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May 2010
ARIZONA EDITION
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• May 2010
• ARIZONA EDITION
Patent pending The invention path
Follow your bliss Take that art class
S.B. 1070
NCLR chairman’s view
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Journal of the American Latino Dream
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Volume 6
{May 2010}
Issue 9
57
The lost virtue
All it takes is a little awareness and you’ll find it. Shift your paradigm and get into the tech-savvy New Thrift
Time to move
The USDA Food Pyramid keeps evolving. Nutrition is the focus, but exercise and weight control also count
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From the Publisher
We invite our readers to share their thoughts on Senate Bill 1070
del Arte 21 Rincón Artist Frank Ybarra is inspired by his family, his heritage and the Sonoran Desert
49 Latinos Who Serve Chief Fernando Duenas Valenzuela – keeping Mesa citizens safe for 30 years
33 Business 12 On the Calle 51 Education Movin’ Up: Obama nominates Judge Murguia; Nannies – the other woman? As if moms didn’t Learning has no age limit, no time limit. Go have enough to worry about
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¡De Veras!
Notable quotes and other fanciful items
16 LP Journal We’ve been down this path before 18 Vibe Before Night Falls in Ft. Worth; Pop! at the Heard; Levanto, Chris Jácome’s latest CD
Murillo named to GASB; Dicochea and Chagoya head to Sydney
ahead, sign up for that art class this summer
62 Time out 37 Entrepreneur It doesn’t have you mucho dinero to stay in shape, so youtocancostditch Dan Puente’s employees strive for synergy and that excuse now success – with his encouragement
39 Briefcase Convert that lightbulb glowing over your head into a patent
43 Doulas serve a very special purpose Career
65 Getaways Museums have their seasons, too 74 My Perspective
Daniel Ortega Jr. of the National Council of La Raza shares his perspective on Senate Bill 1070
when it comes to helping mothers to be
Coming in June: the www.latinopm.com
health issue
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¡! from the publisher Latino Owned and Operated. Certified as a Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) with the City of Phoenix.
May 2010 Publisher/CEO Ricardo Torres COO/Executive Editor Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D. Editor Rosa Cays Art Director Charles Sanderson Contributing Writers Catherine Anaya, Erica Cardenas, Dan Cortez, Gary Keller, Daniel Ortega Jr., Mortimer Sánchez Director of Sales and Marketing Carlos Jose Cuervo Advertising National Sales Manager – Tomas Urbina Account Executive – Barry Farber Account Executive - Mayte Marquez Executive Assistant to CEO & COO Olivia Rojas Office Manager Valeria Torres Editorial Assistant/Staff writer Sam Naser
Contact Us
www.latinopm.com 3877 N. 7th St., Ste. 200 Phoenix, Arizona 85014 602-277-0130 Advertising: sales@latinopm.com Editorial: news@latinopm.com Design: art@latinopm.com
Subscriptions For home or office delivery, please send your name, address, phone number, and a check for $24 to Latino Perspectives Magazine at the address above. Subscriptions also available for credit-card purchase by calling 602-277-0130. Visit latinopm.com/digital for a free digital subscription. Latino Perspectives Magazine is published 12 times a year and is selectively distributed throughout Arizona. The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted by Latino Perspectives Media, LLC, all rights reserved, and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.
Join the discourse – and don’t forget to celebrate your mother By Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D.
Over the last several weeks, Arizona has been thrust into the
national spotlight over Gov. Brewer’s signing of S.B. 1070. The challenges we face as a border state and with undocumented immigration are many; they manifest themselves at the economic, cultural, social, environmental, political, and public-policy levels. Undocumented immigration and immigration reform are divisive issues. Even the public discourse used to explore the topic requires the use of seemingly irreconcilable prefixes: “pro” and “anti.” We want to know how our readers feel about the new law and also about the challenges to its constitutionality; about the intended and unintended consequences of its implementation. Let us now how you feel by sending an e-mail to editor@latinopm.com. We will be sharing your views on our website and in next month’s print and digital editions. Please include your full name and contact information when sending us your comments – no proof of citizenship required. In this month’s issue, Daniel Ortega Jr., chairman of the National Council of La Raza, writes about his perspective on S.B. 1070. On the same topic, but on a much lighter note, Lola’s tongue-in-cheek column is a funny, yet pathetic call for help to Dominican-born fashion designer and haute couture icon Oscar de la Renta; she seeks advice to ensure her fashion choices don’t raise a law enforcement officer’s “reasonable suspicion.” We are almost halfway through the year; it may be a good time to reexamine how we spend our money. The cover story can help with that, and, better yet, it may even prompt us to reexamine ways in which we can save money. At the very least, it’s a reminder that thrift was once a virtue and not a character flaw. Speaking of shifts, in Health, Rosa Cays writes about the “new” food pyramid. It’s not so new, actually, but it’s very different from what we used to have in the ‘90s. If you are just catching up on this development, know we are not supposed to have 12 tortillas or bread slices a day. Catherine Anaya devotes her column this month to the joys of traveling and sharing new experiences with her daughter. It’s a shared gift for mother and child: giving what she wasn’t able to experience as a young woman herself. As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, I’m reminded that as a child, I would save my allowance to make sure I could get my mom a nice present. I’d ask her if there was anything in particular she wanted. She would invariably respond, “I just want you to be good, healthy and happy.” I remember feeling disappointed; puzzled by this response. As if she didn’t want a present from me. Now that I’m a mom, it makes perfect sense. That’s what mothers do: give a gift and keep giving. Happy Mother’s Day.
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¡! Será posible?
It’s all mommy’s fault A psychiatrist from Britain has made
a bold declaration: Baby boys left in the care of a nanny or other caregiver (we assume female) are more likely to become womanizers. ¿No me digas? We wonder how the good doctor came up with this theory. Dr. Dennis Friedman, a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, specializes in family and marital problems, parenting issues and sexual dysfunction. He recently published a book called The Unsolicited Gift: Why We Do The Things We Do. Friedman says the “unsolicited gift” is life, given by parents to their children, and in his book, he explores how the parent-child relationship affects individuals later in life. Among his theories, Friedman claims a male child cared for by a nanny introduces the concept of “the other woman.” The poor niño cared for by more than one woman has confusing thoughts, a “division in his mind,” about who Mummy really is, leading him to believe he needs nurturing from more than one woman. This mindset might become a pattern in his life that could lead to adultery if his needs are not met at home. Blame mamacita, not esposita. The 85-year-old psychiatrist isn’t sexist, though: He also claims baby girls left in a nanny’s care are more likely to turn to drugs or other self-destructive behavior, such as promiscuity, to fill the mother-love void. He also advises mothers not to work, or return to work, during the child’s first
year. Mama needs to stay home to care for her baby boy. Easy for him to say. Okay, so we all know the importance of a mother’s role, in any child’s formative years. And let’s not forget the father figure. Freud and many other psychologists covered this decades ago. But to “blame” mothers for womanizing men? We say cop-out! Makes us curious about Friedman’s upbringing and how his relationships have panned out. Our guess is he didn’t have a nanny. Critics and other psychiatric professionals wonder why Friedman offers no statistics to back up his theory.
They also point out that it doesn’t make sense. Many other people play a significant role in an infant’s upbringing, male and female: fathers, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, to name a few. It’s not all up to Mom. It’s that whole it-takes-avillage concept. Maybe in the next edition of The Unsolicited Gift: Why We Do The Things We Do, the doctor can include an addendum; a survey, perhaps, to back up his theory. He can conduct research and interview some of the more prominent adulterers in modern society, like Bill Clinton, Magic Johnson, Newt Gingrich, Eliot Spitzer, John Edwards, Mark Sanford, David Letterman, Brad Pitt, Jesse James, Charlie Sheen, and of course, the womanizer of all womanizers (still living), Mr. Woods. Maybe he can find out if the number of mistresses a man engages with correlates with the number of female caregivers in his life. Dr. Friedman would have a heyday with men who have cheated with a nanny, like David Beckham, Ethan Hawke and Jude Law. We venture to think they must have had an especially strong bond with their niñeras. As if mothers didn’t have enough to worry about. Mothers have enough selfimposed crosses to bear. To all the mamacitas out there: You not only provide an “unsolicited” gift – you bestow the ultimate gift. May you have a most wonderful Mother’s Day.
Setting the record straight: In the Career section of our April issue, we incorrectly stated that Cirina Palacio-Culberson’s former employer “embezzled her entire retirement account.” Actually, it was her former employer’s financial advisor who embezzled Cirina’s retirement account.
Your thoughts? Tell us what you think. Send your thoughts to editor@latinopm.com 12
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Latino Perspectives welcomes feedback from readers regarding published stories or topics of interest. Please include your name and phone number. Mail letters to Editor, Latino Perspectives, 3877 N. 7th St., Ste. 200, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Or, e-mail letters to editor@latinopm.com.
Editorial mission statement Latino Perspectives creates community, cultivates cultural pride and provokes, challenges and connects Latinos who are defining, pursuing, and achieving the American Latino Dream.
Think outside the mailbox.
LPM, sent to your Inbox. For six years, LPM has been the only Arizona magazine focused on the local Latino community. Sign up for the free digital edition: www.latinopm.com/digital
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Conversation starters from the world around us
16 LP Journal
News of the political, the social and the bizarre
18 Vibe
Arts and antics of an entertaining nature
21 Rincón del Arte
Frank Ybarra paints simple pleasures
i say ... For the last 40-plus years we … alienated many minority voters by focusing on the white male vote in the South. – RNC Chairman Michael Steele speaking at DePaul University on April 20
And I believe they’re allowed to Taser anyone using the word ‘chipotle.’
image courtesy of heard museum
– Stephen Colbert on April 21 Colbert Report, mockingly referring to S.B. 1070.
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Tabasco tacón at the Heard Pop! exhibit: Clearly Red Hot Mama by Paula Rasmus-Dede, Aleut
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It’s outrageous that these people continue to support law breakers over law keepers. – Sen. Russell Pierce speaking about opponents of S.B. 1070
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¡!
LP journal
Forcing the issue on immigration reform The graphic above first appeared in the May 2006 issue of Latino Perspectives Magazine as part of a two-part special report entitled, “Citizen Latino: pragmatism, patriotism or pity?” It explored the many different and oftentimes opposing views of illegal immigration held by Arizonans of Hispanic descent. We continued to explore the topic in the June issue of the same year with “Force in motion: the search for immigration solutions triggers new leaders and strategies.” Back then, the conversation revolved around the frustration over our broken border and immigration system. As a recap: H.B. 4437 was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 16, 2005. The federal legislation sought to criminalize undocumented immigration. Then came the marches and demonstrations in March and April 2006 and the so-called “Great American Boycott” of May 1. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets; supporters and opponents of the measure spoke out – loudly. It was not uncommon 16
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to see Hispanics in both camps. A group called You Don’t Speak for Me! was formed by Hispanics who felt they needed to clarify their Hispanic ancestry didn’t, de facto, mean they opposed criminalizing illegal immigration. On May 25, 2006, the U.S. Senate approved its own immigration reform bill; it would have granted some undocumented immigrants a chance at citizenship and included provisions to strengthen border security. Futile attempts to reconcile the Senate and the House bills ensued. Then came November and the presidential election. Then Obama’s ¡Sí se puede! Then nothing. Sound familiar? Fast forward to May 2010, and here we are again. Except this time, Arizona is not just a participant in the national melodrama. This time, Arizona is the protagonist of a new chapter in the undocumented immigration and border security debate. It’s time for President Obama to make good on his campaign speeches, and for Gov. Jan Brewer to explain how, exactly, law enforcement agencies will enforce S.B. 1070 without trampling on civil rights.
LP journal
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¡!
vibe
Before Night Falls debuts in Texas this month Fort Worth Opera will host
Pop Art at the Heard?
Remember Warhol’s famous silkscreen of the Campbell’s
Raised by his mother and Soup can? If not, you can see it along with other ironic works grandparents, the young Arenas at POP! Popular Culture in American Indian Art at the Heard moved to Havana in the 1960s to study and explore his Museum, a multimedia exhibit of 21st-century Pop Art in American sexuality and ambitions. After placing second in a writing Indian culture. For context, the show includes works by Andy contest, he was offered a publishing deal. At the time, the Warhol, Fritz Scholder and others, while contemporary American political climate in Cuba was precarious, and in the early Indian artists express a wry look at pop culture through jewelry, fashion, graffiti art, comics, pottery and beadwork. Marcus 1970s, Arenas was arrested for publishing abroad without Amerman, Diego Romero, Jason Garcia, Paula Rasmus Dede and official consent. Over several years, he made several Ryan Singer are a few of the artists sharing humorous viewpoints attempts to escape prison to no avail. In 1980, Arenas sure to please modern art lovers. finally left Cuba and started a new life in the United States. POP! is on display through April 2011. The Heard Museum is He died in 1990. at 2301 N. Central Avenue. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays Baritone Wes Mason will play the role of Arenas. This through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is opera is creating quite the buzz, so if you plan to be in Fort $12 adults; $11 seniors (65+); $5 students with valid student ID. Worth on May 29, see it at Bass Performance Hall, one Children under 6, museum members and American Indians receive free admission. Shop and café are open to the of the top opera houses in the world. Buy your tickets public free of charge. at www.fwopera.org. Get more Vibe at More info at 602-252-8848 or www.heard.org. www.latinopm.com
Fabulous flamenco at Chandler Center for the Arts World music aficionados have said flamenco guitarist Chris
Burton Jácome’s latest CD “can stand alongside any created in Spain ...” Discover for yourself when Jácome celebrates the release of his new CD Levanto at the Chandler Center for the Arts on Sunday, May 2. The cast of Calo Flamenco, Ballet de Martín Gaxiola will accompany the music with a lively performance. Our very own Olivia Rojas will also be performing (¡Qué voz!). Levanto documents Jácome’s musical collaboration with Calo
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Flamenco’s artistic director Martín Gaxiola. Jácome captures the essence of flamenco: the cadenced footwork and palmas, fervent vocals and intense guitar work. Together these artists take on this sultry dance form in the tradition of Old World Spain with a contemporary edge. Experience it live, and flamenco can transport you to España – just close your eyes. ¡Olé! The performance begins at 3 p.m. at Chandler Center for the Arts, located at 250 N. Arizona Avenue. A signed copy of Levanto is included in the $25 ticket price. For tickets, go to www.chandlerarts.org. For more about Jácome, visit www.CBJMusic.com.
Corn Maidens #13 by Jason Garcia - Image courtesy of Heard Museum; Photo: Fort Worth Opera; Image courtesy of CBJ Music
the world premiere of Before Night Falls, composed by Cuban American composer Jorge Martín. The opera is based on the memoir of the same title by Reinaldo Arenas, a Cuban poet, novelist and playwright persecuted under Fidel Castro’s regime for his homosexuality.
vibe
In 1964, Jaime
Escalante and family traveled from La Paz to La Turbulencia. Why? God only knows. At first, his life contradicted the American Dream. In the end, he became the santo patrón of Latin@ academic excellence. Esteemed in Bolivia, for a decade Jaime had taught physics and math at a Catholic school and at a prestigious public school. Yet in L.A., none of it “counted,” not even his 1955 university degree. Did he go back home? He returned to college for nine years, emerging in 1973 with a gringo B.A. from California State University. Jaime worked as a busboy, a cook, and finally a computer corporation employee. In 1974, credentialed to bureaucratic satisfaction, he got a job at Garfield High School, a school so downtrodden its accreditation was threatened. Not gearing to poorly performing students, instead he convinced students to take algebra. Five years later in 1979, Jaime had prepared nine students to take college-level calculus through the Advanced Placement (AP) program. Students in his calculus classes increased annually and gradually. In 1982, the nation changed for the good, though it took years for the moral calculus to be graphed. Jaime’s 18 students succeeded on the AP calculus exam. The largest test-score challenge on record resulted. ETS asked 14 students to retake the exam. Twelve agreed and succeeded otra vez. This achievement was “heard ‘round the world.” Latinos successfully taking the calculus AP exam shot through the roof. In 1988, Jaime received the Presidential
Mr. de la Renta? Oscar? This is Lola,
from Arizona. We have a problem, and as a Latino immigrant and American mainstream fashion icon, you are uniquely positioned to help. A new law in our state has been passed to help fix our broken border. This is fine and dandy, but … to enforce this new piece of legislation, law enforcement agents will have to use their sixth sense to determine if there is “reasonable suspicion” to believe people they come into contact with are in the country illegally. Racial profiling is illegal and our governor insists that we won’t be stopped simply because of the color of our skin. But the question remains: What constitutes “reasonable suspicion”? Califa’s Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray is on national TV saying that trained professionals can identify illegal aliens just by looking at their clothes. He says, “They will look at the kind of dress you wear, there is different type of attire, there is different type of ... right down to the shoes ...” What happened to “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Many of us law-abiding citizens may simply, because of our attire, awaken (un)reasonable suspicion. Like my cousin Lety in her Virgen de Guadalupe tee with white patentleather shoes, which she wears year round, mind you. Oh, and she can’t leave the house without the matching, knockoff Chanel handbag. Or my primo Beto, who can’t live without his bedazzled cowboy belt. He even owns a pair of snakeskin
Contact Lola
By Gary Francisco Keller, Ph.D.
Lola's Voicemail: S.B. 1070-inspired fashions
Send Lola your comments and ideas to lola@latinopm.com.
What Escalante delivered
¡!
cowboy boots complete with the cobra head attached to the tip of the boot. I kid you not. He paid $1,200 for them. Someone’s fashion crimes may be another’s personal style and cultural pride. (I know, I know.) Yet ethnicinspired fashion in the WASP world is acceptable. In Arizona, any other cultural group may now be targeted for an ethnicfashion faux pas. FYI, Lety and Beto were born here. But they don’t look any different from many people who may be here sin papeles. It would be a drag – humiliating, really – if we were to be stopped, questioned or even arrested for not carrying our papers. What if the officers suspect our IDs are fake, like Lety’s handbag?! So, this is where you come in: A de la Renta, off-the-rack fashion line inspired by S.B. 1070. Combine what may seem to be irreconcilable tastes and styles: the cultural, aesthetic elements favored by the Letys and Betos of Arizona, but with a reversible or convertible component of sorts that would allow us to “pass” the “reasonable suspicion” test. Think L.L. Bean meets La Perrona, things that can be worn one way in safe territory and then switched when entering hostile grounds. How about reversible tees with the Virgen on one side and Rosy the Riveter on the other? Or a ranchero belt buckle that doubles as a cell phone holster, or cowboy boots that convert to Doc Martins with a swift stomp – poomf! Down slips the rubber-soled boot. Oscar, we need you. Because like my mom says, “Como te ven te tratan.”
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What Escalante delivered continued from previous page
Medal for Excellence in Education from Ronald Reagan; Jay Mathews published his book, Jaime Escalante: The Best Teacher in America; praise for Escalante entered the 1988 presidential campaign, and Stand and Deliver (directed by Ramón Menéndez with Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Andy García) was released. Jaime Escalante died last Holy Week at the age of 79. A torrent of positive mass media coverage resulted, often missing the point. Escalante was headlined equally with the film, but he was already nationally recognized. He inspired the film and its unforgettable interpretation of Escalante by Olmos. Some suggested that Escalante’s achievements were attributable to his charisma and a repertoire of educational stunts. This minimizes his achievement. Escalante expressed his formula for success best. “The key to my success is a very simple and time-honored tradition: hard work for teacher and student alike.” One student remarked, “If he wants to teach us that bad, we can learn.” Another injurious claim, sometimes made by groups who had an invidious interest in stopping him from the very beginning, was that when Jaime left, the Garfield calculus program withered. The AP phenomenon quickly caught on to Garfield’s football rival, Roosevelt High School, and by the mid 1980s it had gone national. In 2009, 798,629 students nationwide took the AP, and 114,204 Latino students earned successful scores compared to 52,694 in 2000 and a mere 29,689 in 1996. Jaime Escalante Ortiz delivered a lifelong lesson of active love that directly or by inspiration has motivated the world. Jaime’s living lesson demonstrates the ability of faith, hope and love to touch us, especially the neglected youth of the barrios. Solve the set for love, the eternal constant, and integrate faith and hope, the first and the second derivatives into the calculus. Eureka! 20
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Pocho keen
Like peachy keen, pero different
Take Cinco Lately I’ve noticed that every year
we spring into summer, I pay less and less attention to what used to be a really fun holiday for me. Cinco de Mayo, as most people know, celebrates the Battle of Puebla, when a smaller and lessequipped Mexican force kicked some French behind. Sure, they would come back and win the war, but who cares? It created Cinco de Mayo! For me, this fiesta always served as a bridge from the best weather in the world into what is arguably one of the most brutal three-month periods anywhere. I would celebrate it with the best of them. After surviving the summer, around mid-September, I would feel obligated to participate in the actual celebration commemorating Mexico’s independence from the dastardly Spaniards on September 16. This event was never nearly as fun and it never really included too many nonLatino revelers. So how does a mere battle triumph overshadow a victory of independence? I’ll tell you how, but the answer requires your participation. It’ll be fun, trust me. Maybe not as fun as the games you’ll play at Salty Señorita or Dos Gringos, but it will be fun. Here we go: As fast as you can, shout ¡Dieciséis de septiembre! three times
Do you have something pocho, peachy or keen to say? Send it to pochokeen@latinopm.com.
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Contact Pocho Keen
¡!
followed by an annoying (to some, anyway) ¡Ay, ay, ay! Not too easy, is it? Try getting the fraternity brothers at Drink A-Lotta Brew to join that party. Nope, for them and for virtually everyone else, the celebration of choice is the incredibly easy-to-roll-off-the-tongue cinco de mayo! It’s a beer marketer’s dream. Imagine this scene, where an opportunistic Dylan asks out a fellow coed named Jennifer in early May. It might go something like this: “So, Jen, what are you, like, doing for Cinco?” (Could a pickup line get any smoother?) Now fast-forward to September. Same situation, same players. “Hey, Jen, uh, what are you, like, doing for deis deis de cinco? I mean, dies y sixteen de Septembray? Aw, forget it.” Not good for Dylan, not good for romance, and ultimately not good for beer sales. Somewhere along the way, Cinco de Mayo became less cultural celebration and more a reason to party, much in the way St. Patrick’s Day is for many. Dressing up in lots of green and drinking lots of green beer while attempting your best Irish brogue isn’t too much different than wearing a sombrero, drinking lots of tequila and screaming, ay, ay, ay! I guess Cinco de Mayo has gone the way of manifest destiny. And who cares, really. Enjoy it, world. Just lay off the sombreros y margaritas a bit.
rincón del arte
Drawing from simple pleasures
¡!
Frank Ybarra, painter and illustrator Phoenix native Frank Ybarra was born
March 9, 1958, and he’s been creating art since he can remember. Family memories, the desert environment, and his Mexican heritage inspire him. “I enjoy these subjects because I find it natural to express my feelings and experiences through memories from childhood as well as my current daily life,” says Ybarra.
What inspired you to become an artist? I’ve always liked to draw. I would find clockwise from top: Una tasa; san xavier; herb alpert; a large margarita; photo of ybarra by gina santi
anything with a blank space and draw pictures. Paper, shopping bags, flattened boxes and the occasional wall! I was fortunate to have wonderful teachers throughout my school years who encouraged me along the way. My parents and family were also very supportive.
What was the subject of your first painting? Probably a landscape, maybe a still life …
Education:
ASU, Graphic Design
Work: I worked for Samaritan Health System right out of high school. I eventually got a job in their in-house communications department as a graphic designer and illustrator. I worked there until 1994. I also did freelance illustration work during this time, creating editorial illustrations for the Arizona Republic, New Times, Phoenix Magazine, and various marketing projects with local design and advertising firms.
Ybarra art
How would you classify your art? It’s been described as “neo-cubist,” which I think is a good description.
See it in person: Joan Cawley Gallery 7135 E. Main Street Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480-947-3548 www.jcgltd.com
Favorite local art venues:
Phoenix Art Museum, all the art centers, in Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe. These are all wonderful facilities. As for galleries, I would have to suggest visiting the art spaces during First Fridays in downtown Phoenix and at the Scottsdale ArtWalk on Thursday evenings.
See it online: www.ybarraart.com www.latinopm.com
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Happenings at Phoenix Art Museum Exposing Time
Anaya says A mother’s dream come true By Catherine Anaya
images courtesy of phoenix art museum
Growing up with little money
Two views from Milton Rogovin’s Malibu home at 6:30 a.m.
The work of five contemporary
photographers is on view now at Phoenix Art Museum. Studying people and places, this new exhibition uncovers photography’s intrinsic relationship with time. As years, months, days, even minutes go by, the camera has the unique ability to capture change and reveal subtle and not-so-subtle differences. Photographers, such as the five in Exposing Time, have exploited this pictorial phenomenon by returning to the same subject over and over again. Nicholas Nixon has taken an annual portrait of his wife and her three sisters since 1976, while Milton Rogovin created a series of photographs of the view from his Malibu home at 6:30 a.m. for 365 days. Frank Gohlke documented the devastation of catastrophic natural events and the regeneration that follows, and Andrew Phelps, a native of Mesa, recently completed a three-year project tracing the development of Higley, Arizona. While all different approaches, the result is the same: a visual confirmation that time changes everything. Exposing Time is on display through June 27. Phoenix Art Museum is located in downtown Phoenix at the corner of Central Avenue and McDowell Road. Visit www.phxart.org for more information.
meant no traveling. I didn’t board a plane for the first time until I was 17, and it was a quick southern-to-northern California trip. And the older I got, the more I’d thirst for an adventure away from home – to anywhere. That venturesome spirit is something I didn’t want my kids to wait to catch. I wanted them growing up with it from the get-go. Family laughed when I took my 18-month old daughter from Phoenix to Disney World in Florida. “Why are you spending all that money when she’s not going to remember it anyway?” they’d say. Well, we had the best time! And while she may not remember it now as a 13-year-old, she has plenty of photos of her smiling face to remind her of that special first trip. Since then, I’ve take her to New York, Dallas, Puerto Rico, Cancún, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego, Boston, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., Miami, Fort Lauderdale, San Jose, San Francisco, Maui, Maryland, Charleston, and Las Vegas. With the exception of a few of those trips, we took all of them with my mother, three generations of Latinas whooping it up together in new places, creating forever memories. Each year I try to take my daughter some place new. This past spring break was by far the most special. Back in second grade, she did her first geography report on Argentina. She fell in love with the country and, since then, has considered it her dream destination. She did a similar report in fifth grade. I silently vowed to one day fulfill her dream. Last fall, I wandered into her classroom and noticed each student had posted answers to questions about
themselves. I enthusiastically read hers and when I got to the question, “What’s your favorite place you haven’t been to?” where she had written “Argentina,” I just knew, right then and there, I had to make it happen. Before I blink she’ll be off to college, and we might miss the opportunity. I started saving, asked for the time off from work, and happily called her this past January to tell her we were taking a spring-break vacation – just the two of us. You can’t imagine her reaction when I told her I was taking her to Argentina, from, “Are you serious??” to “OMG, I can’t believe it! That’s my dream!” We had an amazing time of fun, bonding, exploring, and embracing Buenos Aires and Iguazu. She took pictures; ate lots of steak; watched a tango performance, and took a tango lesson with me. She walked inside the soccer stadium; saw where Eva Perón is buried; fell in love with empanadas and alfajores (dulce de leche and chocolate cookies). She took a jungle tour of Iguazu National Forest and a boat ride for an up-close-and-personal drenching directly under the Iguazu Falls. More importantly, she enriched her love of traveling and embracing other cultures. She must have thanked me a million times, but nothing made my heart burst more than hearing her say, “I know, Mom! Let’s go to Spain next year!” She’s learning to step outside her comfort zone and realizing that dreams do come true. Mother’s Day for me isn’t always about what my children can do for me – but what I can do for them. Anaya is a three-time Emmy awardwinning journalist and CBS 5 News anchor. She’s also a motivational speaker and marathon runner. You can reach her at canaya@kpho.com www.latinopm.com
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The New
Thrift Long absent as a respected part of the American psyche, frugality could be making a comeback. By C. Sanderson
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enny pincher. Stingy. Tightwad. Avaro, codo, tacaño. And so on, through the years. We haven’t really showered conservative spenders with flattering adjectives. Years ago, my landlord stopped by to pick up the monthly rent. We found ourselves discussing the topic of shopping. She swore she regularly bought $200 worth of groceries with just $50 and a box of coupons. I didn’t believe her until she took me to her car, popped the trunk open and reached into a mass of paper bags to pull out her receipt as evidence. The first words to enter my mind were “miser” and “cheapskate.” It seemed silly to waste time cutting out coupons. Why spend life stooped over the newspaper with a pair of scissors in hand? I am not alone in this hasty perception of those people who guard their money so closely. Many have viewed thrift as a sad, cheap trait with a terrible reputation. But to others, thrift is a word of pride. Thrift has something to say in its very roots. The word comes from the word “thrive” and this makes sense. Frugality is about making informed, efficient decisions in everyday life and the wise, judicious use of time and resources – so that individuals and their communities might live a better life. In short, thrive. For Iris Calderón, the owner of Calderón Community Services, thrift is a lifelong passion instilled in her youth when she lived in the Bronx. Iris recalls the lessons she learned from her single mother. “She made sure that we understood the meaning of a dollar and how important it
was to save ... that name brand shoes or clothing weren’t important.” When Iris found herself a young mother-to-be, she decided to take firm control of her life. She did not want to become yet another statistic and abandon her education and go on welfare. “I didn’t have a difficult time rethinking my life,” says Iris. When she married her husband, Martín Ávila, a frugal lifestyle continued to be a natural fit. “We have never really been big spenders. Our inspiration comes from our personal childhood experiences and our children. We’ve always tried to give them a better life than we had.” Today, their money-conscious lifestyle has paid off. Both now in their mid 30s, Martin and Iris bought their first home in 1997. In 2006, they upgraded to a better home. They’ve started two successful businesses and now own 100 acres of land on a lush mountainside south of Cuernavaca, Mexico. All thanks to the wisdom of frugal spending habits. In America, Benjamin Franklin is largely responsible for making wise spending and living a virtue. His
publications, Poor Richard’s Almanac and The Way to Wealth, were cornerstones for much of our collective frugal mindset and perhaps for the long-revered idea that in this country, anyone can make it big with ethics and elbow grease. But even in Franklin’s day, thrift was nothing new. We learned to appreciate the idea long before money was invented; perhaps as the ancient farmer quickly realized it was important to not gobble up everything grown. To avoid future starvation, seeds had to be saved for the next planting season. We learned the necessity of providing for tomorrow, not just today. As civilizations grew, this wisdom benefited entire populations. So thrift isn’t the stingy creature we think it is; it has grown to have a bigger heart. It isn’t about simply hoarding pennies and resources for self-interest. Often these conserved resources can be used to help better a society. Once upon a time, frugality was taught everywhere. Elementary schools and federal programs both had banking lessons. Numerous textbooks covered
the topic. It was honored in publications across the country. During World War II, American kids put their lessons into practice by joining the effort to conserve resources and give needed materials to the U.S. government to help in the allied fight. And all this, rightfully so. Frugality rarely occurs naturally in the human brain, so it helped to have teachers, parents and media instill it – as Iris Calderón’s mother had done. But those days have faded like a bad counterfeit dollar. So, where did thrift go off to all these years? If brought up in conversation at all, thrift has often been an argument against the perceived scourge of capitalism – then shelved again. Unnoticed for decades, the wild weeds of greed seem to have slowly taken over our society. It began slipping our minds in the late 1940s and early 1950s as American life prospered. In The Decline of Thrift, David M. Tucker contends that as the 1950s rolled along, frugal middle-class continued next page
Frugal tech One might ask what’s so new about thrift. Nothing, really. But the tools to get your finances where they need to be are evolving every day. For a couple years now, the cell phone has been quietly revolutionizing how we watch our money, with a rapid-fire launch of new phone applications arriving every month. Numerous applications help you track finances, watch stock markets and interest rates, and find the best price on just about anything with a bar code. Most banks now have tools to help you keep a close eye on your money, both online and on your cell. Get text messages of daily balances. Make account transfers, find an ATM, and pay bills from anywhere you’ve got a signal. But third-party programmers are the ones truly throwing out crafty new innovations every time we blink. With a quick download to our smartphone, we can have product comparisons, loan comparisons, stock notifications and more in our pocket every where we go. These programs don’t simply show us our finances. Many can help us manage them. DayBank and SplashMoney are two applications that can be customized to your needs. And now it’s possible to replace that old method of controlling our spending by divvying funds into designated envelopes. From your phone, you can reload a prepaid credit card to use for groceries or any other monthly expenditure. The program Loan Shark helps compare loans from several
vendors to make wise decisions. Shop Savvy and Save Benjis are programs that help you compare product prices while you shop, and find out how much it costs online. At www.codedifferent.com, you can find a program for your smartphone to compare product sizes and packages for the best deal. They even send you coupons by text message, as will www.mycoupster.com, www.couponsherpa.com and numerous other marketing companies. And the cellphone apps don’t stop there. The next time you cringe at the rising costs, check out www.gasbuddy.com. Their free phone application will point you to the cheapest gas station in your area. Grocery Gadget eliminates the need to make a shopping list ever again, and helps manage your lists for efficiency. An app combines all your store loyalty cards into one at www.mycardstar.com, so cashiers of over 350 participating stores can simply scan your phone. Take a break from cooking and treat the family to a dinner deal after looking at the smartphone program, “Where do kids eat free today?” No kids to worry about this evening? Then check out which places have a happy hour with an app called “Drink Specials.” The proverbial list goes on. We can be sure these are only the first of many innovations to come. www.latinopm.com
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Continued from previous page ethics gave way to a “leisure class” mentality: vacations, golf clubs and the newest television became coveted goals. In the 1960s, the topic of frugality was largely absent from school education. A national thrift week that kicked off every January on Benjamin Franklin’s birthday since 1916 folded in 1966. After the brief hiccough of a 1973 oil scare, the 1980s became the epitome of excess. That lifestyle roared on through the 1990s. The first hint of problems weren’t revealed until the wild, wooly Internet had a dotcom bust in 2000. Then American involvement with the Middle East began to sap financial resources. 2008 brought a collapse of financial institutions and real estate prices. Our economic survival became a panicked, white-knuckle, roller-coaster tour. Americans began to see all the ways things had gone wrong. Is it any surprise we have found ourselves here? In times of excess, human nature drives us to collect every pretty bauble, like ravens gather shiny objects to adorn their nests. And we were certainly living well, spending feverishly. For half a century, we’ve been suffering from something that could be called affluenza. Now the fever has broken.
Smart thrift
For a rainy day:
Squirrels and bees have it all figured out: store for the lean seasons. Regardless of whether there’s a thrift paradox or not, some amount of money conservation by being frugal will only help – and it’s a good idea to know where you’ll squirrel away the money. If you don’t already have them, open an IRA or 401k account for the day you retire. Setting aside $100 a month can add up over time. And don’t spend that tax refund. If you were surviving without it, why splurge when you get it? Social Security is a scary thing to count on these days.
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Breaking the paradox Since the 1930s, a Welsh man named John Maynard Keynes has enthralled economists with his ideas on free markets, governmental influence on financial climates, and ideas that fueled the oftenmentioned “paradox of thrift.” This paradox states that the more individuals save to improve their financial stability, the more they plunge a drowning market deeper to the ocean floor. Time has given Keynes’ image a black eye, but our current economy is creating a resurgence of his theories through government policy. This perceived paradox is why the 2008 stimulus money checks were sent out. When one person spends money, it becomes income for another; when we all save our money, no money flows. The nation’s collective savings drop. In a 1931 radio interview, Keynes tried to incite a shopping spree: “O, patriotic housewives, sally out tomorrow early into the streets and go to the wonderful sales which are everywhere advertised.” And we’ve been shopping ever since. And so in that vein, we’ve been told by presidents, economists and pundits to fight the woes of spending too much – by spending even more. And it worked for a moment. Americans bought and bought. Mostly houses.
Read the fine lines: Review your
mortgage and car insurance to make sure you’re getting the lowest possible premium, such as coverage levels, deductibles, roadside assistance, etc. Talk with an agent to make sure you’re getting all the discounts you can get. If you have to use a credit card to pay bills or daily expenses, pick one with no annual fees or the best bonus-points program. Make sure to pay off the debt in full each month and take advantage of any incentives in the most beneficial way.
The problem is, much of Keynes’ economics model has come into question yet again. Arizona State University Professor William Boyes, co-author of Microeconomics, is somewhat incredulous at the concept’s long life, saying pointedly, “I have a hard time [accepting] anyone still believed in the paradox of thrift, but this period should put a nail in the coffin.” Boyes continues, “Saving is necessary for an economy to grow. It is the only way that investment can and will take place. The idea has been that the economy cannot recover unless the consumer spends. While consumer spending is important, consumer saving is more important. We can’t simply consume our entire income.” Like a pendulum and the old science of equal and opposite reactions, it seems that thrift is returning. Professor Boyes agrees. “I think thrift is already making a comeback. The savings rate has increased, debt has been reduced (by individuals, not government), and people are altering lifestyles.” Actually, the government is making an effort toward saving money, at least in some localized ways. Maricopa County, for instance, just announced it is converting three buildings in downtown Phoenix to solar, and predicts it will
Farm that yard:
The next time you have the urge to plant something in the ground, try herbs and vegetables. As farms become more scarce or further away, food prices go up. Some families have turned to their backyards. Fruit trees and a garden can provide you healthy economic food sources and fewer rotting vegetables in the fridge because they’re still on the plant, getting juicy. If a garden seems like too much hassle, just plant a few things and get the kids to take care of it. At the very least, what’s cooler than a few spices in the kitchen window to show off to your friends? It ain’t “hippy dippy” either. Just sensible fun.
save the county $870,000 and help the growing solar industry. After economics professors and politicians have quieted, once we’ve boiled away the bedeviling labyrinth of financial jargon and social commentary, what remains is one word. Awareness.
Take charge We are not just leaves in a river’s current. We can control our destiny. But how? If we have never learned the lessons of thrift, like Iris has, how do we change our lifestyle and not sacrifice our quality of life? Some have mended their spending ways. Cures to affluenza have taken on numerous names. America is still in love with Henry David Thoreau and his passion as a self-reliant minimalist in that famed cabin by Walden Pond. OK. There’s no need to over think things or take Thoreau’s extreme action. Skip the thrill of going hunter-scavenger primitive, living in a shack and all that. We don’t have to be enlightened to be thrifty. The good news is that we only need a simple paradigm shift; a change of attitude, a balance struck between needs and wants. The more we base decisions on quality and decide we don’t need to keep up with the latest of the latest, let alone the Joneses or the Gonzalezes, the
Use all of it: Don’t
waste anything. If it helps, remember that no matter what the resource or how plentiful it seems, there’s only a limited supply. Look for tips on how to use less. It’s generally true that in a marketing era of super-concentrated detergent, people use far more than they need. And very often the bottle’s recommendation is still high. Shampoo every other day – it’s better for your hair, anyway.
Shop smart:
Keeping an eye out for deals on coupon websites like www.savings. com and www.goldstar.com; www.bargainbabe.com can’t
more obvious the solutions become, nonutilitarian and overpriced status symbols be damned! Pardon the enthusiasm. Iris Calderón agrees. “I think one of the best tricks is to live within your means. Too many people try to keep up with the Joneses and spend more than what they earn,” says Iris. “We don’t [have] any luxury car payments …. We don’t party or splurge money on namebrand things, and we only spend on our daily necessities. We have the basic bills – light, gas, water, mortgage, etc. We think this has been the key to our success.” The philosophy of thrift has nothing to do with ethnicity or nationality. Everyone can claim some thrifty heritage at lean moments in history. All that matters is that we recapture a way of life that might do nothing but make us happier now. It is better to freely add frugality to our lives before we are forced into it for survival by events such as the Great Depression. In fact, a study done through ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business discredited an old cliché, finding that those who’d lived through the 1930s were no thriftier than the rest of us in times of plenty. Some thrifty changes will only improve our way of life. That pack-a-week social smoking habit easily costs 300 to 400 dollars in one year. Quitting doesn’t just mean saving money, but it also means
less wheezing, better health, and lower life insurance premiums. Some changes of habit might be subtler. For example, when traveling, stay with family or friends you know and love. Pitch in for the kindness. You’ll save on accommodations, but also reunite bonds with people you may not have seen in some time. Next time you’re traveling, put down that overpriced memento. Let memories and photographs bring you smiles – not snow globes, fancy vases and collectors’ plates.
hurt – but grocery store coupons are not the bargain you think they are. They seem to be for mostly processed foods and name brands. Maybe it’s time to think outside these boxes and cans. Try lesser-known products. Just because it isn’t a name brand doesn’t mean it isn’t good, and often they’ve come from the same source anyway. But never sacrifice quality. Things should last for years. Designed obsolescence replaces it three times.
effort. Try something you can’t easily make. For example, seafood gumbo takes all day to cook – save your energy and order that.
Dining out: Go out to
lunch instead of dinner, if you can. It’s always cheaper. When you do spend, make it worthwhile. Don’t order the pasta plate at that fancy restaurant. It’s probably something you could whip up at home with little
A little help along the way Iris Calderón believes “the mistake many people make is that they want to see instant gratification without having to sacrifice.” Iris instead weighs the longterm benefits of a financial decision. But nobody likes sacrifice, now do they? Unlike Iris, we may not have lived a life full of thrift. Can we fight that temptation to spend and keep up the frugal effort? A fleeting fancy with thrift does us little good. In April 2009, a Wall Street Journal article stated – in its lengthy title, no less – that thrift very well could outlast the recent hard financial climate. The article goes on to cite several studies that reinforce this statement. But many economists, like Dr. John Lastovicka of ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business,
Watch that a/c:
The central air system is the largest portion of our electricity bill, easily thieving away $1.50 an hour at times. Seal the air leaks in your house, and your electricity bill will plummet. Set the thermostat to a neutral temperature when you’re not home. Washing machines and hot water heaters are second to A/C, so take shorter showers and don’t use the hot water setting on your washing machine. When you replace your appliances, look for that Energy Star sticker and make use of SRP’s offer: You can get cash to recycle your old fridge or freezer. www.latinopm.com
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I think thrift is already making a comeback. The savings rate has increased, debt has been reduced ... and people are altering lifestyles. disagree. “I doubt it. Frugality is a lot of work. Not everyone will enjoy it and stay with it when they no longer have to be frugal,” says Lastovicka. Educating ourselves might help avoid those pitfalls; make habits stick. The path to economical living may be too nerve wracking – or a little too hippy – for some of us. But we can take small steps. We could start by simply investing or controlling our money better. Iris and Martín put their savings into wise investments such as a money market account with decent interest rates. The idea of sitting down to be counseled on finances feels like the idea of visiting a therapist. Many are uncomfortable with the idea of sitting on a couch to have their lives unraveled by a stranger. Others say even the most stable person could benefit from a visit. Annmarie Alaniz is a financial services professional who wants nothing more than to help us reign in those reckless dollars. And she’s got the experience. She serves as president of the local chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA). She says, “Knowledge and preparation is power. To avoid mistakes, there are key people you should have a trusting relationship with to obtain current information throughout your life; a financial professional, CPA, and/or an estate attorney.” Even the wealthiest among us might not be as prepared for the unexpected as they thought. Before long, creditors haunt them like vampires at the door to their savings account. Alaniz sees this lack of preparation as one of the financial pitfalls for many people. “Some people do not plan for tragic events such as death or disability of a breadwinner. In the home or business, these events have great costs and can negatively affect estates and a business’s bottom line.” Small problems can turn our financial well-being into leaky faucets. Nagging items on our credit report and small debts clutter our lives. Interest rates bleed us dry if we are not educated. Fortunately, there 28
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are several organizations offering help, such as Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit-counseling group out of Tucson. Indeed, numerous groups, locally and nationally, are aiming to redefine not only how we see our dollars, but also our lives and the world around us. Templeton Press, for example, wants to revive the venerable Thrift Week at www.bringbackthriftweek. org. Other organizations focus on educating those willing to listen to their wisdom. The Arizona Association for Environmental Education has numerous programs. Don’t Waste Arizona, Inc. is an umbrella organization for several grassroots environmental issues. Environment Arizona promotes lower energy consumption and preservation of resources like water, which can lower your bills. There may be hope for our youth as well. In Glendale, a recent $80,000 grant has made it possible for teens to take free classes on money management at the Velma Teague Library – and it isn’t necessary to live in Glendale. But there is no need to wait until a class or activist knocks it into our noggins. Read up on the topic. 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget is 350 pages of feasible ideas for living within our means, without making outrageous changes to lifestyle. Check out a few websites like www.americascheapestfamily.com run by Scottsdale’s own Economides family, who have made appearances on numerous talk shows, touted as America’s thriftiest family. And the Economides aren’t alone. Numerous websites list ways to save money and even have fun doing it.
Thinking thrift Certainly, there’s bravery in making the change to a frugal lifestyle. Some might replace the word “bravery” with “craziness.” But there is no reason we can’t find our own ways to conserve resources within our comfort levels. A family must communicate to make it work. Iris Calderón explains, “Without my husband’s
– Professor William Boyes support, I don’t think we would be as far along as we are. We aren’t rich; we aren’t poor, but we have security for present and future.” Iris and Miguel will retire knowing they can retire. To create a shift in one’s spending and plan for the future, it could help to think of frugality as winning on several fronts: It curbs expensive habits, reduces waste and suppresses instant gratification in favor of long-term improvements – for both you and the world around you. Seek efficiency, stay well informed at the local and national level, and know the realities of how you use your money. Be aware. Most important, don’t over think it. It’s not limiting one’s self from having anything. Just not everything. Do you really need a repro Tiffany lamp? A mechanical egg cracker? That bronze Bigfoot lawn ornament you saw in Skymall? Hey, who knows? Maybe you’ll find you love the lifestyle, the adventure of trim financials and better-informed purchases. Better yet, you could put it to good use. Some people have gone to new levels and fused thrift and sustainability, such as local furniture builder Christopher Wick, whose beautiful works are made of salvaged wood. Or the construction company Phoenix Commotion, which builds beautiful, eclectic homes for lowincome families across the U.S. – almost entirely out of donated, recycled or salvaged materials. What’s cooler than thrift as an elegant art form? You may find it works so well, you don’t realize the success. After the interview for this article, Iris Calderón said it was the first time she’d ever sat down to think about her accomplishments. “I can’t believe we’ve done all of this and continue to plan for the future.” We must turn away from the easy lie, “I can’t do that.” Challenge yourself to rethink your life. Just one step in that direction can make a difference. Samuel Smiles said it best so long ago when writing an 1875 treatise on thrift: “There is no greater cant than can’t.”
CPLC honors community leaders
Ortiz de Valdez, Guzman, and State Farm recognized for their devotion to Valley citizens Chicanos por la Causa, Inc. (CPLC) held its 41st anniversary dinner at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel on April 22, and paid tribute to community leaders who have made a positive impact in the Valley. This year’s honorees were Dr. Elizabeth Ortiz de Valdez of Concilio Latino de Salud, who received the Advancement in Healthcare Award; Lydia Guzman of
Respect/Respeto, who was given the Lorraine Lee Advocacy Award, and State Farm was honored with the CPLC Economic Development Award. “These two individuals and State Farm have worked tirelessly to promote community development,” said Edmundo Hidalgo, CPLC’s president and CEO. The event was sponsored by APS, Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Kahala and Wells Fargo, among others. The annual fundraiser gathers community members to support the nonprofit’s mission of building stronger, healthier communities through its comprehensive platform of services in education, housing, economic development and health and human services.
communities. She also runs a hotline called Respect/Respeto, taking calls from immigrants who, at many times, have nowhere else to turn.
she served as a member of the Governor’s Commission on the Health Status of Women and Families in Arizona. She is also a member of the expert panel on mental health in schools, counseling, psychology and social services for the White House Initiative on School Violence Prevention.
About the honorees
Dr. Elizabeth Ortiz de Valdez
Lydia Guzman Lydia Guzman started empowering communities 17 years ago in her home state of California, where she served as a member of the Coalition for Human Immigrants Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). Since moving to Arizona, she has served as director of voter outreach for Secretary of State Betsey Bayless, and state director for the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project. She also testified for the reauthorization of the National Voting Rights Act and served as director of education and outreach for the Clean Elections Institute. During the past several years, Lydia has been instrumental in documenting alleged abuses of authority in Maricopa County and has provided extensive data to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Currently, Lydia is the president of Somos America, a coalition of over 35 organizations that provide service, advocacy and empowerment to the Hispanic and immigrant 30
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Dr. Ortiz de Valdez is the cofounder and president of Concilio Latino de Salud, a community-based nonprofit established in 1989 and dedicated to improving the overall health of the Latino community and other underserved minority communities in Maricopa County through health promotion and disease prevention. She is also co-founder of Cultural Communities United in Health and Wellness (CCUHW) and a founding member of the American Union Against STDs and HIV (ULACETS) among other coalitions and organizations. Dr. Ortiz de Valdez’s professional development as an interculturalist is holistic, interdisciplinary, and uses a multidimensional approach to achieve cultural competence. From 2002-2004,
State Farm® Insurance State Farm’s community relations mission is to help create a healthy business environment through philanthropy and by working with national and local relationships to build safer, stronger and better-educated communities. For more than a decade, CPLC and State Farm have worked to establish a mutually beneficial relationship and have partnered to bring needed services as well as cheer and goodwill to the community. State Farm Community Volunteers and CPLC’s staff and volunteers have devoted more than 2,250 volunteer hours and contributed over $360,000 to our community. Additionally, the State Farm es Para Mi™ (State Farm is For Me) program reaches Latino communities through the dissemination of information and materials centered on education, civic engagement, and an appreciation for culture. Since 2008, the State Farm es Para Mi educational grant program has provided over $30,000 to Hispanicserving educational organizations.
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33 Movin’ Up
Professionals on the move
37 Entrepreneur Dan Puente’s D.P. Electric celebrates 20 years
39 Briefcase
Filing a patent has its twists and turns
43 Career
A doula can make all the difference in a mother’s birthing experience
Movin’ Up EMCC, GCC, MCCF give Awards for Excellence
Jason Martinez, Outstanding Student Advocate at Estrella Mountain Community College
Excellence in education and the community will be celebrated this month when Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), Glendale Community College (GCC), and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF) present the fourth annual Awards for Excellence. Honorees include Outstanding Alumni Cuauhtémoc “Memo” Espinoza, and Outstanding Student Advocate Jason Martinez. Jason Martinez has been working for the
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¡!
movin’ up Vice Chair Laura Garcia, Treasurer Stephanie Lopez and Secretary Nina Segovia, Israel Torres and Rachel Villanueva were elected as new board members, and Miguel Bravo and Ernesto Lopez were elected to the board for a second term.
Maricopa Community College District since 1991, where he has served in counseling, career development, advisement, assessment, recruitment/retention, multicultural training and student affairs. The awards gala, which raises funds for scholarships and programs at both West Valley community colleges, will be held at the Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa in Litchfield Park.
Carl Hayden does well at robotics competition Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith
Exemplary Lifelong Service by the Hispanic Professional Action Committee (HPAC) in February. The award is in honor of her many years of service and dedication to the Tucson community. Rubio Goldsmith specializes in research and teaching on Mexican-American women’s history, human rights and immigration issues.
Obama nominates Judge Murguia President Obama nominated Judge Mary H. Murguia for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Judge Murguia currently serves as a U.S. district judge for Arizona. When she was appointed to that position by President Clinton in 2000, Judge Murguia became the first Latina on the federal bench for Arizona.
Murillo named to national economic task force
Latino artists to represent U.S. Arizona resident Claudio Dicochea and San Francisco resident Enrique Chagoya, both originally from Mexico, are two of 166 artists selected to participate in the prestigious 17th Biennale of Sydney in Australia. Both artists are represented by Lisa Sette Gallery in Scottsdale. Their artwork will be exhibited rom May 12 through August 1 in Sydney.
Rubio-Goldsmith honored University of Arizona MA&RS Adjunct Professor Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith was presented with the Medallion Award for
The Carl Hayden Falcon Robotics team placed 14th out of over 50 teams at the 2010 FIRST Arizona Regional Competition in March. The Falcons received the Gracious Professionalism Award and team members were also recognized: freshman Jesus Meraz as safety captain, and senior Norma Irigoyen won the Steve Sanghi Scholarship.
Maricopa County Deputy Auditor Eve Murillo has been named to a task force on fiscal sustainability for the national Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The task force will advise the GASB on economic reporting and fiscal sustainability. Murillo is a 20year county employee, certified public accountant, fraud examiner, law enforcement auditor and information technology professional.
Friendly House elects new CFO Paul Faulkner was recently promoted to the position of chief financial officer of Friendly House, Inc. The board of directors now includes Chair Ricardo Romero,
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Gilbert V. Fimbres was inducted into the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum at the 130th anniversary of the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad to Tucson. The celebration was held in March at the city’s Historic Depot.
IMPACT Awards finalists announced The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce has selected 10 finalists for its prestigious IMPACT Awards, which recognize Valley businesses for their outstanding achievement in community involvement, company culture, innovation, response to adversity, and the 2010 Impact business of the year. Finalists include Robert Vallelunga, Luis De La Cruz, Angela and Mario Lepore, and Victor D. Vidales. The annual IMPACT Awards luncheon will take place Thursday, May 6 at The Phoenician.
ASU students and faculty win journalism awards
Frank Coumides
Sonoran Bank brings Coumides on board Sonoran Bank has named Frank X. Coumides to its board of directors. Coumides currently serves as senior vice president of lending and brings with him 15 years of experience in the banking and finance industry, along with a strong cultural understanding of the Valley’s business climate.
Movin’ Up Know someone who has been promoted, elected or honored? Send us the news of their achievements! Email movinup@latinopm.com 34
Fimbres inducted into Tucson museum
Students in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU have finished first in the nation in the broadcast news portion of the Hearst Journalism Awards, the “Pulitzers” of college journalism. Among them were senior John LaBarbera who took first place in radio multimedia reporting. NewsWatch supervising producer Melanie Alvarez won a Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Award for a short-form, faculty documentary.
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Energizing employees energizes business Dan Puente, president of D.P. Electric, Inc.
Dan Puente is definitely a people
person. It’s in his nature to encourage those around him to realize their personal potential. It’s partly what impelled him to take a close look at his own life a couple of decades ago and realize he could run his own business. Now D.P. Electric is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The company motto is “Dependable People, Dependable Performance.” Puente believes that if a job is done well, and clients and employees are treated with respect, the money will come.
Elevator pitch: D.P. Electric, Inc. was founded in 1990 on the belief that a good electrical contracting company should be honest and dependable. Since then, we’ve grown from four electricians in a garage to a multimillion-dollar electrical contracting firm. We have a loyal following, with over 80 percent of our work coming from repeat business.
Résumé highlights: 2000 SBA Minority Small Business Person of the Year; 2009 Gary L. Trujillo Minority Enterprise Award from the Spirit of Enterprise Center of the W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University; Arizona Builder’s Alliance Trustee Board of Directors; ACE Mentoring Board of Directors; Associated Minority Contractors of America
What makes your business unique? Our people. We have the
brightest and most talented people in the industry. Because of them we are capable of completing the most difficult projects.
What prompted you to start your own business? As I worked for other electrical contractors, I noticed that many undervalued their people and often had a lack of unity. I knew the electrical trade and figured that if I treated people the way I wanted to be treated, we could be successful. So, with my wife Maggie’s support, we started D.P. Electric.
Book that has inspired you the most: For business, Good to Great by Jim Collins; personally, The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle.
Historical figure you would like to meet: Abraham Lincoln. Best advice you have received: Follow your gut. Favorite aspect of owning a small business: The ability to have a positive impact on others.
Most challenging aspect of being a business owner: Making the tough decisions that it takes to run a successful business.
Plans for the future/next step: I am very involved with mentoring
small minority businesses and giving back to the community. Someday I would like to start a nonprofit that gives back to the community in some way.
Advice to others wanting to open their own business: Be willing to work very hard, think only of success and be patient. In the end it will all be worth it.
Website: www.dpelectric.com LPM’s Entrepreneur profile is sponsored by
Suggest an entrepreneur
Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.
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The path to a patent Attention: inventors By Sam Naser
There’s no doubt that we live in an extraordi-
narily inventive age. In 2009 alone, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registered over 485,500 patent applications. But these patents weren’t all the product of corporate R&D labs; they came from the scribbled cocktail napkins of our nation’s amateur inventors, too. Indeed, from timesaving gadgets and gizmos to technological advances, it seems everybody’s racing for the next big thing. After all, with the economy the way it is, it’s no wonder innovation – the lifeblood of entrepreneurship – is high on everyone’s mind. But if that serendipitous “eureka!” moment strikes, what should you do with your milliondollar idea? If you’ve determined you have an invention that is useful and valuable, the answer may well be the painful and often, but not always, justifiable process of obtaining a patent.
What is a patent, and when should you get one? In essence, a patent is a government-granted, preclusive right to prohibit others from making use of the inventor’s idea. That is, it’s a “negative” right much in the same way the right of property ownership entails the “negative” right to exclude uninvited guests from trespassing. While a bundle of rights are conferred with obtainment of a patent, the defining feature is the exclusive monopoly it temporarily grants. “Governments generally don’t like monopolies,” says Robert Parsons, a patent lawyer with Parsons and Goltry in Phoenix, a firm that specializes in intellectual property law. “However, in exchange, you agree to disseminate the information. The patent application is the teaching of your invention, and in return for
publicly disclosing it, you’re rewarded with a limited monopoly for a limited time.” Theoretically, this trade-off encourages investors to reveal their good ideas to the public rather than keep them as trade secrets. In return, they are granted monopolistic rights for a limited period. However, the invention will have then entered the public domain, and once the patent expires, the public can make use of it. Under current U.S. law, the term of a patent is 20 years from the earliest claimed filing date. But be warned before you rush to file your patent, advises Parsons. “You’ve got to keep it a secret until you actually file a U.S. patent,” says Parsons. “You have 12 months to file a U.S. patent application from [the date of] public disclosure or offering your invention for sale. If you publicly disclose before you file for a U.S. patent, you lose most of your foreign [patent] rights immediately.” In the United States, patents are categorized into three types: design, plant, and utility, each with their respective application forms. Design patents protect against the copying of ornamental features of a useful invention. Plant patents preclude others from asexually reproducing a distinct, new variety of a plant. Utility patents protect against competitors infringing on a useful invention covered in the patent’s claims. Utility patents can be either provisional or nonprovisional, of which the former expires after one year. Provisional utility patents are examined against formal requirements, but aren’t substantively assessed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office the same way nonprovisional patents are. However, a provisional patent doesn’t grant the same “preclusive” rights as a regular patent, unless the applicant follows up with a nonprovisional utility patent application. www.latinopm.com
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How does an idea become a patent? The patent process begins with none other than the patent application, submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Washington, D.C. It is composed of four basic parts. The first page of any patent application is the cover page, which as you might imagine, is a brief synopsis of what the patent is all about. It consists of a variety of categories of information that most people ignore, but which are actually extremely useful for the patent examiner and for future patent database searchers. The type of information in the cover page includes the patent’s name, the inventor’s name, the filing date, a single paragraph summarizing the patent, an illustration representing the patent, and a variety of other information that will aid the USPTO in organizing the millions of patent applications in their database. The page(s) immediately following the cover page are the Figures, which the majority of patent applications tend to include. These drawings provide the reader with illustrations of the invention and visually demonstrate the methods depicted in the written description. Most importantly, they tie in with and allow the reader to follow along easier with the next part of the application, the Specification. The Specification is perhaps the most accessible part of the entire application for the layperson. This is the area where you describe the idea for which you are seeking a patent. It has a number of subsections for you to indicate the technical field your patent falls within, a background and summary of your idea, as well as a brief description of your drawings. The most important section of the Specification, however, is the detailed description of the “preferred embodiment” of your invention, or the particular incarnation of your invention that most reflects the patentable characteristics of your idea. This is an extended description of exactly how your invention works, incorporating the figures. This part will frequently include previous versions of your invention during the process of development. Including these may be helpful in expanding the scope of the 40
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patent, so others can’t evade infringement by making trivial changes to your methods. Everything in the application up to this point has been an explanation or description of your invention. The concluding and final section, however, is also the most important. It is what’s known as your patent’s claims. The claims are the technical whitepaper that will set out the scope of what would constitute an infringement of your patent. This scope of protection must be clearly defined, for in the end, the claims are what will make or break you in court when it comes to determining whether an infringement of your patent has occurred. Essentially, your claims define the rights associated with the covered invention. Yet, they’re by far the most difficult for someone not trained with patent legalese to understand. Why? Because they’re written in an arcane legal jargon that’s akin to computer programming language in that, they’re both incredibly difficult to penetrate for a nonspecialist. “Claims define what your rights are in a very esoteric way. Even your attorneys don’t know what to do with it,” jokes Parsons. Once a patent application is filed, it is examined by the USPTO against formal and substantive requirements. This is known as the patent examination procedure, in which a patent examiner assesses the claims made in the patent application for syntactical errors and to check whether the claims describe something that was already known before, or that is a mere reconfiguration of “prior art.” Prior art is a legal term that refers to all of the information made available to the public on an idea for an invention that might affect a patent’s claims of originality. If an invention has been previously described in prior art, with few exceptions, it’s usually unpatentable. The role of prior art serves the interests of the inventor as well, who clearly doesn’t want another competitor to file a patent trivially derived from his or her own idea. However, the patent examiner must act on behalf of the public interest by limiting the scope of the monopoly as much as possible in return for the public disclosure of an invention.
briefcase If the examiner determines the invention is not new or nonobvious in light of prior art, the patent will be rejected. More often than not, the patent is initially rejected. The examiner may present the applicant with other patents, applications, or texts that substantiate his claim that the idea was already known by the public when the application was filed. In response, the inventor can argue why the examiner misunderstood the relevant prior art, his patent application’s claims, or may revise his claims so that they no longer violate the presented prior art. If the examiner is convinced by the applicant’s explanation, or concludes that the revised claims are novel, he may grant the patent. Alternatively, the examiner can present further prior art demonstrating what he thinks the inventor’s initial claims really meant, or pay no heed to the applicant’s argument or revisions at all and decide the rejection is final. If the rejection is made final, the inventor still has a few options. He can appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences or start all over, which would entail the repayment of fees. If the inventor decides to appeal, the process can travel a number of roads after that. Ultimately, either some of the applicant’s claims are eventually granted or he or she abandons ship. As you can see, this patent application process can be painful and takes a number of years to run its course. “First, obtaining a patent can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Estimated costs can range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the
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invention,” says Michael Campillo, a Phoenix-based patent attorney with Venable, Campillo, Logan and Meaney PC. “So, each person or business should consider if they want to budget for the estimated cost. “Second, and more importantly, each person or business should first determine how they would commercialize their invention. Many inventors do not have a plan to commercialize the invention, and as a result, never profit from their investment.” One thing prospective applicants can do before filing for a patent, although it’s not required, is conduct a patentability search. At www.uspto.gov, any person can search the USPTO databases for patents that have already been filed or granted. The search can be helpful and save the time and expense of preparing a patent application for something that’s already out there. If you’re serious about your invention, Campillo recommends parsing the fine text regarding the patent process and associated fees at the USPTO website (www.uspto.gov/patents/process/index. jsp). After that, if you’re still committed but have more questions about the process as it pertains to your situation, consult a patent lawyer. But before you do, Campillo advises taking the time to create a detailed description of your invention beforehand or even creating a prototype. “I find that both a detailed description and a prototype help the inventor to more fully understand the invention,” says Campillo. “It also facilitates communication between the inventor and [his or her] lawyer.”
colonial
Invent Expo in Phoenix
November 12-14, 2010 • University of Phoenix Stadium www.inventionconvention2011.com The national 2011 Invent Expo will kick off in Phoenix this fall. This six-city event will showcase over 1,100 booths of new inventions and technologies. It’s an opportunity for independent inventors to network with investment bankers, merchandisers and manufacturers. Organizers anticipate 70,000 attendants to register for this event. Get more details at the website above. www.latinopm.com
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A labor of love Doulas tend to the mother By Erica Cardenas
A mother’s love is sin limites – passionate,
enduring and unconditional – rooted deep in the core of her identity and being. Perhaps her love can be compared to a colorful tapestry of joy, sacrifice, pain and inspiration, woven together effortlessly and without hesitation. From the beginning, mothers have been, and continue to be, connected by this visceral masterpiece of motherhood. Those who’ve experienced the miracle of giving birth can surely attest to the fact that it’s no small feat. It’s a process that embodies purpose and determination, with a common vision for all those involved – perhaps even a doula. Although there is no direct Spanish translation of doula, a Greek term, it is universal in its meaning: “woman caregiver” or “mothering the mother.” A doula is a trained and experienced labor companion who provides continuous (nonmedical) physical, emotional and educational support to the mother, whether she is expecting a child, in labor or has recently given birth. A doula is there to offer suggestions and promote techniques to enhance labor progress while relieving pain and coaching the mother in relaxation, breathing, positioning and other physical comfort measures. In fact, according to numerous clinical studies, a doula’s presence at birth tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications; reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience, and reduces the need for labor-inducing drugs, forceps and cesareans, among other things. Anthropologist Dana Raphael first used the term “doula” in her 1973 book, Tender Gift: Breastfeeding, in reference to experienced mothers who assisted new mothers in newborn care and breastfeeding. Raphael is actually credited with initiating the role of the modern doula. Medical researchers Marshall Klaus and John Kennell were the first to conduct clinical trials on the health outcomes of doula-attended births, and adopted the
term to refer to prenatal, labor and postpartum support. So, one may ask, what’s the difference between a midwife and a doula? It boils down to medical care versus nonmedical care. A midwife provides prenatal care, delivery of the baby, care of the mother post-partum, and newborn care. Some types of midwives also provide family planning, annual exams, and other kinds of well-woman gynecology. In Arizona, two types of midwives may legally assist a woman with childbirth: a certified nurse midwife or a licensed midwife. Certified doulas do not provide any type of medical care. For example, a doula would not diagnose the baby’s www.latinopm.com
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It is their role as emotional and physical support to laboring mothers that attracts them (and even nervous fathers) to hire doulas. heartbeat, do a vaginal exam or deliver the baby. It is their role as emotional and physical support to laboring mothers that attracts them (and even nervous fathers) to hire doulas.
A task of self-reflection The work of a doula is enticing to many women, and like any career choice, much needs to be considered and researched to determine if it’s the right fit for you. The average annual salary a doula earns can range anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on the market and how many clients she chooses to work with per month. Keep in mind doulas work odd and late hours, and make physical, mental and emotional commitments that go along with the job. To become a doula requires training, and possibly certification, which isn’t a requirement in the U.S. However, benefits of certification include having a national organization back you and your standardized training. Doulas of North America (DONA) offers training and certification through its international certification program. DONA has over 120 instructors, and with over 7,000 birth and postpartum doula members and growing, it’s the largest doula association in the world. The Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE), International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), Lamaze International, and Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) all have training and certification programs as well. Here’s a glimpse at some of the requirements for DONA’s program to become a certified doula: 44
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• Attend a DONA-approved birth doula workshop (16+ hours in length) • Read DONA’s Birth Doula Position Paper in addition to five books from their required reading list • Purchase a birth doula certification packet (ranging from $35 to $60) • Provide doula service to a minimum of three clients, based on a series of criteria per DONA • Provide two references and a written essay on the purpose of labor support DONA’s certification is good for three years, after which you will need to recertify. Being a member of most doula organizations, even if not certified, will get your name on their referral listings, which ultimately assists you in finding clients.
Enhancing the experience Amanda Jamarillo, local certified doula and mother of one (with another on the way), explains that being a doula is an honor and something she loves doing. “Providing support and helping a woman feel safe while she births her baby or nurtures her child at home is the goal of my doula work,” says Jamarillo. “I had a doula [with me] when my son was born. I knew I wanted a natural birth and someone there to support me during my labor in addition to my husband,” she adds. Certified through Heaven Sent Doula Services, Jamarillo went through a series of doula training classes and had to attend five births to earn her certification. In fact, Jamarillo’s passion for mothers and babies inspired 27-year-old Natalie Licea to hire Jamarillo as her doula for her 6-month-old son’s birth. “I had a traumatic experience with my first child and ended up having a cesarean.
I knew my second time around I wanted to have a vaginal birth and a completely different type of birth experience,” says Licea. “Having a doula made all the difference in the world to me, and this time when I went into labor, we had a plan. I had a natural birth and my labor was four hours from start to finish.” And mothers aren’t the only ones who are appreciative of their services. Local high-risk labor and delivery nurse Regina Esparza has observed an increasing trend in doulas present during birth. “Every woman, no matter her age or background, will forever remember her birth experience. Having a doula during
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delivery definitely enhances the mother’s experience, and gives the mother individualized care such as massage and other forms of support,” says Esparza. The 29-year-old nurse believes more women are learning about doulas. She’s also noticed that a woman who has a doula with her seems to be a lot more confident going through labor and postpartum. Whether it’s a birth doula, whose role is to be alongside the mother as part of her team during labor and birth, or a postpartum doula to assist the mother in transitioning into parenthood, she is there to support the family … con amor.
Doula deliberation So you’re considering the possibility of hiring a doula, but searching for the right one seems a bit overwhelming? Here are some suggested questions from DONA to ask your prospective doula in the consideration and hiring process:
• What training have you had? • What is your philosophy about birth and supporting women and their partners through labor? • Do you have one or more backup doulas for times when you are not available? Can we meet them? • When do you try to join women in labor? Do you come to our home or meet us at the place of birth?
• Is she kind, warm and enthusiastic? Don’t forget to check your doula’s credentials • Is she knowledgeable? and references. And ask yourself a few questions:
• Does she communicate well? Is she a good listener? • Is she comfortable with your choices or does she seem to have her own agenda? • Do you feel at ease with her?
Listen to your gut when choosing your doula. It’s an important decision for you, your family and your new little one.
A few helpful resources: Arizona Doulas – www.southwestdoulas.com DONA – www.dona.org CAPPA – www.cappa.net Birth Works – www.birthworks.org
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Incredible stories of courage, hope, and determination unfolded before an enthusiastic crowd in Phoenix Art Museum’s Great Hall during the Arizona Latina Trailblazers event on April 28 hosted by Latino Perspectives Magazine. The gathering was dedicated to seven spirited Latinas who have helped lead the way in our state, etching their stories into Arizona’s history to serve as examples for countless generations to come. Maria-Elena Ochoa, director of the Division for Women Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families, welcomed guests to the family-friendly event. Ochoa also serves as a board member for the Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, a new partner in the Trailblazers project. The event served as the frame for the presentation of the book, Arizona Latina Trailblazers: Stories of Courage, Hope and Determination, Vol. II, copublished by Latino Perspectives Magazine and the Raul H. Castro Institute (RCI). Written by Dr. Christine Marín, the book includes the biographies of Barbara Rodriguez Mundell, Anna Marie Ochoa O’Leary, Dora Ocampo Quesada and Alicia Ocampo Quesada, Carmela Ramírez, Plácida García Smith, and Julia Cuesta Soto Zozaya. A companion DVD showcases key aspects of the lives of the trailblazers as shared by family members, colleagues, and, in some instances, the women themselves. The stories elicited laughter, tears, and rousing applause from the audience. Tony Moya, manager of Latino Relations for SRP, title sponsor of the event, congratulated the honorees for their role in “blazing the trail for all future leaders.”
Maria Enciso, director of the RCI, spoke about the institute’s focus on educating and strengthening partners that serve the Latino community. Guests also had the honor of hearing from three of the Trailblazers. “I stand here on the shoulders of many … this honor is my tribute to them,” said Dr. Anna Marie Ochoa O’Leary, an assistant professor of practice at University of Arizona. The Honorable Barbara Rodriguez Mundell credited her “forefathers and foremothers for showing courage, strength, and vision,” setting an example that served her well on her path to become presiding judge of the Superior Court in Maricopa County. Producer, vocalist, and arts advocate Carmela Ramírez expressed that she was humbled and honored, and encouraged those gathered to “make a difference, have a voice, speak up.” Dr. Christine Marín presented remarks on behalf of Alicia Ocampo Quesada, who was unable to attend the event. Arizona Latina Trailblazers: Stories of Courage, Hope and Determination, Vol. II will become part of the Latino Perspectives Magazine-RCI collection in the Arizona Memory Project, a series of online Arizona history resources housed on the state library’s webpage. Copies of the book and the DVD will be donated to to all public libraries throughout the state. “The materials are there for posterity, for us to share with our children for generations to come,” said Ricardo Torres, CEO and publisher of Latino Perspectives Magazine. The event provided a fitting tribute to seven pioneering Latinas who have left their indelible mark in our communities, and a moving look at Arizona’s history as shaped by the women whose courageous actions helped push our state into the 21st century. Latino Perspectives Magazine’s partnership with the RCI has resulted in projects that preserve the rich history of the Latino community in Arizona, such as that of American Legion Tony F. Soza/Ray Martinez Post 41, and its Women’s Auxiliary.
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*
Tony Moya, manager of Latino Relations for SRP
Carmela Ramírez, center, and friends Anna Marie Ochoa O’Leary
Steve Zozaya
Carmela Ramírez, Stephanie Lopez, Barbara Mundell, Steve Zozaya, Sharon Sullivan
Carmela Ramírez
Terri Cruz, Christine Marín
Eric Byler, Lydia Aranda
Leticia De la Vara, Pilar Amezaga, Elisa De la Vara
Samantha Mundell, Barbara Mundell, Bill Mundell
Title Sponsor
Anna Marie Ochoa O’Leary, center, and family
Sponsored by
Community Partners
Raul H. Castro Institute P U B L I C P O L I C Y | E D U C AT I O N | L E A D E R S H I P The Raul H. Castro Institute is a collaborative effort of
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El bombero inspired by family Fernando Duenas Valenzuela
Deputy Chief of Training and Special Operations, Mesa Fire Department Years of service: 30 years total. Three years as firefighter; 17 years as firefighter and paramedic; six years as captain; one year as battalion chief, and three years as deputy chief.
Professional honors/personal triumphs: Founder and president of the East Valley Hispanic Bomberos.
Duties: Oversee Fire and Special Operations training for the Mesa Fire Department.
Who or what inspired you to pursue this career? My uncle Joe Arriaga. He was a fire chief for the Mesa Fire Department when I was growing up.
Inherent dangers you face: When I wake up in
Photo courtesy of mesa fire department
the morning and report to shift, I never know what type of call I will face that day. When I was first hired in the ‘80s, all we had to worry about was going to house fires and accidents. Now when we go out on a call, it could be chemical, biological, radiological, or explosive. Firefighters now have to be trained to handle any type of call, no matter what they might encounter.
Proudest moment: The birth of my two sons, Michael and Nickolas.
Who are your heroes? My parents, José and Esther Valenzuela. They worked hard every day and sacrificed their time to make sure we had whatever we needed when I was growing up.
What do you like most about your work? I love going on calls and helping people. I also enjoy working with all the great men and women of the Mesa Fire Department. They are all like my family.
What do you do to “come down” from your job? I love working in my garden at home – I guess I got that from my grandmother. I also like spending time in the mountains.
Next professional goal: I would like to spend more
Advice to others considering serving their country: My advice to other Latinos and Latinas is to stay
time helping the working poor.
in school and get a good education.
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Ageless curiosity Pursue that passion and take a class this summer By Rosa Cays
I’m learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma. —Eartha Kitt If you haven’t heard it or read it before, you’re
reading it now: It’s never too late to learn. “Ay, I’ve learned everything I need to know!” my tío used to grumble, when I’d tease him about learning to salsa or disco dance. Sure, he could shuffle to the slower cumbias, take my tía out for a little spin. But I could tell by the twinkle in his eye, as he watched los jóvenes on the dance floor, that he wanted to dance like them – with a little more hip, shall we say. Learning isn’t just for los jóvenes. It’s not merely about sitting in a classroom at a desk and taking notes. It’s not even solely about a formal education or getting that bachelor’s degree at last – although it could be. It’s about personal growth, satisfying curiosity, pursuing a passion. It’s finally taking action and signing up for that photography class. Or maybe it’s about learning for the joy of learning. The pursuit of newfound knowledge is ageless. Philanthropist Bernard Osher believes this so strongly, he established the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) in 2001, which is now affiliated with over 120 universities nationwide, including ASU, U of A and Yavapai College in Prescott. OLLI provides short courses, lectures and workshops for adults over 50, not only to expand their knowledge and keep those brain synapses lively, but also to present an opportunity for mature adults to meet new friends with similar interests. Although OLLI courses are not offered in the summer at ASU, they are in the fall and spring semesters. And if you’re still dreaming about completing that degree – again, it’s never too late. Most of Arizona’s community colleges and some universities offer continuing education or lifelong learning courses for those who somehow took a different path but still have a strong desire to get that diploma. Here’s one place to start: Maricopa County Community Colleges at www.maricopa.edu.
Because “curiosity never retires,” as the OLLI at U of A tagline so aptly states, we’ve gathered information about a few intriguing summer classes for young adults and the young at heart, offered by a variety of institutions, from universities to municipal recreation centers. Learning can be fun, you know.
Herb Garden Design This workshop from the Desert Botanical Garden provides an overview of many herbs that perform well in our desert region. Basic herb care, as well as culinary, crafting, aromatherapy, medicinal and other www.latinopm.com
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uses are among the topics covered. Kirti Mathura, DBG curator, will discuss how to create an herb garden and how to incorporate herbs into existing landscapes. There will be time to begin drafting a design for your garden. Limit 12. Age: 18+ Location: Desert Botanical Garden Dates: June 15, 17, 19, Tuesday and Thursday 6 to 9 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to noon Fee: DBG members: $75; general public: $90 More info: 480-941-1225 or www.dbg.org
Intro to Drawing This class offered by the Herberger Institute Community School is one of many offered this summer. Aspiring artists learn to draw from observation through the study of a variety of natural objects and still-life arrangements using black-and-white media. Development of visual problem-solving skills is emphasized through exercises in perspective, tonal value, composition and spatial arrangement. This class is for beginning to intermediate students. Age: 15+ Location: ASU, Tempe campus, Community Services Building, Room 274 Dates: June 10-July 22, Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Fee: $150 More info: 480-727-0700 or http://communityschool.asu.edu
All About the Monsoon This four-week study group offered by the U of A Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) presents an investigation of the term monsoon, looking at it from a “macro to a micro” perspective, or from a global to Southwest perspective. Each session will be complete in itself, although 52
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participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions to gain a full understanding of the monsoon. Participants should bring a three-ring binder for materials handed out at each session. Presenter Charles McClellan is a member of the American Meteorological Society and is currently active as a consultant to a professional meteorological firm. He is an official weather spotter for the NWS in Tucson. Age: 50+ Location: Casa de Esperanza, 780 S. Park Centre Ave., Green Valley, AZ 85614 Dates: June 3–24, Thursdays, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Fee: $50 More info: www.olli.arizona.edu or ollimail@email.arizona.edu
Discover Historic Q Ranch: Archaeology, History and Nature Weekend This educational getaway with the Desert Botanical Garden is an exclusive weekend at Historic Q Ranch in the cool pine forests near Young, Arizona. Founded as a cattle ranch in 1893, Q Ranch is a rich source of historical events and represents one of the largest and most important Mogollon/Western Puebloan Indian culture sites in north central Arizona. Archaeological studies and projects continue to be conducted at this site. Besides beautiful scenery, the weekend features tours of the pueblos led by an archaeologist; geology presentations, guided historical walks, nature walks, and bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations. Space is limited. Age: 18+ Location: Historic Q Ranch, Young, Arizona Dates: June 18-20, Friday-Sunday. Arrive after 2 p.m. on Friday; checkout noon Sunday Fee: $400 per person (double occupancy) or $500 single. All-inclusive prices for this extended weekend include two nights lodging at Q Ranch Lodge,
delicious home-cooked meals, beverages and snacks, and activities. Space is limited to 10 guests, and reservations are first-come, first-served. More info: 480-941-1225 or www.dbg.org
Digital Photography: Capturing & Editing Another learning opportunity from the Herberger Institute Community School. For photographers of all skill levels, this six-week class will provide unique photographic experiences both in and outside of the classroom in a small group setting. The knowledgeable instructor will teach you techniques in the field to enrich your photography skills, including camera knowledge, exposure, framing, composition, basic digital editing, and preparing images for online use. Class will sometimes meet off campus for onsite photo shoots. Students responsible for their own transportation and digital camera; SLRs (single-lens reflex) preferred. Age: 15+ Location: ASU campus and on site for photo shoots Dates: June 12-July 24, Saturdays, 9 to 11 a.m. Fee: $150 More info: 480-727-0700 or http://communityschool.asu.edu
Comedy Improv Do you have a secret desire to do improv? Learn it at this three-week course offered by Pima Community College in Tucson. Former Saturday Night Live cast member Anna Risley gives you the keys to improv: formats, dialects and structure. What a great way to spend warm summer evenings: laughing, learning, and tapping into your inner cómico/a.
Risley has been a professional actor for 30+ years, and is a member of S.A.G., A.F.T.R.A. and Equity. Location: The Studio for Actors, 310 E. 6th Street, Tucson, AZ 85705 Dates: May 26-June 9; June 16-June 30; July 7-July 21; July 28-August 11, Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fee: $120 More info: 520-206-6579 or www.pima.edu/continuinged
Play with Clay! Portrait and Bas Relief This class from the Scottsdale Artists’ School is for novices and dabblers. Little or no experience is necessary; all you need is a desire to work with clay in a figurative format. The goal is to attain a likeness of the subject in clay. Working from a model, concentration will be on fundamentals: proportion, the features, simple construction, and expressive composition of sculpture. This class is designed to be a no-stress experience, so come prepared to learn new things, and enjoy yourself! Instructor is Susan Henningsen, whose sculpture of United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was installed in 2002 at the Sandra Day O’Connor United States Court House in Phoenix. Age: 18+ Location: Scottsdale Artists’ School, 3720 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale Dates: June 9-30, Wednesdays, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fee: $180.00 plus $35.00 model fee More info: 480-990-1422 or www.scottsdaleartschool.org
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. – Benjamin Franklin www.latinopm.com
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Think outside the mailbox. LPM, sent to your Inbox. For six years, LPM has been the only Arizona magazine focused on the local Latino community. Sign up for the free digital edition: www.latinopm.com/digital
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?
Ask the doctor... John Mehlem, DMD
Dental Consultant for Delta Dental of Arizona 5656 W. Talavi Blvd. Glendale, AZ 85383 www.deltadentalaz.com
Q: What is a crown and why would I need one? A: Crowns are used to restore teeth to their original size,
shape, and function when they have been badly damaged by decay or have broken. A crown covers the entire tooth like a “cap”, as opposed to a restoration (or filling) that fills a void or hole. There are many types of crowns, depending on one’s needs—strength vs. cosmetics. On molars (back teeth), strength is often most important to support a large filling when little tooth structure remains or part of the tooth has broken off; a gold alloy or gold/porcelain crown is used. Crowns are often used to prevent cracked teeth from future breakage. On front teeth, cosmetics are key and less strength is needed. Porcelain crowns are available to cover badly shaped or discolored teeth or to align and straighten crooked teeth, when braces are not an option.
The suggestions and opinions of the advertisers on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of Latino Perspectives Magazine
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Living by the food pyramid Nutrition has its place, but so does portion size and exercise By Rosa Cays
As I ruminate on this story, I am snacking on
chicken lo mein (extra spicy) and a fistful of fried pork dumplings. How, exactly, would this Chinese takeout be classified on the latest food pyramid published by the USDA? I can’t help but notice the brillo on the noodles and wonder how much fat I’m consuming in this one meal. Would I have been better off eating a turkey sandwich instead? Voilá. At www.myfoodapedia.gov, I can get answers to my dietetic questions within a few mouse clicks. Not only can I find out how many calories I’m ingesting, the app also breaks my leftovers down by food group. I can even compare the nutritional value of the chicken lo mein and dumplings to the (healthier) turkey sandwich. It’s a very handy application. OK, it may not be exact science, but it’s at least in the caloric ballpark. A little math is involved, but if you at least know the main ingredient and serving size, you can get a general idea of calorie intake. Foodapedia is just one of several interactive gadgets at www.mypyramid.gov, which provides nutritional information released in 2005 by the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). MyPyramid is the latest incarnation of nutrition education from the USDA, only this version emphasizes activity and moderation, and has a more personalized approach. A newer, updated version of the food pyramid is due out this year. The food pyramid dates back to 1992. Before that, it was the Basic Four: meats, milk, grains, and fruits and vegetables. The Basic Four was actually a pared-down version of the “basic seven” introduced by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1943. Later, in the 1970s, a fifth group was added to cover fats, sugars and alcohol. Oye, that gives me pause … Fats, sugars and alcohol as a food group? This must have given many experts pause, too. The establishment
of the USDA CNPP in 1994 was the government taking a harder look at the nation’s eating habits, when obesity, diabetes and other dietary diseases were on the rise. According to the International Journal of Obesity, recent studies by the University of Michigan Health System reveal that younger generations are becoming obese earlier in life than their parents and grandparents. Obesity is a well-known contributor to type 2 diabetes (prevalent among Latinos), cardiovascular disease, disability and premature death. It’s no wonder First Lady Michelle Obama is on the health bandwagon with the Let’s Move initiative launched this past February, another interactive campaign to get children on the right track when it comes to eating healthy food and living healthy lifestyles. www.latinopm.com
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Maya Nahra, a registered dietician and the health and wellness educator for Sunflower Farmers Markets, feels obesity is a problem today because of two things: the food industry and personal choice. As a society, “we want more bang for our buck,” she says. “We have mass production and preservatives in our food so we get our money’s worth by making it last as long as possible. It’s not nutritionally valuable like the food our ancestors ate.” Today’s food pyramid seems to take this sad truth about our current food supply into account. Each of the food groups is broken down further than ever before, by listing what’s in each group, separating the good from the better, the health benefits and nutrients, and tips on how to include food from each group into your daily diet. This – and scads of other valuable information – is all at your fingertips at the CNPP website.
The pyramid polemic The mid ‘90s was also a time when conflicting information about nutrition was being disseminated; it was hard to trust anything that wasn’t backed by solid research. The CNPP, whose mission is “to improve the health and wellbeing of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers,” has effectively dealt with this problem by providing evidence-based information on nutrition.
Pre-2005 USDA Food Pyramid
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Harvard’s Healthy Eating Pyramid © 2008
Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health, and others, had reason to believe the USDA food guide was not really in the best interest of the American public. When the food pyramid first came out, Harvard scientists couldn’t understand why the USDA was behind the food pyramid: why not Health and Human Services? The “generous” portion sizes of dairy and meat in the nutrition guidelines raised suspicions of influential lobbyists from, well, the dairy and meat industries. Concern was also expressed about the USDA model for not separating whole grain from wheat grain, or saturated and unsaturated fat, and leaving exercise and weight control as subtopics. It was still too basic; it seemed special interests had their fingers in the pastel. Now the nutrition guidelines are revised and updated every five years by advisory committees from the USDA and Health and Human Services. Stephanie Sanchez, a registered dietician and manager of dietary services at John C. Lincoln Hospital in Deer Valley, uses the various MyPyramid tools and guidelines, but, she also customizes her recommendations “dependent upon a patient’s individual needs, who may need diabetes-specific or cardiac-specific nutritional information,” says Sanchez. She also refers to nutrition guidelines from the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, the National Cancer Institute and others to best advise her patients. Nahra says the newest food pyramid is much easier to customize to personal
needs and is not so focused on number of servings. “And it’s much more interactive,” she says. Nahra has vested interest in nutrition. She used to weigh over 200 lbs. and lost it all the wrong way the first time, ending up in poorer health. She decided to educate herself and enrolled at St. Louis University to study the science of nutrition. She regained her health and now shares her passion and knowledge with others. “‘Mindful eating’ is the buzz phrase,” Nahra declares. Both Nahra and Sanchez work with members of the Latino community, although Sanchez has more intimate dealings with patients at the hospital. She’s very familiar with the traditional Latino fare of high fiber from beans, fruits and vegetables, but says what’s lacking in this diet is whole grain starches. “If Latinos aim to select whole-grain rice and breads, they would be following the guidelines more closely,” says Sanchez. Nahra agrees. She’s noticed Latinos purchase traditional foods at Sunflower, but they’re mixing in healthy choices. Her advice aligns with Sanchez’s. “Include whole grains where possible, in tortillas for instance, and use fresh ingredients more often,” says Nahra.
2005 USDA MyPyramid
Parts of the pyramid Let’s break it down. The “pre-2005” food pyramid was illustrated with whole grains making up the base of the pyramid, fruits and vegetables in the middle, and dairy and meats near the top, with the number of servings listed
to each side of the pyramid. The very tip top of the pyramid was oils, fats and sweets, to be used “sparingly.” With MyPyramid, less emphasis is placed on the actual food and more on physical movement, hence the pyramid climber. The wedges of color symbolize the six food groups: Orange represents grains, green is vegetables, red is fruit, blue is milk and other calcium-rich foods, and the thinner purple wedge is meats, beans and other proteins. The sliver of yellow stands for oils and other fat sources, like butter, olives and nuts. Although Nahra prefers Harvard’s own Healthy Eating Pyramid, she can’t recommend one over the other since everyone’s needs are so different. But she does believe a “foundation of fruits and veggies is always the best approach.” She also feels it’s important to balance calories, carbs and fat intake, but it depends on your goal. If you’re aiming to lose weight, pay attention to calories and carbs; if heart disease is a concern, watch your sodium. Diabetics need more fiber; it slows down sugar absorption. “Proper portioning and eating real food is more important,” she says, than worrying about the breakdown. The reality is food costs have increased, so healthy eating is a little more expensive, although worth it in the long run. Consumers have the ultimate choice in what they eat; they “vote” with their dollar, after all, so buying healthier, less-preserved options can eventually help drive the price down as demand goes up. Sanchez says despite the price of quality food, “it’s important to choose to be as healthy as you can” by making good nutrition choices as often as you can. One thing you can do to make good food choices is to pay attention to the ingredients in what you’re buying. “If you can’t pronounce half of [the ingredients], your body probably won’t know what to do with them,” says Nahra, without mincing words. “And if it didn’t grow in the ground or have a mother, don’t eat it.” www.latinopm.com
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Penny wise, pound wiser Fitness for free – or almost free By Rosa Cays
We’re five months into 2010 and it’s
almost swimsuit weather. Are you ready? Have you stuck to that resolution and joined a gym or hired a personal trainer in hopes of getting fit, losing weight, being healthy? Can you see your svelte self in that bikini (or Speedos)? If you’ve stuck to your guns and you’re ready to don summer attire, congratulations. If not, perhaps resoluteness is not one of your strongest traits. Somehow, something, someone has thrown you off that workout track, even though you’ve been paying an astronomical monthly fee for that gym or exercise guru you haven’t even seen in a while. The truth is fitness can be had at no cost, except for what you invest in a pair of good athletic shoes. All you have to do is look around you, get a little creative, and get motivated. Call it frugal fitness. 62
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Be your own personal trainer Make an appointment – with yourself – at least three to five times a week. Pay yourself if you need that monetary pact (talk about frugal), or work out with a friend if that will keep you on track. The key is to keep to a schedule and incorporate exercise into your lifestyle, right? You’ve heard it before.
Web workouts Don’t want to work out in public but have no clue how to do the exercises to rid the junk in the trunk? Or maybe you just need a refresher on a particular move since you haven’t had much contact with that personal trainer lately. You can find tons of exercises demonstrated, for free, on YouTube or www.exercisetv.tv. More and more websites offer a fitness
program suited to your needs, at no cost or very little cost. Google “online exercise programs” and you’ll get a very long list of websites to choose from.
Hiking – bonito y barato The Valley of the Sun is veritable playground of hikes and beautiful desert vistas to boot. Hiking trails are maintained for abilities of all levels, from path pedestrians to tough trekkers, at Piestewa Peak, Camelback Mountain, Pinnacle Peak, the Superstitions, Papago Buttes, South Mountain and others. The city of Phoenix website (http:// phoenix.gov/parks/hikemain.html) has pages devoted to trails and desert preserves, maps, trail guides, and suggested hikes for those who want to avoid steep climbs or boulder jumping. And guess what? Hiking trails are at your disposal – for free, 365 days a year, and just minutes away. To get an idea of how much hiking you’d have to do to actually lose weight, you can go to www.healthstatus.com and find out, gratis. Click on the Calories Burned Estimator; enter your weight, the duration of the hike, and it will estimate how many calories you can burn. For instance, if you weigh 150 lbs. and hike for 30 minutes, you can potentially burn about 200 calories. The Echo Canyon Trail of Camelback Mountain can take 70 to 90 minutes to comfortably hike (2.5 miles), so at 150 libras, you can burn roughly 500 calories.
The barrio burn Everyone has their opinion about how much you should exercise every day. We can all agree that any little bit helps, even if it’s minutes a day. If you don’t have the daily luxury of time and money to go to a
gym, you have plenty of opportunities to move your body and burn calories in the simplest ways, right at home or in your neighborhood. You don’t even have to get in the car. • Go for a morning walk, jog or run in the neighborhood or at the park. • Take advantage of the nearby high school or a parking garage stairwell and do stadium steps – an awesome cardio and legs workout. Take music with you and get into a rhythm. • Do you have a pool? Swim in it, don’t just float in it! OK, so they’re not Olympic laps, but they’re laps. Or get a couple of water jugs and do a water-aerobics routine. • Organize a game of softball, hoops or soccer with your vecinos at the local park. • Don’t forget the super-simple ways of getting exercise: play with the kids or fetch with the dogs; mow the lawn or pull some weeds; shake out some rugs, mop the floor (suck those abs in). It all adds up. • It’s true. Once you’ve learned how to ride a bike, you never forget. The health benefits of bicycling are similar to any good physical activity: holistic. Not only do you get a cardio workout – always good for your heart, you also strengthen muscles, improve coordination, build stamina, reduce stress – and have fun. If you don’t already have a bicycle collecting dust in the garage, invest in one. Check out Craigslist, freecycle, or Play it Again Sports, which sells new and used sports equipment.
Community classes Another inexpensive way to get active is by taking a health-related community class offered by many parks and recreation centers across the Valley. You can take anything from aerobics to zumba to get your blood flowing and your body fit. Check out community centers, gymnasiums or your neighborhood YMCA.
Do you have a pool? Swim in it, don’t just float in it! OK, so they’re not Olympic laps, but they’re laps. www.latinopm.com
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Spring in Flagstaff By Mortimer Sánchez
With museums struggling through the economy
to stay open, I thought I’d do my part and drive up to Flagstaff to visit a few and put some money in their coffers. We rarely visit them, but we’ll notice when they’re gone. I wanted to start with the Fort Tuthill Museum. This is a gem for you Latino history buffs. It’s where Arizona’s largely Hispanic 158th Battalion was stationed from 1865 to 1948. Unfortunately, the museum was closed for remodeling. Other museums would surely be open to check out. I hopped in my truck and pointed it toward Lowell Observatory. This is where Percival Lowell discovered Pluto. In fact, Percival’s tomb is on the grounds. Maybe I would see him actually turning over in his grave, now that Pluto’s been demoted. I walked in and purchased my ticket, but the next tour wasn’t for two hours, so I wandered the grounds on my own. The tomb was quiet, and all the doors were locked. I snapped a few shots with my camera and watched the last tour return to the lobby. I decided to catch the tour guide and ask if he knew any Latinos who’d worked at the observatory over the years. All his tour-guide bravado faded as he struggled to think of anyone, past or present. After he flipped through a couple books and even had the cashier look through a personnel phone book, I decided to end their discomfort and leave. The Flagstaff Arboretum was starting their next tour in a half hour anyway. Four miles down a dirt road, the arboretum touts itself as the nation’s best mountain arboretum. Only problem is, I and a few other visitors showed up a month early. It was April, and the forest floor was melting snow and mud. Only a few snowdrop flowers had peeked through the soil. By May, everything will be sprouting. We did see a man-made lake where the endangered Little Colorado River Spinedace fish is found, a couple of greenhouses and one lizard brave enough to get a jump on spring before her competition arrived. Finally the tour guide left us alone with fair notice that the “birds of prey demonstration” would begin in 20 minutes. That would make up for walking around an arboretum of mud and snow. It was too cold for demonstrations, though. They only brought out a couple birds for us to look at, a Harris hawk and a peregrine. In a nearby cage was a recycling raven that
A Harris hawk shows off its wings for his handler at the Flagstaff Arboretum
knew the difference between paper and plastic and stuffed tips in a can to help keep the arboretum funded. A few more people wandered over to quiz the two trainers, but I lost interest and tipped the raven before moving on. I wanted to hit one more place before museums started closing down for the evening. After touring the Riordan Mansion back in town, I could find a meal and call it a night. I showed up just in time, as a tour guide began describing the house from where we stood in the old garage. We wandered back through time, looking at the history of the logging family that had built the house in 1904 and helped build Flagstaff to what it is today. When the tour was done, I decided to harass the guide with the same question I had at the Lowell Observatory. Surprisingly, after a moment’s thought, he recalled Tim Riordan’s right hand man was a Basque from Spain by the last name of Perris, who’d come over originally to join sheepherding relatives. He then added that Gregorio “Curly” Martinez cared for the property and trained horses at the Riordan Mansion years ago; just passed away at 98. Last year, Curly was honored as Flagstaff’s citizen of the year for his contributions, including many years as a member of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Posse. With the sun setting, and the Riordan tour guide getting impatient to close, I decided it was time for dinner and headed to my truck. Next time, maybe I’ll visit Flagstaff in season. At least this time I’d made a small contribution to the survival of a few museums. www.latinopm.com
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¡!
my perspective on: S.B. 1070
Radical law demands leadership
Submit your opinion on whatever moves or motivates you to editor@latinopm.com.
Your perspective?
By Daniel R. Ortega Jr.
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On Friday, April 23, all eyes were on Arizona, awaiting the moment when Gov. Jan Brewer would act on the nation’s most punitive antiimmigrant legislation in decades. Though she is running for reelection, and pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment has become a widespread political tactic in her party, we allowed ourselves a sliver of hope. After all, Arizona has seen its share of similar laws that have not solved the immigration problem. At a time when our state is facing one of its worst budget crises, this law will cost its taxpayers millions to implement, but not before the millions we will pay in legal challenges on the law’s constitutionality. With the stroke of her pen, the governor once again showed voters across the nation that cheap political points trump sound public policy. I agree with the governor’s statement that “decades of federal inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation.” Sadly, we do not have to look very far for those who have been party to that inaction. Arizona’s two U.S. senators have recently been absent in exercising leadership to fix the broken immigration system, even though both are on the record stating that immigration reform is the real solution, and have worked on it in the past. This is puzzling at best for Arizona – ground zero for the immigration debate. Our Congressional delegation should be leading the charge, engage in a constructive debate, and deliver solutions. But so far, our senators have taken the politically expedient route of proposing more border security measures, even though we’ve done plenty of that to no avail. Instead they should propose the multilayered approach they supported in the past to fix the underlying legal immigration system. The federal government shares responsibility for the abuses and chaotic patchwork of laws that have emerged around the country due to their inaction; we must absolutely hold them accountable. But the answer to abdication of responsibility by some does not give one a pass to act irresponsibly. Though we appreciate Gov. Brewer’s admonition that racial profiling will not be tolerated, she knows the facts defy her well-scripted words. Arizona
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has already gained notoriety for the civil rights abuses committed by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. And now the governor has opened the door for similar practices to be imposed on the rest of the state. The new law calls for the state’s law enforcement officers to determine the immigration status of a person if they have “reasonable suspicion” the person is unlawfully in the country. But the law, which has rightfully alarmed civil rights organizations across the nation, including the Leadership Conference, the NAACP, the ADL and NCLR, contains no definition of what constitutes reasonable suspicion. In a state where nearly one third of the population is Latino – the majority of whom are U.S. citizens and legal immigrants – and where the majority of the undocumented population is also Latino, the result is, regardless of their immigration status, Latinos will now be regarded as suspect in their own communities. Sure, the law says that in the course of implementation, those enforcing it “may not solely consider race, color or national origin.” Let me be clear: I do not believe Sheriff Arpaio is representative of the men and women who serve to uphold public safety in our state. In fact, law enforcement is split on this legislation. Many believe it can drive a wedge between them and the communities they seek to protect, and leave them exposed to lawsuits. These lawsuits can come from the misapplication or abuse of the undefined “reasonable suspicion” clause. Lawsuits can also come from any Arizona resident who feels a town, city, county or the state is not enforcing immigration laws, subjecting the agency in question to penalties of $1,000 to $5,000 per day. It’s a pretty untenable situation for law enforcement and a clear lose-lose situation for the taxpayers of the state, who will be footing the bill for these lawsuits. We knew that Friday what Gov. Brewer’s decision would be. Fortunately for us, that day was a renewed call to action. Americans deserve better than false solutions that prey on our legitimate frustrations and erode our common decency. In Arizona, we will fight to overturn this unjust law, joined by many throughout the nation, to demand that the White House and Congress, once and for all, deliver the real solution: comprehensive immigration reform. Daniel R. Ortega Jr. is an Arizona attorney and board chair of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.