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GLENDALE
CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Glendale Hispanic
Network Luncheon Sept. 16
Mayor
Scruggs Proclaims September 15 -
October 15 National Hispanic Heritage Month
(Audio and video files
are posted at the end of article.)
By Bette Sharpe Glendale Daily Planet
The 6th annual
Glendale Hispanic Network luncheon was hosted by the City of
Glendale's Hispanic Network (GHN) was held Thursday, September
16. This year's luncheon theme was
"teaching is touching life".
Diana Díaz, Senior Corporate Communication Strategist, Salt River
Project, was the Mistress of Ceremonies.
In her opening remarks she stated that, "this
year, we are celebrating the educational achievements of our
youth in the community. Understanding
that education is the foundation of advancing our society, we
are happy to host students Glendale Community College and
Glendale Union School District, who are participants of the
ACE (Achieving a College Education) program."
Music was provided by Grupo Chapa and
dance performances by Xiomara Columbian Dance Academy.
Both groups featured music and dance from several Latin
countries, including Columbia, Cuba, and African
influenced-styles.
Dance performances were by Xiomara Columbian
Dance Academy.
Photo By Ed Sharpe, Glendale Daily Planet.
The GHN is
an employee organization committed to promote cultural
awareness and professional development.
Founded in 2002 with a purpose to use its diverse
background to develop a mechanism to encourage professional
excellence among Hispanic executives, public managers, all
city of Glendale employees, and to improve management of local
government. "The
Mission of the GHN is to empower employees through
professional development and community involvement" to
ensure continual professional development through their
careers, to be responsible, knowledgeable and productive
citizens and to serve as an effective voice for the community.
They accomplish this through promoting cultural
awareness, community outreach, youth scholarships, networking,
and serving as a resources to organizational leadership",
Glendale Mary Elaine Scruggs announced in her opening remarks.
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Mayor Elaine
Scruggs of Glendale Arizona presents the proclamation
for Hispanic Heritage Month as Rene R. Rosales, 2010
proclamation recipient, an academic counselor at Grand
Canyon University looks on.
Photo By Ed Sharpe,
Glendale Daily Planet. |
Rene R. Rosales
was the 2010 proclamation recipient, he currently
works as an academic counselor. Photo By Ed
Sharpe,
Glendale Daily Planet. |
After Mayor Scruggs read the
proclamation declaring September 15 - October 15 as National
Hispanic Heritage Month, she announced that Rene R. Rosales
was the 2010 proclamation recipient.
Rene was born in Phoenix and
raised in Glendale. His
family instilled the desire to give back to the community,
teaching him the endless values of education.
Rene's goal is to continue his education at Grand
Canyon University, where he currently works as an academic
counselor. Rene
is committed to serving others for the betterment of the
community by following the words of Cesar Chavez, "the
end of education should surely be service to others".
Mayor
Elaine Scruggs of Glendale Arizona looks on as Rene R.
Rosales, 2010 Hispanic Heritage
Month proclamation recipient, and a academic counselor at
Grand Canyon University address the audience.
Photo By Ed Sharpe,
Glendale Daily Planet.
Mr. Jose
Mendoza, Multicultural Affairs Coordinator of Glendale
Community College, was also recognized today for his work in
education. He has
achieved the goal of having the GCC college enrollment reflect
the demographics of the community.
This achievement of diversity has been recognized
locally and nationally. Throughout his life, Mr. Mendoza has promoted and modeled the
values of higher education and community service.
Mr.
Jose Mendoza, Multicultural Affairs Coordinator of Glendale
Community College
was recognized today for his work in education. He has
achieved the goal of having
the GCC college enrollment reflect the demographics of the
community.
Photo By Ed Sharpe,
Glendale Daily Planet.
The keynote speaker was Mr.
Armando Flores, Director of Operations and Community Relations
for Arizona State University.
Before joining ASU, Mr. Flores worked his way up the
corporate ladder to attain the position of Executive Vice
President of Corporate Business for Arizona Public Service
Company, a position that he held from 1998 until his
retirement in 2008. Mr.
Flores has been recognized by many organizations for his
lifelong commitment to civic endeavors, diversity and
particularly for his efforts to make a college education a
reality for many at-risk youths.
Armando
Flores, keynote speaker and Director of Operations and
Community Relations
for Arizona State University, Mayor Elaine Scruggs of
Glendale Arizona and
Rene R. Rosales, 2010 Hispanic Heritage Month
proclamation recipient, and an
academic counselor at Grand Canyon University.
Photo By Ed Sharpe,
Glendale Daily Planet.
Mr. Flores
believes that Arizona’s future depends on developing
Arizona’s workforce through partnerships between businesses
and educators that will facilitate accessibility to a quality
education for everyone. Thanks
to the work of Mr. Flores and others, the ACE (Achieving a
College Education) program achieved great success at South
Mountain and Glendale Community Colleges and has expanded to
all Maricopa Community Colleges.
This program now draws students from high schools
across the Valley.
In Arizona, "40%
of Latinos/Latinas drop out of high school.
The national average is 37%."
Hispanic students need more attention in reading, math,
and science. If
parents would stress and support the importance, the value of
an education, families could have college graduates in a
generation or so. But
they need to start at the beginning when their children are
young and make education a priority.
Parents need to model their behavior by demonstrating
respect for language and one another.
"Respect your mother and her opinion."
"You may not agree with her, but respect her
opinion." Speaking
English is must in today's economy. Although, being bilingual or multilingual can be beneficial.
Give back in some way--buy paper or pencils for a needy
student, give someone else the opportunity to learn.
The results are a better quality of life for both and a
better community. The
more education a student achieves, the more knowledge,
opportunities, earnings, organizational success, and
professional development the student can receive.
To
accomplish these goals, the number of students in a classroom
needs to be smaller, resources need to be allocated and
parents need to become active participates in their child's
education overcoming their shyness or shortcomings.
Armando Flores'
Key Success Factors
·
English proficiency
·
Life style change
·
Model behavior
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Enhance self esteem
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The bi-cultural edge
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Education involvement
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Political involvement
"If we don't
stand up for children, then we don't stand up for much."
By Marion Wright Edelman
GLENDALE
CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Glendale Hispanic
Network Luncheon Sept. 16 Audio File
AUDIO
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VIDEO
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www.smecc.org/media/hispanic-heritage-lunch-2010-3-256.wmv
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