Lessons in Community Service Born in Rio Grande Zacatecas, Mexico, I came to the United States when I was four years old with my dad, Anastacio; my mom, Conchita; my sister, Brenda; and my brother, Omar. We lived in Victorville, Calif., for seven years, and in 1993, my dad was presented with a job opportunity in Oklahoma City. My parents raised me with very strong Latino family values: Always trust God; family comes first; and work hard. These values have shaped me into becoming the strong Latina that I am today.

In my 22 years, I have faced many challenges and obstacles that have made an impact on my life—from struggling to receive my residency to then becoming an American citizen 10 years later, in 2003. My parents worked hard and long hours to provide me with the opportunity to follow my dreams and some day become successful. They have taught me the value and importance of being determined and motivated. I have also learned to take advantage of every opportunity available to me. After my personal experiences with these struggles, I truly feel that I understand what our Latino people face today. This is why one of my goals is to motivate and encourage other young Latinas like me to pursue their dreams.

I am currently a student at Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in political science. I am very passionate about issues that affect our Latino community, such as the Dream Act and other types of legislation. I currently serve as the president of the Hispanic Student Association. I have been able to represent the organization in the state capital and at conferences and college fairs. Because of its strong leadership and dedication to Hispanic students, the organization has been acknowledged for being one of the most active organizations on campus and in the community.

Aside from being a student, I work full time as the manager of the Java Joint, a Latino-style coffee shop owned by my unique and talented older sister, Brenda Hernandez. During the past three years working there, I have gained valuable experience in business management.

My involvement in the community has given me the opportunity to interact with a variety of people that have impacted my life in special ways. I have participated in leadership programs, workshops, toy drives, and conferences. I have dedicated my time to the Latino Community Development Agency for over nine years. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that a leader must first learn to serve her community.

Recently, I worked on the Latino Youth Leadership Conference (LYLC), which, in February 2005, took place for the first time in Oklahoma City. It was a dream for my friend Michelle Mazaheri and me to realize this type of conference. We felt that it was time for us to strategize and plan an event that focused on Latino leadership. We worked with five student leaders and also an executive board of directors from Oklahoma City University in collaboration with the Latino Community Development Agency and with support from the National Council of La Raza. The mission of the LYLC is to provide a forum for future leaders of the Hispanic community to come together in a comfortable, open environment to educate, discuss, motivate, and build Latino leaders. The LYLC will continue to be an annual conference in Oklahoma due to the positive and strong impact it had on the students and the community.

Along with motivating youth during conferences, I am also working with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as an intern for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, a program dedicated to helping assist Oklamoma students in continuing their higher education.

I hope to someday become a strong Latina leader like LATINA Style founder Anna Maria Arias, an inspiration to Latina women everywhere. I encourage other Latinas to get involved in their communities and support leadership programs—or begin their own!—that will contribute to the growth of our communities.


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