latino new york magazine

LATINO NEW YORK I P. I MARCH 2011

MICHAEL GUTIERREZRedefines Success For Students

Redefine el Exito para los Estudiantes

THESE ARE DIFFICULT DAYSFOR PUBLIC EDUCATION Son tiempos difíciles para la

educación pública

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

An Evening to end Alzheimer’s

MÉXICO: WHAT WILL THE FUTURE BE?

¿Cuál sera el futuro?

P. II MARCH 2011 I LATINO NEW YORK

LATINO NEW YORK I P. 1 MARCH 2011

P. 2 MARCH 2011 I LATINO NEW YORK

Dear readers:

Latino New York Magazine is proud to feature Mike Gutierrez in our cover story for March. In the words of Michael Fondacaro, our good friend who wrote the article, Mike came to the Capital District when he was 18, and 25 years later, it is safe to say he’s made his mark.

We were first introduced to Mike in early December of last year by our friend, mentor, and advisor, Howard Schaffer, the president of Media Marketing. Mike’s drive to succeed became clear as we followed him around his campus.

He proudly gave us a tour of the facility and spoke about his accomplishments and plans for the future. He stopped to speak to students and staff as he showed us classrooms and awards the school and individual students have received. He spoke with so much pride that for a minute it reminded us of a proud father speaking about a child.

Queridos Lectores:

Latino New York Magazine se complace en presentar a Mike Gutiérrez en nuestro artículo de portada de Marzo. En palabras de Michael Fondacaro, nuestro buen amigo que escribió el artículo:

“Mike llegó al Distrito Capital cuando tenía 18 años, y después de 25 años, es seguro decir que ha dejado su huella”.

Fuimos presentados por primera vez a Mike a principios de Diciembre del año pasado por nuestro amigo, mentor y consejero, Howard Schaffer, Presidente de Media Marketing. El empeño de Mike por tener éxito, se hizo evidente a medida que lo seguimos por todo el campus.

Con orgullo nos dio un recorrido por las instalaciones y habló sobre sus logros y planes para el futuro. Se detuvo para hablar con los estudiantes y el personal, y nos mostró las aulas y premios que la escuela y los estudiantes han recibido. Habló con tanto orgullo, que por un minuto nos recordó a un padre orgulloso al hablar de su hijo.

Elsewhere in this issue, you will find the completion of the two-part seri, by Me’Shai Brooks-Rolling-- Working Full-Time and Running a Business: Burning the Candle on Both Ends.

And Lissette Acosta, a PhD candidate at the University at Albany, introduces a column dedicated to local individuals and groups working in the Dominican Republic to help the needy.

Richard O’Riley has returned with a piece entitled: Mexico: What Will the Future Be?

I hope you enjoy these stories and more in this issue. As always, it is our intention to keep you informed and entertained. Also, please send us any productive commentaries that may help us do our job better.

Juan J. GeorgePublisher

Adicionalmente en esta edición encontrará la culminación de la serie, por Me’Shai Brooks-Rolling— El Trabajar Tiempo Completo y la Ejecución de un Negocio: Quemando la vela en dos extremos.

Estamos contentos de introducir a Lissette Acosta, candidata a un Doctorado de la Universidad de Albany, con una historia introductora a una nueva columna que comenzamos la cual cubrirá el trabajo de individuos y grupos los cuales trabajan en la Republica Dominicana para ayudar a las personas necesitadas.

Richard O’Riley ha vuelto con un artículo titulado: México: ¿Cuál será el futuro?

Espero que disfruten de estas historias y más, en esta edición. Como siempre, nuestra intención es mantenerlo informado y entretenido. Por favor, envíenos también, cualquier comentario productivo que pueda ayudarnos a realizar un mejor trabajo.

Juan J. GeorgeEditor



6 THESE ARE DIFFICULT DAYS, INDEED, FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION •MARÍA NEIRA Estos son tiempos difíciles para la educación pública

11 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS AN EVENING TO END ALZHEIMER’S •ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION

12 FROM THE DESK OF MICHAEL FONDACARO

15 TOP 10 STORIES •MICHAELFONDACARO

18 COVER: MICHAEL GUTIERREZ REDEFINES SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS

•MICHAELFONDACARO RedefineelExitoparalosEstudiantes

25 WORKING FULL-TIME AND RUNNING A BUSINESS: BURNING THE CANDLE ON BOTH ENDS (PART II) • ME’SHAE BROOKS-ROLLING

28 MÉXICO: WHAT WILL THE FUTURE BE? •RICHARDO’RILEY,MSED. México:¿Cuálseraelfuturo?

32 LISSETTE ACOSTA-CORNIEL Making A Difference In the Dominican Republic And the World

OUR NEXT COVERMicky Jiménez



If you have any comments or suggestion please send them to [email protected] or by calling at: (518) 438-2875

Si desea enviarnos sus comentarios o sugerencias, por favor envíelos a [email protected] o llamando al telefono (518) 438-2875

Photo

By M

arina

Con

nan


These are difficult days,

indeed, for public education

By María Neira

Spanish version on Pag. 9

Deep cuts in school funding in recent years have led to the elimination of vital programs, larger class sizes and the loss of thousands of teaching jobs statewide — all of which threaten to derail student progress and our efforts to close the achievement gap. And now, the Executive Budget proposal to slash another $1.5 billion in education aid has set the stage, yet again, for another year of painful cost-cutting.

Yet, regardless of these seemingly constant challenges, I cannot help but feel a sense of cautious optimism due, in large part, to the encouraging message delivered by President Obama in his recent State of the Union address.

The President clearly understands the importance of investing in public education, and how doing so is key to enhancing our economic competitiveness. That’s a point my union, the New York State United Teachers, has long been emphasizing.

In his address, President Obama — who, I am proud to say, continues to press for enactment of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, a very important piece of legislation for our community — urged parents to take an active role in their children’s education, and called upon Congress to make permanent tuition tax credits so that college is more affordable for all Americans. And especially heartening was the president’s call to hire 100,000 teachers over the next ten years in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Some may find a paradox between the president’s message and the reality of the budget constraints under which we have been operating. “Why,” young people might ask themselves, “should I become a teacher when so many jobs are now being cut?”

As a lifelong educator, I can tell you from personal experience there is no greater, or more satisfying, profession than teaching.

Teaching is, and always has been, a career about community. It is about sharing, giving back and making a difference in the lives of young people.

In spite of our state’s economic difficulties, teachers are succeeding in making a difference. The achievement gap between students in wealthy and lower-income districts – though still too wide — has narrowed. And New York ranks in the nation’s top 10 in K-12 student achievement, according to the independent watchdog publication, Education Week.

Meanwhile, 4-year graduation rates for Latino students have increased, and Latino students also have achieved significant growth in meeting state standards.

NYSUT, as it always has, will continue to fight to ensure the necessary resources are made available so that all children have the same opportunity to succeed. And teachers – despite the challenges they face– will continue to make a difference in their communities.

Yes, these are trying times. But as noted Latino educator Jaime Escalante once said, the future is created through hard work.

“We are all concerned about the future of American education,” Escalante once said. “But as I tell my students, you do not enter the future — you create the future.”

Creating the future. That’s exactly what teachers do.

“If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation, if you want to make a difference in the life of a child, become a teacher,” said President Obama. “Your country needs you.”

Photo

By m

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flickr

Maria Neira, a former bilingual elementary school teacher, is Vice President of the 600,000-member New York State United Teachers NYSUT.


Las grandes reducciones en los fondos escolares en los últimos años han dado lugar a la eliminación de programas vitales, a un mayor tamaño de las clases y a la pérdida de miles de puestos de trabajo docente en todo el estado - todo lo cual amenaza con descarrilar el progreso de los estudiantes y nuestros esfuerzos para cerrar la brecha en el rendimiento. Y ahora, la propuesta de Presupuesto Ejecutivo para recortar otros $ 1.5 mil millones en ayuda a la educación, ha preparado el escenario, una vez más, para otro año de dolorosa reducción de costos.

Sin embargo, a pesar de estos desafíos aparentemente constantes, no puedo evitar sentir una sensación de optimismo cauteloso debido, en gran parte, al mensaje de aliento emitido por el presidente Obama en su reciente informe de gobierno. El presidente entiende claramente la importancia de invertir en la educación pública, y cómo hacerlo es la clave para la mejora de nuestra competitividad económica. Eso es un punto donde mi sindicato, de Maestros Unidos Estado de Nueva York , viene haciendo hincapié durante mucho tiempo.

En su discurso, el Presidente Obama - que, estoy orgullosa de decir, sigue presionando para la aprobación del Desarrollo, Alivio y Educación para Menores Extranjeros (DREAM) Act, una pieza muy importante de la legislación de nuestra comunidad - instó a los padres a tomar un papel activo en la educación de sus hijos, y llamó al Congreso a hacer permanente los créditos fiscales para que la matrícula universitaria sea más asequible para todos los estadounidenses. Y especialmente alentador fue el llamado del presidente a

contratar 100 mil maestros en los próximos diez años en los campos de la ciencia, la tecnología, la ingeniería y las matemáticas.

Algunos pueden encontrar una paradoja entre el mensaje del Presidente y la realidad de las restricciones presupuestarias en las que hemos estado operando. “¿Por qué”, los jóvenes podrían preguntarse, “debo ser un maestro cuando tantos puestos de trabajo están siendo cortados?” Como educadora de toda una vida, puedo decir por experiencia personal que no hay nada más grande, o más satisfactorio, que la profesión de enseñar.

La enseñanza es, y siempre ha sido, una profesión para la comunidad. Se trata de compartir, de dar y hacer una diferencia en las vidas de los jóvenes. A pesar de las dificultades económicas de nuestro estado, los maestros están teniendo éxito en hacer una diferencia. La brecha de logros entre los estudiantes en los distritos de bajos ingresos y los ricos - aunque sigue siendo demasiado grande - se ha reducido. Y Nueva York se encuentra entre los 10 primeros puestos en la nación para el rendimiento estudiantil K-12, de acuerdo con la publicación de vigilancia independiente, Semana dela Educación.

Mientras tanto, las tasas de graduación de 4 años para los estudiantes latinos han aumentado, y los estudiantes latinos también han logrado un crecimiento significativo en cuanto al cumplimiento de las normas estatales.

1. While at Cleveland St. University in Cleveland, OH, President Obama dropped by a roundtable meeting featuring youth leaders in the local community to discuss issues of concern to them and announce the the administration’s intention to host over 100 additional youth roundtable meetings at local college campuses around the nation. 2. President Obama, Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan visit Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA. and speak to students. (Source: www.whitehouse.gov)

NYSUT, como siempre, seguirá luchando para asegurar los recursos necesarios están disponibles para que todos los niños tengan las mismas oportunidades para tener éxito. Y los maestros - a pesar de los desafíos que enfrentan, siguen haciendo una diferencia en sus comunidades.

Sí, estos son tiempos difíciles. Pero como dijo en una ocasión el educador latino Jaime Escalante, el futuro se crea a través del trabajo duro.

“Todos estamos preocupados por el futuro de la educación norteamericana”, Escalante dijo una vez: “Pero como le digo a mis alumnos, ustedes no entran en el futuro de la educación- ustedes lo crean”.

La creación de un futuro. Eso es exactamente lo que hacen los profesores.

“Si usted quiere hacer una diferencia en la vida de nuestra nación, si quiere hacer una diferencia en la vida de un niño, conviértase en un maestro “, dijo el Presidente Obama.”Tu país te necesita”.

Estos son tiempos difíciles para la educación pública

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Through the Looking Glass An Evening to End Alzheimer’s

Through the Looking Glass; An Evening to End Alzheimer’s is coming to Saratoga at the historic Hall of Springs on Thursday, May 5, 2011 with distinguished celebrity guest and Alzheimer’s Association Honorary National Board member Mr. David Hyde Pierce. This special evening is being chaired by the Clinton Family of Troy, NY recognizing their beloved Agnes (Aggie) Clinton.

Emmy and Tony Award winner David Hyde Pierce has been an Alzheimer’s Association National Board Member since 1999. As a board member and national spokesperson, he works with the Association in its mission to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. In 2010 he was awarded the Tony Awards’ Isabelle Stevenson Award for his work with the Association.

The festivities will kick off at 6:00pm, and include eloquent faire, wonderful confections and complimentary wine. The melodic sounds of Donna Purnomo and Hamilton Street will fill the Hall of Springs with song. A large silent auction, featuring exotic jewelry by Patty Tobin, along with other local artists and vendors will showcase the evening’s activities.

Without-a-doubt, Aggie Clinton was always the life of the party, with her winning smile and infectious laugh. Helping others always came naturally to Aggie.

Although Alzheimer’s disease has changed her life, Aggie’s family remains devoted to celebrating her and they cherish their time together.

The Clinton family and Mr. David Hyde Pierce understand it is not okay for anyone to have Alzheimer’s. They are changing the face of Alzheimer’s, helping both our local and national community understand that Alzheimer’s is an illness that will be an epidemic if a cure is not found. Until a cure is found, the Programs and Services offered by the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern NY across 17 counties go a long way in providing help and hope for individuals and families facing the challenges of the Nation’s 6th leading cause of death.

Come be part of Through the Looking Glass; An Evening to End Alzheimer’s on Thursday, May 5th from 6:00-10:00pm at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga. Ticket price is $85.00 prior to April 5th, after that date $100.00 until the event (no ticket sales at the door). Honorary tickets ($125.00) are still available, and include a private VIP Reception with Mr. David Hyde Pierce.

For more information about the event, ticket cost or programs offered to the community, contact 1-800-272-3900 or visit www.alz.org/northeasternny. This event is generously sponsored by GE Global Research, CDPHP and Kingsway Community, with 75% of funds raised being directed to local services and education.

Northeastern New York Chapter


Assemblyman held his third Ceremonial Swearing In Ceremony at the Schoharie County Courthouse on January 6.

Latina Buffalo Bills Cheerleader Visits the Capital RegionRadio stations WQBK/WQBJ are the Capital District radio affiliates of the Buffalo Bills, and the station brings two members of the cheerleading squad to the Capital Region twice a year. Mike, a lifelong Bills fan, is pictured here with Ruby during her visit to Peabody’s in Saratoga Springs on January 15.

Fundraiser for Saugerties Restaurant OwnerResidents of Ulster County village came out to honor and help Café Tango owner Emilio Maya. He was to have been deported the week of the January 30 event. Maya worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as an undercover informant for four years in exchange for permanent legal residency. ICE decided to deport him when he was unable to provide information about terrorism or guns. Rep. Maurice Hinchey pressed the issue with ICE, which decided to grant a year’s stay. Maya is pictured here with Ildefonso Apelanz of Saratoga EOC, who helped organize the event.

RPI La Unidad Latina Poetry SlamRensselaer’s Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity held its 14th Annual Poetry Slam on February 4. LUL members Santiago Salazar and Michael Gonzalez, pictured behind the podium, were among the event’s hosts.

A reception was held following the ceremony where Lopez was joined by among others, his father Pedro (right) and George DeJesus of Hudson. Lopez is the first and only Latino elected to the State Legislature from north of New York City.

August 5, 2010- Mike with Helena Marques, Execu-tive Director of New Bedford’s Immigrant Assistance Center during its Annual Fundraiser

Assemblyman Peter Lopez’s Swearing In Ceremony


State Senator Jose Peralta (left, Queens) and Assemblymember Guillermo Linares (right, Manhattan) were two of the hosts for the New York State Legislature’s Celebration of Dominican Indepen-dence Day on February 14 at the Legislative Office Building.

2011 Albany Dominican Independence Celebration


1 The Village Board in Port Chester, NY voted to challenge a federal court

decision that established voting districts, which led to the elec-tion of the village’s first Latino trustee.

2 Two disturbing murders: The body of 16 year old Albion, NY resident

Katherine Sanchez was found in shallow grave about a month after she went missing. Police arrested her brother law and charged him with rape and murder. Meanwhile, an Ecua-dorian judge ordered held a man who fled the United States when he returned to the country shortly after the murder of an Ecuadorian mother and her son in Brockton, MA.

3 Rhode Island House Minority Leader Robert Watson said of his cham-

ber’s legislative priorities that “I guess that if you are a Guate-malan gay man who likes to gamble and smokes marijuana, you probably think we’re onto some good ideas here.” The comment drew fire from Guate-malan groups nationwide.

4 Legislation introduced in the state legislatures of both Massachusetts

and Rhode Island would grant in-state tuition rates to undocu-mented students. Mean-while, the city of Providence announced its desire to drop out of the Secure Communities program. Meanwhile, business leaders and activists in Maine have joined forces to establish The Maine Compact, an organi-zation dedicated to the defeat of strict immigration proposals.

TOP 10 STORIES FOR MARCH

5 Former New Haven spokes-woman Jessica Mayorga has left her post to work for

the National Council of La Raza.

6 A study by the New York State Education Depart-ment and the Board of

Regents says less than half of the state’s high school gradu-ates are ready for college. The statistics for Upstate Latinos was particularly low.

7 Massachusetts State Rep. Antonio “Tony” Cabral announced that he was

running for Mayor of New Bedford. He said that if he wins, he might still keep his seat in the State Legislature.

8 Emilio Maya, an Argen-tine immigrant living in Saugerties, who became

a government informant, won a one year stay of deportation from the U.S. government.

9 Hate crime charges were dropped against Justin Tavares, a student at

Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, after a December assault against a white man. The District Attorney said there was not enough evidence.

10 Longtime migrant worker advocate Ben Guiliani was

sentenced in U.S. District Court in Maine to 19 months in prison for transporting and harboring illegal aliens, tax evasion, Social Security fraud, failure to file tax returns and fraudulently obtaining financial aid for his college-age son.

Black & Latino Achieversin Clifton ParkMike spoke to students at the Southern Saratoga County branch of the YMCA’s Black and Latino Achievers Program in Clifton Park on February 28. Mike grew up in Clifton Park and graduated from Shenendehowa High School in 1985.

Lenten Day of Reflection at St. Thomas Church in DelmarDozens of area Catholics gathered on March at the church for Lent: A Day of Reflection/ Cuaresma: Una Jornada de Reflexión. Fathers Jun Segura and Tom Hayes presented the event, featuring roundtables, discussion, meditation and a light lunch. For more information on Latino Catholic events in the area, visit: www.rcda.org/Offices/hispanic_apostolate/index.html

(Photo courtesy of Margarita Harman)



Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the single leading cause of kidney failure in adults. Hispanic Ameri-cans have a high rate of diabetes, which increases their chances of developing serious complications such as chronic kidney disease, heart disease and strokes. However, when individuals with diabetes follow their treatment plan carefully and keep their blood sugar and blood pressure under control, they can greatly reduce their risk of developing these complications.

1. About 11 percent or 5 million of the 47 million Hispanic Americans have diabetes. About one-third of the cases of diabetes in Hispanic Americans are undiag-nosed.

2. On the average, Hispanic Americans are nearly twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. The prevalence of diabetes in Cuban Americans is lower than in Mexican American and Puerto Rican adults, but still higher than that of non-Hispanic whites.

3. Diabetes is even more common among middle-aged and older Hispanic Americans. About 25 to 30 percent of those 50 or older have diabetes.

4. About 90 to 95 percent of Hispanic Americans with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes usually develops in adults over 45, but is becoming more common in younger people. It occurs because the body is unable to use insulin properly. It is treated with diet, exercise, diabetes pills and, some-times, insulin injections.

5. About five percent of Hispanic Americans with diabetes have type 1 diabetes, which usually develops before age 20, and is always treated with insulin injections.

6. Diabetes can be diagnosed by:

• Hemoglobin A1C equal to or greater than 6.5%• a fasting blood glucose test of 126 or greater• a nonfasting blood glucose test of 200 or greater in people who have symptoms of diabetes• an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test with two-hour glucose of 200 or greater.A positive test should be confirmed on another day, using any of these tests.

7. The risk factors for diabetes include:

• a family history of diabetes• obesity• physical inactivity• unbalanced diet

8. Since diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease in the U.S., Hispanic Americans have increased risk for developing diabetes and kidney disease. They should have the following tests for early detection of kidney disease:

• blood pressure measurement • a urine test for protein• a blood test to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a measure of kidney function.

9. Studies have shown that early detection and treatment can halt or slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease. Treat-ment includes careful control of blood sugar and blood pressure. Special high blood pres-sure medications called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) help to preserve kidney function.

10. When someone loses 85 percent or more of his or her kidney function, dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant are required to sustain life.

For more information on diabetes and kidney disease, visit www.kidney.org.

Sources of Facts and Statistics:

“Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease,” National Kidney Founda-tion (www.kidney.org) “Diabetes in Hispanic Americans,” National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease (www.niddk.nih.gov).December, 2009


Author’s note: When I was told who would be on the cover of Latino New York for March, I asked Juan George if this was the same Mike Gutierrez who attended the College of St. Rose in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and played basketball there. Indeed it was the case. St. Rose is a small school, where practically everyone knows one another.

Continued on Pag. 21

He came to the Capital District when he was 18, and 25 years later, it is

safe to say that Mike Gutierrez has made his mark. As Associate Director of New York State Campuses at Bryant and Stratton College, Mike is only one of two Latinos in the entire state running a college. (The other is George Santiago of Briarcliffe College on Long Island.)

The journey that brought Mike from Queens to the helm of an institution of higher education is a fascinating one. If you spend any time with him, his family will enter the conversation quickly: his wife of 13 years, Tiffany (herself a Vice President of Enrollment Management for Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences), and his two daughters Paige and Grace.

Mike’s focus on family harkens back to his experience as a child. Growing up in a single-parent household in Queens, he learned from his mother that to be truly successful, you must not only provide for your family financially, but also provide the love and support that children need.

From those early lessons, Mike developed a yearning to help young people in general.

“I have always wanted to work in an industry that made a difference and had a positive impact on people. Helping people achieve their dreams of getting a college degree really was a great way of me doing what I always wanted to do,” Mike said.

He attended the well-regarded Christ the King High School in Queens, and then decided to come to the Capital District, specifically The College of St. Rose, to continue his education.

At the time, St. Rose did not have its Spectrum group for students of color, and the campus was predominantly Caucasian. Was it a bit of a culture shock for him? In his words: yes and no.

“While I grew up in the projects, Christ the King’s student body had a large Caucasian population, so I was used to it. But there was a bit of shock in being so visible at St. Rose. We (he and his fellow students of color) were very aware of how we acted, and there was pressure to represent St. Rose in a positive way.”

But he didn’t let that pressure detract from his academic and social experience as a member of the Class of 1990.

“I most remember the people there. They were incredible, students and staff both. They were like a second family to me,” he said.

One person above all others had a positive influence to him on campus – Jackie Curtis, director of the school’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), whom he says was a presence in the lives of so many of St. Rose’s minority students.

“She played a major influence in how I perceived success, and how I looked at being successful,” he said.

After receiving his degree in Business from St. Rose, he earned his MBA from Webster University of St. Louis.

Mike, now in his early 40s, leads the operations of three college campuses in New York State – a success by most measures. But the true mark of success, Mike insists, is one’s positive impact on the community. For him, that comes at graduation time.

OUR COVERSTORY

Back then I would see the team play on occasion, and passing one another on campus, or in Alumni Hall, Mike and I would greet one another. “Hey Mike,” I would say. And he would respond, “Hey Fondo,” which was my college nickname.More than 20 years had passed since we last spoke, so we had a lot of catching up to do for this article.

By: Michael Fondacaro



A Former Capital Region College Student, Now Running a Capital Region College

By: Michael Fondacaro

Michael Gutierrez

Redefines Success for Students




“I describe success for me as when I see my students walk across the stage to receive their college degree and know that I had a small part in their success,” he said.

Running three campuses can mean long days and nights in the office and phone calls at all hours. But Mike makes time for his family.

“You must be first flexible and organized to ensure that both your responsibility to your family and your responsibilities at work do not force you to ever choose between either. I go by the saying: ‘You work to live…you do not live to work.’ I also make sure that in everything I do I have some fun in doing it,” he said.

The people who have been a positive influence to him so far are also the basis for advice he gives to Bryant and Stratton students.

“The more you surround yourself with successful people the more likely you will be successful. The other thing I tell my students is that if you act as if you are what you want to be then you will more likely become that person.”

Not just content with his achievements so far at the school, Mike’s future plans include establishing a Bachelor’s Degree in Heath Service Administration, becoming more active in the community and determining how the college can make a positive impact in the world of secondary education. Of course, he still wants to ensure that the college’s high level of service to the Capital Region continues.

Mike also notes that success starts with the way one thinks. There is another saying he is fond of:

“Positive thoughts turn into positive feelings which lead to positive actions which turn into positive results. Success starts with you.”

Mike Gutierrez has epitomized success for most, if not all of his life. One can say with confidence that there will be many more achievements in his future.

MIKE GUTIERREZREDEFINE EL

ÉXITO PARA LOS ESTUDIANTES

Nota del autor: Cuando me dijeron que estaría en la portada de Latino New York en Marzo, le pregunté a Juan George, si este fue el mismo Mike Gutiérrez que asistió a la Universidad de Saint Rose a finales de 1980 y principios de 1990, y jugó al baloncesto allí. De hecho, fue el caso.

Saint Rose es una universidad pequeña, donde prácticamente todos se conocen. En ese entonces me gustaba en ocasiones ver el juego en equipo, y pasar unos a otros en el campus, o en Alumni Hall, Mike y yo nos saludamos : “Hola Mike,” yo decía. Y él respondía: “Oye Fondo”, que era mi apodo de la universidad.

Más de 20 años habían pasado desde la última vez que hablamos, así que teníamos mucho de que dialogar para este artículo.

Michael Gutierrez OUR

COVERSTORY

Continued from Pag. 18

Positive thoughts turn into positive feelings which lead to

positive actions which turn into positive results.

Success starts with you

”

”


NUESTRAPORTADA

(Left) Michael Gutierrez at the Medical Labora-tory with a teacher and students; (Right) Michael with administrative staff.

Llegó al Distrito Capital cuando tenía 18 años y 25 años después, es seguro decir que Mike Gutiérrez ha dejado su huella. Como Director Asociado de las sedes del Bryant & Stratton College en el Estado de Nueva York, Mike es sólo uno de dos latinos en todo el estado dirigiendo una universidad. (El otro es Jorge Santiago de Briarcliffe College ubicado en Long Island.)

El viaje que llevó a Mike de Queens, a la cabeza de una institución de educación superior, es fascinante. Si uno pasa algún tiempo con él, su familia entra rápidamente en la conversación: su esposa de 13 años, Tiffany, ( Quien es Vicepresidente de Inscripción de gestión de la Facultad de Farmacia y Ciencias de la Salud de Albany), y sus dos hijas Paige y Grace.

El enfoque de Mike en la familia se remonta a su experiencia desde niño. Creció en un hogar únicamente con su madre, en Queens, de quien aprendió que para ser realmente exitoso, no sólo debe proveer para su familia económicamente, sino que también proporcionar el apoyo y amor que los niños siempre necesitan.

Desde aquellas primeras lecciones, Mike desarrolló un anhelo de ayudar a los jóvenes en general.

“Siempre quise trabajar en una industria que hiciera una diferencia y tuviera un impacto positivo en las personas. Ayudar a las personas a alcanzar sus sueños de obtener un título universitario, es realmente una gran manera de hacer lo que siempre quise hacer “, dijo Mike.

Estudió en el reconocido Christ the King High School en Queens, y luego decidió venir al Distrito Capital, específicamente al Colegio de Saint Rose, para continuar su educación.

En ese momento, Saint Rose no tenía un grupo definido para los estudiantes de color, y el campus era predominantemente de raza blanca. ¿Fue un choque cultural para él? En sus palabras: sí y no.

“Christ the King tenía en su estudiantado una población caucásica grande. Era un poco estresante el ser tan visible en Saint Rose. Nosotros (él y sus compañeros de color) éramos muy conscientes de cómo actuábamos, y había presión para representar a Saint Rose de una manera positiva. “

Pero no dejó que la presión generara detrimento en su experiencia académica y social como miembro de la Clase del año 1990.

“Yo recuerdo la mayoría de la gente de allí. Ellos eran estudiantes increíbles, al igual que el personal, ambos, eran como una segunda familia para mí “, dijo.

Aparte de todos hubo una persona que tuvo una influencia positiva para él en el campus - Jackie Curtis, directora de la Escuela Superior del Programa de Oportunidad de Educación (HEOP), quien fue una presencia importante, en la vida de muchos de los estudiantes de minorías en Saint Rose.

“Ella jugó una gran influencia en la forma en que percibo el éxito, y cómo lo puedo obtener,” dijo.

Michael Gutierrez

Cuanto uno más se rodee de personas de éxito

es más probable que tenga éxito.

”

”


(Left) Michael Gutierrez with students at the Medical Laboratory. (Right) Michael and administrative staff at Bryant Stratton College.

Después de recibir su título en Negocios de Saint Rose, obtuvo su MBA de la Universidad Webster de San Luis.

Mike, que ahora tiene 40 años, dirige las operaciones de las tres sedes de la universidad en el estado de Nueva York-un gran éxito bajo muchos parámetros. Mike insiste en que el verdadero éxito, es tener un impacto positivo en la comunidad. Para él, este impacto se precibe al momento de las graduaciones.

“Yo describo el éxito, cuando veo a mis alumnos en pie por el escenario para recibir su título universitario y sé que he tenido un pequeño papel en su éxito,” comenta. La dirección de tres sedes puede significar largos días y noches en la oficina y llamadas de teléfono a todas horas. Pero Mike tiene tiempo para su familia.

“Debe ser primero flexible y organizado para asegurar que tanto su responsabilidad con su familia y con el trabajo, no le obligan a elegir siempre entre cualquiera de los dos. Voy por el dicho: “ Uno trabaja para vivir... no vive para trabajar”. También me aseguro de disfrutar todo lo que hago “, dijo.

Las personas que han sido una influencia positiva para él hasta ahora, son también la base para el consejo que da a a los estudiantes en Bryant & Stratton.

“Cuanto uno más se rodee de personas de éxito es más probable que tenga éxito. La otra cosa que digo a mis alumnos, es que si usted actúa como lo que desea ser, entonces es más probable convertirse en esa persona.”

No contento solamente con sus actuales logros en la universidad, los planes futuros de Mike incluyen

el establecimiento de una Licenciatura en Administración de Servicios de Salud, ser cada vez más activo en la comunidad y determinar cómo la universidad puede tener un impacto positivo en el mundo de la educación secundaria. Por supuesto, él todavía quiere asegurarse de que el alto nivel de la universidad al servicio de la Región Capital, continúe.

Mike también toma nota de que el éxito comienza con el modo cómo se piensa.

Hay otro dicho que le gusta:

“Los pensamientos positivos, se convierten en sentimientos positivos, que conducen a acciones positivas, que se convierten en resultados exitosos, una actitud positiva comienza con usted.”

Mike Gutiérrez ha personificado el éxito por casi toda su vida.

Se puede decir con zconfianza que vendrán

muchos más logros en su futuro.

Redefine el Exito para los Estudiantes

Michael Gutierrez


In the February issue of Latino New York magazine, I outlined six reasons why entrepreneurs engage in the grueling process of working a full or part-time job while running their businesses, and provided four suggestions on how to achieve balance between the two. Here are the remaining eight suggestions in continuance of Part I of this article.

Understand that time is your most precious, valuable

commodity.

Therefore, learn how to protect it by establishing boundaries. I recently had to opt out of e-mail blasts inviting me to attend a women’s entrepreneurship club because it consistently met during daytime, working hours. It appeared to be a fabulous group, but I was unable to attend, and simply having my name on its listserv was not getting me any business. Moreover, not being well-acquainted with the women entrepreneurs involved, I could not properly support their businesses. The final result: I had to let the group go until it is right for me. Guarding my time frees me to engage in other priority tasks.

By: Me’Shae Brooks-Rolling

Working full-time and running a business

Streamline your answers to FAQs and your approach to

routine tasks.

As an author and a speaker, I have a solid procedure in place to process book orders and coordinate speaking engagements efficiently. Even though I desire to increase revenues, I have had numerous invitations to speak pro bono on financial literacy education. While I do feel that it is important to donate my time periodically, I am also mindful that it takes time, energy and resources to prepare and deliver a quality presentation. I have to weigh my philanthropic impulse against the relative time deficit that I might incur by doing unpaid work. Solution: I courteously inform people who request my services that I have already pre-selected the non-profits to which I render my services gratis, and that I

have joined a speakers’ bureau (GreatBlackSpeakers.com) to which I direct inquires. Streamlining applies not only to prefabricating responses to frequently-asked questions; it refers also to automation: setting up your business in such a way that there is a procedure in place for taking care of redundant tasks.

Delegate tasks that you do not want to spend time on or that you are simply not

good at.

You might be able to afford hired help and not even realize it. Living frugally enables you to maximize human resources. (For Me’Shae’s blog of money saved, visit blog.rollingenterprises.com). Seek out a stay-at-home mom, teenager, family member, friend, volunteer, intern, unemployed professional,

or another entrepreneur, and exchange services with that person--barter! If you use independent contractors, be sure to abide by IRS rules and have your attorney draw up a contract. Pay the contractor on time, train him or her if necessary, and treat him or her with respect.

Establish a routine

I have rules governing how many evenings I spend at home, how I spend my weeknights, and how to get the most out of Friday nights and Saturdays. I rest completely on Sundays after church, so that my productivity shoots through the roof on Mondays when I go in to work. My husband and I even have on- and off-campus meals cards in case we need to use them during busy seasons when we are coming in late at night after meetings, teaching, and lectures.

Suggestions on how to achieve balance between your job and your

growing business

Burning the Candle on both ends

Part II



Me’Shae Brooks-Rolling is a Senior Manager at Syracuse University and is the Author of “How To Save Money & Organize Your Finances” which includes resources for small business entrepreneurs. Her company, Just the Basics Financial Literacy Education, provides financial literacy education throughout Central New York. She may be reached at (315) 908-BOOK (2665) or [email protected] © 2011. All rights reserved.

I have a Virtual Administrative Assistant with whom I have established a communication protocol--rules about calls and e-mails so I can focus on my day job. I try very hard to not get overwhelmed (I still have my moments), and I draw firm lines between work, personal, and business e-mails. Streamlining my communication flow frees me to prioritize my responses. For example, communication tasks that only I can attend to such as asking where I have to speak, what time I should arrive, and what parking options are available at the venue are not mixed in with social inquiries like, “Hey, did you see this on YouTube?”. Some entrepreneurs get up as early as 5 a.m. to accomplish tasks like responding to e-mails before work, or they work very late into the night. Of course, it is not always easy to compartmentalize every area of your life so neatly, but e-mail is one of those places where it is possible. Everyone has to find her own flow.

Use downtime big-time

Being in academia, I have generous vacation time during the summer and around winter break. During the spring and fall semesters, respectively, I keep a list of intermediate to long-term tasks I cannot seem to complete during the school year and save them for summer/winter breaks when I have huge blocks of uninterrupted time. Although not everyone has this advantage, everyone can still get the most out of smaller blocks of time by making a list of his entrepreneurial tasks, counting the number of days he has off, and assigning the tasks to those smaller blocks of time. However, it is counterproductive to use all of your downtime playing catch-up, so make sure to schedule time for rest and recreation, or your “To Do” list will become unrealistic. This strategy can also be used during the weekends to balance business tasks and domestic chores. Whatever strategy

works best for you, remember that two to three hours of focus and concentration are exponentially better than several hours of scatter-shot attention.

Create a business plan

While some entrepreneurs quit their day jobs cold turkey and plunge into their business as if they were free-falling from a cliff, most need a strategic plan before leaving their place of employment. In order to avoid the former scenario, especially if you did not plan for it, include in your business plan how much revenue you need to generate from entrepreneurship as income replacement. Solicit the assistance of your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Advisor.

Be discreet about your entrepreneurial ventures at

your day job

Refrain from openly advertising your entrepreneurial ventures at your job. Take care not to broadcast your sideline in such a way that your superiors

surmise that you do not need a job at all! Avoid conflicts of interest, but consider that your employer might benefit from your entrepreneurial endeavors because they show that you are an employee who thinks like a businessperson. For example, I am always screening invoices and saving my employer money because I have to do it in my business. My employer benefits from my vigilance and expertise, while I get to add screening invoices to my skill set and include it in my performance evaluation.

Take care of yourself

Remember to eat nutritiously and exercise. Strive to achieve balance in your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical life. I realize this might sound easy for

someone working from her home office, but remember that even though a full-time entrepreneur might have the luxury of going grocery shopping midday on a weekday, sometimes she also has to work harder than her counterparts in a cubicle because if she does not bring in business, she does not eat and pay the bills.

Working a full-time job and running a business is hard, challenging work. But the rewards and dividends can pay off tremendously when you enjoy not only additional income but also a vibrant lifestyle outside of your day job-- sort of like “Hannah Montana”. Your own business allows you not only to pay the bills now but also to walk in the door of your workplace and confront internal job factors with a profound sense of freedom, knowing that neither what happens that day nor your long-term financial future is completely controlled by the whims of your workplace. It helps to alleviate the fear of looming, imminent uncertainty; provides a sense of empowerment through your bringing a product or service to marketplace; allows you to take advantage of tax breaks; and fosters contentment. The prospect of one day being in business full time, no longer burning the candle on both ends, outweighs the negligible security of that day job.

P.S. Congratulations to Mr. Juan George, who after a successful 21-year career as a senior manager in the hospitality services industry, retired to expand his entrepreneurial dream, Latino New York magazine. What an inspiration to us all!

Suggestions on how to achieve balance between your job and your growing business

Continued from Pag. 25


For the past several years, the country of Mexico has suffered problems of violence and terror. Sadly, the situation has put a negative spotlight on this country as one the most violent in the Western Hemisphere. Drug dealers have grown immensely in power and extended their reign of dominance from the northern border with the United States to the southern border with Guatemala and Belize. In the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez, there were reported more than 3,000 murders alone in 2010. Not only are police, journalists, politicians killed related to drugs but also young women are being kidnapped and many times used in illegal sex trafficking. According to reports, these crimes have crossed the border and also occur in the United States. One might ask themselves how things became like this in a country known for its rich cultural heritage and reputation for being a hard working society. The answer is not that simple to explain, but certain factors have contributed into producing what we see today in Mexico.

If we take a look at the political history of Mexico, we see that it has had both success and failures. Leaders such as Benito Juarez fought for the common man in Mexico to be treated fairly and have opportunities to work towards success. In 1848, Mexico lost half of its land to the United States as agreed upon in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War. Some would argue that to this day, some Mexicans still carry this pain from generations ago in their hearts. Later on the country would suffer from the rein of a dictator named Porfirio Diaz. For over eighty years the “PRI” or Institutional Revolutionary Party of Mexico controlled the presidential office of Mexico. The current president, Felipe Calderon represents the “PAN”, or National Action Party. In 2006, president Calderon declared a war on drugs and promised to improve the severe situation in the country.

México: What will the future be?

By: Richard O’Riley, MS Ed.


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Despite recent statistics that indicate a decrease of drug related deaths in Mexico, many Mexicans are unhappy with president Calderon and call him a liar. As with his predecessors, many Mexicans feel that his administration is corrupt and that his priorities are more in the maintaining wealth and power of the upper class while the rest of society suffers. Many Mexicans have left the country illegally looking for work, something their own country cannot provide to them. Sadly, drug dealers in cartels have used their power and implemented terrorist tactics to scare many people and now control parts of many Mexican cities.

What will be the future of this country? Some argue that an international intervention is necessary, while others want Mexico to simply resolve its own problems. If the situation continues to worsen, Mexico may fall into a civil war and the consequences of that could be costly. Not only would Mexico suffer, but other countries such as the United States would economically suffer. Mexico is the United States second largest export market. The United States depends on several products such as tin, gold as sugar from Mexico. In an ever changing world environment, one thing is for sure: Mexico needs a radical change. Only time will tell the future of this country.

Por muchos años, el país de México ha sufrido problemas de violencia y terror. Tristemente, la situación presenta una imágen de este país como uno de lo más violentos en el hemisferio occidental. Los narcotraficantes han aumentado inmensamente extendiendo su reino de poder desde la frontera norteña con los Estados Unidos hasta la frontera sureña con Guatemala y Belice. En la ciudad norteña de Juárez, se reportaron más de 3.000 asesinatos en el año 2010. Las muertes no se tratan únicamente

de policías, periodistas y políticos relacionados con drogas, sino también con el secuestro de mujeres jóvenes que son utilizadas como esclavas sexuales. Según a los informes, estos crímenes han cruzado la frontera y también suceden en los Estados Unidos. Nos preguntamos cómo la situación llegó a ser así en un país tan conocido por su gran riqueza cultural y su reputación de ser una sociedad trabajadora. La respuesta no es sencilla de explicar. Ciertos factores han contribuido para producir lo que vemos hoy en día en México.

Si vemos la historia política de México, vemos que ha tenido sus momentos de éxitos y de fracasos. Líderes como Benito Juárez lucharon por el hombre común en México para que fuera tratado justamente y tuviera oportunidades de trabajar para lograr éxito. En 1848, México perdió la mitad de su tierra a los Estados Unidos como acuerdo del tratado de Guadalupe Hidalgo que puso fin a la guerra Mexicana-Americana. Hoy en día, alguna gente diría que muchos Mexicanos y Mexicano-Americanos llevan ese dolor todavía en sus corazones. Luego, el país sufriría del reino de un dictador llamado Porfirio Díaz.

Por más de 80 años , el “PRI” o Partido Revolucionario Institucional de México controló la oficina presidencial. El presidente de hoy se llama Felipe Calderón y representa el partido “PAN” o Partido de Acción Nacional. En el año 2006, el presidente Calderón declaró una guerra para combatir el narcotráfico y prometió mejorar la difícil situación de su país. A pesar de recientes estadísticas que indican una disminución de asesinatos relacionados con las drogas, muchos mexicanos están insatisfechos con el presidente Calderón y lo tildan de mentiroso. Como sus antepasados , muchos mexicanos se sienten que su administración es corrupta y que sus prioridades estriban más hacia mantener el estatus y la riqueza de los ricos mientras sufre el resto de la sociedad. Muchos mexicanos han salido del país ilegalmente buscando trabajo, algo que su país no les puede dar. Tristemente, los narcotraficantes de los carteles han utilizado su poder para implementar tácticas terroristas que asustan a la gente. Ahora, controlan varias partes del país.

¿Cuál será el futuro de este país? Algunos dicen que falta una intervención internacional, mientras otros quieren que México resuelva sus problemas por si mismo. Si la situación sigue empeorando, puede llegar a estallar una guerra civil. Las consecuencias de tal guerra impactarían el país gravemente. No solamente se vería afectado México, sino otros países como los Estados Unidos, que sería perjudicado económicamente . México es el segundo mercado mas grande mundial de exportaciones a los Estados Unidos. Los Estados Unidos depende de varios productos de México como el estaño, el oro y el azúcar. En un mundo de constantes cambios, hay una cosa segura: A México le hace falta un cambio radical. El tiempo será testigo del futuro de este país.



The following is a brief description of the reasons behind the outstanding community service our Ph.D. candidate, Lissette Acosta Corniel has been doing and for which she has become known and recognized in her homeland. These are her words:

The memories of my arrival to the United States at the age of 12 from the Dominican Republic (DR) in 1989 are not very pleasant, yet my vision is still the same. The reason for all I do, my vision behind this work I love to do is simple; I want to be able to give to my mother and grandmother an improved quality of life. As my strongest role models, these two women made sure to push their own to do better, to lead a better life. I have many memories of my Abuela (grandmother) filling our home with needy children even when there was no room for her own. My vision is to give back to a community who taught me the virtue of giving; the miracle of what it really means to share, of humility. My vision is to show others like I that while it is okay to strive for better, to never forget the ones you leave behind – to remember to give back.

The memories of my childhood in the Dominican Republic could best be described as devastating. Poverty is reality and surviving one day at a time is a way of life. At home in DR I rarely felt cold in the subtle winter season from December to February because I was kept warm in a cozy mattress where four of us slept, my grandmother, my mother, my sister and I (today my friends make fun of me because I do not move in bed when I sleep). In contrast, in the U.S., we slept with our coats on when the electricity was out for days in the middle of winter.

As I watched my mother work at a factory earning $4 an hour, it forced me to look at my life and self-examine my worth and contributions. In this self assessment I concluded that if I did not know how to sing, draw, play a sport or any musical instrument, or act, I might as well learn to as Dominicans say “to turn pages to the left” – to move forward and see what comes next.

Language fluency has always been a barrier. This however, did not weaken or lessen my drive to learn and increase my education. I completed my bachelors in English literature, my Masters in Developmental Disability and I am now a Ph.D. candidate in the Latin American, U.S. Latino and Caribbean Studies. With the help of scholarships and campus jobs, I was able to escape the burden of college loans.

Once I became fully employed as a public school teacher in 2000, I began to use some of my earnings for charity work in my hometown of Rio San Juan in DR and other places such as Cuba, Haiti and Africa. On a trip to Cuba in 2001, I was able to interview participants of an international delegation during my trip which was broadcasted in Cuban national television. For the past 10 years, under the name “Alegría Gri Gri” I have carried out with the help of many, charity projects in DR and abroad. Alegría Gri Gri will be the name of the foundation I and others hope to formally establish as a not-for-profit foundation. The name Alegría comes from the name the children gave me and means joy whereas, Gri Gri is the name of a lake in my hometown of Rio San Juan which is known nationally for its mangroves and connection to the ocean.

Lissette Acosta-Corniel

Thus, today I carry the warmth and the strength of four generations of women and the hopes of thousands of fellow immigrants from across the globe with me, pushing me forward to do better, to do bigger, and to share greater.

My vision is to show others like I that while it is okay to strive for better, to never forget the

ones you leave behind – to remember to give back

”

”

Making a Difference in the Dominican Republic and the World


Some of Alegría Gri Gri’s events include: beach baseball with the town’s shoe-shining kids, Christmas baskets to individual families, scholarships for college registration, school supplies for elementary and middle schools and in March 2010 we gave clothes to 600 people. In January 2010, two days after the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, Alegria Gri Gri coordinated lodging, translators, security and helped finance a private plane for the members of Christian Baptist Church, in Irvington, NJ to arrive in Haiti. Alegria Gri Gri also assisted the NY Times freelance photographer Willie Davis to get to Haiti. Most recently in August 2010, Alegria Gri Gri worked with FUSURA (a natural environment foundation) in a reforestation project along the river of Neyba in the Dominican Republic where 1,500 trees were planted, and also worked with Cthen Films (awarded the country’s national award for its voluntary community service in the Dominican Republic and documenting the life of people with AIDS/HIV in the country) on a two day campaign to eradicate Denge (a disease caused by mosquitoes) in the town of Manzanillo, close to the Haitian border.

This past summer (2010), I was awarded the Initiatives for Women award at the University at Albany, for my doctoral research on Spanish women in colonial Hispaniola. I was also acknowledged by the Dominican government’s Ministry of Youth as their Young Outstanding Dominican Abroad for my academic achievements and community service in DR and abroad. Additionally, I have written a children’s book that I hope to get published one day about the happy moments of my childhood and growing up in two different places.

Much work remains to be done and I just want to be part of it.


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