As I reach a point in my life when I begin considering retirement, I look back to the time when we began discussing a dream to start a new agency and then look at where we are today.  Sixteen years ago, we recognized the need to give voice to a community that was growing but that was mostly silent and invisible and, therefore, underserved.  It was a time when the Latino community suffered from what I considered “benign neglect.” 

 It is amazing to see how much has changed in sixteen years.  From being ignored, we have become the focus of local and national political campaigns and the target of an insidious campaign of falsehoods and misinformation to discredit us and the role we play in our country. Latinos come to our country because there is a need for workers and, therefore, there are job and economic opportunities available.  We bring faith in God, a strong work ethic, a reverence for our families, a culture of respect for authority and a spirit of perseverance.

The challenge sixteen years ago was to give voice to a silent community.  The challenge today is to be the voice of truth and dignity about the positive contribution of the Latino community.  As I look toward the future and a time of my retirement, I am confident that in a country created by immigrants and founded on the principles of justice, equality and respect for humanity the current spirit of injustice and immorality will not prevail.  With the support of those who have always been with us and of those who are joining their ranks, the positive contribution of the Latino community will eventually be recognized.  It may take a few years before our country’s economy attests to the positive Latino contribution.  My prayer is that in the meantime, the horror, pain and suffering in our community will not break our spirits and  destroy our cultural values of faith, perseverance, family values and strong work ethic.

                                                                               Patricia Fennell