Free Gratis Volume 6 Number 10 LaLa VVozoz A Bilingual PublicationLaLaLa VVVozozoz October, 2011 www.lavoznewspapers.com (512) 944-4123 In this issue People in the News Editorial In Search of the American Dream The Pew Hispanic Center Reports Interview with Christina Montes The Work of Fidencio Duran En las palabras hay poder Calender of Events Who is this girl? See Page 8 Reuniendo Amantes Salud, Carera, Amor, Negocio 3411 N. Lamar St. Austin, Texas 78705 Page 2 La Voz de Austin - October, 2011 borderlands, history of Mexico to 1848 and introduction to American People in the News Indian history. While de la Teja was born in Cuba Sergio A. Aguillon-Mata is the new awareness and funding for the and raised in New Jersey, he has Outreach Coordinator for the international campaign, VDAY: To become one of the foremost Worker’s Defense Project in Stop the Violence Against Women experts on Latino history in Texas. Austin, Texas. In this capacity he as well as Haven Hills, a domestic He earned both his bachelor’s will be working with the Building a violence shelter in the San degree in political science and his Better Texas Coalition. Fernando Valley. She also worked master’s degree in Latin American for four years as a volunteer with history from Seton Hall University Kandace Vallejo Sergio joined the Americorps the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian in New Jersey. He ventured to Membership Programs Volunteer In Service To America Center’s Vote for Equality Texas to earn his doctorate in Coordinator (VISTA) program at the end of July Campaign. Her experience in colonial Latin American history from 2011. All VISTA members are Development comes from working the University of Texas. Kandace Vallejo has recently been committed at least during a year to as the Events and Membership named a Food and Community fight poverty all over the United Director for the L.A. World Affairs Fellow by the Institute for States. This allowed Sergio to Council, the Membership Texas State’s de la Agriculture and Trade Policy choose Workers Defense Project Coordinator for the ACLU of Teja honored as (IATP), making it possible for as the non-profit organization he Southern California and as the Kandace to join the Workers’ wanted to join, to keep organizing Director of Community Organizing Regents’ Professor Defense Project team full-time as and empowering the community of with allgo: a statewide queer people exas State University-San the coordinator of our Leadership low-income workers—most of them of color organization. T and Educational Achievement from the construction industry, most Marcos Department of History Program. of them immigrants—in order to professor Frank de la Teja has achieve social justice for everybody. been recognized as a recipient of As part of this fellowship, Kandace the 2011 Regents’ Professor Award will be improving and expanding by the Texas State University WDP’s Youth Empowerment System (TSUS) Board of Regents. Program, beginning cultivation of our community garden here at 5604 The TSUS recognizes an individual Juan Perez Wins within the system as a recipient of Manor Road, and coordinating the Poetry Award upcoming expansion of WDP’s the Regents’ Professor for showing educational services to include an exemplary performance and La Pryor Poet and History Teacher, computer literacy classes, cooking Greg “Goyo” Casar is contribution in the areas of Juan Manuel Perez has officially classes, and a college prep program the new Business teaching, research and publication. taken the title of the 2011-2012 Poet for youth and their parents. Over 560 Liaison at WDP Laureate for the San Antonio All of the Regents’ Professor individuals applied for fellowships, Candace López Poets Association. On September Greg “Goyo” Casar is a graduate Awards include a $5,000 award and 14 were awarded. Development Manage 17, 2011 Juan delivered the of the University of Virginia where and commemorative medallion. traditional “Annual Poet Laureate for Worker’s Defenser Selected professors will also he focused on the relationship Address” to those in attendance at maintain the title of TSUS Regents’ As the new Development Manager between labor standards, public this poetry meeting. with Workers Defense Project, education, and the juvenile justice Professor for the duration of their Candace López will be responsible system. He has joined the WDP staff service. This Poetry Society of Texas for helping sustain the as the coordinator of the new chapter and South Texas based n February 2009, was organization’s programming Premier Community Builders I de la Teja poet organization established in appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to through fundraising efforts. This program. The program will bridge 1979, have been selecting their serve the first-ever two-year term position will encompass many environmental interests with labor Poet Laureate since 1981. Juan is projects including building and standards to create green jobs for as the state historian of Texas. In the first native born poet from this job, de la Teja will enhance maintaining a network of individual Austin’s low-wage construction Zavala County and the surrounding Texans’ knowledge about the donors, working with the Board of workers. Middle Rio Grande area to be Directors Finance and Fudraising state’s history and heritage; selected as their Poet Laureate. Aquillion-Mata Joins Committee and coordinating As a long-time student organizer, encourage the teaching of Texas Worker’s Defense fundraising events such as the Greg will also coordinate Students history in public schools; and Each year, the San Antonio Poets consult with top government Project Annual Anniversary Event. Organizing for Labor (SOL), a Association selects a poet to be the student organization at the officials on the promotion of Texas next Poet Laureate through a Sergio A. Aguillon-Mata is the new Candace comes to Workers University of Texas that also fights history. points-value system in which Juan Outreach Coordinator for the Defense Project with several years alongside WDP members for the scored exceptionally high due to his ince 1991, de la Teja has taught Worker’s Defense Project in of non-profit fundraising and dignity and respect of Austin’s S presentation ability and various history courses at Texas Austin, Texas. In this capacity he organizing experience. Before workforce. accessibility, plus numerous State, including critical issues in will be working with the Building a moving to Austin she worked as a speaking engagements and Better Texas Coalition. volunteer in Los Angeles to raise Texas history, Spanish publication credits. La Voz de Austin - October, 2011 Page 3 PRODUCTION On the Passing Del Valle Editor & Publisher She cautioned those in the aud- Editorial Alfredo Santos c/s of Steve Jobs School District ience not to confuse personal development workshops, winning Managing Editors Welcome to another issue of La Over the last several months, awards, job promotions and at- Yleana Santos Voz de Austin. There are so there has been a tremendous tending conferences, with the Kaitlyn Theiss many things going on, no se upheaval in the Del Valle School idea that this is what constitutes donde empezar. Certainly the District. Richard Franklin, who leadership in the community. Graphics death of Steve Jobs is on my was elected to the school back in 2010 and immediately began to Juan Gallo mind. His pioneering work with Martha went on to add that the McIntosh is what led me into question the business as usual leadership in the community is desktop publishing and the news- approach he saw taking place Distribution about taking a stand, taking a paper business. before him, has now been joined TomEl THerreraeam position on an issue. Leadership on the school board by Debbie sometimes involves offending While I had experience laying Russell, another activist who is people when you know they are Alfredo R. Santos c/s Contributing Writers out newspapers using the old not afraid to ask questions and in the wrong. Leadership, Martha Editor & Publisher Desaray Garza fashion cut and past methods, the speak her mind. stated, is sometimes about sac- MonicaWayne Peña McIntosh was the technology rifice and taking risks. ning the new 35th Congres- FrancoHector MartinezTijerina that allowed me to really take off I have attended a few of the sional District and has about 3 Marisa Cano in 1990. His death at the age of school meetings and they are It is has been a look time since million dollars in the bank. 56, while tragic, reminds all of us usually packed houses. The wall I have heard someone in Austin, that we are only here for a short to wall people remind me of PUBLISHER’S Texas talk about leadership in But with the redistricting issue a time. school board meetings in South those terms. Martha Cotera is in the courts, it looks that a lot of STATEMENT Texas where the school district right, there are too many people people are holding back and wait- La Voz de Austin is a monthly Why Can’t Fidel is the center of the universe. La Voz de Austin is a monthly who do not understand that be- ing to see if the maps are going publication. The editorial and These two school members look publication. The editorial and Acevedo Get Any ing a leader requires that you not to hold up. (This is related to business address is P.O. Box like they are really going to bring business address is P.O. Box only have followers you can point Martha Cotera’s comments on 19457 Austin, Texas 78760. Respect? some change to the Del Valle 19457 Austin, Texas 78760. to, but ideas and principles that leadership.) The telephone number is ISD. The telephone number is Here is something that I have you are willing to fight for.