April Newsletter
On March 21st we celebrated World Poetry Day and it reminded me of one of my favorite phrases from a poem by Antonio Machado: “…caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar” (Traveler, there is no road; you make your own path as you walk). It inspires me to continue charting new territory, to take a path that has never been taken before and possibly never taken by anyone else. We don’t have to take anyone else’s road; we have to build our own road because we possess the determination, knowledge, and passion that are uniquely ours! You have not heard from us in a while and that is because in the last few months the Adelante team has been hard at work designing, building, and shaping our new path. In a few months, we will share with you what we have built—a series of tools and resources to help you build your own road to success. Here are some highlights of others who have crafted their own unique path and in the process built a road that helps us all reach our own path in life… Congratulations are in order for Adelante member Maria Contreras-Sweet who was sworn in as Administrator of the Small Business Administration by Vice President of the U.S. Joe Biden on April 7th. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, she is the first Latina to occupy such an important role within President Obama’s cabinet and is the second Hispanic in the President’s second-term cabinet. Maria Contreras-Sweet, a banker and former California state official, is a champion for the success of small businesses. President Obama said during her nomination that “Maria Contreras-Sweet will help small businesses get their good ideas off the ground, to expand, to hire, to sell their products and ideas not only in our domestic markets, but also overseas.” Hermana, Adelante! Last week I had the opportunity to take my son to see the Cesar Chavez movie so that he too can learn what a grassroots movement can achieve, and the power of standing up for your own beliefs and for those without a voice. The movie chronicles the life of Cesar Chavez and tells the important story of the famed civil rights leader. It outlines the struggles he faced balancing his responsibilities as a husband and father and his commitment to securing a living wage for farm workers. Chavez inspired millions from all walks of life to fight for social justice; his journey is a testament to the power of one individual’s ability to create change. I hope you too have the opportunity to see this film and share with your children a part of history and an inspiration for their future. Although the Word Cup does not take place until June, our partners at The Coca-Cola Company have been traveling the world with the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour. It will be coming to several U.S. cities in April, including Los Angeles at the L.A. Live center on April 19 & 20. If you can’t make it to L.A., you might be able to make it to Brazil! The Coca-Cola Company is giving several lucky people the chance to win a trip to the quarter-finals in Brazil. For full details, click here and follow the road to Brazil. Hermanas, this is our time and place to create our very own path and build a road to prosperity and success for ourselves and our families.