Latino Perspectives Magazine by Latino Perspectives Magazine

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may 2011

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  Wednesday, May 18 | 5:30~9 p.m. US Airways Center Event cost $10 ~ includes free parking This amazing evening will feature a motivational keynote speaker, important health and wellness topics presented by physicians, along with delicious hors d’oeuvres, an exclusive shopping marketplace and raﬄe prizes.

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Journal of the American Latino Dream

Volume 7

{May 2011}

Issue 9

Nothing to sneeze at

The art of mothering

Your adverse reaction to foods could be an allergy, but it could also be a tolerance issue. Learn the difference

Yes, it takes a village, but the one leading that village is the one and only mamá. What would we do without her?

42 7 8

From the editor

We celebrate mothers, madres and mothering

¿Será posible?

How do you feel about “brown”? Everyone has their preferred cultural (or regional) identifier

12 LP journal New E-Verify system in the works; Muntada mixes art and academics; boosting public confidence (don’t laugh)

14 Vibe Celebrando las madres; Western art tradition in Prescott; death and art at Willo North Gallery

19 Rincón del arte Julio Cesar Rodarte is precious and proud

Movin’ up

MIM’s new curator; Gomez top woman in AZ biz; Dean Montoya gets promoted; Hernandez appointed as justice of the peace

35 Miguel Entrepreneur Alonso is an artistic businessman, or maybe an entrepreneurial artist

Briefcase 37 Center for the Future of Arizona is calling all

concerned communities; volunteer opportunity for Mesa teens; Fresh Start, PVCC team up

41 Career A few résumé and interview tips on standing head and shoulders above the job-seeking, graduate crowd

45 Those who serve

SSG Heather Elizabeth Barajas, Aviations Operation Sergeant, mother, then P.A.

47 Education ASU programs boost future teachers; teaching

compassion for animals; nominate your afterschool provider; be spontaneous – go to Prague

54 Time out

Send the kids to summer sports camp. It’s physically and mentally good for them

56 My perspective

Beatriz Rendón on a new education paradigm; Wenona Benally Baldenegro on social justice

58 P.S.

La Norteña

Coming in June:

health myths and home remedies www.latinopm.com

¡ May 2011!

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡! from the executive editor

May 2011 Publisher/CEO Ricardo Torres Executive Editor/COO Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D. Editor Rosa Cays Art Director Charles Sanderson Contributing Writers Catherine Anaya, Wenona Benally Baldenegro, Erica Cardenas, Dan Cortez, Jonathan J. Higuera, Robrt L. Pela, Beatriz Rendón, Stella Pope Duarte Director of Sales and Marketing Carlos Jose Cuervo Advertising Account Executives Grace Alvarez and Barry Farber Special Events Nicholas Fierro Webmaster Jorge Quintero

www.latinopm.com 3877 N. 7th St., Ste. 200 Phoenix, Arizona 85014 602-277-0130 Advertising: sales@latinopm.com Editorial: editor@latinopm.com Design: art@latinopm.com

Subscriptions For home or office delivery, please send your name, address, phone number, and a check for $24 to Latino Perspectives Magazine at the address above. Subscriptions also available for credit-card purchase by calling 602-277-0130. Visit www.latinopm.com/digital for a free digital subscription. Latino Perspectives Magazine is published 12 times a year and is selectively distributed throughout Arizona. The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted by Latino Perspectives Media, LLC, all rights reserved, and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.

Reflections on mothering By Cecilia Rosales, Ph.D.

LasT MoNTh, as we sTarTed pLaNNiNg This issue, My coLLeagues aNd i were

discussing working titles for our cover story (read it on p. 20). I suggested “Mothers on Mothering,” as I envisioned a profile piece about local women who have exceptional relationships with their adult children. I wanted to know if they had any practical advice or anecdotes on how they built that special relationship with their grown kids. My suggestion wasn’t well received, though. I was reminded that the word mothering has a negative connotation: nagging, lecturing, stifling. I’m interested in mothering partly because I live away from my mother and I miss her dearly, and also to inform my experience raising two kindergartners. (Just this morning one told me, “If you let me play with your iPad, I’ll be your friend.”) In the end, we settled on a different title, but I kept thinking about the subject and the many examples, in different cultures, of how language is used to reinforce gender norms or devaluate women’s experience. That reminded me of Liza Bakewell’s book Madre (W.W. Norton & Co., 2010). In Madre, Bakewell, a linguistic anthropologist at Brown University, describes her years-long quest to fully comprehend why the use of the Spanish word madre is so complicated; especially in Mexican slang phraseology. It’s a delightful read. The author’s journey through Mexico and its culture is narrated in a humorous and inquisitive tone; especially funny are her reflections as she ponders why vale madre means worthless while ¡qué padre! means fabulous. The text is peppered with personal anecdotes and amusing conversations with taxi-cab drivers, store clerks, and amateur sociolinguists talking about the subject. Of course, she frequently refers to Nobel laureate Octavio Paz’s The Labyrinth of Solitude and to colonial Latin American history to make sense of a vast list of terms within the madre semantic sphere: Mamacita; mamazota; madrazo; madriza; desmadre; vale madre; esta madre; tu madre; poca madre; ni madre; en la madre; a la madre, and a toda madre or ATM. Phew! This month, we honor mothers and mothering in their multiple, loving manifestations. The tiger moms, the grizzly mammas, the jefitas; the overindulgent, the guilt-ridden, the ones who bring the bacon home, and the ones who cook it, too. A special thanks to Norma Morales, Cecilia Perez, Heradia Sanders and Frances Sanchez for sharing their stories with us. My love and appreciation goes to my mom and the fabulous women in my life who have mothered and taught me so much; even the lessons I have yet to master. I borrow the words of masterful Cuban playwright Dolores Prida to celebrate the great mujeres who with immense love and patience hand-sewed the seams of my life with ever-so careful and sturdy stitches that have kept me whole through so much bending and stretching through so much wear and tear … so far from home … Feliz día de las madres! www.latinopm.com

¡ May 2011!

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡! ¿Será posible?

De colores By Robrt L. Pela

a coLLeague of MiNe receNTLy seNT

me a polite note. She, a first-generation Mexican American, wanted me to know that she wasn’t crazy about my use of the word “brown” to describe all Latinos. I’m a white guy. But I grew up on the west side of Phoenix, mere yards from the Glendale barrio, with dark hair, eyes and skin. I attended a high school predominately attended by Mexican Americans, and therefore spent much of my teenaged years being mistaken for Latino (but not, of course, by actual Mexicans, who knew a gringo when they saw one). So, you’d think I’d be more aware of what to call whom. Apparently not. The day I received the note from my colleague, I phoned my friend Angie Gomez. “You’re Mexican,” I reminded her. “Would it bug you if I referred to you as ‘brown’?” “I’d rather be called thin and pretty,” she replied. “But, you know, I usually refer to myself as Latina.” She handed the phone to her brother, Jesse, who told me he hates to be called Latino. “I’m Hispanic,” he explained. “But mostly I’m an American, dude. I was born in Seattle.” I’ll never get it right. Some of the Latinos I know want to be called Mexican; others want to be known as Mexican American. My friend Dina is married to a Guatemalan man who wants to be referred to by the region of Guatemala from whence he came (and please don’t ask me to remember what it’s called or how to

Your thoughts? Tell us what you think. Send your thoughts to editor@latinopm.com 8

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡ May 2011!

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pronounce it). One of my former editors only ever referred to herself as Dominican American, and her husband was Cuban, period. My parents’ up-the-street neighbor insists on referring to himself by the rather discomfiting pejorative “beaner.” And so I – a confused and post-PC white man who wants very much not to offend anyone of ethnic minority – had settled on the word “brown.” Lately, though, I find myself trying to figure out how to tell a Nuyorican from a Colombian American. And what do I call my Puerto Rican pals? Aren’t they just plain old Americans? I remember reading that most Latino people will settle for being called Spanishspeaking Americans, but now that there are ongoing political battles over a proposed “official language” for America, that seems like an iffy (and potentially offensive) choice. Does this moniker overlook the speaker’s culture entirely? I speak French but am a second-generation Italian American who frankly wouldn’t like to be addressed by my linguistic skills. What to do? A recent survey published by the Pew Hispanic Center found that nearly half of all Latinos 18 and older referred to themselves first by their or their parents’ country of origin, and that about half as many used terms like “Hispanic” or “Latino” interchangeably. The same number of Latinos simply referred to themselves as “American.” Among these

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.

same respondents, nearly half prefer the term “Hispanic” over “Latino.” But among Hispanic people in my own acquaintance, the opposite is true: Pretty much everyone I spoke to on the subject insisted that, of the two, they use “Latino” more often than “Hispanic” to describe themselves. It makes sense. “Hispanic” is, after all, anyone with roots in a Spanish-speaking country, whereas “Latino” could be just about anyone from Latin America, including countries like Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken. In times of strife, any polarized community likes to make its own rules. The title “Latino” was coined by Hispanics to describe their own, and so it seems more respectful to use “Latino” to describe people who could be from anywhere. On the other hand, neither Hispanic nor Latino is a race, and what if I’m addressing someone who wants to be referred to by the region from where they originally hail? “Too bad!” Angie hollered over the phone before demanding that I talk to her papi, who lived his life as a ranch hand in southern Texas before retiring to Phoenix three years ago to live with his granddaughter. I can barely understand what this old man is saying to me, his Tejano accent is so thick. But the last thing he says I hear loud and clear. “Whenever someone ask what kind of color I am,” he tells me, “I only say one t’ing: I’m a redneck!”

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.

Latino Perspectives magazine proudly salutes the honorees of the Victoria Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2011 Advocates for Education Awards

Advocates for Education Awards Dorothy Garcia

Dr. Ted Tong

Administrative director, St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical Group

Associate Dean, University of Arizona School of Pharmacy

unclaimed Tommy Espinoza

Leo Valdez

Senior Vice PResident, Hutchinson, Shockey, Erley & Co.

President, La Raza Funds

Dr. Rufus Glasper Chancellor, Maricopa Community Colleges

Friday, June 3, 2011 Arizona Biltmore - Gold Room

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Conversation starters from the world around us

12 LP Journal

E-Verify 2.0; art and academia at ASU Art Museum; initiative on how to win the public’s trust

15 Lola

A message of thanks for Michelle Obama

17 Anaya says On doing her best to be a good mom

i say... Let no one doubt that, one year later, Arizona is stronger and more united than ever before in its resolve. —Gov. Jan Brewer on the one-year anniversary of the signing of S.B. 1070

ABAD artwork by matthew rose; image courtesy of patricia sahertian

It’s inappropriate for city officials to be attending rock concerts or sporting events in a luxury box that could otherwise be used to generate much-needed revenue for the city. —Phoenix mayoral candidate Greg Stanton on the city’s luxury box at U.S. Airways Center

In the old days, when you won the war, it was yours. When we win a war … we leave with nothing.

page

—potential U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump

A Book About Death (ABAD) ~ Memento comes to Willo North Gallery in Phoenix

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¡ May 2011!

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡!¡!

LP journal

next time you apply for a job, maybe you’ll have to give a blood sample, too? you might be in line behind a few presidential candidates.

Check, please As if they haven’t enough to deal with these days, undocumented workers may soon face the possibility that the federal government will redouble its efforts to run them off. A new system that will verify the identity of American workers may well, by the time you’re reading this, be implemented in many U.S. cities. An article published in an April issue of The Washington Post claims that the Department of Homeland Security is hard at work on a credit rating system, not unlike Equifax, to identify new employees, a move designed to make it difficult for undocumented immigrants to get work using stolen Social Security numbers. House Republicans have indicated an interest in making the new program, still in its preliminary stages, mandatory. But the use of a third-party verification system to determine the status of a prospective 12

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡ May 2011!

employee can be mandated only by Congress. Currently, most employers use E-Verify, a system that checks the citizenship and legal papers of prospective employees. E-Verify has come under attack in recent years, because hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants use stolen Social Security numbers that E-Verify doesn’t recognize as stolen. The new system would require prospective employees to provide greater information about themselves, comparable to what a person must offer when applying for a mortgage or opening a bank account. An additional interview would require job applicants to answer personal questions and provide extensive financial background to prove their identity. It should come as no surprise that Arizona is among a handful of states where the as-yet-unnamed verification system will be tested. If the program is well received here – and in

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Virginia, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, and Washington, D.C. – it will reportedly be expanded nationwide later this year. Which means undocumented workers will have a harder time finding work using forged documents. It’s not a bad plan, to be sure. But there are larger implications, certain to be denounced by anyone opposed to this sort of worker identity program and/or immigration reform. While such a system can be characterized as a more compassionate form of border control and a means of quashing human trafficking, there is sure to be criticism of the program as a new approach to racial profiling – and more fingers pointing from around the country at Arizona, the test market for this new verification system.

Artist, know thyself About Academia is the latest project by renowned international artist Antoni Muntadas. Muntadas, who represented Spain at the 2005

Venice Biennial and was the recipient of the Velázquez Visual Arts Prize in 2009 (the most important distinction to be endowed on a visual artist by the Spanish state), is the subject of a major retrospective this fall at the Museo Nacional Reina Sofía, Madrid. About Academia is an installation piece that questions the relationship between the production of knowledge and knowledge itself, and considers the impact of economic power on our universities. On its way to the American Academy in Rome, the show is now on display at ASU Art Museum in Tempe through the middle of June. Born in Barcelona, Muntadas has lived and worked in the United States, primarily in New York, since 1971. His work tends to focus on social, political and communications issues, and he lingers on the relationship between public and private space within social frameworks (thus the new work about university

LP journal expansion), and he likes to consider optional means of communication, like visual art, as a means of forwarding ideas or political agendas. He’s a multimedia artist who works primarily with photography, video, the published word and the Internet. About Academia, conceived and originally exhibited over a period of three years at Harvard University’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, turns the problematic relationship between the production of knowledge and economic power into visual art. The installation itself confronts the viewer with a trio of video projections that pose pressing questions about the necessary (and possibly apocryphal) objectivity of university academics, and making bold statements about the corporatization of colleges across the land. The prevailing message is concerned with the physical expansion of universities at a time when enrollments are down and endowments are in peril. Muntadas also offers a capsule history of the development of academia in the Western world, from its birth in ancient Greece to its resurrection in medieval times and its reformation during the Enlightenment. Through dozens of interviews with revered faculty members at Harvard, MIT and other research universities across the United States, Muntadas traces academia’s establishment in the New World and its present challenges at a time when the humanities and the arts are under attack. But history

lessons aside, the prevailing message of About Academia is one of the importance of art as a means of communication during such times, and therefore crucial to academia. Which ought to stir up some kind of controversy, considering the wide expansion in recent years of ASU’s campus into downtown Phoenix and beyond.

How to win friends and influence people One can almost hear the chortling from over on West Washington Street. Guffaws have been the order of the day at the Capitol building ever since Maricopa County announced last month its intention to launch a comprehensive initiative to, according to a press release, “find and implement ways to boost public confidence and trust.” Top administrators, the release says, have joined the as-yet-unnamed project, which will be directed by Tim Phillips, general manager and chief engineer of the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, who has led several countywide research projects in the past. “Like other governments and public institutions, Maricopa County government has experienced a decline in public trust and satisfaction in recent years,” Phillips has said. “As a result, the Board of Supervisors has set a goal to rebuild the public trust in county government by 2015. To achieve this goal, we have assembled a team of county staff to identify, evaluate and implement measures to inspire public trust.”

Initial plans include the creation of a public-trust team that will interview elected and appointed officials from the county and from local, state and national jurisdictions. These interviews will then be augmented by input from local businesses and nonprofit organizations, and finally, from county employees. Once adopted, the team’s findings would be folded into the county’s fiveyear strategic plan. That plan, known officially as “Moving Forward in a Time of Change,” was created to identify specific priorities and goals to foster a safer community with greater access to public

¡!

health, a more effective economy and greater public transportation, among other things. This newest agenda would focus only on restoring trust in local government by Maricopa County citizens. Considering Arizona’s newly revived national reputation as a scourge – a reputation fostered, many feel, by inept government choices – that’s a tall order. Phillips plans to complete a final report on confidencebuilding strategies for the Board of Supervisors by the beginning of the 2012 fiscal year. First, he must complete enrollment in the teams that will create those strategies. Cynics need not apply.

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¡ May 2011!

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡!

vibe Western art tradition

Celebrando las madres

DID you knoW preScoTT IS conSIDereD The coWBoy cApITAL

ALAc’S GALeríA 147 IS ceLeBrATInG moTher’S DAy WITh

Arte de Latinas: Honoring and Celebrating Madres, Madonnas, Mujeres. The exhibit opens on May 6 and continues through June 10. Francisca Cota is the curator. Participating artists include Emily Costello, Monica Crespo and Pamela Carvajal Drapala. Stop by on opening night, May 6, for a First Friday community celebration and live entertainment, including an all female mariachi band (ay, Jalisco, no te rajes!) and the Cochise College Bi-National Chorus. Galería 147 is located at 147 E. Adams Street in downtown Phoenix. Visit alacaz.org for more information.

Mi Familia (detail) by Cristina Cardenas

of the American West? Now you know. The town is ready for the 37th Annual Phippen Memorial Western Art Show and Sale. The event takes place May 28-30 at the historic courthouse plaza in downtown Prescott. Over 120 artists from all over the country will display and sell sculptures, drawings and works in oil, watercolor, acrylic asdf and mixed media. Over the years, many of them have moved on to greater renown as Western artists. The cleverly named “Quick Draw” art demonstrations are a hit with attendees. Participating artists create works of art in 45 minutes and then auction them to the crowd. Event hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Memorial Day. Admission is free. Visit phippenartmuseum.org for more information.

Get more Vibe at www.latinopm.com

Death and art at Willo North A Book ABout DeAth (ABAD) ~ MeMento openS ThIS monTh AT WILLo images courtesy of: alac; phippen art museum; patricia sahertian

North Gallery. Local artist Patricia Sahertian organized the open-call exhibition following the tradition started by Paris-based artist Matthew Rose in 2009, when he organized the first ABAD exhibition in New York City. The exhibit features postcard-size works in a variety of mediums exploring the themes of death and grieving; some entries also include mementos. “Each person participating in the ABAD show has a story to share; they may have experienced a loss or have a profoundly felt sympathy toward death,” says Sahertian. Willo North Gallery is located at 2811 N. 7th Avenue in Phoenix; the show runs May 3-28, with an opening reception Friday, May 6, 6 to 10 p.m. Visit http://abad-phx.blogspot.com to learn more about the project.

ABAD artwork (detail) by Jayne Mara

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡ May 2011!

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Vibe

¡!

Lola's Voicemail: Inspired to perspire

DeAr mrS. oBAmA:

Pajarito Punishment THE NAME OF THIS OFF-ROAD AND downhill bike race makes some bilingüe people laugh. OK, maybe just smirk. If you feel left out of the joke, get a Spanish slang dictionary and look up pajarito. Here’s a generous hint: it involves male anatomy. Pajarito, in this instance, is the name of the beautiful mountain in Los Alamos, N.M., where the race takes place. It’s a 45minute drive from dreamy Santa Fe. The area is popular for its breathtaking views and enjoyed by skiers in the winter, and hikers and cross-country cyclists in the spring and summer months. Here’s what Pajarito Punishment refers to: the mountain’s top elevation is 10,400 feet, with a vertical rise of 1200 feet, though the cross-country race does have several categories to accommodate different levels of stamina, cycling ability and cojones. The beginner course is 6.5 miles and has a 750-foot gain; the skilled course is 12 miles with a 2,100-foot gain, and expert cyclists can expect an 18-mile course with a vertical rise of 3,200 feet. The event takes place June 11-12, organized by the New Mexico Off Road Series and Pajarito Mountain Ski Area. In addition to the cross-country competition, there’s the downhill race, which is “fast, it’s steep, and it’s technical.” Ready for the punishment? visit http://nmmtb.org for more details and registration materials.

I’m inspired to perspire and I have you to thank for it. Well, I have you to thank and the gordis, who go about life seemingly happy and unfazed by the junk in their trunk, although I secretly envy their “no me importa, I’m still wearing a bikini” attitude. But, as I was saying, I’m inspired by you; by your triceps and your Let’s Move campaign. I recently watched you jump rope on TV. I said to myself, I can do that. But then I tried and I couldn’t. Muy mal. I reached the tipping point, literally, while getting ready for a social function. I was ready to go, all dolled up, when I realized I had forgotten to clean my high heels. I couldn’t crouch down or lift my leg, because my gown was a bit tight, so I tried bending over instead. Bad idea. I could barely reach the tip of my shoes without bending my knees. I had to sit down in my viejo’s closet chair to get the job done. I felt self-conscious. But upon arriving to the event I had an out-ofbody experience as I found myself in a swarm of middle-aged, flabulous bodies in way-too-revealing, what-were-youthinking, Forever 21 gowns. Ay dios mío. I started thinking, That can be me next year if I don’t do something rápido. So, I started researching workout regimes to target specific problem areas. That’s how I learned about body parts I didn’t even know existed. Now that I know there’s a name for each fat deposit imaginable, I can’t pretend I don’t see them in my body. Or anyone else’s for that matter. Turns out, the flab nomenclature is extensive and evolving. There’s the

“duchess” or “buffalo hump” (fat in the upper back) and of course the “wings” (bulges hanging over bra straps). Then there’s the ubiquitous “muffin top” and the, uh, pronounced muffin top or “mother’s apron.” Other foodinspired terms include the “doughnut,” which refers to the excess fat around the navel, and the “banana fold” (the fat below the buttocks). These are not to be confused with “chubb” (fat around the kneecap), or the commonly known “cankles” (fat between the calf and the ankle). I’m sure you get the picture, and it’s not pretty. My apologies: I didn’t call just to give you a visual lesson on slang for fat deposits in my anatomy. I am really calling to tell you I signed up for the President’s Challenge, an effort of your hubby’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. The nifty, online tool is helping me track my activity level while I find an appropriate fatbusting workout regime. Yesterday, for example, I earned 406 points for two hours of household tasks and 290 points for one hour of home repairs – it took me a whole hour to change a spring in my curling iron; it counts as a home repair, qué no? I hope soon to earn points for other activities from the President’s Challenge list, like hang gliding, baton twirling, and unicycling. Who knows, maybe if I get my ropejumping act together, I’ll be in good enough shape to ride my unicycle to work and put my unemployed banana fold, chubb and cankles to work. Bueno, cuídese – and keep up the good work, Mrs. Obama.

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¡ May 2011!

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡!

Pocho keen

Vibe

Like peachy keen, pero different Fore!

Uphill battle

JAmeS pomerAnTz ThInkS We’re

IT mAy Be The unDerSTATemenT

raising a nation of sissies. And he has golf to blame. He’s even written a book about it, entitled Tough Guys Always Play From the Tips: A Unisex Guide to Golf, Tough Guys and the Neutered Weenie Fraternity Created By Such an Insane Game. His theory goes something like this: “The popularity of golf and the decline of the American Tough Guy certainly have a direct connection.… If they don’t, then can someone please explain plaid pants to anyone with an IQ above concrete?” Pomerantz, who boasts of once coowning a bar with Mr. Macho archetype Steven Segal, has a penchant for Beavis and Butthead-esque analogies and non sequiturs. Like, “You know, mothers tell their sons to study hard, get a good education, make the right friends and be nice to people. Well, that’s like asking the Dalai Lama to work at Halliburton. Life is about confrontation and confidence, perseverance and integrity. Golf is about drinking, cheating and competition with as little effort as humanly possible. After all, how has golf, a seemingly candy-ass, pull-your-dress-down, non-contact, don’tmake-a-sound sport become the most popular amateur sport in America for men of ALL ages?” It seems fitting that the foreword is authored by Harold Ramis, writer and director of Caddyshack. (Remember Carl Spackler, played by Bill Murray, recounting his adventures caddying at the Himalayas for none other than the Dalai Lama?). Visit toughguysbookstore.com to learn more about the author, his previous books and the Neutered Weenie Fraternity.

of the year to say that lately as a Latino in Arizona, I feel under attack. Maybe I should just shut off the news or stay off Facebook (and especially steer clear of the comments section on azcentral.com), but the more vitriolic the dialogue gets, the more I’m drawn in. The latest controversy got me all worked up until I took a step back and put things into perspective. By now we’re all familiar with the unfortunate letter written by Tony Hill after serving as a substitute teacher for a class of eighth grade students at a school in Glendale. What is really unfortunate about the claims made by Mr. Hill – he allegedly claimed that Latino students don’t want to be educated and would rather be gangsters – is that they were taken at face value by our supposed leaders in our state legislature, without any kind of vetting process at all. It’s no surprise that subs are given the business by unruly students. It has always happened and it always will. But what is really at issue here is the disconnect between a person like Mr. Hill and the changing complexion of the students he is charged to inspire to learn. When large corporations realize they have a sizable customer base that speaks a certain language, they set out to hire employees who can connect with these valued customers. They don’t give a ratón’s behind how they’re perceived. They know it’s good business. Sure, schools don’t have the same resources as corporations, but they can at least make an effort. Likewise,

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡ May 2011!

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it’s incumbent upon us as parents and supporters of quality education to make sure the pipeline is filled with teachers who can connect with these students now and in the future. It just so happens that my mom is a substitute teacher in the very same district as Mr. Hill, and wasn’t too pleased about his misguided allegations. If you ever meet my mom, you instantly see a stern, yet loving abuela. I’m sure that’s how students feel when they meet her, too. It helps her to manage a classroom of roughies and toughies probably better than Mr. Hill. She tells me that she treats kids con respeto y con cariño. “I don’t tell them they’re dumb or useless. I tell them they are smart and beautiful,” she says. When she looks at their faces, she certainly doesn’t see the same thing as Mr. Hill so blindly sees. I’m not trying to paint my mother as a saint, but her approach works, because it considers the future of the children she encounters, and it works for her because she’s trying to get through the day herself. She loves kids and it shows. More importantly, she understands respect is a two-way street, even when it comes to children. She subs almost every day and she makes sure that the kids in her classes recite the pledge of allegiance with pride and dignity. My mom does this because she knows what a wonderful country this is despite the fact that it also includes the likes of certain state leaders who seem to lack critical reading skills – and apparently believe everything they read.

Vibe Happenings at Phoenix Art Museum

¡!

Anaya says

image courtesy of phoenix art museum

Here for her

Andrew Andreev in A Guide to an Exhibitionist

First Friday fun eAch monTh, ThouSAnDS of

residents and visitors converge on downtown Phoenix for First Friday, a local tradition that has grown into the largest selfguided art walk in the country. In addition to being the first stop for First Friday shuttles, Phoenix Art Museum provides an extensive lineup of free events. Friday, May 6 – Enjoy an open rehearsal of A Guide to an Exhibitionist by the Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre, a preview to the exclusive performance happening at the museum the next night. A Guide to an Exhibitionist is a multimedia dance-theatre work that explores the relationship between artist, audience and the architecture of an art gallery. Other local dance troupes will also be performing. Friday, June 3 – Live performance by BATA IRE. This six-piece ensemble brings together a wide variety of folkloric and popular Brazilian and Cuban music as well as American blues and funk infused with the breathtaking rhythms of Cuba and Brazil. BATA IRE presents an experience that not only moves the body – it shakes the soul! Phoenix Art Museum offers free general admission to everyone on the first Friday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. First Friday participants have access to all of the Museum’s galleries, special exhibitions and collections. Visit phxart.org for more information.

By Catherine Anaya

She STooD In fronT of me, LookInG

regal and so grown up in a lovely white gown. Already taller than me by at least 3 inches, my beautiful daughter was about to take her eighth grade graduation picture. This month, she will make that all-important transition from middle school to high school. Where did the time fly? This milestone has stirred so many emotions in me. In a year and a half, she’s eligible to drive, as she so happily reminds me. I like to remind her she’s also able to get a job! But in less time than I expect, she’ll want to wear makeup and have a boyfriend. Oh, the challenges I have to look forward to! Regardless of what the next four years of high school have in store, I’m always full of hope that I’m raising her well. I sometimes question the lessons I’m teaching her. Am I teaching the right ones and am I teaching them well? Am I leading by the right example? Will she one day understand the importance of her mother following her dreams into a career that she loves and is passionate about? Or will she only remember that I wasn’t home as much as she would have liked? Will she appreciate my discipline in training and running marathons? Or will she only remember that those 20-mile training runs meant I had to miss one of her basketball or soccer games? Will she understand that I would

love to have a successful relationship, even after divorce? Or will she only see a date as time away from her and her brother? Will she consider my community involvement an extension of my need to give back in gratitude for all that’s been given? Or will she view my commitments as time stealers? Every child is different, so assuming that what works for one parent will work for me is foolish for me to even consider. But it’s difficult not to wonder, sometimes, if I’m creating for her the same frustration I felt at her age about my own mother’s attempt at the balancing act of life. My mother juggled two jobs; one as a professional singer, which meant she wasn’t home at night. I spent a lot of time alone, and in turn, cultivated a high level of responsibility for a young girl. But it also fostered some loneliness, and that undoubtedly led to my strong interest in doing well in school and going off to college where I could design my own sense of “home.” I don’t know what the next four years will bring. But I do know it took years for me to appreciate that my mother was only doing her best. I can only hope it won’t take my daughter nearly as long. She’s about to face four of the most important years of her teen life, and I’ll do my best to make sure she gets through them knowing I’m here – and have been there.

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rincón del arte

Precious and proud Julio Cesar Rodarte

Born in ... Fresnillo, Zacatecas, México In Arizona since ...

2000

Creating art since ... I was introduced to art in high school in my sophomore year. I fell in love with art the minute I started drawing.

Describe your art: Contemporary, geometrical, abstract art created with acrylic paint. Acrylic is a very hard medium. It dries so fast. I must work quickly. But I definitely detest watercolors. Favorite work of art: None in particular, but I really like Matisse’s Dance – maybe because I love music and dancing. Elizabeth Murray’s Bop is just an incredible piece of work. I love the shapes, the colors and the whole complex dynamic of it. Very childish, but you know a child cannot do this.

Five of my artworks were up for auction at First Studio in downtown Phoenix in April. The goal was to collect funds for an artist friend whose husband just passed away in March. I’m currently preparing for my next solo show that will be in 2012 and launching some prints of my work on society6.com. The shop will be ready soon!

For more about Julio and his work: www.juliorodarte.com

What do you see as your art legacy? My shaped paintings. I think they are very unique. I hope people will look at them as something precious in the future. However, I think my repetitive patterns and my paintings of silhouettes will be something people will look at, too.

Work of art that best describes you: PLAY MUSIK NOW and yes, music with a images courtesy of the artist

“K.” I’m always listening to music on my Zune (MP3 player), even when I’m painting. That painting means a lot to me. It’s me, basically!

Current projects: I just had a solo exhibition, THE GAY IS OUT!, at Dolce Espresso Café. I also was part of the 2011 Exotic/Erotic Art Show at the Alwun House. My piece entitled 69 won an award as one of the best paintings in the show.

Help us highlight the local arts Send information to editor@latinopm.com.

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Mothers on Mothering asdf By Jonathan J. Higuera

THE HARDEST JOB ON EARTH Where Would We be Without

our mothers? The Latino cultural is matriarchal for a reason. Honoring our mothers is a given. Although traditionalists may think some of today’s concepts of motherhood may be radical, a reimagining of motherhood is taking place among younger generations. Multiple scenarios of maternidad are being practiced today, whether it’s a same-sex couple adopting a baby; a hetero couple in reversed roles, a grandmother raising her nietos or a mother who is single by choice. Yet some women have chosen – or are choosing – a life free of children. “They are imagining themselves not only as mothers but [also] as women with their own wants and needs,” says Nicole Guidotti-Hernandez, a Family Studies professor at the University of Arizona. “They are trying to live a life that is fulfilling and not … defined solely by their children.”

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Despite these changes, some practices and norms are still held up as tested and true. Raising children steeped in love, respect, honor and a sense of discipline are traits of welladjusted adults. Instilling in them the value of education and independence has proven effective for self-sufficiency in a society that expects it. Over the next few pages are some of the stories that uphold these triedand-true practices and norms. In them, we hope you can see why honoring mothers, shortcomings and all, is a worthwhile endeavor, regardless of what model of motherhood they have chosen. They also throw in a few consejos for those of us still in the throes of raising los bukis.

Walk the walk Norma Morales describes her family as “unusually tight.” Her two sons, Alex, 48, and Paul, 43, are high-ranking officers in the Glendale Fire Department

and they stay in contact with their mother on nearly a daily basis. Norma said raising them involved a mixture of love, talk and discipline. Teaching them respect was also important. But the house was also filled with humor. “We laughed at everything,” she recalls. Her husband Alex is the quiet type, but his dry sense of humor kept the mood light. In their younger days, the boys were mischievous. They once lit a fire in a wastebasket inside the house so they could see if their parents followed the proper emergency procedures they had just previously discussed. They did not. Sometimes switching disciplinary roles, Norma and her husband worked together to make sure the boys stayed in line. “If my husband saw they were not listening, he would step in. I did have to use the chancla. I liked the chancla a lot,” she says, half jokingly. Today, as her children

have experienced success in the workplace – Alex is a battalion chief and Paul is a captain for the Glendale Fire Department – the family is closer than ever. Norma retired last year after a long career as an advertising account executive and other professional endeavors. Her home is now a pit stop for her sons on their way home. When it came to providing for her boys, they got what they needed and sometimes what they wanted. “In my generation, there wasn’t any money. My husband and I worked, so we were able to give them stuff. But we didn’t give them everything they wanted.” “People tell me what neat men we raised and ask how we did it,” she says. “I just say with a lot of love. They were my life.” Norma and her siblings took care of their elderly mother up until her death in 2010. It took

a lot of effort, and her sons witnessed it. Some of that caring spirit may have rubbed off on them, says Norma. “My kids saw this. The love, respect and care we gave her. She was our role model.” Norma summed up her philosophy on raising good children thusly: “The way you walk takes care of the talk.” Now she enjoys good relationships with her kids and relishes in their successes. “I’ve let them go ... That was my job: to let them go and be selfsufficient.”

Learn from mistakes Cecilia Perez acknowledges that the recipe she used to raise her only daughter is not one she recommends for others. Pain and suffering were ingredients, with a dash of good times thrown in. Despite their challenges over the years, Cecilia

and her daughter now have a good relationship. Cecilia, 53, and her daughter Monica Trujillo, 35, stay in close contact and do things together, like hiking and shopping. But they still have their own lives and give each other space for that. They’ve experienced the highs and lows of life and today are more appreciative of each other. Cecilia gave birth to Monica when she was 18 years old. Married young and divorced young, Cecilia lived with her parents much of her early adult life. They played a big role in helping care for their nieta Monica. Cecilia says of her past, “I liked to live life to the fullest.” At one point, she realized she needed help to quit drinking. She’s been sober for the past 15 years and her

Norma Morales and her sons Alex, left, and Paul.

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relationship with her daughter has steadily improved. “She loved me, but she was angry,” says Cecilia of the first years of her sobriety. “We had to have some difficult conversations. It was hard, but I knew we had to do it to develop that trust.” Monica, who is a marketer for Salt River Project, had always been an intelligent student who usually brought home A’s in her course work. Her grandparents nurtured and supported her love for learning, instilled self-discipline and planted a seed of curiosity for current events, politics and history. Eventually, Monica became

kids liked to be around, too,” she says. Cecilia sometimes can’t believe how far she’s come from the person she was then and the relationship she now enjoys with her daughter. “Until you’ve gone through really tough times, you don’t understand what’s good. People see us and say ‘You’re so happy, laughing all the time.’ But they don’t understand what we’ve gone through.” Her advice to others raising children, especially teenagers, is to do whatever it takes to be part of your child’s life. “Don’t let your child close the door on you,” says Cecilia. “Keep

My mistake was trying to be her friend. She didn’t need a friend. She needed a mother. — Cecilia Perez valedictorian among her fellow business students at the University of Michigan. “There were a lot of crazy times,” Monica recalls of her childhood and adolescence. “But you only have one mom. And you still love your mom.” Monica also remembers the fun times, like going to concerts, parks and camping with her mom. “I always had the cool mom, the one the other

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pushing through. I don’t believe in luck. I believe there was a higher power guiding me – when I would listen. “My mistake was trying to be her friend. She didn’t need another friend. She needed a mother.”

Goals are good Heradia Sanders has three grown sons ages 40 to 49, and her relationship with each one is very different. But one commonality is

that she feels very proud of the lives they lead and their accomplishments. “I have a rule that I don’t interfere with their lives,” says Heradia, who retired as a counselor at Tolleson High School in 1996. “I try not to be a big factor in their decisions. But I give them my opinion when I feel like I need to. “My boys are wonderful. They’ve all made some decisions I wouldn’t agree with, but they are all good men,” she says. One goal Sanders had was to instill in them pride for their heritage. Sanders immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras; the boys’ father Bob was from the U.S. They met and fell in love in New Orleans, where Bob was a police officer and Heradia went to study. Bob passed away two years ago. “I always felt like a foreigner in a strange land,” she says. “I didn’t want them to feel like that. But I also wanted them to feel proud of their Hispanic-Mayan heritage. I think they feel very comfortable in their skin.” Her youngest boy John lives in Arkansas. The other two, Dennis and Andy, live in Phoenix. “The mechanics of the relationship are different with each one,” she says. “You have to continue to deal with them individually. I want to do everything I can to continue to have a good relationship with my children and grandchildren.” But this requires “staying on the sidelines a lot,” she acknowledges. She also raised her children to be independent. “My goal [for them] was always self-sufficiency and

Cecilia Perez and her daughter Monica Trujillo

to take care of their own lives,” says Heradia. “All you can do is encourage them. When they are young, you may have to be more forceful, especially when it comes to education.” Her advice to other mothers currently raising children: “Get them to have some goals.” “Give them some small goals on the way to major [ones], so they don’t get disappointed when it doesn’t happen right away.” She enjoys the relationship she has with them now as adults. “I enjoy it more now. I didn’t particularly enjoy the teenage years, but it was all part of being a mother.”

Photos by fernando hernandez

Mother first, then a friend Frances Sanchez and her late husband Paul Sr. raised seven children who now range in age from 35 to 52. She did

this while working second shift at Motorola, where she was employed for 33 years. Now her kids have families of their own, and Frances, 72, is semi-retired. The diapers, countless rides to school activities and concerned inquiries into their personal activities have given way to adult relationships. “I see my daughters shuttling back and forth now to their daughters’ volleyball games and other activities and wonder, How did I do it? But I guess when youth is on your side, you can do it,” she says. For Frances, one priority for her four girls and three boys was to see them get an education. “I was adamant about the girls going to school, especially,” she says. “I wanted them to be able to take care of themselves.” Now she enjoys it whenever somebody compliments her on her children, saying what good people they turned out to be. When they

ask her to share her secret, she says she’s not sure, exactly, what her secret is. But dig deeper and her philosophies start to flow out. She never bought into the concept that she needed to be her children’s best friend. “You are their mother. You are not their friend that has to please them all the time. You have to tell them, “No. I don’t care what your friends are doing.” So it is somewhat ironic that she now considers her adult children friends. “I’m their friend, but I don’t give them advice,” she says. “I just listen…. But by being friends, they talk to me about stuff. We do a lot of things together. They’ve been good to me.” Her advice to others currently raising children is to be there for them. “You have to defend your children. I had to go to the schools a lot. You have to be there.”

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Business Liability Insurance that can protect your business against financial losses resulting from claims of injury or property damage caused by you or your employees and your products or services. Workers’ Compensation Insurance that can satisfy your employees’ medical needs in the event of an accident or disease and make a quick return to work possible, while removing lawsuit potential by current or former employees. Business Auto Insurance that can get you on the road again quickly after an accident and ensure your business is protected against losses from injuries to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians for which you and your employees are liable. Business Crime Insurance that can provide your business with protection from fraud, theft, forgery or robbery. Additional insurance options include: Employment Practices Liability Insurance that can cover your business if discrimination, sexual harassment or wrongful termination claims are made by present, former or future employees. Life Insurance for Business Owners that can help you plan for business succession, survive the loss of a key employee or partner and retain/reward your top people.

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35 Entrepreneur Miguel Alonso is in the voice business

37 Briefcase

Center for the Future of Arizona; civic-minded Latinos in Mesa; the USWCC is a new breed of organization

41 Career

Now that you’ve graduated, it’s time to find a job. How can you get noticed?

Movin’ Up MIM appoints new chief curator

Photo courtesy of mim

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) announced the appointment of Dr. Manuel

Manuel A. Jordán, MIM’s new chief curator and director of collections

A. Jordán as the museum’s chief curator and director of collections. In addition to overseeing the work of the museum’s conservation and registration and collections departments, Jordán will be primarily responsible for the African and Latin American collections. Most recently, Jordán served as curator of the arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas at the Iris www.latinopm.com

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movin’ up

and B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University.

Information and Referral Roberto Armijo was honored with the Leader of Distinction Award. ONE recognizes excellence and leadership in nonprofit management. The event took place in downtown Phoenix last month.

Castañeda joins Adelante Healthcare Carlos M. Castañeda recently joined Adelante Healthcare, a nonprofit health center in Phoenix, as its community

Gomez top woman in AZ biz Arjelia “Argie” Gomez, CPLC’s chief economic development officer, was recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of its 2011 Women in Business. A total of 25 women were recognized for their professional accomplishments, leadership and community involvement during a ceremony at the Arizona Biltmore on March 22.

Carlos Castañeda

outreach coordinator. Castañeda will be responsible for connecting the community to Adelante Healthcare centers in Maricopa County. Prior to joining Adelante, Castañeda served as student service specialist at South Mountain Community College.

Montoya promoted to vice provost and dean at ASU Executive Dean Mitzi Montoya of the Arizona State University College of Technology and Innovation has been promoted to vice provost and dean. Among Montoya’s

NPO execs receive awards Edmundo Hidalgo, president and CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa, received the Innovation Award from the Organization of Nonprofit Executives (ONE) at the 9th Annual ONE Director of the Year Awards. President and CEO of Community

accomplishments while at ASU is the creation of a new B.S. program in technological entrepreneurship and the launch of the Aerospace and Defense Research Collaboratory.

Hernandez appointed as justice of the peace Jimmy Hernandez is the new justice of the peace for the downtown Phoenix precinct for the Maricopa County Justice Court. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Hernandez to replace Judge Armando Gandarilla, who died in January of this year.

SRP hires Sergio Carlos Sergio Carlos has joined SRP as advertising and brand manager. Prior to joining SRP, Carlos worked for Riester as director of multicultural services.

Glendale Chamber Foundation presents Diversity Awards Rick Alvarez and Guadalupe M. Medina were presented with the Diversity Awards at the 8th Annual Cesar Chavez Breakfast, sponsored by Glendale Chamber Foundation and the City of Glendale. Alvarez, principal at Harold W. Smith Elementary School, and Medina, owner of GMS Concrete Specialists, Inc., were recognized for their outstanding community leadership and promotion of diversity in Maricopa County.

Mitzi Montoya

Movin’ Up Know someone who has been promoted, elected or honored? Send us the news of their achievements! Email movinup@latinopm.com 32

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Pastor’s congressional art contest winners As a member of the Congressional Art Caucus, Rep. Ed Pastor holds an annual competition to recognize the artistic talents of young constituents. The winners of the 2011 contest are three Apollo High School students; their art teacher is Barbara Dahlstedt. Adrienne Ontiveros of Glendale received the top prize for her painting, “Toe 2 Toe.” The piece will be exhibited at the U.S. Capitol for a year, where Ontiveros will participate in a ceremony. She also received a $10,000 scholarship from The Art Institute of Phoenix. Alexis Fajardo of Phoenix and Catarino Carrasco of Glendale, took second and third place, respectively.

Mujer, Inc. honors community leaders Mujer, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latina women, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a dance and awards ceremony on May 7 at the Renaissance Hotel in Glendale, Ariz.. The organization will present awards to Valle del Sol, Inc. executive Luz Sarmina for her exemplary dedication to community service; to author Stella Pope Duarte for excellence in arts and culture and to Rosemary Ybarra-Hernandez, founder of Aguila Leadership Institute, for her dedication to the advancement of Latinos in higher education.

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entrepreneur ¡! ¡!

Businessman of many talents Miguel Alonso, composer, voice-over talent and more Elevator pitch: I am an independent artist and have worked in a variety of areas during the past 25 years. I am a composer (film, TV, commercials, artists); a voice-over talent mainly for the Hispanic market; a translator; a producer (music and advertising), and a consultant (for music projects and advertising campaigns).

make their creative dreams a reality.

Historical figure you would like to meet: Leonardo da Vinci.

Résumé highlights: Soundtrack for

Best advice the movie “Welcome Maria,” produced by Mario you have Moreno aka Cantinflas – 1985; soundtrack for the received: There movie “Shadow Trap” for HBO – 1987; theme for TO MOSTisCOMMUNICATIONS always something Jack Cousteau’s pilot “Planet Water” – 1989; No. new to learn, no 1 gospel song in five Latin American countries, matter who you learn “Venid A Mí” – 1992; soundtrack for the ballet “A it from or how old Princess Song” – 1996; second place at the 2000 they are. John Lennon International Songwriting Contest with

COMPANIES,

“Voçê,” a bossa nova in Portuguese; production of contemporary classical piano album “Tales from the Piano” – 2005; second place at the 2010 John Lennon International Songwriting Contest with “Noite de Luar,” another bossa nova in Portuguese; three Addys for TV commercials with original jingles; over 5,000 voice-overs for the Hispanic advertising market.

Education: Minor in hydrobiology at the University of Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico; arts and music studies at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minnesota; music studies at the Mexico City Conservatory; at Moorpark College, Calif., and Cal State Northridge, Calif.; advertising and voice-over talent studies at Ideas Institute in Los Angeles.

ryan nichoLson, ryno PhotograPhy

ALL BUSINESSES LOOK THE SAME. Important business milestone:

First movie score for “Welcome Maria,” for actor/producer Mario Moreno, aka Cantinflas, and his son and producer Mario Arturo Moreno in 1985.

WE’D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT

Plans for the future:

WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT.

Broaden my music and voice-over talent horizons internationally.

Most challenging aspect of being a business owner: Staying in business.

Inspirational book: Don Quixote deYou’re la not just any company, we know that. So before we can develop a plan to propel you Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes.

into tomorrow, we want to learn how you do business. Then, building the right communications plan is the easy part. Whether a “familia run” business To read about –you’re and hear – Miguel, visit or a Fortune 500 powerhouse, Cox Business can customize a unique solution just for your business.

Company you admire most: Walt

mindsofmine.com

Disney, because they have overcome everything to

Phoenix: 623-594-7291 Tucson: 520-344-7901

coxbusinessaz.com Suggest an entrepreneur

Send your information to editor@latinopm.com.

LPm’s entrepreneur profile is sponsored by

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065511.01 / CBS / Same/Diﬀerent-Bird / Latino Perspectives/ Color / 7.4375x9.8125 Live / SS 3-26

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM | OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK Organized by Experience Music Project and the University of Washington Seattle, Washington

Exhibition ends May 18

mim

Joe Cuba band member Willie Torres dancing with partner at the Palladium. New York City, circa 1955.

American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music tells the story of the profound inﬂuence and impact of Latinos in American popular music. Through a rich display of artifacts, instruments, audio/visual interactives, listening kiosks, and ﬁlms, this exhibition showcases some of the most important and iconic Latino musicians of the 20th century. Free with museum admission. Sponsored by

Media sponsor

The exhibition’s national tour and related programs are made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund.

MUSICAL INS TRUMENT MUSEUM

www.theMIM.org

| 480.478.6000

4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85050 Corner of Tatum & Mayo Blvds., just south of the 101 in Phoenix Hours: Mon., Tue., Wed., Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Thu., Fri. 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

¡!

Calling all concerned communities Center for the Future of Arizona has an offer

DiD you know that only 12 percent of arizonans

believe people care about each other? Or that only 10 percent think their elected officials have their interests at heart? This is what the October 2009 Gallup Arizona Poll sadly uncovered. As a matter of fact, Arizona ranked low across the board, diagnosing the state with poor civic health all around. Borrowing a cup of sugar is not a regular occurrence in the Grand Canyon State, nor is following the news. The Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) commissioned the poll to identify certain areas of consensus and what Arizonans want for the state. Based on the Gallup research, CFA established The Arizona We Want citizens’ agenda made up of eight goals:

1. Create quality jobs 2. Educate citizens of all ages for the 21st century 3. Make Arizona “the place to be” for talented young people

4. Provide health insurance for all, with aid for those who need it

5. Protect Arizona’s natural environment, water supplies and open spaces

6. Build a modern transportation system and infrastructure

7. Empower citizens 8. Increase civic involvement The natural, next step, according to CFA’s chairman and CEO Lattie Coor, is the Five Communities Project, which will provide assistance to communities that wish to improve their lot through greater civic involvement. “None of the eight goals can be achieved without greater citizen involvement and a much greater sense of connection to one another,” says Coor, former Arizona State University president. CFA is a Phoenix-based nonprofit organization – an independent “do tank” rather than a think tank – that combines public-policy research with initiatives and collaborative partnerships to

create opportunities and quality of life for all Arizonans. Communities eligible to apply for the Five Communities Project include those with clear geographic boundaries: municipalities, school districts, tribal communities, economic development regions, religious communities and large neighborhood organizations. The first step is to submit a letter of intent by May 16, 2011, so if you have a germ of an idea, now is the time to suss it out. The center is most interested in communities that offer the most cost-effective financial strategies possible, given the potential impact and feasibility of the ideas submitted. All proposed projects must address the eight goals that reflect the Gallup poll findings. www.latinopm.com

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¡! ¡!

briefcase

Lattie Coor

CFA hopes to receive ideas that will reconnect citizens and their leaders and citizens with each other, and to take civic involvement beyond voting and volunteering. Coor says, “The Center for the Future of Arizona believes strongly in the strength of local communities, the talent available and the advantage of coming together with a unified vision for the state.” The selection committee will choose 20 community projects for the next assessment. From there, 10 finalists will be selected to develop a final proposal. They’ll each receive a $5,000 development grant to help cover costs. They will also be honored guests at the 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship, September 2223, 2011, to be held on ASU’s campuses in Phoenix and Tempe – and outside of Washington, D.C., for the very first time. Detailed guidelines and more information are available at thearizonawewant.org.

Calling women in business The U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) calls itself “a new breed” of organization focused on economic development. It claims to be “free of the outside influence and target marketing of large corporate sponsorships and political parties.” Now that’s refreshing. The USWCC released a report called The 38

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¡ May 2011!

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Women-Led Economy and wants to spread the word about it. Unlike the recent Harvard Business Review report, “The Female Economy,” which views women as mere consumers, the USCWCC report positions women as market leaders and not just family breadwinners and employees – or shoppers. The USWCC is working to harness women’s financial power for the betterment of women in business. The idea is to support women-owned businesses, provide training and access to tools and resources to drive business, career and financial growth, and last but not least, to elevate women’s authority within regional and national economic development communities. In accord with the report was the July 2010 launch of The Women-Led Economy monthly e-magazine and an online community called the USWCC|Global Women’s Marketplace. Through these venues, the USWCC continues to explore the way women are changing business and the global marketplace. Read more at womenledeconomy.com or uswcc.org.

Civic-minded Latinos in Mesa There’s a grassroots group of Latinos in Mesa who care about their city. The goal? “To address and give voice to the concerns of the Latino community in Mesa; to create linkages and partnerships with other like-minded community groups; to encourage, support and advocate for public policies that address the concerns and needs of the Latino community in Mesa and the East Valley.” This nonprofit organization is the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens (MAHC), and it’s been gathering since 1987. To stay on track to create positive change in the Mesa community, MAHC has established several committees, each with a specific focus area. Mesa residents are encouraged to become members and participate on a committee “and join MACH’s efforts to improve the quality of life in Mesa.” Interested citizens can contact the committee chair for details on how to get involved: Economic Development (Phil

briefcase Austin, Chair, attyaustin@aol.com or 480-644-0506); Education (David Luna, Chair, edtv99luna@gmail.com or 480-472-0095); Public Policy (Delia Salvatierra, Chair, deliasalvatierra@gmail. com or 480-223-0158); Alston House (Armando Espinoza, 480-209-9198); Latino Town Hall (Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo, villasauced@gmail.com). MACH holds monthly board meetings the first Wednesday of the month at 7a.m. Next meeting is April 20, 7 a.m. at Southwest Ambulance located at 708 W. Baseline, Mesa. For more information, visit mahcaz.org.

Fresh Start and PVCC team up Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and Paradise Valley Community College’s Business/IT Department have joined forces to offer The Small Business StartUp certificate to support education and training in management, marketing, finance, technology and general business applications. The Small Business Start-Up certificate is designed for individuals who want to become entrepreneurs. The program consists of 1-, 2-, and 3-credit courses offered in a variety of formats to support the schedules of prospective small business owners. Altogether, the courses provide a background in marketing, management, finance and a capstone course in which students complete a business plan. The goal of the Small Business StartUp certificate is “to create a foundation for prospective small business owners and contribute to the long-term success of the business community.” Program competencies include understanding the strategic, operational and functional role marketing plays in business growth; knowing the effects of leadership styles, employee styles and interpersonal

¡! ¡!

communication methods on the role of the supervisor, and how to motivate employees and encourage positive behavior; presenting an overview of the Internet as a marketing tool for your business needs, and finally, creating a business plan. Fresh Start Women’s Foundation is an Arizona-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping empower women through the services of the Jewell McFarland Lewis-Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center, which provides resources to more than 2,500 women a month. A Start-Up Certificate Orientation will be held at the Fresh Start Center, 1130 E. McDowell Road, on Saturday, May 21, at 1 p.m. and will include a program overview and financial aid workshop. To register for the orientation, call career services manager Amy Michalenko at 602-261-7161. More information about Fresh Start can be found at phoenix. wehelpwomen.com.

Follow your heart and your mind. Discover a rewarding career as a State Farm agent. Help others in your community while building a business that will last. Imagine what you can build if you put your mind to it. ®

BECOME A STATE FARM AGENT.

Learn more:

Volunteer opportunity for teens The Mesa Library will be holding a job fair for teens interested in spending some of their summer in a more productive way than playing video games or hanging out at the mall (libraries are air-conditioned, too). Plus, volunteering is good karma and looks good on college applications. The library has 150 volunteer positions open this summer, and they want teenagers 12-18 years old or entering 7th to 12th grade to fill them. Teens can help in several areas: at the Summer Reading Program desk, with computers, at self-checkout, book shelving and other positions. Two job fairs will be held on Saturday, May 7: at the Dobson Ranch Library, 2425 N. Dobson Road, from 10 a.m. to noon, and the Main Library, 64 E. 1st Street, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Visit mesalibrary.org for more information.

Join us on Thursday, May 19th at the West Valley State Farm Agency Field Office from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm to learn more about how you can become a State Farm agent. The office is located at 9051 W. Kelton Ln., Suite 12 Peoria, AZ, 85382. To RSVP, or for more information, please contact Chris Cruz at (602)319-7508, or Chris.cruz.gukv@statefarm.com. statefarm.com/careers

Send us your briefcase items

Have a business story idea? Email us at editor@latinopm.com.

State Farm, Bloomington, IL An Equal Opportunity Employer

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Ask the pros pros... Robert Esquivel

John Mehlem, DMD

Manager Supplier Diversity & Development APS 400 N. 5th Street Phoenix, AZ 85004 Office: 602.250.2116

Dental Consultant for Delta Dental of Arizona 5656 W. Talavi Blvd. Glendale, AZ 85383 www.deltadentalaz.com

Q: What causes tooth sensitivity? A: Sensitivity of short duration (around 1 minute) to cold,

air, sweets, usually occurs for a few reasons which include: worn enamel exposing inner layers of the tooth, receded gums with exposed roots, recent dental work, poor oral hygiene, excess acidic foods or carbonated drinks, and teeth whitening or over using mouthwashes. Remedies for these problems include improved oral hygiene, softer tooth brushes, desensitizing tooth pastes, reducing acidic food intake, evaluating recent dental work, and controlling whitening and mouth wash use. More complex causes might include advanced tooth decay, a cracked tooth, chronic tooth grinding (bruxism), swelling of the inner lining of the sinuses, eating disorders including bulimia, and advanced gum disease. In these cases, sensitivity to heat or pressure are worse and of longer duration or intensity. These conditions require a visit to your dentist for diagnosis and treatment planning.

Q: What is APS doing to ensure supplier diversity? A: With APS executive management support, we leverage

our diverse supplier base to create value across the enterprise. In turn, this develops mutually-beneficial business relationships. Our 2011 corporate initiative supporting diverse suppliers is based on the following four strategies: • Direct Spend Goals – Our Category Management Teams are each assigned a goal for procuring goods and services directly from qualified diverse businesses. • 2nd Tier Subcontracting Goals – APS embeds subcontracting or 2nd Tier requirements on contracts where appropriate. Outreach/Networking – APS is building strategic partnerships with organizations that share our vision for Supplier Diversity. • Training/Mentoring - We are collaborating with our community partners to design a program to prepare diverse businesses to be more competitive and anticipate the changing needs of the marketplace.

Adrian P. Fontes

Sharon Day

Law Offices of Adrian P. Fontes, PLLC

Registered Dietitcian Cancer Treatment Centers of America 14200 West Fillmore Street Goodyear, AZ 85338 Office: (623) 207-3000

2633 E. Indian School Rd., Ste 320 Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-595-8422 www.fonteslaw.com

Q: I got pulled-over in 2005 for a DUI and never heard from the Court. I just found-out that there is a warrant out for my arrest, but the wrong address was used in the past. What should I do?

The best advice is to deal with this immediately. But you should probably get an attorney to make a request that the Court quash (not “squash”) the warrant before you walk-into the courthouse. Many times, folks move and have a different address on record. Even if the original summons to Court got sent to the wrong address, you could still be responsible to answer for the charges. Again, an attorney could be of great help in this situation...and might be able to keep you out of handcuffs.

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Sharon, is there anything new related to the age old resolution of vowing to lose weight?

A: My number one recommendation is to set realistic goals.

Keep a diet diary for one to two weeks so you can build awareness as to what you are actually eating. Use a pedometer for a week to develop awareness as to how much movement you are getting.

Q: Why is it important to do all of this ‘research?’ A: Building awareness sets the foundation for change. Most

people aren’t honest with themselves as to what they are eating (and drinking), or how much activity they are doing (or not doing). Building awareness can be empowering and set the stage for change.

¡!

Got your diploma? Now what? A few tips on how grads can get noticed and hired

By Erica Cardenas

you’ve maDe it. you’ve workeD at it for years, anD

now the most rewarding part has arrived – you’re finally a graduate. ¡Felicidades! For some, a job may already be lined up and waiting. But for others, this signifies a time for career exploration. If you fit into the latter group, perhaps the question is, how can you land that dream job? Pues, look no further. Here are some solid ideas for boostiing your “hire-ability,” including tips for that allimportant job interview. First, here’s an important statistic to keep in mind: the National Center for Education Statistics estimates that every year, somewhere between 1 and 2 million new students graduate college annually, which equates to a whole lot of new jobseekers in the U.S. every year. Some practical advice: Before you line up a string of interviews and hit the pavement, think about strategies for finding that job after graduation. According to many online career-planning resource sites, a top rule for any jobseeker is to make connections and network. Get to know other graduate students in your field, work part time and volunteer in your field as well. Maybe you started your job search well before your graduation date. If so, ¡Bravo! Another helpful pointer is to not wait until your last semester in school to start applying for that job. Begin the application process early, as this will show potential employers that you are ambitious and motivated. And another word of advice – one that cannot go without mention and oftentimes is overlooked. Let’s face it: as a society we’re absorbed in social media. It’s a part of our daily lives in one way or another. And employers do use the Internet to learn about potential candidates. According to a recent survey by Careerbuilder.com, 45 percent of employers reported using social networking sites to research job candidates, and 35 percent reported rejecting candidates due to information they discovered about them. This means you may want to refrain from

posting expletively charged opinions or those not-soappropriate party snapshots from your online album, to say the least. Now, moving on to the Big Interview. Let’s start with a few common interview questions to get you in the appropriate frame of mind, as taken from Everydayinterviewtips.com, a site dedicated to providing jobseekers with an array of interview tips and guidelines. Don’t let these common questions fool you. There’s more to them than meets the eye. Take note, dear grads: Question #1 - Tell me about yourself You should answer this question with a focus on your education and accomplishments and stay away from answers about your personality, your social life, etc. Potential employers care about how you will contribute to the organization and what proof you have that you would www.latinopm.com

¡ May 2011!

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡! ¡! career

Opportunity in the digital age

Oportunidad en la era digital How do you become among the most reliable and trusted providers of communication and entertainment services in America? By connecting people with nearly endless opportunities to learn, grow, share and succeed. With Cox Communications, there’s no shortage of possibilities for our customers or our employees. Add your talents to the team that’s advancing communications into the Digital Age. Establish a career connection with a real and rewarding future, with one of the industry’s most respected and exceptional employers. To learn more about Cox, or to apply for open positions, visit us online. Grow with us. Crece con nosotros.

www.cox.com/coxcareer

EOE

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be a model employee. No need to mention hobbies, quirks or political persuasion at this point. Question #2 - What are your academic achievements? This may seem like a straightforward question, but actually requires a careful answer and a bit of spin doctoring. Many times graduates will give too much literal information about their achievements, like being elected president of the chess club or treasurer of a fraternity. Instead, make it sound more broad and impressive, “I was an officer in several clubs and honor societies. I also worked in several research labs and am an author of two research papers, one of which I have brought with me today.” This is not encouragement to lie, but to simply make the truth sound a little better. Question #3 - How would your professors describe you? This question requires a bit of planning; you may even want to prepare by asking one of your favorite professors how he or she would answer this. Plus, you never know whether the interviewer will ask for a reference from the professor you have just quoted. So, prepare a game plan by approaching a professor you have a good relationship with and request a reference letter. Do this in advance. This also serves to help you learn something new about yourself or your skills from discussing this with your professor.

Other tips When it comes to interviewing, preparing questions in advance, practicing and thinking of all possibilities is always a good thing. But what about those other interview tips to increase your hireability? Melissa Hawksworth Maxson is the talent recruiter for CH2M HILL in Tempe, a global engineering firm that employs over 40,000 workers worldwide. She works in the new college graduate market on providing new grads with guidance, such as interviewing skills and how to make themselves more marketable to pro-

spective employees. She Maxson coaches college graduates on how to stand out above other qualified candidates. “Prior to an interview, it helps to thoroughly review the job description and your résumé,” says Maxson, “[and] look at courses, internship experience or other jobs and directly speak to how [they] relate to the position you are seeking, as well as showcase what skills you can offer.” Maxson advises graduates to be prepared for an interviewer to ask about strengths and weaknesses. Think through how your strengths can be applied to the position you are seeking, and when it comes to weaknesses, discuss them as areas you want to make better. “It says a lot to be able to admit where you have to grow, but [it] says even more when you can articulate what you need to do to improve …” Maxson says. Once you’ve survived the interview, it’s always good to ask when you can expect to hear from someone – it shows a level of interest above and beyond shaking hands and thanking the interviewer for his or her time. Also, be sure you have a point of contact for follow-up questions, including status, whether it is a recruiter or the person who conducted the interview. Interviews sometimes end with, “Do you have any questions for us?” Do not feel obligated to ask questions if what you had planned to ask was answered, but do explain that your questions were answered and provide a few examples of what you learned during the interview that answered those questions. Now what about your résumé, cover letter and references? What can you do to make sure you’re on the right track to making a good first impression? Your résumé and cover letter are often the first contact you have with your prospective employer, so it’s important to make the best possible impression by carefully crafting your message. Remember to take advantage of your university or school’s career services center to help you. ASU’s Career Services offers students an abundance of tips for crafting résumés and employment letters. In fact, they’re

career¡!

¡!

It says a lot to be able to admit where you have to grow, but [it] says even more when you can articulate what you need to do to improve …

—Melissa Hawksworth Maxson talent recruiter, CH2M HILL actually partnering with JobSpice, an online résumé builder, to provide a variety of preferred styles to help students and grads create their résumés. Once you log on to JobSpice, you can view these preferred styles, create one or more résumés, and then take them to a career services advisor to review. Résumés created on JobSpice can be easily uploaded to job boards and emailed to potential employers. You can even create a website for your résumé from your JobSpice account. And there is no fee for current ASU students. Also, now available for current ASU students and alumni is a Résumé Drop Box, an online portal that allows the user to provide Career Services with electronic copies of résumés, cover letters, personal statements for graduate and professional schools, scholarship essays, and writing samples for employment applications. A career advisor will review the submission and provide feedback electronically within two business days. As to what to avoid in your résumé, let’s visit some common mistakes, as provided by ASU’s Career Services Center. First, you don’t want to make your résumé too long or too short. One page is recommended for a new college graduate unless he or she has an extensive work history. How’s your grammar? Disorganized, misspelled words and poor formatting are often common blunders and take away

from any graphic impact. Have someone proofread your documents. The look of your résumé may create a visual impression, but if the content is full of typos, that impression will stop there. An accepted standard in résumé writing is the omission of words like I, me or my. Bullet points that describe your work experience are always sentence fragments, because they do not have I as the subject. For example, instead of writing “I was responsible for daily tasks such as …” the standard would be “Responsible for daily tasks such as …” Personal information that is illegal to ask during interviews should not be included on your résumé, such as marital status, race, religion, etc. What about including unrelated and irrelevant personal information in your résumé? Stay clear of that one, too. Once you’ve edited your résumé, don’t get carried away with flashy formatting or nonstandard fonts or graphics. Unless you’re applying with an organization known to be highly unconventional, a very professional approach is your best bet. When it comes to your cover letter, know whom to address it to – many résumés land on the wrong person’s desk or directed to the department in the organization. Confirm in advance to whom to send your résumé and cover letter for the job you want.

Now enrolling K-9th grade! asuprep.asu.edu

At ASU Preparatory Academy, we believe that all students can achieve a four-year university degree. We prepare our students for success with personalized attention in a university-embedded academic program that empowers them to complete college, compete globally and contribute to their communities. The Phoenix campus is located Downtown at 7th St. and Fillmore. The Polytechnic campus is located in the East Valley on ASU’s Polytechnic campus near Williams Field and Power Roads. For more information, call ASU Preparatory Academy at 602.496.3322 or visit asuprep.asu.edu.

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Named one of the "Top 10 Golf Courses To Play in Phoenix" by Golf Digest Come and see for yourself. The Legacy Golf Resort 6808 South 32nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85042 602-305-0550 www.legacygolfphoenix.com

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Mother, sergeant, P.A. – in that order SSG Heather Elizabeth Barajas, Aviations Operation Sergeant Years of service: 10. Recent professional honors: Meritorious Service Medal, 2010; Army Achievement Medal, 2010; League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Excellence in Military Service Award, 2009; Diversity Champion Leadership Award, 2009; Meritorious Service Medal, 2007; Army Good Conduct Medal, 2007; Afghanistan Campaign Medal, 2007; NATO Medal, 2007; Overseas Service Ribbon, 2007; Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/ M Device, 2007

Education: Associate of Science Degree; EMT certified; BLS Certified; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Professional Rescuer, 170+ college credits toward physician assistant school.

Deployment: I have been deployed once to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Duties: As an aviation operations sergeant, I supervise and assist the set up of the tactical operations center (TOC) while in a field environment. I am a shift supervisor in the TOC, overseeing five to six enlisted personnel from the S3 section. In a garrison environment, I provide guidance, supervision and training for proper flight following and operations procedures. I also help supervise the section as a whole with administrative paperwork such as promotions, awards and training plans.

Why aviation operation? I like to be in the know – aviation operation is the central hub of information. You have the big picture of the mission; it’s where the mission information comes into the office in little pieces and leaves as a finished product.

Who is your hero? My son. He was only 3 years

old when we started the mobilization process out of state, and even at his very young age, he was very understanding and strong. He never asked why or cried when I had to go, but instead would wipe my tears when I would cry and tell me to stay strong. Without him it would have been a rough road.

Balancing service and personal life: It’s a challenge, but I try to not allow work to take over my personal life. I leave work and drill problems at work. I also try not to take my home problems with me to work. I give 110 percent to each, but each has their place. I try to make sure I spend enough time on things that are most important to me.

Next professional goal: I will be applying for physician assistant school in the fall. This will be my next big hurdle.

Nominate a candidate

Help us acknowledge those who serve. Men and women currently in the military or a first responder. Send your info to editor@latinopm.com. www.latinopm.com

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summer

classes

Whether your goal is to earn your bachelor’s degree, update your job skills, or simply learn something new — get a head start by taking classes this summer at a Maricopa Community College.

Ten colleges, two skill centers, specializing in certificate, degree, and university transfer programs.

Summer Classes Starting Soon | maricopa.edu/explore The college of you.

YOUR NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOSPICE SINCE 1977

Bringing comfort and dignity as life nears its end Serving patients with life-limiting illnesses in their own homes or in home-like inpatient units. Physicians, nurses, home care aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers and more available 24/7. The best medical, emotional and spiritual help regardless of ability to pay. To learn more about our services, call 602.530.6900 or visit hov.org Funding provided by donations designated for marketing.

Not just hospice…Hospice of the Valley 46

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ASU programs boost future teachers

TEAMS and ASU-Metro Tech Writing Center tackle math, science and English If you or someone you know has been thInkIng

about becoming a teacher, this may be an ideal time. Arizona State University (ASU) offers two programs that give students an opportunity to get hands-on, classroom experience: one is the TEAMS program, which is also a fast track to certification, and the other is the ASU-Metro Tech Writing Center. Through ASU’s Teacher Education for Arizona Math and Science (TEAMS) program, people with a degree in math or science – or a minimum of 24 credit hours in a math or science discipline – and a desire to become a secondary school teacher can gain valuable experience in a short time. ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College on the Polytechnic campus offers the TEAMS program. Students can earn an Arizona teaching certificate in one year and a master’s degree in education after a second summer of coursework. Middle and high school principals are in search of teachers with degrees in math and science, especially with strength in chemistry and physics – despite budget cuts in education. “As experienced math and science teachers retire, there is a shortage of individuals with a strong background in those content areas to replace them,” says Molina Walters, clinical associate professor in Teachers College. Walters was a science teacher for 16 years in elementary, middle and high schools. Now her focus is on educating future science teachers. On top of taking university courses, students in the TEAMS program also teach one semester at a local middle school and another semester at a high school. Of course, they get support from mentor teachers and ASU faculty. Scholarships, grants and loans are available, including the STARR Noyce Scholarship specifically for science students. Applications are now being accepted for the next TEAMS class, which begins in June. For more information about TEAMS, contact Megan Gamarra at 480-727-1084 or megan.gamarra@asu.edu. You can also visit http://education.asu.edu/content/future-students.

For those more interested in writing and language, the new ASU-Metro Tech Writing Center program, which just opened in April, teams ASU education majors and ASU Downtown Phoenix students with Metro Tech High School students. University students provide one-on-one tutoring and assist high school English teachers with struggling writers. In turn, the university students get hands-on experience preparing for teacher careers. The program is already receiving kudos for innovation and creativity. Developed by ASU English Education professor Dr. Jim Blasingame, faculty head of Languages and Cultures Dr. Barbara Lafford, and Metro Tech assistant principal Evie Cortes-Pletenik, the writing center is staffed by ASU students who tutor Metro’s students on their writing skills for individual assignments. The ASU students receive credit hours and fulfill 90 hours of field-experience requirements for their teaching degrees. Currently, seven ASU tutors work at the writing center, a number the program would like to raise to 20. The writing center is in a re-purposed classroom in the Metro www.latinopm.com

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Latino Perspectives Magazine

Design

future your own

Tech technology center and open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tutors work with individual students or small groups, teaching writing skills based on state standards while honing their skills as teaching interns. They also earn 90 hours of field experience. The ASU students realize how valuable this partnership is for their careers. “This opportunity has been more rewarding than any of us had anticipated,” says Alina Sur, a junior at ASU’s Tempe campus. “Now [I’m] able to see education through a different lens due to this experience.” “This is not just a learning laboratory for the ASU students,” says Cortes-Pletenik. “Our students see young men and women just a few years older who are becoming professional educators, and they begin to understand what it takes to become a college student and what is expected of them.” The assistant principal says the next phase for the ASU-Metro Tech partnership is to have ASU students train Metro Tech students to become peer mentors themselves.

Camp Compassion for young animal lovers

www.phoenixcollege.edu 48

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡ May 2011!

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The Arizona Human Society (AHS) has a very difficult job. Not only is their mission to improve the lives of animals, it is also to alleviate their suffering. The organization is also committed to humane education efforts, and one way they accomplish this is through their summer program, Camp Compassion. Campers ages 7 -14 receive a blend of humane and character education in a fun and creative environment, where compassion is practiced and not just preached. The young campers learn the six pillars of character and their importance to all creatures grandes y chicos and their responsibility to those creatures. Deemed “homeless animal ambassadors” by the end of the program, campers are encouraged to take their newfound knowledge to their schools and classmates and share what they’ve learned about compassion for animals – and each other.

Camp sessions begin in June and run from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Parents can register their children for one day ($50), 3-day weeks ($135) or full 6-day, two-week sessions ($250). For more information about Camp Compassion, please e-mail humaneed@ azhumane.org or register online at azhumane.org. Camp Compassion Nina Mason Pulliam Campus for Compassion 1521 W. Dobbins Road, Phoenix June Session I: 6/7 – 6/9 Session II: 6/21 – 6/23 July Session I: 7/12 – 7/14 Session II: 7/26 – 7/28

Who’s your afterschool hero? Calling all parents of young students: Who is responsible for diffusing your hijos before you pick them up after work? Gracias a dios for the people who devote themselves to a job that those more naïve may see as glorified babysitting. Oh, on the contrary. Education doesn’t stop when the bell rings. The Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence is now accepting nominations for the annual Awards of Excellence, recognizing afterschool staff, programs and leaders throughout the state for their exemplary work in delivering quality child development programs in afterschool settings. Awards will be given in 3 categories: individual, program and leadership. Afterschool programs, staff and administrators serving Arizona youth in grades K-12 in programs outside of the regular school day are eligible for an award. Candidates may be from nonprofits, public, private or faith-based programs, or any other program that supports children and youth after school. Winners will be announced at the Spotlight on Afterschool Awards of Excellence Luncheon, Wednesday,

Dr. Laura Sujo-Montes

Professor, College of Education

¡ May 2011!

so I can make a difference.

Samantha Harbison

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Elementary Education major, Class of 2012

nau.edu/difference

Ah, the summers of youth, escaping the heat and boredom in the air-conditioned school cafeteria. Hours were filled with games of carom, ping-pong or four square, eating suicide snow cones and popcorn. Oh – and lessons were learned on respect for your fellow humanos, eye-hand coordination and healthy competitiveness. Well, thankfully budget cuts haven’t killed this program and “rec,” as we used to call it, is still around. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is offering fun, affordable full-day recreation programs at 12 locations across the Valley starting in June to help parents keep their kids active, engaged and safe over the summer break. Community centers also are offering a full schedule of general-interest classes and programs for people of all ages to get active, learn new skills and have fun. Exact prices, dates, times and other details in the full-day recreation programs vary from center to center; however, most are for kids ages 6 to 12 and run from early June through July. Prices range from $280 to $350 for the seven to eight weeks. Some centers offer shorter duration program options at a reduced price. Many centers also are offering programs for teens. Participants can register online with any major credit card or register in person at any department community center or administrative office. More information is available at phoenix.gov/ parks in the Classes and Programs link. Information on the parks, programs and facilities of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is also available online or by calling 602-262-6862.

This summer will mark the sixth year for the Prague Education Abroad program through Gateway and Mesa Community Colleges. High school students, college students and lifelong learners (now, that’s a wide net) can all take advantage of this life-changing opportunity and travel not only to Prague, but to neighboring countries like Germany, Poland, Hungary and Austria. Different courses are offered, for credit or not, on topics like art history, political science, cinema and international business – a bonus to the whole experience. For more spontaneous adventurers, space is still open for the first summer session, which begins at the end of this month. A second session begins in July. New to this year’s first session is a course called Introduction to Holocaust Studies, which will integrate the Czech Republic and nearby countries as a “living laboratory” of how Fascist ideology impacted this part of the world, and its lingering impact on the Jewish community under Hitler’s regime. Students will go to the Schindler Museum in Krakow, Poland, and tour the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau. Travelers stay at exceptional residential and academic facilities. They participate in site visits, tours and excursions, and meet with Czechs who were dissidents during the communist regime and also those who participated in the Velvet Revolution of 1989, a 10-day uprising that earned Czechoslovakia its freedom. The total cost of this journey is around $2500 and includes virtually everything but airfare: tuition, lodging, weekend excursions, guided tours to many historically fascinating places and unlimited transportation in Prague. Time is of the essence. For more information, contact Susan Mills at mills@ gatewaycc.edu or at 480-242-8358, or Diana Bullen at dbullen@mesacc.edu or 480-461-7221, for program fee and tuition requirements. For other details on the Prague program and courses offered, visit http://globalpraxis.us.

I encourage students

Get off the couch and go to rec

Be spontaneous – go to Prague

The Difference that Matters.

November 9, in the Grand Ballroom of the Arizona Biltmore Resort. Nominations must be received by Wednesday, June 15. For more information and guidelines for submissions, visit azafterschool.org. To receive nomination forms by mail or email, contact Caitlin King at 602-496-3308 or caking@azafterschool.org.

Latino Perspectives Magazine

NO ONEâ&#x20AC;Ś IS IMMUNE TO CANCER

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Radiation Oncology Prostate Brachytherapy 2926 N Civic Center Plaza Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Tel: (480) 614-6300 Fax: (480) 614-6333

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University of Minnesota Dept of Therapeutic Radiology and Radiation Oncology 420 Delaware Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 Tel: (612) 273-6700 Fax: (612) 273-8459 Chihuahua Oncology Center Hacienda del Valle 7120 Fracc. Plaza las Hacienda C.P. 31238 Chihuahua, Chih

GORDON L GRADO MD, FACRO, FACR, Medical Director

Nothing to sneeze at Food allergies are the real deal by Robrt L. Pela

DavID markham was one of those kIDs who ate

paste in kindergarten. He’d sneak into the supply cupboard when his teacher wasn’t looking and wolf down a handful of the stuff, which he says tasted sort of minty and sweet at the same time. David continued this habit until one day in the third grade, when he swallowed too much of his favorite adhesive and became violently ill. Until early last year, David’s over-indulgence in epoxy was his last averse reaction to a meal. “Then one day I found myself dialing 911 after lunch. My face was swollen up and I couldn’t breathe, and I didn’t know why.” It turned out that David, who’d been lunching on crab claws for years, had developed an allergy to shellfish and could no longer eat them without blowing up like a balloon. “I’d eaten a crayfish and 20 minutes later I was covered in hives and sick to my stomach,” he says. “I’d been eating lobster and crabs my whole life, and then one day I was on my way to the emergency room because I’d just had lunch at a seafood restaurant.” There are some simple, and surprising, reasons why many of our favorite foods are less friendly to our systems than others, and why other foods we love can suddenly turn on us after years of our doting affection. And while it’s almost inevitable that most of us will develop allergies and unpleasant responses to certain foods as we grow older, it’s always possible to discover and manage these intolerances. Now’s a great time to start: May is National Food Allergy Awareness month. “As we become older, our bodies become less able to process certain kinds of foods as effectively as they once did,” according to Morton Bogdonoff, M.D., the professor of medicine at New York’s Cornell Medical Center. “One of the things that happens is we digest our food more slowly as we age, and if there is some element in that food that our body doesn’t respond well to, it tends to stay in our systems longer.” The longer that food

remains in our system, Bogdonoff says, the greater the chance our organs have to respond negatively to antigens in the food that we may be allergic to. A queasy stomach or burning throat is a message worth noting, according to Bogdonoff. “The first time your body rejects a food won’t be all that bad,” he says, “but each time you eat that food, your body will manufacture more antibodies against it. The more you do it, the more antibodies you’ll manufacture and the worse your reaction becomes each time.” www.latinopm.com

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So what causes these reactions? Why did David’s face swell up when he ate crustaceans? It’s all about histamines, Bogdonoff says, chemicals released during an allergic reaction and cause vasodilation or swelling. “That’s why you get that flushed feeling,” he says. “Your body is going after something that it perceives as ‘other,’ and the chemicals it is secreting cause an unpleasant reaction, like hives or swelling or itching.” Bogdonoff explains that we have in our bodies about three million types of cells called lymphocytes that recognize foreign compounds. When these cells locate a foreign protein in something we’ve eaten, they attack that protein. This chemical process is distributed throughout our bodies, dilating blood vessels and creating swelling or hives.

with great nutritional value that some people won’t eat. Maybe they had a bad response the first time they ate a chili pepper and they decided they’re allergic to them and won’t eat them again. Meanwhile, they’re missing out on a great source of vitamins A and C.” Chili peppers also help relieve nasal congestion and blood clots, Tribole says, “but they sometimes irritate your skin or aggravate your hemorrhoids, so people stay away. Then there’s grapefruit, which is so good for you, but which some people think they can’t even be in the same room with. Maybe they’re not allergic to citrus, but to a contaminant or to the citrus peel. It’s not good to miss out on these great foods when you might not be allergic to them.” According to Suzanne E. Weiss, project editor of Foods That Harm, Foods

While 40 percent of adults believe they have food allergies, in fact only about 1 percent of us actually do.

“Hives are a kind of alarm, telling you that there’s something going on inside that isn’t good,” Bogdonoff says. Because reactions to pollens and other allergens also produce hives and rashes, a negative response to what we eat is often mistaken for food allergies, according to Evelyn Tribole, M.S.R.D., a dietitian in private practice in Beverly Hills. “We don’t know why some people have trouble with certain foods and others don’t,” she says, “but we do know that it’s usually a gastrointestinal function and not an issue of allergy when someone has a bad reaction to food.” Tribole reports that while 40 percent of adults believe they have food allergies, in fact only about 1 percent of us actually do. “It’s important to determine what foods we’re allergic to, if any, and what we simply don’t respond well to,” she says, “because there are some foods

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That Heal, there aren’t that many foods that cause allergies. “Mostly people are allergic to things like cow’s milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, soy protein and wheat,” she says. An allergist can help distinguish between food intolerance and food allergy with a radioallergosorbent test – a simple blood study with a scary name. “Knowing what you’re actually allergic to frees you up to eat a lot of things that are really good for you,” Weiss says. Despite the trend toward consuming more whole foods, experts recommend substituting some processed foods for products that cause an allergic reaction. “The antigens that cause some allergic reactions can be removed from some foods through processing,” Bogdonoff reports. “So if you’re allergic to soy beans or peanuts, you can probably consume processed soy oil or peanut oil without any ill affect.”

Some artificial flavors are also safe substitutes, and in some cases are actually better for us, Bogdonoff says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eat salt can use lemon instead, which ups their intake of Vitamin C and adds a similar flavor to food. And staying away from additives is a good way to determine what foods you can best tolerate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and a healthier way to eat anyway.â&#x20AC;? Tribole suggests that many of us who think we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eat fiery Thai, Mexican or Indian foods are in fact responding to a single ingredient in a spicy dish. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re out at a restaurant, talk to the waiter or the cook about whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the dish you just ordered,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It may be that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pinch of cayenne in there thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the problem, not the chilies or the other ingredients.â&#x20AC;? But Bogdonoff believes that, even after you determine your dietary intolerances, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to eat at home

and prepare your own food. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Waiters arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t aware of what the additives are in their entrees, or whether thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wheat flour in the bread. With food allergies, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hidden ingredients that are the real problem. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better not to be half safe.â&#x20AC;? Weiss says that calling the restaurant ahead of time to inquire about certain dishes is appropriate, but agrees with Bogdonoff that eating at home is best. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The most important thing is to make sure that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not limiting your diet unnecessarily,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you restrict your diet without the proper knowledge of what you truly canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eat, you can end up with serious nutritional deficiencies. You want to be able to create a well-rounded diet that lets you eat as many different foods as possible.â&#x20AC;? Even paste? Weiss considers this for a minute. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s silly,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Paste should not be eaten.â&#x20AC;?

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Why would you want to eat artificial dye anyway? Oh yeah â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it makes food more fun In April, Gardiner Harris of the New York Times reported that a government advisory panel voted that there is no proof that artificially colored foods cause hyperactivity in most children, so the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no need to carry special warning labels on those foods, like Cheetos, Froot Loops, gummi bears and Jello. The debate over artificial dyes began in the 1970s when a pediatric allergist from California named Dr. Benjamin Feingold had successfully treated hyperactivity in some children by prescribing a diet that, among other things, eliminated foods with artificial coloring. Dr. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the advocacy group the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said he was disappointed but pleased that the debate had been renewed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At least the FDA is now acknowledging that dyes affect some children,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big change.â&#x20AC;? A few days later, the New York Times published a follow-up article by Harris that mentioned a study by Cornell Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Food and Brand Lab. After participants tasted Cheetos without FD&C yellow No. 6, they found they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the Cheetos (assuming they like them when they were neon orange). They said they were â&#x20AC;&#x153;bland and not much fun to eat.â&#x20AC;? Hmm. We wonder if these were children or adults. Source: New York Times, April 2011

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YOU CAN CHANGE A LIFE. REALLY.

Summer sweat and civility Sports camps focus on skills, including social ones

BE A HERO! BUILDING FUTURES MENTORING PROGRAM Our Building Futures Mentoring Program is one of our most rewarding services, and we are in desperͲ ate need of mentor volunteers. We have so many great kids, ages 6 to 18, who are at risk due to low selfͲesteem, social isolation, family problems, etc., Ͳ who just need a friend, a role model. A person who can spend a little time sharing interests, listening and ultimately raising a child’s selfͲconfidence and outlook on life. You would be amazed at what an afternoon at the ball game or a trip to the park can do for a child in need of adult companionship and guidance. Give us a call or email and we’ll explain how our program works, and how you can change a life. Really.

To learn how to become a Mentor, contact the following directors in your area: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee Kate Clarno 602Ͳ212Ͳ6179 kclarno@vosymca.org Mesa Susan Long 602Ͳ212Ͳ6186 slong@vosymca.org Carefree, Cave Creek, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale Barb Harp 602Ͳ212Ͳ6289 bharp@vosymca.org Central Phoenix, South Mountain, Chris Town Marta Grissom 602Ͳ212Ͳ6187 mgrissom@vosymca.org Maryvale, Glendale, Southwest Valley Jessica Mena 602Ͳ212Ͳ6192 jmena@vosymca.org Regional Director Robert Neese 602Ͳ212Ͳ6071 rneese@vosymca.org

By Rosa Cays

It seems that In the last 10 to 15 years,

physical education, or P.E., as vital as it is to growing minds and bodies, has increasingly become an elective part of the curriculum in public elementary and high schools instead of a standard in education. Like art and music, it has been shoved to the back burner, despite studies that have shown its importance in children’s physical and mental well-being. According to a P.E. fact sheet online at the American Heart Association website, “Only 3.8 percent of elementary schools, 7.9 percent of middle schools and 2.1 percent of high schools provide daily physical education or its equivalent for the entire school year.” And nearly 25 percent of schools don’t require P.E. at all, yet 95 percent of parents believe P.E. should be part of K-12 curriculum. So, until school district boards, administrators, parents and legislators get things straightened out, parents and students can make up for the lack of P.E. in school by going to a sports camp this summer. The options are endless. Sports camps across the state offer everything from first-time lessons to expert coaching in many areas of athletics, with development of team attitude, good sportsmanship, confidence and leadership thrown in at every level. Here’s a kick-start to your search.

Arizona Sunrays Camp Gymtastic This training center has earned the title of U.S. National Team Training Center for placing gymnasts on the U.S. National Team since 1990. Owner Dan Witenstein used to be the assistant coach for ASU’s women’s gymnastics team; his wife Julie

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was an instructor and compulsory coach. They want kids “to experience the joy of physical activity.” Arizona Sunrays’ summer camp has a theme every week that includes gymnastics and other sports like soccer, dodgeball, karate, swimming and obstacle courses. Seems like a good introduction to gymnastics for those showing early interest. Age 3-12 Location 3110 E Thunderbird Road, Phoenix Dates Weekly camps starting May 23 Fee Half-day (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.): $148; Full-day (8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.): $212.50 plus registration and deposit fees More info: arizonasunrays.com or 602-992-5790

Sun Devil Aqua Sport Camp Arizona State University head diving coach Mark Bradshaw and the Sun Devil Divers offer this camp for just a couple of weeks, a unique opportunity for young swimmers (who are comfortable in deep pools). The camp takes place at the Mona Plummer Aquatics Center on the ASU campus. Students get instruction in swimming and springboard diving from some of the finest athletes at ASU, and though it’s not an intensive sport camp, kids will learn good technique and have fun at the same time. Age: 7-13 Location: Mona Plummer Aquatics Center, ASU Tempe campus Dates: June 13-17; June 20-24 Fee: $185 per week of camp (with a variety of discounts available) More info: sundevilaquasportcamp. com or contact Coach Bradshaw at mark. bradshaw@asu.edu or 480-965-3636

D-backs Baseball Academy Now in its 12th season, the academy is the official baseball division of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Camps and clinics are offered throughout the calendar year during school breaks, including summer, at Chase Field, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Grand Canyon University and local schools and parks throughout the Valley. Enrollment is limited to 10 students per qualified instructor. A group of former professional players and the best local collegiate and high school coaches handpick the instructors, who teach throwing, receiving, hitting, infield, outfield, base running, pitching and catching. Camp hours are from 8 to 11 a.m. and include 15 hours of instruction, a D-backs t-shirt, hat and a free ticket to a D-backs home game. Age: 6-12 Location: Varies; baseball parks throughout Arizona from week to week Dates: Weeklong camps from May 23-27 through June 27-July 1 Fee: $175 per week More info: Visit dbacks.com (pull down Community menu, click on youth programs under related links); contact the training center at tc@dbacks.com or 602-462-6340.

YMCA Camp Chauncey Ranch Is your kid ready for real camp? On a real ranch? Just a 60-minute drive north of Phoenix, Chauncey Ranch is a 5000acre working ranch for kids, located on the Agua Fria River surrounded by cottonwood trees, willows, green pastures, a sports field, a lake, riding arenas and barns. Eleven enclosed cabins with evaporative coolers and built-in bunks keep the campers comfortable without being coddled. Campers participate in a variety of physical activities and programs geared toward their age, including archery, canoeing, ranching (Vaqueros – which entails a full half-day at the barn with an introduction to horses, horsemanship and a trail ride), low ropes and trap and skeet, to name a few. Additional trail rides and Saddle Club are also available. A stay at

Healthy Employee is a Happy and more Productive Employee! A

Chauncey Ranch fosters positive values, instills greater confidence and teaches young campers that they can accomplish just about anything. Age: 7-16 Location: 18970 E. Old Sycamore Rd., Mayer, AZ Dates: Season – May 29 to July 23 Fee: Varies, depending on chosen programs, Y membership and other options; financial aid is available More info: Go to azycamps.org/ ranch_camp, call 800-660-1385 or email azycamps@vosymca.org.

Junior golf camps at The Phoenician Don’t let the location of this camp fool you – it’s actually more affordable than you’d think, especially for the younger golfistas. Michael Lamanna, PGA, runs the junior golf camps at this renowned resort in Scottsdale for different age groups: the Golden Bears for ages 8 to 11; the Little Linksters for ages 5 to 7. They learn all the golf basics, including etiquette. The Phoenician “Top Gun” Junior Golf Camp for advanced golfers ages 12 to 18 is the most expensive at $500, but it includes 12 hours of instruction, four Q&A lunches with the instructor, golf after 1 p.m., a free summer junior membership at The Phoenician Golf Club and other perks. Instruction focuses on full-swing fundamentals with video playback, understanding ball flight control and the mental aspect of the game, plus more. If this interests you, register soon – only a handful of golfers per camp. Age: 12-18 Location: The Phoenician Golf Club at the Resort, 6000 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale Dates: May 31-June 3; June 14-17; June 21-24 (Junior); June 28-30 (Golden Bears); June 28-30 Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Juniors); 9 to 11 a.m. (Golden Bears and Little Linksters) Fee: $500 (Juniors); $175 (Golden Bears and Little Linksters) More info: Visit lamannagolf.com or contact Mr. Lamanna at 480-423-2450 or mlamanna@troongolf.com.

Contact the YMCA Corporate Wellness Team to add Wellness to your Employee Benefits

Phone: 602.404.9622 Email: corporatewellness@vosymca.org Website: www.valleyYMCA.org

A YMCA Membership is the Valley’s BEST VALUE for Health, Fitness & Life Enrichment Programs

FREE Health Assessments . FREE Fitness Classes including Zumba, Body Pump, and Yoga . FREE Water Fitness Classes . FREE Amazing Kids and Teen Center while you work out for Family Memberships . FREE Senior Programs Reduced Rates on Swim Lessons, Youth Sports, Summer Day Camp, After School Programs . Priority Registration for all YMCA Programs . Access to computerized Fitness Software. The YMCA has something for everyone: kids, teens, adults, & families. Come visit and let us show you why a YMCA membership is your best choice! Youth Development Healthy Living Social Responsibility

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¡! my perspective on: a new education paradigm

Access, excellence, results By Beatriz Rendón

In an environment where too many educational institutions have historically failed to improve academic outcomes for students, ASU Preparatory Academy (ASU Prep) aims to defy traditional models and be the catalyst for driving education reform, providing a higherquality education and developing innovative educational constructs for delivering quality instruction. ASU and ASU Prep, as a public charter, is developing partnerships with traditional public education institutions, including the Phoenix Elementary, Tempe Elementary, Kyrene Elementary and Tempe Unified school districts to increase access, excellence and improve academic outcomes for all students. Overcoming the challenges of public education will not be resolved overnight. There are no magic bullets, and incremental improvement will not generate the momentum necessary to match the needs of deserving students in our community. ASU understands the level of urgency underscoring these challenges, and through our efforts at the ASU Prep, our goal is to create a pathway to the university for these students. ASU and ASU Prep are committed to providing each student with an exceptional education that includes completion of a four-year university degree, a commitment to serving the greater good and an informed perspective that affords a competitive advantage. ASU has invested itself in redesigning public education by operating its own free, public K-12 charter schools through ASU Prep. Serving the Central Phoenix and the East Valley communities, ASU Prep aims to educate students at the rate, speed and depth necessary to produce learners that are capable of learning at a high speed and can then apply what they have learned to any problem or project. We believe every child exhibits bright promise, can be a successful university graduate and aim to provide all students with a university-embedded educational experience throughout their entire educational experience in our schools. Our East Valley campus is in its third year of operation and is located on multiple sites both near and on the ASU Polytechnic Campus. This campus is an excelling school and has been since

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its first year of operation. While this school serves a different demographic than our downtown site and has a slightly different focus, our standards and expectations across both campuses are the same. Working with our ASU and Phoenix Elementary School District (PESD) partners to serve our Central Phoenix campus, we have created a strategic partnership with the university, charter and traditional school systems to improve academic achievement for all students. We are combining our efforts and leveraging each other to provide innovative business and rigorous instructional models that help us sustain and support a personalized approach to meeting the academic needs of all of our students, despite the tough economic realities that exist. Our school in Central Phoenix is located on the corner of 7th Street and Fillmore and is currently in its second year of operation. Largely from the community, 85 percent of the students attending are economically disadvantaged by federal free-and-reduced-lunch standard. Seventy-two percent of the population is Latino; 15 percent is African American and 10 percent is Caucasian. As a “turnaround” school, most of the students we educate arrive to our school sometimes 2-3 grade levels behind. We are committed to ensuring these students will not only make the progress to perform at grade level, but exceed grade-level standards. For students already at grade level, we are committed to helping them exceed academic standards and fully realize their academic potential. We expect excellence from students and teachers and work with our partners to achieve a level of excellence absent for too many students, especially in these communities. ASU Preparatory Academy (ASU Prep) is part of the University Public Schools, Inc. network and is currently implementing a K-8 program, expanding and now enrolling for 9th grade at both campuses. ASU Prep will expand to PreK-12 by 2014. For more information or to enroll at one of our schools, please visit asuprep. asu.edu or call 602-496-3322. Beatriz Rendón is an associate vice president of Educational Outreach and Student Services at Arizona State University. She also serves as CEO of University Public Schools Inc. Beatriz holds a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona in Political Science.

my perspective on: social justice ¡!

A new but familiar struggle hope as parents that the struggle we fought, our children won’t have to fight again. … We fought our battles against racism and discrimination, thinking, ‘Now you guys can just live your lives,’ but what is going on now in Arizona, we all have to do something about it.” Today in Arizona, the younger generation finds itself at the doorstep of a new but familiar struggle. Tucson Unified School District students and alumni are currently in the midst of a battle to save the district’s ethnic studies programs. Last year, undocumented students risked deportation after staging a sit-in at Sen. McCain’s Tucson office to garner support for the DREAM Act. Last year, more than a thousand students walked out of several high schools across the state to protest S.B. 1070. Like their counterparts in the 60s and 70s, all are inspired by a common vision for positive change – for a better future. Inspired by the previous generation’s stories of courage, the next generation recognizes they must pick up the torch and carry on the struggle to protect the gains achieved by those who came before us. And this is why I am exploring a run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona’s Congressional District 1. At a time when our most vulnerable communities are under attack, we need strong leaders to stand up for the rights of everyone to pursue opportunities for a better life. I hope to do my part to help the youth achieve not only their own dreams and aspirations for a better life, but the dreams and aspirations of their families and communities. Wenona Benally Baldenegro, a member of the Navajo Nation, grew up in rural northern Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University. Wenona is a Harvard-educated attorney who also received her master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She has dedicated her professional career to helping financially struggling families and neighborhoods rise out of poverty. Wenona is married to Salomón F. Baldenegro, son of Mexican-American civil-rights icon Salomón R. Baldenegro. She is currently exploring a run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona’s Congressional District 1. www.latinopm.com

¡ May 2011!

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On April 1, 2011, I attended Dr. Cornel West’s talk, “Borders to Democracy,” at the University of Arizona to listen to him share his insights on race and immigration with university students and Tucson-area residents. In his introductory remarks, I listened to Brother West tell the crowd how good he felt at the time to be in Arizona – the state at “the epicenter of the human rights struggle.” I embraced the welcoming affirmation that our state, rich with diverse cultures and deep histories, is at the forefront of a new civil rights movement led by a new generation of young people inspired to fight for a better tomorrow. For many young people in Arizona, the struggle for social justice began a year ago when Gov. Brewer signed S.B. 1070, Arizona’s controversial law requiring police to check the immigration status of individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. Meanwhile, for other youth, the fight began in 2006 when former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne began his crusade to eliminate the Tucson Unified School District’s Mexican American Studies program by drafting H.B. 2281, the state legislation banning the teaching of ethnic studies courses in Arizona’s public schools. However, for my father-in-law Salomón R. Baldenegro (“Sal Sr.”) and other veteran activists of Arizona’s Chicano movement, the recent wave of hostile measures targeting the Latino community is something they’ve experienced before in their past. In a recent Tucson news article (Tucson Weekly, Mar. 31, “Being Baldenegro”), Sal Sr. shared his memories of fighting for equality and justice in his early 20s when he helped lead the Tucson student walkouts in 1969 and the El Rio Golf Course takeover in 1970. Like many civil rights activists of his generation, their courage to take up the fight for civil rights was driven by a hope that future generations would not have to undertake the same battles. In the article, Sal Sr. remarks, “We all

Send us your perspective on whatever moves you. Email editor@latinopm.com.

By Wenona Benally Baldenegro

Latino Perspectives Magazine

P.S.

Stella Pope Duarte

La Norteña By Stella Pope Duarte

my mother, rosanna pope, was born

in Phoenix, Arizona, and was left without a mother before she was two years old. Abuelita Pope died, and after that, my mother was shuffled around from family to family, playing the role of Cinderella for anyone who needed her. A Mexican national, Manuel Portugal, fell in love with my mother when she was in her teens. He wanted her to marry him and live with him in Mexico. My Irish grandfather Solomon Pope did what he could to stop the marriage, but Manuel was bent on possessing my mother – a beauty, as seen in old photos of her looking like a movie star. Eventually, she crossed the border to live in Sonora, Mexico, with him and picked up a new name to boot. On the other side of the border, Mexican women made fun of my mother, because she didn’t speak exactly like they did and because she was “una Americana” trying to pass as a Mejicana. They called her La Norteña, the woman from the north. In my mother’s mind, she was Mexican, until she actually started living in Mexico. Then she found out she didn’t belong. Not here, and not over there. On one side, she was too high and mighty,

too stylish. On the other side, she was ignorant, poor and disrespected by the Anglos. Still, she chose, like a bird pecking away at its cage door and finally springing it open to freedom. A dream set her destiny in motion. She saw herself on a train back to the place of her birth, and beside her sat Christ. “I recognized Him by His profile,” she said. “There He was with me and my two little girls. And what do you think that meant?” I knew the answer. “He was telling you to come home,” I said. Once she crossed the border, my mother had to learn all over again how to take her place and disappear, without a sound, into the madness of el gringo, who made mincemeat out of land deeds, claiming everything was his, from the border of Nogales to wherever the eagle changed wings and became a sea gull flying over the Atlantic. Frankly, I’m glad La Norteña came back; otherwise I wouldn’t be writing about her now. She eventually married my father Francisco Duarte and added six children to the two girls, Linda and Lena, who rode on the train with her from Mexico. I had heard the story of La Llorona, the Weeping Woman from my mother. She had drowned her two children in a

raging river. After the notorious deed, La Llorona sought to save her children from the river, only to find that it was too late. To this day, it is said that she searches for her children, flying in the air, spying her own offspring in the face of every Mexican child on earth, trying to recover the parts of herself she chose to destroy. “That is the story of women,” my mother would say. “Are you listening, mija? La Llorona flies over the border every night and no one can stop her – and if you think that’s not courageous, well, I can tell you a thing or two! And that’s the way to live, mija, never lacking in courage no matter which side of the border you’re on.” La Norteña’s words ring true today. An imaginary line drawn on the dirt by men cannot measure who we are. My mother understood that “home” is only an illusion. The heart is the home, and either side cannot contain it.

Stella Pope Duarte was born and raised in South Phoenix. She began her writing career in 1995 after she had a dream in which her deceased father told her that her destiny was to become a writer. Her work has won awards and honors nationwide. 58

Latino Perspectives Magazine

¡ May 2011!

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