Make an impact with Fairmont San Jose’sMeetings that Matter.

At the heart of the famed Silicon Valley, home to high-tech firms and dot-com innovators alike,

The Fairmont San Jose offers 65,000 square feet of state-of-the-art event space ideal for any occasion,

whether it’s an executive gathering for five or a companywide conference for 4,000.

Meetings are important for achieving business objectives, but can also have a positive impact beyond the

meeting room. Companies taking advantage of the Meetings that Matter program have donated funds to

wide variety of causes including many local organizations, and Fairmont’s Corporate Partners including the

National Geographic Society and the World Wildlife Fund.

For more information or to book a meeting, please call 408 998 3520 or visit

www.fairmontmeetings.com/sanjose

• 10% of room revenue is calculated prior to tax and gratuity

• The philanthropic organization of your choosing must fit

Fairmont Hotel & Resorts’ philanthropic ethics and values

• Limited to meetings with a minimum of 50 room nights

Xochitl RodriguezSelena Ontiveros Alejandrina OntiverosAdolfo GomezMiguel GalarzaPatricia Puentes Karina Soto-PachecoAlejandrina OntiverosJuan Francisco Ontiveros Sr.Antonio LópezTanja MeCeyMario BurniasJoe Velasco Jason SaldanaMarielena Scanlon Ramiro TorresJuan OntiverosMaria G Hernandez

THANK YOUTO OUR KICKSTARTER PROJECT DONORS YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!

George CastroChris TranMaria AlvarezAlexandra AndersonJose NunezJuan GaribayLaura BuzoLAM NetworkMonica MirelesVeronica GiggyJim GonzalesJason BanksRandy YnegasAarmando CastellanoServando SandovalYsabel DuronFernando Loera

James BojorquezUy NguyenSam MirandaDiana S. NavasGary SerdaJessica Ruvalcaba Anna Marcoida-HarshbargerJose PosadasDavid SandateChewRoRyan KennyJames CervantezAlvaroManuel RomeroFabian Joel OlivaLisset Nevárez

The Hispanic Foundation Ball will be on Saturday, October 13 at the Fairmont Hotel (downtown San Jose), event starts at 5:30pm with a no host cocktail reception follow with dinner at 7:00pm. Evening program starts at 8:00pm and dancing to the group Tortilla Soup until midnight. There is a silent auction with proceeds going to support the many programs that the Foundation does throughout the year. The event gets sold out early so get your tickets today!You can purchase tickets in advanced at hfsv.org or by calling 408.216.7612.

Photo by: Paul FerradasLocation: Club Sportiva atClub Auto Sport

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TONY QUINTERO

TONY QUINTERO SAT

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PUBLISHER/CEO ALEX

ONTIVEROS FOR A

LENGTHY INTERVIEW

OF HIS LIFE, HIS

CHALLENGES AND HIS

ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

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he oldest of five boys Tony Quintero was born the son of Mexican immigrants in Redwood City, California. His family came to the U.S. as farmworkers and during the depression his father’s family settled in Los Angeles, When asked who his early inspiration, his role model, was he quickly points to his dad who as an undocumented immigrant had to struggle through many hardships in order to survive and prosper in his adopted country. Tony’s father, began his life as a fieldworker in Arizona, before moving to,Los Angeles during the depression, where he worked as a young boy to support his mother and his twin step-sisters. He speaks fondly of his father and how even as a young man his father managed to start four businesses before he turned 21. His father would later get drafted during WWII, saw some of the fiercest combat in thePacific campaign and was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor in combat for his bravery during his participation in 5 of the fiercest battles in the Pacific Campaign. But when he returned to the States he moved his family to the Bay Area, but found it difficult to land a job. But, fortunately through the GI Bill he was able to go to college in San Francisco where he studied construction and engineering. He would later go on to build apartments in troubled neighborhoods where other developers refused to build.

Photo by: Paul FerradasLocation: Club Sportiva atClub Auto Sport

T Yet life was not easy for the young Tony Quintero growing up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Redwood City. When asked on a scale of 1 to 10 how poor was his family at the time he would say 1. His memories as a child are of a father who put every penny he had into building apartments and how much of a struggle it was to pay the bank loans. There were times when they literally struggled to have enough food on the table. He was forced by his dad to take judo lessons and boxing in order to defend himself in the neighborhood, and it is this disciplined training that Tony would later credit for giving him the confidence that he would use later inlife. The turning point in his young life came when at the age of 14 his dad sold the apartment buildings he had built and for the first time in his life his father no longer had constant financial pressures. The result was that their family life hadchanged dramatically, now that they had money from the sale. Tony had aspirations to go to college but was told as a high school freshman to take shop classes instead of college prep courses. But like his father before him, Tony was determined to succeed in life and it was his dad that stressed doing well in school, and going to college. Tony graduated from high school in Redwood City, and worked his way through the college years performing a

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I see now a growing professional Latino class

that didn’t exist when I was growing up. It’s a

very positive trend and we should as Latinos

be very proud that our Latino professionals are

contributing their professionalism to improve

conditions for our communities. But we need to

keep it growing stronger. Si se puede.”

variety of jobs that included construction, shoe sales, busing and washing dishes, and even teaching disco dancing. Tony transferred from the College of San Mateo to San Jose State University in 1965 where he helped to organize Mexican American student groups, participated in student marches and was the first director of the EOP program on campus. His activism led to the first Mexican American Graduate Studies program at SJSU. Upon graduation from San Jose State, he was accepted to the Boalt Hall, Law School, UC Berkeley. For him the most important thing as a law student was civilrights and political organizations. While at Berkeley he became President of La Raza National Law Students Association, during his second year of law school, he traveled to other law schools around the country, giving speeches. Through his leadership advocacy and work with students, and College Deans, he became instrumental in opening more doors to Latino students. In 1971 he obtained his Juris Doctor degree, from the U.C , Berkeley, School of Law.

While in law school, in 1969, Tony founded the first Law Student operated, LatinoCommunity Legal Services Program, Centro Legal de la Raza, providing free legal services in Spanish to the Oakland Community. At the 40th Anniversary of the Centro Legal, in 2009, Tony was awarded the “Visionary Leadership Award” for his founding of the Centro Legal, which had become a legal powerhouse in providing legal services, butalso by winning many cases and landmark decisions in favor of the many clients the legal center has served over the past 43 years. Tony would credit his years of student activism and the opportunities they presented as helping him to develop his future political and business experience. He would later go on to enroll in the J.D.MBA Program, at Golden Gate University and following somewhat in his father’s footsteps got into the retail mall business and started a company called American Mall Properties,

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LLC. As Founder/CEO Tony bought troubled regional malls, and developed a strategy to rehab them by bringing in ethnic stores to serve the ethnic communities in which they were located. During this period of his business life, 1994 to 2007, he made several major regional mall property transactions, and his acquisitions which totaled over .4.8 million square feet, created thousands of jobs, andturned once struggling properties into financial success stories.

Having attained success in business has allowed Tony to go back to his law school roots, so to speak, through the volunteer work he now does on immigrant rights issues through the nonprofit organization National Immigration Reform Advocates, which consists of professionals advocating for Immigration Reform, enactment of the Dream Act, and the humane treatment of the undocumented in the U.S. Tony was, also, recently appointed to serve on the United States Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Advisory Board, as Chairman of National Immigration Reform Advocates. The other accomplishment he takes pride in is helping people affected by the recent foreclosures across the country through the National Financial Services Consortium- a consortium of minority and women owned firms providing services to banks and the government. In 2011 this work contributed to Tony’s selection by Latino Leaders Magazine for the Maestro Award for Professional Acheivement. Through both organizations he has been working closely with the White House to provide assistance to his community and achieve effective and measurable change in both those policy areas. In 2009, Tony was selected to serve as the Co-Chair of the Hispanic Leadership Council of the Democratic National Committee.

In addition to serving as Chairman of both the National Financial Services Consortium

When you are being told you can’t go to college you fight on. It can be done; role models help us to know that, if someone else can do it, then we can do it too.” TONY QUINTERO

“

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and National Immigration Reform Advocates he serves as the current Director of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce whose mission it is to promote small business, and international trade for businesses in the United States.

Looking back on his life, his career, his experiences, sometimes Tony feels like he has done it all, but then something new, challenging and exciting comes along and he wants to get involved again, whether it is competitive tennis playing, dancing, singing or earning a Bronze medal at the United States Men’s Masters Track and Field, after joining the West Valley Track Club in his 40s.

His latest venture is making positive social change through the movie entertainment business where he is serving as a production consultant and actor with an emphasis on social impact films that can positively inspire and promote pride in our young people. At the conclusion of the interview Tony offered up words of encouragement for today’s young Latinos. “By the 7th grade my dad had instilled in me the principles of leadership, determination and discipline. Even as a young boy I was always working to be an innovator by trying to make money as a kid whether it was shining shoes, delivering newspapers, whatever I couldthink of to make some money.” “What my life has taught me is that you can overcome tremendous hardship and you can do it in relatively short time in this country. When you are being told youcan’t go to college you fight on. It can be done; role models help us to know that, if someone else can do it, then we can do it too.” “I see now a growing professional Latino class that didn’t exist when I was growing up. It’s a very positive trend and we should as Latinos be very proud that our Latino professionals are contributing their professionalism to improve conditions for our communities. But we need to keep it growing stronger. Si se puede.

i

WRITTEN BY MICHELLE SIPRUTPHOTO: COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG/WIKI/COMMONS

NORTECf you haven’t heard Nortec Collective Bostich + Fussible’s (Nortec Collective) music yet, it is time to adjust the dial on your internal soundtrack of the Mexican borderlands. This is not your papi’s norteño. Nortec is based on the unmistakable banda, tambora, norteño sounds common to northern Mexico. They build on these traditions and mix it with electronica to create music that crosses cultural boundaries, producing a sound that is as just as norteño as it is techno (Nor+tec).

Nortec Collective began in late 1990s when Ramón Amezcua (aka Bostich) founded the record label Mil Records,with Pepe Mogt (Fussible). Members of the collective have gone on to produce various musical projects under the names Clorofila, Hiboreal, Bostich and Fussible. Some of their earlier works brought together their electronic dance grooves with a musical identity firmly rooted in Tijuana. Their tune Tijuana Makes Me Happy begins with “Some people call it the happiest place on earth,” captures their essential idea of honoring their hometown.

Nortec’s 2010 Grammy nominated album, Bulevar 2000 (Nacional Records) builds a longer bridge across the border. The album is lyrically stronger than previous works and one gets the sense that they are narrating a journey. The title track, Bulevar 2000 is haunting and enchanting where the tuba sounds like a heart-beat while driving along a highway trying to forget your lost love. It is “not a love song,” but it really is. Many of the lyrics on Bulevar are in English, including Centinela, which tells the story of star-crossed lovers that can only meet once a year on Día de Los Muertos. Nortec also teamed up with San Francisco based Loquat on the track I Count the Ways.

A Nortec Collective Bostich + Fussible show is a multi-sensory event and offers the best avenue to experience their distinct intersection of the contemporary and traditional Mexican music. On stage, DJs Bostich + Fussible are accompanied by musicians playing the sousaphone (tuba), accordion and trumpet. Their self-created DJ station has a futuristic 1960s look to it and the duo alternates between iPads and Tenori-on (a tablet of LED switches that create sounds). They complete their illustrated soundscape by projecting color-rich images of Tijuana behind the stage. Watching Nortec, you get the sense that they are creating music not only for their audience, but with their audience, as the relationship between the musicians, the sound, images and lights work in tandem to raise the energy of the crowd to a dancing frenzy.

Nortec have been outspoken critics of internet censorship. You can get many of their remixes free on SoundCloud, where they reached a million downloads of their tracks by the beginning of February 2012.

¡No te lo pierdas!

MAKES ME HAPPY

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Chacho’s congratulates Silicon Valley Latino on its inaugural print issue and looks forward to partnering further in the future.

Felicidades!

One of the best career moves to make is to seek and find a

mentor. One of the biggest career mistakes is not to ask him

or her tough questions. Whether you have known your mentor

for many years or just a few months, the relationship needs to

support your career building, as you transition from one role to

another, or in your search to increase visibility in your current

organization.

A truly effective mentor has the capacity to be loyal to your

goals, is available, and honest, too. Their level of candor is

the key to your success. Simply praising your work, being

encouraging, and sharing examples of their experiences can

be a wonderful way to feel supported and valued, but that’s

only half of what a mentor can offer. In order to make the most

of your relationship with a mentor, three tough questions need

to emerge as part of your ongoing conversations.

LEADERSHIPTHREE QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR MENTOR

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What kind of impression do I make on others and how does that show up in my professional style?

What strengths do I have that I need to leverage better and to what end?

What do I need to focus on in order to make the most of my potential on a short term and long term basis?

Each of these questions can inspire “game changing” conversations that can help with your personal brand, focus on your strengths,

and on the long term outcome of career development. All of this is at the core of an effective mentor/mentee relationship.

As Latinas, however, this can be particularly tough, because we often feel discomfort in focusing a conversation on ourselves. In the

presence of our mentor—someone we admire and possibly someone who is our senior—we may especially prefer to listen more

than we speak. Since our culture places a high value on personalismo or a personal regard for others, we often work hard at making

others comfortable with us. While that makes us highly effective collaborators and team players, it can be a great way to talk about

anything but ourselves. A good mentor however, will keep the spot light on us, relate their stories and experiences to our specific career

challenges, and have the courage to answer those tough questions.

Written by Dr. Maria Hernandez | Contributing Writer on Business

If all this feels like a fairly high set of expectations for you and your

mentor, you’re right. It can be very difficult to get clear feedback

about what might need to be done differently in order to build a

successful career. Most of us want to avoid awkward situations

and negative conversations about ourselves. Yet avoiding those

conversations in today’s competitive labor market can make our

job or role on a team less secure and less promising.

In my coaching experiences, there have been many times when a

client exhibits some habit or style that undermines their leadership

and their entire team sees it but no one wants to bring it up—not

even that person’s boss. This can go on for years and truly limit

their career. With the right kind of feedback and learning new

behaviors, it can be remarkable how much the person will grow. A

strong mentor can provide you that kind of feedback and support

your growth—if you dare to ask the tough questions.

This appeared in www.NewLatina.net on

May 3, 2012 Latina Cubicle Confidential™--Three

Questions to Ask Your Mentor

To share your experiences contact Dr. Maria G.

Hernandez at Latina Cubicle Confidential or join

her live at the next LatinaVIDA™-Visibility, Identity,

Direction, Action. Dr. Hernandez has 20 years

experience consulting in both the United States

and Mexico to senior executives in Fortune 50

companies and facilitated change initiatives for

elected officials and their staff. She has worked

in academia, business, nonprofits, technology

startups, and public agencies.

13

LEADERSHIP

ON LEADERSHIP:

Effective communication is critical for successful

leaders. An executive’s well-articulated vision to

employees or a coach’s inspirational pre-game

speech could make the difference between

success and failure. On a historic scale, the

famous rallying cries of “Si se puede,” “The only

thing to fear is fear itself,” and “I have a dream”

gave people hope and promise for a better future.

Cesar Chavez, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Martin

Luther King, Jr. were masters of using the media

to move bold ideas, inspire a nation, and shape

the course of history.

In Silicon Valley, history is definitely on our side.

A recent Santa Clara County Public Health report

states that Latinos will make up nearly half of

the projected 2.3 million county residents by

the middle of this century, and our community is

developing Latino leaders who have the smarts

and ambition to guide the valley into the future.

Like visionary executives, motivational coaches,

and inspirational national leaders, our next

generation of leaders must have the ability to

effectively communicate a vision for Silicon Valley

to ensure success.

Despite the incredible growth of social media and

other online platforms, the local newspaper is still

the most influential media outlet with respect to

shaping public policy that touches everyday life.

The newspaper endorses political candidates who

in turn, as public policymakers, support initiatives

and public activities advocated by the newspaper,

and vice versa. The local newspaper anoints

those it deems smart, effective, and politically

acceptable. For those who are the anointed ones,

it’s a pretty good deal. If one doesn’t fall into that

category, the chances of your message seeing the

light of day in the newspaper are slim to none.

For Latinos, there’s a problem with this scenario.

We’re not exactly with the in crowd when it comes

to the local press. We’ve proven that we’re smart,

effective, and politically acceptable to voters.

Apparently, however, the newspaper’s opinion-

makers don’t see it the same way. In the eyes of

the local press, Latino activists and public officials

are mediocre leaders who need to be monitored

closely to ensure the public trust.

Whether through unintended inherent bias or well-planned

institutional racism, the result is the same: newspaper readers are

left to believe that Latinos can’t be trusted with the keys to local

public leadership. To address this reality, Latino leaders must find

another way to effectively communicate to the public and influence

public discourse. That’s where social and online media can make

the difference between success and failure.

For decades, Latino community leaders have been dragged through

the proverbial mud by the local media. Granted, some of it’s

deserved because our leaders, like leaders of all creeds and colors,

make mistakes. We just have to realize that the while media has

a microscope on public officials, it uses an electron microspore on

Latino leaders. The smallest indiscretion by Latinos will smudge a

reputation, and real ethical lapses will land a Latino leader in court,

or worse. One could fill volumes citing editorials, news articles, and

headlines providing evidence of this bias. Unfortunately, there’s no

space in this column for such an ambitious undertaking.

As we prepare Latinos to lead this valley into the future, we can

address this disparity in one of two ways. We can complain, protest,

and shout racism at the top of our lungs, or we can do what political

commentator Chris Matthews’ advises, “don’t get mad, don’t get

even…get ahead.” Of course, Matthews has it right. We can no

longer allow the media to tell our story or share our vision for the

future from a perspective other than our own. We can no longer

allow the local press to define us and to perpetuate the insidious

stereotype of the incompetent and untrustworthy Latino.

So how do we do this? Like Chavez, Roosevelt, and King, we have

to become masters of the media. The media of mid-century Silicon

Valley will be completely virtual and interactive. But, we can’t wait

until then to harness the limitless value of social and interactive

media. Our leaders should take advantage of every opportunity

to learn how to use Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and other tools like

SVLatino.com to create a platform that highlights our community

and influences public life to make our entire valley stronger and

more competitive.

For those who are scared or worried about a future Silicon Valley

that includes Latinos leaders at the agenda-setting table, don’t fret.

Today’s emerging Latino leaders are professionals who serve today

as school principals, corporate, public, and non-profit managers,

labor leaders, entrepreneurs, and elected officials. We don’t have

a “Latino agenda,” rather we have a Silicon Valley agenda that

includes a robust economy with good jobs, affordable housing,

strong families, excellent schools, and quality health care. So,

despite what the local press might portray, our agenda isn’t really

scary at all. And, this is great news for the entire valley.

Column by Eddie Garcia, LLA Co-Founder and President

EFFECTIVE LEADERS OWN THE MESSAGE

REWIND

Bringing Napa & Sonoma to Silicon Valley Sabor del Valle was born in the lush vineyards of Napa Valley. There, at an event showcasing Latino vintners and Latino chefs, people from all walks of life gathered to celebrate the successes of those vintners and chefs. The gathering was also designed to support local community based organizations that provided services to Latino youth in arts and music, in medical services to children and in expanding the horizon of educational achievement for youth.

In 2010 founders Ray Castaneda and Esau Herrera decided to bring that flavor of the wine country to Silicon Valley. Past participating wineries included Ceja Family Vineyards, Joseph George Wines, Mi Sueño, Stefania Wine, Robledo Family Vineyards, Voces Wines, Regale Winery, Bodegas del Sur, Travieso Wines, and Alex Sotelo Vineyards.

This year, as in every year, proceeds of the event have been benefitting local non-profits that are making a difference in our community, For 2012 those recipients were Teen Challenge’s Alum Rock Women & Children’s Center, the Rotary Club of San Jose Rotaplasts Children’s Medical Program that provides free surgical services to children internationally; and the Latino-Latina Role Model Conference a college motivational annual conference in East San Jose.

Plans are already underway for the 2013 event and the organizers of Sabor del Valle look forward to the continued support of the community as they honor our local artisans and help support the organizations that make our neighborhoods better places to live.

For a video of the 2012 event go to SVLatino.com and search Sabor del Valle

To sign up as a vintner for 2013 go to Sabordelvalle.org

Founded in 2001 by French hornist Armando Castellano, this unique ensemble is passionately dedicated to a dual mission: to expand the cultural boundaries of classical music, and to make that music available, relevant, and inspiring to entirely new audiences.

Quinteto Latino blends the vibrant colors and vigorous rhythms of Latin American music with the sumptuous voices of the wind quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon. Whether exploring new twists on traditional folk songs or premiering works by living composers, these five musicians perform with impeccable artistry and infectious energy – educating, enriching, and entertaining listeners of all ages and backgrounds.

Armando sat down with Silicon Valley Latino earlier this summer and shared his thoughts on music, culture and other Latin American composers. Armando takes pride in the fact that his ensemble only performs classical music from composers who come from Latin America and whose music speaks to issues impacting Latinos here in the United States. He has been a musician since the 4th grade and credits his parents for exposing him to a variety of music as he grew up especially Latino music.

To watch the full interview as well as watch Quinteto Latino perform two compositions please go to SVLatino.com and search Quinteto Latino.

To find a schedule of their upcoming performances go to Quintetolatino.org

Written by: Jose Posadas

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Manuel Romero has been performing it seems since he first learned to speak. In a video interview with Silicon Valley Latino he recalls being videotaped at the age of two singing as his dad played guitar.

Manuel’s roots in music run deep and he has spent time living in Mexico where he was fortunate to sing in front of Pope John Paul II during one of his visits to Latin America. He has performed solo as well as with various Mariachis in major venues and events.

Dubbed one of Silicon Valley’s Most Influential Latinos he is comfortable singing in nearly any genre from Top 40s to Mariachi, to English or Spanish ballads as well as classical hymns or contemporary Christian songs. Manuel has recently released his album, “Orgulloso de Ser”, making it his fifth album to date. With each release he showcases his broad range of musical abilities- from songwriter to singer and musician.

To watch his interview in full as well as see his exclusive performance of “Me Volvi a Cruzar” from his “Orgulloso de Ser” album go to SVLatino.com and search Manuel Romero

For a schedule of his performances and to purchase his albums/mp3s go to his website Manuel-romero.com

MANUEL ROMERO

Located at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose, The Pagoda, has become a venue for international music and is one of the few spaces in San Jose offering live music on a regular basis.

Tommy Aguilar is the genius behind Live@ the Pagoda and he has brought artists from around the world to please the appetites of music aficionados in the Silicon Valley. The Pagoda has in just a short time become a temple for fine music.

Tommy sat down recently with SVL Publisher Alex Ontiveros for an interview and shared his hopes for bring live quality music to the Silicon Valley scene.

October 2012 will mark this Artistic Director’s two year anniversary where he has brought to the Pagoda such notable talent as Jose James, Little Dragon, Electric Wire Hustle, Full Crate & Mar, as well as Ana Tijoux. Tommy has done 30 shows already but hopes to do even more in 2013. He is also looking to establish a residency for live bands featuring local talent. His goal is to create a vibrant scene on almost any given night at the Pagoda.

“The space provides itself, it’s got that luxury feel, we want to make it accessible”, Tommy says referring to his venue as an escape for those looking to hear quality music whether local or international.

To watch the full interview go to SVLatino.com and search The Pagoda.

Silicon Valley Latino spoke with Latina entrepreneurs Arcelia Gallardo and Amelia Gonzalez who invite you to enter the rich and flavorful world of cacao.

Casa de Chocolates opened its first retail location and artisan kitchen in Berkeley, California in February 2012. Casa de Chocolates is a premier artisan chocolatier owned and operated by two Latinas who are passionate about chocolate.

Casa de Chocolates’ chocolatier, Arcelia Gallardo, has worked at the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Pasadena and has received training from world-renowned pastry chefs Ewald Notter, Andrew Shotts and chocolatiers in Mexico City and Italy.

Her partner, Amelia Gonzalez, comes to Casa deChocolates with a love affair for cacao that started when she was a young child. Amelia is passionate about the culture, the arts and the diverse foods of Latin America and has a background in public media production and management with over 20 years at KPFA Radio in Berkeley.

When asked how she became a chocolatier Arcelia explained, “You have to find a mentor, someone who will let you hang around with them and learn from them, it is an old-school type of apprenticeship, it can take years and you just do it.”

Watch complete video interviews with both Arcelia and Amelia shot at their store atSVLatino.com and search Casa de Chocolates.

To see all of Casa de Chocolates’ product offerings go to casadechocolates.com

LIVE @ THE PAGODA

CASA DECHOCOLATES

Photo by: Paul FerradasLocation: Club Sportiva atClub Auto Sport

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MWORDS FROM A MILLENIAL : STEPHANIE BRAVO

BRAVO

Four Generationsof Innovation

y family

has called the Silicon Valley

home for four generations.

In the 1940s when it

was world-renown for its

bountiful orchards, my great-

grandparents settled into an

old Victorian home in San

Jose after retiring from a life

of migrant farm work. My

great-grandparents, great

aunts and uncles, and dozens

of cousins lived in that house

over the years.

That house would later be transformed into an apartment complex where I would be surrounded by family- grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins living in neighboring apartments. Our family bond was strengthened by my grandfather’s small business around the corner where most of my cousins and I spent our summers working. At El Tarasco taqueria, I learned the values of hard work, service, and entrepreneurism that solidified my connection to my community. I was incredibly fortunate to have grown up with a rich cultural heritage guided by family values that have been instrumental in my life.

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Four Generationsof Innovation

My story is about how one individual person can make a huge difference in the lives of others. ”

STEPHANIE BRAVO

“

Moreover, I am fortunate to live in a glorious valley where orchards have since been replaced by equally bountiful centers of technology and innovation. The Silicon Valley spirit encompassed my youth, evident in my papa who was a techie and introduced me to pioneering electrical toys throughout the years. But, I never truly appreciated this spirit of innovation until my world opened as a new college student.

Life in College and Beyond

I stepped out of the safe harbor within my community and into a big ocean of change as a bright-eyed, first-generation college student at San Jose State University. Up until then I viewed college as a foreign destination but also as a necessary journey- something my parents had valued yet didn’t have the opportunity to attain. While at SJSU I passed my classes, but I wasn’t excelling. I felt like I was going through the motions because I did not have a final destination in mind. For me college was the destination, and now that I was there the inevitable next step-that of a career- was less clear.

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There was one big problem though: the application deadline had passed. I reached out to the program chair and he informed me that there were no spots left. After feeling completely rejected and crying about missing this opportunity I made a conscious effort to apply again the following year. Persistence and tenacity paid off as I was accepted to the mentoring program the following year. The door to mentoring flew wide open and I sailed through it taking it to previously unimaginable heights.

A Mentoring Career

At Stanford University, I met my mentor Matt Goldstein—a third-year medical student with an incredible passion for mentoring. His style and experience as a mentor was totally unexpected in that I was hoping to find a mentor with a background that was similar to my own. But as it turns out,

he was exactly what I needed. Matt showed me that by creating achievable goals with practical action plans I could eventually realize my big dream of getting into medical school. Not only did my mentor provide invaluable advice to help me conquer the pre-medical path, but he also provided one-on-one support in many other aspects of my life.

I spoke with him about my family and life circumstances, including balancing countless commitments. Matt provided a fresh perspective into my life because of his background. He helped me achieve numerous successes, including getting into medical school—something that less than 1% of Latinas in the U.S. accomplish. But more than that Matt motivated me to give back to others through mentoring just as he had done for me. He inspired me to start the organization that has profoundly changed my life and now the lives of thousands of people across this country.>> CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE

Getting into college was just the first step, as I would later learn. I had made the assumption, as had my family that once I got into college that I was “done” or “I had made it.” Yes, I made it successfully through one obstacle, but my college journey was just the beginning.

As I searched for my ideal career throughout college, I became increasingly proactive by seeking opportunities that I didn’t have at my university. I seemingly lived in my university library and career center scouring books and taking skills tests in hopes that I would find a career that would pique my interest. One fateful day, during my Google search on the library computers, I found an amazing program out of the Stanford University School of Medicine. The program paired up Stanford medical students with Bay Area undergraduates who were interested in pursuing careers in healthcare. It was just the opportunity I was looking for since I was nurturing a budding interest in medicine through my science classes at SJSU.

19 I launched with my best friend Ash Jafari, a seasoned entrepreneur and changemaker. Since we’re both tech-savvy millennials, we saw that by marrying mentoring with innovative technology, we would be able to create a program to help every, single student who needed a mentor. Since September 2010, we have been able to bring mentoring to a diverse population of college students and young professionals throughout the U.S. helping them excel in their academic and career goals.

At StudentMentor.org, I’m able to amplify my passions of mentoring by helping others find mentors and give back to future generations. We’re also on the cutting edge in our use of social networking and social media for the social good. By leveraging technology we have been able to scale rapidly from 2,500 program participants in August 2011 to over 13,000 in August 2012!

Our successes have far exceeded all of my expectations. The most surreal experience has been getting invited to meet the President of the United States, partnering with the White House, and speaking at Facebook. These accomplishments have been nothing less than remarkable, but at the end of the day the most rewarding thing is hearing from students. They tell me how StudentMentor.org has changed their lives giving them hope, support, and the push they needed to achieve their impossible dreams.

Paying it Forward

If there’s anything that all of my successes have taught me it has been to: “Shoot for the stars, but keep your feet on the ground.” In other words, dream big and keep to your values. Growing up in the valley of innovation it’s really hard not to dream big. And more than that, growing up Latina has taught me to keep to my values without forgetting who I am and where I come from. I realized early on that my success is not only about me—it’s about us, collectively.

When I succeed so does my family, and so do you. When you succeed, so do I. That’s why I give back to younger generations through mentoring. And, that’s why it’s so important for me to give back to other Latinas. I’ve had the fortune of being supported by Latinas and organizations like the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley and the National Hispana Leadership Institute. Their support has emphasized the importance of investing in the next generation of Latina leaders. I hope that we can all get to that place where we can celebrate each other’s accomplishments as our own and pay it forward to the up-and-coming generations.

My story is about how one individual person can make a huge difference in the lives of others. My family, my community, and my mentor gave to me and now I pay it forward to help others. This simple act of mentoring can produce ripple effects that forever change the course of someone’s life. In my life, it’s made all the difference. And, I’m looking forward to spreading this message beyond Silicon Valley and into the future.

Shoot for the stars, but keep your feet on the ground.”

Joe Velasco, Realtor

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t is perhaps fitting that on September 16, 2011, seasoned business owner George (Jorge) Sanchez finally got the keys to the building that will soon be the second coming of Chacho’s restaurant in downtown San Jose. That date of course is the anniversary of Mexico’s Independence. For George it is his independence of sorts as he re-opens a business that many long time San Jose diners remember fondly.

The original Chacho’s, located across the street from San Pedro Square, was opened by the Sanchez family in 1994. But with this new venture George is partnered with Mauricio Mejia, another long time downtown business owner and promoter. Now located at 87 E. San Fernando, near the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, George is making plans for a mid-December grand opening.

iDiners will be met with a restyled look for Chacho’s. The interior boosts many historic photos of Mexico’s cultural and revolutionary past courtesy of George’s many trips to his native country over the years. But in keeping with the new generation of Latinos that live in the Silicon Valley the walls of restaurant also showcase works from local artists like painter Francisco Franco.

When asked why re-open in downtown George replies, “Downtown has always been in our heart, it’s where we started, our family business was here for 14 years.”

Chacho’s menu will feature once again favorites like Enchiladas Suizas topped with creamy white sauce, Steak a la Chicana, Blue Monkey Tacos, mole imported from Toluca in the State of Mexico and of course the always popular Margaritas. “It will be good to hear the clatter of drinking glasses again,” he jokes as he mentions that Chacho’s will be open seven days a week offering breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to the catering currently available.

The Return of

With many years of experience as a business owner under his belt George offers the following advice to other Latinos seeking to start their own venture whether it is a restaurant or not: “First, ask questions, lots of them, ask experts in the field that interests you, learn from them. Second, do your homework, there are no simple directions for opening your business, find out who can help you in the city, for example, with getting permits and approvals for getting your business started. Third, resources, find them, tap into them, get to know those who can help you. I am always eager to help somebody, for me the more Latinos in business the better, I’m willing to share my resources.”

Congratulations George Sanchez and Mauricio Mejiafor the Grand Opening on January 19, 2012.

Downtown has always been in our heart, it’s where we started, our

family business was here for 14 years.”

ike any self-respecting technophile, Carlos Pérez eschews any mention of honors or awards when asked of his achievements and goes straight to the tools of his trade. He can recap every detail associated with his past projects with photographic clarity. For example, he can tell you the weight of the pencil, the opacity of the tissue, and the precise angle of every stroke he used to create the first sketches of the Apple logo.

But even these aspects of his work come to him as an afterthought. It’s when he talks about his artistic origins that his voice catches and he discusses some of his most vivid memories—memories that have surprisingly little to do with Silicon Valley and the burgeoning technological revolution that would set the stage for his work as a graphic artist.

“I was born in Mexico City, but grew up in El Chante,” he says, “a small town outside Guadalajara.” There, for a period of time, he was separated from his mother, who had come to the States to work and send money back home. During her absence, his aunts served as his surrogate parents. “They had tremendous faith in me,” he recalls. “They would always tell me, Vas a hacer cosas grandes. That faith gave me the permission to dream and the confidence to know that what I dreamed could be a reality.”

This transformative time would serve as a precursor to another.

The design industry was one of the first to be reinvented by the digital age. Like any transition, this brought the end of an old state, complete with a set of tools and techniques which had remained relatively constant until then. But unlike previous transitions, the industry’s new state wasn’t just new, it was ever-changing. The space it came to inhabit is normal now, but was alien at the time—a world of constant updates and mandatory upgrades, where planned obsolescence is the only thing anyone can predict.

As a designer on the first marketing communications team to manage the Apple account, Pérez’s work gestured toward the change about to come. In his portfolio are numerous collateral design and production assets used to help launch the Apple II.

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Anyone who used the Apple II could never forget it. With its one-megahertz processor and four-kilobyte memory, it teleported middle-schoolers everywhere to The Oregon Trail. It turned fourth period classrooms into small game hunting preserves. It was eleven pounds of beige bliss. It was also the first time a lot of kids—especially those of working class backgrounds—ever explored the world of computing.

In 1977, Pérez and Rob Janoff were colleagues at Regis McKenna. Janoff designed the Apple mark, while Pérez created its initial rendering and master artwork. Pérez also rendered the typographical solutions that would accompany the Apple logo brand, designed and art directed the first Apple newsletter, created the masthead and co-designed the first Apple magazine. He inked all of this by hand, relying on his mastery of drafting and illustration techniques, because the hardware and applications now ubiquitous in the realm of graphic design simply did not yet exist.

Pérez recalls this era with a kind of excitement that’s difficult to put into words. It’s in his eyes when he talks about the long-haired, torn-jeaned Steve Jobs walking in to talk shop, like it was no big deal. It’s there when he reflects on the talent that helped inspire him, specifically, the design team consisting of Rob Janoff, James Ferris, Lee Beggs, Mauricio Arias and others who he says, “paved the way for the most recognizable mark on the planet.”

>> ORIGINAL APPLE LOGO TISSUE, CA. 1977

THE MAN WHO DREW THE APPLE LOGO

LAn Immigrant From Mexico City with His Finger Prints on a Part of the American Fabric,

By David Perez, Contributing Writer AugusT 3, 2012

23

Anyone who used the Apple II could never forget it. With its one-megahertz processor and four-kilobyte memory, it teleported middle-schoolers everywhere to The Oregon Trail. It turned fourth period classrooms into small game hunting preserves. It was eleven pounds of beige bliss. It was also the first time a lot of kids—especially those of working class backgrounds—ever explored the world of computing.

In 1977, Pérez and Rob Janoff were colleagues at Regis McKenna. Janoff designed the Apple mark, while Pérez created its initial rendering and master artwork. Pérez also rendered the typographical solutions that would accompany the Apple logo brand, designed and art directed the first Apple newsletter, created the masthead and co-designed the first Apple magazine. He inked all of this by hand, relying on his mastery of drafting and illustration techniques, because the hardware and applications now ubiquitous in the realm of graphic design simply did not yet exist.

Pérez recalls this era with a kind of excitement that’s difficult to put into words. It’s in his eyes when he talks about the long-haired, torn-jeaned Steve Jobs walking in to talk shop, like it was no big deal. It’s there when he reflects on the talent that helped inspire him, specifically, the design team consisting of Rob Janoff, James Ferris, Lee Beggs, Mauricio Arias and others who he says, “paved the way for the most recognizable mark on the planet.” >> CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE

It is appropriate that at a time when most people were still groping in the dark for their on switches and screaming insults at their dot matrix printers, Pérez was doing some of the best design of his life. Upheavals were nothing new to him. Like other professional Latinos, he had transitioned between worlds before.

As a boy, his creative aspirations were so apparent that his aunts arranged for him to apprentice with a local artist. By 1972 he was in the States, studying art and design at San José State University. Two years later he was awarded an apprenticeship by the Western Arts Director’s Club, an honor reserved for only the top three graduates. This apprenticeship begat another, at the prestigious advertising firm of Regis McKenna. He struck out on his own in 1980 with Carlos Pérez Design Inc., now known as ArtOrigin. Here he has done work for both IBM and Hewlett Packard, leading design teams that helped launch product systems and develop typographical character systems. Today Pérez is working on publishing a book and on developing his own line of creative products based on his Latino/Chicano cultural heritage.

One of his ongoing commissions is with the Cinequest Film Festival. Pérez is the designer of the Festival’s Maverick Spirit Award, which he has personally presented to Kevin Spacy, James Olmos, Sir Ben Kingsley, Lupe Ontiveros, Diablo Cody, William H. Macy, Spike Lee, Lalo Schifrin, Danny Glover and Benjamin Bratt.

When asked about the things that drive him most today, Pérez comes back to family and community. His extended family includes a writer, photographer, nurse, make-up artist, communications major, three grandchildren and his wife and business partner Analisa, all of whom live and work in San José. A product of the 60’s Chicano Student Movement, he considers community-building through the arts as central to his life as a creative professional, and works consistently with South Bay non-profits and arts organizations to connect art to the communities it serves. He hopes this will help “foster a cultural climate where creative thinkers are treated as professionals with equal credentials and not as third class citizens.” In such partnerships, he sees the importance of technology and abstract ideas, but he emphasizes the role of individual creativity “I’m reminded of a quote from advertising guru Bill Bernbach” he says. “An idea can turn to dust or magic depending on the talent that rubs against it.”

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY FROMBYDESIGN IS PUBLISHED BY:CASAALUMNI © 2012 BYDESIGN

11400 W. OLYMPIC BLVD.SUITE 200LOS ANGELES CA 90064® 2012. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

EDITORIAL BOARDR. ROY HERNANDEZ, CO-EDITORRHERNANDEZ@THIRDWAVECORP.COM

D. OSWALDO LOPEZ, CO-EDITOROSWALDO2LOPEZ@GMAIL.COM

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERARIANA PEREZ

CONTRIBUTING WRITERDAVID PEREZ, WRITER, SAN FRANCISCODPEREZER@GMAIL.COM

CINEQUEST FILM FESTIVAL, MAVERICK SPIRIT AWARD, CA. 1995

MEXICAN HERITAGE PLAZA MURAL, THE ARTISTIC MEZTIZAJE, CA. 2004

An idea can turn to dust or magic depending on the talent that rubs against it.

Carlos

I’M REMINDED OF A QUOTE FROM ADVERTISINGGURU BILL BERNBACH” HE SAYS.

t was a warm August evening when my kids and I arrived in San Jose. We had just moved up from the Central Coast. We were used to the cool sea breeze coming off the coast after the heat of the day. The muggy air of the Valley was stifling. I had just gone through a messy divorce which left me financially destitute while supporting four kids. I had a job at the local University but that wasn’t enough to pay the bills. We still joke about the games I used to play to cover up for not having electricity. One month I would pay the rent, the next I would pay the utilities. If the lights went out it was a game to see if one of our neighbors had their lights off, too. It wasn’t until years later that my kids realized what was really going on. Needing the ability to pay rent AND utilities, and with the blessings of the divorce judge, we headed north in the hopes of finding work.

In a sense I was coming home. I have been raised in the Bay Area back when it was orchards and before it was Silicon Valley. Most of my family still lived in the Bay Area so we had a sense of family. I grew up in a white, middle class home at a time when kids still worked in the orchards picking apricots during summer vacation. My parents are Euro-American; my father is German descent and my mother is Italian descent. My life was the typical all American family in small town America. I am white, inside and out.

My kids, on the other hand, are Hispanic. Their father is Mexican-American, first generation on his father side and second generation on his mother side. When we were married, I loved the sense of family and BBQs and gardening. His father had a wonderful vegetable garden. He and I would spend hours tending his garden and picking the fresh produce. One day he encouraged me to pick a chili and eat it. “It tastes like an apple, mija. Don’t be afraid.” He, of course, was kidding; but, I learned to love the taste of fresh peppers straight from the plant.

Written by: Cheryl Mariscal Hergert

I

The things we hear when we are living white on the outside and Latino on the inside.

“I hope for my kids

the same as Martin

Luther King dreamed,

“they will not be judged

by the color of their skin

but by the content of their

character”

My kids never felt different because of their ancestry, whether Euro or Mexican. They were just kids. Coming to San Jose was the first time they experienced the ugliness of discrimination – towards other fellow Latinos.

You see, my kids look like me. They are white on the outside. My oldest daughter has the darkest skin color of all the kids. My son has the fairest skin color. But, when summer comes the Latin in them shines as their skin color turns golden and brown. The fairness of their skin has lent them opportunities to see and hear things that most don’t have the privilege of partaking in. It is interesting how people can act when they think the object of their ridicule isn’t around. Most people see them as white. Most would never know they are Hispanic. So, thoughtless things are said, reactions portray the hidden agenda of others, the ugliness of the world is realized, and innocence is lost. Words like “Stupid Mexicans” had never been heard by them before. I was aware of the possibility, but,

really? This is California, land of diversity. Such derogatory words did not reflect who my children were, or their father, or his father. Intelligent, courageous Mexicans are what I knew. And what my kids knew. Their great grandfathers had ridden with Pancho Villa, one as the flag bearer. They were freedom fighters, truth bearers.

When we arrived I needed to enroll them into school. But because their last name was Hispanic, the school administration put them in a ‘bilingual’ class. None of them knew Spanish, but, “hey, it’s bilingual, they’ll learn Spanish,” so I thought. The school had been mandated by the courts to ‘desegregate’ the students. I am not sure what that meant but the classes were definitely NOT desegregated. The ‘bilingual’ classes had little resources, the students were not invited to participate in the science activities or programs for other children, and there was no such thing as ‘bilingual’. The students were not taught English since the class was taught in Spanish 95% of the time. Even though my son did not know Spanish, he loved being in his class. He made some wonderful friends, learned to play

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soccer, and learned a deeper sense of his Hispanic culture. But, he also saw the ugly side of white. During one episode he heard, “Hey white kid, why you playin’ with those Mexican kids”. Clearly there was the expectation from others that the two races could not mix even on the playground.

Because of the opportunities that I have, given to me because of my skin, we were able to move out of the neighborhood and away from the school. But, we left good friends behind. Students that did not have the same privileges we had, students that had both moms and dads working long hours to provide, who didn’t know the rules and laws that protected them from discrimination at the school, who spoke little English. We felt we betrayed our friends. We could have been their voice.

Living white on the outside while Latino on the inside. The same things are said in front of me, a white person, and I might not realize the meaning like my kids do. I am white and the world is mine. My kids know better. They teach me every day. I become more and more sensitive to the things being said, how they are said and why they are said. I am thankful that my children have the opportunity to hear and see the ugliness of racism. They hear it and they confront it.

I hope for my kids the same as Martin Luther King dreamed, “they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”. That is my dream for my kids, white on the outside, Latino on the inside, courageous and honest.

What was it about science/technology that you found most appealing growing up as a young girl?

I discovered programming at age 6 by playing with a little keyboard my mother had gotten me from Radio Shack. To me it was a toy and one that I could create a new friend who would interact with me on the TV screen. Hence from the beginning I loved that I had the power to create something from scratch that entertained me. I could keep building on what I learned and create more. I also liked that I could take a new electronic and configure it to my liking. I was the one who would program the answering machines, the VCRs, etc.

As for science, my father was the one who influenced me there. He is a nature lover and a microbiologist. We had a bird farm in our back. My father would teach my brother and I a lot about nature either through the birds and through our nature field trips. It was always so fascinating. At the same time he used to do experiments for my elementary school classes with bacteria and petri dishes. He not only taught me, but intrigued my classmates. That showed me how hands on science could really excite my other classmates and how cool they thought my Dad was. I wanted to grow up and be like him!

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What were some of the hurdles/challenges you faced in that environment?

The biggest hurdle I faced in this environment was not lack of curiosity or insufficient intelligence to do well, it was financial resources. Science kits and the newest electronic gadgets were not cheap. Science or technology camps were also outside of our means. My father was already working 2 jobs to put my brother and I through a private school and we lived on a very tight budget. This meant I had to learn outside the house about most of these things. I would go to a classmate’s house who had a father who was into gadgets and I’d learn that way. One way or another we would figure out how to close the gap. Having immigrant parents who didn’t come from much meant that our richness was not in money but in our imaginations and perseverance to obtain a goal or a need no matter what.

When did you realize this could/would be your career and why?

As I was choosing which high school to go to, I remember picking up several pamphlets from the career counseling office at an high school open house. One of them was about engineering. Up until that point I thought an engineer was someone who ran a train. I read that pamphlet and learned about the great things engineers built and made. When I read what kind of school subjects engineers excelled in it was math and science, which were my best subjects. It was then, when I was about to enter high school that I decided I could be an engineer one day and I quickly picked the academic track that would allow me to go to the best university possible.

At the time I did not know what kind of engineer I wanted to be. In my junior year I took a computer science class. It all seemed so familiar to me what we were learning that first day. I ran home and asked my mother for the computer book I used to type from when I was 6. She found it and I compared it to my text book and it was the same language! It was fate! I was meant to be in computing. At 16 was when I saw the light of a bright career in technology ahead of me.

What are 3 things you are currently working on as a young entrepreneur?

1. Refining the business model to find the right product/market fit.

2. Establishing a fulfilling company culture

3. Setting up meetings with mentors, advisors, and potential investors.

Written by: Jennifer Arguello

SILICON VALLEY LATINO RECENTLY INTERVIEWED JENNIFER ARGUELLO, CO-FOUNDER OF LATINO STARTUP ALLIANCE. JENNIFER IS ALSO CURRENT REGION 1 VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND PAST PRODUCT MANAGER AT MOZILLA CORP. AND PROGRAM MANAGER AT MICROSOFT. SHE IS A GRADUATE OF UC SAN DIEGO.

© 2012 Citigroup Inc. All rights reserved.Citi and Citi with Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc.

Small businesses are the engines of neighborhood economies. They create jobs, spur innovation and strengthen communities.

Citi supports America’s small businesses through innovative products and collaborations.

Learn more about· Small business products: citibusiness.com· Community programs for entrepreneurs: citicommunitydevelopment.com

* Source: U.S. Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/sbfaq.pdf)

Small businesses have created 65% of new U.S. jobs*

When not working on your career how do you relax?

Relax is not really in my vocabulary. If I am still it is usually because I am recovering. In my spare time I like to play soccer and be out in nature especially doing something extreme like river rafting or an arduous mountain bike ride. A strong body is also needed to have a strong mind. I know it sounds weird, but doing these intense activities is relaxing to my brain because I’m not working out my cerebral muscle, I’m working out the other muscles. Spiritually, being out in nature reconnects you with the real world, which you sometimes tend to forget because of living in the bubble of the Silicon Valley where even toddlers have the latest iPhone.

What advice would you give to Latinas/Latinos in pursuing their career dreams?

Here are 5 pieces of advice I would give a rising Latino/a in pursing his/her career dreams.

1. Find your guardian angels.No one has achieved success on their own. In your career you will need the support of mentors and sponsors.

2. Luck = Opportunity + PreparationThe opportunity is usually created by those guardian angels already mentioned, but the preparation is your responsibility. Find out what are the skills you need to hit those dreams and do what is needed to get them.

3. Always be curious.In other words, always have an appetite to want to learn something new. Ask a lot of questions.

4. Stereotypes are daresAs a Latino, you will more than likely encounter people with a stereotype about Latinos. Dare to disprove them. If the stereotype is that Latinos are lazy, show them how hardworking you are. If the stereotype is that women should not be leaders, take on a leadership role. You will not only be benefiting yourself is dispelling negative stereotypes, but you will be benefiting all Latinos.

5. Lift as you climbAgain no one achieves success by themselves. As you rise, help someone else. Mentoring is not only fulfilling, but it forces you to be your best self so you can teach others.

Support Silicon Vally LatinoVisit: www.svlatino.com

“Our motto for this year, 2012, is Strong and fearless. I chose it because I want every woman to be strong physically and fearless, meaning not letting fear get in the way of succeeding in life whether at home, at work, or at college,” says Angela Zapien, age 31, founder of The Pink Ladies Boot Camp in San Jose.

After Angela lost her job in 2009, and after months of searching for a job and questioning what she wanted to do with her life, she created The Boot Camp to accommodate women’s workout needs.

The Pink Ladies Boot Camp was launched on May 7, 2010, when Angela reached out for participants on Facebook. “Does anyone want to work out? I am studying to be a trainer.” She started with five women.

“It really kicked off that summer. Everything that I knew about fitness I wanted to share.”

Written by Eydie Mendoza | Photos by Patricia Ruiz

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Ladies, Your Workout PrayersHave Been Answered

To find out more contact Angela Zapien via email pinkladiesbootcamp@gmail.com and visit

The Pink Ladies Boot Camp on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ThePinkLadiesBootCamp.

When the group grew to 20 plus ladies, Angela invited her husband, Alex Zapien, 32-years-old this February, for feedback while he was on vacation from his job.

“He basically taught class that day.” The ladies liked the couple’s training dynamics. Angela adds, “So I hired him.”

In April 2011, seven Boot Campers including the Zapiens, participated in Walk by Faith a 5K walking event.

“Some people never thought they would participate. Never thought they would run or walk. For some of them it was their first 5k in their life.” Tearfully, Angela continues “And it’s because, we inspire them. I get emotional because I am very passionate about what I do. And just seeing someone walk or run three miles… That’s big.”

Alex adds, “That’s the biggest gift we can give someone is to inspire a person that has never done 10 or 5K and have then say, ‘Thank you so much! You have changed my life’.”

“It takes las ganas to do it. You know?” says Eva Carbajal, age 59, currently the eldest participant. Carbajal is not new to working out because

she bikes 10mi every other day, and has been a marathon runner for over 25 years. She pointed out that her daughter Lisa comes with her and brings a group of friends.

Many of The Pink Ladies continue to walk and run marathons as a group. Seven (Five ladies and two men) including including the trainers joined Marsh Madness 10K (6.2 mi) held at the Palo Alto Baylands and another group participated in the 2011 San Jose Rock n Roll Half Marathon last October.

“Men are invited and join the boot camp, as well, but they never come back.” Along with Alex, there is one male participant in the group.

“I started with the Pink Ladies in September 2010 and since then have lost over 40lbs,” states Pink Ladies Fitness Assistant Elena Bermudez, age 35. “It’s just an inspiring place to come when I am feeling really down. It’s not just about getting in shape it’s also about support and spiritual growth and that’s what keeps me coming.”

Angela began working out with Alex over 10 years ago, and she tried out for the San Jose State University Sabercats cheerleading squad. Since then she pursued individual training and workouts, is certified in CPR and in TRX a Fitness Anywhere LLC bodyweight-based training. Currently, she is training

for for a full marathon San Francisco 26.2 miles this July 29, 2012 on her birthday.

Alex is trained in Martial Arts since 14 years old and the power lifting of weights. He works for Comcast during the day, but holds an obstacle course one evening every week, called VIP Tuesdays.

Sonja Garcia, age 34, has been with the Camp since April 2011. “A lot of us are on Facebook and Angela puts a lot of quotes and assignments.” This week they created a vision board and last week they listed five achievement goals to be accomplished within 60 days. “Everything that we do, we post on Facebook.” Not all participants are on Facebook so Garcia adds, “Also on Tuesdays she emails recipes, and then there are Motivation Wednesdays where she sends out emails to everyone about a quote or the lady (Pink Lady) of the month.”

These fitness motivators offer this workout camp to the community for a reasonable fee; it includes support via story time talk sessions, cooking workshops, along constant social-media communication. Alex suggested incorporating prayer into the workouts but Angela didn’t agree immediately, yet after attending a retreat in October of 2010, she embraced the concept and incorporated it into the Camp.

Angela believes, “You can look amazing on the outside but if you don’t feel amazing, it’s not going to work … It’s so important to fix the inside, too.”

The Pink Ladies Boot Camp is open to people of all sizes and beliefs. Angela and Alex will accommodate workouts to one’s physical condition and needs like pregnancy or as per doctor’s recommendations.

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30 Putting Your Health First

On Nov. 6, 2012 Re-Elect Laura Casas Frier forTrustee to Foothill – De Anza Community College Board

BOARD SERVICE:

Laura possesses over seven years of high impact board service

STATE LEADERSHIP: Laura has been elected to the California Community College Trustee Board and appointed to the California Community College League Board

GOALS:

Laura is passionate about supporting student access but also student success with critical support programs such as the Puente Project and Math My Way. Additionally, she is focused on continuing to deliver a balanced budget while maintaining academic excellence, effective and judicious management of 490 million bond

CREDENTIALS: University of Santa Clara Law JD Commercial liability insurance carrier Passionate education advocate for all students, especially for the working class and AB 540 students.

Casas Frier for College Trustee (650) 906-1514

FPPIC # 1277584

Latinos are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with obesity and diabetes, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Being overweight and obese is when your weight is greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. Obesity has been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension. Diabetes is a disease in which there are high levels of sugar in the blood. The consequences of diabetes are kidney disease and kidney failure, heart disease, loss of vision, nerve disorders and even death. Obesity and diabetes are striking an ever-growing number of adults and are now beginning to show up in our teenagers and children, especially in Latinos.

Studies indicate that, “Because of the growth in childhood obesity, it is projected that half of Latino newborns will develop diabetes in their lifetimes” (Narayan).

The good news is that you have the power to prevent obesity and diabetes. As a program coordinator for the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a national research study, I work with clients that are “pre-diabetic/borderline diabetic.” DPP has found that participants who lost a modest amount of weight through dietary changes and increased physical activity sharply reduced their chances of developing diabetes.

Take these simple steps to put your health first in order to reduce your risk of obesity and diabetes:

KEEP YOUR WEIGHT UNDER CONTROL: Living a balanced lifestyle that involves healthy eating and physical activity will help you maintain a healthy weight. Studies show that if you lose 5-10 pounds you can prevent or even delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Being overweight or obese and being Latino are risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Getting at least 30 minutes a day of physical activity will lower your risk of getting diabetes. Being physically active will help you manage your weight and lower your blood sugar. The best way to ensure that you get an adequate amount of physical activity a week is to do something active that you enjoy. A few examples of physical activity are: walking, dancing, bike riding, swimming, jogging, and participating in sports. Involve your family and friends to help them be healthy too.

EAT HEALTHY: Healthy eating is a way of life. Limit your trips to fast food restaurants and limit your intake of highly processed foods, while focusing on eating as close to nature as possible. This means replacing highly processed foods with more natural and whole foods, such as: fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, lean meats, poultry and fish.

Take steps today to make your health, and the health of your family a priority.

By Monica Mireles

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32

T

On the right side ofThe Tracks

he path toward being an artist can take many forms. For some it starts with nothing more than a number 2 pencil and plain sheet of paper. For others it may be a box of crayons, colored markers or a water color paint set. For then 11-year-old Carlos Rodriguez, newly arrived to San Jose from Mexico in 1988, his path to being an artist was through creating graffiti on walls throughout San Jose in Latino neighborhoods that allowed spaces for public murals.

Twenty three years later Carlos has opened a studio called The Tracks. Located south of downtown San Jose in the Spartan-Keyes Neighborhood he and co-owner/founder Helene Erhlich hope to create a space where other aspiring artists can learn and grow. A place where, as Carlos elaborates, “artists can express their passion and create things people will enjoy, create things that people can like or hate at the same time.”

For Carlos the-young-artist his work on graffiti murals served as a means to connect to other kids his age. As a new immigrant he soon found that other kids admired his work. “Graffiti helped me to make friends, I was no longer a stranger, I learned at an early age how powerful art was,” he said.

In graffiti culture the railroad and railroad cars are considered the ultimate canvass. It is there that a graffiti artist can display his/her talent and showcase art that will eventually be seen throughout the state if not the entire country as the boxcar moves across the landscape day and night. It becomes in essence a moving exhibit. Thus his choice to name his studio The Tracks.

But prior to opening The Tracks Carlos first cultivated his skills and developed his style when at 18 he started spending time at M.A.C.L.A. Arte a gallery serving the Latino community. He would go on to work at a youth center in Mountain View where he began to teach art to other Latino youth, he introduced art programs at the Alum Rock Counseling Center and worked for the City of San Jose’s gang prevention program.

It was only a matter of time till the hunger to start his own business led him to opening a vinyl business and later a silk screening business which he still currently runs. Like any new business startup it has not been easy but he has learned that having a business was very liberating. “We still struggle as young artists but still we sell our art whether it’s murals, paintings, T-shirts, our own clothing line or photography services” Carlos says.Today his company New Edge Creative Studios consists of T-shirt printing, design work, murals and photography by co-founder Helene Erhlich. Helene, a third generation photographer, has 15 years of experience as a photographer and credits a Kodak Instamatic camera she once had as a child for her love of photography. Additional founders include Eli Lippert, Randy Ramirez and Alisha Ima

New Edge is the silk screen side of their business venture, and they encourage and welcome the community’s support to grow their fledging business.

When not working at their studio Helene works as a teacher at ACE Charter school in San Jose where she takes pride in bringing art and culture to the classroom. She will at times bring T-shirts designed by Carlos or other Latino artists bearing cultural images of Mexico like Dia de los Muertos or Zapata. To the children in her classroom it is a way to teach art and history as well as

instill pride in Latino culture.

“Education is power” Helene adds “I especially enjoy empowering young girls as artists and showing them that they can make a living as an artist.” “I want people to feel empowered, to live their dreams, to not be scared and I hope that Carlos and I can inspire others by what we are doing with a little blood, sweat and tears as working artists.”

When asked what he wants to be remembered for Carlos added “I want people to view me as a staple in the art community, that the San Jose art community grew because of what we are trying to do at The Tracks studio, that I want to inspire the City to have faith in our youth, not to demonize the graffiti artist, and that people walk away with a sense of what San Jose art is and represents.”

The Tracks is located at 855 5th Street #407, San Jose, CA 95122

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