Richardson: Secretary of Commerce?

The buzz on the blogs and on the hill is that Gov. Bill Richardson will become the new Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration.  The first high-profile Latino to be leaked as a potential executive in the new administration, President-elect Obama and his transition team are putting together the political equivalent of the gold medal winning "Redeem Team."  Next up---Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State.   

Now, the Secretary of Commerce post is largely viewed as a second-tier appointment typically reserved for generous campaign donors from the business community.  Until I saw the job description on CNN, I really had no clue what the job entails.  The day-to-day rigors aside, in Bill Richardson the Obama Administration will get a seasoned administrator with foreign policy and economic development chops that should prove to be beneficial in promoting international trade.  

What's next for New Mexico?  If this speculation about Richardson is true, Lt. Governor Diane Denish is more than prepared to take the reins of executive leadership in the state.  Lt. Governor Denish has been an absolute gem to the youth development community championing early childhood education, service and volunteerism, affordable and accessible health care for all and workforce development through her leadership as head of the New Mexico Children's Cabinet.  While Richardson has been knee deep in national politics, Denish has been the steady hand at the wheel of state politics for the last year and a half.  The transition to a Gov. Denish administration should be relatively smooth.  

It will be interesting to see the sequencing of events if Gov. Richardson formally gets offered the job early next week.  According to CNN, some of the Obama cabinet appointments could take as long as May 2009 to confirm.  With that timeline, who will oversee the New Mexico State Legislative Session that will begin in late January?  If Gov. Richardson accepts the offer and assuming that he gets through the rigorous vetting process, will he resign as Governor early to ensure a smooth transition to a Denish administration?  

This domino effect currently leaves our state with more questions than answers.  But the excitement in the building of the "Redeem Team" and the hope of a new leader in state politics that cares about our greatest assets--our youth make the anticipation almost unbearable.      

Si Se Puede! Yes We Can!

Fear can be extremely powerful, leaving those in the shadows feeling helpless and searching for answers.  But, what we found out on November 4th was that hope and optimism are much more powerful.  The people have spoken by casting their ballots in record numbers and the winner is: Barack Obama.  

People were dancing in the streets, weeping without caution and generally feeling intoxicated by the magnitude of this historic event.  So why was this presidential victory so significant? Have we apotheosized Obama to the point there is just too much collective weight on his shoulders?   

Here are a couple of reasons why this victory was  significant.  First, for every Latino, African American, American Indian, Asian American and any other minority group who has felt disenfranchised by our government, the most unbreakable institutional glass ceiling in America was shattered to pieces.  For those who felt that the dream of being President of the United States of America was the unattainable dream---there is now hope.  I can now look at my Mexican-American daughter and say:  "Mi hija, someday if you work really hard, you can be President of the United States"--and mean it.  For those who have been through the struggle there is a beacon of hope.  For those that have not been through the struggle--you may not understand. 

Second, this election demonstrates that "bottom-up" really does work.  Gone are the days of being "parented" by our government and accepting things as they are because we feel that we can't make a difference.  It took me my entire adult life to come to grips with the power of the vote.  I approached politics and the political process with cynicism because I honestly felt that my vote didn't really matter.  Those that were in power were going to preserve their power and influence and there wasn't much I could really do about it.   I remember having a conversation with a friend of mine who left the country to do political work in Bolivia.  My question to him was:  "What motivated you to leave the U.S. to organize in Bolivia?"  He looked at me, gathered his thoughts and said: "People in the U.S. will complain about paying $4 a gallon for gas, but do nothing about it."  "In Bolivia, people will take to the streets and take up arms if they have to for what they believe in."  Now, taking up arms is a little radical for someone like me who prefers Ghandian methods, but the point was well taken. "Don't complain if you're not gonna be part of the solution."

At minimum, this election has elevated the hopes and dreams of those who felt left behind by government.  President-Elect Barack Obama faces some steep challenges for sure.  Can he really change Washington?  Only time will tell.  One thing is for sure, he cannot do it without the same groundswell of concerned citizens that helped him get elected to office.  There is also a significant debt of gratitude that we must pay to Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, Malcolm X and all of the other trailblazers of the Civil Rights Movement who lit the incandescent flame that has guided us to greater equality.  We are not quite at the "mountain top" yet.  But, the panoramic view from where we currently stand is breathtaking to say the least.                 

Elimi(hate)

On Halloween, trick or treaters dressed up in their scariest garb trying to heighten fear in those poor souls distributing candy at doorsteps.  In southern New Mexico, a six foot plus African-American presidential candidate has elicited a certain fear in at least one high-ranking GOP official in Alamagordo.  Seems like Marcia Stirman who heads the Republican Women of Otero County is in a little hot water for calling Sen. Barack Obama a "Muslim Socialist" in a letter to the editor published in the Alamagordo Daily News.  Not deep enough, Stirman takes a few more digs by saying: "I believe Muslims are our enemy."  Even more troubling is the fact that Stirman goes on to say that she has received about 700 calls in response to her letter and that three fourths of them have been "positive."  Guess what, now I'm really scared!

These are the same racial tactics I discussed in a previous post.  Once again, ignorance is alive and well and fear mongering is at the heart of a pathetic GOP strategy.   And guess what, the uninformed electorate takes the bait hook, line and sinker.  I had a conservative Christian recently tell me:  "I would never vote for that Muslim Obama."  I tried to set the record straight on Obama's spirituality and this individual was completely uninterested--not even trying to hear a word I was saying.  You wanna know why?  Because they feel empowered to vilify those that are different from themselves.  It's like trying to tell a 5 year old child that there is no Santa Claus.  Everything they have been told to this point is now in question and it feels unsafe.  Even worse, they don't see themselves as guilty of discrimination without any basis or facts. Ask these same individuals to give you the basic tenets of either the Muslim faith or socialism for that matter and you'll get the same exact blank look.

We must take hate out of the debate.  We must ELIMI(HATE)  

   

 

The Recovering Cholo

A little levity in the midst of tough economic times......

I was thinking this morning about culture and what I identify with.  Am I Mexican?  Am I Hispanic? Am I Latino or Chicano?  I finally realized at my core, I am a recovering cholo!  This was a bold discovery to finally come to grips with my identity!  I have been struggling with this for years!  Here are some of the indicators to help you embrace your inner cholo:

Terms of Endearment:  I have always been criticized for not being incredibly affectionate, especially through words.  Most people refer to their significant others as "honey", "sweetheart" or "dear".  My querida wife has always been referred to as "homes."

Salutation:  Most people greet each other by saying "hello" or "how are you" or "good to see you."  The recovering cholo cannot get passed:  "orale homie" or "q-vole vato!"  These salutations bleed out like a verbal reflex that cannot be controlled.

References to Inanimate Objects:  References to cars as "ramflas" or  calling a chair a "share" or calling your favorite song a "rolla" help to define your inner cholo. 

Ring tones:  The recovering cholo does not like ringtones from contemporary artists.  If you hear "I'm your puppet" as someone's phone rings, you are in the presence of a true cholo!  

Fashion:  The recovering cholo still thinks hush puppies or "shopos" look good with a suit.  

So, onward my fellow cholos!  Embrace your identities! Que viva los cholos! 

Joe's Kids Need an Education

The latest diversion on the campaign trail these days is Joe the Plumber, otherwise known as Jose el plomero here in the southwest.  Another empty attempt at diverting from one of the most critical issues of our time.......our nation's education crisis.  The stock market roller coaster ride we have been on for the last month (maybe this is not a good metaphor since roller coasters do go up) has prompted us to veer off the path of education reform that is needed to make America competitive in the global market.

Education and our economy are linked tighter than George and Weezie or Bush and failed policies.  Without a competitive education system, the disparities between those prospering and those living in poverty will continue to grow.  On the campaign trail, the candidates have feigned the issue for the most part.  Sen. Barack Obama has been the more vocal of the two, focusing on parental involvement, rewarding good teachers and the growth and expansion of the charter school movement.  Sen. McCain glances over this issue speaking primarily about what has been done in Washington D.C. with vouchers.  First of all, as a macro-level strategy, vouchers will invariably create a problem of supply vs. demand.  

In our current context, most of our nations schools-- particularly inner city schools-- are underperforming under the guise of No Child Left Behind. These schools often times are also the most densely populated.  So, if young people attending these schools decide to transfer to a higher performing school, we face a challenge of bandwidth since higher performing schools will probably not have the capacity to take on increased numbers of students.  Thus, vouchers at best can be a small part of the solution.  

We have to take action on education reform by setting higher standards for our students.  We also have to look at this issue holistically by focusing on empowering families; engaging students using multiple intelligences approaches; making teaching a valued profession in American culture; creating smaller learning communities where students have more individualized attention from teachers; and extending the learning day whereby students can participate in engaging educational opportunities before and after school. 

Joe the Plumber may not have anyone to pass the family business on to if his children are not prepared for an evolving global economy.   

My Friends, A Change is Gonna Come

"My friends," the endorsements for Sen. Barack Obama are piling on like Tampa Bay Rays at the pitchers mound after their victory over the Boston Red Sox.  Recent endorsements by General Colin Powell, The Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune (no big surprise here) signal a societal shift in how Americans are yearning for a fresh, new direction.  

The Washington Post endorsement states: "Mr. Obama is a man of supple intelligence, with a nuanced grasp of complex issues and evident skill at conciliation and consensus-building.  Gen. Colin Powell added:  "Sen. Obama is a 'transformational leader' that is needed during this difficult times." 

These recent endorsements fortify the argument that paternalistic individualism is not the type of leadership we need in these difficult times.  Good communication skills, a global vision, conciliation and consensus-building should not be perceived as weaknesses as the GOP suggests. 

These shifts in governmental leadership values hopefully will begin to reverberate in other institutions----like corporate America.  

Building Future Latino Leadership

In 2007, Gov. Bill Richardson gave us our first glimpse of a Latino presidential candidate in his bid for the White House.  We also have witnessed the meteoric rise of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as a prominent leader in America's second largest city, giving hope to young Latinos everywhere that they can aspire to equal heights.  There are other promising examples of Latinos achieving prominence in entertainment, sports and industry.  However, significant work needs to be done to ensure that young Latinos are given the opportunity to develop the leadership skills required in a global, 21st century economy.

In my last post, I illuminated a troubling condition in America's corporate sector:  Only 1% of corporate executives and only 2% of corporate board members are Latino.  Current data suggests that Latinos in the U.S. constitute about 14% of the total U.S. population.  Clearly, you can see that the numbers just don't add up.  Which leads to the obvious question: Why are Latinos so underrepresented in leadership positions in the corporate sector?   

One of the answers points to cultural differences in values.  Generally speaking, Americans are thought to be individualistic, focusing heavily on individual pursuits like building wealth, job advancement and personal achievement. Latinos, whether they be foreign born or native to the United States are thought to be much more collectivistic—meaning that achievement and success in their cultural context is measured more broadly by the successes of the “group.” Some researchers have argued that acculturation to the dominant culture, in this case American culture, creates a stronger connection to a more individualistic identity. For instance, a second generation Latino born in the United States with loose ties to their family's homeland generally would be perceived as more acculturated to U.S. culture than a recent immigrant. However, in general terms, individualism is commonly viewed as a social moré in Latino culture. The Spanish expression ser humilde, which loosely translates to “be humble” is a perfect example of how Latinos value humility and frown upon self-promotion.  This is why Latinos often times struggle in settings like job interviews.    

Corporate America values and even promotes bold individualism, which in some ways is antithetical to Latinos.  However, with the lessons learned from the recent stock market fiasco and the troubling mismanagement of our housing market, it is clear that some of the greed and corruption that is associated with bold individualism calls for a shift in leadership values.  

Looking at the underrepresentation of Latinos in corporate leadership positions strictly as an individualism vs. collectivism issue would be incredibly naive.  There are obviously some structural issues in our institutions that have somehow marginalized people that don't fit the corporate profile.  Part of the problem does require a shift in thinking about individualistic values towards global values--like building relationships, fostering consensus, building community and looking at the greater good for the greatest amount of people. 

Back to cultural values.  Given general tendencies for Latinos to be family and group oriented, how do you promote leadership development that is culturally relevant?  A natural starting point for building young Latino leadership is to look at cultivating interpersonal competencies, that correlate well with core Latino values.  Promoting teamwork and collaboration where Latino youth can measure success based on the collective efforts of the group makes leadership development culturally relevant. For example, working hand-in-hand with the community on a service project facilitates teamwork and collaboration, builds self-confidence, promotes communication and critical thinking and provides a greater good to the community.  The group activities will also promote the individual leadership skills required in a 21st Century economy.  

Our increased understanding around multiple intelligences has shifted the way we assess knowledge and skills.  In the same way, we must look at the emotional intelligences as a comprehensive way to develop a new wave of young, aware Latino leaders.  Whether or not corporate America is ready for this shift is another story.