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June 2013
Are you a macho, macho man? Men’s Health Week offers an opportunity to re-focus on overall health
Feelingization Moving out of your head and into your heart My perspective: Medicaid expansion
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Journal of the American Latino Dream
Volume 9
{June 2013}
Issue 10
19
39
Men’s Health Week
Put your heart in charge
Dads can lead the way as models of healthful living
7
From the publisher Change, challenges and chance
“Feelingization”– an amazing strategy for coping with stress
17 Rincón del arte New work from Yovani Flores – a poet with a cinematic way with words
8
¿Será posible?
Airwick Solids’ National Park Collection
12 LP journal Arizona and Texas destined to be crucial swing states in 2016 and beyond; world’s first Jewish Chicano radio talk show
14 Rebel: Vibe The True Story of Loreta Velazquez and
Latino Americans air on PBS; Disney couture’s ethnic oversell; Mando moves to Sesame Street
15 Our Anaya says children’s safety trumps all 16 Latina still standing
Briana and Nakai Escarcega – a mom and her miracle
31 Those who serve Phoenix mourns the young fireman and police officer who lost their lives in the line of duty
23 Movin’ up 35 The Education Annie Lopez’ solo show at PAM; Carey Business proven value of peer tutoring; scholarship School recognizes Martin Quintana with Distinguished Achievement Award; Milena Astorga is Valle del Sol’s Mom of the Year; Shilling Public Humanities Scholar Award goes to Gloria Cuadraz; local celeb JR Cardenas to host news spots and more for MundoFox Phoenix
26 Entrepreneur OppenUp’s Humberto Valle didn’t wait for the knock; he made his own door!
27 Briefcase Retirement saving dips; Latino ownership of high-tech devices rising; surveys report surge in confidence of both householders and small business owners for their economic futures
Living
search tips; nominate a business that gives back for a Spirit of Enterprise Award; Goodwill of Arizona’s clients eligible for scholarships
42 Time out Explore the great indoors! 45 P.S. Father knew best 46 My perspective ... on Medicaid expansion: Betsey Bayless
says AZ’s AHCCCS is a model program for uncompensated care
Coming in July: the American Dream latinopm.com
¡ June 2013!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡! Publisher’s letter
June 2013 Publisher/CEO Ricardo Torres Executive Editor/COO Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D. Copy Editor Virginia Betz
Men’s Health Week
Art Director Jorge Quintero Contributing Writers Catherine Anaya, Betsey Bayless, Diana Bejarano, Virginia Betz, Erica Cardenas, Yovani Flores, Ruben Hernandez, Jonathan Higuera, Will Humble, Danielle Medrano, 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 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.
On June 16, we celebrate Father’s Day; and, from June 10 to June 16,
National Men’s Health Week, with its aim of increasing awareness of preventable health issues and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men. Keep this in mind if you are on the market for a Father’s Day gift. While last year consumers spent an average of $136 to honor Dad (the national retail spending reached $12.3 billion dollars), you don’t have to break the bank to help or encourage Dad, and the other men in your life, to make health-conscious choices. In this month’s cover story, Will Humble, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, reminds us about simple steps men can take to make health a priority, and live a healthy and happy life. Make sure to read our Health Feature in which performance consultant Danielle Medrano outlines ways in which we can get thoughts out of our head and into our heart to help relieve stress and anxiety that may be keeping us from reaching our fullest potential. In My Perspective, Betsey Bayless, president and CEO of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, explains why she supports expanding Medicaid to continue to provide care for citizens in need. In Those Who Serve, we pay tribute to two fallen Phoenix first responders who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. Firefighter Bradley Harper and Police Officer Daryl Reatz died in two unrelated accidents on May 19, 2012. We join their families and the City of Phoenix Fire and Police Departments in mourning their loss. We hope you will consider making a contribution to the funds established to help their respective families.
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, and 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
¡ June 2013!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡! ¿Será posible?
Something smells of Yellowstone By Robrt Pela
Just in from the You Can’t Make This
Stuff Up Department comes news that Air Wick, longtime purveyor of sham fragrances, is offering whiffs of our national parks. No, seriously. Reckitt Benckiser, the parent company of Air Wick Solids, has launched a new National Park Collection. This WalMart exclusive set of scents from four of America’s bestknown tourist traps is, according to an official press release, “inspired by the vibrant scents of nature.”
Fear sets in.
Cancer diagnosis.
The Parsippany, New Jersey, company appears concerned that those of us who can’t afford to travel this summer will be left longing for the smell of Glacier Bay. Therefore, the nice folks at Air Wick have partnered with the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, and a whole bunch of Dow chemists who have cooked up some cocked-up sprays and air fresheners that smell like nature. Specifically, the nature found in Hawaii’s Honokohau National Historical Park;
the paradise flowers of the Virgin Islands National Park; the green grass and summer meadows of Yellowstone National Park; and Glacier Bay’s sniffy Alaskan icebergs. “The National Park Collection from Air Wick,” the press release promises, “allows families to bring home vibrant scents that were inspired by the nation’s most beautiful parks, all without ever having to leave their homes.” The heck with scenery and getting away and roadside hotdog stands – Air Wick knows that we travel for the smells we’ll find once we get where we’re going. The full range of park-inspired products includes a line of scented candles, automobile freshening sprays, household aerosols, and something called The Flip & Fresh, which slowly burns an aromatic oil
Your treatment team collaborates on your case.
You meet your personal cancer team.
¡! ¿Será posible?
that approximates dogwood and fresh moss. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the new line will go to the National Park Foundation, according to Reckitt Benckiser. “Our national parks provide us with the purest scents of nature, and Air Wick searched America’s national treasures for inspiration for this new collection,” swears Jerome Lemaire, the company’s marketing director. “We hope this partnership inspires families to experience our parks firsthand and begin a lifelong relationship with America’s most treasured places.” In the meantime, there’s the smells.
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ALWAYS WATCH KIDS AROUND THE POOL. For more safety advice, call (602) 236-5646 or visit srpnet.com/safety.
Conversation starters from the world around us
14 Vibe
PBS programming highlights Latino history; the latinization of Disney
15 Anaya says Riveting news heightens vigilance
Still 16Latina Standing
Mom with no time for tears
i say... I’m not confident that giving him the task to create a correction plan now is in the best interest of our National Guard, especially since the report shows that Maj. Gen. Salazar acknowledged the issues with ethical leadership but did not rectify them. It also shows there were documented cases of abuse of position, fraud, attempts to falsify documents, and cover-ups.
page
15
Rep. Debbie McCune Davis (D-Phoenix) after reviewing the findings for a report from the National Guard Bureau
Image of La Alondra de la Frontera graces one of U.S. Postal Service’s inaugural series of “Music Icons” stamps
latinopm.com
¡ June 2013!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡!
LP journal
& Shared historical and cultural experiences underlie the combined Jewish-Chicano focus of radio KFNX-1100’s program, Phoenix Talk Back
Jews and Chicanos: a not-sostrange alliance At first glance, it wouldn’t seem that Jews and Chicanos have much in common. But, digging deeper uncovers parallels in both history and cultural experiences. It is this nexus that Phoenix Talk Back, which bills itself as “The world’s first Jewish Chicano talk radio show,” counts on for fascinating guests and, sometimes, for controversy and debate. The hour-long show airs at 10 a.m. on Sundays on KFNX 1100 AM; it is also available on the internet. Listeners of all political leanings can call in and participate in the frequently spunky conversations. The two co-hosts are Viva Samuel Ramirez, who is boldly proud of being a Chicano, and Lou Show (his radio name), who is proudly Jewish. The show is Lou’s brainchild, born of his personal reaction to what he sees as injustices in Arizona. He characterizes the show as “info-tainment.” Ramirez came on after a previous Latino host couldn’t identify with being a “Chicano,” a label that can spark its own controversy in the Mexican American community, with both positive and negative connotations. “He couldn’t even say the word, which is why Lou asked me on,” comments Ramirez, 12
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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adding that he wants to defuse the strangeness of the Chicano word among Latinos, too. “I want that no ears should be offended when they hear the word, Chicano,” he says. Viva Ramirez’ late father was Sam Ramirez, a long-time Chicano community leader, former president of Valle del Sol, and good friend of the Chicano activist group that includes Alfredo Gutierrez, a co-founder of the Valle del Sol Coalition. Sam Ramirez also was the director of the VDS Barrio Youth Project. Viva sees himself following in his father’s footsteps and advocating for local Chicanos and Mexican immigrants. Recent Phoenix Talk Back topics have been heavy on immigration. It is not only a hot topic these days, but one which binds Jews and Chicanos together. Saul Diskin, a local Jewish author who wrote Santana and Saúl about his long-time relationship with a Chicano, explains: “My parents’ experience was the same as the experience of many Mexicans in 1910 who were forced to flee their homeland; innocent people who only wanted to tend to their milpas. In 1915, the Czar ordered all Jews to leave. They faced religious and social persecution. My mother remembered the famine where she saw her playmates die in the streets.
When they came to the United States, they were despised. They only wanted to live a better life. There is a kinship between the two groups.” Diskin is scheduled to be on an upcoming show to discuss JewishChicano relations. “I think the show is a good idea for people who have identified as being in these different groups. It’s not necessary that they agree on everything, only that they find common ground to talk to the other.”
Arizona and Texas Democrats cultivate “special relationship” Latino voters in Arizona and Texas find themselves being courted by the Democratic and Republican parties because of their growing populations and voting percentages. However, more Latinos voting Democratic will eventually move the states from the red column into the blue column. This was a big reason San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro’s speaking appearance in Phoenix on May 18 for the state Democratic Heritage Dinner drew extraordinary notice from Democratic political operatives in the two states, National Democratic Party officials, and
LP journal potential Democratic donors across the country. The event also drew more Latinos “than I’ve ever seen at this Democratic Party dinner,” commented one Latino state legislator. Blue seemed to be the hot color of the night, as Castro proclaimed at the start of his talk: “Texas and Arizona will turn BLUE,” which drew loud applause from the crowd. The audience included several of Arizona’s Democratic-majority congressional delegation, and the eight new Democratic state legislators who won seats in the last election. The Latino populations in both states are projected to become the majority within decades. However, political experts say that Arizona may be a “competitive” state for Democrats by 2016, faster than Texas. At the time of the Heritage Dinner, Castro was fresh from being newly re-elected to this third term. Political pundits had that Castro would become the United States’ first Latino president after his keynote speech at the 2012 National Democratic Convention. During interviews with Latino Perspectives, Castro and D.J. Quinlan, the Arizona Democratic Party’s new executive director, confirmed speculation that both states’ Democratic strategists are cultivating a “special
Julián Castro
relationship” in anticipation of becoming crucial swing states for the 2016 presidential election and beyond. Castro concurred that the two states can learn from each other. “Hopefully, there are ways that Arizona and Texas can work on perfecting outreach techniques and coordinating messaging and those kinds of things in terms of how you motivate voters, especially Latino voters, because we have such a common base of Latino voters in Arizona and Texas,” Castro said. Castro stated that Texas Democrats will be looking to Arizona as it becomes competitive and goes blue. “Texas is such a huge state that it’s probably going to take us a little bit longer.” Quinlan acknowledged that, during Barack Obama’s successful re-election bid (in which he won 74 percent of the Arizona Latino vote), his campaign coffers invested more funding into organizing and getting out the Latino vote in Texas than in Arizona. Obama lost the electoral votes of both states. Now, Democratic donors are funding a voter registration drive in Texas, dubbed “Battleground Texas,” that is managed by the same campaign operatives that helped Obama win re-election. Quinlan added that party outreach to Arizona Latino voters isn’t waiting for a political cash inflow to move ahead.
¡!
“We’re watching what’s going on nationally, not just ‘Battleground Texas,’” Quinlan said. “We watched a lot of what Obama did, especially in the battleground states, so we are going to learn a lot from Texas. But, frankly, we are going to be doing it [turning blue] just as fast as Texas, so we can teach some stuff to Texas as well. So, our message nationally to folks who are funding things like that in Texas is that Arizona is a cheaper date.” Although Democrats are confident that they will be able to harness the Latino vote around the issues such as comprehensive immigration reform, Arizona Medicaid expansion and education funding, the state Republican Party isn’t surrendering yet. But, it won’t be easy, they admit. Republican Governor Jan Brewer has angered Latinos by signing the state’s tough, anti-immigration law, SB1070, and blocking Arizona DREAMers from getting driver licenses. Republican Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has incensed Latinos by conducting the workplace raids that target Latino immigrants. In a May 12 Bloomberg.com article, Robert Graham, chairman of the Republican Party of Arizona, criticized Brewer and Arpaio for alienating Latino voters. According to Graham,“what happened is the Republican Party atrophied by not showing up” in the Hispanic community. Quinlan said that, in the past, the Arizona Democratic Party tended to ignore the Latino vote. But, he added, the current demographics ensure that won’t happen again. “I think there have been times in the past where the [state] Democratic Party has taken Latinos for granted, and we cannot afford to do that. But, frankly, where we are heading as a party, it’s not going to be a matter of them being taken for granted; it’s going to be a matter of them being one of the primary bases of the Democratic Party.” latinopm.com
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¡!
vibe
Mando moves in to Sesame Street
First Lady of tejano music
Ismael Castro will join the cast of Sesame Street
Tejano music pioneer, Lydia Mendoza (1916-1997), is being honored by the United States Postal Service (USPS) with the issuance of the Lydia Mendoza Forever Stamp. Mendoza, who was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, achieved fame during the 1940s singing corridos and boleros in Spanish, accompanied by her 12-string guitar. Known as “La cancionera de los pobres” (the songstress of the poor) and “La alondra de la frontera” (the lark of the border), she is the first legend recognized by the USPS’s new Music Icon series, which, in 2013, will also include Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. In 1977, Mendoza sang at President Carter’s inauguration. In the 1980s, she received a National Heritage Award and, in 1999, President Clinton presented her with the National Medal of the Arts. “Her legacy,” Clinton stated, “is as wide and deep as the Rio Grande Valley.” Now, it lives on 30 million postage stamps. The stamp is now available for purchase at local post offices, on-line at usps.com/stamps or by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).
on September 16, 2013, with the premiere of the show’s 44th season. The Puerto Rican actor will interpret the character of Armando, or Mando, a writer from Brooklyn who also loves technology and social media. According to the show’s producers, Mando’s addition reflects population changes in the U.S., where Hispanics are the fastest growing minority. Mando joins Luis (Emilio Delgado) and Maria (Sonia Manzano) who have been on Sesame Street since the 1970s as human characters, as well as Rosita, the turquoise monster who joined in 1993 with Mexican puppeteer, Carmen Osbahr, who also voices Ovejita. ¡Bienvenido!
Get more Vibe at latinopm.com
First, amid much fanfare, was the 2012 launch of the
animated series, Sofia the First. Identified by the series’ executive producer as a Latina princess, and by the big quesos at Disney NOT as a Latina princess but rather “just” a princess, the poor Sofia had her identity questioned before even seeing the light of day. Then, there was the widely publicized (and ridiculed) attempt by the Walt Disney Company to trademark Día de los Muertos, presumably in an effort to protect the title of an upcoming Pixar film based on the popular Mexican holiday. Now, Disney Consumer Products is celebrating the release of its Royal Ball Quinceañera Dress Collection. You know, for the Snow White, Tiana, Mulan or Pocahontas in you. The debut line features 21 gowns inspired by the Disney princesses. The dresses are available in sizes 0-20 and retail for $530-$999. Too bad none of the princesses know what a quinceañera is.
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Clockwise from top left, PhotoS courtesy of: Sesame Workshop; USPS; Ashdon Brands
Disney keeps trying
vibe
¡!
Anaya says Look ugly facts in the face By Catherine Anaya
Photo by Gerard Gaskin
In a week when the Valley and
Romi Dias as Loreta Janeta Velazquez
Latinos, front and center on PBS On May 23, 2013, Arizona PBS and the
City of Phoenix Latino Institute hosted two community-engagement events as part of the launch of Latino Americans, a new PBS documentary set to premiere this fall. Latino Americans is a three-part, six-hour series that chronicles the history and experiences of Latinos in the United States. The film, narrated by Benjamin Bratt, includes interviews with a numerous and diverse cadre of notable Hispanics, among them: labor and civil rights activist, Dolores Huerta; entertainer, Rita Moreno; and music mogul, Gloria Estefan. The documentary airs nationally on PBS on three consecutive Tuesdays, premiering on September 17 (episode 1, “Foreigners in their Own Land;” episode 2, “Empire of Dreams”), September 24 (episode 3, “War and Peace;” episode 4, “The New Latinos”), and October 1 (episode 5, “Pride and Prejudice;” episode 6, “Peril and Promise”). Check local listings at pbs.org/tv_schedules and make sure to set your DVRs to record.
people all over the world preoccupied themselves with the Jodi Arias trial, I was riveted by the story coming out of Cleveland – the miraculous escape of three women and a child in Cleveland following a horrifying decade held in captivity. For days I have not been able to turn away from the still developing news on television and in print of a story that is simply unfathomable. I’ve been moved to tears by the images relating to this horror, as well as by the immeasurable courage exhibited by an ordinary guy when he kicked in the door to offer freedom to these women. Families, that never gave up believing their loved ones were alive somewhere, hadn’t the slightest idea that they were being holed up under unimaginable conditions in a house just blocks away. The rousing cheers coming from a tight-knit neighborhood that spent years searching, praying and holding out hope that these girls would one day come home. The journalist in me wants to know every detail about how it could happen, why it could happen, what went on. Each day another ghastly detail emerges and I can’t turn away. Someone told me she shut off the television or radio every time she saw or heard some new report from Cleveland. It was too sickening for her to take. She wondered how I could stomach the disturbing details. I told her that, as a mother, it ripped my heart out and spoke to so many fears that I, and probably every parent out there, have when it comes to our children.
That’s why I can’t turn away. The more I know, the smarter I hope to become about protecting my own children. It compels me to admonish them never to get in a car with someone unless I’ve told them it was okay, stranger or not. They should never go into someone’s home without my permission, whether I know them or not. These are not easy conversations to have. They’re uncomfortable and painful to even think about as a parent toeing the line between gentle and forceful in making sure our kids get the message loud and clear. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: Approximately 800,000 children younger than 18 were reported missing More than 200,000 children were abducted by family members The first three hours are the most critical when trying to locate a missing child These facts make the rescue of the three Cleveland women after 10 years in captivity that much more remarkable. These are sobering facts and figures no parent wants to think about, but it’s precisely why I can’t turn away. The more I know, the more they know. Their safety could depend on it. Catherine Anaya anchors CBS 5 News weeknights at 5, 5:30, 6 and 10 p.m. She is a mother of two, marathon runner and motivational speaker. Reach her at catherine.anaya@cbs5az.com; connect with her on Facebook, twitter and at CatherineAnaya.com.
Continues on page 16 latinopm.com
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¡!
Latina still standing
Briana braves all By Diana Bejarano
Photo courtesy of Julia Alvarez
She is one of the strongest young
Julia Alvarez, writer for PBS’ Latino Americans Continued from page 15
A companion book, authored by Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for PBS NewsHour, will be released on September 3, 2013. Visit pbs.org/latinoamericans to learn more about the project and contribute your own videos on the Latino American experience. Also on May, 2013, PBS aired the premiere of Rebel: The True Story of Loreta Velazquez, Confederate Soldier Turned Union Spy. If you missed it, do not fret. The must-watch documentary, directed by María Agui Carter, is available for purchase at shoppbs.org. Rebel is based on Velasquez’s 1876 memoir, A Woman in Battle, and tells the fascinating story of the Cuban immigrant’s experiences fighting (disguised as a man under the pseudonym Harry T. Buford) with the Confederate Army and, ultimately, becoming a spy for the Union. Agui Carter, the film’s writer, director and producer, is the current chair of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). Born in Ecuador, she grew up as a “Dreamer” in New York City, graduated from Harvard, and has been a visiting scholar at her alma mater and Tulane University. Bravo, PBS! 16
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Latina mothers in the world and a Latina Still Standing. Briana Escarcega’s child was born with two abnormal chromosomes. The doctors had never seen a case like baby Nakai’s; his abnormal genes resulted in a host of lifethreatening health issues. Briana was just 24 years old when she gave birth to Nakai. She says she did everything right and had a perfect pregnancy. This young Latina mother had no idea how her life was going to change after September 2, 2010. Briana works a full-time job. She stays up with her son until 2-3 a.m. every night and has to wake up for work at 7 a.m. each day. But she does it without complaining. She says she’s lucky to get three to four hours of sleep each night because Nakai has to be fed through a feeding tube every four hours. His blood sugars have to be checked twice a day because he is hypoglycemic. He uses a breathing machine one to two times daily when he is not sick; when he is ill, the machine is needed every three hours. Nakai had nine surgeries in his first two and a half years of life. Nakai had his appendix removed; an umbilical hernia and the skull have been operated on. He’s had an intensive malrotation, in which his intestines were removed, untangled and replaced. All this was done in his first two months of life. Later, he got pneumonia. A month later, a nissen fundoplication was performed to treat gastroesophageal reflux, which was causing the pneumonia to worsen. He now has only one lung that works. Little Nakai was born with dextrocardia (the heart on the right side of the chest) and his heart has two holes. He is also losing his eyesight, but that doesn’t stop little Nakai from smiling when he hears his mother’s voice.
The hardest part is watching her son go through these struggles, but Briana says, “I won’t cry in front of him anymore; I stopped doing that because I want him to be strong.” She’s learned to appreciate everything in this life so much more, she says, and she thanks God every day for Nakai. She is truly grateful to have him. She never complains or asks, “Why me?” There is a bright side for Briana – Nakai lights up her life, and so many others in her family have been inspired by his life’s journey. Nakai hasn’t just changed her life, but that of everyone he comes in contact with, even the doctors and nurses. His mother reports that he smiles a lot, loves attention and being around people. The doctors won’t predict his life expectancy; Nakai’s condition is unique. “I don’t know what the future holds, says Briana, “Nakai hasn’t gained any weight in more than a year, due to a growth hormone defect.” She takes it one day at a time and won’t lose hope. They say that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle. “I don’t know who told God I could handle this,” says Briana. “But I will continue to do my best to take care of God’s child.” She said Nakai has definitely changed her life – for the better; she now has more compassion and a stronger faith as a result of her little milagro, Nakai. Briana Escarcega truly is a Latina Still Standing. Diana Bejarano is an Arizona native and a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Reach her at latinastillstanding@yahoo.com or latinastillstanding.blogspot.com
rincón del arte
¡!
Spoken images A local poet’s tribute to a powerful female spirit Yovani Flores is a Puerto Rican poet/writer, born
and raised in Chicago. In 2010, Flores received a Short Story Award for El Llorón by Curbside Splendor, featured on NPR and in Chicana/Latina Studies, The Journal of MALCS. Her stories and poetry have also appeared in La Tolteca by Ana Castillo, Acentos Review and Kalyani Magazine. Flores produces and performs with Mujeres del Sol, a women’s arts collective in Phoenix. Flores co-wrote and co-produced Thresholds, an award-winning short film (Las Pilonas Productions). The following excerpt is from a reading delivered by Yovani Flores in a performance staged by Mujeres del Sol, “Our Mothers, Our Matriarchs,” on May 9, 2013, an event sponsored by MALCS (Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social), UCSanta Barbara:
Abuela and I flew to Puerto Rico when I was six years old. I couldn’t wait to wear my favorite khaki suit. Mami hated it; said I looked boyish – muy machua. She tried getting me into a sticky dress but Abuela encouraged me to wear the suit. So I did. I knew who was the real boss of our family. My khaki pants were like Papi’s Sansabelt pants with a bunch of pockets: two in front, two in back, one over my right hip to hide Chicklets; plus a matching jacket with fat lapels and more pockets. We soared through chunky clouds without grumbles, or raindrops, just a veil of stars watching Abuela play with my hair, touching my face until my lashes got too heavy. A blue Torino, a two-hour road trip from San Juan to Abuela’s pueblo in Aguada. Hands weaving, mocking birds with my fingertips slicing the thick salty breeze catching her smiles in the mirror, lines gathering in corners of her mouth, strings of veins curving her canela fingers each time she pointed at güayaba trees. She told the driver to pull over so she could scale up a tree, and jiggle branches until balls of fruit threw themselves at her feet. She pinched corners of her blouse, pulled it to her belly then plucked and plopped them into her improvised apron. The driver whipped out a navaja and like a well-trained surgeon Abuela divided yellow rinds leaving dripping wedges in my hands ... ... Summers at Abuela’s house went beyond my tenth birthday – our days ended too soon. That was the year I was marked by the caribe sun. My skin marcada by a mass of
Photo by Kira Olson
Abuela: Moving margins
Yovani Flores performing in “Our Mothers, Our Matriarchs”
freckles shaped like scattered islands. Stained ... from my fingertips to my bony shoulders. A mass of disconnected earth formations separated from their land of origin. In search of home, suspended between margins and new terrains – reforming, reclaiming y mestizando. Will you recognize my voice? My stories told about knowing something written in margins? Will you recall los relatos about hard lines, cracking floors like borders positioning movements, fences pushing backstories about my gente, mi cuerpo? The soles of my feet lined like root systems buried in sheets of icy glass below the Windy City floor; melting on the breast of spring mothered by every tree from Pilsen to Wicker Park. A Little Village on 18th Street and waves spraying over Lakeshore Drive, from Esperanza’s “House on Mango Street" to my house on the edge of Humboldt Park where my mother emigrated from Puerto Rico to bring Abuela home.
Help us highlight the local arts Send information to editor@latinopm.com.
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50 5/16/13 4:57 PM
Men’s Health Week
A great opportunity to re-focus on overall rowing older has its rewards. We watch our children grow into young adults. We also watch health careers flourish thanks to our hard work. We reap the By Will Humble
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rewards of that hard work with opportunities to play the way we want. And, we’ve earned the respect that can only come from a lifetime of experiences and lessons learned. latinopm.com
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But growing older also brings new challenges, especially when it comes to our health. When we were young, we could bounce back from almost anything. In college, we’d stay up all night studying and pass the test the next day – or stay out all night with our friends. When our kids were first born, we woke up at all hours of the night to change diapers, rock them back to sleep and still made it to work on time the next day. We also thought we could skip seeing the doctor every year because our bodies were strong. This month we celebrate Father’s Day and, with it, Men’s Health Week. While Father’s Day is seen as an important time to honor your dad, Men’s Health Week is often passed over without a second thought. But, part of being a good father or being a good son for your father is making sure you’re in good health. So, I am asking that you, and I, pledge to take a few simple steps this year to help each of us live a long and healthy life.
Annual physical
Have you ever said to yourself, “The only time I need to see a doctor is when I’m bleeding or something is broken?” That’s a nice macho comment to make to your friends, but, sensibly, you should see your doctor at least once a year. Your provider can do simple tests and conduct a physical in order to identify small issues before they become big problems. Most health issues, if caught early, can be controlled, allowing you to really live your life when you get older. Your doctor will help monitor important things like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and provide screenings for cancer. Having an annual physical isn’t the only exam you need to schedule. If you’re over 50 or have a history of colorectal or prostate cancer in your family, schedule an exam. Colorectal and prostate cancers are
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serious diseases that affect almost 6,000 Arizonans every year. Both can be very aggressive, but when caught in the early stages, they can be treated quickly and effectively. Most men tend to avoid this discussion because of distorted perceptions of what the procedure is like. I can tell you from my own experience that the exam is not as bad as you imagine. I won’t lie and tell you it’s pleasant, but it is not the nightmare you may have in your mind. I had my exam several years ago, and I am glad I did. My doctors found a noncancerous (thankfully) polyp that was easily removed. If it hadn’t been for the exam, I never would have known about this or other problems that could have been lurking. When you do have your colorectal and prostate exams, don’t panic if you get an abnormal test result. Talk to your doctor about all your options and try to learn as much as possible about your condition. You can find more information about the benefits of colorectal and prostate cancer exams and free resources by looking up the “Fit at Fifty” program on the Arizona Department of Health Services website at fitatfiftyhealthcheck.org.
Physical activity
Heart disease is the number one killer for men, which is why you need to think about what you eat and how active you are. Another one of those macho ideas that men have is that we can continue doing the same kinds of physical activity that we used to do indefinitely. Do you remember what it was like to be young and have unlimited energy? You played hard at whatever sport you wanted and bounced back almost immediately. But years of wear and tear take a toll on the body, and now it’s time to be a little more realistic about physical activity. The goal should be motion for about 30 minutes every day. That doesn’t mean heading down to the local basketball courts and joining hour-long pick-up games with a bunch of 16-year-old kids. Unless you’re a former college basketball standout and you never stopped playing, you’re probably going to leave the game with a bruised body and ego. That’s not to say you can’t challenge yourself, but be smarter and do the kinds of activities you’re going to enjoy and that give you the maximum health benefit. If the thrill of competition and winning are still important to you, then by all means
be competitive. Never give up on your drive to succeed. My advice is to be competitive within your limits. Part of growing older is gaining wisdom and, with wisdom, you learn to set reasonable expectations.
Better eating
This is the easiest thing you can change to take better care of your health. Eating better doesn’t just mean fruits and vegetables all the time; it means eating balanced foods and in moderation. It’s easy to go for the quick meal, especially when life is hectic and stressful. And, it’s also easy to fall into a pattern of eating foods that are not healthy because they are right in front of you, like the morning donuts at the office or the fast food restaurant that is on the way home. A great way to start eating healthier foods is to make it a family effort. Try to plan family meals – sitting around the table eating together can be a great way to slow down your eating. Lead by example in your family; eat more fruits and vegetables, drink more water, not sugary drinks, and don’t overindulge at mealtime. There are some great tips and recipes on how to eat a balanced diet at eatwellbewell.org.
Help for stress
Smoking
Life can be stressful, and that stress can have long-term effects, such as depression. When you’re suffering from depression, it makes it harder to be more physically active, eat well, work and focus on all the things you need to do to ensure your family is safe and healthy. Depression can be a serious medical condition, but it can also be treated. If you feel as though you may be suffering from depression or are overstressed, ask for help. It’s easy to fall into the trap of “I’m a man and don’t need help from anyone,” but there is no shame in reaching out for help. Sometimes a chat with a professional can be all it takes to put you back on your successful track, or a doctor may prescribe medication to help put your life back in balance. Most employers offer an Employee Assistance Program that will offer free or low-cost access to a mental health professional. Your health insurance plan also has to provide mental health care for you. These programs are there for you; don’t hesitate to use them. It’s another good way to show leadership in your family. Also, be a good friend and, if you notice the signs and symptoms of depression in the people around you, reach out to them and ask if they need help.
If you’re still smoking, stop. Every puff of a cigarette or cigar takes time off your life. You’re losing years in which you can watch your children grow up to be adults, and you will be missing out on all the benefits of your hard work. Smoking is simply not worth the price you pay with your health. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and quitting isn’t easy. But, when you look back on your life and all the hard work you did to get here, you know you have the strength to take on tobacco. If you need help, call the ASHLine at 1-800-556-6222 or go on-line to ashline.org. We owe it to ourselves and our families to be at our best, both mentally and physically. By taking a little time and effort to focus on our own health, especially as we get older, we can all be the men our families and community deserve.
Will Humble is the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. You can read his daily blog on-line at directorsblog.health.azdhs.gov.
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26Entrepreneur OppenUp: What the employment agency of the 21st century looks like
27Briefcase
Dire stats for retirement readiness don’t dampen positive outlook for future financial success
Movin’ Up Amarillas elected board president Derek Amarillas, client relationship associate for Vanguard’s Institutional Investors Group, has been elected president of the board of directors of ICM Food and Clothing Bank. ICM aims to provide an immediate response to basic human needs for the working poor, elderly, families, children, nearly homeless and disabled in central Phoenix. ICM offers emergency food and clothing, case management, medical services and resource referrals that focus on helping those in need to become self-sufficient and prevent homelessness. Last year, ICM served 112,000 individuals and has been assisting Valley individuals and families since 1983.
Derek Amarillas is the newly elected president of ICM Food and Clothing Bank’s board of directors
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¡!
movin’ up
Milena Astorga
Astorga named Mom of the Year Last month, Valle del Sol hosted their inaugural Mom of the Year Awards Breakfast and honored Milena Astorga, senior docent with the Phoenix Art Museum and the administrator for the Astorga Family Foundation, at the event. Valle’s Mom of the Year is a recognition event to honor women of diverse backgrounds for service to the community and for their exemplary roles as mothers. The event raised funds to provide uncompensated care for families and children seeking primary care assistance at Valle del Sol’s pediatric and family clinics.
Cuádraz receives AHC humanities award Dr. Gloria H. Cuádraz, associate professor in the School of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies, New College, at Arizona State University, has received the Arizona Humanities Council (AHC) 2013 Dan Shilling Public Humanities Scholar Award. Dr. Cuádraz has presented and
published many studies of the philosophy and practice of oral history research, the history of Litchfield Park, Arizona, and the history of Latinas in higher education. She was awarded funding from the AHC for her research on the Mexican Americans of Litchfield Park Oral History Project and currently serves on the boards of the Arizona Women’s Heritage Trail and the Arizona Association for Chicanos in Higher Education. Each year, the AHC honors individuals, organizations or businesses for their contributions to, and advancement of, the humanities.
December, 2012, will begin the UA’s Teach Arizona program this year, which is offered in Tucson and Phoenix, while working toward her master’s degree. She plans to remain in Arizona as a Spanish teacher.
Munguia Nunez named to national fellowship
Cardenas joins MundoFOX Phoenix
Natiely Munguia Nunez is one of nine students in the nation to be named to the final cohort of the Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers Fund Aspiring Teachers of Color Fellowship. Munguia Nunez was nominated through the University of Arizona (UA) and was named a national recipient along with students attending Swarthmore College, the University of Chicago, Wellesley College and the University of Washington, among other institutions. Each fellow will receive a $30,000 stipend toward earning a master’s degree in education, and commit to spending three years working in a high-need public school upon graduating. Munguia Nunez, who earned her political science and Spanish degrees from the University of Arizona in
JR Cardenas, local TV talent and owner of Cardenas Marketing, recently joined Spanish-language television network, MundoFOX Phoenix, as a television program host for the network’s new local entertainment/news segment briefs. In this role, Cardenas will host ongoing information segments, interviews, contests, community news and musical reviews throughout the Phoenix market. Cardenas has more than 10 years of Spanish television and radio experience, and currently also serves as the Spanish spokesperson and lead talent for Napa Auto Parts Arizona.
JR Cardenas
Quintana receives achievement award Martin Quintana, Chicanos por la Causa’s chief development
Movin’ Up Know someone who has been promoted, elected or honored? Send us the news of their achievements! Email movinup@latinopm.com 24
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officer, has been recognized by Arizona State University for his many years of contributions, and recently received the Distinguished Achievement Award from ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business. This award is the highest honor given by the School of Business and recognizes alumni who have demonstrated professional excellence, leadership in the business community and service to education. Last month, Quintana also served as the convocation keynote speaker at the W.P. Carey School of Business masters’ graduation ceremony.
Lopez featured at PAM Annie Lopez, the 2012 Contemporary Forum MidCareer Artist Award recipient, has been selected to exhibit her art in a solo show at the Phoenix Art Museum, which continues until the end of this month. Each year, Contemporary Forum, a Phoenix Art Museum support organization now in its 30th year, awards one grant to a mid-career artist working in Arizona. The artist is selected from a competitive pool of candidates nominated by members of Contemporary Forum and the recipient creates a new series of work exhibited in a solo show in the museum. Lopez’ show features more than ten dresses that she created from old patterns, which are then transformed into blue sculptures, each with its own theme inspired by insightful moments from Lopez’ life.
game on. Princess, Pac-Man and Pong. This summer, you’ll see a whole new side of art as your favorite video games invade Phoenix Art Museum. Explore 40 years of gaming, from 8-bit to PS3, Mario to Myst, while you discover the art of game design and how it has evolved to present day stardom. And yes. We’ll even let you play.
The Art of Video Games June 16 – September 29
Visit TAOVG.org for a complete listing of events.
Visit us at Central Avenue and McDowell Road in downtown Phoenix
The Art of Video Games exhibition is organized by The Smithsonian American Art Museum. IMAGE: Super Mario World, 1991, Hiroshi Yamauchi, executive producer; Shigeru Miyamoto, producer; Takashi Tezuka, lead director. Nintendo of America, Inc.
entrepreneur
¡!
A hire calling
Humberto Valle, co-founder and CEO of OppenUp Founded: 2013 Number of employees: OppenUp is currently managed by three partners/founders. There are no full-time employees yet; however, the company hires contractors on an asneeded basis and plans to hire three sales people.
Elevator pitch: OppenUp will offer young professionals and freelance workers a new avenue for introducing themselves to prospective employers and ultimately landing a job. OppenUp creates a standardized, user-friendly platform for job-seekers and incorporates social interactions and video applications as a primary source for hiring managers to prescreen potential employees. The service is cost-effective, saving employers up to $750 per candidate compared with other on-line job search sites. Background: I graduated high school at the age of 15 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Grand Canyon University. I saw Arizona as a fast-growing state ripe with opportunity, and I relocated here from Texas in 2005.
What prompted you to start your business: I lost my job at a Tempe engineering company during the recession and I joined the job search with thousands of other displaced professionals. I grew frustrated as I applied for hundreds of jobs, but was called to only a handful of interviews. That’s when I wondered, “What if there was a marketplace for professionals and employers to help promote each other?” As a mechanical engineer, creating and fixing things was in my blood. I realized the process was broken somewhere along the line and I was ready to fix it. Together with three partners, we started OppenUp, a webbased employment service. OppenUp will provide resources to help job-seekers get in front of hiring managers. This will be accomplished by blending multi-media with digital mapping of job opportunities to streamline the hiring process for both prospective employers and employees. I knew the mechanics of the idea, but I was short on business skills; Grand Canyon University was just what I needed to take OppenUp to the next level. While pursuing my degree, I used the school’s
resources – particularly the Innovation, Development and Entrepreneurship Association – to learn how to create a thriving enterprise. GCU helped me develop the business skills I needed, while opening doors to connections that have helped me evolve the company.
Future business goals: OppenUp.com is scheduled to launch in June. Until then, we will finalize funding to broaden our web presence, begin a tour of universities to promote OppenUp to college students and recent graduates, secure partnerships with companies such as LinkedIn and match services such as Cofounders Lab, which have already expressed interest in OppenUp.
Best business advice you have received: “Stay focused on your vision, but be flexible on how you implement it.” Jonathan Cottrell, CEO of USER10
Company website: oppenup.com
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Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
¡!
:
Looking forward
Studies gauge realities and expectations of economic well-being By Jonathan Higuera
Digital divide narrows A spike in technology adoption by foreign-born and Spanish-dominant Latinos has helped ease the digital divide between U.S. Latinos and other groups, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. In just a few years, Latinos helped close the divide through greater use of the internet, higher rates of computer ownership, greater use of smartphones and cell phones and increased use of social media. Between 2009 and 2012, the share of Latino adults who say they go on-line at least occasionally increased by 14 percentage points, rising from 64 percent to 78 percent. Among whites, internet use rates also increased, but only by half as much to 87 percent in 2012. Over the same period, the gap in cell phone ownership between Latinos and other groups either diminished or disappeared. In 2012, 86 percent of Latinos said they owned a cell phone, up from 76 percent in 2009. Other findings: Fully 86 percent of Latinos say they own a cell phone, a share similar to that of whites (84 percent) and blacks (90 percent). Among adults, Latinos are just as likely as whites or blacks to own a smartphone – 49 percent versus 46 percent and 50 percent, respectively. Latino internet users are more likely than white internet users to say they go on-line using a mobile device – 76 percent versus 60 percent. Meanwhile, Latino and black internet users are equally likely to access the internet from a mobile device at 76 percent and 73 percent, respectively. Among internet users, similar shares of Latinos (68 percent), whites (66 percent) and blacks (69 percent) say they use social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, at least occasionally. The digital divide still exists, however, driven by computer ownership rates. Nearly three out of four (72 percent) Latinos say they own a desktop or laptop computer, which is less than the 79 percent ownership rate for the general public.
Overall, whites have the highest desktop/laptop ownership rate at 83 percent. By comparison, 70 percent of blacks say they own a desktop or laptop computer. Computer ownership rates are highest among Latino adults with annual family incomes of $50,000 or more, some college education and annual family incomes between $30,000 and $49,999.
Small biz confidence Eighty-four percent of entrepreneurs said they are confident or very confident in their companies’ prospects for profitability in the next 12 months, according to the first-quarter 2013 Kauffman/LegalZoom Startup Confidence Index. latinopm.com
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¡!
he Welcome tootol of New Sch Learning
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Confidence among early-stage business owners increased by one percent from the fourth-quarter 2012 survey. Among the youngest entrepreneurs – those 18 to 30 years old – confidence rebounded, with 96 percent reporting that they were confident or very confident that their businesses’ profitability will increase in the year ahead, a 3 percent jump from the fourth-quarter 2012 survey. Confidence levels among other age groups fell as the entrepreneurs’ ages increased. Nevertheless, even entrepreneurs aged 61 and older – the oldest category – expressed 73 percent confidence in 2013 profitability. “These reports provide a more granular feel as to how an entrepreneur’s experience with consumer demand and perceived outlook on the economy may impact the decision to hire,” said John Suh, CEO of LegalZoom.
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The startup, survival and growth of small businesses is often directly related to the amount of capital they have on hand or have access to. Not surprisingly, women- and minorityowned businesses consistently start with relatively low levels of capital compared with other groups. And that disparity persists through the life of the business, finds a study commissioned by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The study probed how the youngest small firms operated and were financed during the evolving financial environment of the recent Great Recession, with a particular focus on high-tech firms and businesses owned by women and minorities. Although access to capital is a major constraint to business growth, and ultimately success, some avenues that could help to offset the inadequate capital issue for small business owners include the following: Skill development and training could play a critical role in improving the economic performance of women and minority entrepreneurs; targeted
initiatives might help them build more viable businesses. Encouraging enrollment in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines is another option for prospective female and minority entrepreneurs. Developing and expanding networks can help women and minority business owners access needed resources, such as financial capital.
Building the nest egg Recent studies and media reports about how the majority of U.S. workers are failing to save enough to enjoy a comfortable retirement may be alarming to some but, for Hispanics in general, a well-funded retirement has never been a given. What’s alarming is how widespread the challenges of saving enough is for all Americans. A study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) found that a mere 18 percent of respondents were “very confident” that they were putting away enough for their retirement nest egg and 38 percent were “somewhat confident.” But, more than a quarter (28 percent) of respondents had “no confidence” they would eventually have enough money for a comfortable requirement, the highest level in the survey’s 23-year history. Another 21 percent reported they are “not too confident” they would amass enough. The results also revealed that a shocking 57 percent of the U.S. workers surveyed had less than $25,000 in total household savings and investments, excluding their homes. In 2008, only 49 percent reported saving so little. And, only about half of the 1,003 workers and 251 retirees surveyed said they were sure they could come up with $2,000 if an unexpected need were to arise in the next month. Meanwhile, 45 percent of workers surveyed had not done a systematic retirement-needs calculation. Eighteen percent indicated they did their own
briefcase
estimate and another 18 percent asked a financial advisor, while 8 percent used an on-line calculator and another 8 percent read or heard how much was needed. Workers who have done a retirementsavings-needs calculation tend to have higher savings goals, and are more confident, than workers who have not, concludes EBRI.
Latino confidence The lack of confidence that people feel about their retirement nest eggs doesn’t translate to a lack of confidence in other areas. A 2012 survey by the Pew Hispanic Center revealed that Hispanics have grown more satisfied with the nation’s direction and more confident in their finances since 2011. More than half (51 percent) of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the direction of the country, a 13 percentage point increase over 2011, when just 38 percent indicated that they were satisfied. One-third (33 percent) now report that their finances are in “excellent” or “good” shape, up from onequarter (24 percent) who reported the same in 2011. Looking forward, Latinos have grown more optimistic about their family’s finances in the next 12 months, with three out of four respondents (73 percent) expecting improvement, up from 67 percent who expressed similar optimism in 2011. The present heightened confidence may say more about the low starting point for Latinos, who suffered greatly as a group from the Great Recession. Driven mainly by the collapse in the housing market, median household wealth among Latinos declined by 58 percent between 2005 and 2010, more than that of either whites (18 percent) or blacks (54 percent). In 2007, for the first time, the number of Latino children in poverty surpassed
¡!¡!
the number of white children or black children living in poverty.
Housing comeback Homeowners, who endured years of declining home values, will discover that the game has begun to change in their favor. With low mortgage rates and rising home prices gaining momentum, an increasing number of buyers are selling. The good news for sellers: the inventory of homes for sale is shrinking, so they have less competition and more control of the situation. As more distressed homeowners regain equity in coming months, many with highinterest loans will be able to re-finance and, perhaps, cash out some equity. One sign that the housing sector is getting back on track in Arizona is the number of jobs added in the construction industry, which had a 7.1 percent increase from March 2012 to March 2013.
O N LY Y O U C A N P R E V E N T W I L D F I R E S .
Joblessness dips The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the jobless rate for U.S. Latinos declined slightly to 9 percent in April, down from 9.2 percent in March. The slight decline is a reflection of the improving economy, say economists, but the Latino rate is still higher than the national rate of 7.5 percent among all workers. The national jobless figure was a four-year low and an improvement from the same period a year ago when it stood at 8.1. percent. The Latino rate was the lowest it has been since November, 2008, when it was 8.6 percent. Generally, economists consider an economy running at full employment when the rate is 5 percent or lower. African Americans continued to have the highest jobless rate at 13.2 percent, while Asians had the lowest at 5.1 percent. Non-Hispanic whites had a rate of 6.7 percent.
9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans. 9 out of 10 wildfires can be prevented.
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AMERICA’S BEER
king of beers
SUPPORTS AMERICA’S HEROES
BUDWEISER IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO FAMILIES OF AMERICA’S INJURED OR FALLEN SOLDIERS. THIS SUMMER, WITH EVERY PURCHASE OF BUDWEISER, WE’LL MAKE A DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR COUNTRY’S HEROIC FAMILIES.
©2013 Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser® Beer, St. Louis, MO
*Donation of 2¢/case of Budweiser sold, May 5, 2013 - July 4, 2013 with a maximum donation of $1.5 million.
Godspeed! Remembering Bradley Harper and Daryl Raetz On May 19, 2013, the City of Phoenix Public Safety
team lost two dedicated individuals. Firefighter Bradley Harper and Police Officer Daryl Raetz died in the line of duty, serving our community. Harper and his crew from Station 21 were responding to a call involving a brush fire near 39th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road in southwest Phoenix on May 18. As Harper was repositioning some equipment on a narrow road at the scene, he was pinned between a fire truck and an ambulance as the vehicles tried to pass each other. The 23-yearold was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of May 19. Harper had been with the Phoenix Fire Department for two years and had just recently married his high school sweetheart, Lena, in December, 2012. Also on May 19, shortly after 3:30 a.m., Police Officer Daryl Raetz and his partner were processing a DUI stop near Cambridge and 51st Avenue in Phoenix, when Raetz was struck by another vehicle. He was transported to an area hospital where he later died. Raetz, 29 years old, was a veteran of the Iraq war, and joined the Phoenix Police Department six years ago; he was assigned to the 81K squad, in the Maryvale Precinct. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie, and his daughter, Tatum. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Harper and Raetz Families. The United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association has set up an account with Chase Bank to benefit the Harper family: Account number 2959805195
er,
arp Bradley H PHXFD m Last Alar 5-18-13
Daryl Raetz
Donations to the Raetz family may be made at Midfirst Bank under “Hands across Arizona for the benefit of Daryl Raetz.”
, #8899, PHXPD End of Watch 5-19-13
Nominate a candidate
Help us acknowledge those who serve. Men and women currently in the military or first responders. Send your info to editor@latinopm.com. latinopm.com
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Dr. Walter Quan, Medical Oncologist at Cancer Treatment Centers of AmericaÂŽ
By Betsy Batish
888-214-9488
cancercenter.com Š 2013 Rising Tide.
“Through my experience at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, my family and I learned that super heroes don’t always wear capes.”
~Sara
Cancer Patient
Advanced Treatment for Advanced Cancer It’s difficult to imagine hearing the three words, “you have cancer” just before celebrating your son’s second birthday. Sara and her family turned to Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) for her care where clinical experts have been fighting advanced cancer for decades. Because Sara wanted to fight her cancer while still being an active mom to her young son, CTCA® assembled a team of cancer experts, her super heroes, who worked with her to create a comprehensive and tailored treatment plan focused both on results and quality of life. The combined leading-edge oncologic medical treatments with naturopathic medicine, nutrition, rehabilitation, psychological counseling, spiritual support and pain management met her goals. Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s advanced care, whole-person approach helped her in the most important battle of her life, without causing her to sacrifice her most important job: Mom. We are different. At CTCA, we put the patient at the center of our care and we never give up. Today we are proud to be part of Sara’s extended family. Call now to speak with one of our Oncology Information Specialists and learn how we fight cancer like no one else. Call 888-214-9488 or go to cancercenter.com.
No case is typical. You should not expect to experience these results.
© 2013 Rising Tide
A High Expectations Movement Dedicated to World-Class Education for all Arizona Students All Arizona students deserve a worldclass education – an education that recognizes their potential and challenges them to meet the highest of expectations. However, this is not happening today. Did you know? • 66% of Kindergarten teachers say their students are not prepared when they start school. • 22% of Arizona’s students do not graduate from high school on time. • 53% of Arizona’s graduates do not qualify to enroll in our state’s public universities.
• 59% of Arizona students that attend a community college require remediation. This is particularly important because 85% of high-growth, high-wage jobs in Arizona will require some form of postsecondary education or career training, while only 35% of Arizona’s working adults hold an associate’s degree or greater. Arizona’s long-term economic prosperity and our individual quality of life depend on our ability to deliver a world-class education for all students,
which means we need to take bold action today. By building a world-class education system in our state, not only are we preparing students for future success, but we are ensuring a strong workforce pipeline and economic stability for Arizona. As it stands today, we have much work to do. Achieving a world-class education system requires leadership, high expectations, strategic investment and the willingness from everyone to work together to achieve our goals. Join us in building a movement for world-class education at ExpectMoreArizona.org.
The 5 Building Blocks of a World-Class Education World-Class Academic Achievement Arizona students are prepared for and successful in college and career, and they complete postsecondary education ready to compete with their peers around the world for the best jobs. Excellence for All Arizonans embrace the state’s diversity and value the potential of every child’s life. Every Arizona student has the opportunity to attain an excellent education, regardless of zip code, background, or special need. Commitment to Innovation Arizona students are critical thinkers and innovative problem solvers who are prepared for the jobs we want in Arizona and who will strengthen Arizona’s global leadership and quality of life. Strategic Investment New and existing resources are strategically invested in Arizona’s students, birth through career, to improve student achievement and to grow the number of world-class educators and schools. Communities Working Together Arizona’s business and community leaders, elected leaders, voters, educators, parents and students work together with urgency, optimism and a long-term view to ensure that every Arizona student succeeds in college, career and life.
Peer education The effectiveness and advantages of peer tutoring By Erica Cardenas
There is an old saying: To teach is to learn twice.
“Peer tutoring” is a term that has been used to describe a wide array of tutoring arrangements, but most of the research on its success refers to students working in pairs to help one another learn material or practice an academic task. What does the research say about peer tutoring? According to the National Education Association in reviews of peer tutoring programs, researchers found: When students participated in the role of reading tutor, improvements in reading achievement occurred When tutors were explicitly trained in the tutoring process, they were far more effective and the students they were tutoring experienced significant gains in achievement Most of the students benefited from peer tutoring in some way, but same-age tutors were as effective as cross-age tutors Some benefits of peer tutoring for students include higher academic achievement, improved relationships with peers, improved personal and social development, as well as increased motivation. Studies have demonstrated a multitude of other positive outcomes from peer tutoring, such as: Peer tutoring is the most cost-effective way to increase math and reading achievement when compared with computer-assisted instruction Both peer tutors and young people being tutored have reported improved attitudes towards school as a result of their participation In helping others, tutors reinforce their knowledge and skills, in turn building their self-confidence and self-esteem
Peer tutoring is certainly nothing new, and many Valley schools and educational institutions currently implement some form of a peer tutor program. Ask your child’s teacher for information about what peer tutor program is available at your student’s school. latinopm.com
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Narrowing the scholarship search Searching for college scholarships via the internet should be fairly
A child can’t wait. There are more than 14,000 children in care in Arizona. Many are forced to leave their homes with just the clothes on their backs. “Just for Me” bags are given to our foster families for the children who have just come into their care. The bags include essential items, along with items that can provide comfort in a scary situation, such as blankets, stuffed animals and journals.
DONATE Today! Visit us online at
ArizonasChildren.org/JFM to put a smile on a child’s face.
simple, right? After all, search the word “scholarships” and you’ll get thousands of results. This can make students and parents feel either very hopeful or very frustrated. Here are some helpful tips on narrowing the ever-popular scholarship search, which should lead to some positive results. Community foundations There are hundreds of community foundations throughout the U.S., and they are great places to start searching for scholarships. Community foundations are organizations that donate and organize grants and scholarships for the betterment of the community. The Council on Foundations (cof.org) has a search-by-state tool to help locate foundations close to you. Once you locate some foundations of choice, you can search those sites for local scholarship listings. School districts Visit your student’s school district’s website for possible available scholarships – sometimes the district will list scholarships that your high school doesn’t. Make sure to ask your student’s high school counselor what scholarships may be available through the district. Small scholarships Many times parents and students will see the larger $10,000-plus scholarships and immediately apply, but so is everyone else. While it’s great to go after those large scholarships, also apply for modest ones as well. Though the smaller scholarships may not seem all that impressive, or won’t cover your entire tuition, they can add up quickly and are easier to come by. A small $500 scholarship multiplied by five doesn’t look all that small anymore. Write the essay, or not? Many students hesitate to apply for scholarships requiring an essay submission. However, the essay may be a student’s best chance to make the case for why they should receive the scholarship; it helps the scholarship provider get a much better insight into the student applying. If an essay stands out, it could mean the difference between getting a “thanks for applying” e-mail or an award check.
Goodwill Scholarships In May, 2013, the Maricopa
Community Colleges Foundation announced a new, endowed scholarship fund created by Goodwill of Central Arizona for clients who are current or past users of their services. The award may be used for tuition, fees and books and criteria for selection include a demonstrated financial need, past participation in either a vocational education program or workforce re-entry program at Goodwill of Central Arizona and 36
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enrollment at a Maricopa Community College or Skill Center. Applications for the Goodwill scholarships can be found on-line at maricopa.starsscholarshipsonline. com/STARS by clicking on the “Scholarships” tab and searching for “Goodwill.” Maricopa Community College students that are seeking other scholarships for the upcoming semesters can find information on the Foundation’s website, maricopa.edu/ foundation/apply.
L.I.F.E. seeks in-kind donations Lauren’s Institute for Education
(L.I.F.E.) has opened their on-site Community Resource Center, which will be used to develop and nurture the skills of L.I.F.E. clients, and are currently looking to the community for art and sensory supply donations. The Community Resource Center houses a sensory room, a pretend play area and an arts-and-crafts plus wet/dry sensory area. Located in Gilbert, L.I.F.E. offers a variety of therapies for developmentally disabled children that aim at nurturing each individual child’s overall growth to improve their quality of life and the lives of their family members. The L.I.F.E. campus consists of an 11,000 squarefoot facility that has over 20 rooms for specialized therapy, an outdoor patio, staff offices, observation rooms and much more.
G O FA R , CL OSE T O H O M E .
The following is a list of supplies needed: glue (bottles and sticks), scissors, construction paper, finger paint, watercolor paints, crayons, markers, colored pencils, felt squares, shaped sponges, corn syrup, paper plates, string, ribbon, glitter, shaving cream, Play-Doh/ Model Magic, Flarp, Floam and Silly String. For more information on the Resource Center or for a tour of the L.I.F.E. campus, contact Meaghan Travillion at meaghant@laurensinstitute.org.
Register Today!
Businesses with a “Spirit of Enterprise” Is there an Arizona business you feel deserves public recognition?
Then, consider nominating it for a 2013 Spirit of Enterprise Award. The awards, from ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business, recognize some of Arizona’s best businesses for creating jobs, boosting the economy and delivering exceptional customer service. A business qualifies for nomination if it is: a for-profit enterprise that has been in business for at least four years; incorporated, headquartered or has a majority of its business operations in Arizona; employs at least three or more full-time workers; and is able to demonstrate profitability over the last three years combined. In addition, one minority-owned business will receive the Gary L. Trujillo Minority Enterprise Award sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. “We’re looking for firms that demonstrate ethics, energy and excellence in entrepreneurship,” says Gary Naumann, director of the Spirit of Enterprise Center at the W. P. Carey School of Business. “They should have a great story and a positive culture internally; and be exemplary community partners in terms of how they give back.” Once a company is nominated, it will have until July 31 to complete an awards application. For more information on nominating a company, visit spiritofenterprise.org.
Have an education story idea?
Fo l l ow us on www.phoenixcollege.edu Call 602.285.7800 A Maricopa Community College.
Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
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Feelingization Moving out of your head and into your heart By Danielle Medrano
We’ve all heard how powerful our brains are.
Our hearts, just like our brains, produce a powerful electromagnetic field that can be measured on an electrocardiogram (ECG). However, in a match-up between the two, did you know that the heart is 60 times more powerful than the brain? According to the Institute of HeartMath (IHM), an organization dedicated to helping people reduce stress, the heart generates the largest electromagnetic field in the body and can be measured from several feet away. Furthermore, IHM’s researchers have conducted numerous studies that confirm a connection between the heart and emotions; and our hearts receive benefits when influenced by positive emotions. Therefore, paying attention to how we feel is more important than ever, and every day presents an opportunity to practice. Speaker Arielle Ford refers to this as “feelingization” – getting your feelings in sync with your heart. One of the many benefits of meditation is to quiet our constantly thinking mind, the cause of our stressful thoughts, and allow ourselves to experience peace without mind. But, we can reap the same benefits as meditation “on the go” as we weave through the many tasks of our busy lives. Here are a few quick and simple, yet powerful, tools to help move your thoughts out of your head and
there is no way to get these techniques wrong when you’re connecting with your heart
into your heart, balancing your emotions. The way to making any of these tools effective is to monitor how you feel and implement them in your moments of struggle.
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The Institute of HeartMath offers a tool called The Quick Coherence Technique. I refer to it simply as HeartMath breathing. It involves three steps. Read through the instructions, then give it a try. Step One: Place one hand over your latinopm.com
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Be a Mentor
student. When asked if that were true, he responded, “Well, now that I think about it, no.” Sometimes holding our negative thoughts up to the light of truth, as in this case, is enough to make them dissipate. But, just to be sure, I like to pair this technique with a mantra to counter the negative belief. All you have to do is take the original answer, as irrational as it may sound now that it’s been voiced, and turn it into a positive statement or create one that serves you, for example, “I’ll pass this test and
heart and focus your attention on this area. It might help to close your eyes if you’re in a safe place to do so. Step Two: Breathe deeply, but normally, as if your breath is coming in and going out through your chest. Continue breathing until you find a natural rhythm. Step Three: As you maintain your focus and breathing, activate a positive feeling by recalling a time when you felt good. This can involve bringing a loved one to mind, perhaps a pet, or remembering a special time in your life. Feel the love you have for another, or the love they have for you. Repeat these steps as often as necessary, focusing on your heart, your breath and then love. What’s great about this breathing technique is that it also incorporates imagery, and imagery is powerful in creating experiences in our lives.
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Self-help pioneer, Louise Hay, offers a way to turn around negative feelings and get to the root cause by asking yourself one question in moments of angst, and that question is: “What am I believing to be true in this moment?” A client experiencing test anxiety answered this question, “I’m believing that if I don’t pass this test, I’ll never have a career in engineering” – quite a severe consequence for a college
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have an amazing career in chemical engineering!” or “I’ve worked hard in this class and I know the material well.” This technique can also be combined with HeartMath breathing, repeating your new mantra at the third step. If you remember the experience in which the negative belief was formed, you could apply the following tip.
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Ho’oponopono (hoo-pono-pono) is an ancient Hawaiian practice in forgiveness typically carried out by a kahuna, or healer. In the modern world, we can utilize this tool all by ourselves, without ever having to confront anyone. This method is carried out with four short phrases, repeated
“In our deepest moments of struggle, frustration, fear and confusion, we are being called upon to reach in and touch our hearts. Then, we will know what to do, what to say, how to be.” – Roberta Sage Hamilton
until reconciliation is felt. The statements are: I’m sorry; please forgive me; I love you; thank you. I like to vary these expressions depending on the situation, as I don’t always remember them in this order or get the sentence structure correct. For example, after having my parking space “stolen” at Target, I caught myself feeling angry towards the other driver. Remembering the old saying that holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die, I used Ho’oponopono and in my mind repeated, “I forgive you. I’m sorry. I love you. Thank you.” Even if it sounds forced at first, stick with it. You can even apply this for deeper work by recalling a troublesome memory and repeating the process. It may have to be practiced at different times until all aspects of the memory have been addressed. You’ll know your work is complete when you
can look at the entire memory without feeling any negative emotion. Remember, there is no way to get these techniques wrong when you’re connecting with your heart. Overthinking how and when to apply them means you’re staying in your head. So, instead of trying to get it right, let go and allow yourself to experience the healing benefits of “feelingization.” Roberta Sage Hamilton’s quote continues, “What is right is always in our deepest heart of hearts.” Danielle Medrano is a performance consultant and founder of Mindful Management. She helps people mentally prepare for their best performances in high-pressure situations. For coaching or speaking engagements, please contact her at danielle@mindful-management. com. latinopm.com
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View with a room
Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria
Explore the great indoors with an architectural tour
A stroll through an architectural delight makes for
an entertaining summertime excursion, and an educational one. Here are a handful of possibilities. Most tour providers try to accommodate persons with special needs, but call ahead for specifics.
Arizona Biltmore Designed by Albert Chase McArthur (a student of Frank Lloyd Wright) and opened in 1929, the Biltmore earned the sobriquet, “Jewel of the Desert.” Throughout the decades, the owners, including William Wrigley, Jr., have succeeded in maintaining this status through renovations and enlargements. Visitors will be impressed by how a series of architects have developed an ultramodern architectural complex while remaining true to stylistic sources. Tours last about one and half hours. Where: 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix 85016 When: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 10 a.m.; private tours can be arranged for groups of 10 or more Admission: Free for hotel guests; $10, non-guests Info: 602-955-6600 (call for reservations); arizonabiltmore.com/ about/history
Douglas Mansion Canadian James Douglas purchased the “Little Daisy” Mine in 1912, during the heyday of copper mining in Arizona. Shortly af42
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ter, in 1916, he built the Douglas Mansion nearby as much to accommodate visitors as to serve as a family residence. The exterior of the Southwest-style adobe brick structure has been beautifully restored as has been the Library room. The rest of the interior now serves as a museum that features a 3-D model of the boomtown complete with underground mine tunnels. Now part of the Jerome State Historic Park, the mansion is surrounded by other buildings and artifacts associated with the mining industry. There are no formal tours, but self-guided tours are enabled by video and print interpretive materials. Where: 100 Douglas Road, Jerome, AZ 86331 When: 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. daily Admission: free with Park entrance: $5, adult (14+); $2, youth (7-13); free, child (0-6) Info: 928-634-5381; azstateparks.com/Parks/JERO/
San Xavier del Bac Mission Although the founding of the mission is attributed to the Jesuit missionary, Eusebio Kino, in 1695, the exquisite example of ecclesiastical architecture seen today was built by an O’odham workforce under Franciscan leadership between 1783 and 1797, when the region was still territory of the Spanish Crown. The statuary and wall murals also date to this time; the style emulates that of the Spanish baroque. The building and its contents have suffered
much over 200 years – from earthquakes, lightning strikes and old age – and have needed frequent repair. Since being designated a National Historic Landmark, meticulous conservation of the interior decoration has been completed. Work on the exterior, to repair the original brick walls and restore the lime-plastered surface, is on-going. Volunteer docents conduct tours, lasting approximately 45 minutes, four times daily, except Sundays. Tours begin at the Museum entrance at times given below. The church is open to the public 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Where: 1950 W. San Xavier Rd., Tucson AZ 85746 When: Mondays through Saturdays at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Admission: free (donations suggested) Info: patronatosanxavier.org/visit
Orpheum Theatre
The theater was part of a downtown construction boom that preceded the Great Depression, along with the San Carlos and Westward Ho hotels. The Orpheum opened on January 5, 1929, and features a Spanish “baroque revival” style. First intended as a venue for vaudeville shows, its use extended to musicals and movies. A series of owners neglected the upkeep of the original decoration and architectural detail. It wasn’t until 1985 that the building was added to the historic register and serious restoration began thanks to the efforts of the Friends of the Orpheum Theatre. The grand re-opening took place in 1997. Mid-day, hour-long tours, including a backstage visit, are conducted by trained docents. Where: 203 West Adams Street, Phoenix 85003 When: varies, usually early afternoon; check calendar Admission: free Info: 602-262-6225; friendsoftheorpheumtheatre.org
Mystery Castle Destined for an early death from tuberculosis, Boyce Luther Gully left Seattle for Phoenix and embarked on a wild project in the 1930s to build a fantasy “castle” for his daughter, Mary Lou. Gully constructed the three-story, 18-room edifice in the foothills of South Mountain Park using cheap, readily available materials in-
cluding many salvaged and re-purposed elements. The house was unfinished at the time of his death in 1945. Mary Lou only lived in the house as an adult (there was no plumbing or electricity until the 1990s), but she gave tours until her death in 2010. Where: 800 East Mineral Road, Phoenix 85040 When: Thursdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; October through June Admission: $10, adults; $5 children (5-15) Info: 602-268-1581; mymysterycastle.com/location-and-tours
Tovrea Castle Alessio Carraro was a poor Italian immigrant who fulfilled the American dream as a successful land developer and miner. He constructed the “Castle” in 1930, intended as a hotel and the centerpiece of a grandiose development project, which plan fell apart. In 1932, E.A. Tovrea, founder of the prosperous Arizona (later Tovrea) Packing Company, purchased the castle. The Tovreas respected Carraro’s vision, especially with respect to the design of the surrounding Cactus Garden, and preserved what is one of Phoenix’ most striking landmarks. The “Castle” tours, conducted by community volunteers, last about two hours and are wheelchair friendly. Tours are limited to 14 persons, so visitors must book in advance, by phone or on-line (see info below). Where: Visitor’s Center, 5025 East Van Buren, Phoenix 85008 When: June and July tours begin at 7:30 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; closed in August; tour schedule changes seasonally; check on-line for fall schedule Admission: Adults: $15; Seniors/military/students: $13; Children (2-12): $10; Children under 2: free. Info: 1-800-838-3006; tovreacastletours.com/castle-tours
Taliesin West The winter residence of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright from 1937-1959, the building also functioned as a working studio and school, including “tents” in which first-year students were required to live. The architectonic composition epitomizes Wright’s goal of integrating indoor and outdoor spaces. The most visited architectural site in Arizona offers an array of guided tours, such as the two-hour “Night Lights Tour,” the 90-minute “Desert Walk” and the three-hour “Behind the Scenes Tour,” which features discussions with Wright associates. Where: 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale 85259 When: Facility is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily (except major holidays); 90-minute “Insights Tour” conducted at frequent intervals daily, specialty tours less often; check tour calendar at zerve.com/ TaliesinWest/calendar Admission: $32-$60 for adults, depending on type and length of tour; less for children, but on some tours no children, or no children under 12, allowed; purchase tickets in advance at zerve.com/ TaliesinWest Info: 480-627-5340/855-860-2700 latinopm.com
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Injured in an Auto Accident? We Can Help.
With most auto accident cases, an attorney will substantially increase the amount you receive and assist you in getting all the benefits you are entitled to, including making sure all of your medical bills and lost wages are paid. Wade & nysather, P.c. is the leading personal injury law firm with over 25 years of experience with offices located throughout the valley, specializing in representing clients who have been injured in accidents.
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Since 1978, Rio Salado College has embraced the concepts of learning, innovating and partnering to prepare today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow.
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Dr. Chris Bustamante Rio Salado College President
P.S.
Stella Pope Duarte
My father’s gifts By Stella Pope Duarte
It looked like a briefcase, gray
with a black handle. My father brought it in one day, walking into the house like he was an office manager instead of a carpenter. I asked him, “What’s that?” He said, “It’s for you, something from the lumber yard.” I thought it was some kind of tool so I could help Ma when she got into her house-decorating mood. He released the silver clasps on the case by pressing on both sides at the same time. I couldn’t believe my eyes; it was a typewriter, a real typewriter like the one I used in my typing class in high school. “OLIVETTI UNDERWOOD MADE IN OLIVETTI PLANT BARCELONA, SPAIN” – that’s what the silver strip said on the back. I looked at Dad and saw a funny look on his face, like he was more surprised than I was. “I’m building you a desk for it,” he said, and we exchanged another look between us – shy, or wry, or something we had never seen between us before. I pulled the typewriter out of the case, a rather heavy contraption in two shades of blue. There was a silver “return handle” on the left and gray
knobs on both sides for moving the paper up and down. The letters and numbers were set into metal strips that made a clack-clacking sound when struck. My fingers fit neatly over the black keys on the keyboard, the letters and numbers clearly visible in white. The black ribbon uncoiled from one spool to another as the letters appeared. There was only one red key, the tab. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. I typed the letters I remembered from my typing class and Dad asked, “What does it mean?” He only attended elementary school and never even made it to the eighth grade. “I don’t know. It’s something I learned how to type in school. The faster you type it, the higher your grade.” I typed it again and again, and he watched in wonder. I was making mistakes, but all Dad heard was the keys clacking, and he thought I was the fastest typist he had ever seen. Three days later, he built a desk right into the wall of the bedroom I shared with my sister, Lupe. On the wall, Dad attached a pencil sharpener with its handle an easy reach from my position on the beige swivel chair he had bought to go along with the typewriter. To my right, on the desk,
he placed a lamp with a neck like a serpent’s so I could move the coiled neck around to aim the light where I needed it. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country … then I typed: Today Dad gave me the first gifts he’s ever bought me … the best gifts ever. Dad saw me working at eleven o’clock that night on my Geography report. He stood at the doorway watching, then slipped a Snickers candy bar he had bought at Yee’s Market next to the typewriter and walked away. From the kitchen, I heard the low hum of my parents’ voices. I heard Dad say, “She’s fast on that machine; maybe she’ll write something important someday.” I was fifteen and my father’s gifts were the gifts of a writer. His words were to come true. I was to write, perhaps, work that would last through the ages, and all because he put the right tools in my hands. On this Father’s Day, I want to say: Thank you, Dad! You gave me the best gifts ever!
Stella Pope Duarte was born and raised in South Phoenix. She began her award-winning career in 1995 after she had a dream in which her deceased father told her that her destiny was to become a writer. Contact her at stellapopeduarte.com. latinopm.com
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¡!
my perspective on: Medicaid expansion
Strengthen the safety net By Betsey Bayless
More perspectives
Send us your perspective on whatever moves you. Email editor@latinopm.com.
I have to live in the real world.
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I am President and CEO of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, Arizona’s only public health care system. People with few resources – sometimes in desperate situations – come to our emergency room at the Maricopa Medical Center and to our clinics and we take care of them. Medicaid expansion would allow us to continue providing care for our citizens in need. About 60 percent of our patients are Hispanic and 30 percent speak Spanish as their primary language. I have been stunned by the statements made by opponents of Medicaid expansion expressing concern about the level of the national debt and deficit spending. These comments are always accompanied by disparaging remarks about the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.” I did not support the Affordable Care Act. I believed that health care reform could be accomplished more successfully in an orderly, incremental manner. Congress did not see it my way. I agree completely with people who criticize the growing national debt and deficit spending. This has to be corrected. But, these corrections cannot be accomplished in the emergency room or by denying health care to people who have no other recourse. Refusing to expand Medicaid does not balance the federal budget or make any positive changes to the national economy. Do I think Medicaid expansion is a good solution for health care reform? No, but it is the option that is available to us under the present circumstances. It gives the health care industry the opportunity to get people out of emergency rooms and into primary care so that the health of the population improves and the cost of their care be contained. For more than 100 years, the Maricopa Integrated Health System has been the backbone of our community’s health care safety net. We have survived some tough times, but never lost sight of our mission of providing care for our community’s most vulnerable members. Every day our excellent doctors and nurses see the impact of the economic downturn in a growing number of Arizona residents who have no health insurance. In 2010, about 13 percent of our care was uncompensated. Last year, that number was 26 percent.
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¡ June 2013!
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Going without health insurance is not just a crisis for our patients and their families; it is also an issue for everyone who has an interest in Arizona’s future. Arizona’s business community – including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Small Business Association – recognizes that a healthy workforce is essential to our state’s success in the 21st century. The truth is, the debate over expansion should focus on how Arizona’s Medicaid program (the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) is a national leader in minimizing costs, reducing waste and improving efficiency. In fact, the federal government would save considerable funds if the country’s most expensive Medicaid states would move to Arizona’s remarkable model. AHCCCS is about $700 cheaper per enrollee than the average Medicaid program. It also has the lowest cost for prescription drugs of any Medicaid program in the country. Without Medicaid expansion, we will continue to see the uninsured in our emergency rooms, where costs are highest. Those costs are passed along to the rest of us. Studies have shown that an average family’s annual insurance premium is $1,700 higher because of cost shifting to pay for the uninsured. By expanding Medicaid, there will be less of this cost shifting. Our community’s safety net will be strengthened and the costs, in large measure, will be covered through the enhanced federal funds. Also, this plan will ensure Arizona tax dollars stay in Arizona, rather than being siphoned to surrounding states that have agreed to expansion. It is to the Governor’s credit that she has stepped forward and taken a bold position to strengthen the future of AHCCCS and our health care system. The people of Arizona are well-served by Governor Brewer and her commitment to this state. Betsey Bayless is a third-generation Arizonan. From 1997 to 2002, she served as Arizona’s 17th Secretary of State. For eight years, she was a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, where she served two terms as Board Chair. Her extensive state government career includes serving as the director of the Arizona Department of Administration, acting director of the Arizona Department of Revenue, and assistant director of the Arizona Board of Regents. Additionally, Ms. Bayless worked in the securities industry as an investment banker and stockbroker.
You may be throwing away money with your current Medicare Plan or Supplement.
For more details, please call:
1-877-211-6614 (TTY users should call 1-800-577-5586) 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week or visit CareMore.com CareMore (HMO and HMO SNP) is a coordinated care plan with a Medicare Advantage contract. Contracts in California, Nevada and Arizona. CareMore offers Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO), including Special Needs Plans (HMO SNP). Y0017_081101A CHP File & Use (08072011) CAMO_00000_Trash Can Ad_8x10_FNL.indd 1
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Congratulations Priscilla Giguere - Mrs. Sonoran Desert
We are proud to have you as a friend to the Estetica family. We wish you the best of luck in the Mrs. Arizona America Pageant. Mrs. America State Pageant will take place April 5 & 6, 2013 at the Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe, AZ. Tickets available for this event at the box office and online. To learn more about the Mrs. Arizona America Pageant, find us on Facebook or at: www.MrsArizonaAmerica.com Mrs. Arizona America Pageant
Priscilla Giguere Mrs. Sonoran Desert
Mrs. Arizona America Contestant 2013
Dr. Corwin D. Martin
480.551.0581
Gift Certificates Available
Gift certificates make great gifts, and are available for both medical procedures and spa treatments.
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