Preface

I GREW UP IN THE early 1950s, when Latinos were in a cultural no-man’s-land. These were the days when the sign No Mexicans, No Dogs hung in the windows of Texas restaurants and my mother was embarrassed by her broken English. In fact, the term Hispanic as an official designation occurred only from the 1980 census on. If my mother were alive today she would marvel at how far Hispanics have come. Un milagro—a miracle! Then she would make the sign of the cross in gratitude for divine providence.

Many people believe that the rising Latino influence is a recent phenomenon fueled by our exploding demographics. It’s true that the Latino population in the United States grew by 43 percent in the last decade, accounting for more than half of the population gain.¹ Today one in six people in the United States is Hispanic. Our numbers are fifty million strong.² And tomorrow? By 2050 one in three Americans will be Hispanic.³

Most Latinos, however, understand that our advancement has taken centuries. Our roots go back to before the United States was a nation. Hispanics were born of conquest and colonization. We are a fusion people—mainly the offspring of the Spanish conquistadores and the indigenous people of this hemisphere. But many Hispanics have African as well as European ancestors, such as those from Germany and France, who also settled the Americas. Hispanics are a mixture of cultures, languages, races, and nationalities.

And yet today, we are emerging with a strong identity. Latinos are embracing their culture and language, gaining economic and political clout, and expanding their global connections. These gains have been possible because of the vision, contribution, and relentless activism of our leaders. They have built a legacy of inclusive community leadership, based on cultural values and traditions, that has as its purpose to uplift people. And yet the story of how Latino leaders have guided their people has not been fully told.

I aspire to make that contribution. The Power of Latino Leadership is the first book squarely focused on describing the principles and practices of how Latinos lead. It will help Latinos to be effective and powerful by leading from their cultural core and will infuse mainstream leadership with an inclusive community spirit that fosters contribution and service.

The concept of Latino power, however, warrants a new definition. Historically, power has been hierarchical, the domain of the influential few, and associated with control and dominance. Most often power has been found in the hands of White males. Latino power, on the other hand, has evolved from the community—it is the power of We—the power that people have to change their lives for the better.

Latino power is accessible to many people. Diffused power means leadership is not concentrated in one voice or only a few. Instead, Latino power is leadership by the many—the thousands of Latino leaders working every day in communities across the country. Leaders encourage people to tap into their own power. Julián Castro, the young mayor of San Antonio, follows this tradition: “I think that what our young people should understand is that they can be leaders in their own right in their own community—in their neighborhood, church, college, job, or career, wherever it is. That is more empowering than looking up to one person as the Latino leader.”⁴

Moreover, Latinos are diversity—they are a cultural and ethnic group, not a race. Latinos are Brown, Black, White, Yellow, and all the beautiful hues in between. Some Latinos have ancestors who were here before this country was the United States. Others have recently immigrated. Our extended families are composed of multiple generations. These differences drive an inclusive leadership form rooted in the culture’s expansive diversity. Latino leadership is one of coalition building, bringing people together, working across sectors, and embracing a consciousness of partnership. Latino leaders leverage the power of inclusion.

Latinos maintain close ties to their twenty-two nations of origin and are culturally linked with people in North, Central, and South America. Over one-third of the continental United States was historically part of México, and these cultural roots remain strong. Latinos’ power, therefore, is global in scope. Furthermore, until the last decade, over 40 percent of Latino growth was fueled by immigrants who bring hope, determination, and replenish the cultural core.⁵ Unlike previous waves of immigrants, Latinos are acculturating, not assimilating. They are bringing their gifts into the mainstream and infusing the United States with a Latin flavor.

Latino power is rooted in history and tradition, an understanding that the past is the rich soil that nourishes tomorrow. Latinos owe a great debt to the leaders who have paved the way for our community to blossom. The Power of Latino Leadership acknowledges their legacy and contributions and delineates a path for continued Latino advancement.

Latino power is ahora—now. The road to the White House runs directly through the Latino community. In the 2012 presidential election, 71 percent of Latinos supported Barack Obama, ensuring his victory.⁶ Latinos voted their values: a compassionate immigration policy, education for our children, care of the elderly, greater economic and social equity, and advancing a diverse society.

And Latino power is our future, the promise and potential of youth. For the first time, the US census reports that the majority of babies born in 2011 were a warm color of brown, chocolate, or latte. They are ethnic and racial minorities, and the majority is Latino. Today, one in five schoolchildren is Hispanic, as is one in four newborns.⁷ Never before has an ethnic group made up so large a share of the youngest Americans. This speaks to this urgency of this book, which will support young Latinos who wish to keep their cultural ties operating in a way that reflects their values and chart the future of our community.

Sustained by a culture of celebration, faith, and hope, Latino power is destino (destiny). It is the collective contribution Latinos will make. Based on their people-centered values, inclusiveness, and bienvenido (welcoming) spirit, Latino leaders are building a diverse and humanistic society.

And for those who are not Latino, a special welcome.

Bienvenido—The Power of Latino Inclusiveness

MY FAMILY IS A sundry variety of Latinos, like a delicious box of assorted chocolates. My seven brothers, sisters, and I emigrated from Nicaragua, and those older than I speak with a Spanish accent. Our children were born and raised in the United States and have a more blended Latino experience. Many of them married into different cultural groups, so now we have Latinos by marriage. My brother-in-law Karl, who is of German descent, and my niece Lorrie’s Anglo husband can both attest that if you hang around Latinos long enough the rhythm is going to get you. Then there are the wonderful amigos who have been part of our extended family for so long that they are now Latinos by affinity, or corazón (heart).

This tradition of welcoming people into the tribe or culture has ancient roots. Native Americans acknowledge that a person can have an Indian heart or spirit. African tribes have ceremonies to initiate people who have become one of them. African Americans have honorary aunties and uncles and “other mothers.” Likewise, Latinos have elastic and expansive extended familias. People who have a special affinity are invited to become comadres, compadres, madrinas, padrinos, tías, or tíos. (More on this as we continue.)

If you are not a Latino by birth, this book is an invitation to do likewise: To become part of the familia. To experience our dynamic culture. To tap your feet to the salsa beat and become a Latino by corazón! To join with us in creating a new America that is inclusive and heals the divisions that have separated us.

Let’s Talk about Latino Leadership

INTEGRATING A MODEL ON Latino leadership is a work in progress. Just as Latinos are immensely diverse, so are their leadership forms. This book’s purpose is to start a conversation on how Latinos lead. I humbly understand people may not always agree with the concepts. I acknowledge the wisdom and experience of the many leaders in the Latino community and welcome their perspectives and insights. So what are my credentials for writing this book?

I am Pan-Hispanic. Perhaps more simply said, my destino, which is a person’s unique life path, opened doors for me to experience the many facets of my Latina familia. This allows me to put forth a comprehensive leadership model that brings together the nuances of the culture yet at the same time reflects our rich diversity.

Florida, where I was raised, is a cauldron of Latino culture. My extended family includes Mexicans, Colombians, and Cubans. My great-grandmothers were from Peru and British Honduras. I trained for the Peace Corps in beautiful Puerto Rico and served in Chile. Finally, I have lived in Colorado forty years among my cherished Mexican American hermanos, which has instilled a deep love for these politically oriented and mariachi-loving people.

My first book, Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age, contained nine leadership principles from Latinos, Blacks, and American Indians in the United States. This multicultural model enriched American leadership by including the enormous contributions of communities of color. My goal was to inspire a core of multicultural leaders who recognize that diversity and inclusiveness are indispensable to crafting an equitable democracy and a global community.

I also wanted to honor the points of convergence from the common history and experiences shared by communities of color who despite racism and discrimination continue to focus on mutual advancement, people-centered leadership, and responsible social action. Communities of color must identify the common ground and work together to bring their immense potential to fruition.

As a Latina, however, I want to further this work by highlighting the values and experiences that flow from my own culture and integrate these into a unique leadership model. The Power of Latino Leadership offers additional dimensions to the multicultural leadership principles in my first book. I hope by reading this book, other leaders will develop a deeper appreciation of the connecting points in our myriad cultures and further the conversation about multicultural leadership forms.

Many mainstream leadership books are written by scholars who have a theoretical framework and who may base their conclusions on research. When it is applicable, I reference and connect their work with current Latino leadership practices. A book about Latino leadership, however, if it is to accurately reflect its topic, requires a person who has practiced leadership in a proven and productive way.

My mainstream credentials include teaching at the Center for Creative Leadership, the most highly utilized corporate center in the world. I served as an adviser to the Kellogg National Leaders Program, as a vice chair of the Greenleaf Center on Servant Leadership board, and as a trustee of the International Leadership Association.

I have worked with the Hispanic community since I was twenty-one in the barrios of Santiago, Chile. I later served as the executive director of Mi Casa Resource Center, as the first president of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, and as the founder of the Circle of Latina Leadership in Colorado. In partnership with many organizations and talented Latinos, I have designed and implemented Latino leadership programs in Arizona, Colorado, Ohio, Illinois, the District of Columbia, New Mexico, Florida, and Texas. My article “Latino Leadership: Building a Humanistic and Diverse Society” was published by The Journal of Leadership Studies in 2001 and is one of the first conceptual frameworks on Latino leadership.

While these experiences are important in establishing my credibility, it is the many Latinos who I have worked with in countless endeavors that prepared me to write this book. I am immeasurably grateful to have spent my life with thousands of Latinos who have advanced our community and nation. Today as an elder, I wish to integrate this knowledge into a viable theory of leadership based on our practical and collective experiences and woven from the beautiful culture that connects us. My abuela (grandmother) would simply have said, “Es tu destino.”

And speaking of destino, what luck that you are reading this book! Ah, perhaps it is not luck; perhaps it is your destino that your past and present have led you to this point of learning about the powerful leadership forms in the Latino community. Latinos can take pride in the immense contributions our leaders have made. Non-Latinos can become more culturally adaptive and start using the principles in this book to lead with a more inclusive spirit. We can all infuse our leadership journeys with a renewed sense of purpose and a vibrant Latino flavor!

¡Ahora! Latino Excellence

OK, I ADMIT IT—I love mi cultura (my culture), and as you read on you will see that I am a Latina convert! I assimilated back in the late 1950s. But I knew I had lost a brilliant aspect of my cultural soul, and by serving in the Peace Corps in Chile, I reintegrated the beauty and power of my culture. So I am a Latina by birth and a convert by choice!

In this book, I present Latino culture, values, and leadership in the very best light. Hopefully, by recognizing our cultural zenith, leaders will emulate these values. Young Latinos will embrace the traditions of their abuelos and learn that keeping their culture will make them more powerful and successful. (This is not to deny the inconsistencies and less-than-desired aspects present in all cultures. For Latinos, discrimination and colonization are historical traumas. Remnants of these difficult circumstances endure in higher rates of poverty, lower educational levels, and diffuse identity.)

I would like the reader to consider that mainstream leadership books routinely emphasize the ideal. Books such as Good to Great or In Search of Excellence put forth the possibilities when visionary leaders take the helm. Authors do not spend much time on topics such as “From Bad to Worse” or “In Search of Mediocrity,” although there are plenty of middle-of-the-road leaders and organizations. By stressing the ideal—the best of the best—and by having positive models to emulate, leaders and organizations expect to improve and move closer to that ideal.

And may reading about the Latino ideal nurture understanding and respect in other people who wish to share in our wonderful culture and powerful forms of leadership.

¡Que Viva el Español!

NOW ABOUT THE SPANISH words sprinkled throughout this libro (book) … Spanish is used when the meaning of a word is obvious or when it adds flavor and cultural zest. The first use of a Spanish word in a chapter is italicized and translated in the glossary. If the context cannot be understood without translation, the palabras (words) will be in parentheses or set off by a dash. The intent is to have readers get into the rhythm of español and to learn new ways of communicating. For Spanish speakers this makes the libro closer to their hearts. But being familiar with español is a good skill for leaders across the board. Many a politician or business leader has won over a Hispanic crowd by starting his speech in español.

Using a few Spanish words can facilitate positive work relations and promote culturally effective management with the fastest-growing segment of the workforce. Spanish fosters a business’s ability to tap into the lucrative and growing Latino market. Teachers can connect with a growing percentage of their students. Spanish words are also being integrated into the mainstream. As evidence of this, the March 3, 2012, Time magazine cover was titled “Yo decido: Why Latinos will pick the next president.” Taco Bell’s slogan is “Live Más.”

Because of immigration and migration the global community is right in our neighborhood. The Internet is connecting people from across the world like next-door neighbors. A great global passport is being able to communicate with people by saying a few words in their language. Spanish is a good start since it is spoken in twenty-two countries and is the language spoken by most people in the Western Hemisphere.⁸

So ¡Ándale—vámonos! Let’s get started!

Acknowledgments—Gracias

GRATITUDE IS A CHERISHED Latino trait. Thank you to the many, many gente (people) who have helped and guided me in my leadership journey, especially my familia. A special gracias to my talented and dedicated amigos for reading and making suggestions on the manuscript: Richard Couto, the people’s professor; Cynthia Evans, the compassionate editor; Eric Fransen, the Millennial whiz kid; Lynette Murphy, the brilliant strategist; Sylvia Puente, the spiritual activist; Art Ruiz, the reflective thinker; and Karen Seriguchi, the talented copyeditor. Their insights, leadership experience, and contributions have enriched these words. To Steve Piersanti, the most inspiring editor in the world, and the Berrett-Koehler staff: thank you for your guidance in shaping this work. I am blessed with an extended familia like this and am forever grateful.

Special Contributions: Profiles of Latino Leaders

THE ROOTS OF LATINO leadership run deep. Our leaders have transformed the tribulations of being deemed a minority to the incredible influence Latinos are having today. Leaders are building on a tradition of people-centered, socially responsible, and community-based leadership. This was revitalized in the 1960s, when César Chávez and the United Farm Workers marched for fair pay and decent working conditions.

Today, leaders are stepping forth in unprecedented numbers and are guiding the Latino community with a deep sense of purpose. I have been privileged to include the voices of nine of these outstanding leaders in this book. You will be inspired by their stories and learn from their experiences and wisdom. (Unless otherwise noted, all the quotations from these special contributors in this book come from personal interviews conducted with them, which were transcribed verbatim and then coded for common themes and patterns.)

Anna Escobedo Cabral was treasurer of the United States from 2005 to 2008. Previously, she directed the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Latino Initiatives and served as president of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, a nonprofit coalition that advances Hispanic representation in corporate America. From 1993 to 1999, she was deputy staff director for the US Senate Judiciary Committee and executive staff director of the Senate Republican Task Force on Hispanic Affairs. Currently, Cabral holds a leadership position at the Inter-America Development Bank, which supports economic development throughout South America and the Caribbean.

Julián Castro became, at the age of twenty-six, the youngest elected city council member in San Antonio, Texas, history. He was elected mayor in 2009 and became the youngest mayor of a top 50 US city. He handily won reelection in 2011, with nearly 80 percent of the vote. Castro has focused on attracting well-paying jobs in twenty-first-century industries, positioning San Antonio to be a leader in the new energy economy, raising educational attainment, and revitalizing the inner city. In 2010, he was named to the World Economic Forum’s list of Young Global Leaders. Time magazine placed him on its “40 under 40” list of rising stars in American politics. He was tapped for the keynote address for the 2012 Democratic Convention.

Janet Murguía is president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic advocacy organization in the United States. In this role she addresses issues affecting Hispanics, such as education, health care, immigration, and economic equity. Murguía is on the board of the American Heart Association, the Partnership for a Healthier America, and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. She is board chair of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility. Murguía was one of Washingtonian magazine’s “100 Most Powerful Women in Washington” and People en Español’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics.”

Carlos Orta is president of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, whose mission is to advance the inclusion of Hispanics in corporate America at a level commensurate with their economic contributions. He has worked in external affairs, corporate philanthropy, and government affairs at three Fortune 500 companies: Anheuser-Busch, Ford Motor Company, and Waste Management. Orta was selected by Latino Leaders magazine as one of the “101 Most Influential Leaders in the Latino Community.”

Antonia Pantoja described herself as an institution builder. Though she passed away in 2002, her legacy continues through ASPIRA (to aspire), a leadership program for Puerto Rican youth. Pantoja was the first Puerto Rican woman to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the John W. Gardner Leadership Award. It was my honor to work with her on the curriculum for the National Hispana Leadership Institute and to review interviews for the film Antonia Pantoja: Abriendo Caminos (Opening Pathways, 2006). Her autobiography, Memoir of a Visionary, was published by Arte Publico Press in 2002.”

Federico Peña served as cochair of the historic 2008 and 2012 Barack Obama campaigns. He was elected mayor of Denver in 1983 and 1987, the first Latino mayor of a city with a minority Hispanic population. He revitalized Denver’s economic health by initiating such projects as Denver International Airport, a new convention center, and Coors Baseball Stadium. A civil rights lawyer, Peña served in the Colorado House of Representatives and was tapped by the Clinton administration as the US secretary of transportation and US secretary of energy. Peña is currently the managing director for Vestar Capital Partners.

Hilda Solis was the twenty-fifth US Secretary of Labor, and the first Latina to serve in a president’s cabinet. She served in the US House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009, representing the 31st and 32nd congressional districts of California. Early in her career she was elected to the Rio Hondo Community College Board in 1985 and the California State Assembly in 1992. In 1994 she was the first Hispanic woman elected to the California State Senate. She is known for her work with environmental justice, immigration, education, and workers’ rights. Solis was the first female recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, in 2000.

Arturo Vargas is executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Previously he was vice president for Community Education and Public Policy for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He also served as senior education policy analyst at the National Council of La Raza. Vargas serves on the boards of Zero Divide, the Independent Sector, and the Alliance for a Better Community. He received Hispanic magazine’s Hispanic Achievement Award for Community Service and for five years was named one of its 101 most influential Latinos. Twice he has been chosen one of “100 Hispanic Influentials” by HispanicBusiness magazine.

Raul Yzaguirre was cochair of Hillary Clinton’s valiant bid for the presidency in 2008. He was president of the National Council of La Raza for more than thirty years, building it into the largest Hispanic advocacy organization in America. He is a founder of the Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility, the New American Alliance, and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda. Yzaguirre was the first Hispanic to receive a Rockefeller Award for Outstanding Public Service from Princeton University and the John W. Gardner Leadership Award. He was appointed the ambassador to the Dominican Republic by President Barack Obama in 2010.