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NOVEMBER 2011
ARIZONA EDITION
A legacy of courage:
The story of Arthur Van Haren Jr.
Compete and compromise
Redistricting vice chair José Herrera’s op-ed
Oak Creek Canyon A cure for N.D.D.
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Journal of the American Latino Dream
23
Volume 8
{November 2011}
Issue 3
54
A legacy of courage
His portrait hangs at Sky Harbor Airport. Soon he will be the first Hispanic inducted into Arizona’s Aviation Hall of Fame
Compete and compromise
José M. Herrera, vice chairman of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, shares his views
42 7 8
From the editor For the fourth year, Latino Perspectives, RCI and SRP honor those who serve
¿Será posible? As the estómago turns, Toyota butts into telenovelas; dieting for dollars
12 LP journal Another Arizona political sham; food (tax) for thought; Valley Mexican food gets trendy
31
Movin’ up
EVEC names Hernandez EV Man of the Year; Garcia is new ASU director of border studies; Harper-Marinick joins Flo Crit board
43 Education joins national ‘100kin10’ effort; Montessori ASU school celebrates 40th anniversary; afterschool conference November 19
47 Health 35 Vanidades Entrepreneur Salon owner Edgar Galvan is the best It’s National Family Caregiver Month – a year at what he does
in the life of a caregiver sheds light on the toughest job no one talks about
Briefcase 37 Loop 303 opens up NW Valley; Mayo Clinic and
ASU partner up; ACA opens new center; ASU prof launches socialeconomyaz.org
14 Vibe Flamenco meets mariachi; Lluís Coloma comes 41 Those who serve to Phoenix; Pink Martini, anyone?
Andrew P. Rodriguez, Tempe police officer and explosive ordnance disposal specialist
out 50 Time Do your children suffer from nature deficit disorder? Take them to Oak Creek Canyon
57 P.S.
The great gift of freedom
19 Rincón del arte Emily Costello, visual artist On the cover: Van Haren Jr. piloting Hellcat No. 32 during the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot,” 1944.
socially
Coming in December: responsible gift-giving guide latinopm.com
¡ November 2011!
Latino Perspectives Magazine
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¡! from the executive editor
November 2011 Publisher/CEO Ricardo Torres Executive Editor/COO Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D. Copy Editor Rosa Cays Art Director Jorge Quintero Contributing Writers Catherine Anaya, Erica Cardenas, Dan Cortez, Ruben Hernandez, José M. Herrera, Jonathan Higuera, Robrt L. Pela, Stella Pope Duarte, Jean Reynolds Director of Sales and Marketing Carlos Jose Cuervo Advertising Account Executives Grace Alvarez and Barry Farber Webmaster QBCS Inc.
Contact Us
www.latinopm.com P.O. Box 2213 Litchfield Park, Az. 85340 602-277-0130 Advertising: sales@latinopm.com Editorial: editor@latinopm.com Design: art@latinopm.com
Subscriptions
For home or office delivery, please send your name, address, phone number, and a check for $24 to Latino Perspectives Magazine at the address above. Subscriptions also available for credit-card purchase by calling 602-277-0130. Visit www.latinopm.com/digital for a free digital subscription. Latino Perspectives Magazine is published 12 times a year and is selectively distributed throughout Arizona. The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted by Latino Perspectives Media, LLC, all rights reserved, and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.
Our honor to honor By Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D.
On November 16, 2011, Latino Perspectives Magazine and Phoenix
College’s Raul H. Castro Institute will host the Fourth Annual Salute Honoring Those Who Serve. We shine the light on veterans and men and women who proudly serve, and served, our country and communities as active military or first responders. At the event, we’ll also present a posthumous tribute to WWII fighter pilot Arthur Van Haren Jr., who next year will become the first Hispanic to be inducted into Arizona’s Aviation Hall of Fame. I first learned about Mr. Van Haren and his distinguished career early last year, thanks to historian and ASU archivist emerita Christine Marin. She introduced me to Eric Halvorson, Van Haren’s grandson, and during our first meeting I was fascinated by Eric’s family history. When he showed me a picture of a painting of his tata, I was sure to have seen it before. But where? In a perfect example of “we only see what we know,” I learned the image in question is a painting by Robert McCall and is part of a series of large panels commemorating Arizona’s aviation notables. Since 1997, these paintings have been adorning the international concourse of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. That’s where I had seen it (many times before!). Our gratitude goes out to the Van Haren and Halvorson families for sharing their mementos and family albums with us and with historian Jean Reynolds, whom we commissioned to prepare a monograph on Arthur Van Haren Jr. Read excerpts on p. 23. Because November is National Family Caregiver’s Month, in the Health department Robrt Pela shares a moving account of his experience caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s disease. If you are a family caregiver, remember that taking care of yourself is not selfish; it’s a necessity. Who would care for you and your loved one if you were to become ill? Also in this issue, José M. Herrera, vice chair of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, shares his take on the important task of redrawing congressional and legislative districts. Too much is at stake to take this volunteer position lightly. Go to latinopm.com to read an online exclusive guest op-ed by Kent Paredes Scribner, superintendent of Phoenix Union High School District, on the transformation of urban education in Phoenix and the culture of high expectations, rigor and college readiness.
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¡! ¿Será posible?
As the estómago turns By Robrt L. Pela
Talk about product placement. In an
ongoing crusade to raise its profile among Latinos, Toyota has launched the latest in a series of television-centric campaigns aimed at the Spanish-speaking market. The auto manufacturer has hooked its stationwagon – and every other body style – to the stars of NBC Universal-owned, Spanish-language network Telemundo. The partnership is focused on Telemundo’s popular telenovela Los Herederos del Monte, where Toyota has expanded its two-year-old Somos Muchos campaign. Somos Muchos began with a Facebookfocused effort two years ago, offering Toyota drivers a custom-made, free decal proclaiming pride in their heritage and their choice in automobiles. Hundreds of versions of the stickers were offered, each reflecting a different Latin American country and city of origin. But stickers, apparently, aren’t enough. Now Toyota has moved its cars and trucks into Telemundo’s soap operas – literally. The campaign kicked into high gear a few months ago with a weekly 15-second spot that aped the closing credits of a telenovela. Instead of credits for best boys and second assistant grips, the faux scroll listed instead the names of fans who’d signed up for the
Your thoughts? Tell us what you think. Send your thoughts to editor@latinopm.com 8
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privilege at telemundo.com. Behind these fake credits, actors interact with a Toyota product, fondling a chassis or driving a Camry into and out of scenes involving adultery and hunky shirtlessness. Product placement isn’t new to the entertainment biz. Film star Joan Crawford popularized it in the early ‘60s when, as vice president of a soft-drink company, she made sure that a bottle of Pepsi appeared on screen in each of her movies. But Telemundo’s new campaign has lately been spiraling out of control; a perfect accompaniment, some say, to the tension and scripted treachery of a sudsy telenovela. Others cringed at the oddly Orwellian twist in the Toyota campaign, which found actors pausing in the act of an evil telenovela deed – bedding someone’s spouse or poisoning another character’s menudo – to stare straight into the camera while a Toyota logo dances across the screen, alongside the legend, “Somos Muchos Latinos watching the novela. Watch out!” How long, one wonders, before these treacherous telenovela characters are stealing one another’s Toyotas – or taking jobs managing Toyota lots? Tune in tomorrow to find out.
Latino Perspectives welcomes feedback from readers regarding published stories or topics of interest. Please include your name and phone number. Mail letters to Editor, Latino Perspectives, P.O. Box 2213 Litchfield Park, Az. 85340. Or, e-mail letters to editor@latinopm.com.
Dieting for dollars Trina Aguilar is 47 pounds lighter
than she was last year at this time – and $750 richer for it, besides. Aguilar, a Glendale native, is among thousands of folks nationwide who have participated in HealthyWage, a cash reward-based program that pays people to lose weight. You can’t make this stuff up. HealthyWage estimates that its participants have dumped a collective 42,000 pounds, for which the fledgling weight-loss company has paid out more than $100,000. The program stages threemonth-long, weight-loss “Match-Up” contests in which teams of five or more members choose a weight-loss program (Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and Nutrisystems are the current get-thin favorites) and then support one another in shedding pounds through social media. Aguilar reports that she had a hard time losing the weight she’d gained during her third pregnancy of two years ago. “But when I heard that my insurance was going to go up because I was chubby,” she says, “I really wanted to lose the weight.” Aguilar is referring to a recent Arizona Medicaid proposal to charge obese people a penalty for being overweight. The proposition, now under review, is one among several across the nation that would penalize smokers and the obese for “health-reductive behaviors.” HealthyWage, which is funded by corporations that want employees to remain in the pink, is among many similar health incentive programs. But the New York-based company remains the only program that offers cash rewards for weight loss. Look for more, and more competitive, programs in the near future. “I heard about one that’s going to start up soon,” Aguilar says, her eyes shining, “that gives people a new car if they lose 100 pounds. That would be nice. I’d do that one in a heartbeat.”
Editorial mission statement Latino Perspectives creates community, cultivates c u lt u ra l pr ide a nd provokes, c ha l len ges a nd con nec t s L at i nos who a re def i n i n g, pu rsu i n g, a nd ac h ie v i n g t he A me r ic a n L at i no D re a m .
The history of cancer meets a future of hope.
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Signs of cancer found on bones from ancient Egypt.
2011
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The term cancer originates.
1899
The X-ray revolutionizes tumor discovery.
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American Cancer Society recommends mammograms.
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Conversation starters from the world around us
12 LP Journal
Pearce’s puppet; the DiCiccio food-tax saga; Arizona loves Mexican food
17 Anaya says A Latino perspective inspires young Latinos
21 Rincón del arte
Emily Costello, visual artist
i say... Where’s Gloria Allred when you need her? A Hispanic woman doesn’t have a right to run? Does Jerry Lewis think this race is only for white male Mormons? Pretty shameful, in my opinion. Arizona State Sen. Russell Pearce on the lawsuit seeking to remove alleged sham candidate Olivia Cortes off the ballot for his Nov. 8 recall election
courtesy of Emily Costello
It just bothers [me that] some people are knocking constantly on your door, being a single woman and being [taped] and that’s not proper.
page
21
Primavera by Emily Costello
Olivia Cortes, “non-candidate” in the Russell Pearce Nov. 8 recall election, to ABC 15
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¡¡!!
LP journal
“Pull the string and ... I’ll [run against] you [and split the votes], I’m your puppet ...”
Sham, sham, sham What started out as a potentially thrilling race for public office quickly became uncovered as just another of Arizona’s political shams. The election faceoff between state Senate president Russell Pearce, who’s led the charge against immigration reform, and Olivia Cortes, a Mexican immigrant running against Pearce, burned out quickly last month when it was revealed that Cortes was a sham candidate, recruited onto the ballot by Pearce’s allies in order to split the anti-Pearce vote in this month’s recall election. Clues came fast and early that Cortes might not be the real deal. Her campaign adviser was Greg Western, a well-known Pearce ally and chair of the East Valley Tea Party. And then there was the fact that Cortes, a naturalized citizen from Veracruz, Mexico, was barely a presence in her own campaign, aside from the improbably large number of full-color signs bearing her smiling face alongside the Cesar Chavez-centric motto “Sí, se puede!” When she did give interviews, she seemed uncertain about issues and uncomfortable discussing her stance on immigration reform. Cortes’s candidacy fell apart after fellow candidate Jerry Lewis challenged 12
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her election bid in Maricopa County Superior Court. Although Judge Edward Burke refused to remove Cortes from the election ballot, he did allow that there were far too many Pearce supporters in Cortes’s camp. The faux candidate finally threw in the towel after Lewis and his cronies provided evidence that Pearce’s allies and family members had collected many of the signatures that got Cortes on the ballot, and that Pearce’s own brother was along for the ride as signatures were collected. When these Pearces were subpoenaed to testify in court about their involvement in Cortes’s campaign, she withdrew from the race. “It is sad for our Latino community to see Olivia Cortes be used and manipulated by Tea Party extremists who have taken advantage of her political ignorance,” the political action group ¡Somos Republicans! said in an official statement. “Cortes admitted repeatedly on the stand during the hearing that she was new to campaigning and acknowledged she didn’t have very much information on how to campaign.” Elsewhere, the Arizona chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association, the largest Latino law enforcement organization in the United States, has issued a formal letter to Arizona
Attorney General Tom Horne, requesting an investigation into the whole Cortes scandal. The letter, which points out that the Arizona Constitution is charged with maintaining pure elections, states that the Hispanic community is “outraged that Olivia Cortes was used to help them commit voter fraud, by successfully placing her on the recall election ballot. This example of voter fraud should be vigorously investigated and wrongdoers should be punished.” Wags are wondering who financed the Cortes campaign and whether the lady herself was paid to be a political figurehead. The real question appears to be how Pearce hoped to cover up the rather obvious involvement of his own family members in his opponent’s race. Did he think this obvious attempt to split votes would somehow go unnoticed? Sí, se puede.
Food (tax) for thought The saga of Councilman Sal DiCiccio and the Phoenix’s grocery tax may never end. Sold by the Phoenix City Council in 2010 as a means of keeping the city up and running during the tough recession, the so-called food tax – or $30 million of its projected revenue, at least – would
LP journal create funds that have been earmarked for city employee pay increases. DiCiccio has garnered much support for his cause; in good part because he’s made a huge deal out of the fact that the pay raises were kept under wraps when presented to the city council. “The pay hikes were built into the budget,” DiCiccio admits, “but they were hidden from the public. The lack of disclosure was unfair, and I have a real problem with that.” The money earmarked for pay raises should, he believes, have gone to public services. “We’ve cut senior citizens’ services, library hours, and after-school programs for grade school kids,” DiCiccio complains. “If the public had known that their grocery tax money was headed for city salary increases, they would have rioted.” DiCiccio, who’s been accused of fudging budget numbers to make his point, insists that he’s not opposed to city employees getting paid better. “But, gosh, can’t we hold off on those raises for two years, while the economy recovers?” he asks. “We should not be giving raises to government employees when the general public is taking pay cuts or losing their jobs altogether. The food tax is regressive, because it impacts people who make the least amount of money.” The councilman has gained some sympathy by stumping for the underdog, but his supporters really rallied after a clip from a city council budget meeting
held last June went viral. In the clip, which made the rounds on YouTube and on local television news stations, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon calls DiCiccio “childish” and refuses to answer questions about the obscured pay raises. DiCiccio says he gave the mayor a friendly hug after that particular budget meeting and remains largely unfazed by Gordon’s antagonistic attitude toward him. “He’s under a lot of stress,” the councilman demurs. “Do I like the fact that he cuts me off? No. But the public is more unhappy about the mayor’s treatment of me than I am.” Which isn’t to say that DiCiccio intends to back down. At press time, the food tax proposal was on its way back to city council for reconsideration, where it will come up against what DiCiccio calls “four strong votes against it and more to come.” More to come. Who’d expect less?
More chips and salsa Arizona may be known far and wide as an anti-Hispanic mecca, but you’d never know it from the number of new Latinoinspired restaurants that are opening here these days.
¡!
El Hefe Super Macho Taqueria, which muscled its way into Scottsdale in April, will be joined by not one but two new eateries in Scottsdale, both from Barrio Cafe’s Silvana Salcido Esparza (who’s lately been featured on the Cooking Channel’s Food(ography) program). The first, set to open this month, will be called Silvana and will feature elegant dining and nontraditional Mexican cuisine, while Barrio Queen Tequileria will offer more casual ambience and the tacos-and-guacamole fare Esparza’s Phoenix location has become known for. Nachobot, located in the heart of downtown’s Roosevelt Row arts district, will serve (what else?) nachos as well as authentic Sonoran hot dogs topped with bacon and pickled jalapeños, of course. Texas-based Fuzzy’s Taco Shop will serve Tempe’s college crowds on South Mill Avenue, while Mexico City’s barbacoa, prepared by James Beard Foundation Chef Jose Garces, will be Distrito’s house specialty, the modern Mexican restaurant at the Saguaro, downtown Scottsdale’s new hotel. “It’s really all about the fact that Mexican food is hot again,” quips local food critic Michele Laudig. “And because the Latino population here is growing. I just wish that our love of Mexican food translated to our love of Mexican people.”
Sal DiCiccio latinopm.com
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¡!
vibe
Flamenco meets mariachi Linda Ronstadt can be credited with marrying mariachis
to symphony orchestras. Now, award-winning flamenco guitarist Chris Burton Jácome proposes to wed traditional flamenco rhythms with the fiery mariachi sounds of Mexico. This unique boda occurs Wednesday, November 30, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. as a fundraiser for the Latin American Art Alliance. Jácome calls his new musical fusion ¡flaMEXico!, which he’ll unveil at the Phoenix Art Museum. Tickets are $45 per person at laaa-phxart.com. The proceeds will fund Latin American art purchases for the museum. The concert will display the talents of mariachi singer Olga Flores and an ensemble of musicians, singers and dancers that Jácome promises will “capture the drama of charro and gypsy music, creating a whirlwind of sound filled with passion, grace and fire.” ¡Ole!
Latino Jerry Lee at the Rhythm Room He looks like Edward James Olmos but was influenced
by the ivory-keyed rock ‘n’ roll music of Jerry Lee Lewis. Born in Barcelona, Lluís Coloma is one of the most popular blues boogie-woogie pianists in the blues scene of Spain. His powerful piano poundings will rouse you to your dancing feet. The Rhythm Room, Phoenix’s own “house of blues” at 1019 Indian School Road in Phoenix, will highlight Coloma’s blues-rock and three other jumpin’ blues pianists at the 2011 Boogie Woogie Piano Blowout on Saturday, November 12. Tickets are $12 and the doors open at 5 p.m. Details at rhythmroom.com.
Pink Martini straight up Thomas Lauderdale, the founder/bandleader
of the 12-member ensemble Pink Martini, likes to say, “If the United Nations had a house band … we’d be that band.” The repertoire of this eclectic “little orchestra” draws inspiration worldwide; like musical archeologists, they dig up beautiful songs from all cultures and languages. They’ve certainly mined Latin rhythms, percussion and lyrics, and have recorded Spanishlanguage jazzy tunes and torch songs such as “Amado Mio,” “Tiempo Perdido,” and “Dónde Estás, Yolanda?” This act has shared Latin compilation CDs with Buena Vista Social Club and Carlos Santana. Long-time lead vocalist China Forbes has been replaced by Storm Large, but the shows still deliver a rollicking, multicultural adventure. At the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix on Wednesday, November 30 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $45$60. Find out more at celebritytheatre.com.
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clockwise from top left: Photos Courtesy of Liz Hernandez; Lluís Coloma; Photo by James Chiang
Get more Vibe at www.latinopm.com
Vibe Art happenings in the West Valley
¡!
Lola's Voicemail:
image courtesy of the artist
On my wish(ful thinking) list: Magic chones I’m not a runner, but like many
El Viaje Espacial de Coatl (detail) by Ruben Galicia
In November 2005, the West Valley
Arts Council (WVAC) embarked on a yearlong arts survey and planning process for the West Valley, 56,000 square miles listed then as the third-fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation. The local arts were lacking then, but ay, Chihuahua, how things have changed. The WVAC is doing its part to enhance the western cultural scene by presenting Alturas, performing the rich musical heritage of Inca and Aymara folk music on Sunday, November 6 at 3 p.m. This outdoor concert at Marley Park, 13243 N. Founders Park Boulevard in Surprise, is sponsored by the Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation and the CALA Alliance. Admission is $10 for adults, $2 for students. This fall, Estrella Mountain Community College and Chandler-based Xico Inc. have partnered to present an ambitious exhibition at the college titled Indigenous Perspective. The theme of the show expresses the meaning of indigenous in the Southwest. Fourteen talented local and regional artists contributed pieces that display their personal visions about culture, identity and place, including Ruben Galicia, April Edwards, Maria Kane and Frank Ybarra. A desert landscape background designed by Manny Burreal complements this exhibit. The show celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and will be on display in several oncampus installations until the end of the semester in December. Find out more at estrellamountain.edu.
Americans I’m constantly frazzled and running around during the workweek. This sweatless “workxercise” can be strenuous, but lacks the benefits of real exercise. To make up for this, I’ve substituted my work chair with an exercise ball to strengthen my core, and I squeeze and release my buttocks and belly muscles throughout the day while sitting or driving. Of course, it would be easier to set time aside and work out daily, but sometimes, despite my best efforts, it doesn’t happen. Fed up with my excuses and lack of determination, and wanting to capitalize more on the daily grind, I bought a fitness magazine. Flipping through the pages, I saw an ad for Reebok’s EasyTone shoes: for just $100, these puppies purportedly deliver 28 percent more strength and tone in the buttock muscles and 11 percent more of the same in the hamstring and calf muscles, compared to regular running shoes. Woohoo! Adios, Stewart Weitzman stilettos. Who cares if these shoes are ugly if you can get a 28 percent stronger and more toned butt, right? Then I saw an ad for another incredible product, the iPant (no relation to the iPad or the iPhone, although the product’s claims are as revolutionary as Steve Job’s gadgets). The iPant is an undergarment with embedded microcapsules containing caffeine to promote the unthinkable: fat des-truc-tion. Just what I needed. Goodbye fat! These chones may look like regular spanks, but release vitamin E to prevent
the effects of aging for youthful-looking pompis, and ceramides to restore and maintain the booty’s smoothness, plus Retinol and aloe vera to moisturize and increase the firmness of the skin. Kinda like Oil of Olay for your behind. The savvy shopper and consumer advocate in me knows better, but still, too tempting! If I already wear underwear all day long, why not give it a try? All I had to do was dish out $60 and wear the undergarment for at least 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 28 days; which means I have to buy more than one pair or make time to hand-wash the bloomers every day. (The manufacturer claims the caffeine and other ingredients are still present in the garment after 100 washes. In my naiveté, I’m inclined to believe this as I’ve washed my coffeestained white dress shirt about 20 times and I can still see the silhouette of the caramel macchiato spill). Feeling thinner and more toned simply by picturing myself in the magic chones and the equally brilliant toning shoes, I began adding other items to my holiday stocking-stuffer wish(ful thinking) list. Alas, I checked the Interweb for product reviews and was confronted with la realidad. Last month, Reebok dished out $25 million to settle a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over false and deceptive advertising practices related to the EasyTone shoes. If only the FCT’s policing of truth in advertising practices extended to cosmetic products. As for the chones and my timemanagement skills … there’s still hope.
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¡!
Pocho keen
vibe
Like peachy keen, pero different Courtesy of Heard Museum
Mijo as a young man, being compared
Arizona neckwear inspires exhibit opening Nov. 19
Bountiful autumn at the Heard In November, the calendar of events
at the Heard Museum features a lineup of artful, entertaining and educational events. These exhibits and festivals provide fabulous opportunities to experience the depths of heritage that Arizona and the Southwest offer. There’s no better time to shop for holiday gifts for out-of-state friends and family – or for yourself. Nov. 6: Navajo Weavers marketplace. Find a uniquely designed Navajo rug to adorn your home wall or floor. Watch weavers in action as they create these works of art. Free with museum admission. Nov. 12-13: Spanish Market. Two days of strolling mariachis, food and regional Indian and Hispanic artworks for sale. Free with donation. Nov. 19: Opening of Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary. This exhibit explores Arizona’s contribution to neckwear. The bolo tie originated in the state and became popular throughout the country. The bolo has been made even more distinctive by contemporary American Indian artists. Museum admission. Nov. 24-27: Ornament marketplace. A great outing for the family while they’re in town for Thanksgiving, this event features ornaments handcrafted by Indian artists. The Heard is located at 2301 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix. Find out more about these and other celebrations, exhibits and lectures at heard.org. 16
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to your father can be a blessing and a curse. You want to be your own person, yet you’re glad someone notices certain qualities about you – unless, of course, your dad is a serial killer. And as you mature and your dad becomes an “old man” and maybe a bit of a square, being compared to him may not be the highest compliment to you. That was the case with me until recently, when I realized that I, myself, am on the inevitable path to “old fartedness” and started to examine my father’s life a bit more closely. For most of my youth, my father worked evening shifts as a line cook and sometimes as the chef. This logistical fact made it harder for him to have an open line of communication with any of his seven kids, since we were getting ready for bed when he was just getting home. Besides, we were a bunch of independent kids anyway. So as I got older, I would do things to honor him by piecing together the few bits of his life that I did know at the time. I knew he liked Carta Blanca, so I would drink it during trips to Mexico or stateside if by slim chance I would find it. I knew that his father was a mariachi and an instrument maker. My dad seemed to shun that lifestyle, even though as a young kid, he would wander the streets offering serenatas for money. This might explain why he never pushed music on us kids. Later, whenever I would find myself in mariachi squares in Mexico, I would
admire the musicians, imagining my grandfather among them, but I would also befriend the kids who were hustling for empty beer cans or even shining shoes. That’s who my father was as a kid, working any job he could when he was just 10 years old. My father never pushed anything on me and never questioned my decisions. He is a man of few words and not much of a risk taker. I always thought my adventurous, social side was a result of my mother’s genes. That is, until I started to ask my father questions about his life as a young man. Put simply, I learned that my dad was a cool dude. He was a bit of a ladies’ man as well, and always wore the latest styles and tried to be muy suave – like Elvis. He drove the coolest cars and listened to all the latest hits from across the line. He couldn’t always understand what they were saying, but it’s how he learned English, he would later tell me. My dad was with it. Or in his own words, he was “with the times.” That’s how he explained it to me one day when we were listening to the radio and Little Richard came on. “Mijo,” he said to me, “I used to listen to this music … and Fats Domino ... and Elvis.” “Mijo, I was … I was with the times.” I’m glad the line of communication eventually opened up between us. So, now when I furrow my eyebrows or put on my reading glasses, my wife tells me I look just like my dad. I smile and say, “I do, don’t I?”
Vibe
image courtesy of phoenix art museum
Happenings at Phoenix Art Museum
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, from White House Overlook, Arizona, 1942. Ansel Adams Archive/Purchase © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust Collection Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona
Iconic Arizona As Arizona gears up for the state’s
centennial, Phoenix Art Museum starts the celebrations with a dazzling photography exhibition. For decades, photographers have flocked to Arizona to document the state’s stunning vistas, unique natural wonders and striking saguaros. Iconic Arizona: Celebrating the Centennial with Photographs from the Center for Creative Photography, opening November 12, provides a visual tour of the places and landmarks that make Arizona unique. Pulled from the Center for Creative Photography’s vast archives, this striking exhibition visits 13 different sights, including the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Monument Valley, through the lens of 40 noteworthy photographers. Highlights include works by the center’s most beloved photographers such as Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind, as well as images from Arizona photographers David Muench, Dick Arentz and John Schafer. In conjunction with Iconic Arizona, the museum is inviting Arizona lovers to submit their favorite sunsets, landmarks, street scenes, state parks or any other subject that answers the question, “What’s your iconic Arizona?” Beginning November 1, 2011, the public is encouraged to upload images at phxart.org/iconicaz. Photographs will be included in a digital slideshow in the Norton Photography Gallery and online at the exhibition-dedicated website.
¡!
Anaya says Perspective By Catherine Anaya
People curious about the title of
this magazine wonder why we need a publication with a “Latino” perspective and have recently questioned me about it. It is essential for a magazine like this to exist because it’s important for young people to see adults they can relate to in successful careers, making contributions to the community, fulfilling their goals and making an impact. I’ve scratched my head at times wondering why it’s even a question. I’ve always loved to write. By the time I reached college, I decide I wanted to be a print reporter. I started writing for the campus newspaper and loved it. At one point, one of my editors asked if I had ever considered broadcast journalism. I had not. Subconsciously, I really believe the thought of a career as a television reporter never entered my mind, because when I turned on the news growing up, there were only a few Hispanic reporters and they weren’t in prime positions. I would watch the news and not see anyone who looked like me or appeared to be cut from the same cloth. So why would I consider it a potential career? But I started investigating it and the more I discovered, the more intrigued I became, until I knew without a doubt I wanted to build a career in broadcast journalism. I often wonder, though, if that editor hadn’t thrown the idea out into the universe, would I have ever considered it? It’s important to acknowledge stories of perseverance, like Friendly House President/CEO Raul Espericueta, who
came to this country with his parents from Mexico and went on to become the first in his family to receive a college diploma in the United States, and two years later, the first to receive a graduate degree. It’s empowering for our community to know the people seen working the fields have dreams they’re determined to fulfill, like Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers who’s office at City Hall sits on the very fields where she once picked cotton as a child. Or to know that at 18 years old, you can take a job at KPHO, become an integral part of the station’s signature program, The Wallace and Ladmo Show, and nearly 28 years later, still work there as a producer/director of photography for the company’s syndicated lifestyles program. This is Tony Escobar’s story, my coworker. This magazine gives us a place to take pride in accomplishments such as these; a place to recognize each other for whatever measure of success we achieve while giving the community at large a glimpse into the many contributions Latinos make to this place we call home on a daily basis. Latino Perspectives is, simply put, a written version of the American Dream. Catherine Anaya anchors CBS 5 News weeknights at 5, 5:30, 6 and 10 p.m. She is a mother of two, a marathon runner and motivational speaker. Reach her at canaya@kpho.com, connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and at catherineanaya.com.
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FIRST BI-ANNUAL CALA FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 14 NOVEMBER 16 THANK YOU TO THE OVER 30 PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS AND TO OUR SPONSORS FOR A WONDERFUL INAUGURAL CALA FESTIVAL SEASON.
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rincón del arte
A Phoenix Frida
¡!
Emily Costello, visual artist
A self-taught artist, Emily Costello is irresistibly
attracted to the curious and bizarre, and paints images that amuse and intrigue her. She finds much of her inspiration from her Mexican heritage and its cultural icons and images. She also creates contemporary retablos and nichos by creating her own small sculptures and using found objects that she alters.
Tell us about you: I was born and raised in the small copper mining town of Superior, Arizona, received a bachelor’s degree from ASU, and currently live in South Phoenix with my husband and son. I left my corporate job as a human resources director last year and now create art full time. I also serve on the Arizona Latin@ Arts and Cultural Center’s Visual Arts Committee. Career highlights: I am a member of the artist collective, The Phoenix Fridas (phoenixfridas.blogspot. com), who received the Phoenix New Times Best Latina Art Collective 2007 and Best Heroine Worship/Coolest Clique in Town 2009. I am also a muralista for the Calle 16 Mural Project (calle16.org). I have exhibited at Arizona State University, Java Vida, Barrio Café, Calaca Cultural Center/Arizona Historical Museum, Xico, Desert Botanical Garden, Adelante Gallery, City of Tempe, ChimMaya Gallery in Los Angeles, and have been featured in several national mixed-media websites.
Above: Detail Amor Left: Lotería - La Estrella
Education and training: I am mainly a selftaught artist. For fun, I took a two-day painting class with a friend six years ago and I haven’t put down the brush and paints since.
Describe your art and your style:
Images courtesy of the artist
I create contemporary interpretations of traditional Mexican folk art forms. My art depicts a variety of figures in popular Latin American culture: the Virgin of Guadalupe, saints, the sacred heart, figures from Lotería, Día de los Muertos characters and folk heroes. I create with a variety of mediums including acrylics, wood, tin, clay, mixed media and found objects. I use vivid colors and symbolism to try to capture the joys and sorrows of life.
See more of Emily’s arte at: facebook.com/emily.costello1
The Caterpillar Sees The End Of The World, The Master Sees The Butterfly
Help us highlight the local arts Send information to editor@latinopm.com. latinopm.com
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Photos courtesy of the Van Haren and Halvorson families
or the fourth consecutive year, Latino Perspectives Magazine and Phoenix College’s Raul H. Castro Institute (RCI) pay tribute to veterans and to the men and women who serve our country and community as active military and first responders. The Fourth Annual Salute Honoring Those Who Serve luncheon will take place on November 16, 2011, at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Phoenix. This year, we also shine a light on the late Arthur Van Haren Jr. Many may recognize the name from his portrait at the Phoenix International Sky Harbor Airport. Next year, Van Haren will become the first Hispanic to be inducted into Arizona’s Aviation Hall of Fame. What follows are excerpts from a forthcoming book LPM and RCI will present at the November 16 event. Arthur Van Haren Jr boarding an F6F Hornet, 1943.
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When Arthur Van Haren Jr. passed
away in 1992, his family began to look through his belongings. His youngest son Daniel came across a small journal. He opened the book, and out poured Arthur’s feelings of anxiety, loneliness and elation during his service in the Pacific as a Navy pilot. It was the voice of a 23-year-old young man, far from his new wife and baby, facing the dangers of war; a voice that none of his children had ever heard. June 12, 1944: If ever my life seems boring later on, all I have to do is think back over the last two days. I’ve had enough excitement to last two lifetimes! I took off today and almost immediately my plane started throwing oil and then started smoking to high heaven. I had a 500-lb. bomb and that worried me to no end ‘cause I couldn’t get rid of it. The ship told me to land anyway: so I did and my old luck held right out. Just as I hit the deck the engine burst into flames but I wasted no time getting out of the darn thing. The boys ganged two more this morning and I wasn’t on that hop. I got over the target later in the afternoon and the A.A. (Anti-Aircraft artillery) is
VF-2 “Fighting Rippers”
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still pretty rough. They hit Dennis Floyd head on. He came down in flames. He was a real fellow. They always seem to get it. It doesn’t seem quite fair. He had a baby he never even got to see. What a lousy racket this is! Arthur wrote this entry during the invasion of the Mariana Islands, where his squadron, the VF-2 “Fighting Rippers,” shot down a total of 261 Japanese planes. Arthur was among a group of 50 fighter pilots who were based mainly off the USS Hornet, and out of that group, 27 earned the title of ace pilot, shooting down five or more enemy planes. Arthur, a Phoenix native of Mexican and Dutch ancestry, had nine confirmed “kills” and three unconfirmed. The press and fellow Phoenicians hailed him as a war hero and Arizona’s top naval fighter pilot ace. Arthur joined the ranks of the few Mexican-American men from Phoenix to be given public acclaim as decorated war heroes, although many from the city’s Mexican community served in World War II with distinction. Other young men who received public recognition included Valdemar Cordova, a Purple Heart recipient who flew a B-17
with the 8th Air Force over Germany and was taken prisoner of war for over a year; and Silvestre Herrera, who earned the rare Congressional Medal of Honor for capturing eight German soldiers, then firing on the enemy for his platoon while severely wounded in a 1945 battle in France. But Arthur was not comfortable with the title of “hero” and the medals that came with it. Eventually, he threw away those medals and told few stories about his time in the Pacific as a fighter pilot. He focused on his career as a lawyer, providing service to the local community and especially to those who were in need. He helped many in Phoenix, especially the Mexican-American community, in which he had deep roots.
The Van Harens: a pioneer Arizona family The Phoenix Van Haren family story begins in Territorial Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora. Peter Van Haren, a Dutch immigrant, arrived in the United States from Holland in 1847 as a boy of nine. During the Civil War, he joined the Union Army in 1863 and served in the 1st Regiment California Volunteer Calvary.
This regiment served in the Arizona and New Mexico territories until 1866. In 1874, he married Dolores Granillo, whose family originated in Sonora. Arthur Sr. was born in Florence, Arizona in 1895. The family eventually settled in Phoenix and joined the growing Mexican community, which in earlier years had composed about half of the city’s population. During the time Arthur Sr. grew up and started his own family, the number of Phoenicians of Mexican descent hovered around 10-15 percent of the total population. Phoenicians of Mexican descent, along with African Americans, Asians and Native Americans, experienced growing prejudice and discrimination. Most resided in separate neighborhoods from Anglos, encountered growing segregation practices in public places, and had little voice in the political development of the city. Arthur Sr. grew up in a poor family, but changed his circumstances through hard work and an outgoing personality. He found work as a delivery boy for local department stores, but also got his start in his sports career as a member of the Arizona Braves baseball team in 1915. Arthur met and married Rose Valenzuela of Superior, Arizona, in 1917, and followed in his father’s military footsteps by joining the army during World War I. While serving in the 89th Army Division, he was shot and wounded and received a Purple Heart. The family moved to Phoenix and settled in a home north of McDowell Road, unusual for the time, as most people of Mexican descent stayed south of Van Buren Street, except for a handful of middle-class Mexican Americans. The family’s Dutch surname may have allowed them access to a home usually off limits to minorities due to discriminatory practices and race-restrictive housing covenants. Arthur Sr. and Rose were among the founding members of the Immaculate Heart Church in 1928, and Rose became active in fundraising efforts
for Friendly House, a social service organization assisting immigrants in job training and citizenship classes. In spite of his injured arm, Arthur Sr. continued his sports career as an umpire, calling more than 4,000 baseball and softball games in professional leagues, high schools and colleges. He called games for the famous 1940s women’s softball team, the A-1 Queens; Arizona’s 18th governor Rose Mofford was one of the players. He also served as ring announcer at Phoenix’s Madison Square Garden from 1926 to 1952. This career led to his induction into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. Rose was also involved in their church as well as in Las Damas, a social group for Mexican-American women. al fighter pilot flight suit Arthur Van Haren Jr. in Us Nav Arthur Van Haren Jr. was born April 9, 1920. Gregarious and talented The Spanish Americans and citizens like his father, he earned honors at of Mexico were an element of great Phoenix Unified High School District energy and aid in the last war with Geras an all-state quarterback and all-state many, and now we should show that we catcher in baseball. He was drafted by the are of the same disposition, ready to sacNew York Yankees to play baseball, but rifice all that we possess, even the preblew out his knee playing football before cious blood of our sons, to the end that he was set to join the team. the nation reaches a decisive victory. He enrolled at the University of Arizona in 1938 on an athletic Arthur Van Haren Jr. would be scholarship, where he played baseball among many from Phoenix to join the as a catcher and joined the football military. team. In three years, the course of his Although he originally intended to life would change, as a world war gained join the Army, Arthur chose the Navy momentum and Arizona’s young men and enlisted in June of 1941. His son and women began to consider their part Daniel recalls that while his father was at in the conflict. the University of Arizona, he joined the ROTC. “He wanted to be in the cavalry,” says Daniel, “I think because they got to Service to country: ride horses … And he said he couldn’t the making of an ace find a pair of boots that fit him half deDuring World War II, between 375,000 cently so the story was he said, ‘Oh the and 500,000 Mexican Americans across heck with it, I’m just going to enlist in the the nation served in the armed forces. A Navy instead.’” month after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Once enlisted, Arthur chose pilot Phoenix newspaper El Mensajero detraining, an unusual path for Mexican clared: latinopm.com
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Americans, as few ethnic minorities became pilots or even served as aircrew during the Second World War. He traveled to Long Beach, California, for preliminary flight school where he met Elizabeth Yates, a budding fashion model. They married in April 1942 and their first child Diane was born in February of 1943. Later that year, he joined the Naval VF-2 squadron, and trained in the new Grumman F6F Hellcats fighter planes. The military had just introduced the carrier-based aircraft to replace the older F4F Wildcats, and it became the most successful aircraft in Naval history. They headed out for Pearl Harbor in October. Arthur’s first diary entry reveals his emotions on his departure. Oct. 9, 1943: I left L.A. for Alameda to join my squadron. Left B at Burbank airport. I shudder to think of how much I’m going to miss her. I’d give almost anything if I could spare her the same loneliness I know I’m due for. […] Nov. 20, 1943: A flight of 28 of us went over to strafe and helped our army of occupation move in on “Makin.” Everything was timed pretty good. The Cruisers and Destroyers lined up on the lagoon side of the island and shelled the hell out of them for a half an hour. Most beautiful sight I’ve seen yet. Then we went in right down to the treetops and strafed them – all the time this was go-
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ing on, our landing boats were moving in. They shot at us with 50 cal, but didn’t hit any of us fatally. I figure the island should be ours by now. Now that most of the tension is off, I’m awfully tired. None of us can understand why the Japs won’t come out of their holes. We’ve got that coming, I guess. We’re ready, I hope. P.S. Lost one S.B.D. and pilot today. It really all seems so useless and foolish, doesn’t it? Nov. 25, 1943: We had our first attack tonight. It didn’t amount to much, but all of us being novices, it excited us quite a bit. A group of Bettys came in and dropped flares in order to find us. They got close to the task force, but didn’t get too close to us. The N.C. got our sail and another our portable. They ran after that, however, they might still be back. We all sat in the ready room with our life jackets on, feeling very helpless indeed. It reminded me of the time I was waiting for my darling B to have our baby. Scared to death, but nothing I could do. If we would have lit up the deck to take off, they would have pounded the hell out of us ... They got the Lipcum Bay (CVE) the 24th at 0250. A sub really blew her up. She lost 75% of her personnel. After a raid on the Marshall Islands from the USS Enterprise, the VF-2 squadron transferred to the USS Hornet. Between March and May of 1944, their goal included lending air support to cover the invasion at New Guinea, conduct-
ing air raids against Japanese bases in the Caroline Islands and to support the amphibious assault to occupy the Marianas Islands. During this time, Arthur made many bombing runs and watched American pilots downed by anti-aircraft artillery and lose their lives in carrier deck crashes. He worried about his sense of direction and getting lost during missions, and thanked God, whom he called “the Ole Master,” each time he returned safely. He missed Elizabeth considerably. In June 1944, Arthur entered the Battle of the Philippine Sea, an attack on the Japanese carrier force located west of Guam. Known as the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot,” American planes destroyed more than 400 Japanese aircraft and three carriers. Called “the greatest carrier battle in history,” this signaled a huge defeat for Japan and opened the way for Americans to occupy the Philippines and Formosa. It was during this battle that Arthur earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting down two Japanese Zeros, and the Air Medal for sighting and destroying an enemy scout plane. June 19, 1944: I will never forget this day! After what the Navy Air Corps did today. I’m proud to be one little member of it. They started coming after us in flocks this morning from all angles. However, very few of them got to ever take a look at our fleet. Only one B.B. got a bomb hit and it was very meager.
The whole fleet shot down more than 250 Jap planes of which the flyers got nearly all. Our particular task force got over a hundred and hear this – our squadron got 48 – over half. There are four carriers in our force. Of the 48, yours truly got two Zekes that went down in glorious flames. Twelve of us caught about 15 of them coming in about 20 miles from our force … our squadron has 112 now and the spirit is tremendously good. In July, Arthur flew in the raid on the Kazan Islands, targeting Iwo Jima. He received the Gold Star for the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions, as summarized in his Letter of Citation: An aggressive airman, Lieutenant Van Haren rendered fighter protection during a bombing attack on an enemy air base despite the advantage in altitude held by numerically superior enemy planes and succeeded in destroying three enemy single-engine fighter craft. His skill, courage and devotion to duty in the face of grave hazards reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Van Haren and the United States Naval Service. On September 1944, Arthur left the Pacific for the United States. His squadron didn’t participate in the final push into the Philippine Islands, which began with the Battle of Leyte in October. The capture of the Philippines
Van Haren Jr. piloting Hellcat No. 32 during the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot,” 1944.
would be the longest and largest American military action in the Pacific, leading to the bloody battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945. Arthur’s squadron, the “Fighting Rippers,” provide an example of the Navy’s aerial superiority. It became the top fighter squadron in the Pacific, with more ace pilots and total victories than any other squadron. The VF-2 in total shot down 261 Japanese planes, with 245 destroyed on the ground. They lost seven in the squadron. During World War II, 1300 fighter pilots gained the Attorney Arthur Van Haren Jr. title of “ace pilot,” credited with destroying five or more enemy gate the high school, and against Wilson aircraft in aerial combat. Of these ace Elementary to desegregate elementary pilots, only 371 served in the U.S. Navy. schools, which led to the 1953 desegreOf the total F6F Hellcat pilot aces, gation of all Arizona schools. Arthur Van Haren Jr. is tied at 38th in Arthur graduated law school and the ranking. passed the bar exam in 1948 at the age of In addition to his Flying Cross, 28. His son Daniel, who was born on the Air Medal and Gold Stars, he was also day he passed his exam and named after awarded the Presidential Unit Citation Arthur’s flying buddy, Daniel Carmifor service on the USS Enterprise and chael, reflects that his father “came out the USS Horne, and other World War of the service wanting to help people and II campaign medals including the he went into a job where he knew he’d be Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one able to do that.” Bronze Star. In 1949, Arthur joined the Oliver B. James law firm in Phoenix. He was one of a few young Mexican-American lawService to community: yers in the Valley, along with Albert GarArthur Jr.’s legal career cia and Valdemar Cordova, World War With the G.I. Bill in hand, Arthur reII veterans, and Greg Garcia, who was turned to the University of Arizona to involved with the 1950s Tolleson school finish his bachelor’s degree and enter desegregation case, which ended the law school. He attended classes with practice of establishing separate schools other young men with promising fufor Mexican children. tures ahead, including Morris Udall, future U.S. representative and leading From 1949 to 1952, Arthur served as environmentalist, and future Arizona deputy Maricopa County attorney. He governor Raul H. Castro. He also graduwent on to establish a law firm with three ated with Hayzel Daniels, Phoenix’s first fellow World War II veterans. InterestAfrican-American attorney and one of ingly, Arthur’s replacement with the Arizona’s first African-American state county was future federal judge Thomas legislators. Hayzel was part of a legal Tang, who would be the first Chinese team that brought suit against Phoenix American to serve in the Ninth Circuit in Union High School District to desegrethe late 1970s. latinopm.com
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The partnership dissolved in 1955, and the three lawyers went their own ways. John Flynn would later represent Ernesto Miranda in the 1966 Miranda vs. Arizona case. This case led to the Supreme Court opinion that all individuals under arrest must be advised of their right to remain silent and to obtain legal counsel, known as the Miranda Warning. Arthur moved into a second law partnership, Van Haren, Forquer and Wolfe, in July of 1955. During the 1950s, Arthur became more active in the community outside of his job. He served as chairman of the Phoenix Athletic Commission, joined the Luke Greenway American Legion Post, the VFW, and the Rons Club. He joined the board of the Boys Club of North Phoenix. He dabbled in politics as a member of the 1954 Veterans
Committee for Rhodes for Congress. When the rumor hit that a new Maricopa County Superior Court judge position might open, The Arizona Republic reported that over 800 individuals had signed petitions to name Arthur to the position. Interestingly, the newspaper added, “The SpanishAmerican folk within the Democratic Party are spark plugging the move on behalf of Mr. Van Haren Jr. as the judge.” This position Personal diary of Arthur Van Haren Jr. written during his service as a Naval pilot in the Pacific never materialized. While in private practice, Arthur moved into several part-time paid that way a lot more than we had the positions. He served as special counsel for money in the bank, you know? We never the Maricopa County Highway Departwere a poor family; we actually had it pretment, a position he took in 1959. A year ty good as most families go, but were never later, he served a one-year term as a city rich by any stretch of the imagination.” of Phoenix municipal judge. City Manager Arthur retired from private law practice Ray Wilson appointed Arthur to serve as in 1985 after moving to Dewey, Arizona, a junior magistrate in a three-man court with his wife. He died in 1992 from colon system. cancer. Elizabeth passed away in 2009. By the 1960s, Arthur operated his In 2007, the city of Phoenix dedicated own private law practice as a defense atseveral eight-foot paintings representing torney. His son Daniel remembers those exceptional aviators in Arizona history at days: “Most of his clients were poor Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The Public people – they didn’t have a great deal of Art Commission chose famous artist Robmoney,” says Daniel, “with the exception ert McCall to paint a portrait of Arthur Jr. of the guy that owned Westside Toyota, along with those of Vietnam helicopter who paid his legal bill by giving my dad a pilot Fred Ferguson, Tuskegee Airman new Supra every two years for about eight Vernon Haywood, World War I pilot Frank years. But most of them didn’t have a great Luke Jr. and Women Air Force Service pideal of money. They always could pay lot Ruth Helm. their legal bill by doing something Due to tireless efforts of Arthur’s around our house or by providing grandson Eric Halvorson, Arthur Van produce for us or, I don’t know, Haren Jr. will become the first Hispanic there were about four or five difto be inducted into the Arizona Aviation ferent ways I remember that Hall of Fame in 2012. Eric’s mother Diane we got paid. And it was kind says, “I can’t tell you whether if he was of like we’d always ask my alive today – ‘cause none of this research mom, ‘What’s going on was started by my son until after he died here? Why’s this guy – if he would appreciate having that place doing this?’ ‘Oh, in history. And we appreciate him having he owes your dad that place in history, in Arizona, because some money.’ So it it was important.” seemed like we got Portrait of Van Haren Jr. in U.S. Naval uniform
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35 Entrepreneur Edgar Galvan is the best at what he does at Vanidades Salon in Phoenix
37 Briefcase
Loop 303 opens up northwest Valley; Mayo Clinic and ASU partner up; child poverty rising among Latinos; ACA announces new small-biz center; professor launches socialecon website
Movin’ Up Hernandez honored as humanitarian
Photo courtesy of Fresh Start women’s Foundation
The Fresh Start Women’s Foundation East Valley Executive Council has selected Dr. Edgar Hernandez from the Halsted Clinic and Breast Center in Chandler as the 2011 East Valley Man of the Year. Hernandez is a pioneer in the diagnosis, surgery and treatment of breast cancer and well known for his humanitarian initiatives. The esecutive council operates the Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center in Mesa, a service of the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.
Huminatarian Dr. Edgar Hernandez named 2011 East Valley Man of the Year
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¡!
movin’ up help farm and migrant workers. Since 1977, the Hon Kachina Council has worked to honor the value of community engagement through its awards.
Tostitos provides scholarships
Matthew J. Garcia
Garcia new ASU director of border studies Matthew J. Garcia, ASU professor of transborder studies and history, is the director of the Comparative Border Studies, a new interdisciplinary research program launched in October that focuses on border cultures and communities. The scope of the new program includes colloquia, public events and a fellows program throughout the academic year. Garcia joined ASU this fall from Brown University. He has a joint appointment in the School of Transborder Studies and the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.
Tostitos announced the recipients of the 2011 Tostitos Cesar Chavez Latino Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Recipients are: German Cardenas, Andreya De La Torre, Fatima Garcia, Maria Gomez, Karla Valenzuela Gonzalez, Xavier Gonzalez, Maxima Guerrero, Viridiana Hernandez, Juan Juarez, Abdi Lopez, Brenda Mendez, Jimmy Rosales, Sandra Ruvio, Gina Sanchez, Rodrigo Sanchez, Jose Suarez, Yarelia Terrones, Alejandra Valenzuela and Daniela Cruz Vidal.
Jimenez honored for farm worker activism Adalberto Jimenez received the Hon Kachina Volunteer Award for his activism the past 40 years to establish better working and health conditions for farm and migrant workers. He helped found Adelante Healthcare, the first healthcare center for migrant workers in Arizona. He also is a contributor to several other organizations that
Maria Harper-Marinick
Harper-Marinick joins Florence Crittenton Maria Harper-Marinick, executive vice chancellor and provost for Maricopa Community Colleges, has joined the board of directors of Florence Crittenton of Arizona. Harper-Marinick is a founding
member of the International Society on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and has served on numerous national and local boards and advisory committees, including the League for Innovation in the Community College, and the National Community College Hispanic Council. Florence Crittenton of Arizona, a nonprofit 501c(3), has served Arizona’s girls and their families for over a century. The agency offers programs designed to help atrisk girls and young women overcome issues of abuse, neglect, teen pregnancy, teen parenting and behavioral and mental health problems.
Garcia elected ALRE chair James E. Garcia has been elected chairman of the Arizona Latino Research Enterprise (ALRE). The nonprofit is a convener, facilitator and promoter of civic engagement by Latinos. Garcia is also director of communications for the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, owner of Creative Vistas Media and policy strategist at Urias Communications.
Jensen-Bobadilla takes on new roles Don Jensen-Bobadilla is now the program operations coordinator at the Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction in Tempe. In addition, he was recently was appointed to the Aguila Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council and to the Phoenix College Alumni Association Board.
Movin’ Up Know someone who has been promoted, elected or honored? Send us the news of their achievements! Email movinup@latinopm.com 32
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Esperanza Corona de Rodriguez
Latina awarded Irish Rose The Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation (ICLF) presented Esperanza Corona de Rodriguez with the 2011 Arizona Irish Rose. Adopted as the official flower of the ICLF in 2009, the rose honors the beauty of Irish poetry, music and dance and the historical growth of Irish history and culture in the western United States. Esperanza coordinates the Escaramuza Ladies Precision Horseback Riding Drill Team that competes nationally and internationally.
Ray forms social media chapter archives Joe Ray, president and creative director of MAXIMO multicultural branding agency, is the president of the new Chapter for Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) in Phoenix. Ray will coordinate local activities and initiatives in the Phoenix metro area. Latinos in Social Media is a nonprofit organization of social media professionals dedicated to advancing the social, civic and economic status of the Latino community.
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THE NUTCRACKER
SYMPHONY HALL WITH THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
¡!
entrepreneur
The best at what he does Edgar Galvan, owner, Vanidades Salon Elevator pitch: I’m a professional and trained hairstylist. We do personalized hairstyle cuts and color that make you more you and make you feel good about being yourself.
Founded: It’s been in business for nine years now; I took ownership in 2009. Employees: I have four, but most times I feel like I have over 20. I say that because there is so much to do, but just my team of four gets it all done.
Company you admire: Vidal Sassoon, Photo Courtesy of Edgar Galvan
because they have the best techniques on hairstyles and color.
Three criterion of a successful entrepreneur: Hard working, able to set and achieve goals and, most important, love what you do.
Inspiring book: The Bible, because it has helped me with the good and the bad in my life. Best advice:
Be the best at what you do.
Advice to others wanting to open their own business: Always follow your heart
Favorite aspect of owning a small business: You get to be flexible with your overall
and make decisions that are the best to you, even if no one else understands them. After all, you’re the entrepreneur.
schedule and the best part is you get to take vacation time when you feel you need it.
Plans for the future:
Important business milestone:
Continue my business, but eventually go back to school to further my education.
Most challenging aspect of being a small business owner: Separating my
When I was in high school, I was the one chosen to represent my school for a competition for cosmetology – it was held for all cosmetology schools in the Phoenix area. I always made sure I joined the competition and every time I would compete, I would win first place. I soon realized that I was the best at what I did, at least in the Phoenix area.
business life from my personal life. It can be a challenge to try to keep a balance between the two of them.
If you could do it all over again …
1802 N. 32nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85008 602-574-8033
I would have started my business at a younger age.
Vanidades Salon
Suggest an entrepreneur Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
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Loop 303 opens up northwest Valley By Jonathan Higuera
When a 14-mile stretch of the Loop 303 opened
between Interstate 1-17 and Happy Valley Road in May, developers and economic development officials from Peoria and Glendale were poised to move into action. They knew all too well how a freeway could spur development; consider the Loop 101 in Glendale and Scottsdale and the development that has occurred along those stretches. Sunbelt Holdings, which developed the Vistancia residential community in the northwest, is well aware of what a freeway can do. Back in the mid-1990s, it opened McDowell Mountain Ranch in North Scottsdale. At the time, it seemed like an isolated community with leapfrog development written all over it. But by the time the Loop 101 was completed, McDowell Ranch was well positioned for easy freeway access. By 2003, the 3,200-acre, masterplanned development was built. The completed segment of the Loop 303 signals bigger things ahead for Vistancia and the city of Peoria, home of the residential community. These entities along with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council are unveiling an ambitious plan for a 500-acre commercial development nestled between Vistancia and the Loop 303. “We’re seeing a lot of major corporate projects that had been on the sidelines the last 36 months in a strong cash position to take advantage of the soft economy and being active again,” said Chris Camacho, executive vice president at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
Sunbelt is doing its part to stimulate interest and paying for the construction of a 1.5-mile stretch of road to connect to the Loop 303 from Vistancia. The multimilliondollar road project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2012. “My purest hope is that it will become an employment core for the city of Peoria and the northwest Valley,” said John Graham, president and CEO of Sunbelt Holdings.
Mayo Clinic and ASU partner up The Mayo Clinic has announced that
it will partner with Arizona State University to create a medical-school campus in Scottsdale and could enroll a class of 48 physicians-in-training as soon as 2014. Mayo will undertake a $266 million project in conjunction with Arizona State University, whose faculty will teach courses in the science of health-care delivery.
The new collaboration marks a change of course for ASU. ASU originally teamed with the University of Arizona in 2007 to launch UA’s downtown medical-school branch. But ASU dropped out of the partnership last year, citing state budget cuts. UA representatives said there is plenty of room in metro Phoenix for the new Mayo Medical School and UA’s downtown
Phoenix campus to attract students, faculty and resources. UA College of Medicine-Phoenix graduated its first 24 students this year, and the school has expanded its class size to 48 students. When the new healthsciences-education building opens next year, UA plans to expand its class size to 80 students and eventually 120. latinopm.com
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Oportunidad en la era digital
¡!
briefcase
Child poverty rising among Latinos Hispanics now account for the
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largest number of children living in poverty, surpassing whites by 1.1 million, according to a Pew Hispanic Center report. As of 2010, 6.1 million Latino children, 5 million whites and 4.4 million blacks are impoverished in the United States. A decade earlier, 4 million whites and close to 3.5 million blacks and Hispanic children lived at the poverty level. This is the first time in U.S. history that the single largest group of poor children is not white. Pew states that “children” constitutes anyone age 17 or younger. Of the nation’s children, 23.1 percent are Hispanic. The report claims that the level of Hispanic child poverty is a product of the Latino population’s growing numbers, their high birth rates and general declining economic fortunes. The unemployment rate of Latinos is 11.1 percent, higher than the national unemployment
rate of 9.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Latino children’s poverty rates began edging closer to that of whites in 2004. Over two-thirds of the 6.1 million Latino children living in poverty have at least one immigrant parent. That equates to 4.2 million youngsters. Despite the record number of Hispanic children in poverty, AfricanAmerican children had the highest rate of poverty. Thirty-nine percent of black children lived in poverty in 2010, while 35 percent of Hispanic children and 12.4 percent of white children were in impoverished families.
ACA announces new center for small businesses The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) has opened the Center for
Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a public center designed to provide information on resources and partnerships to entrepreneurs from Arizona. The center provides small business creation workshops and utilizes cutting-edge technology to assist small businesses in their development. The offices will be staffed by ACA small business experts and will operate in conjunction with the Arizona Small Business Association, chambers of commerce and private sector partners. Other initiatives by the ACA include an $18.2 million award from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative. It will fund ACA’s Arizona Innovation Accelerator Fund Program, which will help spur lending to Arizona’s small businesses. This five-year program will provide small businesses, with less than 500 employees, $50,000 to $2 million for working capital, inventory, equipment purchases and property improvements. The ACA is developing program guidelines with the goal of implementation in the first quarter of 2012. Finally, the ACA received $656,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade and Export Promotion grant program. The program, which will begin at the end of this year, helps increase the number of new Arizona small exporting businesses and raises the value of exports for those that are currently exporting so they can expand and create jobs. The ACA will use the grant to bolster export serLATINO PERSPECTIVES vices and address small business export education, training, international marketing, 5/1/2011, 6/1/2011, finance and compliance. 7/1/2011, 8/1/2011 “We are aggressively pursuing opportunities to secure funding and to help local businesses9113976-IN86098 grow,” said Cardon. “We’re actively engaging on a national and international levelCOXCOM to bring new businesses to the state. It’s all about creating jobs.”
2.3681” x 9.8125” Heather Mansfield v.2
briefcase
¡!¡!
ASU prof launches socialeconomyaz.org Vanna Gonzales, a professor of Justice and Social Inquiry at Arizona
State University’s School of Social Transformation, has designed and helped coordinate the September launch of socialeconomyaz.org, a website that is designed to bring awareness about the social economy. Here’s how the website describes social economy: The social economy includes organizations such as cooperatives, mutual benefit societies, associations, foundations and social enterprises which provide goods, services and information to the public with the aim of generating both economic productivity and social solidarity. The site is part of a new project designed to raise awareness about the concept, history and theory of the social economy in the United States, with the specific aim of promoting its identity and growth in the Southwest. The site also offers local, national and international support networks for capacity and alliance building among academics and practitioners and organizations operating in different social sectors; research articles, documents, and working papers about the social solidarity economy; financial, legal and organizational resources available to support social economy organizations, and a directory of social economy organizations in Arizona. The project is collaboration between ASU’s School of Social Transformation, the School of Human Evolution and Social Changes, the School of Social Work and the School of Community Resources and Development. Gonzales says the website’s mission is “to connect local consumers, entrepreneurs and business owners to a wealth of information … and to advance research and teaching in areas that connect social entrepreneurship to social justice, community development and economic sustainability.”
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Have a business story idea? Email us at editor@latinopm.com.
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For employment opportunities, go to buschjobs.com.
Triple duty Andrew P. Rodriguez, Officer/Crime Prevention Specialist, Tempe Police Department & Supply Officer/Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist, U.S. Navy Lieutenant (Reserves) Years of service:
Police office for 16 years; mili-
tary service for 25 years.
Honors:
Graduate of the U.S. Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School at Eglin AFB, Niceville, Florida; U.S. Naval Supply Corps School, Athens, Georgia; FBI Hazardous Devices Technician School, Huntsville, Alabama
Duties: Oversee the city of Tempe Crime Free Multi-
courtesy of Andrew P. Rodriguez
Housing Program for Apartment Complexes, and educate the community in enacting proactive crime deterrent practices in relation to both residential and commercial businesses. As an explosive ordnance disposal technician, I am called to respond to any type of military ordnance to include IED (improvised explosives) with specialized training to handle chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
Personal:
Arizona native, born in Stanfield; B.S. Grand Canyon University; M.S. Northern Arizona University
Inherent dangers you face: I deal with violence on a regular basis. As a police officer, I am counted on to interrupt crimes as they happen or to pursue a criminal or criminals directly after a violent crime has been committed. Although as officers we are sworn to protect life and property, it regularly places us in danger. We encounter dangerous people that have little reservation about harming others.
Proudest moment: Becoming a DAD twice.
it’s my chosen profession, I always remember it is just a job and the importance of being a parent is paramount above all else.
Greatest satisfaction of serving: Although we meet people in their most dire need, I make it my personal mission to leave a positive impact on each individual I come into contact with through education.
On the job valuable learning expe- Next professional goal: To retake my rience: Appreciating the little things in life and living it to MCAT exam and go on to medical school (D.O.). its fullest, because life can be very unforgiving and merciless.
Favorite quote: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Character is what you really are. Reputation is just what people say you are.” —John Wooden Balancing service and family: My personal belief is that yes I am a police officer, but it does not define who I am. I’m a father first, a son and a brother. Although
In closing:
“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling, which thinks that nothing is worth war, is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” —John Stewart Mill
Nominate a candidate
Help us acknowledge those who serve. Men and women currently in the military or a first responder. Send your info to editor@latinopm.com. latinopm.com
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ASU joins nationwide ‘100kin10’ STEM effort Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College to double number of graduates By Erica Cardenas
Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton
Teachers College has joined a national and growing multi-sector movement of more than 80 partners committed to working to recruit, develop and retain 100,000 excellent science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers over the coming 10 years. The Teachers College has made a number of significant commitments in joining 100Kin10 that includes producing 600 STEM teachers by 2015, doubling the number of current graduates. In order to reach this aggressive goal, multiple strategies are being implemented, including recruiting outstanding students to the teaching profession through ASU’s Sanford Education Project. The project is an initiative funded by an $18.85 million investment from CEO of United National Corp T. Denny Sanford that seeks to combine the best qualities of ASU’s teacher preparation program with Teach For America’s (TFA) best practices. Teachers College also is working collaboratively with colleges across ASU to leverage the expertise of faculty members in scientific disciplines to provide high-quality STEM content training for teacher candidates. “The strong support of ASU President Michael Crow is enabling us to utilize all of the university’s resources to produce the growing numbers of outstanding new teachers Arizona and the nation need to compete globally in the 21st century,” said Mari Koerner, dean of Teachers College. Additional efforts being made by Teachers College include the development of courses for future teachers with content and curriculum that are tied directly to the Common Core Standards, national common academic goals being adopted by the majority of state education offices. The college recently piloted a sustainability
course designed and taught by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Leland Hartwell. And because Teachers College will offer its new STEM courses online, the college is committed to the prospect of partnering with other universities to utilize this new method of training STEM teachers. “While we are already fully committed to sharing solutions that work, we believe that the opportunity to serve as a 100Kin10 official partner will be a great opportunity to both contribute to a community committed to a common goal, and learn from the other members of that community,” Koerner said. The 100Kin10 movement is being led by Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Opportunity Equation and invites organizations, including but not limited latinopm.com
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Heart. Mind.
It started as a decision of the heart. To do more for my neighborhood … dedicating myself to something I believe in. By helping others, I’m building a business that will last. Imagine what you can build if you put your mind to it.
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to corporations, school districts, museums, institutions of higher education, foundations, federal agencies, professional associations, states and nonprofit organizations, to apply their particular assets to creatively and strategically address the challenges of increasing the supply of and retaining excellent STEM educators. The 100Kin10 initiative was originally announced at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) America Meeting in Chicago this past June, where former President Clinton urged corporations, foundations and other interested organizations to take part. At the recent seventh CGI Annual Meeting in New York City in September, President Obama reiterated the imperative: “[Our future] demands that we give every child the skills and education they need to succeed. And I thank you for the commitment that you made to recruit and train tens of thousands of new science, technology, engineering and math teachers. Nothing could be more important.” As a whole, ASU’s Teachers College aims at providing superior education programs to prepare successful and highly qualified prekindergarten-12th grade teachers, as well as programs for those interested in advanced study and research activities. For the 12th consecutive year, U.S. News and World Report ranks ASU’s graduate education programs among the best. More information on the 100Kin10 initiative, including a complete list of partners and their commitments, is available at 100kin10.org.
Montessori school celebrates 40 years Maria Reed Montessori Pre-School of downtown Phoenix will celebrate its 40th year of service this month to the children and families of the Phoenix area. With the mission of making the Montessori experience accessible to families of all cultures and economic backgrounds, Maria Eva Reed, a pioneer of the Montessori movement in Arizona, established a traditional private school in 1963, a small community project called South Phoenix Montessori. “It was the vision of Maria Reed to make the wonders and rewards of the Montessori method accessible to a whole new economic genre,” says Viva Samuel Ramirez, spokesperson for the Arizona Montessori Association. In the past, Montessori has been largely an exclusive private school education. After several years of serving as director of the school, Maria Reed entrusted the future of the South Phoenix Montessori School to her pupil and assistant Rita Ramirez, who has been a custodian of the Montessori method and a steward of Maria Reed’s mission ever since. Today, Maria Reed Montessori Pre-
School (renamed in 1981 after its founder) continues to be the most economically feasible private Montessori preschool in the state. Each year the school serves a class of only 34 children in a modest building located in the center of downtown Phoenix at 909 N. 1st Street. In order to commemorate the occasion, Maria Reed Montessori Pre-School, along with a volunteer committee of past and present parents and family members, will host a fall festival at their downtown location this month. Learn more at reedmontessori.com.
State conference scheduled for afterschool admins The 2011 Arizona Statewide Afterschool Conference, scheduled for Saturday, November 19 at the Phoenix Convention Center, will feature a special track of workshops uniquely designed to address the needs of afterschool and youth development program administrators. Conference sessions will address student engagement and wellbeing, foundational skills for quality supervisors, positive communication in the workplace, grant writing and much more. The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration is $85 per person or $80 per person for groups of 10 or more. Participants may register online at Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence’s website at azafterschool.org. A limited number of scholarships are being offered by the organization to those who would otherwise be unable to attend the conference.
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Miranda appointed to new state education committee House of Representatives member Catherine Miranda was recently appointed by the speaker of the House to the Education Ad Hoc Committee on Educational Data Systems for Arizona. The ad hoc committee’s main focus is to raise public awareness on the value of a P-20 longitudinal education data system. It will act as public forum for discussion on the design, construction and implementation of state education data systems. “I have always relied on data to drive instruction and target needed skills for all students,” says Miranda. “It’s great we will have consistency throughout our state once we have meaningful discussions in this committee,” says Miranda. In December, the Ad Hoc will present its findings to the chair of the House Education Committee, Rep. Doris Goodale, who has been a proponent of using meaningful data to enhance student achievement and teacher effectiveness. Miranda is also cofounder of the Manzana Foundation, which helps students prepare for college and recently partnered with Navajo Technical College to extend accredited courses into the Phoenix area. Miranda’s passion in education has given students an opportunity to continue their education at an affordable price through this new program and partnership.
Fo l l ow us on www.phoenixcollege.edu
Have an education story idea? Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
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Source: 20ı0 Independent NetMinder Data.
Every day is Sunday A year in the life of a caregiver By Robrt L. Pela
“There are only four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.” —Rosalyn Carter
Whenever he thinks of his mother’s disappearance, he thinks of salmon salad. It’s what he serves on the day he calls his siblings together to talk about how Mom has been behaving oddly and they need to do something about it. He also serves loganberry pie, but he never thinks of loganberry pie when he thinks of his mother. She had begun to disappear long before the salmon salad, of course. The proof of her failing memory has been there for months, maybe even years: The picnic in the park when she cried because one of her grandsons hadn’t greeted her, when in fact he’d come in the same car with her. The repeated questions about mundane things. The falling out between his mother and her favorite brother-in-law, something about being left in a car without any air conditioning, a story that made no sense. All of which leads to salmon salad and loganberry pie. After which one of his brothers mentions nursing homes, and another says something about assisted living facilities, and the others are mostly quiet. The next day, he drives to his parents’ house and tells his father, “Something is wrong with Mom. I’m going to be helping you take care of her.”
July 2010
For his mother, every day is Sunday. Before her memory began to leave her, her son had visited on
Courtesy of the author
May 2010
November is National Family Caregiver’s Month. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, more than 65 million Americans are caregivers to family members with a vast array of illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, advanced diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and many others. It’s the toughest job no one ever talks about. The author, a finalist for the 2010 Family Caregiver of the Year Award, has been caring for his parents for the past four years. latinopm.com
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Celebrating Our First Century of Hope 1912-2012 In 1912, community volunteers came together to address the critical needs of homeless and neglected children in Arizona.
Today, as Arizona’s Children Association celebrates 100 years of providing services to children andfamilies in need throughout the state, we look forward to providing a second century of hope to our communities.
Keep Hope Alive for children and families. Text “NINOS” to 20222 to donate $5 today or visit www.arizonaschildren.org.
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Sundays. She awakes each morning now to find him there, cooking breakfast in her kitchen, and concludes it must be the Sabbath. After breakfast, he and his mother play gin rummy for an hour. The neurologist says this will “warm up her brain.” His mother doesn’t know what year it is, but she can still win a hand of cards. Each time she wins, she reminds him, “Don’t feel bad. It’s only a game.” After cards, they move to her photo album. The ancient, crumbling chipboard pages leave a fine black dust in their laps. The album is filled with square, scallop-edged black-and-white photos. Here is his mother at age five. Here she is on her wedding day. Here is his sister at two. The final photograph in the book is a family portrait from 20 years before. He pretends he can’t remember the names of his brothers and their wives, his nieces and nephews. It’s his way of testing her, of finding out how far away she’s gone. She recites the names of each person in the photo, even the son who no longer visits because he says she doesn’t recognize him, so what’s the point? “I’m surprised at you,” she says each morning as he’s putting the photo album away. “How could you forget the names of your own family?”
January 2011
There are pills to take. One to slow the progression of the dementia. Two to keep her calm. Another to keep her from becoming depressed. Still another for high blood pressure. A vitamin. An aspirin for arthritis. Two others, he’s forgotten what for. “But why do I need to take all these pills?” his mother asks, always alarmed. “I’m not sick!” Or, on days when she doesn’t feel well: “I felt fine before I took those pills. The medicine is making me sick.” She develops an infection. More pills are prescribed. The infection causes his
mother to be more confused. “When can we go home?” she asks him one day, seated in her own living room. The infection lingers. His mother becomes an old, old woman who walks with her eyes squeezed shut, clutching walls to steady herself, her nose poked out in front of her. She resembles a small, blind mouse. He begins to think of this new version of his mother as The Vole. The Vole remains for three months, mostly sleeping on the sofa. The house is very quiet. He decides that this is the beginning of the end of his mother’s life. He wants to love The Vole, but secretly he does not.
March 2011
This is what happens. This is what happens to people who live on and on, who take care to exercise, who don’t typically eat a box of donuts for lunch or refuse vitamins: They live long enough to develop illnesses that render them incapable of movement. Their stomachs collapse and they are unable to eat. They acquire sicknesses that ravage their memories. And this is what happens to people whose parents didn’t beat them, who drove them to the library and praised their watercolors and helped them with their homework. They have no reasons worthy enough to excuse them from helping their parents through the last chapters of their lives. Sometimes he wishes his mother had beaten him as a child.
April 2011
The Vole is gone. In her place, his mother has slowly reappeared. Now, when he makes brownies from a box mix, she offers to help. The Vole did not bake. When they play cards, she compliments him on high scores. The Vole never bantered. He arrives at his parents’ home one morning to discover that his mother has slept in her dress. He worries that The Vole has returned. As he’s serving
breakfast, he realizes that his mother is staring at him. “What’s up?” he asks. “When did your hair get so grey?” she asks, then bursts out laughing. The Vole had never laughed. The pale blue shift, he decides, looks more like a nightie than a dress, anyway.
May 2011
His mother’s memory is smaller all the time. At a Mother’s Day brunch, she opens and reopens the same gifts, asking every time who each present is from. He eventually distracts her while his father hides the presents. The next day, his mother discovers the presents inside the clothes dryer and phones to say that the stack of wordsearch books he’d given her “cost too much.” She is upset. He tells her that the books came from the dollar store, but she’s never heard of the dollar store. He tries changing the subject. “Are the puzzles hard to do?” She pauses. “Well, everything is hard to do.”
August 2011
One morning, while they are looking at his mother’s photograph album for what feels like the thousandth time, he notices a snapshot tucked behind one of the other pictures. It’s plain, as he examines the photograph, why this one isn’t carefully pasted into the album with black paper corners. It’s a mistake, an outtake. Blurry and slightly canted, the
photo was clearly taken accidentally, the camera’s shutter depressed as the photographer (his father?) turned away from his subject. The subject is his mother, standing beside a house his family lived in more than a half century ago. She, too, is turning away; her eyes are closed, and she’s wearing a wide-skirted ‘50s housedress that makes her fuzzy outline appear small and mouse-like. It is a photograph of The Vole.
October 2011
He is making dinner in celebration of his parents’ 63rd wedding anniversary. His brothers and sister and their spouses will arrive shortly. He’s waited until the last possible minute to tell his mother about the party, and now she’s obsessing over who’s coming and when, and why she didn’t know about this. He gives her a pad and pencil and says, “Make a list of who’s coming.” While he fills a pan with water and grates some cheese, she writes down her daughter’s name, then the names of all her sons and their wives – even the son and daughter-in-law who don’t come around because seeing Mom like this is “too painful.” He is peeling a potato at the sink. His mother is squinting at her list, chewing distractedly on the end of a pencil. “Excuse me,” she says. “I want to put your name on this list, but I can’t think of what it is.”
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Caring for caregivers The Arizona Caregiver’s Coalition (azcaregiver.org) offers assistance, answers and advice to caregivers and their families. The Arizona Family Caregiver Support Program (azdes.gov/aaa) provides help to caregivers of anyone 60 years old or older with five core services: 1789 W. Jefferson Street in Phoenix; 602-542-4446. The Area Agency on Aging (aaaphx.org ) is a clearinghouse of services for caregivers and the elderly: 1366 E. Thomas Road in Phoenix; 602-264-2255.
© 2011 Rising Tide
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Oak Creek Canyon The perfect antidote to nature deficit disorder By Cecilia Rosales
have been learning about apples and autumn at school. They’ve asked what an apple tree looks like and why if it’s fall, none of the leaves on the trees by our house have changed colors. Despite living just miles away from a mountain preserve, other than the pumpkins on the kitchen counter and the seasonal trinkets from Walgreens, there’s no indication of fall anywhere around us. Suddenly a hike along Sedona’s Oak Creek Canyon became an irresistible proposition. Hiking boots, check. Trail mix, first aid kit, check. My packing list for the weekend getaway included the staples West Fork, Oak Creek Canyon for a three-night stay in the high country, plus the obligatory Deficit Disorder, and as politicians introduce work files and battery chargers for the legislation to “Leave No Child Inside,” indispensible gadgets: cell phones, iPad, (aimed at increasing environmental literacy laptop, camera and the kids’ hand-held and outdoor learning opportunities among devices … just the basics. K-12 students), Arizonans have a unique While the sight of the neatly packed advantage in the natural wonders that cables next to the hiking gear made me surround us. That’s if we are disciplined sad as I reminisced about idyllic childhood enough to set time aside to experience the camping outings, the options before me outdoors with our children. were just two: a) Stay behind and finish the I was lucky to finish my work en route office work that needed to get done, or b) to our destination and exhilarated to be go with the flow, pack the laptop and get fully present once we got there. Upon as much done in the car on our way to and setting foot in the cabin by Oak Creek, from Sedona. I opted for plan B. we spotted a bunny; then a squirrel, a caterpillar and then the ducks swimming As the nation laments what best-selling in the creek. My son swears he saw a author Richard Louv has termed Nature 50
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Photo by Larry Lane, Courtesy of Coconino National Forest
My two kindergartners
peregrine falcon, although this I can’t corroborate. The raccoons showed up early the next day. Everything around us became a learning opportunity. Once at West Fork, my son asked his sister, “Did you know a long time ago all this was covered by water?” As we hiked, we came across apple trees, the first they’ve ever seen. And along the way, they kept asking, “What’s this?” and “What’s that?” They also discovered their new favorite scent “in the whole wide world,” the sweet scent of dewy, morning clay. Best of all, not once did they ask, “Are we there yet?” We were there; all on the same page, in awe of nature.
Oh, the places you’ll go Tips to get you out of the house and into nature with la familia Plan ahead – keep it simple.
Have the right gear ready.
Like many modern parents, I tend to overdo it when preparing to travel with the kids. Gadgetry, modern inventions and (too many) necessities can wreak havoc on last minute get-away opportunities. Increase your chances of getting away by having a backpack with a change of clothes and the musthaves for each family member. If you want to take the ponchos just in case it rains and two extra pairs of socks in case they stick their foot in a mud puddle, pack it all up and keep it in the garage. Keep a bag in the pantry with prepackaged snacks for everyone in your party. Nuts, dried fruit, cereal or protein bars are great options. When you are ready, everything else REI Light Wool Hiking will be, too.
Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly. Keep all your gear in one place. • Use a backpack to store smaller items like maps, hats, binoculars, two-way radios (and chargers or batteries), compasses, utility knifes, REI Sprig 12. etc. Store a checklist inside rei.com the backpack to remind yourself to pack other things you may need, like prescription medications or reading glasses. Keep a first aid kit, emergency blanket and other worst-case-scenario necessities in the trunk of your car. • If hiking is more than an annual adventure, you may want to invest in a
Sock. rei.com
good pair of hiking shoes for you and los chicos. Good socks, however, are not negotiable. A blister can ruin your escapade. • If you have bad joints or want added stability and support, get a good pair of trekking poles. These come in handy if you’ll be crossing streams, slippery surfaces or loose rocks.
Be safe. Always tell someone back home where you are going and when you expect to return. Sign the logbook at the head of the trail and include the names of everyone in your party. Take a map with you. Be aware of everyone’s endurance level in your party, especially if hiking with los abuelos or toddlers. Always stay on the trail and always stay hydrated. Before you go, check the
national forest service website for important updates and restrictions.
Be bear and cougar aware. Having a plan is critically important when traveling with children. Make sure everyone in your group is in on the plan. The Coconino National Forest website (fs.fed.us/r3/coconino) has useful information on what to do if you come in contact with a bear or a mountain lion.
Respect. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has a list of principles for respecting the great outdoors. It’s common sense, but it’s important we share these with children. 1. Know before you go. 2. Choose the right path. 3. Pack your trash. 4. Leave what you find. 5. Be careful with fire. 6. Respect wildlife. 7. Be kind to other visitors.
Make it fun – learn something new Let the kids follow the trail path on a map. In kindergarten, they learn about the cardinal points, so they can start reading maps early on. A compass, a magnifying glass, a headlamp and binoculars are great ways to keep children interested in their surroundings. Invite children to inspect the soil or rocks with a magnifying glass, or to try to find something that crawls or flies or both. And engage them even more with some of these other nature-inspired pursuits:
Photos courtesy of REI, rei.com
Geocatching. Handheld GPS devices have made geocatching, a real-world outdoor treasure hunt, increasingly popular. Go to geocatching.com and enter the zip code of the area you want to explore. Enter the coordinates of the caches you want to find into your device. Once you find the “treasure,” sign the log, take a token and leave a token. The Geomate Jr. (mygeomate.com) is designed for kids and comes preloaded with 25,000 geocatches. Federal regulations prohibit geocatching in the wilderness, riparian zones, archeological sites and important wildlife habitats. No soil disturbance is allowed when placing a cache; cover with wood debris or leaves instead.
The USDA Forest Service has fun and educational online resources for kids and families, too (fs.fed.us/kids and discoverthefortes.org).
Download the “Become a Junior Forest Ranger” booklet from the Junior Forest Ranger program site (na.fs.fed.us/ceredirect/jfr) and have your children complete it. Mail it in and your kids will receive an Official Junior Forest Ranger pin and membership.
REI’s Family Adventure Program offers kids a free adventure journal. Download it online (rei.com/family-adventure) or stop by a local store to get yours. The activities foster critical thinking and the journal also includes stickers and puzzles. My kids loved theirs! REI’s website also has a section with articles on backpacking with kids (rei.com/ expertadvice/family). latinopm.com
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MICHAEL JACKSON MADONNA BEE GEES EARTH WIND & FIRE
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Stella Pope Duarte
The great gift of freedom By Stella Pope Duarte
Since civilization’s beginning, the
word freedom has united people from every ethnicity, color and creed in the belief that the ability to act and live as one chooses is a birthright, bestowed by God upon all humanity. In November, America celebrates warriors who have fought in the name of freedom for the survival of our great nation. In the Southwest, our warriors have risen from the earth’s brown clay; hewn out of the very element they shed their blood for. Our modern warriors are mirror images of the great warriors from ancient tribes who inhabited this land: Toltec, Aztec (Mexica), Mayan, Chichimeca, Anasazi and Hohokam. Today, descendants of Mexicans, Chicanos and Latinos along with the descendants of the ancient tribes, Pima, Maricopa, Apache, Tohono O’odham, Navajo and many others, share the same thirst for freedom as did their forefathers. The heart of a warrior remains the same. It is an energy that reaches for the very best in humankind, the sacrifice of self for the good of others. Often the sacrifice will mean the shedding of blood in foreign lands by men and women who, perhaps, have never ventured far from
home. Still, the quest for freedom beats in their hearts, and they do not count the dangers or the distance from home as any consequence as they stand together against aggression that threatens our God-given right to freedom. In Arizona, U.S. Marine Cpl. Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian, hoisted the American flag at Iwo Jima during World War II. The Pimas called him “Chief Falling Cloud,” a name that honored his role as a paratrooper in the service of his country. Another Arizonan, Sgt. Silvestre S. Herrera, born in Camargo, Chihuahua, in Mexico, served in the U.S. Army, and because of his heroic actions in Mertzwiller, France, in World War II, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Herrera lived bravely on, in spite of missing limbs, always inspiring others to a greater understanding of the gift of freedom. Both these warriors exemplified extraordinary courage and valor against an enemy in the name of freedom. Proudly, Arizona can boast of the courageous service of the first Native American woman in history to be killed in combat while serving in the U.S. military during the invasion of Iraq. She was U.S. Army SPC Lori Piestewa, a member of the Hopi tribe born in Tuba City, Arizona. Her legacy now lives on in the form of the second highest point in the Phoenix Mountains, after Camelback Mountain. Formerly Squaw Peak, a name that roused
anger in Native Americans, the mountain peak has been renamed Piestewa Peak in honor of this valiant warrior woman. Freedom is a condition in life coveted by the world’s community, yet it is frequently misunderstood. Often, those who seek to conquer others disregard freedom and advance their own power and beliefs with no regard for the will of the people they seek to govern. This is the opposite of what freedom is all about. Freedom is a choice – the right to choose what is good and right by an individual who seeks the best for self and others. This is the highest pledge of freedom, and it is something that courses in the blood of warriors who today unite America’s democratic values with other freedom-loving nations in their struggle for the prize: freedom at all costs. Warriors, brave men and women, continue to celebrate freedom through sacrifice and allegiance to America and to the genuine values of family and homeland as exemplified by our ancient ancestors whose sacrifices have guaranteed us the right to live as masters of our own fate, and as heirs of the great gift of freedom.
Stella Pope Duarte was born and raised in South Phoenix. She began her awardwinning career in 1995 after she had a dream in which her deceased father told her that her destiny was to become a writer. Contact her at stellapopeduarte.com. latinopm.com
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¡!
my perspective on: compromise
The importance of redistricting
More perspectives
Send us your perspective on whatever moves you. Email editor@latinopm.com.
By José M. Herrera
54
I am one of five
members of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. A new redistricting commission convenes every 10 years to redraw Arizona’s congressional and legislative districts. The commission consists of five volunteers: two Republicans, two Democrats and an independent chairperson. In early October, when we adopted draft congressional and legislative district maps, my colleagues and I received a burst of attention. While the press attention is flattering, redistricting is a mundane task and doesn’t typically sell newspapers. However, what the topic lacks in sexiness, it makes up for in significance. The final maps we adopt will have a profound effect on how Arizonans are represented both at the state level and in Washington, D.C., for the next 10 years. And let’s face it: as a Latino and a Democrat, the non-Hispanic representation that we’ve had over the last decade has done nothing to help our community. In fact, just the opposite has occurred, and that’s why redistricting is so important. Latinos make up more than 30 percent of the state’s population. Yet, as a community, Hispanic involvement in the political process is underwhelming. That is one of the main reasons I volunteered for this position. If the commission can create more districts in which a Latino can be elected, then more Hispanics will become politically involved. The same is also true if we create more competitive districts. Competition creates choice and voter enthusiasm.
Help others; help ourselves One of the ways to do this is to get involved. Run for office yourself or volunteer for a political campaign. I’ve volunteered for both Democrats and Republicans and have really enjoyed it. We can all give back by volunteering. You also learn things whenever you volunteer. Serving on boards for the Northern Arizona University Alumni Association and other nonprofits taught me organizational management. Traveling around the state for redistricting hearings, I get a geography and history lesson almost every place we visit. I grew up in a Spanish-speaking household in San Luis, Arizona, a rural, overwhelmingly Latino community south
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of Yuma. Most of my peers were, like me, first-generation Americans. I went to college at NAU in Flagstaff, a very different environment. I would recommend that any student, if he or she has the means, go away to college to experience living away from home. From personal experience, I can relate very well to people all over Arizona, which carries over to my redistricting work. I can represent a variety of people and perspectives on the commission because I know this state and I love it here.
We’re all Arizonans Arizonans have much in common. We all want the state to progress. I think we need to focus on that. I was surprised that the rancor about redistricting started so early, before we drew a single line on a single map. I didn’t expect that level of partisanship, at least so early on. People can disagree and still be respectful. That has been the case with my fellow commissioners, despite some disagreements. We may not always agree with one another, but all are good people who believe that we are doing what is best for Arizona. Unfortunately, some incumbent officeholders have been over the top with their criticism. I don’t believe there is a way to please them short of giving them everything they want. That’s not compromise and it’s not good for our state. I also am extremely surprised by the hostile tone of the public criticism and how organized it appears to be. But organization works both ways. As an example, the Navajo Nation and the city of Flagstaff have spent countless hours crafting their redistricting proposals, and I think that’s been reflected in the commission’s work so far. But regardless of how the final maps look, both sides of the political aisle may be a bit unhappy. That’s called compromise. As the redistricting process has played out, there have been good and bad days. Throughout, I’ve been able to count on the support from my family, friends and employer, the Arizona Society of CPAs. For that, I’ll always be grateful. José M. Herrera received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Arizona University. He is the senior manager of member services for the Arizona Society of CPAs. José and his wife Dena, a math instructor at Rio Salado Community College, live in the Arcadia area in Phoenix and are raising two children, Caél and Sofia. Under the Arizona Constitution, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission must begin drawing legislative and congressional districts from scratch and the districts must be drawn according to six criteria. For more information, visit azredistricting.org.
RAUL H. CASTRO I N S T I T U T E
O F
present the fourth annual salute
Nov. 16 at the Wyndham Hotel, 11:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M. Join us in saluting Arizona’s top WWII Hispanic American Ace and U.S. Naval Hero, the late Arthur Van Haren, Jr. as well as the brave individuals profiled over the past year in Latino Perspectives Magazine.
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