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LP journal - February 2006

OFF AND RUNNING
It's the dawn of the political season. There are elections at the federal, state and local levels in 2006 that are beginning to draw candidates out of the crowd. Some Latinos have already announced intentions to run for elected office. No doubt there will be more. Israel Torres, director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors Office, has announced he'll run in the Democratic primary for the office of Secretary of State. Alex Rodriguez in Tucson says he's in the race to replace Congressman Jim Kolbe, R-Dist. 8, who is retiring.

Rodriguez is with the Tucson Unified School District. Lining up against incumbent Latino Congressman Raul Grijalva, D-Dist. 7, is former Avondale mayor Ron Drake. Others are linking to the election campaigns set in motion. Mario Diaz will serve as Democrat Jim Pederson's campaign manager in the real estate developer's contest to oust Republican Senator Jon Kyl. Diaz was campaign manager for Gov. Janet Napolitano campaign.

FIGHT FAME
Former world boxing champion and Phoenix resident Michael Carbajal was a guest speaker during the Jan. 16 kickoff of a plan to create a mural of famous fighters and Arizona boxing hall of fame. Carbajal was recently  inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in New York state. Carbajal (49-4, 33 KOs career) and 11 other champions had an illustrated mural of themselves presented in front of the Central Boxing Club Gym on 18th Ave and Van Buren Street inPhoenix. Other legendary Latino boxers depicted include Oscar de la Hoya, Roberto Duran, and Julio Cesar Chavez.

BOILING OVER OIL
Arizona's Republican Senator  John McCain teed off some citizens of the oil-producing country of Venezuela by suggesting that "wackos" run that South American country. Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel retorted to McCain's statement by directing McCain to "go to hell." McCain, who some say may run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, said recent actions by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and by Iran's leaders make it clear that the United States will be vulnerable as long as it remains dependent on foreign oil. "We've got to get quickly on a track to energy independence from foreign oil, and that means, among other things, going back to nuclear power," the Arizona senator said on Fox News in January. "We better understand the vulnerabilities that our economy, and our very lives, have when we're dependent on Iranian mullahs and wackos in Venezuela." To which Rangel replied in the media the next day. "It looks like they have nothing else to do in the United States. So many problems, 40 million poor people, 30 million drug users, and an American senator is paying attention to us. He can go to hell." The United States remains the top buyer of oil from Venezuela, the world's No.5 exporter.

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS
Phoenix College students Juan "Johnny" Mendez and Micaela Rios will join college presidents and legislators during a luncheon at Mesa Community College on Feb. 9. The two were honored for making the 2006 All-Arizona Academic Team. The academic competition is sponsored by Arizona Phi Theta Kappa and recognizes outstanding community college students for their commitment to education and community service. Both Mendez and Rios are among an elite group of 68 students from community colleges across Arizona to receive this honor. "We are extremely proud of Micaela and Johnny and wish them the best of luck in this competition," says Phoenix College Acting President Anna Solley. "Both have worked very hard and take their academic success very seriously."

VIVA LEADERSHIP
Valle del Sol, Inc. continues to develop Latino leaders. A group of 23 West Valley residents recently graduated from the VDS Hispanic Leadership Institute-West (HLI-West). The graduation took place at Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale. "Valle del Sol is very proud of the HLI-West Class of 2005 graduates in the West Valley," says Luz Sarmina-Gutierrez, president and  CEO of Valle del Sol. The 10-week program was founded in 2004. New Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez-Rogers was recognized with the 2005 HLI West Public Service Award for her role in the development of HLI-West, and for her community service with Hispanic Leadership Forum and the Avondale City Council. The Hispanic Leadership Institute-West is a tuition-based program through a partnership of Valle del Sol, the Hispanic Leadership Forum and the community college. The program targets Hispanics but also includes those who work with the Hispanic community.

WEST PHOENIX SUMMIT
The New West - West Valley, that is, continues to evolve with WV residents pulling together to create a vibrant community. The Valley of the Sun United Way, in partnership with the West Valley Human Services Alliance, ASU College of Human Services Partnership for Community Development and the Stardust Foundation, is inviting residents and collaborators to attend a Feb. 16 summit called After the Scan: West Valley Human Services Alliance Summit. The meeting is an update following the VSUW's West Valley Community Scan report and to announce next steps for the West Valley Human Services Alliance. The West Valley Fine Arts Council's cultural survey is among topics to be discussed. This is a chance to weigh in on your Latino concerns and perspectives, Raza. The location is ASU's West campus, 4701 West Thunderbird Road, La Sala Ballroom. The summit will begin at 8 a.m. and last through lunch. RSVP by Feb. 10 to (602)631-4862 or respond@vsuw.org

PHOENIX LISC ASSISTS
The Local Initiatives Support Corp. office in Phoenix, headed by Ruth Osuna, recently helped the three oldest Native American non-profits in the Valley find a building to call home. The agencies plan to operate as the one stop Native American business, cultural and social services center in the Valley. Native American Connections, Inc., Native American Community Health Center, Inc. and Phoenix Indian Center, Inc. have jointly purchased a six-story, 85,000-square-foot office building located at 4520 N. Central Ave. "This is probably the most significant development that has occurred for the urban Native American community," says Diana Yazzie Devine, president/CEO of Native American Connections. Funding for the purchase and renovation of the office building came from the City of Phoenix New Market Tax Credits being provided by the Phoenix Community Development Improvement Corporation and managed by First National Bank of Arizona, the Phoenix LISC Office, and Arizona MultiBank.  

NAME CHANGE STRIKES OUT
Angels owner and Valley resident Arte Moreno has spent more time in court than he did on the baseball field because of a lawsuit the City of Anaheim brought against him when he changed his team's name from the Anaheim Angels to the Los Angeles Angels. Moreno has said he changed the name to make the most of the Angels' location in the nation's second-largest media market. He said using Los Angeles in the name would attract more sponsorships, advertising and broadcast contracts. Attorneys for the city say Moreno violated a 10-year-old contract with Anaheim and the city lost $100 million in tourism revenue and publicity when he changed the team's name last year. Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle refused to attend a single regular-season game after Moreno renamed the team, but he changed his mind when the Angels made the playoffs last year.

JOURNALISM IN THE SUN

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists next convention will be held from June 14 -17 at the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Expect an exodus of Arizona brown TV, radio and print periodistas to the Sunshine state then. We know, Arizona has sunshine too, but not the surf.) NAHJ wants college students to know about its National Association of Hispanic Journalists' (NAHJ) Student Projects/Student Campus programs. These programs are open to college students who are pursuing careers in English and Spanish-language print, photo, broadcast and online media. Students do not have to be journalism majors. NAHJ will pay for travel, lodging, meal and convention registration expenses for students who are accepted into newspaper, online, radio and TV projects. Students accepted into the Student Campus program must arrange and pay for their own transportation, but lodging, meals and convention registration are covered by NAHJ. Deadline to apply is March 10. To download a 2006 NAHJ Student Projects/Student Campus application, please visit: http://www.nahj.org/educationalprograms/conventionprojects.shtml

PHOENIX CHAMBER AWARDS
The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominees for its 19th Annual Small Business Awards. Nominations are due Feb. 17. The awards recognize successful entrepreneurs. Candidates must have worked at the company for at least three years, be a primary executive with an equity interest, be a member of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce or its affiliate chambers, and have no more than 100 employees (including full and part-time staff). The awards luncheon will be held May 17 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. More info: www.phoenixchamber.com.

COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY
This program is reaching out to high school students to become first generation college students. First-generation students are defined as those students whose parents have not received a college degree.  College Goal Sunday will be held Feb. 12 at 29 locations statewide. The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE) will sponsor the 10th Annual College Goal Sunday to give college-bound students help with finding financial aid and filling out financial aid applications.  "Many first generation students donÕt know where to begin pursuing their goal of attending college." says Dr. April Osborn, executive director of ACPE.  "We can help by walking them through the financial aid process."  For more information, call 602-258-2435 or visit the Web site at www.azhighered.gov.