National Hispanic Heritage Celebration
September 15 - October 15
Visit San Antonio Library for Hispanic Heritage Events
As a Latina in San Antonio I celebrate this time with great pride. I grew up in a family where being 2nd class was not an option. I didn't grow up in San Antonio, I arrived here about 12 years ago. we globe-trotted in the Military - the only place my dad felt like would really give him a chance & his kids a chance to know educated people.
Some Hispanics busted through the trough in other ways. I had the VERY FORTUNATE opportunity to meet all 3 of these folks. Starting last to first, Dr. Romo is my Alma matter's President. Having taken a small school to a large Tier 1 school (in the makes) - Dr. Romo doesn't settle for less. As busy as this man is, rolling out an our inaugural football year and running a campus, he responds to my Facebook comments and even read my blog on some of our football highlights; in fact I may send him this one too. I am honored by this man.
The middle person, Mr. Henry Cisneros, is a fairly well known name given he served in the White house appointed by President Bill Clinton. Growing up on San Antonio's West side is no easy task, but he certainly learned how to navigate the waters to become successful. He still works very hard in community activism and politics here. I speak of him little as he has not been an exemplary role model but has broken boundaries for many.
Last, but first on my bio list below, is my personal friend, Ms. Anna. I met Anna when I served in our Girl Scout Association Delegate. I was blown away by her open-mindedness and ability and willingness to tear down walls. I would vote for her for US President if she were on the ticket. She doesn't believe in doing things the way they are done if it's too hard to change. Where there is a will, there is a way. I visited her "Tree house" (an organic office where young girls could come to share their ideas) and felt like I could tell her anything. My only regrets are twofold; I didn't get a photo with her and she has left San Antonio, but for bigger, better things (I'm tearing up as I write with sorrow and joy).
Ms. Anna Maria Chavez, CEO Girl Scouts USA
USA Today writes:
Growing up in tiny Eloy, Ariz., "we didn't go camping much when I was little, so this was a great experience," says Chavez, a Texas attorney selected Wednesday as the new CEO of the 3.2 million-member Girls Scouts of the USA.
Travel opportunities with Girl Scouts were particularly meaningful, giving Chavez "the first opportunity I had to go away by myself, without my family. It really opened my eyes and gave me a certain amount of courage."
Today, building courage, confidence and character is the expressed goal of the 99-year-old organization, which says it also teaches girls and young women the value and power of leadership and service through its programs and activities, including financial literacy, environmental conservation, math and science education and health.
Girl Scouts "provides a pipeline to leadership in this country," says Kathy Cloninger, the outgoing CEO, who is retiring after leading the organization for eight years.
Although many know Girl Scouts for its "wonderful cookie program, Girl Scouts has a wonderful story of preparing women for leadership that may not be out there in the public domain," says Chavez, 43, who has been CEO of Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas since 2009.
Henry Cisneros's, Former Mayor - San Antonio, Texas
Henry Cisneros has often been compared with his immediate supervisor for much of the 1990s—U.S. president Bill Clinton. Both men were intelligent, politically skilled, well-educated, and committed not only to the ideal of change but to the nuts-and-bolts challenges of implementing it. And both were irreversibly diverted from their goals by revelations of extramarital sexual relationships. Nevertheless, as Clinton's political career came to an end at the dawn of the 21st century, no one was closing the book on that of Cisneros. He had already rebounded from adversity more than once during a spectacular career that included eight years as mayor of San Antonio, Texas—as the first Hispanic American to lead a major U.S. city. -
Dr. Ricardo Romo, President UTSA
Ricardo Romo became the fifth president of The University of Texas at San
Antonio in May 1999. As president, he leads one of the fastest-growing institutions of higher education in Texas and in the nation.
Under his leadership, student enrollment has risen more than 50 percent, the university has added numerous programs and facilities to enhance student life, and UTSA was named one of the state's emerging research universities by the Texas Legislature.
Romo is a San Antonio native who grew up on the city's West Side. He graduated from Fox Tech High School before attending the University of Texas at Austin on a track scholarship. At UT Austin, he was the first Texan to run the mile in less than four minutes, a record that lasted 41 years.
He earned a bachelor's degree in education (1967), a master's degree in history from Loyola Marymount University (1970) and a Ph.D. in history from UCLA (1975). He is a nationally-respected urban historian and is the author of "East Los Angeles: History of a Barrio," now in its ninth printing (one in Spanish).
Romo has received many honors during his academic career. In November 2007, he was recognized with the Isabel la Catolica award, the highest award given to non-Spanish subjects, bestowed by King Juan Carlos of Spain. In October 2008, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Texas Exes Alumni Association.
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