Latino Rebranded: Latinos and Social Media

With this new series, Latinos who are at the forefront of influence will be asked a series of questions to get to the core of their drive and passion.  It is from their direction I believe, that we will find a source of inspiration and encouragement.

Kety Esquivel is a dynamic and passionate individual.  She is one of the few leaders who approaches civic engagement with her whole being.  I’ve had the pleasure to work with Kety, and she has continued to exemplify an unwavering work ethic.

Kety, you’ve served quite a bit in the non-profit sector…why?

I was raised by my parents to believe that to whom much is given much is expected.  My sister was raised the same way (she’s a Latina working in Child Protective Services in Upstate New York).  In that vein I’ve always wanted/tried to give back to the community – be it on boards (while I worked in the corporate sector) and in prison ministry, or in the government sector or now the non-profit sector.

I believe that its important for us to give back while we walk this earth and to do the best we can to make the world a better place.

Es mi granito de arena.

When I think of that saying, I always think – if we all give nuestros granitos de arena (if we all give our little grain of sand) what a beautiful and immense beach that would be.

Why are organization such as NCLR important?

NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.

Organizations such as NCLR are critical to ensure that public servants don’t forget about the needs of the people.

It is important to have national civil rights and advocacy organizations like NCLR so that our elected politicians work towards crafting policy for the people whom they represent in health care, workforce development, immigration, etc.

Organizations like NCLR are also critical for the empowerment and further development of local Community Based Organizations that are providing direct services to the community.  Through its affiliate network NCLR provides support to nearly 300 CBOs across the U.S. which in turn provide services to our community in various areas like health care, wealth building, education, etc.

What personal challenges have you encountered while pursuing social activism?

For me, the biggest challenge is probably that elusive work/life balance. Pursuing social activism takes up a lot of time!  :-)  The job is never done.  & I mean never.  There is always more that can be done to contribute further to the world.  The second biggest challenge is being able to travel the way I love (which takes up a lot of disposal income) while still working for the social good.  This dichotomy has had me thinking a lot about socially responsible businesses of late.  I believe that there has got to be a way to do well for oneself while doing good for the world and social entrepreneurship might be the way to do it.

Do you think public attitude, views and opinions can change easily?  Where is the biggest challenge(s)?

I don’t know if there is one biggest challenge as it relates to this…. that would be too easy.  This challenge is complex.

That being said, while I do think that conversations are very hard to change, ultimately all of that – attitude, views and opinions – are all  conversations.  Some have been inherited for centuries but ultimately someone made them up & someone can make up a new one at any moment.  And if any one can make up a new one at any moment (including oneself) then in a way public attitudes, views and opinions can change easily.

As the American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead said, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

We must have faith.  We must remember.

If I was to identify one challenge, it would probably be that – our not remembering the tremendous power we each have as thoughtful, committed citizens – as thoughtful, committed beings in this universe.

There is a beautiful quote that I’ve often used to guide me along the path of my life – some attribute the quote to Robert F. Kennedy.  They say that the original quotation was a saying of the Rabi Hillel – that saying is as follows – “If not us, who?  If not now, when?”

When I get tired and I want to turn away from the path all I need to do is remember that and then I’m back on track.

Recently, you came across a new organization – LATISM – what do you perceive?

It’s funny.

I had been talking about the work that LatISM came to fulfill years before LatISM existed- at conferences like Web of Change, SXSW, PDF.

Then LatISM was born from the grassroots, from the Twitterverse & I immediately knew that this was something that I wanted to help build.

That’s why I pushed for us to bring LatISM to DC & why I volunteered to work with the two founders as the third person incorporating the organization nationally.  I think there is a tremendous opportunity for us to make a significant contribution through social media through LatISM and I’m honored to be one of the three folks helping to drive this change nationally.

Popularity: 6% [?]