Moving Forward In Puerto Rico

by Lorena Gonzalez  — In English & Spanish

More than 45 community, faith, and higher education leaders came together March 25-26 for a training session sponsored by NAHF and conducted by Urban Strategies in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico.  The group met to explore how they could work together to create effective programs to strengthen families in the southern part of the Island.

The discussion was sometimes passionate and always respectful and purposeful with each voice honored. “This is an historic day!” exclaimed one participant. “It is the beginning of people doing for people. We can’t wait any longer for someone else to do this for us. We need to do it for ourselves.”

One 13-year-old participant observed that “the family and parents are important. When ‘nenes’ don’t have parents who can listen or guide them, they find other people to listen and that’s not good because others may not know or give the best guidance. Parents love us and we have to talk.”

Following exercises to determine needs and next steps, participants organized themselves into a new group called the Puerto Rico Family Service Alliance (PRFSA). The two-day training session wrapped up with enthusiastic support for an action plan to be implemented over the next nine months.

NAHF is privileged to witness and support this extraordinary process. We fully agree with one participant who echoed a statement made at our first gathering in 2008: “Today is the future.”

En Español

Mas de 45 lideres de la communidad, grupos de fe, y de alta educacion se reunieron los dias 25 y 26 de marzo para una sesion de entrenamiento auspiciada por el  grupo National Alliance for Healthy Families (NAHF) y la empresaria Urban Strategies en Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico.  El grupo se reunio para explorar el tema de come se puede trabajar en conjunto para crear programs effectivos con el proposito de reenforzar las familias en la parte sur de la Isla.

Las discusiones provocaron mucha pasion en los participantes y cada voz que se alzaba fue honrada con respeto y con proposito.  “Este es un dia historico!” exclamo un participante.  “Es el comienzo de la gente luchando por la gente.  No podemos esperar mas para que alguien lo haga  por nosotros.  Necesitamos hacerlo nosotros por nosotros mismos.”  Un participante joven de 13 anitos observo que “la familia y los padres son importante.  Cuando nenes no tienen sus padres para que los escuchen o para guiarlos, ellos buscan otra gente que los escuche y eso no es bueno porque otros posiblemente no saben o no les dan el mejor consejo.  Nuestros padres nos aman y es necesario dialogar.”   El grupo de lideres pasaron por algunos ejercicios sobre el tema para determinar las necesidades y los pasos para tomar, organizandose en un nuevo grupo llamado Puerto Rico Family Service Alliance (PRFSA).  Los dos dias de entrenamiento concluyeron con un  ambiente de entusiasmo dispuestos a apoyar e implementar un plan de accion que se llevara acabo en los siguientes nueve meses.

Es un privilegio para NAHF testiguar y apoyar este extraordinrio proceso.  Estamos llenamente de acuerdo con un participante que exclamo una frase que fue hecha en nuestra primer reunion in 2008:  “Hoy es el futuro.”

Overcoming Obstacles For Family

Rick Moreno (Texas) Shares His Story of Achievement

My dad was a rancher and my mom was a housewife.  Last year I completed my doctoral program.  Walking across the stage to receive my PhD made me realize that accomplishing a dream takes determination.  For me, the determination to walk across that stage came from many, many talks on summer evenings eating watermelon with my grandparents on their porch, listening to their “consejos” about what it takes to be successful in life. This determination was what I learned from watching my mom make ends meet after a tumultuous marriage and divorce.

My determination to succeed was met with many challenges.  My first challenge came when I decided to go to college rather than “work on the ranch.” There was no pressure to attend college, and none of my friends were motivated to leave Laredo, TX.  The struggle I went through accomplishing my first degree was overcoming my shyness to move to Austin after living in a small city and spending most of my weekends at the ranch. The next challenge came in making the decision to travel 300 miles for every weekend class from Laredo to San Antonio and back.  For two years, every weekend, at four or five o’clock in the morning, I would start out for class. The first year into my program, I changed jobs, my wife and I had twins, and unfortunately my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  I completed my program with a 4.0 grade point average, all while trying to be a good husband, dad, and son.  My mom passed away shortly before graduation. I promised her I would continue until I completed my PhD.  This entailed another six years of driving 150 miles to San Antonio and another 150 miles back to Laredo.

Walking across the stage last year made me think of all these challenges — driving at all hours of the night,  missed birthday parties, missed weddings, missed time spent on many special family occasions.  But walking across the stage also made me realize that the most awesome feeling of accomplishing my dream is knowing my children were part of this journey.  To them, the “norm” is going all the way to achieving their doctorate.  I was able not only to change my generations’ accomplishments, but also the generations to follow.  My son’s dream is to become a paleontologist and my daughter wants to become a heart specialist.

Most of all, I was able to keep my promise to both myself and my mom.  I was blessed with the unconditional love of my grandparents, my mom, my brother, my sister, my wife, and now my children. That’s my story…from the heart!

Editor’s Note:  Please send your family story to NAHF for publication in future posts (christyrosche@hispanicfamily.org).

Identifying With Families

By Lorena Gonzalez

For a group of immigrants living in Nebraska, self-identity is defined by family.

Last month, during snowy and blistering cold conditions, a leadership workshop was conducted for families of Grand Island, Nebraska. Yes, there are Latinos in Nebraska! These families came to learn how to lead their children to a successful life through a series of leadership workshops.

As I observed the group in action, I heard story after story about love for this country from parents who are willing to work hard in any job to ensure the possibility of a better life for their children. Many work in meat packing plants doing anything to earn a living.  ”I used to be pretty,” said one mother, “but now I work with men, dress like a man, and get paid like men. I don’t mind doing the work as long as I know I can help provide for my family.”

This attitude is prevalent in the stories and dreams of many families.  “I want to do right by this country,” one father said. “I want to follow the laws and give back.  But I don’t want my children to forget where we came from.  I don’t want them to forget that their grandfather and father were sheep herders.  In moments of despair,” he said, “I want my children to remember we worked hard and we dreamed big about a future where our children would have opportunities.”  With tears streaming down his face, he said, “I’m proud of my work in the fields.  It is honest work and demonstrates I am willing to do anything with these two hands for my family.”

Over and over I heard mothers and fathers define themselves by the work they did for their children. In a group activity, parents were asked “what are you good at doing?” I expected to hear them respond with talents such as playing soccer or singing. Without hesitation all but one of the 50-plus participants proudly talked about their job, not only the type of work they were involved in, but the consequence it had on their family.

One father proudly stated, “I am great at construction and using my hands to ensure my kids don’t have to.”  Another father said,  “God has given me a strong back to work hard so I can get my children ahead. I’m not going to let God or my family down.”

Happy New Year!

The new year is filled with excitement — especially for those who recently celebrated the graduation of a son, daughter … or parent.  We often think of May as graduation month and forget mid-year graduations in December. At a recent ceremony, students in San Antonio shared love and thankfulness for their families. “If it weren’t for my family, this degree would not be possible,” one student said. Heriberto Guerra, Chairman and CEO of Avanzar Interior Technologies thanked his family, especially his father, for setting him on the path to success. “It started at home. My foundation for learning began as my father taught me the art of negotiation,” he said.

Students were asked to stand if they were the first in their families to obtain a college degree.  More than fifty percent of the students stood up, and one older woman whispered to her daughter, “Mija tu lo hiciste, ya tenemos un graudado/daughter. You did it. We now have a graduate.”

A college degree is a wonderful gift to receive, support, and celebrate. Happy New Year, and congratulations December 2009 graduates!

“Angel” Award Nominee

The work of the National Alliance for Hispanic Families is being recognized through the Red Dress Society’s Angel award, given to individuals behind important social causes. This award is intended to help build awareness for the work, mission and accomplishments of the organization each winner represents. The first Angel award will be selected from a group of 23 individuals working in and around San Antonio, Texas, including Dr. Lorena Gonzalez, director of NAHF. Over the next year, Angel awards will be shared monthly in different cities throughout the country.

“The family is the foundation for a healthy start in life.” Dr. Gonzalez said.  “Our work at NAHF will result in healthier families, communities, and ultimately a healthier country.  We are taking the lead in setting a national agenda supporting policy, research, and programming.”

The winner of the 2009 award will be announced at a ceremony on December 14th in San Antonio.  To vote for Lorena and share a comment about her leadership and cause, visit:

http://www.thereddresssociety.com/Vote4YourNominee/tabid/67/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/20/VOTE-National-Alliance-to-Hispanic-Families-Director-Dr-Lorena-Gonzalez.aspx

Happy Thanksgiving

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we want to express our sincere gratitude to all of you who serve and strengthen families throughout this country. We’ve met with many groups over the past year, all of which are led by dedicated individuals devoted to making life better for children and parents. We’ve watched as leaders work tirelessly to mentor youth, teach parenting skills, rescue abused women and children, help individuals find jobs, and much more.  We’ve seen you organize conferences that teach thousands of mothers and fathers what a healthy family looks like. We’ve participated in your workshops and meetings where we’ve seen you teach communication skills and empowerment.  For all of you, we are thankful.

Although  Thanksgiving is not a traditional Hispanic holiday, it has become an important opportunity for our culture to express gratitude for “familismo.” The centrality of the family among Latinos is well understood.  It is our greatest strength.  This holiday gives us the opportunity to gather, celebrate, and give thanks for the rich familial heritage we share.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“The Latino Paradox”

We’re not surprised by “The Latino Paradox,” a phenomenon highlighted in a recently rebroadcast PBS documentary which detailed the health benefits of closely-knit Hispanic families. The paradox centers on the cohesiveness of immigrant families which seems to keep Latinos healthier physically and mentally despite low income levels. Once these families begin to assimilate, however, protective factors decrease and health issues increase.  In Alameda County, California, one study showed that immigrant Latinos had the best health in the county, despite being among the poorest individuals living there.  Latino researchers are advocating for immigrant families to maintain this collective system to ensure better health.  You can watch the segment at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpL4lkoju84

NAHF Delegation At The White House

Jose Villalobos, Lisa Trevino Cummins, Consuelo Kickbusch, Luis Zayas, Lorena Gonzalez

Last week a delegation from the National Alliance For Hispanic Families met with  Roberto Rodriguez, President Obama’s special assistant on education and member of the White House Domestic Policy Council. Rodriguez previously served on the staff of the late Senator Edward Kennedy.

The Alliance delegation included Dr. Lorena Gonzalez, Dr. Luis Zayas, Ms. Consuelo Kickbush, Mr. Jose Villalobos, and Ms. Lisa Trevino Cummins.  The group  shared the history of NAHF, along with the community comments from twelve NAHF town hall meetings, and the organization’s three-part focus: research relevant to the Hispanic community, comprehensive, family-focused programming, and the promotion of policies that strengthen Hispanic families.

The delegation told Rodriguez that with the change in U.S. demographics, issues once thought to benefit only Hispanic Americans are now important for the entire country. The NAHF group was encouraged by the discussion and hope it is the beginning of a productive and fruitful relationship with the Obama Administration.

 

Staying Connected in San Antonio

Last week, six groups represented at the San Antonio town hall meeting came together to consider local initiatives that might further the work of NAHF.  Wanting to stay connected and build momentum for this cause, the group brainstormed ways to overlap the missions of their individual groups with NAHF goals.  One individual, for example, proposed using her interns and graduate students to carry out local research in San Antonio that could feed into national research on Latino youth and families. Others suggested working together to influence local policies and programs.

The group is considering a half-day strategic planning meeting to identify other ways to work together.  We applaud these efforts!

Town Hall In Puerto Rico: Committed To Innovative Movement

Another successful town hall meeting was held in Puerto Rico Tuesday, September 29, with more than 80 representatives from the community, public, and private sectors committing themselves and their organizations to the three-pronged goals of NAHF: promoting relevant research, culturally relevant programs and equitable participation in public policy discussions.

Sharing his views about the importance of helping Hispanic families,  Rev. Javier Rodriguez committed his church in “full support of NAHF.  Count me in,” he said. Edwin Ramos Rivera, president of Huertas Jr. College, endorsed the idea of strategic community collaborations, saying they are vital to enhancing the lives of families, which can then have a greater impact on society.

There was a definite sense of hope, passion, and genuine commitment among participants.  Dr. Ruthy Reyes said she would collaborate with local researchers to promote studies devoted to the Puertorrican family.  She also committed to showcase these efforts at an NAHF reasearch summit, a first step in creating awareness and collectively setting forth Puerto Rico’s agenda while furthering the work of NAHF.