NewsTaco

By Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

According to the Census Bureau 55.2 percent of Latino immigrants in the U.S. are Mexican. While there are exceptions to the rule, Mexicans for the most part are mestizos. These are people of mixed heritage or descent as a result of European, Asian, and African people mixing with natives of the Americas.  In the colonial Spanish caste system mestizos were considered a lower class human being. In some parts of Mexico legend has it that they were not even considered human beings. Some parts of Mexico did not grant them a birth certificate they were called  coyotes.

In my own ancestry, one of my grandfathers was mostly Spaniard who married a full blooded native. I got most of my genetic makeup from my abuelita. If I had lived in colonial Mexico, I would have been on the low end of the caste system. This sociological structure classified people into some one hundred different categories. Fast forward to today.

I am a byproduct, of my genetic background and environments I grew up in, but not defined by them. During my socialization period in grade school, I never identified with any one particular ethnic or social clique. I could interrelate with all of them but always felt detached and independent. Which leads me to the point of my post, I am a multifaceted multicultural being that can look at situations through different lenses and belief systems and can appreciate the deeper structure of any issue or conflict.

One specific case I have thought about for days is the “God Made A Farmer” Super Bowl ad. My father was a bracero that worked the agricultural fields throughout the southwest. Some of those images of farmers took me back in time to a bygone era, growing up and working for that kind of hard working god fearing farmers. I admired Paul Harvey and dreamed of someday being a broadcaster which I did. The writer of that ad in my opinion is an exceptionally talented copy writer. The images and the production of all the elements were superb. I’m a photographer, and I bow to immense talent. I have worked as an advertising executive selling and creating ad campaigns. I know the hypocrisy of Paul Harvey in selling out to corporate farming and the fact  “a god” made dodge trucks in Mexico. Now you know the rest of my story.

The bigger story here is Latinos cannot be put into a box.  We are multifaceted, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-talented, multi-political.  We are much more than the sum of the term “Latino.”

[Image By Francisco Escobar]

By: Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

Last week I got a call from a Hispanic Republican activist asking what it would take to increase the Latino vote. I told her, “It’s simple, Republicans need to fund outreach grassroots initiatives, invite Latino influencers to the discussion table, create a Latino friendly policy and sell it.” One week later after hearing what my sources claim is the future RNC Latino voter blueprint. I want to add one more. “Get rid of all the failed Latino pundits, spin meisters, and self proclaimed Latino political experts.”

Today our nation suspends its bitter divisive differences and focuses on the swearing in and festivities of President Obama. For Latinos, it’s a historic occasion because, as a voting bloc, we cast the winning vote. We delivered what billions of dollars could not. Our 10% vote is expected to double by 2030, which is just 18 years away. As Latino alpha voices have been saying for years, the time is now to take Latinos seriously.

Political Republican consultant Alex Castellanos says, “We have hit rock bottom. We need to change! Or the party will disappear.” This alarm is being echoed by other GOP Latino voices now jockeying for the vacuum that has existed at the top.

Latinos are not looking for handouts or payouts we just want to be given the opportunity. When the late Senator John Tower wanted to attract the Latino vote he hired legendary advertising executive Lionel Sosa. The rest is history. Mr. Sosa rose in prominence. He secured the Latino vote for different campaigns including both Bushes. Winning the Latino vote will require using Latino experts that promote corporate America to Latinos every day.

No amount of advertising though, will win the Latino vote without substance. We need Latino friendly policy such as health care, education opportunities, immigration reform, senior level appointments and hiring. The GOP needs some brown as seen in the Democratic Convention. Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, George P. Bush and the other high profile Latinos cannot change or save the party. It will require comprehensive systemic re-branding from the top down.

The racial rhetoric launched against Justice Sotomayor needs to be taken as a history lesson. Radioactive publicity hounds like Joe Arpaio, Jan Brewer, Debbie Riddle, and all others that strike at Latinos need to be reined in. Those kinds of divisive harmful attacks can eradicate years of reliable grassroots outreach and recruitment efforts.  The polarizing voter suppression Southern Strategy is over. Ronald Reagan is dead it’s a new day in America.

[Photo by The Left Calvacade]

ByVictor Escalante, NewsTaco

What a difference a year makes in the Latino national narrative. January had presidential primary candidates saying outrageous things about Latinos to get elected. With the passage of months, the tone began to sound  more moderate. But  the damage was done. Mitt Romney could not do anything to win over the hearts of Latinos. This election will go down in history for many reasons. In my opinion, it was the year Latinos had their day in court at the voting booth.

Some demographers, say that by the year 2040 – 2043, Latinos will be the majority in the country. As you have read my comments, this is the good news this is the bad news. We have a long way to continue to be accepted into the main stream circles and the discussion “table.”

From the education sector, there is good news. Latinos are enrolling and finishing certification programs and advanced degrees. This past weekend we had an extended family member achieve his Bachelor’s degree from The University of Houston. All one had to was look at the browning of the graduating class. About seventy percent were Latinos receiving their degree in more than just basket weaving.

These millennials of today combined with the Gen Xers already in the workforce and in politics will shape the future of Latinos in America. It will require higher education for placement in the middle and senior management levels.

This past week I had the pleasure of meeting a junior vice president of a Texas bank that gives me hope.  His story is very compelling. In his words, “my story is no different from other immigrant family.”  I will be bringing you his story of optimism, engagement, and community involvement.

Latinos are in the fabric of America and making a positive contribution. It is up to us collectively to shut up the Ann Coulters who still say anything for ratings.

Regardless of red brown  or, blue brown politicians, it’s all good  to have our voice and representation for policy making. We are seeing an increase in Latinos seeking public service. This is a good trend. It is up to us individually to study the politics of candidates, especially where two Latinos from opposing parties, are running for the same office.

These next forty eight hours the world will discuss and fancy brown blaming or praising the Mayans for their end of time prediction. On the other side of this joke, time will be reset for ushering in the complete  golden age. Feliz año Nuevo amigos.

[Photo by Victor Escalante]

By Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

Years ago Steve attended one of my Emotional Intelligence classes at UTEP. His company had sent him with the warning that if he did not attend, he would be terminated. He shared this with me at the end of the class after he learned what he was missing.

Over the course of my life, I have met many highly educated people who had significant deficits in the emotional quotient. Some have been my managers, peers, clients, or subordinates that just didn’t understand how to play the game of life.

The causes of these deficiencies can be traced back to early childhood development, that’s the bad news. However, the good news is that these can be overcome through many different means. Today’s post is a reflection on my life’s path. My hope is that it gives you some food for thought and something you can take away. Much of this information does not come neatly packaged in a college degree. So let’s roll this way.

Develop a reputation for being a fast doer. Yesterday, I had a conversation with a manager that needs to hire employees with a desired skill set that is hard to find. His cliché statement bears repeating, “Good help is hard to find.” In spite of the high unemployment rate there is a ten to fifteen percent rate of open positions (all the time), due to attrition from people moving, retiring, or quitting. Doers don’t wait to be told what to do. They not only act as they are told but get things to do when they are finished before the next assignment. They follow through to completion, and they are confident and proud of their work. A doer reputation can be your calling card.

Always show up! I am amazed at the number of people that never follow through in showing up for an appointment. They schedule appointments or promise things that they have no intention of following through.  I recently had to buy a large ticket item. Two vendors gave me an approximate quote over the phone. One asked me to email him pictures of what I needed. The one that got the order came over within an hour, measured, we discussed options, and he walked away with an order. He showed up! I will use him in the future and would not hesitate to recommend him.

Become an expert, at what you do. This means that you learn as many possible ways that something should not be done so that you do it the best way possible remarkably consistently.

Choose a career that makes your work, your avocation. You will never be bored, and your advanced skills will command top dollar. I have worked with clients that wanted to change careers, due to the burnout.  When you are young if you have to choose between two jobs, one that pay more, and one that gives you valuable experience, choose experience. The money will come later.

Develop a customer service mentality for both internal and external customers. If you benefit peers in what they need, you create value. What have you done for others today? Social networks are full of pseudo friends that just watch on the sidelines. They never do anything for others. The Pareto principle will always apply, only 20% of your online networks are friends, and a smaller number are those you can count on.

Cultivate a real life network of people in high places that know you for what you do. Old school networking still needs to be part of your repertoire. Attend as many business networking events and trade shows as you can. This network is extremely helpful when you need something or will need something in the future.

Steve was lacking in “Consideration for Others” in his treatment of his support staff.  Empathy is the ability to step outside of one’s mind and know what the other person is feeling and personal limitations. When you understand others and their driving motivation you adapt to them in a way that builds teamwork.

Know who you are and who you are not. Work at becoming your own person not dependent on the approval of others or the need to fit in. When you reach a point you don’t need others to feel good, you are free to inter-relate in a healthy and effective fashion. The opposite leads you to a life of co-dependency that is full of emotional frustration.

[Picture by: Victor Escalante] Taken at the National Convention of Hispanic MBAs in Houston 1997

[Headline is a quote attributed to Albert Einstein]

By Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

One of the questions Latinos face in our time is the pursuit of higher education. The only reason this is an issue is due to the high cost of obtaining a degree and the prospects of finding employment with it. The high unemployment and underemployment scale has many re-evaluating conventional wisdom.

The definitive answer on this one is, “it depends.” Recently on a long and exhausting business trip I looked at a middle aged flight attendant, and I said to myself, “I would not want to have your job.” Somewhere deep in the recesses of my mind a voice asked, “Ok so what job would you want to have? The pilot, I answered.” I thought long and hard during the trip about my answer.

Years ago I heard an anthropologist in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico give a lecture to a group of business people about a new management course developed at the college of business at the University of Juarez. The curriculum was based on the Aztec empire. It turns out that, this ancient culture was more advanced than what is commonly taught in history classes.

The Aztecs had a highly structured society and school started at age four. In these early formative years, children were carefully observed for their natural predilection. In this society, you could only be one of the following professions.

Priest

Healer

Teacher

Warrior

Farmer

Businessman

Artisan

Under this culture, one was given the specialized education and training to fulfill their individual purpose in service of the empire. There was no social welfare system. Every single person was a productive and contributing member to their family and the nation. Once in a while some subject was not sure what occupation they wanted to fulfill. So they got to try all of them to see which one suited him for life. If at the end of going through all the different options, they still didn’t know,  they had one ultimate purpose. Becoming a sacrifice, to please the gods, and to avoid creating a slothful worthless person.

During the course of my life, I have been blessed to try out all of the aforementioned professions. No, I would not want to be a pilot. I am most happy being a teacher/businessman. However, I see far too many Latinos in low paying service jobs. We want to encourage every single young mind to aspire to their hearts’ predilection. In my experience, there is no greater happiness than having more than enough in the service of one’s fellow man. Does this require higher education? Absolutely! In my next post, I will share with you what they don’t teach you in school that you need to know.

[Photo by Victor Escalante]

 I took this picture at a corporate Christmas party of mostly white people. All the service staff were Latinos.

By:Victor Escalante NewsTaco

El Paso, Texas is known for many things; Chico’s Tacos, Fort Bliss, cowboy boots, the Sun Bowl, and the first Thanksgiving celebrated in America? Yes! But more on that later.

El Paso is a unique city that is almost like another country. A mixture of three cultures, old Mexico, New Mexico, and Texas. Separated by the Sonoran Dessert from other parts of the country, it has a culture all its own. For centuries Latinos, Anglos, and Native Americans have figured out how to get along and work together to form a prominent bustling community.

The city is made up of 80.7 % Latinos, 14.2 % White, with 5.1 % made up of Native Americans, Blacks, Asians,  and other mixed races. After the free trade agreement, the city became one of the busiest ports for assembled products coming from the twin plants American manufactures built in the sister city Juarez Mexico.

In order to succeed in this part of the country being bilingual is a definite advantage. For that matter, due to the large Latino purchasing power, many corporations are now recruiting bilingual staff for key positions.  With the Latino electorate reaching the tipping point, we can expect a more moderate acceptance of Spanish and our culture. We are now experiencing a reverse assimilation of cultures with the Latinization of America.

El Paso del Norte as it was known in ancient times was colonized by Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate. An oasis in the dessert, El Paso provided water and food after he and his expedition party nearly died trying to cross the dessert. They celebrated with native Indians eating game and fish from this fertile valley. The first Thanksgiving in America was celebrated here in 1598, 23 years before the New England festival. That my friends is the rest of the story. May your Thanksgiving be filled with merriment full of turkey and tamales.

[Photo by Victor Escalante]

By: Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” – Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

Ay dios mio! What a difference a week in politics makes. As I review my list of winners and losers, it was more than 71% accurate. All I need to do is invert Big Bird and Karl Rove to be nearly on the money. The “turd blossom” as he was affectionately called by his former boss George W. Bush is now fighting for his political survival while Big Bird lives to teach los niños.

The anti Latino anti immigrant rhetoric has come to a head with the wide awake “sleeping giant” voting. This has set off a tectonic shift in the political establishment leading to a new discourse of the role Latinos will play in the future.

The path towards an evident reality of the Latinization of America.

Human nature and power structures do not change in the face of facts or an opposing reality. Research from the University of Houston and other social scientists like James O. Prochaska give us the roadmap for change.

Stage 1: Precontemplation (not ready)

For years, the alpha voices within the Republican Party have been warning of the demographic shift. The facts were largely ignored with the rise of the Tea Party and their purist ideology. The Romney campaign was banking on the same 2008 white vote. This was a fatal mistake. The national entertainment political stars along the likes of Rush Limbaugh played on in the sinking electorate Titanic.

Stage 2: Contemplation (ready)

The Democratic Party had a two year window by creating a ground game in battle ground states. They were prepared at every step of the way to tell Latinos why Romney was a terrible choice. During the brutal primaries, these communications professionals were feeding Spanish media the narrative they wanted to get out. The Hispanic talking heads for Mitt never had a chance. Their “bogyman fear message” did not resonate with Latinos.

This is a critical juncture for conservatives to rein in the “radioactive” Joe Arpaios and Jan Brewers. Some will not go quietly because their bread and butter came from this racist, extremist base. Lou Dobbs is gone and so is his racist entertainment branding. Those that don’t heed the warning are stuck in phase one.

Stage3: Action

President Obama needs to use his political capital and pass immigration reform and appoint more Latinos into powerful positions. We have more than enough skilled Hispanics to fill these positions. The word Latino does not have to conjure up undocumented immigrants in the minds of white Americans. We are doctors, lawyers, communication experts, political analysts, accountants, professors and every other white collar occupation on one end of the spectrum, to hard working laborers on the other end.

If Republicans want to survive, it’s time to take action and invite Latinos to the table to open a dialogue. Joaquin Castro’s appearance in Meet the Press, is a good start. It’s time to rebrand and hire intelligent Latinos 3.0. Marco Rubio and George P. Bush cannot save you. The Latino GOP talking  heads have little to no credibility with those of us that are immersed in the facts. We have more than enough communications and marketing experts willing and ready to help you in forging a new and improved brand. Ronald Reagan is dead. The “Next” generation of Latinos wants to define itself and chart its own future.

Phase 4: Maintenance

The intolerant extremists will not go away or go quietly their pattern of denial will try and take us back to phase one. Those in power will need to take action and rein them in. Disrespect and denial of our importance in the new America will not win any votes. It’s a new day in America, “Buenos Dias.”

[Photo by: Victor Escalante]

By: Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

With less than forty eight hours left to choose the next man to lead the country, both camps are turning up the echo chamber. All the pundits have spoken. All the forecasts have been made. One thing is for certain it’s going to be a nail biter. Short of a digital “hanging chad” fiasco, the tea leaves favor President Obama.
So who are the winners and losers from this election cycle?   That depends of course on who you ask but here is my list.

Winners:
Obamacare
The advertising industry
Karl Rove and his operatives
Cable channels that need partisan politics
Talking heads who obsessed about gaffes
Clint Eastwood
Bill Clinton
Mayor Julian Castro
Paul Ryan regardless of the outcome
Latinos on both sides that ran for office
Paid surrogates and operatives on both sides
Social media
Latinos 3.0 for becoming engaged in the political process and discourse
The millions of Dreamers who got legal status
All the challengers who defeated incumbents in the primaries

Losers:
The economy
The soon to be unemployed surrogates and operatives
All the politicos who made a name for themselves attacking ethnic groups
Chris Christie
Jim Lehrer
Big Bird
Tax cuts for the wealthy
John Sununu
The millions of unemployed without benefits
All the politicos who crashed and burned in the primaries
All the incumbents whose based turned on them

Post election, we will  have a more clear and definitive list from all the finger pointing. Latinos, no doubt will make history, regardless of the outcome of the election. Let’s get out the vote it’s our time.

[Photo by: Victor Escalante]

By: Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

According to syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr., former CNN host Rick Sanchez, may be coming back to a new media TV channel. Mr. Sanchez kissed his day job goodbye by attacking Jon Stewart for mocking him as a buffoon. In defense of “let’s get real,” Rick does have a history of acting less than a shining example of Latino journalism, but that argument is for another day.

According to Mr. Sanchez his exile into the wilderness has led him to the burning bush of the Promised Land for media, Latino centric Spanglish media properties. Many of us in media have known about this phenomenon for many years. There is a vast amount of bilingual consumers that do not fit the “traditional” segmentation marketers and media have used to target them. They are the Generation Equix and the Millennials now called “Generation Next” that are bicultural and bi-lingual.

This was a demographic  that was staring us in the face pre-social media revolution. Alpha voices in old media, me included, were sounding the alarm to our bosses. This Latino demographic is the sweet spot for marketers and politicos. I’ll never forget the day the light bulb went off. My wife and I were sitting in a sold out concert in Houston, TX at a Shakira concert circa 2006. We were in the nosebleed section. And our tickets were more than  a hundred dollars. My wife saw and heard the music, I saw purchasing power of young Latinos with lots of bling and designer clothing.

On Monday, I returned with this epiphany like Jerry Maguire, to a Spanish weekly newspaper I worked at. As you might expect, they looked at me with glazed eyes, wondering what I had ingested. With the passage of time, I realized I did not have anything this “Next” generation wanted. In that moment, my personal blogging was born.

These young guns wanted content that was informative, stimulating and relevant. They wanted images that resonated with them, not just stories and images of crime and downtrodden Latinos. One of my first attempts went viral, this is pre-Facebook, Twitter, and all other social media. I was on the right side of history. But the powers to be were more focused on doing more of what was not working and in time surviving the devastating impact of social media on advertising revenue.

Which leads me back to the take away from this story. We have reached the tipping point of developing Latinos that are now driving change in old media and business models. This combined “Next” generation is highly engaged and extremely vocal about their views and purchasing wants. Some marketers get it and they are exploiting this sweet spot, catering with products and services at a neck braking speed. This week I searched for a quinceanera card  in English with a Latino theme  in a general market pharmacy. I could not find anything closely Latino. Did it keep me from purchasing? No, but that is what I wanted. Would I have paid more for what I was searching for? Most definitely!

The new boomer is part of the “Next” generation. We are educated, bicultural, bilingual, very engaged, and highly vocal. Don’t take my word for it. Go take the test to find out how millennial you are. Early reports from the annual conference of Latinos in Social Media are tremendously encouraging. We have arrived.  We need to take our destiny into our own hands. How? By voting, pushing education, supporting each other, and driving our personal narrative.

[Picture by: Victor Escalante]

By Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

As the countdown to the election continues, both parties are now relying heavily on their war chests to buy the election.  Surrogates are coming out in droves, some are opening up their wallets to get their vested message out. This is the perfect storm for media to benefit from the advertising spending and ratings bonanza.

Regardless of whom wins one thing is certain; we live in “interesting times.” The grand irony is that, in ancient China, this expression was meant as a curse. Today, we are cursed with many difficult challenges for generations to come. The bitter partisan politics will need to be quickly put behind as we near the fiscal cliff once again as well as myriad of other problems.

The country faces a “crisis” on many fronts. Again, in ancient China, this word came from two characters meaning, danger and opportunity. This is the plight of many Latinos that are still predicted to produce the winning vote for the next president. We face dangers from an intolerant minority that will not change their swords into plowshares after the election. What they fail to realize is that Latinos have been a large part of the economic engine for job growth.  In addition, as the country is graying rapidly with the seventy six million retiring baby boomers, Latinos are browning America. If you closed the borders today and did not allowed one more immigrant, Latinos will be the majority demographic in just four decades.

While we have seen this growing browning in colleges and universities, Latinos per capita, have an extremely high deficit in technical training and education for high paying jobs. To put this in perspective; sixty one percent of Asian immigrants is college educated, while fifty percent of Latino immigrants is not even high school educated.

Both presidential candidates have promised that if elected they will pass some sort of immigration reform. This needs to happen not just for the benefit of the undocumented but for the good of the country. We need a large employment  base with high paying jobs to sustain the burgeoning cost of the retired baby boomers.

This analysis is what Rice University Professor Stephen Klineberg has been saying for years after studying the economic impact immigrants have had on Houston, Texas for more than thirty years. His message has been embraced by industry, policy makers, and Latino groups. The study of Houston’s transformation is a preview of what America will face in the future. Mr. Klineberg warns that we face “interesting times” that need wisdom, sensitivity, and determination to seize the opportunity.

[Photo by: Victor Escalante]

By: Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

One of the first things Ben Mendez did after being elected as chairman of the board of The Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC) was to take a road trip to visit every one of the twenty four member chambers of commerce.

This field assessment of needs of each association member had not been done in decades. The trip was an eye opener of some of the challenges Hispanic Owned Businesses have. Several months later, The University of Texas released a comprehensive report at TAMACC’s annual conference. Many news outlets including NewsTaco reported the summary of this comprehensive survey.

Many saw the results as the glass half empty, but Mr. Mendez saw it as a target to aim for. Provide growth opportunities and training programs to small Hispanic Owned Businesses that have stayed small.  This vision and drive combined with his leadership acumen earned Mr. Mendez another term as chairman of TAMACC to get them to the next level.

Mr. Mendez is bullish on Latino entrepreneurship.  He has a proven track record, plus he believes in teaching it to others. His business Project Management Group was listed by CNN Money as eight of the top 100 inner city companies with the fastest growth.  A mechanical engineer and math teacher by trade, he is methodically laying out a rapid growth strategy for the 15,000 individual members. His commitment is to help any city regardless of size to establish a local Hispanic Chamber.  His drive has already yielded three new chambers of commerce on the drawing board.

One of his crown achievements of his second term is to combine the annual TAMACC conference with the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council’s annual trade show in Houston. This event helps   minority business owners meet face to face with buyers of Fortune 500 companies. Ben understands the importance of being connected to the right people that can help your business grow. He wants to promote this connectivity for TAMACC members to both the private and public sector for business opportunities. His exhortation is to get involved and get involved at every opportunity one has.

[Photo by Victor Escalante]

By Victor Escalante, NewsTaco

According to a study released earlier this year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism spectrum disorders are up 78% from 2007. That equals to 1 in 88 children who suffer from this genetic disorder. The alarming statistic is that the largest increase of 110% is among Latinos. One of the factors for this increase is more detection among health care providers but the complete answer is under investigation.

This condition is challenging for any family, but for Latinos it’s compounded by the lack of bilingual special education professionals. We reached out to someone who has been on the front lines providing services to children with autism. Therapist Thelma Guerra is a former special education teacher who worked in the Houston Independent School District. We reached out to her to give us some insight into this serious topic.

NewsTaco:  How did you decide to become a special education teacher?
TGuerra: I wanted to serve my Latino community on any level. I was very interested in serving low income communities, and youth at risk therein.  I worked as a tutor in a low income, urban school, and in a community center for low income housing prior to my foray into the field. My interest was piqued when I was hired as an aide in a classroom for multiply impaired children. These children suffered everything from birth defects, to brain injury; there, I also serviced a few students with autism. Consequently, I moved on to another position at another school district. I worked in a self contained Autism Classroom – a room that services children on the spectrum. Autism is a communication disorder that renders behavioral issues. Therefore these children cannot function fully in a mainstream classroom.

NewsTaco: How long did you work as a special ed teacher?
TGuerra:  I have worked in the field as a teacher and now as a therapist for over 6 years.

NewsTaco:  What percentage of Latino children with Autism and learning disabilities did you have in your school?
TGuerra:  In the public school system, the majority were either Latino or African American. The school districts where I was employed are inner city districts that serve a predominately minority population.

NewsTaco: What is the estimated number of Latino children with autism?
TGuerra: Autism is not discriminatory; it strikes every race, and social economic status. It occurs more often in the male population.

NewsTaco: In your experience how big is the problem among Latinos?
TGuerra: The diagnosis of autism is critical for many Latinos for several reasons. First and foremost, autism is a communication disorder: language development is hindered and or stunted. Gross motor issues are also a hallmark of the disorder. To that end, upon entry into school, many children whom hail from Spanish dominant homes; will find insufficient or deficient resources:  professional bilingual staff is in short supply or nonexistent. Speech and occupational therapists are needed, and would make tenfold the progress, if they could communicate with the child and parents in the dominant language. Moreover, often the services are not offered or available. Many parents are hesitant, or do not realize that they should demand what the law entitles.  Many don’t know the first thing about advocating for their child. This is the critical point here.

NewsTaco: What are the major problems Latinos face with autistic children?
TGuerra: Again, the language barrier is tantamount with a communication disorder, Moreover, financial resources are a big issue as well. Applied Behavioral Analysis is a scientific method of therapy that has been found to be effective in the treatment of autism and other developmental disorders.  ABA therapy is minimally implemented if at all, in the public school realm. Consequently, there are private mental health facilities that offer full time ABA therapy – at a premium cost.  Insurance helps cover the cost, but even well to do families find themselves in a quandary when coverage is threatened or declined. Without advocates, the majority of Latinos on the spectrum will be tolerated in a mainstream classroom, or worse, linger in the corner of a Life Skills (special education) classroom, where they will fall deeper and deeper into the abyss of the disorder.

NewsTaco: What can Latino families do to overcome these challenges?
TGuerra: They can demand ARD meetings whenever they want, families must familiarize themselves with Individual Education Plans (IEP) goals, they have a voice here, they need to tell the educators what they want their children to accomplish and what they would like the focus to be on.  They can demand an interpreter at these meetings if needed; they can demand speech therapy and occupational therapy for their children.

NewsTaco: What resources are available to parents with children with disabilities?
TGuerra: I must reiterate that the public school is obligated to educate all children, including those with disabilities. Parents must not accept no from a school. Demand what is by law your right. In my experience in the public school system, I saw two types of parents: the overbearing demanding advocate and the docile, I’ll take what I can get type; one got everything she demanded including a private nurse to accompany her seizure prone child, while the other assumed she had to settle for what was offered.

NewsTaco: As a former educator, what final message would you have for Latino parents of children with disabilities?
TGuerra: Familiarize yourself with the basics of educational law and rights; before an ARD meeting, arm yourself with as much information as possible. Ask for an interpreter and literature in your dominant language. Get familiar with teachers and administrators, know their credentials and experience with children with autism or other disabilities.  Make sure you know that your child is being educated and not just plopped in front of a television or computer all day. Moreover, never accept the first “no” from anyone, take it to the top, before you settle for anything less.

[Photo by Victor Escalante]

By Victor Escalante, News Taco

Hispanic Heritage Month is upon us with exhibitions, shows, festivities, and acknowledgements of the contributions Latinos have made to our country. It’s a time to celebrate the advancements and to focus on the challenges we face. Education or the lack of it continues to be a front and center burning issue Latinos face.

In San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro has staked his political reputation on trying to pass a sales tax increase to fund his Pre-K 4 SA initiative in the November election. So far it appears he is on the right side of history to get it passed. This investment will pay long term dividends to increase the supply side of an educated workforce.

The respected Pew Research Center has definitive hard data that Latino higher education is trending in the right direction. In 2010 Latinos reached a record level of associate and bachelor’s degrees.   In this report, one of the segments that are pursuing higher education is young adults that are married and have a family.

Meet Elsa Cardenas, a working single mother of two that mirrors Latinas who struggle to overcome obstacles to finish their education. She was married at age eighteen before she graduated from high school and became a mother of two boys by age twenty-one. Her mother only has an  elementary education and her father who did not finish high school died when she was only eight years old.

She wanted to continue her education while she was married. However,  she had to wait till she was divorced and free to chart her future. Making the decision about her college degree was the easy part, executing her plan was a long struggle. As a single parent, she worked as a waitress, sales associate, and other part time jobs to make ends meet and raise her sons. Financing her education was not as difficult as some may imagine. Her outstanding grades  qualified her for grants and scholarships, the rest was just  persistence to find the means to keep going.

Today she is the first college graduate in her family with a Bachelor’s degree.  Her sons  have her as a role model to follow in her footsteps   and get their advanced education. Her dream of bettering herself and having more employment opportunities have become a reality. Her advice to other Latinos is, …. “Don’t let money be an excuse because there are many organizations that are willing to help and we can also work to put ourselves thru college. It is not that expensive to go to college.  To be able to support yourself and not have to depend on anyone is one of the best feelings”.

[In Photo: Elsa Cardenas pictured with her mother and her stepfather]

By Victor Escalante, News Taco

San Antonio is known for many things, The Alamo, Hemisfair Tower, The Spurs, and of course Mi Tierra restaurant. The city is known for throwing one gigantic Fiesta to celebrate its independence from Mexico. Marketers have capitalized on this unique combination of two cultures to promote it as one of the nation’s premier tourist destination sites. Whether it’s Fiesta or Fiestas Patrias, one thing is certain, San Antonians love to roll out the red carpet to the tourists who pour over four billion dollars a year into the local economy.

This weekend locals and tourists made their way downtown to take in some Mexican food, cerveza, and some music to savor the bicultural celebration of Dies Y Seis de Septiembre festivities. However, it was not meant to be, due to the much needed steady rain that drenched the city streets and the people in search of the Latino Zen of living in San Antonio.

Needing to entertain extended family from out of town we made our way to the iconic “Mi Tierra”. A place that is unique in the city and the whole country. A timeless Christmas wonderland with a black Elvis and imagery that compresses hundreds of years of history into one festive setting.

This is the place to make memories of any special day in one’s life. All one has to do is listen to “Las Mananitas” being strummed by a trio to know it’s a birthday being celebrated. This is what was taking place across from us by a family of three generations. The musicians sang their heart out as the cake with four lit candles was brought out for the wide eyed boy feeling truly special. The parents and grandparents beamed with joy and satisfaction to see the wonder in the little boy’s face as he was being serenaded.  Was it a novelty situation or the acculturation of a white family to the Latino way of life? To the average person having a mini fiesta it may not matter, but that child is imprinted for life of what it means to celebrate the gusto of life the Latino way. Provecho!

[Photo: by Victor Escalante]