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Good evening and thank you for asking me to join you tonight. Esta noche marca el comienzo de la conferencia de la Experiencia Latina, y por eso es una noche muy especial no solo para la comunidad Hispana pero tambien para todo el estado de Washington. La comunidad Hispana toma un papel muy importante en el futuro de nuestro estado. Es un honor ser invitado a participar en esta ocasion tan especial. Confío que esta conferencia tendrá gran exito. This audience is filled with people who are leaders in their communities and in our state. People who have worked hard to make sure that Washington is a place that honors its Hispanic heritage in memory—and in action. From collective efforts to the work of individuals, the Hispanic community in Washington has done an outstanding job keeping this part of our history alive and meaningful for the younger generations and for the people of the state. However, I am saddened to know that one particularly outstanding individual, Mario Reyes, will be leaving the Hispanic Chamber after 6 years of dedicated service. I hope he departs knowing how much and how deeply his many contributions are appreciated. So thank you, Mario, and we wish you the best of luck in your future adventures. People like Mario and others have come far. And they continue to blaze new trails by following in the footsteps of those who have given of their blood, sweat and tears to make an even better place for the Latino community in Washington State. From the first Hispanic pioneers who came here and the many Hispanics and Latinos who followed them, all have made—and continue to make—significant contributions to our state. From the earliest Hispanic pioneers, such as Juan Perez, who came to Washington Territory more than 229 years ago, to the immigrant farm workers in the Bracero program of the 1940’s, there has always been a strong, courageous and hopeful spirit of purpose and adventure in the Hispanic community. That same spirit is the driving force that has motivated generations of Hispanic immigrants after them. Hope for a better future for them and their families. The opportunity to build a new, and better, life. And determination to make a positive difference, against all odds. In fact, I imagine that if the youth of today could talk with their ancestors who were Bracero workers, for example, they would learn how much they contributed through backbreaking labor to the WWII effort by helping to keep the economy at home strong so our soldiers could fight overseas. These many generations of pioneers all tossed the dice on the possibility that pure hard work, sweat and determination could earn them, their children and their grandchildren a better place in the world. They faced incredible challenges and difficulties, but it did not break their spirit, divide their communities, or prevent many of them from making Washington their home. You just have to look around this room to see that all of this has made the Hispanic community stronger. It is this kind of tenacity that exemplifies the American spirit and is the best of who we are. Many Hispanic immigrants’ dreams of yesterday, built on backbreaking labor, paved the way for a strong community that still remains in today. In fact, the vision of a better future that Hispanics and others who immigrated here brought with them has been instrumental in building the foundation of our country. That was the social, cultural and economic past. The future depends on all of us working together in collaboration—not as divided groups, but as partners unified for the same purpose of making the future a bright one. The history of the Hispanic community has been shaped through hard work and sacrifice. It is important—now more than ever—to honor that history by keeping it alive and relevant to our collective future. By working together can we truly do what is right for Washington and for our young people. Our youth should be proud to know that through the farming and agricultural industries, Washington crops help feed the world with the food that graces our tables. The Washington farm worker remains a key part of who we are and our place in the world. This is a proud tradition, and an important part of who we are as a state. Cesar Chavez once said, “Our very lives are dependent, for sustenance, on the sweat and sacrifice of the campesinos. Children of farm workers should be as proud of their parents’ professions as other children are of theirs.” At the same time, they should also aim high to achieve educational goals that will help guarantee a better way of life. Beyond agriculture, the Latino population in Washington is our largest and fastest growing minority community, at more than 441,000 and counting. And if the modern Latino’s ancestors could see their accomplishments, they would undoubtedly be proud. It seems that the pioneering spirit of adventure that was drawn on to face challenges over 200 years ago is still alive and well today. In fact it is thriving. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of immigrants are now doctors, lawyers, teachers, police officers, political leaders, business owners, college students and so much more. Ventures like the Spanish-language “El Mundo” newspaper have a statewide circulation of over 20,000; family-owned restaurant chains have met with great success and spread far and wide—the challenges of being key players in the community are being met. But today there are different challenges that also need to be met head-on, such as the dangers that our young people face. While doing what is right for our youth, we must also give them the tools to succeed so they can do what is right, too. We cannot abandon the important task of educating and empowering our young people so they have choices for a healthy and safe future. This is especially true in today’s world, with the high dropout rates, teen pregnancy, and drug and alcohol abuse problems that have become so complex and multi-layered. Sometimes it’s almost as if we don’t know where to start when facing these kinds of critical issues. One place we can start is by looking at the hard facts that were revealed in the 2000 census—young Hispanic high school students have the second highest dropout rate in the state, and only 66% go on to graduate from high school. This is not an acceptable ratio, for us, or for our children and their future. The best way to honor the sacrifices and accomplishments of the past is to work hard for the stability of the future. When our young people stay in school and get a good education, go on to college and become productive members of society, they also have the chance to be a positive part of the future. Progress is being made. We should be encouraged by recent legislation that will make the opportunity of going to college a reality for more students—HB 1079, granting in-state tuition to high school students who have been in Washington for 3 years or more. This will make the dream of college possible for so many. Beyond college, the future includes growing numbers of Hispanic-owned businesses—of which there are already more than 10,000 in our state alone that generate more than $1.7 billion in sales and receipts. These are all part of the great opportunities that are out there now for future generations. But how do we help youth avoid negative behavior and take advantage of the opportunities that have been passed on to them from the blood, sweat and tears of their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents? We must give them the chance to succeed and do something positive with their young lives. We can also address this through mentoring Hispanic youth—whether it is informally with the kid down the street, or through one of the many mentoring programs across the state, like Big Brothers and Big Sisters. There are more than 385,000 young people in our state who are waiting for an adult to look up to and help guide them. We can also encourage young Latino Washingtonians to develop their skill for speaking Spanish, if they are among the many families who prefer to use Spanish in the home. Being bilingual is an incredibly valuable skill that we should foster among our youth. Not only to give them confidence in interacting with the outside world, but to also give them the chance to do great things with this special skill. Bilingual residents are an advantage for our state, too. For example, along with cultural knowledge of bilingual skills comes the “home court” advantage in interactions with foreign visitors from Spanish-speaking countries, as well as when we travel abroad on trade and goodwill missions. To have members of Washington State delegations that travel abroad who know the language of the country is a clear indication of our state’s diversity and unique character. This kind of an asset not only makes our state look impressive, it serves to build stronger international relationships and open avenues of opportunity in trade and foreign relations. Rising to these and all kinds of other new challenges and facing them head-on will show the unbreakable spirit of the Latino community that I know is there. I have seen this spirit in traveling around the state to join community events like “El Grito” in Yakima, the NW Mariachi celebration in Wenatchee, and in the farm workers I have met in Eastern Washington. We can also address the future head-on through active involvement in the dynamic and ever-changing democratic process. A community with a voice has a choice about their future, and the Hispanic community does have a voice. But part of being heard when you speak means being educated on the issues and voting well, armed with this knowledge. Too many people who are state residents or who have worked hard to become citizens are not registered to vote. Of Washington State’s 5.89 million residents the largest minority group is Hispanic. And I use the word “minority” loosely, because 10% of those who live within our borders are not a “minor” group of people. Take Yakima, for example. With 30,000 Latino residents, there is not one single Latino member who sits on the City Council. However, there are 2 Hispanic representatives and one senator in Olympia. And this representation paid off with the passage of the college opportunity bill. This sense of political power and political inclusion in the democratic process will make a difference for the future. And having this voice is part of what Hispanic residents over the past several decades have fought so hard for, so why not seize the opportunity to step into the forefront of the democratic process? In fact, there is no time like the present to take this involvement to the next level. The peaks and valleys of the Hispanic population in Washington have begun level out as migrant workers become more deeply rooted in their communities, buying homes and becoming business owners and local professionals. The Latino voice in our state and our country is growing stronger and stronger every year. Just look at other states like Florida, Texas and California where Latino populations are in the limelight of the political world and are being heard loud and clear. The possibilities for the future are boundless. The accomplishments of the past have brought many new chances for those today with the heart to honor the enormous struggles of their ancestors and continue to work for an even better future. Much has been accomplished, and I am sure the future will yield even greater things. The Latino community makes great contributions to the state and is an important part of our history. Together, the people of the state can build upon this history in a positive way, and make the future one to be even prouder of. Thank you to all of you for your outstanding work and what you do for your communities and for the state. I look forward to seeing the amazing things that our future brings. Gracias por todo y estoy muy orgulloso de decir que los Latino Americanos del Estado de Washington son mis amigos. |
