583-2_BTCD_Quit_LatinoPersp.indd 1
11/23/11 11:45 AM
P.S.
Stella Pope Duarte
Christmas under the San Miguelito Vine By Stella Pope Duarte
One Christmas Eve, many years ago,
as my family slept, I remember waking up and making my way to the living room to check out the presents under the Christmas tree – a real pine tree with stubby limbs my dad had chosen at the lumberyard where he worked. The glow from the portable heater that stood in one corner of the room made it seem as if we had our own small fireplace, and I imagined stockings hanging over a mantel. That night, I spied two huge boxes set up side by side, and had no idea how they had gotten there, except that I had heard whispering behind my mother’s bedroom door. My older sisters and Mom wrapped the gifts; not many, and not expensive, but still gifts. My little sister Lupe and I, the last two in a family of eight children, waited, our long nightgowns tangled in our blankets trying to sleep, our feet like icicles in the freezing bedroom we shared. On Christmas morning, I was to discover that walking dolls were the surprises wrapped up in the giant boxes I had spied under the Christmas tree,
two huge plastic dolls Lupe and I named Kathy and Amy. Both had blond hair and blue eyes and didn’t look anything like us, but we loved them just the same. We could barely carry them around and often cranked a makeshift knob that stuck out at the back of their necks to make them walk a few steps. We created a whole world for our dolls: a home, friends and traditions they learned to obey. The San Miguelito Vine in our backyard, sprouting green leafy boughs accented by tiny pink blossoms, became the perfect cover for the world we entered in through a maze of spindly green growth that clung to the chicken-wire fence separating our house from my godmother’s. The space under the San Miguelito Vine was the perfect hiding place for Kathy and Amy. Lupe and I swept the ground of dried twigs and leaves with an old paintbrush and this became our floor. We arranged faded sheets on the ground, creating our own carpet as we hid from the world of bright sunlight, wind and neighborhood dogs barking in the distance. The dolls took up considerable space under the San Miguelito Vine, leaving us little room to do anything more than have them converse with one another and once
in a while argue over clothes and white plastic shoes. Our older brother and sisters knew nothing about our hiding place; neither did our cousins who lived all up and down Pima Street. The best part of having a hiding place is to not tell anyone else about it. Once in a while we spotted bare feet walking close to our hiding spot, other kids looking for us, but we kept Kathy and Amy quiet and their plastic bodies out of sight. Once our dolls were settled in and their meals delivered, mostly cookies and sweet bread we ate for them and Kool Aid we served from a plastic children’s teapot into flowered cups, we settled back to enjoy the luxurious feeling of being owners of our own mini-mansion. The thought that we alone knew the location of our hideout was an intoxicating one, akin to Aladdin discovering Ali Baba’s marvelous treasure sealed up in a mountainside. We had designed our own solitary place, made sacred by the tangled boughs of the San Miguelito Vine. Christmas for us would forever be a dream world of walking dolls, a tangled vine, pink blossoms and a sister’s love that would last a lifetime.
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. latinopm.com
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¡!
my perspective on: philanthropy
Overcoming taboos By Armando A. Contreras
More perspectives
Send us your perspective on whatever moves you. Email editor@latinopm.com.
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has many faces. To most, the term invokes an image of wealthy benefactors or corporate contributors donating to one or more of our community’s many worthy causes. Less recognized are the millions of people who write modest checks or donate a few dollars now and again or even pocket change to their favorite charities. The organization I lead, United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona (UCP), serves children and adults with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, developmental delays and learning disabilities. UCP has been blessed over the years to be the beneficiary of millions in contributions in the form of the nickels, dimes and quarters that get dropped in canisters by generous customers at the counters of hundreds of Circle K stores statewide. Yet, there is another type of giving back to our society that we rarely acknowledge. I’m talking about the love, gratitude and satisfaction the neediest among us give us in exchange for the emotional, spiritual and financial investments we make to our favorite charities. At UCP of Central Arizona, I get to witness and experience this giving back every day through the eyes and expressions of the children and adults with special needs whom we help to live everyday lives. The joy that so many others and I in this field experience as a result of the work we do is a priceless gift. But even greater is the gift that special needs children and adults give back in the way of living life to the fullest and living in the present. It also is the legacy of the countless individuals and philanthropists who paved the way and bring hope to countless families and individuals with disabilities. The creation of United Cerebral Palsy is a case in point. The national organization was founded in 1949 by parents of children with this disability as a way to provide families with the information, resources and the courage it takes to meet the challenges associated with special needs children. The organization was created in
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the spirit of giving back. Its success has been thanks to an extraordinary group of courageous parents who managed to convince philanthropists to take note and support UCP’s mission. As a Latino, giving back sometimes comes with unique challenges. A disability, of course, can affect any family regardless of their ethnicity or cultural or economic background. But among Latinos, especially those living in lower income brackets, the ability to help someone in our circle of friends or family who has special needs can be stymied by the unfortunate reality that disabilities still carry a taboo, namely because of the misperception that having a disabled family member is somehow shameful or even “God’s punishment” for some unspecified transgression. Such taboos must be overcome. We cannot cloister ourselves in our communities, or worse, hide our children or other family members with disabilities in our homes based on unfounded fears. As is often stated, the first step to getting help requires a willingness to seek help. Overcoming taboos, thus, will require stepped-up education efforts in our community that teaches the understanding that a special needs family member, friend or neighbor should not be shunned and should be supported. In today’s hyper-paced world, there is still no greater satisfaction than getting involved in something greater than our own self-interest. At UCP of Central Arizona, our entire staff is inspired by the belief that everyone deserves to live “life without limits.” Removing barriers for people with disabilities will only come as a result of the ability of our society to provide love and compassion to those less fortunate. In this holiday season, if you know someone with a disability, embrace them, hold them, offer them love and friendship, and you’ll experience the true meaning of philanthropy. Armando A. Contreras is the president and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and holds a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. In the community, Armando serves on the boards of trustees of St. Luke’s Medical Center and the Phoenix Boys Choir. For more information about UCP of Arizona, visit ucpofcentralaz.org or call 602-943-5472.
AN AMERICAN VISION FOR EDUCATION For more than thirty-two years Hispanic Scholarship Fund has been dedicated to helping students advance their college education. That is why we have contributed over $23 million dollars to award 18,000 scholarships for students such as Jennifer Rodriguez, Fortunato Tapia and Vania Alonso. HSF recognizes academic merit, personal strength and leadership. We are proud to be part of a legacy in support of higher education.
Bud Light, let’s move forward together.
Š 2008 Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Bud Light Beer, St. Louis, MO
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Thursday, March 1, 2012 10:30 AM – Silent Auction 11:45 AM – Luncheon Arizona Biltmore
benefitting
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Luis Gonzalez, Arizona Diamondbacks Superstar
Presented by
HOPE AWARD
Dr. Robert Spetzler, Award-Winning Neurosurgeon
Building Community Sponsor
Reserve your table or tickets today! www.flocrit.org | 602.288.4575 facebook.com/FlorenceCrittentonofArizona | #TUFK12
EVERY GIRL MATTERS
MICHAEL JACKSON MADONNA BEE GEES EARTH WIND & FIRE
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PRINCE DONNA SUMMER KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND