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.