latinopm.com
n ó z a r o C u R e d Po r T
p e c t i ve
: Se n a
tor D
av i d
Luj
an
an c i r e m A e h with t on i t a i c o s s A He a r t
M y Pe r s
Go
February 2012
on
e ht e C
n
ia n n te
l
ARIZONA EDITION
atur l s i g Le
e
r o t h g i Del m? D o o o u ’ ve
7 Signs Y ‘Right’ e Found th e Mate Marriag
THE NEW 2 $
Jackpots get BIGGER FASTER. ATTENTION JACKPOT CHASERS: The new $2 Powerball now has jackpots starting at $40 million and a big $1,000,000 second prize. Plus, you now enjoy better odds every time you play. So keep your eyes peeled for ginormous jackpots starting Jan. 15th – and chase on, Arizona. Chase on.
Scan this code with a QR reader on your smartphone to watch a video and learn more.
ArizonaLottery ArizonaLottery.com Must be 21 or older to purchase or redeem tickets. Overall odds vary by game. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, these materials may be made available in an alternate format. Gambling Problem? 1-800-NEXT STEP. Please Play Responsibly.™
Goodbye old fridge. Hello cold cash. Let APS do the heavy lifting when it comes to saving you money and energy. Recycling that old refrigerator or freezer in your garage will save you up to $100 a year on energy costs. Just contact APS. We’ll haul it away for free, and send you a $30 rebate.
877 514 6654 aps.com/turnitin This program is funded by APS customers and approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission. Refrigerators and stand-alone freezers must be in working condition and between 10 and 30 cubic feet using inside measurements. Additional restrictions apply.
Get a
30
$
cash rebate
Save up to
100
$
on yearly energy costs
present
p u ’ n i v Mo and
s t n e m h s i l p m o c c a l a n o i s s e f o r p g n i t a r b Cele
. m . p : 0 0 8 o t : 0 0 6 , 2 2 y r a u r um e b s e u F M t n e um r t s n I l a c i s Z A , x i At the Mu n e o h P . d v l B o y a 4725 E. M e music
liv • r e x i m g networkin es • no-host bar uvr e o ’ d s r o h • ga n i r B . s u n i to jo d e t i v n VP. i S e R r o t e r e You a h click e s a e l P ! o by Sponsored friend or tw
Journal of the American Latino Dream
21
Volume 8
{February 2012}
Issue 6
54
Pump it up!
St. Valentine’s Day reminds us that our hearts are not indestructible; timely advice on how to maintain a healthy heart
My perspective
Arizona senator David Lujan commits to revving up legislative action on immigration, job creation and education in 2012
42 7 8
From the editor Looking ahead to the Arizona Centennial
¿Será posible Sexism alive and well at Twin Peaks; E.T. to find new home (?) at ASU
12 LP journal Romney family has history as illegal aliens;
immigration advocate gets White House position; two new Arizona Senate appointees; ADAC demands action
27 Arrange Feature your own marriage and avoid Cupid’s
41 Those who serve
31
43 Education Campaign for Grade-Level Reading; Arizona’s Brown Mackie College “military friendly”; guided
Monica Aragon of the Arizona Air National Guard
less-than-accurate aim
Movin’ up
Gallego new deputy director of NALAC; Ray joins E.B. Lane; Guana on the team of Nuestra Voz; 2011 Ronstadt award to Serrato; new boards for HAREF and NSHMBA; Flores and Juarez, now at CenturyLink; deLeon is new PR manager at PAM
35 Chris Entrepreneur Nieto: from laborer to design company principal
nature hike in Wickenburg; free online classes provided by Phoenix Public Library
Health 47 What everyone should know about lactose intolerance
14 Vibe Briefcase 37 Eldonna Centennial festivities at Capitol Mall; Geronimo out 50 Time Lewis-Fernandez recaps the pervasive featured at new Heard exhibit; photographs High-tech accessories for the sporting life by Gonzalez Palma at Sette Gallery; Fausto Fernandez works enter museum collections
19 Rincón del arte New leading film role for Shaina Sandoval
fears that impede personal success and how to conquer them
53
P.S. Revolutionary power of love
Coming in March: Women’s History Month latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
5
STEAKs aren't high at
*
& 3EGGS
* STEAK &
*
7 days a week 7am-11am
¡! from the executive editor
February 2012 Publisher/CEO Ricardo Torres
To your heart’s content By Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D.
Executive Editor/COO Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D.
The New Year is a month old and unless you have been dutiful and Copy Editor Virginia Betz Art Director Jorge Quintero Contributing Writers Catherine Anaya, Erica Cardenas, Dan Cortez, Jacqueline del Rosario, Eldonna Lewis-Fernandez, David Lujan, 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.
stuck to your resolutions, by now they may have been deleted from your shortterm memory cache. But not all is lost. Instead of focusing on our lack of resolve, we can re-purpose our good intentions this month and choose to get more of what is good for us and our heart. Simple things like taking a stroll with our better half or listening to a favorite tune can help increase our “happiness factor”— and even contribute to our physical well-being! Because February is National Heart Month, we join the American Heart Association (AHA) in their effort to disseminate important information that can help save lives. Despite the technological and medical advances we have witnessed in recent decades, heart disease continues to be the #1 killer of Latina women. As individuals, and as a community, we can help reverse this trend. But the first step is to learn more about how to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. Do you know the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure? Or how high blood pressure can affect your health? Go to page 21 and find out. Speaking of the heart, they say love is blind but “America’s Marriage Doctor,” Jacqueline del Rosario, thinks it is better to be safe than sorry. If you are in a relationship and ready to take the plunge, you must read “Delight or Doom? 7 Signs you’ve found the ‘right’ marriage mate,” on page 27. Also in this issue, Eldonna Lewis-Fernandez outlines in Briefcase “11 Fears that are holding you back” and how to break free of each one of them to achieve greater personal and professional satisfaction (page 37). If you are in need of some inspiration, check out this month’s Entrepreneur and Rincon del Arte profiles. Young, talented and driven, Chris Nieto (cofounder of the award winning architectural and design firm Merzproject) and Shaina Sandoval (who just made her debut in a lead role in the movie, In Search of the American Dream), epitomize the promise of the millennial generation. As we celebrate 100 years of statehood, recently-appointed state senator David Lujan shares his take on how the legislature can embrace an inclusive vision for Arizona, and lay the groundwork for a bountiful second century. Read it on My Perspective (page 54). Here’s to Arizona!
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 .
Your thoughts? Tell us what you think. Send your thoughts to editor@latinopm.com
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, email letters to editor@latinopm.com. latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
7
¡! ¿Será posible?
Twin-D City By Robrt L. Pela
Just as the New Year’s hangovers of
sports bar denizens were beginning to mellow, things got really creepy. Twin Peaks, a chain of cheeseball restaurants catering to game-watching draft lifters, announced its search for “Scottsdale’s perkiest girls” to staff its just-opened east valley location. In a too-good-to-be-made-up ad campaign featuring a buxom Amazon dressed in Daisy Duke shorts and plunging plaid halter, Twin Peaks offered an official “casting call” for “the best job in town in town,” presumably because saying so twice makes it doubly good. Perks offered to those who make the final cuts for this low-glam waitressing gig include “corporate tanning,” “cool employee contests to win shopping sprees” and “the ability to wear a cute ‘lumber-Jill’ outfit to work everyday (sic).”
“Lumber-Jills” reportedly lined up at the new suds-and-burger joint’s Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard location for a chance to serve what the chain’s corporate press release calls “crave-able and high quality comfort food,” surrounded by 64 high-definition plasma televisions and with high hopes for “starring in the national 2013 Twin Peaks Calendar.” The campaign follows an equally cheesy release from late last summer in which the restaurant, located at the former Earl’s Diner location, advertised for a manager interested in recruiting and training “the most effective weapons of mass distraction—the Twin Peaks Girls.” In ads for what industry insiders refer to as “a breastaurant,” these gals were asked to “dress to impress for Friday’s casting call and bring their big, bubbly personalities. No experience is required.” We don’t doubt that last part for a minute.
400 BC
1946
The term cancer originates.
3000 BC
Signs of cancer found on bones from ancient Egypt.
Brittany Wilkerson of Twin Peaks-San Francisco, winner of Miss Twin Peaks 2011
Chemotherapy is developed.
1899
The X-ray revolutionizes tumor discovery.
¡! ¿Será posible?
Say “Cheese” Will research science’s search for
little green men never end? Not if Arizona State University has anything to say about it. A pair of research technicians from the college’s BEYOND Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science have recently published a proposal in which they suggest a new means of searching for extraterrestrial civilizations who may have made pit stops on the Earth’s moon. The proposal, published in the online scientific journal Acta Astronautica, suggests that the government launch a photographic project that would inspect the face of the moon for signs of visits by extraterrestrials. Arguing that artifacts left behind by aliens would be preserved for hundreds of millions of years on the moon’s airless surface, the pair of researchers are suggesting that several hundreds of thousands of photographs be taken, in search of detritus that might have been abandoned by space
travelers from other planets. Why no previous scientist appears to have come up with this no-brainer isn’t apparent, but, judging from the early excitement over the paper (which was picked up by numerous online news sites and became an above-the-fold feature in the United Kingdom’s Guardian), no one has. “Although there is only a tiny probability that alien technology would have left traces on the moon in the form of an artifact or surface modification of lunar features,” the pair write in their paper, “this location has the virtue of being close, and of preserving traces for an immense duration.” What’s more, they argue, laypeople can help out NASA by pitching in to scrutinize photographs themselves. The giant pile
of intergalactic snapshots would be made available via the Internet to all interested parties. And that’s what we like best about this story: The thought of millions of UFO fanatics, perched in front of their laptops, scouring the face of the moon in search of eons-old garbage left behind by vacationing Martians.
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.
BannerMDAnderson.com
1976
Connect with us: FacebookTwitter
American Cancer Society recommends mammograms.
Now Open at US 60 and Higley Road Facebook
RAUL H. CASTRO I N S T I T U T E
O F
Join us for a tribute to Amanda Aguirre, Anna María Chávez, Elizabeth Archuleta and Terri Cruz
Click here to RSVP Wednesday, March 28
Phoenix Art Museum - 5:30-8:00pm — Live music - Appetizers - No-host bar Sponsored by
Community Partner
Conversation starters from the world around us
12 LP Journal
How brown was my candidate; Muñoz appointed to the Domestic Policy Council; David Lujan and “birther” Judy Burges at the state senate; ADAC: “Obama, stop talking; start walking”
17 Anaya says 19 Rincón
Making the case for an occasional technology time-out
del arte
Shaina Sandoval, In Search of the American Dream
i say... Loyalty is EVERYTHING. I’m thankful for my friends who stand by my side. 19 year-old singer Demi Lovato via Twitter after breaking up with boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama
image courtesy of Lisa Sette Gallery
As far as Cain’s endorsement of Newt, let’s just say I guess this represents the ‘cheaters’ club support. Former U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.)
I was trying not to be angry. I was trying to make a point that I thought my book was right and correct.
page
14
Luis Gonzalez Palma at Lisa Sette Gallery. Above, Joven Alado, 2011 hand-painted photograph on Hahnemuhle watercolor paper, 20 x 20, edition of 7
Gov. Brewer on the circumstances surrounding the picture of her wagging her finger at President Obama
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
11
¡!
LP journal
Mitt Romney’s astonishing ethnic metamorphosis
How brown was my (conservative) candidate If he’s elected, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney plans to veto the Dream Act. His is a plan that will hinder Hispanic immigrants’ chances at a college education, or a go at military service. What’s more, he’s blocked legislation that would assist many immigrants from taking a shot at a legal means of earning a living. And yet, Romney is, according to recent reports, himself a Mexican. Seriously. In a story broken by CNN columnist Ruben Navarrette last month (and subsequently picked up by every major news source), it was revealed that Romney’s father, George, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. This means that, if Romney takes the White House, he’ll be not only the first-ever Mormon in the Oval Office, he’ll also be the nation’s first Hispanic president. One who’s been dogging Hispanics for years. His ethnic heritage isn’t something that Romney usually talks about, especially to the media. But last month, while addressing a group in New Hampshire, he spoke of his father, who was born in Mexico and came to America as a child. Romney, Sr. worked 12
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
his way “up from nothing,” his son said, to become the president of the American Motors Corporation, then the governor of Michigan and, eventually, a presidential candidate himself. Navarrette writes that Romney’s great-grandfather, Miles Park Romney, fled the United States and crossed into Mexico in 1885 to escape religious persecution. He helped build the Mormon enclave of Colonia Juarez in Chihuahua. The elder Romney never became a Mexican citizen, and neither did his son, Gaskell, or grandson, George. They were all denied Mexican citizenship because statutes on the books in Mexico denied that right to American settlers and their offspring. The hypocrisy is unsettling, but there’s a political payoff: Romney’s now made a name for himself as a straddler, after years of bludgeoning Republicans with illegal immigration rhetoric that depicts Mexican migrants as parasites, sucking on poor, defenseless America. And, while we can’t hope that he’ll abandon that theme—one that’s been playing in the background of his own family’s story these past three generations—as he continues his presidential campaign, we can look forward to the backlash killing his already slim chances of making it into
the White House … … at least if Hispanic voters have anything to say about it.
… and promises to keep Some see it as more pandering to Latino voters by President Obama; others as a boon to immigration reform. Either way, last month’s appointment of longtime reform advocate Cecilia Muñoz as the White House Director of the Domestic Policy Council is a reality. The soon-to-be-former head of intergovernmental affairs made a name for herself among Latinos as an immigration advocate, and became a superstar in that arena as senior vice president of the National Council of La Raza, the country’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. As Director of Domestic Policy, she’ll draw on both her pre-government career and her work on immigration reform to create and helm domestic policy issues and to create education and social programs. Referring to Muñoz in a press release as someone who can “fix the broken immigration system,” Obama lauded the director’s “extraordinary job working on behalf of middle class families … I’m confident she’ll bring the same unwaver-
LP journal
Cecilia Muñoz
ing dedication to her new position.” She’ll also bring an agenda built around policy change and a solid fan base, some of which uses sports metaphors to praise her. “I can say for certain that the White House hit a triple today in its selection of Cecilia as the new head of the Domestic Policy Council,” Angela Kelley of the Center for American Progress told the New York Times following Muñoz’s appointment. “She’s a good fit.” Her detractors like to point out that Muñoz fell short in pushing immigration reform through Congress, and that the Obama administration deported a record number of undocumented immigrants in 2011. But much of the future criticism that will be leveled at Muñoz will no doubt have to do with her earlier work outside the government. Her efforts in the immigration advocacy community and at La Raza found her trying to untangle the relationship between reformists and the White House—and mostly failing; a fact that she’ll likely be reminded of by wonks and wags and immigration reform activists who think her ascendancy should speed up the process of passing measures that will regularize unauthorized migrants. (It won’t, if the several attempts to pass the DREAM Act are any indication, and not through any fault of Muñoz’s.)
¡!
She’ll be reminded, no doubt, of having defended the Obama administration’s 2011 deportation increases, and the recent deportation decisions that link migrants with threats to national security — actions which Muñoz helped to create. And it’s unlikely that anyone will give Muñoz props for treading carefully with the immigrant community, with whom she stopped short of making promises she couldn’t truly keep in a fragile political environment.
vacant senate seat in district 4. Burges, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2004, replaces Scott Bundgaard who resigned last month amid an ethics investigation. Burges chairs the House Government Committee and serves on the House Transportation Committee. As opposed to Lujan, and according to a press release issued by the County, Burges has expressed interest in a run for the state Senate in 2012.
Lujan, Burges appointed to state Senate
Obama: Stop talking
Former Democratic state Rep. David Lujan and has been appointed as state senator for district 15, replacing the departing Kyrsten Sinema, who resigned last month to run for Congress. Lujan says he plans only to serve out the remainder of Sinema’s term; he won’t run for re-election to the seat. The newly appointed senator is currently the principal of Arizona Preparatory Academy and managing partner at the Foster Law Group’s Arizona office (Read his Perspective on page 54). Late last month, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors also announced the appointment of Republican state Rep. Judy M. Burges to the
President Obama snubbed Diane Sawyer and gave his first interview after his State of the Union Address to the Spanish language TV network Univision. The Arizona Dream Act Coalition (ADAC) is unimpressed. The group has a message for President Obama: the State of the Union Address was a nice speech, but it’s time to put words into action. In a statement announcing the launch of an online petition to the POTUS entitled, “Stop Talking, Start Walking,” the ADAC reminds Obama his term is almost up and he has yet to deliver on the 2008 campaign promise to “fix our broken immigration system” during his first year in office. The petition is available via ipetitions.com.
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
13
vibe
100 years of … Arizona!
Beyond Geronimo
On February 11 and 12, the state’s capitol mall
A new exhibit at the Heard Museum explores the
and surrounding area along Centennial Way will serve as the backdrop for the Arizona Best Fest-Phoenix. Billed as “the party of the century,” the celebration will include live performances, cooking demonstrations, food vendors and villages representative of the different cultural groups in Arizona. The Hispanic Village will include booths with local writers and artists, kiosks highlighting the contributions of Hispanics to our state, screenings of documentaries and videos on local history and an eclectic performance line-up. Hours: noon – 10 p.m. on February 11, and noon – 6 p.m. on February 12. Visit az100years.org for a complete list of centennial celebrations.
life of the Chiricahua Apache legend. Beyond Geronimo: The Apache Experience opens February 11 and runs through January 20, 2013. The show offers a glimpse into the life and times of the medicine man turned warrior. Included in the exhibit are some of his personal belongings, as well as artifacts and paintings about the Apache experience, some by leading contemporary Native American artists. Goyahkla (“One Who Yawns”) was born in 1829 in Apache territory by the Gila River, then part of Mexico. He reportedly adopted the name Geronimo after battling Mexican soldiers who evoked San Jerónimo to deliver them from the warrior’s might. He surrendered to the U.S. Army in 1886 and spent the last years of his life as a prisoner of war; he became a showman during his internment and died at Fort Still, Oklahoma, on February 17, 1909. Visit heard.org for more.
Get more Vibe at www.latinopm.com
Henry Farny, “Geronimo”, 1894, gouache, 7-12” x 10”
Poetry of humanity Select works by the internationally-acclaimed Guatemalan
Luis Gonzalez Palma, Virginal, 1993/2011, hand-painted photograph on Hahnemuhle watercolor paper, 20” x 20”, edition of 7.
14
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
photographer, Luis Gonzalez Palma, are on view at the Lisa Sette Gallery in Scottsdale through February 25. Gonzalez Palma is best known for his sepia-toned, staged portraits of Guatemalan mestizos in which the subjects’ riveting and hauntingly sad gaze meets with that of the spectator. His work are represented in prestigious collections the world over. Locally, his work forms part of the collection of the Center for Contemporary Photography at the University of Arizona, and has also been exhibited at ASU’s Art Museum. As if channeling French philosopher Roland Barthes, Gonzalez Palma’s oeuvre explores the phenomenology of perception and reality. As he puts it, his work captures a reality “full of stories, memories, crossed paths ... they are remnants leftover from a fragmented world of dreams.” Lisa Sette Gallery represents Gonzalez Palma in Arizona; visit lisasettegallery.com for gallery hours and more information on the exhibit.
Clockwise From top left: Photo by Davin Rakin, courtesy of AZ Best Fest; Courtesy of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ; courtesy of Lisa Sette Gallery
¡!
From this dam flows 100 years of progress. Happy centennial, Arizona.
Together, we’ve accomplished a lot in a very short time. In 1903, nine years before Arizona became a state, SRP spearheaded the building of Theodore Roosevelt Dam to bring water to the Valley. Soon the water also became a source of energy. SRP’s stewardship of these precious resources continues today. We look forward to working together to make Arizona a great place to live and work for another 100 years. Please visit togetherweconserve.com to learn more.
TOGETHER WE CELEBRATE | Arizona Centennial 1912-2012
¡!
Pocho keen
vibe
Like peachy keen, pero different Image courtesy of FAUSTO FERNANDEZ
Stuff pochos say? The show $#*!, My Dad Says, may have
Piñata Zombie asesina (detail) by Fausto Fernandez (Mixed media collage on canvas, 2’ x 3,’ 2011) came to life in Zombie Piñata, available on iTunes.
Living the prolific life 2011 proved a fruitful year for
Fausto Fernandez. In addition to exhibiting his work in museums and galleries (and eateries and coffee shops like Gallo Blanco Café y Bar at the Clarendon Hotel and Lux on Central), the local artist spent part of last year working on group shows, a public art project for the 44th Street and Washington light rail stop, and even a commissioned piece for an iPad game. Over the summer Fausto won the Erni Cabat Award for most beautiful painting at the Arizona Biennial 2011 at the Tucson Museum of Art with his submission, It’s What You Do with Time that Heals. The piece was subsequently accepted into the museum’s permanent collection. In another important milestone in Fernandez’s career, the Heard Museum also accepted one of his pieces into its permanent collection, Demographic Fabric of America. This piece is currently part of the exhibition, The Border Project: Soundscapes, Landscapes, and Lifescapes at the University of Arizona Museum of Art (through March 11, 2012). Keep up with the artist at faustofernandez.blogspot.com and check out the pictures of art lovers striking goofy poses in front of Fernandez’s work at havingfuninfrontofmypaintings.blogspot.com. 16
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
been cancelled, but its raison d’être lives on in videos all over YouTube. The popular web series Sh*t Girls Say kept the ball rolling and soon it spawned a host of spoofs and some earnest attempts that poke fun at the things we say in our daily lives. Naturally, Latinos of all stripes and backgrounds were sure to get the same treatment, so I decided to investigate exactly what was being posted about the stuff we say and what other groups are saying to us, like “Sh*t White Girls Say to Latinas.” Some of it is funny, but there is definitely room for improvement, which means there is an opportunity for someone out there to become a YouTube sensation. All you really need to do is mine George Lopez and other Latino comedians for material — practice your lines and get your timing right, and, who knows, you might get your own TV show. Then you can explore other material, like the word “actually.” The trick is to pronounce it “ack-choo-lee,” and use it repeatedly. For example, you could say, “Actually, I like flour tortillas.” You can get a friend to reply, “Actually, corn tortillas are better.” And then, you could end the exchange by saying, “Actually, you are probably right.” This could go on for a while — actually. Then you could move on to parody the things your dad says. A tip: check out my personal favorite, Sh*t Asian Dads Say. It is done really well and it even has a hilarious accompanying blooper video. Plus, it is funny to see how similar Asian and Latino dads can be. For fun, you could have the character playing your dad say, “ahh-eee” at the end of every statement and it will sure be funny.
There already is one about abuelas and it is pretty funny (with over 500,000 hits), but the overbearing nana is a wonderful cubana, which means there is still room for Puerto Rican, Mexican-American and other Latina abuelitas to get their moment in the sun. How about your brother? Just put on some Earth, Wind and Fire and say, “that’s my jam, that’s my jam!” Make sure everyone within 50 feet knows that’s his jam. The great thing about YouTube is that it doesn’t discriminate, or at least it discriminates evenly, because just about every ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation is parodied. All you need to do is type, “things (insert person or group) say.” The trend is really picking up steam and new videos are popping up every day and for good reason — we like to laugh at ourselves and at each other, especially from the safety of the glow of our computer screens. So, for those of you who complain that Latinos don’t get enough screen time in movies and television, here is a golden opportunity to make your own celebrity. Just be sure to be funny, please.
Happenings at Phoenix Art Museum
Vibe
¡!
Anaya says
Photo Courtesy of BY Experience
Sharing lives offline By Catherine Anaya
I’d like to make the case for an
Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani (The Lady with an Ermine),’ 1489–90. Property of the Czartoryski Foundation in Cracow on deposit at the National Museum in Cracow.
Leonardo Live from London In February, Phoenix Art Museum
hosts Leonardo Live, a unique, on-screen event featuring an insider’s glimpse into the National Gallery’s sold-out, once in a lifetime exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan. With four showings throughout the month of February, visitors have a rare opportunity to view in astonishing detail the most extensive collection of da Vinci’s work in one location, featuring one never-before-seen painting. Considered to be one of the most important art exhibitions of the century, tickets for the sold-out show have resold for more than $700 each, with people lining up for hours in Trafalgar Square in hopes of seeing this momentous collection. A first for museum audiences in Arizona, Leonardo Live is a big-screen presentation of the entire exhibition, presented by art historian Tim Marlow and British journalist Mariella Frostrup. Leonardo Live will be presented February 19, 24, and 25, 2012, at 2 p.m., with an additional showing on February 22 at 3 p.m. Tickets are just $15 for Museum members and students with ID, and $18 for general admission. Presented in high definition with Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, the show runs approximately 105 minutes. For tickets, visit tickets.phxart.org, or call 602-307-2016 for more information.
occasional technology time-out. Doing so led to one of the deepest conversations I’ve had with my teen in a while. Recently, she got a little sassy and I decided to punish her by taking away her “lifelines”: cell phone and computer. I didn’t just suspend her use of them; I physically took them and hid them. She wants to be an attorney, so I commended her for the rather good arguments she made for why I should give them back. But I stood my ground. When she realized I wasn’t going to bend, she sat next to me and started talking. We talked until two in the morning! I had been wanting to talk to her about the dangers of sexting and inappropriate Facebook postings, I took full advantage of her undivided attention. I used the MASK (Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids) Magazine’s recent issue about digital safety as a springboard for our conversation and, once she got going, she talked honestly about what some kids her age are doing. She revealed just how much she knows about all the things I wish she didn’t. She talked about her personal values, morals and ethics and what she wasn’t willing to compromise – for anyone. I proudly listened to her converse so maturely about things I’ve agonized over whether to bring up, for fear of turning her away. I believed that being up front with her about my own behaviors at her age would earn her trust and confidence.
She’d realize that I really do know what it’s like to be a teenager. About five years ago I found a journal I had written when I was 14 years old. I let her read it. I had written down some not so pretty thoughts about my mom and about things I was doing behind her back. I remember my mom’s criticizing me for letting my daughter read the journal: “She’s going to remind you that you did certain things and you turned out fine – so, why can’t she?” I still believe I did the right thing. Though she was only 10-years-old at the time, I think I had planted a seed that contributed to the easy way she engaged with me in more recent conversations. Michelle Cardini, the co-founder of MASK, says there’s research to support what I did: “Given what we expect our children to be exposed to, it’s best for parents to speak to them about these impending situations at an age-appropriate level, perhaps five years before they’re going to be exposed to it. And it’s not just about speaking to them once; it’s about creating an on-going dialogue.” When it comes to connecting with your kids, technology is a good addition not a replacement. Taking a break from it was a good reminder. Catherine Anaya anchors CBS 5 News weeknights at 5, 5:30, 6 & 10pm. She is a mother of two, marathon runner and motivational speaker. Reach her at canaya@kpho.com, on Facebook, Twitter and at CatherineAnaya.com.
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
17
Romancing Arizona
Tuesday, February 14 | 7:00–10:00 p.m. – Spend an evening under the stars celebrating Valentine’s Day and 100 years of Arizona history. – Enjoy the Delta blues sound of the Sugar Thieves and swing-dance performed by the Savoy Hop Cats. – Experience food and drinks created with ingredients from Arizona farms, ranches, and wineries. – Guests will also get a sneak peak at MIM’s centennial exhibition, called “I Am AZ Music.” Ages 21 and older Tickets: $50 per person if purchased by January 31 $60 per person when purchased from February 1–14
To Purchase Tickets • Order online at theMIM.org • Call 480.478.6000 • Visit MIM’s Ticket Office at 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ (Corner of Tatum & Mayo Blvds., just south of Loop 101)
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM
Producido por Live Nation en Asociación con
LOS BOLETOS TAMBIEN ESTAN DISPONIBLES EN TICKETMASTER y TAQUILLAS DEL TEATRO O VIA TELEFONICA AL 1-800-745-3000. Fechas, funciones y precios de boletos sujetos a cambio sin previo aviso. Precio de boletos sujeto a cargos adicionales en caso de aplicar.
18
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
rincón del arte
Stellar start to film career
¡!
Shaina Sandoval, film actor and university student Originally from: I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but moved with my family to Texas when I was just a year old. We spent the majority of my life – 17 years – in the Dallas-Fort Worth area before moving to Arizona. In Arizona since:
My family and I moved to Scottsdale
nearly two years ago.
Education:
I graduated from Colleyville Heritage High School in 2009, and I’m currently enrolled at the Herberger Institute for the Arts at Arizona State University.
Who or what influenced your decision to pursue an acting career? I’ve always been
Photo courtesy of Shaina Sandoval
interested in the arts and was a very creative kid. I started dancing at six years old and that really ignited my interest in the performing arts. After the unexpected deaths of my two grandfathers, I realized I always had to go for my dreams. I started acting about nine years ago, and right away knew it was what I wanted to do in life!
Acting debut: Prior to my first lead role as Angie in In Search of the American Dream, which was released in January of this year, I’ve appeared in a number of nationally-aired commercials and played feature roles in a few films. Résumé highlights:
Feature roles in Midnight Clear (2006), Ungirlfriendable (2008), Rain (2006), and Nico the Millionaire. Commercial work includes spots for AT&T, Pei Wei, Walmart and Denny’s.
Next professional goal? More movies! Eventually, I would love to write my own script, produce a film and maybe even get the chance to star in the movie. An artist you want to meet:
I would
love to meet Penelope Cruz or Brad Pitt.
Current projects: Auditioning while continuing with acting and singing lessons. I do have several irons in the fire with upcoming projects after In Search of the American Dream which debuted this past January. Website:
shainasandoval.com
Help us highlight the local arts Send information to editor@latinopm.com. latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
19
There’s nothing I love more than taking my the ballgame. When a All family of my out big to plans were put on hold medical exam revealed lifestyle when I thought I had athat badmy cold and had aged my heart by an extra 10 years, it turned out to be heart failure. I was determined to get that time back. After a heart transplant, I feel lucky to But I needed help to change my life. be here. Mywas answer Mayo Clinic. My answer Mayowas Clinic. Adam Janusz Derrick Hall, Paradise Valley, Arizona
At Mayo Clinic, Adam was diagnosed with giant cell myocarditis, a devastating disease that often affects young, otherwise healthy people. He was outfitted with a Bi-Ventricular Assist Device Mayo Clinic’s personalized guidance Derrick change his lifestyle and reverse an the (BVAD) and was able to go physician home to wait for hishelped new heart. Fortomore information or to schedule damage to his visit heart. Mayo’s Heart Health and Performance Program is one of the many innovative appointment, mayoclinic.org/arizona or call 1-800-446-2279. ways that Mayo Clinic provides patients with diagnostic expertise and specialized care. To schedule an appointment, visit mayoclinic.org or call 1-800-446-2279
A message from the American Heart Association
heart sp an ic
women
Listen to your
rt a e H
e is s a dise
th
Hi f o r e ill k 1 ebruary is National Heart Month e#
F
and Latino Perspectives Magazine is proud to partner once again with the American Heart Association (AHA) to help spread information about the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Learn more about the AHA’s local initiatives and how you too can take simple steps to positively impact your health and our community.
latinopm.com
ÂĄ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
21
How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
Check for Life Helps Latinos Get Healthy
Courtesy of American Heart Association
to track their progress. Already, Check for Life is helping Valley Latinos get healthier. “One young man reluctantly got his blood pressure checked,” says Bertha Sepulveda, B.S.N., R.N., Grants Committee chair of the NAHN. “He was shocked to discover he had high blood pressure. We provided him with information about diet and exercise, answered all of his questions and encouraged him to visit a doctor.” The facts about heart disease and stroke among Hispanic men and women are startling: heart disease and stroke combined are the leading cause of death among Latinos in the U.S. Check for Life aims to help underserved Latinos know their risk for high blood pressure and give them the tools they need to get and stay healthy. The program is available in three Valley salons: Hadley’s Salon in Scottsdale, Studio 12 in Glendale and La Tijera mágica Salon. The American Heart Association plans to add more salons to the program as resources become available.
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
23
A message from the American Heart Association
At several Valley salons and barbershops that cater to a Latino clientele, people looking for a cut and style can receive an unexpected surprise — a free blood pressure screening. The blood pressure screenings are offered as part of the American Heart Association’s Check for Life program, in partnership with the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) - Valle del Sol Chapter. Check for Life is designed to reduce health disparities among underserved Latinos. The program began in December, 2011. Through the program, nurses from the NAHN train the staff at participating salons to check their clients’ blood pressure. After taking a client’s blood pressure, the speciallytrained stylists give feedback about the blood pressure reading and offer information about creating a healthier lifestyle. Local nurses are also available to consult with patients over the phone if they need more information or have questions. “I participate in Check for Life because I want to make my community healthier,” says Vianey Rosas, owner of La Tijera mágica Salon, which was one of the first three salons to participate in Check for Life. “My clients like knowing they can get their blood pressure checked here for free, and my staff and I are proud to provide a service that helps Latinos take charge of their health.” The stylists also offer each client a walletsized card that they can use to keep track of their blood pressure. This can help people monitor their health over time and allow them
Your healthcare providers will want to get an accurate picture of your blood pressure and chart what happens over time. Starting at age 20, the American Heart Association recommends a blood pressure screening at your regular healthcare visit or once every two years, if your blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. Blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when the heart relaxes between beats. While blood pressure can change frequently with changes in posture, exercise, stress or sleep, it should normally be less than 120/80 mm Hg (less than 120 systolic AND less than 80 diastolic) for an adults 20 and over. About 33.5% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure. A single high reading does not necessarily mean that you have high blood pressure. If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, your doctor may take several readings over time and might even have you monitor your blood pressure at home before diagnosing you with high blood pressure. If readings stay at 140/90 mm Hg or above (systolic 140 or above, or diastolic 90 or above) over time, your doctor will likely want you to begin a treatment program. Such a program almost always includes lifestyle changes and often prescription medication for those with readings of 140/90 or higher. If, while monitoring your blood pressure, you get a systolic reading of 180 mm Hg or higher, or a diastolic reading of 110 mm HG or higher, wait a couple of minutes and take it again. If the reading is still at or above that level, you should seek immediate emergency medical treatment for a hypertensive crisis. Even if your blood pressure is normal, you should consider making lifestyle modifications to prevent the development of high blood pressure and improve your heart health.
Red-hot and healthy T
he Arizona Heart Institute Vein Center treats varicose veins and
other vein disorders for what they really are - medical problems that go beyond cosmetics. Our board-certified specialists are trained in the most comprehensive, innovative techniques to improve the appearance and painful symptoms of your varicose veins with minimal discomfort and downtime. Spice up your Valentine’s Day with legs that are attractive and healthy. Call the Arizona Heart Institute Vein Center at 602.707.3511 for your personal consultation today.
2632 N. 20th St. | Phoenix, AZ 85006 | azheart.com
Get Healthy with My Heart. My Life. before it even starts. Make one change today, and another one tomorrow. Before you know it, you’ve stopped making unhealthy choices and started making life choices. Another way to get started on the path to healthier living is to take a walk for your heart at the 20th Annual Phoenix Heart Walk on February 25. The noncompetitive 5k walk/run celebrates people who have made healthy lifestyle changes and encourages many more people to take the pledge to live healthier. So, register your Heart Walk team today by signing up online at phoenixheartwalk.org. The funds you raise support local heart disease and stroke research and education initiatives. After the Walk, visit the Heart Healthy Festival, which includes live music, health information and a Kids’ Zone with games and activities for our youngest Heart Walkers! What: Phoenix Heart Walk When: February 25 at 8:30 a.m. Where: Tempe Beach Park To register: phoenixheartwalk.org
Go Red por Tu Corazón Did you know that heart disease remains the number one killer of Latina women? Despite this, only one in three Latinas say they have been informed by their doctor that they are a high-risk group. Heart disease is a serious issue facing our community, but there’s something you can do to fight back. Join the American Heart Association’s Go Red por Tu
Corazón movement and embrace a hearthealthy lifestyle. Go Red por Tu Corazón is raising awareness about heart disease among women and inspiring millions of Latinas to make heart-healthy changes for themselves and for their families. On May 11, the American Heart Association will kick off the Go Red por Tu Corazón movement in Phoenix at the annual Go Red for Women Luncheon. As
part of the Luncheon, Latinas will enjoy a special reception to celebrate the Go Red por Tu Corazón movement. The event also features tools and resources to help women get heart healthy, including a heart healthy lunch, breakout sessions and interactive health exhibits. To get involved, visit the website phoenixgoredluncheon.org, or call 602414-5360. latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
25
A message from the American Heart Association
No matter where you are in life, it’s never too late to make better health choices. That’s the idea behind the American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life. initiative. The program empowers people to take control of their heart health by giving them the information they need to live healthy. As part of My Heart. My Life., “Life’s Simple 7” can help you make healthy choices that can lead to better health. This is a seven-step plan that can help you start making positive changes today for a long, healthy future. Here are the seven simple steps you can take to get healthy and stay that way: - Stop smoking. - Maintain a healthy weight. - Get active. - Eat better. - Control your cholesterol. - Manage your blood pressure. - Control your blood sugar. Remember, you can stop heart disease
Just what the Dr. ordered Trufflehead
The basics:
If you’ve ever tried making a healthier version of your abuela’s lard-laden refried beans, you know it’s not always easy to prepare full-flavored, eco-friendly and healthful meals. And, if you’ve tried to go organic, you may have experienced sticker shock at the checkout. Trufflehead, a new cooking app for the iPhone and the iPad can help novice and seasoned cooks to prepare quick, delicious, healthful and budget conscious meals. The brainchild of Dr. Deborah Chud, a graduate of Boston University School of Medicine and author of the cookbook The Gourmet Prescription, Trufflehead ($3.99) recently made it to the iTunes list of top paying apps for the iPhone (January, 2012) and was also featured as a new and noteworthy application.
Over 260 recipes: 150 dairy-free, 110 gluten-free, 160 vegetarian and more than 200 low-cal and low-fat recipes. Nutritional information per serving included in each More than half of the recipes can be prepared in 30 minutes or less; 95% are budget-friendly Recipe-embedded hyperlinks to comprehensive data on over 200 ingredients and more than 150 equipment photo IDs (in case you don’t know what a broiler pan looks like) 170 multi-media demos accessible directly from recipes (handy if you’ve forgotten how to strain adobo or roast salmon in foil, for example) “Smart” shopping lists that compile lists of ingredients from multiple recipes and group identical items together for easy shopping
Priority Organics labeling of ingredients that are best purchased in organic form, and Doppelgänger recipes in “simple” and “not-so-simple” versions for novice and seasoned cooks Sustainability tips within recipes make many of them eco-conscious (e.g. most ecofriendly type of tuna or cod to buy)
Mexican-Spiced Sweet Potatoes 4 medium jewel or garnet yams (about 2 pounds total), scrubbed ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon chipotle powder ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper salt freshly-ground black pepper ½ cup low-fat milk, optional
Servings 4 • Time: >60 • Difficulty: Easy
Photo courtesy of Trufflehead
• • • • • • •
If you don’t have chipotle powder, add a little more cayenne pepper to taste. Preheat the oven to 425 ° F. Line a small roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet with foil. Prick the potatoes a couple of times with a fork and place in the roasting pan. Bake 1 to 1½ hours, turning every 30 minutes, until soft. Remove from the oven. (May be prepared to this point up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated in a covered container.) While the potatoes bake, combine the cinnamon, chipotle powder and cayenne in a small bowl or measuring cup. Blend with a fork or wire whisk. (You can wear protective gloves to speed up this step.) When cool enough to handle, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop flesh into a large microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle with the spice mixture. Mash with a fork or potato masher. Taste, then season with salt and pepper. For a lighter texture, stir in the milk a little at a time. If the mixture has cooled too much, microwave to warm. Serve immediately. 26
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
Per serving: 172 calories, 0 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 40 g total carbohydrate, 5 g dietary fiber, 3 g protein, 21 mg sodium.
Recipe courtesy of Trufflehead
Delight or Doom? 7 Signs You’ve Found the ‘Right’ Marriage Mate By Jacqueline Del Rosario, America’s Marriage Doctor
Y
ou’ve invested a lot of time, effort and emotional energy in your relationship. Things are good, and you think you’ve found “the one” – that marriage-worthy person you’re prepared to spend the rest of your life with, for better or for worse. But, before you say “I do” and turn this relationship into a life-long commitment, first determine if you and your mate are compatible in key areas proven to foster happy, healthy marriages that go the distance.
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
27
H
ere are 7 signs to help you best assess if your relationship will result in delightful wedded bliss, or if doom and gloom is the more likely outcome. This Marriage Compatibility Checklist will help you analyze the relationship hand you’ve been dealt, so you can hold ‘em or fold ‘em! You are like-minded. While you don’t have to be exactly the same (let’s face it, that would be boring), you do need to have congruent core morals and values. These shape expectations and direction and are essential ingredients of a resilient marriage. After all, how can two people travel together, and enjoy the journey, unless they are heading in the same direction and agree on how they will get there? Are you on the same pathway in terms of wants, needs and desires, or are you headed down opposite roads?
Your temperaments balance each other. One of you may be an extrovert, and the other an introvert; one, a Type A, and the other, more passive. While these glaring differences may lead to conflict at times, these opposing temperaments often bring balance. If you are the yin to your mate’s yang, or vice versa, you will better your chances of achieving a harmonious relationship. But, bear in mind that these differing character traits should serve to create a well-rounded, whole relationship. Beware if your respective tendencies are just too different to ever make the puzzle pieces fit. You are both committed to do the work. The Beatles got it wrong – love is NOT all you need. Effort and work are necessary to cultivate a strong and satisfying relationship for the long term. Rewards rarely come by just “phoning it in”; rather, dividends are realized when you work hard at something with forethought, intention and resolve. With respect to relationships, a commitment to continual fine-tuning and improvement is the glue that holds it all together. If your partner is not engaged in making the effort now, it is unlikely to change once you are married. In fact, the lack of effort and engagement could get even worse as complacency sets in. You are able to speak your partner’s “love language.” When two people with different dialects try to communicate, it is often confusing, frustrating and downright futile. Neither person understands what the other is trying to say. The same holds true in a marriage in which each partner has their own “love language” – those romantic, sexual, and emotional needs that make each individual feel fulfilled. Is your mate taking the time to learn and speak your “love language,” and are you interested in speaking theirs – or is such emotional gratification already being lost in translation?
You are able to work together to resolve problems. Cooperation is where the rubber meets the road. The bottom line is that you have to be able to work through conflict to find mutually-felt resolution in a healthy and productive manner. Marital life is filled with bumps, twists and turns, so having a partner who cooperates with you to work through conflicts minimizes the stress on the relationship. This certainly doesn’t mean you can, or should, enter marriage with the intent to change the other person, nor should you change who YOU are simply to keep the peace. The key is to be true to yourself while learning when and how to compromise so that you can work through problems effectively, without one or the other feeling resentful. If this isn’t possible now, take pause. 28
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
You are attracted to them. Do you remember that initial spark between the two of you? There is a special chemistry that is electrifying when there is a true physical attraction. As your relationship matures, daily life issues dominate your attention and bodies age; a fundamental human attraction can keep those fires burning between the two of you – both physically and emotionally. Every fire will burn itself out if not fueled, so assess if the flames are being well-stoked now, before the wedding day. You genuinely like who your partner is as a person. A relationship must be based upon a solid friendship that can stand the test of time. You should genuinely enjoy each other’s company and prefer to spend time together rather than alone or with others. You should like the person as much as you love them. Respect, admiration and honor are enduring traits that remain even as passion ebbs and swells over time. Can you truly say that your mate is your best friend? Would your partner say that about you? This simple 7-item checklist can help you determine if your relationship has happy marriage potential for the long haul. Just like any other type of investment, it’s always wise to conduct a “SWOT” analysis to identify intrinsic qualities (strengths and weaknesses) that may help or hinder your marital life as well as external issues (opportunities and threats) that may assist or adversely impact your “happily ever after.”
Photo courtesy of Dr. Del Rosario
“America’s Marriage Doctor,” Jacqueline del Rosario, is president and CEO of Recapturing the Vision International, an organization dedicated to promoting healthy marriages and family strengthening. A published author, speaker and nationally regarded media personality, Dr. del Rosario has been a certified pre- and post-marital counselor for over 20 years. Her cutting-edge series, Marriage Solutions and The Marital Constitution™, help couples successfully work through problems and find healthy solutions. She has two children and currently resides in Miami, Florida, with her husband of over 20 years. Dr. del Rosario is best known for her reformative leadership in the world of marriage education and family healing and strengthening. Inspired to break generational cycles of failure, violence and destructive behavior, Dr. del Rosario has become a leading advocate for healthy marriage formation. In 2006, Dr. del Rosario received nearly $3 million from the federal government to implement her marriage education program in educational institutions throughout south Florida. In 2008, she launched the Making Marriage Work radio talk show. The show serves as a stage for intelligent and practical conversation about real marital problems. In addition, she spearheads the Marriage Minutes campaign, a series of video presentations that provide the tools to prepare for healthy relationships and marriages. As a certified marriage counselor and Florida state-approved, pre-marital course provider, Dr. del Rosario has developed proven tools to help couples talk through their problems and find healthy solutions in support of her vision to break generational cycles of dependency that have crippled so many families. Dr. del Rosario is also the founder and CEO of Recapturing the Vision International, a globally recognized nonprofit dedicated to helping young people and their families overcome the negative trends that lead to generational cycles of failure and dependency. To do this, she has devised a suite of programs to empower youth and families at school, at home, and in the community; to date, her programs have received over $20 million in federal, state and county funding. Dr. del Rosario continues to work tirelessly to pave the way for social reform, a new mindset and, most importantly, lighting the path towards an enriched life. Recently Dr. del Rosario was named the official marriage coach for Executive 50 (nationalexec.org), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on executive leadership development. She may be reached online at doctordelrosario.com. latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
29
A Long History of Serving Arizona Wells Fargo is pleased to be part of the fabric of Arizona that makes our great state so unique and special – especially as we celebrate Arizona’s Centennial and Wells Fargo’s 160 nationwide anniversary this year. Wells Fargo began operations in Arizona in 1858 so we know very well how important having a robust legacy can be. We’ve been helping our customers succeed financially since we first opened our doors in Arizona over 153 years ago. Wells Fargo is much more than a “bank.” We are a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America and is ranked No. 23 on Fortune’s 2011 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In 2010, Wells Fargo gave $219 million to 19,000 nonprofits and schools. We invested almost $5 million in corporate and foundation contributions to Arizona schools and nonprofits in 2010, and our Arizona team members logged more than 78,000 volunteer hours – and we far surpassed these volunteer hours in 2011. At Wells Fargo, our vision and values guide everything we do at all times, though all economic conditions. As our Vision & Values state, “We help our customers succeed financially when we offer them financial solutions that are right for them – offering products and services responsibility, lending responsibly, servicing mortgages responsibility, offering trust financial advice and financial education.” Given our long history, our focus on our customers and our legacy of excellence, we will continue to do just that – today and for the next 160 years and beyond.
© 2012 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.
wellsfargo.com
35 Entrepreneur For business and family man Chris Nieto, the sky is the limit
37 Briefcase
Retired Air Force Master Sergeant Eldonna LewisFernandez on how to redirect your energy and confront the fears that are holding you back
Movin’ Up NALAC taps Gallego
Photo Courtesy of the artist
The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) has hired Adriana Gallego, a local painter and arts administrator, as its deputy director. The San Antonio-based agency is a multidisciplinary Latino arts service organization that provides advocacy, funding, networking and professional development opportunities to artists and arts organizations throughout the country. Over the past four years, Gallego served as the director
Adriana Gallego, new deputy director of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture
latinopm.com
ÂĄ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
31
¡!
movin’ up
of strategic initiatives for the Arizona Commission on the Arts where she was tasked with developing programs in support of arts organizations, artists and community groups.
position, Guana worked for Urias Communications where she was responsible for community outreach, media relations and PR efforts.
formerly with Lopez Negrete, joins the firm as senior account executive.
HAREP’s 2012 board The Hispanic Association of Real Estate Professionals (HAREP) announced the members of its 2012 executive board of directors: Lidia Cruz, president; Delia Wilkens, president-elect; Robert Gilmour, vice president; Michelle Bejerano, treasurer; Ana Benavides-Victors, secretary; Cece Kimura-San Diego, past president; Gabe Urias, parliamentarian; Gonzalo Enriquez, founder.
Joe Ray
Ray new V.P. at E.B. Lane
De Leon joins PAM
E. B. Lane has announced the appointment of Joe Ray as its new vice president of multicultural marketing. Ray served until recently as president and creative director of the branding agency MAXIMO. He’s the president of the Phoenix chapter of Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) and is also a painter and printmaker.
Last month Nicole de Leon joined Phoenix Art Museum as public relations manager. Most recently, de Leon worked as marketing director at Paradise Valley Community College. In addition to being an award-winning writer and playwright, de Leon is also the owner and principal designer of Finch Creative, a design firm.
Allison & Partners hires Carolina Guana
New hires at Urias
The international communications firm announced the launch of its Hispanic practice, Nuestra Voz, and the hiring of Carolina Guana as multicultural market group account director. Guana joins the Phoenix office and will be responsible for integrating Hispanic outreach into the company’s products and services. Prior to her new
Last December three new team members joined Urias Communications, a Hispanic advertising and PR agency. Jaclyn Lebo joins the agency as account coordinator. Christine Kaercher is the new account manager in charge of the CALA (Celebración Artística de las Américas) Alliance Festival account. Mary Verdugo,
Gabriel Serrato
Serrato receives award Gabriel Serrato was selected as the fall 2011 Jose Ronstadt Outstanding Undergraduate Student. The award was presented at ASU’s Hispanic convocation last December. Serrato graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Communication. He was recognized for his volunteerism and exemplary community leadership, which includes serving as vice president for the Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity, director of standards for the Multicultural Greek Council, and youth mentor for the AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute and the ASU Obama Scholars program.
Telecom execs at CenturyLink Cruz Flores and Alex Juarez, formerly with Qwest, are now part of team CenturyLink. Cruz Flores serves as senior multicultural marketing manager overseeing the
Movin’ Up Know someone who has been promoted, elected or honored? Send us the news of their achievements! Email movinup@latinopm.com 32
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
corporate strategic planning and the go-to-market execution of multicultural segments. Juarez, with over 23 years of experience in the marketing and PR industry, is responsible for PR and community relations efforts in the Phoenix market and serves as the company’s spokesman for English and Spanish media outreach. CenturyLink, the third largest telecom in the U.S., acquired Qwest last year.
Maria Elena Ochoa
Phoenix NSHMBA announces new BOD The Phoenix chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) announced its board of directors for 2012: Maria Elena Ochoa, president; Angie Mortemore, executive V.P.; Veronica Nevarez, V.P. Compliance; Elaine Slater, V.P. Finance; Claudia Sloan, V.P. Marketing, and chair of the Chapter Advisory Board; Gina Herrera, V.P. Memberships; Eric Rodriguez, V.P. Education; Alex Romero, V.P. Events; Pablo Rodriguez, president emeritus.
Paquito D’Rivera with the Brasil Guitar Duo Friday, March 9 | 7 & 9 p.m. Tickets: $40–$45 This nine-time GRAMMY winner and Latin jazz legend returns to MIM with guitar sensations João Luiz and Douglas Lora. Supported in part by Scott and Leslie Turner and Sanderson Lincoln
To Purchase Tickets:
MUSIC THEATER
• Order online at theMIM.org Located in the Musical Instrument Museum • Call 480.478.6000 • Visit MIM’s Ticket Office at 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85050 (Corner of Tatum & Mayo Blvds., just south of Loop 101)
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
33
Salud to a new class of entrepreneurs. It is said that capital isn’t scarce–
up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
vision is. Blue Cross Blue Shield
We wish you nothing but success
of Arizona celebrates the vision,
as you grow healthy businesses
focus and unstoppable mentality
throughout Arizona.
of Phoenix and Tucson’s
askblueaz.com
¡!
entrepreneur
From the ground up Chris Nieto, cofounder, Merzproject; principal, Shepley Bulfinch By Cecilia Rosales
Chris and Rebecca with their daughters Paloma and Sofia Nieto.
Photo by Matt Winquist Photography
on and he gets giddy. As one of the youngest principals in the recent history of the prestigious architecture and design firm of Shepley Bulfinch, he’s overseeing high-rise construction projects. Last year, Chris was recognized by ENR Southwest as one of the magazine’s “20 Leaders under 40” and one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s “40 under 40.” Despite his professional accomplishments, the 32-year-old Tucson native remains deeply grounded. He rejects the idea of being a self-made business man; instead, he credits two generations of the Nieto family for providing him with meaningful learning opportunities. The Nietos are an entrepreneurial brood with deep roots in Arizona. Santiago Nieto, Chris’ grandfather, founded NiMo Mechanical in Tucson in the early 60’s. In the mid-80’s, James Frederick Nieto, Chris’ father, founded Qualified Mechanical Contractors in Tucson and in 1996, JFN Mechanical Contractors in Phoenix. Growing up, Chris spent summers working alongside his dad, first as a laborer and eventually in a management position at JFN Mechanical. After a brief stint as an undergrad at the University of Arizona, he had a major revelation. As he refers to it, “Rebecca happened.” “She just rocked my world and I wanted to start working full time and take care of her.” Managing his father’s contracting firm on a full-time basis, he commuted from Tucson to Phoenix every day until he relocated to Phoenix in 1998. The experience proved fruitful. “He taught me everything I know,” says Chris. “My father taught me to do things right, or not do them at all; he’s an incredible businessman.” By all accounts, Chris was a good disciple. In 2004, with the support of his wife, Rebecca, he co-founded the award-winning architectural and design firm, Merzproject, with Joe Herzog. Although Nieto had no experience in architecture, he steadfastly believed in Herzog’s talent and vision. “He’s one of those talents you don’t see very often,” he says of his business partner. The architectural establishment agrees; many of Nieto and Herzog’s projects have earned the team numerous awards.
Photo courtesy of Chris Nieto
Ask Chris Nieto what he’s currently working
Hoover House, the Nieto residence, was remodeled by Merzproject. Becoming his architectural firm’s client enabled Nieto to learn a new aspect of his business.
In 2009, Merzproject became the Phoenix studio of the Boston-headquartered firm of Shepley Bulfinch. For Nieto, this milestone would not have been possible without the support of mentors like Sandy Werthman, a veteran in the construction industry. His secret to success? “I’ve been a part of great things because I’ve been a part of great teams.”
Suggest an entrepreneur Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
35
?
Ask the pros... Bonnie L. Booden, Attorney at Law, P.C.
Andres Hernandez, M.D. Internal Medicine Physician
201 North Central Avenue, Suite 3300 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 phone: (602) 252-4880 Fax: (602) 252-1481 email: Bonnie@BonnieBoodenLaw.com
2610 North 3rd Street, Suite A-1 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 phone: (602) 824-4400 physiciangroupaz.com
Q:
What is “mediation” and why should I consider it to resolve a dispute?
Did you know? Nearly 42 million women in America have some form of heart and vascular disease – and the number continues to grow. This can be attributed to a number of things, including increased stress levels and lifestyle choices. Also, heart attack symptoms in women can be different from men, making it harder to identify and initiate early treatment. Some of the unusual symptoms are back pain, fatigue and upper abdominal pressure or discomfort. The good news is that heart disease can be treated and prevented. While you can’t control age and family history, you can make daily lifestyle choices, beginning with diet, exercise and health screening.
A:
Black’s Law Dictionary defines mediation as “a method of non-binding dispute resolution involving a neutral third party who tries to help the disputing parties reach a mutually agreeable solution.” Mediation helps people resolve their own disputes, instead of having a judge impose a resolution on them. A mediator’s primary purpose is to help the parties reach a voluntary agreement on contested issues. Mediation can be a way to arrive at creative solutions tailored to your specific needs, and to avoid an arbitrary decision made by a judge or arbitrator who does not know you or your circumstances.
The suggestions and opinions of the advertisers on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of Latino Perspectives Magazine
Ojos que no ven... Corazón que no siente Got something to sell? Showcase it at MercadoatLatinoPM.com
Mercado at LatinoPM
36
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
¡!
:
11 fears that are holding you back By Eldonna Lewis-Fernandez
It’s been said that FEAR stands for “Forget
Everything And Run.” It is that uncomfortable, disconcerting feeling that causes us to take a back seat in our own life and prevents us from proactively moving forward to reach our goals and aspirations. Instead of facing a personal, business or workplace situation head on and taking control of the proverbial handlebars of life, fear causes us to turn the other way, freeze in our tracks or poke our heads in the sand. One way to counteract fear’s adverse impact on your life and career is to recognize the type of fear that might be defining you and driving your actions, or lack thereof. In fact, there are many “types” of fears that will prevent you from achieving in both your personal and professional lives. Recognizing the specific fears that are be holding you back is the critical first step toward breaking free of emotional paralysis and living a more carefree, uninhibited life. As the saying goes, “No guts, no glory.” Below are 11 common fears that hold people back from that which they desire both personally and professionally:
1. Fear of success This is actually a fear of achieving your dreams and standing out; fear of the attention you will receive should you actually realize success. Yes, people might look at you and talk about you, which can make you feel self-conscious. Sometimes, it’s the fear of taking the steps necessary to work toward your goal, or not knowing what to do first when all seems daunting at the onset. We all have things we want to achieve in life but, by giving into this particular fear, you lose faith in yourself and your abilities, and also faith in those who truly have your best interests at heart and want to see you succeed. Remember that even baby steps are forward momentum. 2. Fear of leading With leadership comes responsibility, and many are afraid of being responsible for an outcome that impacts not only themselves, but also the
people they are guiding. Many with this fear worry and wonder, “What if I lead them the wrong way?” You need to trust your intuition to guide you and have faith that you will make the right decisions – the same faith others have instilled in you so they may follow. Letting go of the outcome and its various possible impacts brings freedom and, with it, releases you from fearing the unknown. It allows you to trust your leadership skills and be an example for others.
3. Fear of speaking
Many people fear public speaking more than any other activity. Speaking requires a palpable level of confidence and ability. In our lives and careers, we are sometimes required to present thoughts and ideas to others. Whether it is ideas at a latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
37
¡! “Cancer Treatment Centers of America® gave me a team that stood beside me and was ready to fight. They restored my hope.”
briefcase
school PTA meeting, a speech at a wedding or funeral, a briefing during a staff meeting or a full-scale conference keynote, it’s all public speaking. Being a confident speaker requires training, not talent. Master this skill and you will command the attention and respect that you deserve and the successes will ensue.
~Beth Gomez Cancer Survivor
4. Fear of encroachment
Don’t Let Anyone Tell You There’s Nothing More That Can Be Done. When Beth realized there was nothing more that could be done, she turned to Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), where we have been fighting complex and advanced cancer for decades. Beth’s team of CTCA cancer experts worked with her to create a comprehensive and tailored treatment plan that combined leading-edge oncologic medical treatments with naturopathic medicine, nutrition, rehabilitation, psychological counseling, spiritual support and pain management. We are different. At CTCA, we never give up. Call now to speak with one of our Oncology Information Specialists and learn how we fight cancer like no one else.
1-888-214-9488
or go to cancercenter.com
© 2011 Rising Tide
38
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
Many women and men today are working in fields that were once traditionally gender specific, such as the military, manufacturing, construction, automotive, nursing, fashion and beauty, culinary arts, etc. Working in an environment stereotyped by gender has its own challenges and requires a high level of confidence in your abilities and a strong voice to be heard, and even supported, among others who may not regard you as a peer. If your desires are unconventional or nontraditional, or simply go against what is expected of you by family members or friends, dig deep and stay true to who you are and what you want out of life. You don’t have to be loud and aggressive; just be unwavering in your vision and persevere.
5. Fear of power Power is your proverbial fuel source – from where your inner strength emanates and your passions burn bright. It is the juice that allows you to keep going in the face of adversity. Without power, you simply cannot move forward amid life’s seemingly endless road blocks. For all of its importance, power is simply a mindset – a genuine, heartfelt belief that you can do anything you set your mind to. Period. If you aren’t tapping into your authentic power, take some time to dig deep and cultivate it. It’s there and fully available for you to use, and it’s ready to make your dreams come true. Start small, achieve and savor it. Then, confidently aim a little higher, achieve and revel in it. Before long, you’ll be powerful enough to shoot for the stars. 6. Fear of inadequacy Feelings of inadequacy can come from inherently low self-esteem or past negative life
experiences. If someone has told you that you couldn’t do something or shamed you into believing you weren’t capable of doing something “well enough,” you may carry that feeling of ineptitude and not even realize it. This subconscious stranglehold can be truly debilitating. The best defense against a fear of inadequacy is to learn and master the specific skill, subject or activity in question and, by doing so, you will become self-assured in your execution. If it’s more about fundamental self esteem, seek out the emotional support to help you value and believe in your own capabilities.
7. Fear of failure All too often we stop short of attempting something new for fear we might embarrass ourselves or, worse, fail all together. Any given undertaking has the possibility of resulting in failure, which is never a desirable or welcome outcome. But, when facing something new, a fear of failure can be amplified as anxiety or nerves, and our “fight or flight” instinct kicks in. These intense feelings can cause us to put our aspirations on the shelf where they can languish in perpetuity. Mary Kay Ash perhaps said it best: “Fail forward to success.” Indeed, failure is part of the road toward success and should not be feared, but embraced as an opportunity for growth.
8. Fear of compromising integrity Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is looking or will ultimately know. Many fear that, in order to be successful in a career, we have to compromise our integrity and go against what we believe to be right. Overcoming this concern requires nothing more than establishing a specific set of boundaries for yourself and knowing exactly where and when you will draw the line and, then, sticking steadfastly to those parameters. It is a commitment to making belief-based decisions in all aspects of your life so that, when success is realized, there is no guilt or angst involved in how that success is manifested. It is important to recognize that you can be successful while adhering to your personal value system.
briefcase 9. Fear of vulnerability While it can be uncomfortable and downright scary to open yourself up and expose your true inner self, your ideas and aspirations to others of importance in your life, doing so can be cathartic and a true turning point in effecting positive change. Letting down your guard takes courage and strength, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable can help you relate better to people on a more intimate and personal level.
10. Fear of being alone Many people stay in abusive relationships or negative career situations because they are afraid of being alone, breaking away from the pack or becoming isolated from situations and people they once valued. It’s impossible to be completely content in life if you are uncomfortable being by yourself, or if a positive mindset is contingent on anyone or anything else, such as personal relationships or professional affiliations. Such codependency allows your attempts at happiness and success to be controlled by external third parties, which will rarely bear optimal results.
11. Fear of appearing selfish For some, it feels selfish to
Photo courtesy of the author
do anything for themselves, so instead,
¡!¡!
they do for everybody else and either burn out, harbor feelings of resentment or both. To neglect your own needs and focus solely on those of others can make you feel overwhelmed, stressed out, under pressure and weighed down. Often it can be difficult to find a way out of this quagmire once people have developed expectations and have come to depend on you – and you’re not one to disappoint. However, taking care of your needs first is not a selfish luxury, but rather a psychological imperative to ensure that you are emotionally nourished in your own right. Only then should you tend to the needs of others. Serving others should not be a substitute for self-care. The best way to combat any fear is to hit it head on, keep moving forward and stay focused on achieving your goal. There will always be obstacles that make reaching your goal seem impossible, and you must be disciplined and tenacious enough to stay focused and on track toward your goal. You must also be committed enough to not only make a promise to yourself, but also see it through even when the going gets tough. Only then can you keep the fear at bay and hit the fast track toward success.
Retired Air Force Master Sergeant Eldonna Lewis-Fernandez is a motivational speaker known internationally as The Pink Biker Chic – a brand developed to empower individuals to take control of the handlebars of their lives through the power of PINK: Power, Integrity, Negotiation and Knowledge. She trains women and men how to rethink and redirect their energies for higher performance and better bottom-line professional and personal decisions. She may be reached online at PinkBikerChic.com.
Are you looking for a career that will allow you to represent… A Fortune 50 company? The leader in their industry?
Are you searching for more… Control over your earnings? Brand recognition? Community influence?
We Provide… Training with current salary match (up to $140,000) $30,000 signing bonus Assignment book of business Up to $132,000 in supplemental income in addition to commission Annual bonus based on results
Join me to learn more at the State Farm Agency Career Seminar! Thursday, March 8th, 2012 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 9051 W. Kelton Lane, Suite 12 Peoria, 85382 RSVP: Chris Cruz at (602)319-7508 or chris.cruz.gukv@statefarm.com
Send us your briefcase items
Have a business story idea? Email us at editor@latinopm.com.
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
39
I need a health plan that fits my business plan. Finding a health plan that fits your business and your budget isn’t always easy. That’s why every day, thousands of people turn to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona for answers and expertise about health insurance coverage options. With individual plans under $59 per month and answers when you need them most, shouldn’t you Ask Blue?
askblueaz.com/perspectives (888) 620-2583
11-0388
Rates will vary and may be higher or lower depending on plan choice, age, gender, county of residence, tobacco usage, and other factors. D7724
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.
40
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
High on security
Monica Abril Aragon, Aviation Resource Management Craftsman, AZ Air National Guard Years of service:
Nine years.
Professional honors: • February 2008: LSET Honor Roll for the 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Davis Monthan Air Force Base (DMAFB), Arizona • July 2008: Distinguished Graduate of Aviation Resource Management Course, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi • October 1, 2010 – February 1, 2011: Recognized as the 214th Reconnaissance Group Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the 1st Quarter, AZ Air National Guard
Education:
Photo courtesy of Arizona Air National Guard
Pueblo High School, 1997. Pursuing Associate’s Degree in Logistics from the Community College of the Air Force.
Duties: A typical day in the life of an Aviation Resource Manager is extremely hectic. My primary purpose is to ensure that all aircrew members are qualified to fly. Additional responsibiities include: HAZMAT Monitor, Unit Health Monitor, Female Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and Unit Deployment Manager. Who or what inspired you to pursue this career? I became interested in the Arizona Who is your hero? My parents - they have alAir National Guard right after the September 11th tragedy; it wasn’t until October of 2002 that I actively pursued the possibility of joining the Arizona Air National Guard. As a single mother of two children, I felt this opportunity would allow me to pursue a career with benefits and raise my children in a familiar environment where I had family support should I ever get deployed or sent away for any training. My grandfather was a Korean War veteran who served in the Navy. I admired him and wanted nothing more than to follow in his footsteps and serve my country.
ways supported me in my personal and professional decisions, cared for my children when I have been deployed and assisted my family recently when my husband, who is also in the Arizona Air National Guard, was on a six-month assignment out of state.
Proudest moment:
Advice to others considering serving their community: My mother instilled
My proudest moment was graduating from Basic Training. This experience presented great challenges for me both mentally and physically. The seven-month separation from my children and parents was psychologically difficult, and I accomplished physical achievements that I did not believe were possible.
Next professional goal:
My next goal is to attain the rank of Tech Sergeant and ultimately I would like to apply for a First Sergeant’s position. I would love to be able to serve as a liaison between the troops and leadership.
in me a desire to serve others who are less fortunate. I have always been conscious of community need, and service to others is a great reward. I work hard to lead by example so that my children will also be aware of the needs of others.
Nominate a candidate
Help us acknowledge those who serve. Men and women currently in the military or a first responder. Send your info to editor@latinopm.com. latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
41
MICHAEL JACKSON MADONNA BEE GEES EARTH WIND & FIRE
www.eva955.com
PRINCE DONNA SUMMER KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
Let’s read, Arizona! Reading proficiency marked high priority By Erica Cardenas
With a new national report showing that
children who don’t read well by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, three Arizona foundations are leading a statewide initiative to tackle the underlying issues preventing children, especially lowincome children, from learning to read at grade level. Helios Education Foundation, Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust are collaborating with numerous cities and organizations across Arizona who have all joined the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. This national, 10-year initiative is focused on moving the needle on reading proficiency and making early reading an urgent priority. Recent studies show that low-income children can lose up to three months of reading comprehension skills due to summer learning loss, when compared to their more affluent peers. By the end of fifth grade, these same students can be as much as three grade levels behind. Studies also show that low-income children may hear as many as 30 million fewer words than their middle-income peers before reaching kindergarten. Helios, ACF and Piper will convene community stakeholders in a series of statewide meetings, with the results leading to an integrated statewide system that addresses the three main factors preventing students from reading at grade level: inadequate school readiness, school absenteeism and summer learning loss. “Helios Education Foundation understands the urgency around grade-level reading and we are working to improve the quality of the early learning environment by providing professional development opportunities for the teachers of children aged birth to 5,” said Karen Ortiz, Helios Education Foundation Vice President and Director of Early Childhood Education. “Teacher quality is a critical component to student success, and, in the last four years, we have invested over
$10 million into professional development initiatives for early childhood teachers and practitioners with an emphasis on language acquisition and emergent literacy knowledge and practice,” she adds. Foundation leaders and members of the collaborative will promote strategies and policies that work to close reading achievement gaps, raise the bar for reading proficiency so that all students are assessed by world-class standards, and ensure that all children have an equitable opportunity to meet those higher standards. Organizers plan to build on and enhance data collection and other work already done by Arizona stakeholders, such as First Things First, the Arizona Department of Education and the United Way. “Recognizing these devastating statistics, the Arizona Community Foundation and our partners are coming together to truly move the needle on early literacy,” said Jim Pitofsky, Arizona Community Foundation Chief latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
43
G O FA R , CL OSE T O H O M E .
Register Now!
Strategy Officer. “It is imperative that we address this forcefully and assure that all young children are able to read well by third grade, the necessary point of passage for students to succeed in later grades.” The state of Arizona joins more than 150 cities, counties and towns across the country taking action and pledging to tackle the grade-level reading crisis through coordinated local efforts. The national movement responds to a “call to action” issued by a special Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT report, Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters. The 2010 report underscored the troubling data on student achievement and poverty: Only 17 percent of low-income children scored proficient in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Half of them hadn’t even mastered basic reading skills. The National League of Cities, United Way World Wide and other national partners will recognize communities that develop the most comprehensive and sustainable plans to address the three primary barriers to early reading. Recent studies speak to the importance of early reading skills. Children who aren’t reading at grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate from high school than their reading-proficient peers. If those struggling readers are poor, they are 13 times more likely to be high school dropouts. Arizona’s recently enacted Move on When Reading legislation, mandating the retention of third graders who are not reading at grade level, puts additional pressure on the state to help young readers. For more information on the national Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, visit their website at gradelevelreading.net.
Military friendly school For the second consecutive year,
Fo l l ow us on www.phoenixcollege.edu
44
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
Brown Mackie College System of Schools has been selected as a “military friendly” school by G.I. Jobs magazine, and now appears on the 2012 List of Military Friendly Schools. The list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students. The common bond among the schools on the list is their shared priority of recruiting students with military experience. “Brown Mackie College has always held the deepest respect for the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country,” says K.L. Allen, Director of Business Development for Brown Mackie College System of Schools. “This ranking further acknowledges our long-term commitment to providing our military and veteran students with access to a
quality education. We are extremely pleased to once again be included on this list and in the company of other distinguished colleges and universities.” The list was compiled through extensive research starting last April during which G.I. Jobs polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Criteria for making the List of Military Friendly Schools included: efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students and academic accreditations. With 27 schools located in 15 states (including one school in Phoenix and another in Tucson), the Brown Mackie College family of schools offers bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees, certificate and diploma programs in health sciences, business, information technology, legal studies and design technologies.
Education caballero -style Head out to Wickenburg for some
outdoor education featuring cowboy naturalist, Richard Fredrickson, of the famed Rancho de los Caballeros Guest Ranch in Wickenburg. This tour begins with a moderately difficult walk in the desert, treating nature lovers to an array of Sonoran Desert upland plant and animal species, local history, storytelling and ecology. The loop walk is approximatley 1.5 miles long with minimal elevation change, but with some short sections with loose rocks and gravel. The walk is loaded with nature interpretation and hands-on
demonstrations, and is followed by a lunch at the Ranch’s cowboy dining room. Transportation departs on February 9 from the Desert Botanical Garden at 8:30 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m. The tour is limited to 20 people. Cost is $50 for members ($65 with Garden transportation) and $62 for non-members ($77 with Garden transportation). Lunch and gratuities are included. For more information about the Wickenburg excursion, visit the Desert Botanical Garden website at dbg.org.
Celebrating Our First Century of Hope 1912-2012 In 1912, community volunteers came together to address the critical needs of homeless and neglected children in Arizona.
Free online classes Want to learn to manage rental properties? Need to complete your GED?
Getting ready to landscape your yard and need help developing a plan? The Phoenix Public Library can help you learn about these topics and more than 500 others through a new resource on phoenixpubliclibrary.org. The Library’s newest online resource, Universal Class, offers self-paced study with real instructors to guide learning, engaging video-based lessons, graded tests and certificates of achievement. Customers can choose from subject areas including: accounting and bookkeeping, computers and technology, cooking, health and medicine, homeschooling, animal care, real estate, selfhelp, web development and more. Customers may enroll in up to five courses at one time and have six months to finish each course. While courses are non-credit, some professional associations and organizations may accept them as continuing education units. Library cardholders can access Universal Class by visiting “learning & research” on phoenixpubliclibrary. org and clicking the “online classes” icon. Customers will be asked to create an account to view classes offered and get started.
Have an education story idea? Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
Today, as Arizona’s Children Association celebrates 100 years of providing services to children andfamilies in need throughout the state, we look forward to providing a second century of hope to our communities.
Keep Hope Alive for children and families. Text “NINOS” to 20222 to donate $5 today* or visit www.arizonaschildren.org. * A one-time donation of $5.00 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 20222.
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
45
EDUCATION
YOUR WAY CERTIFICATES, DEGREES & PATHWAYS • Business
• Healthcare
• Sustainability
• Education
• Service & Leadership • Technology
Think outside the mailbox.
7541LPGenF11
Classes start 48 times a year! 480-384-9981 www.EnrollAtRio.com
Rio Salado College is a Maricopa Community College and an accredited institution. Online classes may have in-person and testing requirements. Payment plan options and Financial aid are available to those who qualify. For program details, such as estimated costs and graduation rates, please visit www.riosalado.edu/programs.
LPM, sent to your Inbox. For seven years, LPM has been the only Arizona magazine focused on the local Latino community. Sign up for the free digital edition: www.latinopm.com/digital { No two smiles are the same. Neither are our plans. } When it comes to your dental health, we know you depend on cost-effective options and access to the best possible care – and you can count on us to provide both. Since 1972, we have focused on offering more choices and more dentists at affordable prices, giving Arizona residents the freedom to choose the level of care they need and the healthy happy smiles they deserve. Get Family Coverage. Get Delta Dental.
46
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
MySmileAZ.com
Agency: Off Madison Ave · 5555 E Van Buren #215 · Phoenix, AZ 85008 · (480) 505-4500 · Fax: (480) 505-4501 • Contact: Ruben Muñoz • Contact Email: rubenm@offmadisonave.com • Contact Phone: 480-505-4562 • Client: Delta Dental • Job #: ıı-DEL-0828 • Pub: Latino Perspectives • Trim Size: 4.9028 in w x 4.828 in h • Color: CMYK
Got milk?
Experts wonder: Are you really lactose intolerant? By Robrt L. Pela
Your favorite athletes and leggy supermodels may
lately be sporting big, white moustaches in glossy magazine ads, but you can’t get within mooing distance of a glass of milk without breaking out in hives. Your doctor, or your know-it-all neighbor, or your favorite prime-time television news magazine has handed down the verdict: You’re lactose intolerant, and you’d better stay away from all things dairy. Then again, maybe not. Although more than 40 million Americans are lactose intolerant, you may not be among their number. Experts say that many self-diagnosed cases of lactose intolerance are just plain wrong, and that this misconception can lead to low-calcium diets that are detrimental to good health. And, researchers say that even those who are lactose intolerant needn’t cross milk off their shopping list altogether. There are simple dietary adjustments that can allow you to resume your daily consumption of dairy products without any ill effects. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, the predominant sugar found in milk. This inability is caused by a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Lactase breaks down milk sugar into simpler forms that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. When there isn’t enough lactase to digest the lactose you’ve consumed, the results can be rather unpleasant. Symptoms include nausea, bloating, gas, cramps and diarrhea, and usually manifest about a half hour after eating or drinking foods containing lactose. For most of us, lactase deficiency is a condition that develops naturally over time, as the body gradually produces less of that enzyme. In some cases, certain digestive diseases and injuries to the small intestine can reduce the amount of lactase produced; very occasionally, children are born without the ability to produce lactase. While medical types know what causes lactose intolerance, there is some question about why so many of us have
nixed every trace of dairy from our diets without a proper diagnosis. Steve Carper, author of Milk is Not for Every Body: Living with Lactose Intolerance, has a theory. “People really became aware of this condition in the mid-1990s,” Carper says, “when two of the larger dairy-substitute companies launched a multi-million-dollar, national ad campaign to promote their lactose-reduced milk products.” Before then, Carper says, practically no one had heard of lactose intolerance. “Today, it’s something people can pin their symptoms on whenever they have a stomach – or latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
47
intestine-related illness,” he reports. “A lot of the time, the real trouble goes undiagnosed because people decide they can’t drink milk.” Greg Miller, Ph.D., vice president of nutrition research for the National Dairy Council, believes we blame milk for our health troubles for psychological reasons. “It’s a simple food aversion,” Miller says. “Everyone has eaten something that disagrees with them, and since lactose is present in so many foods, it gets written off as the culprit. You get sick after eating a whole gallon of ice cream, so you develop an aversion to any and all ice cream, because it’s associated with illness in your mind.” A simple hydrogen breath-test administered by your physician can determine whether or not you’re able to digest milk properly. After drinking a lactose‑loaded beverage, your breath is analyzed at regular intervals. Raised levels of hydrogen in the breath indicate an inadequate digestion of lactose. Carper recommends an easy, at-home trial to determine whether you should be tested for lactose intolerance. After abstaining from all dairy products for three days, gradually reintroduce dairy products into your diet. “You’ll know pretty quickly if you can’t digest lactose,” Carper promises. “If your symptoms return within an hour or so of eating milk-based products, it’s time to visit the doctor for a breath-test.” A diagnosis of lactose intolerance doesn’t mean you’ll never eat dairy again, Miller says. “We’re beginning to better understand the difference between lactose intolerance and lactose 48
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
maldigestion,” he says. “We’ve learned that, while lactose intolerance is still relevant, the issue isn’t black and white in terms of who has it and who doesn’t. There are varying degrees of this ailment, and some simple ways with which to address it.” For starters, a couple of simple dietary adjustments are in order. Carefully reading food labels is a good idea. Like Little Miss Muffett, you’re looking for curds and whey, as well as milk by‑products, dry milk solids and non-fat dry milk powder on the list of ingredients. If any of these are listed on a label, the item contains lactose. While no treatment exists to improve the body’s ability to produce lactase, there are some over-the-counter medications that will allow you to consume calciumrich dairy foods. Among the most popular is Lactade, a lactase enzyme tablet that helps digest solid foods that contain lactose. There are also
What other products Milk and milk products are often added to processed foods — foods that have been altered to prolong their shelf life. People with lactose intolerance should be aware of the many food products that may contain even small amounts of lactose, such as: • Bread and other baked goods • Waffles, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, and mixes to make them • Processed breakfast foods, such as doughnuts, frozen waffles and pancakes, toaster pastries and sweet rolls • Processed breakfast cereals
solutions available that can be added to milk that will reduce the lactose content by up to 90 percent. Dairy alternatives, like soy milk, almond milk and lactose‑reduced milk are available at many supermarkets. These products contain all of the nutrients found in regular milk, and remain fresh for about the same length of time (or longer, if the product is super‑pasteurized). Additionally, many non-dairy foods, including green vegetables like broccoli and kale, and fish with soft, edible bones such as salmon and sardines, are excellent sources of calcium. Some experts say that the worst thing we can do is dump dairy altogether from our diets. Besides calcium and protein, dairy foods provide daily requirements of iron, calcium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin A and phosphorous. Ann Rusniak, chief nutritionist at McDonald’s, Inc. and a former dietician at the National Dairy Council, believes that even the most lactose-intolerant person can reintroduce dairy into his diet, as long as he takes it slowly.
“Consuming milk in small portions throughout the day allows your body, which may only be producing small amounts of lactase, to digest the lactose you’re giving it,” Rusniak says. “Combining dairy with other foods is also a good idea, since solid foods slow down the digestion, which helps our systems handle lactose better.” Although yogurt itself is fairly high in lactose, yogurts with active cultures are a good source of calcium for many people with lactose intolerance, Rusniak reports. Evidence shows that the bacterial cultures used in making yogurt produce some of the lactase enzyme required for proper digestion. For people who work out regularly, dairy foods provide important, inexpensive, high quality protein. If you’re an endurance athlete, you may require up to five servings of the essential amino acids and protein that milk readily provides. Miller also points out that milk provides a convenient and high-powered source of protein right after a workout, that helps lower post-workout muscle pain and
facilitates the repair process right away, leading to better exercise performance during your next round of exercise. Miller says that athletes who are swapping a calcium substitute for milk may be missing out on one of the nine necessary nutrients, such as zinc (important for building lean body mass), that are delivered by dairy foods. “If you’re working out with any regularity,” he says, “you should be concerned about getting a well-balanced diet. Cutting out a food group and replacing it with a calcium supplement, even if it increases your protein intake or removes dairy from your diet, only exacerbates dietary problems.” In any case, Miller insists that the news is all positive; if you are unable to digest dairy products, learning which foods to avoid is simple. Non-prescription medications make eating cheese easy again, and gradual re-introduction of dairy into your diet is another option. Chances are pretty good that, with a little practice, you’ll be sporting a milk moustache again in no time.
contain lactose? • Instant potatoes, soups and breakfast drinks • Potato chips, corn chips and other processed snacks • Processed meats, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs and lunch meats • Margarine • Salad dressings • Liquid- and powdered-milk-based meal replacements • Protein powders and bars • Candies • Non-dairy liquid and powdered coffee creamers • Non-dairy whipped toppings
Checking the ingredients on food labels is helpful for finding possible sources of lactose in food products. If any of the following words are listed on a food label, the product contains lactose: milk, lactose, whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids and non-fat dry milk powder. Lactose is also used in some prescription medicines, including birth control pills and overthe-counter medicines like products to treat stomach acid and gas. These medicines most often cause symptoms in people with severe lactose intolerance.
latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
49
For your valentine By staff
Yes, it’s true, you can’t buy love, But these nifty gadgets can surely help you say “te quiero.” Whether your
valentine likes keeping track of her athletic performance, training for a marathon, playing golf or showing off at the skate park, these latest accessories are hot.
Sportiiiis is a heads-up display and audio-feedback system that attaches to sport eyewear and provides athletes with realtime visual feedback of performance data. The compact unit attaches to virtually any pair of glasses and is designed to work with ANT+ technology to guide users to pre-programmed zones for heart rate, speed, power, cadence and pace. This key visual feedback helps athletes reach their goals, shorten their race time and ultimately go faster. $199.99 at 4iiii.com.
Garmin Approach S1 is fitRAIL exercise machine mount for iPad makes it easy to watch movies and TV shows, listen to music or read — even work-related stuff if you so desire — during workouts. A neoprene strap attaches to the top of the iPad to lock it into place; soft rubber feet prevent scratching workout machines; and its foldable design and travel pouch make it ideal for the gym bag. Available at Apple retail stores and scosche.com for $49.99. 50
Latino Perspectives Magazine
¡ February 2012!
latinopm.com
a sports watch and highsensitivity GPS receiver that allows golfers to track distance information at the front, back and middle of greens for 18,000+ pre-loaded U.S., Canadian and other international courses. You can measure individual shot distances, and the odometer feature tracks how far you walk on, or off, the course. Watch includes an alarm if you need help waking up in the morning! No downloads or subscriptions required. $249.99 at garmin.com/us.
Optrix HD Sport
is designed for Evel Knievel types. It’s a case for the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch that allows users to mount the device securely to helmets or other sports equipment including bicycles, motorcycles and even skateboards, to take extreme sports video capture to the next level (and then share it with America’s Funniest Videos or post it on Youtube). The Optrix VideoPro app, released last month ($9.99 at Apple’s App Store), uses realtime sports telemetry to display and record lap time, GPS track map, speed, g-force diagram (so your friends know how hard you fell) and more. The Optrix HD Sport is $79.99 at optrixhd.com.
Wahoo Run/Gym Pack
Wahoo Fitness Blue HR was released last month and is billed as the world’s first Bluetooth Smart heartrate monitor. The device communicates wirelessly with the iPhone 4S and other Bluetooth Smart Ready devices, providing users with real-time heartrate readings on their smartphone. And, one of the best features of Bluetooth Smart devices, it won’t drain the phone’s battery. $79.99 at wahoofitness.com.
takes it up a notch by wirelessly connecting to any ANT+ fitness measuring device, including heart monitors and foot pods. It’s compatible with over 100 of the top fitness apps in the market and transforms your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad into a complete fitness partner supplying heart rate, pace, distance, location, calories, your favorite playlist and more, all in real-time. The pack includes a soft heart rate strap and Wahoo Key, which plugs into the 30-pin connector and instantly links your Apple device to the most popular heart rate monitors and other ANT+ sensors. $129.99 at Best Buy. latinopm.com
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
51
P.S.
Stella Pope Duarte
What would you risk for love? By Stella Pope Duarte
How can you tell when you’re in
love? How do you know when someone really loves you? Is it roses, candy, a diamond ring, a fluttering heart or perhaps a beautiful poem that proves love is present? For Leona Vicario, a beautiful, intelligent young woman living in Mexico City during the Mexican Revolution, it was an ideal. Orphaned at a young age, Leona was left in the care of her uncle, Agustín Pomposa, who owned a law firm in Mexico City. At that time, Mexico was split into two factions: those who claimed allegiance to the Spanish crown, which included Leona’s uncle, and those who were pro-revolutionary and sought independence from Spain. Leona dreamed of a free Mexico, disappointing her uncle and bringing upon herself the wrath of the Spanish colonists. Unknown to her uncle, Leona was also aiding the revolutionary army with funds, contributing 80,000 pesos of her own money to help fight the Royalists. To complicate things further, a young attorney who worked at her uncle’s law firm, Andrés Quintana Roo, fell in love with Leona and asked for her hand in marriage. Leona was smitten by the handsome attorney, who would one day preside over the Constitutional Assembly,
which drafted Mexico’s Declaration of Independence. Leona’s uncle refused to even consider the marriage, as he knew Quintana Roo was a liberal who was fighting on the side of the insurgency. Saddened by Pomposa’s refusal to allow the marriage, Quintana Roo left to fight with the insurgent forces, while Leona remained in Mexico City. It wasn’t long before the uncle discovered that his niece was spying for the enemy, gathering military secrets she overheard and passing on the information to Quintana Roo. In his anger over this discovery, he had her locked up in Belén de las Mochas Convent in 1813. While confined in the convent, Leona was not allowed to speak to anyone outside the convent walls, however, it wasn’t long before she gained the confidence of monks who understood her great love for Quintana Roo and the sacrifices she was willing to make for a free Mexico. Before long, Leona escaped the convent, disguising herself as a black woman and joining a caravan of wine merchants who had stopped at the convent. She sought Quintana Roo in Oaxaca and they were immediately married. Together, Leona and Quintana Roo fought the royal army, often striking at night and hiding in caves in the nearby mountains. They selected a secluded cave as a temporary home, and it was there
that Leona gave birth to their daughter. Seeking to end his young family’s hardship, Quintana Roo surrendered to the enemy asking for asylum for his wife and child. This was granted, and the family was allowed to live in peace. After her death, Leona Vicario was honored by President Lopez de Santa Anna as the “Sweet Mother of the Fatherland.” She is the only civilian woman to have received a state funeral. Quintana Roo would eventually gain fame as a legislator, author and champion of the people; and Mexico’s southern territory today proudly bears his name. Within the boundaries of Quintana Roo is the city of Leona Vicario, a tribute to the woman he loved. The dangers, hardships and risks Leona and Andrés Quintana Roo accepted in the name of love won them the admiration and love of Mexicans and people everywhere who understand the dynamic force love can create. Today, the couple lies buried side by side in the Independence Column in Mexico City. Overcoming all obstacles, Leona and Andrés Quintana Roo won true love’s greatest prize: immortality.
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
¡ February 2012!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
53
¡!
my perspective on: an inclusive vision for Arizona
The centennial legislature By State Senator David Lujan
I was sworn in to the Arizona Senate. Ever since then, a lot of people have asked me, “Why would you possibly want to return to the Arizona Legislature?” It’s certainly true that after having served in the legislature for six years, I was enjoying my respite away from politics, and I don’t have to tell you that our legislature has earned a national reputation for extremism and eccentricity. However, I took on this new challenge because the fight to give Arizona the leadership it deserves is a cause worth taking up. I firmly believe that Arizona is a great place to live, and that the only way that it will stay that way is if our policy makers are not afraid to also be leaders. The way the centennial legislature can do that is simple: by embracing an inclusive vision for Arizona where every family is valued, and providing world-class schools so those families can raise the second century of Arizona’s engineers, teachers, firefighters and entrepreneurs. The legislature is going to take up any number of issues this year, and all of them have the potential to have a real impact on the everyday lives of Arizona families. I would like to draw your attention to a few issues in particular that Central Phoenicians and all Arizonans should especially follow:
More perspectives
Send us your perspective on whatever moves you. Email editor@latinopm.com.
Earlier this month,
SB 1070/immigration
54
¡ February 2012!
SB 1070 and its aftermath had a disastrous impact on Arizona, the extent of which will take us many years to comprehend. The damage that its Republican proponents did to Arizona will not be healed quickly or easily, but that process must begin now. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of SB 1218, which would repeal SB 1070 and send a message of inclusion to our families at home, as well as to investors from abroad.
Jobs/economy A few years ago, Arizona’s economy suffered a spectacular collapse of historic proportions. Rather than try and bring relief to our suffering families, the Republican legislature chose not only to pursue many of the same policies that led to the collapse, but further sought to aggravate the situation by voting in Russell Pearce’s job-killing agenda. If we want to jump start our business climate, the first place to start is
Latino Perspectives Magazine
latinopm.com
reforming our tax code so that it is simpler, fairer and prioritizes the risk-takers and dreamers who are otherwise known as Arizona’s small business owners. It is our entrepreneurs who are providing the leadership that will bring Arizona back, not the cynical Republicans who champion their cause one moment and then kill jobs by embarrassing us on the national stage the next. If there is any hope for a recovery, we need to pursue inclusive policies that prioritize investment, not radicalism.
Education The linchpin of any plan to strengthen Arizona’s families is to strengthen Arizona’s schools. I am sick and tired of always hearing stories about how our schools are in crisis or on the brink of collapse; we, as legislators, have the power to put a stop to this, and if we want to demonstrate true leadership, then we have no other choice. Right now, Arizona has a budget surplus that was largely achieved by gutting our public schools. The legislature took that money away from the classroom, and now that money should return to the classroom. As the principal of ASU Preparatory Academy, I know firsthand that Arizona’s kids are the best and the brightest this country has to offer, and I will not rest until the legislature gives them the tools they need to thrive. This year, 2012, is Arizona’s centennial year. When I reflect on just how far we have come in those 100 years, it excites me to think about the possibilities and opportunities the next 100 years can produce. However, in order to have a bountiful yield in our second century, we need to lay the groundwork by investing now in our families and schools. By showing the same foresight and leadership that our forebears afforded us, the future of Arizona is as bright as the desert sun. Senator Lujan (D-15) is a native Arizonan and a graduate of Arizona State University’s School of Law. From 1999 to 2002, he served as Assistant Attorney General. He was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2004; he served three terms representing Central Phoenix and was the House Minority Leader. He is a former member of the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board. His work in education and child advocacy has earned him awards from organizations such as the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, the National Association of Social Workers, the Greater Phoenix Child Abuse Prevention Council, and AZ Parents for Education, among others.
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