Free Gratis Volume 6 Number 3 LaLaLa VVVozozoz A Bilingual Publication March, 2011 www.lavoznewspapers.com (512) 944-4123 Inside this Issue People in the News Hispanic Health and Assimilation Letter to the Editor from Ed Gomez Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Announces New Board Southwest Key Makes Proposal to School District Juan Montoya Comments on Brownsville Native The Day of An Interview the Fallen with Lori Moya En Palabras AISD Trustee Hay Poder in District 6 Page 2 La Voz de Austin - March, 2011 People in the News After seeing her six children Rolando Fernandez Jr. currently 1998 with a B.A. in History and for Mexican American Studies, graduate from college, she became serves as the City of Austin Public Policy, along with a minor in and the Center for African & a writer, penning both poems and Assistant Director of the Contract Film and Media Studies. African American Studies. short stories and volunteered at the and Land Management Mexic-Arte Museum from 1984 to Department. Prior to this, After moving to Austin that same Her recent scholarship has 2010. In 2001, Aurora attended Fernandez served as the Assistant year to pursue film and music, she focused on U.S. Latina/o President George W. Bush First to Austin City Manager Marc Ott returned to one of her first loves - performance and popular culture. State Dinner for President Fox of from August 2008 to October 2010. acting - and was a Vortex Her articles, “Remembering Selena, Mrs. Orozco Passes Mexico with daughter Sylvia. As Assistant to the City Manager, Repertory Company member for Re-membering Latinidad,” (Theatre Away After Long Fernandez provided leadership to three years. She continued her Journal, 2002) and “Becoming Active Life Among her publications are numerous corporate initiatives and violin studies while working at Selena, Becoming Latina” (Women “Mexican Blood Runs Through My administrative support to the City Blackerby Violin Shop, playing in and Migration in the US-Mexico Veins,” in Speaking Chicana, Voice, Manager. several bands, and she then Borderlands, Duke University Aurora Orozco, 92, of Cuero Power, and Identity in1999. returned to school to earn an M.F.A. Press, 2007) comprise part of her passed away Wednesday, Feb. 9, Unpublished literary works include ernandez began his career with in Creative Writing from Texas State book, Selenidad: Selena, Latinos, 2011 in Austin. She was born May F her autobiography and over 35 short the City of Austin in 2006 serving University. and the Performance of Memory 8, 1918 in Cerralvo, Nuevo Leon, stories, 50 poems, 10 political as the Executive Assistant to the (Duke University Press 2009), that Mexico to the late Lorenzo Estrada She works as the Public essays, and multiple travel logs. Assistant City Manager Michael explores the afterlife of the Tejana and Gertudis Toscano. Relations Director for Mexic-Arte McDonald, providing leadership to performer, Selena Quintanilla Museum, and she has recently An article about Aurora written by the Community Service Group and Perez. She married Primitivo Orozco in launched her own business, Plum her daughter, Dr. Cynthia E. Public Safety Services. 1950 in Mercedes, Texas. A 1938 Orozco, appeared in 2006 in Communications & PR providing Deborah served as Associate graduate of Mercedes High services to independent Director of the Center for Mexican Latinas in the United States: a The Texas native earned his School, Aurora attended the entrepreneurs and musicians. American Studies for the 2009-2010 Historical. Aurora enjoyed reading bachelor’s degree in criminal justice University of Texas at Austin, When she has free time, she still year and also continues her work as novels, reading newspapers, visiting and an associate degree in Extension Course in Business enjoys playing the fiddle, makes Director of Arts and Community museums, traveling, crocheting, psychology from Wayland Baptist from 1947-49. She was employed as short films to entertain her friends, Engagement (ACE) in the Vice and embroidery. University. He attended St. Mary’s a salesperson for Lieberman’s spends vacations in the Big Bend President’s Office for Diversity University for graduate school and Department Store in Cuero from desert, and pursues an and Community Engagement. She is survived by her daughters, received a master’s in public 1967 to 1985. environmentally sustainable Maria Teresa Orozco of Houston, administration graduating with lifestyle. Sylvia Orozco of Austin, and Irma Distinguished Graduate Honors. He She was a well-known Mexican- Orozco (Claudio Lopez) of San is also a graduate of the USAF American community leader in Antonio; her sons, Eddie Orozco of School of Aerospace Physiology, Cuero from the 1960s to the late Houston and Robert Orozco of San USAF Instructor School and the 1980s and served as secretary of Antonio; and Dr. Cynthia Orozco of USAF Airman Leadership Familias Unidas of Cuero from New Mexico, sisters, Ketta Flores 1975 to 1977 and as a member of and Tules Estrada, both of the Cuero Voter Registration and Mercedes; brother, Alejandro Education Organization from 1987 Estrada (Gloria) of Mercedes; She to 1992, as well as secretary and was preceded in death by her member of the League of United parents and her husband. Latin American Citizens (LULAC) from 1972 to 1975 and from 1978 to Andy Imutan Passes 1982, respectively. Deborah Paredez Away in the Named interim Philippines She also served as a member of director of CMAS the City of Cuero City Council One of the original farm workers Advisory Committee from 1985 to Landeros Joins the The dean of the College of Lib- who set in motion the modern farm 1990, and juror for the DeWitt Public Relations eral Arts has named Dr. Deborah worker movement that helped County Grand Jury in1979 and Crowd in Austin Paredez the interim director of the Cesar Chavez become a national 1984. Her participation at Our Lady Center for Mexican American Stud- figure passed away last month. In the of Guadalupe Church included Alexandra Maria Landeros ies next issue of La Voz de Austin we president of the Church Council from is the Owner/Founder Plum aredez holds a Ph.D. from the will have full coverage of his life work 1972 to 1981; president and Communications & PR. P Interdisciplinary Theatre and Drama and struggle for social justice. secretary of Las Guadalupanas Fernandez Promoted Originally from Los Angeles with Program at Northwestern from 1971 to 1981 and 1989 to 1992, to Assistant Director deep roots in Aguascalientes, University. She teaches courses respectively; and bilingual lector Mexico, Alexandra graduated from about race and performance in the from 1976 to 1999. at the City of Austin Carnegie Mellon University in Department of Theatre, the Center La Voz de Austin - March, 2011 Page 3 PRODUCTION Editor & Publisher Pensamientos para marzo Editorial Alfredo Santos c/s Rally and March Are People in Austin Too NIce? Managing Editors I have only been a resident of Austin, Texas for six years and in Yleana Santos in Austin Yleana Santos this time I have come to notice several things that strike me as odd or Kaitlyn Theiss Kaitlyn Theiss Austin Voices for Education unusual. For one, it seems like people tend to preface direct com- and Youth is helping to organize ments with the phrase, “I’m sorry. but . and then continue on Graphics the Rally and March at the State with what ever it is they were going to say. Juan Gallo Capitol on March 12th, 2011. Over 10,000 people are expected The other thing I have noticed in my short time here is the use of Distribution to attend from all over the state. the word “comfortable.” I once saw a person on television tell a re- TomEl THerreraeam Locally, 100 students and parents porter who asked them a direct question, “Well, I’m not comfortable from each of the 113 public answering that question” What? I said to myself, well that’s why the Contributing Writers school in Austin, Texas are ex- reporter asked you the question the way he did. It’s not suppose to Juan Montoya pected to attend. The event will suppose to be a comfortable question. Que pasó? DesarayWayne Garza begin with a march at Waterloo Alfredo Rodriguez Santos c/s Editor & Publisher NereydaHector TVijerinaazquez Park and arrive at the Capitol at Maybe those of us who grew up in South Texas are use to a different Marisa Cano noon. For more information way of life. Maybe if I stay in Austin another six years, I will get that please call (512) 450-1880. You comfort feeling. Now available can also get more information at PUBLISHER’S the following website. STATEMENT www.savetxschools.org. The graph below is something that we found extremely interesting. Visit the Texas Tribune website for a lot La Voz de Austin is a monthly La Voz de Austin is a monthly Changing more interesting graphs like this one. publication. The editorial and business address is P.O. Box the Topic 19457 Austin, Texas 78760. The telephone number is Austin Police Commander (512) 944-4123. The use, re- Ernesto Pedraza has decided to production or distribution of run for the office Constable of any or part of this publication Precinct 4 in 2012. He will be run- is strongly encouraged. But do ning against Maria Canchola the call and let us know what you incumbent. While the pursuit of are using. Letters to the edi- public office should always be tor are most welcome. welcomed, in Commander Pedraza’s case it appears that he is shooting too low. Por cualquier pregunta, With all of his training and 33 llamanos: years in law enforcement, it seems as though Commander 291-9060 Pedraza, who earns $130,422 a year should be running for a 944-4123 higher office.