Aztlan-Network-News Blog: Flashback: Latino Leaders: THE BEST OF 2008

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Monday, december 15, 2008. No. 98

THE BEST OF 2008


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ON THE COVER:
THE BEST OF 2008

We´ve worked hard all year to bring you the best of Latino Leaders. Now, we revisit some of the best leaders that we had throughout the year to remember why they are still relevant today.

By Wendy Pedrero

As the year comes to a close, there is no doubt in the mind of every American that 2008 will be remembered for a long time to come.

This was a year of challenges, of hardships, of extended loss and uncertainty…and ultimately, for the American culture, this was a year of astonishing change.

For the first time, the country witnessed a presidential battle that included one woman and one black man, and for the first time, that black man won, making him the first African-American president elected in U.S. history. His message of change resonated so loudly among the American people that we turned out at the polls in record numbers, whether to support him or not, and in the process we, as a people, also made history. Our voices counted like never before, and they were heard loud and clear.

We at Latino Leaders dealt with many of the challenges that most of the nation did as well: a stunningly drained economy, limited growth and the uncertainty of the direction that the industry, if also the rest of the country, would take in the end. But we remained determined in our commitment to our readers and we continued to provide what has made us the premier magazine of the community today: a solid stream of editorial contents, filled with the voices of the very men and women who are holding the reins of this country's future in their hands today..

This special section, which we proudly present to you, is a collection of some of the best leaders that graced our pages in 2008. At a time where so much was at stake in this country, and the rest of the world, these men and women took a brief respite to share their stories with you, and we were honored to be the vehicle for them.

Because they embody all that is good about this country and what we Latinos contribute to it on a daily basis, we're sharing their stories with you one more time. Their value is immortal, and we know that you'll enjoy revisiting them.

To you, our readers: thank you for another wonderful, successful year. May you enjoy a prosperous year 2009, and may you continue to find our work worthy of your continued support.

Change is in the air indeed…and we hope, for the sake of all of us, that it is a good kind of change.

David Hayes-Bautista
Director, Center for the Study of Latino Health
And Culture at UCLA School of Medicen

THE DATA
COLLECTOR

Interviewed at his offices
in UCLA in January, 2008
By Mariana Gutierrez
Photos for Latino Leaders by Ejen Chuang

David Hayes-Bautista is perhaps one of the most prominent authorities in the field of Latino health. His studies have proved invaluable in the detection and treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions that broadly affect the Latino population.

Still, for having built such an admirable career, Hayes-Bautista remains remarkably humble about his beginning.

"In 1970, a group of parents from St. Elizabeth's Church [in L.A.] decided to do something about the lack of healthcare in their community," he says. "They wanted to open a clinic, and because I had been doing some community work in east Oakland they approached me and asked me to be the director. I was just beginning my studies, but when they explained I was the only person they knew that had anything to do with medicine I had to accept."

Of his passion and plans for the future, Hayes-Bautista shared: "I am trying to encourage more Latinos to enter this field through pipeline programs like Medicos Para el Pueblo. We have course work, summer workshops and experiential events among other programs to encourage students to go into the field of academic medicine so that they will continue doing research.

"We are studying very complicated issues and I feel like I'm just beginning to understand things, so it is clear that it will be up to the next generation to find the answers."

Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola
Director, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, UC Davis, California

THE HEALTH BELIEVER

Interviewed at his offices
in the UC Davis in January, 2008
By Corina Miller
Photos for Latino Leaders by Jacqueline Hammer

Perhaps one of the most verbally humble leaders that we featured this year, Sergio spoke passionately about his commitment to help Latinos acquire quality health care, but not without first giving credit to his loved ones for the achievements he's so far realized.

"Thanks to the unfailing support I've gotten from my wife Diana and our children, plus my in-laws and my own family, what I have been able to accomplish is in many ways the result of a collective effort," said Sergio. "My family has consistently and lovingly provided a comfort zone that has allowed me to venture into new things."

During the interview, Aguilar-Gaxiola was clear about the reasons why Latinos still struggle with health care. "Latinos usually are not aware of the health problems that are affecting them, especially when it comes to mental health issues. They often don't even have a name for them," he said. "There is disconnection between the magnitude and impact of problems they typically have, whether it's diabetes, obesity or hypertension, and certainly in areas involving mental health."

Having mentioned his goal to educate the public about the need to consider the totality of health, including mental health, and integrate it into our health care system, Sergio offered a revealing piece of advice: "If we don't focus on education and mental health care, it's going to be very difficult for Latinos to achieve greater success. We must work together to increase access to education and access to health care. Our future, and our children's future, truly depends on it."

Teresa Rodriguez
Journalist, Author and Co-Host of
Univision´s "Aqui y Ahora"

THE WOMAN CHRONICLER

Interviewed at her offices in Univision
Studios in Miami in March, 2008
By Valerie Menard
Photo for Latino Leaders by Elio Escalante

This year's women's edition was packed with stories of remarkable Latinas. Among them was Teresa Rodríguez, who at the time had just released a book chronicling the serial murders of hundreds of women in Juarez, Mexico.

At the time, Teresa confessed to us that, however brilliant and fruitful, her career path came to her quite unexpectedly. "As a girl, I wanted to become someone who could champion the less fortunate, so a law career was what I dreamed of," she said. "But I accepted a position as a TV business journalist, thinking [that] I would work for a while, save up money, and then apply for law school." As her story goes, law school never came.

In 1998, Teresa experienced the culmination of her many years of hard work as a journalist when she was asked to cover the serial murders of young Latinas in Juarez, Mexico. She followed the story for five years, but frustrated with the story's lack of national attention, she began a book project to expose it. The Daughters of Juarez: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border became a literary success.

A vivid example of true grit and leadership, Teresa shared with us what a real leader should be. "A leader is someone who isn't scared to take chances. A true leader has a dream and the courage to follow it."

Without a doubt, in our books Teresa fits the bill.

Elsa Murano
President, Texas A&M University

THE ILUSTRIOUS ACADEMIAN

Interviewed at her offices in the Texas A&M
Campus in February, 2008
by Cesar Arredondo

Another remarkable story in the women's edition this year was that of Elsa Murano, a scientist and educator who after applying for the president's post at Texas A&M University at College Station got the job and made history in more ways than one.

Murano is the first minority, Hispanic and woman to hold the position in a school that once was an all-male institution. She's also the youngest president ever of Texas A&M.

For all the success that she's so far achieved, Elsa, a Cuban immigrant, had her share of challenges to meet. "Here I am, an immigrant who came to the United States sort of pretty late in life", Murano said. "I was 14, did not speak English, and I got thrown into the educational system in a different culture I wasn't used to. It was my mother alone raising us kids," she also recalled. "We didn't have any money."

At the time, Elsa recalled in our interview that "I never thought of becoming a university president. I'm a scientist first and foremost. I'm a microbiologist, an educator, a teacher. I started my career as a faculty member, as a research scientist and did that very well. I enjoyed it thoroughly."

For Elsa, who quickly established as a priority raising the number of Latino students in the A&M system, the reasons for striving to succeed are obvious. "The possibilities and opportunities in the U..S. are limitless. It doesn't mean it's easy; there are obstacles along the way and some people have it easier than others. Life isn't fair. You just have to persevere."

María Contreras-Sweet
President and Chairwoman of the Board Promerica Bank

THE DARING BANKER

Interviewed at her offices
in Los Angeles in March, 2008
By Judi Jordan

María Contreras-Sweet's rags to riches story put Cinderella's to shame. From collecting bottles off the street for refunds as an immigrant, to opening her own full services bank in Los Angeles, the story of Contreras-Sweet resonated strongly among our readers for its inspirational optimism. Still, it's a story surrounded by a strong will and some strong mentoring figures.

"My grandmother taught me there's so much power in saying yes. People would always come to her if they were in need, and she would say, 'maybe if we make another three escapularios… – we'd sell those and have enough – she always found a way. I loved my grandmother so much…and I learned so much from her."

Determined to achieve success without having to depend on others, Mexican born María forged ahead courageously until she was able to make her current endeavor a reality. Today, Promerica Bank is the first Latino-owned business bank in California in over 35 years to serve small to mid-sized businesses with a focus on the Latino community.

"We all have a purpose," said María then. "Sometimes we know it and sometimes we don't. We have to be open to everything and be willing to do the work. It's like the old story where the man prays to God: 'Why didn't I win the lottery?', and God replies: 'You have to buy the ticket.'"

"I want to see the voice I'm given inspire people to love my country the way I do."

Susan González
Corporate Senior Director of Federal and External
Affairs and Vice President of the Comcast Foundation

THE CORPORATE PHILANTHROPIST

Interviewed at her offices
in Philadelphia in March, 2008
By Francis Lora

Susan Gonzáles represents the epitome of philanthropy. When we spoke with her in March, she shared with us a strong family tradition for helping others, which also became the driving factor in her professional path today.

"My father was extremely active with LULAC throughout my childhood, so I was always brought along or dragged along to meetings, conventions, and events, and I saw him working to provide children with scholarships," she said. "I saw in my father and mother the responsibility to help others, very much in the same way that Comcast has afforded me the opportunity to serve others."

In our conversation, Susan also spoke about the importance of women, especially Latinas, asserting their place in society. "We have to do our part as Latinas and ask why many of the same people think we have no part or role, because with Latinas that's not the case. We have a responsibility to have a seat at the table and be the voice of the community and help corporations understand the Latino perspective. As we do this, more and more corporations will open up to us, to our market."

Typical of her no-nonsense approach to life, Susan ended the conversation with a very revealing comment: "I function more on believing that I am on the path that I am supposed to be in. We all have our dreams and our plan, but I have learned that there is another plan out there. So in 5 years, I will be finding new ways to break new ground for people coming up behind me to take my seat at the table."