You are Your Own “Power Broker”

As I’ve been going around the country and asking women to finish the phrase, “I am a Powerful Latina because…” I have gotten some amazing answers!

Latinas have spoken about their personal histories (as an immigrant, for example), the histories of their families (often referencing mothers and grandmothers), and the histories of their communities (sometimes their communities of national origin, and sometimes the local community where they live, work and may have grown up).

Latinas have also spoken about their professions — how they help others to accomplish their goals, how they support an organization or a community, and how much they’ve accomplished.  Latinas have spoken about the work they do and how much there still is to do!

Latinas have spoken about their roles – as a daughter, wife, mother, sister and friend.  Latinas have spoken about their strengths, their skills and their gifts.  And these are just a few of the responses!

We all gather our power from different places.  Each of us have our cores of power from which we draw, and this power allows us to do what we need to do in our lives.

Sometimes this well of power may seem nearly dry.  Other times we leverage our power base and feel like we can take on the world!

Our power can be ignited by anger or fueled by love.  Note, however, that fleeting emotions cannot sustain power over the long haul.

Powerful Latinas are often moved by a larger mission — being part of something that contributes to the greater good of the community as a whole.  And this mission often helps many, many people — not just Latinas and not just women.

The important thing is to tap into this power, to acknowledge and honor it, and then to utilize that power to keep you going.

Whether you realize it in each moment or not, YOU are a Powerful Latina, and those sources of power help you to build the kind of culture you want to see going forward.  We often think of culture as “out there” instead of “in here”  – inside each one of us.

When I interviewed Maria Hinojosa (Senior Correspondent for the acclaimed series NOW on PBS, and anchor and managing editor of NPR’s Latino USA), she reminded us that you have to be responsible for pumping yourself up.  Although you may get this in part from others, Maria shared that at the end of the day, you need to be able to do this for yourself.  Women all over the world do this, even in precarious and powerless positions.  Figure out what message you need to tell yourself (to pump yourself up).  It’s hard for all of us…

Latinas may shy away from acknowledging, and holding out their power.  I would encourage you to embrace and recognize that you are truly powerful.  This power is not about holding it over another person, nor thinking of yourself as “better than” — rather, this is about using the tools at your disposal.

Think about what makes you a Powerful Latina, and be ready to answer the question on video when I see you!  :)  In this way we can encourage and support each other in celebrating our power and how we best want to use it.

We Create Our Culture

Can I brag a bit? Right now, I’m at Georgetown University in Washington, DC waiting for my son to graduate from college this weekend. As you can imagine, I’m an exceedingly proud mama right now!

And at the same time, I think about how much I’ve worked to create what I hope will be a solid foundation for his future. But let’s be clear — this is HIS accomplishment much more than mine.

As parents, many of you know that we do what we can to set up the best possible groundwork for our kids; however, it is up to them to decide what path to take, and what to do with the raw tools we give them. We work hard to provide the best opportunities, and yet each person’s path is their own and especially our own children have to be able to have the space and the freedom to make choices that have consequences that we otherwise may not enjoy.

The same hold true for us as Latinos. We work together to build, to create and to support a culture that values education, that cares for those less fortunate than us, that gives back and reaches out a helping hand. However, as we create culture in *community*, we also recognize that some will make the most of these opportunities, and some will allow the possibility to fall by the wayside.

And we have to be ok with allowing both options to be possible!

As Latinas, we create a space not only in our immediate families, but also in the greater community for the kind of world we want to have. So, as I sit here this weekend reflecting on the path it’s taken over the past 23 years to get to this one special occasion (my son’s college graduation), I also realize that the foundation we’re working to build TOGETHER is just as important, and will also take time.

About 30 years ago, the word “Hispanic” was created. Less than 30 years ago, we started using the new definition of “Latino” in this country (a word that has little meaning outside the U.S.). As we create what these terms mean to us and for us, we also shape what this world will look like for our children (this includes our nieces, nephews, mentees, etc.) over the next 10, 20, 50 years and more…

And we (hopefully) hold these meanings loosely and allow those that come afterward to shape, mold and change our culture with us, with a new understanding and perspective. That is to say, we honor those who came before, but we don’t want to be stuck at one moment in time.

For those of us who were fortunate enough to be mentored by great Latino leaders who went before us, and yet still opened space for us to be our own kind of leaders, we need to do the same for those that come after. Who knows what new terms, meanings and possibilities will come into existence?

We can hope (and I do!) that what it means to be Latino will become a strong, growing, wonderful thing — something even bigger and more powerful than it is today. And it’s wonderful today! I work towards a culture where we address our problems with solutions that work for all of us, celebrate the victories we’ve already had, and continue to build upon the strengths we share.

All of this starts in our everyday lives and works its way out… I am grateful to my son for showing me a small glimpse of what the future may hold. I love you, ‘jito!

What We Learned from the Survey — Get Ready for Part 2

Many of you might recall that PowerfulLatinas.com performed a survey the end of last year and early this year on Latina goals for 2010.  This survey was publicized through Twitter, Facebook, and I also asked all my newsletter recipients — you! — to take the survey as well.

The survey asked recipients 10 questions about their goals, their obstacles, their perceived power and their values.  All told, we had 138 respondents to the survey and gathered a bunch of fascinating data.

Latinas were asked if they had goals in the following 8 areas:  personal, professional, health, relationships, money/financial, spiritual, recreation and contribution.  Examples were given in each of the areas; however, each Latina’s goals could be anything within these categories.

Personal goals were identified as, for example, finishing a degree or becoming a better communicator. Professional goals included getting a raise/promotion, getting a better job, or starting a business.

Health goals included items such as running a marathon, incorporating healthy habits, or losing weight.  Relationship goals could include improving current relationships, minimizing unhealthy interactions, or cultivating new relationships (friendships or romantic).

Money and financial goals included paying off debt, improving credit, and reaching other financial milestones.  Spiritual goals included starting a meditation practice, taking a leadership role at church or forgiving someone who harmed you.

Recreation goals included taking a trip, taking up a hobby or trying something new.  Contribution goals included setting aside a certain amount of income to donate, starting a foundation, or getting on a board of a specific non-profit.

In all, most people stated they had a professional, health, and money goals, and yet respondents were much less likely to have goals in the area of contribution.  This was interesting to me since I believe that Latinas as a group make a number of contributions!  It’s possible that because contribution is such a natural part of our life, we don’t think to have goals in that area.  However, how much powerful would we be if we did?

Women talked about what got in the way of accomplishing their goals — mainly time and money.  And they also discussed what would be possible if they were able to achieve their goals!

Survey questions also asked about what resources Latinas draw upon to reach their goals and make big decisions.  Although many Latinas had had mentors, this was not among the top resources Latinas drew upon for their goals.  Why is that?  Is it because the mentors were from the past, or they are not helpful in certain areas?  It’s important for us to think about how we use our networks, and how we can leverage them better.

Interestingly, many Latinas were also mentors themselves.  How are we sharing our own knowledge, and how can we do so even more and better?

Finally, Latinas were asked their views on who they see as a Powerful Latina, and what characteristics make one.  VERY interestingly, a top answer was “someone who knows how to ask for what she wants.”  Also interesting is that “someone who is materially wealthy” was NOT a pre-requisite.

Lots more data came out of this survey; however, I wanted to give you a small taste of what we found *AND* let you know that, near the middle of the year, we’ll be doing a follow up survey surrounding Latina goals.  Get ready to respond to that upcoming survey and think for yourself about your goals, your resources and your contributions.

Hasta pronto!

OUR CULTURE, OUR SELVES, OUR WORLD

By Contributing Blogger Dr. Thelma Reyna

Not a day passes in our modern American lives wherein we don’t interact with cultural diversity.  If any of us were to take an informal culture awareness test, we’d probably do pretty well.

After all—especially in places like Southern California where I live, the mega melting pot of the West—we’re accustomed to the sights, sounds, and aromas emanating from the polyglot venues of commerce and human interaction in our neighborhoods, restaurants, shopping centers, schools, and workplaces.

Our Everyday Contacts with “Other Cultures”

In fact, cultural diversity is so finely interwoven into our everyday lives,  that even those who might not otherwise consider themselves in tune with it actually traffic in it.

We have a breakfast burrito, a Thai salad for lunch, Colombian coffee during our work break, and might send out for Chinese food at dinnertime. Our music might be courtesy of Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, or Miriam Makeba.

Our favorite movie stars? Try Benjamin Bratt, Denzel Washington, Jackie Chan, and Cate Blanchett. For TV, we’ve rediscovered the handsomeness and huge talent of Jon Seda, star of “The Pacific,” and also admire the very diverse cast of “Law & Order: SVU.”

A quick reading of cast lists at the end of movies or TV programs, a glance at pop music charts, glossy magazines, and ads in print media all show us the beauty and widespread acceptance of multi-hued, culturally diverse people we admire and sometimes emulate.

Diversity in Our Minds

Intellectually, we’re equally eclectic, and why not? Which cultural group has a monopoly on wisdom, artistry, and innovativeness?  So we get health news updates from Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN; read books by Sandra Cisneros, Daniel Olivas, and Amy Tan.

We love the poetry of Maya Angelou and Pat Mora and are inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision of happiness in the workplace.  We get broadcast news from Julie Banderas, Fareed Zakariah, and Soledad O’Brien.

We keep up with the political leadership of Gloria Romero and Antonio Villaraigosa in California, Hilda Solis and Hillary Clinton at the federal level, and of course with the multi-pronged outreach efforts of our President Obama.

Our quest for knowledge and understanding is deepened by the richness and diversity of these various perspectives, of the evolution of these people’s selves that occurred through their different cultural lenses, which they now share with us, the broader society. We are all better for this heterogeneity of humanity.

“Culture” as Defined Globally

An article in the New York Times recently debated the “borders” of “culture.”  The author, Michael Kimmelman, stated that, while “culture” can carry “deeply rooted, special meanings to specific people, [it] doesn’t belong to anyone in the grand scheme of things. It doesn’t stand still.”

He went on to argue that culture “ultimately belongs to everyone and to no one.”  Although his article focused on art, his observations ring true in general, especially as time marches forward, and our everyday diversity expands exponentially, becoming inextricably woven into the tapestry of society.

So it becomes increasingly difficult—and will hopefully continue to be thus—for an average American, especially in our urban areas, to describe herself or himself in terms of one specific culture to the exclusion of others.

While we can cherish and give extra import to the facets of our particular ethnic identity, ultimately we have each become, or are becoming, an amalgamation of the diverse cultures we encounter at work, play, and home.

And what a beautiful thing this is!

The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

A great springboard to innovation in our business and industrial successes has been collaborative teamwork.  So it is in schools and other realms of organizational life, and this has traditionally been a dominant component of our Latino culture as well.

The elements of diversity of ideas and cross-pollination of perspectives figure prominently in this.

Conversely, history shows that isolated societies centered on their own particular cultures do not flourish as much as open societies do.

The Universality of Humanity

The ultimate beauty of multicultural integration—the co-mingling and eventual wholesale ownership of differences—is that it highlights the universality of humanity.  For that is something most of us have always known: We are all the same.

While our food may be cooked with different spices, and our wardrobes are woven in different colors, and our tongues inflect differently, we all cherish common values and hold similar dreams.

We love our children and hope the future is brighter for them than for us. We cherish respect for one another. We each want to feel valued and want to feel, upon our deaths, that our brief presence on earth made a positive difference for someone, somewhere. Except for those on the fringes of humanity who have unfortunately lost theirs in the process, this is the one culture of our planet: the human culture.

What is YOUR Culture?

What is YOUR culture?  Did you grow up in a place where you held rituals and ceremonies held in the countries from which your ancestors came?  Did you grow up speaking Spanish, listening to a certain kind of music, eating certain foods, and believing certain myths and superstitions?

Is YOUR culture an urban culture or a rural culture?  Is it imbued with religious symbolism or none at all?  Did you grow up in a neighborhood where everyone knew their neighbors?  Were your immediate family close by?

Although there are stereotypes about what “Latino culture” is, in reality we have many cultures, and many varieties of culture.  In addition to different traditions, saying and histories from different Latin American countries, we also have a unique blend of cultures when we come to the U.S.

There is no “one” Latino culture; in fact, we have a unique blend.  Your culture is even different from that of your parents, in part because you grew up at a different moment in time.  Your historical journey is uniquely situational and overlaid with the political milieu that surrounded your growing up years, and continues to surround you even now.

A Latina who was born and raised in Argentina, went to college and graduate school in South America, and then later came here to work and raise children has a different “culture” than a Puerto Rican woman who grew up in low-income housing in New York.  I’ve interviewed both types of women as part of my Powerful Latina interviewees, and although they are both Latina, they also both inhabit their “Latina- ness” in very different ways.

Take a moment to think about what YOUR culture is.  What is important to you, and how did you learn those values?  And even more important — how do you carry on those values and teach them to others?

Our “culture” as Latinos is becoming an interesting cultural-racial- ethnic and SITUATIONAL mix…  Where will we go from here?  It is up to us to decide.  However it is important that we first identify and decide what *our* culture is for ourselves.

There are many things that, in looking at Latinos as a whole, can be generally said about the “Latino” culture — a strong work ethnic, strong family structure, a belief in the importance of communities, etc.  However, these characteristics do not fit across the board for *all* Latinos, and even when they do, the way in which they play out is different.

We get to choose how we embody Latino culture today, and what we show to OTHERS about what it will mean for the future.  Take a moment to reflect and be thoughtful about your place in this dynamic…

Being a Mother is More Than…

This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day.  And I want to encourage you (even if you’re a man) to acknowledge yourself – and others! – for the multitude of ways in which we “mother.”

The definition of mother and motherhood is often outside the tradition definition and is also defined as “a creative source; an origin,” “to give birth to; create and produce,” and “to watch over, nourish, and protect.”

This is not to take away any respect and honor from those who’ve raised children; rather to acknowledge that we often “mother” ideas, organizations, communities, groups of people and more.

When we take responsibility for bringing to fruition a goal, are we acknowledging the “mothering” we do?  The title of “mother” is revered and respected.  It is important because, if done well, is a very important role.

The idea of motherhood applied to people who have never physically birthed a baby, and for those that have, may apply to more than just their offspring.

I bring up this idea now because, as we “mother” concepts, ideas and possibilities for Latinos, we play a role in a changing and evolving country.  For those of you involved in non-profit organizations, you may very well “mother” dozens and maybe even hundreds of people.

For those of you in organizations where you play a strong mentorship role to others, you “mother” the possibilities in each member of your team or mentees.

For those of you in communities, in churches, in groups of friends and families where you find yourself nurturing, supporting and watching over others, you are the mothering spirit, the key in those places.

Acknowledge ALL the ways in which you and others “mother” in ways big and small.  Acknowledge that the idea of “mothering” is not limited to women, and not limited to our relationship with humans younger than us.  Acknowledge that the idea of “mother” is a sacred idea, and that we can use this idea to grow each other, to give birth to things, and to be the creative source, the origin for the change we want to see in our world.

This mother’s day, while we do take time to honor the women in our lives who “mothered” us, also honor the idea of being a “Mother” in all the wondrous and amazing ways…

Your Culture is an Asset

As Latinas, we get to create our culture together, in community and in dialogue.  We know that culture is a moving, shifting, growing thing and it is not static!

So when I say “Your culture is an asset,” what do I mean?  I mean that you get to create a uniquely individualized Latina identity, because who YOU are as a Latina is unique to you…  And however you choose to create it, it brings you strength and possibility.

You may be one who grew up poor, or grew up relatively wealthy.  You may be someone who grew up speaking Spanish… or not.  You may be a Latina who has black hair and brown eyes, or blond hair and blue eyes.  You may be Catholic, or you may follow any one of a number of different spiritual paths.  You may be gay, straight, or transgender.

As a Latina, you have a diverse group of women that share this “title” with you.  You are unique, amazing and wonderful.  And you see the world from a different perspective.  You have an eye that allows you to see outside the mainstream, regardless of your specific past.

As a Latina, you understand certain things, and can see with more than one lens what it means to move in this world, in this culture, in this country.

I am *not* suggesting that we all share the same political beliefs, the same background or community ties, the same experiences, and certainly not the same preferences and privileges.  What I am saying is that as a group, we have the opportunity to create more TOGETHER than we are able to as individuals.

As a Latina, when you walk into a professional setting, you bring with you your special attributes and they are yours IN PART because you are Latina, regardless of the particulars of that experience for you.

You, as a Latina, share with other women a certain something, and sometimes, we get to choose what that will be…

So think about what being Latina means to YOU, and we will be exploring the idea of culture and how it pairs with our strengths throughout the course of this month.

You have strengths you may not even realize, strengths you may not yet have tapped into.  And those who don’t value the idea of Latinidad sadly miss the strengths those bring to the table, and what they can mean for a STRONGER, more vibrant and skilled community in the U.S., as we bring our cultural, intellectual and physical assets to bear on a country that does not always appreciate the gifts we share.

May 2010 Recommendations

A former Simon & Schuster editor, Marcela Landres is the author of the e-book How Editors Think and specializes in helping Latinos get published.

Check out her webpage at: www.marcelalandres.com.

	Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps: A Novel by Lara Rios (Berkley) When Marcela Alvarez finds out she’s half-gringa, she questions what it means to be Latina in this warm and funny story.
	Latina Power! Using 7 Strengths You Already Have to Create the Success You Deserve by Ana Nogales with Laura Golden Bellotti (Fireside) An empowering and wise guide based on the refreshing idea that the qualities necessary for achievement are inherent in Latino culture.