Herb Hernandez knew he didn't look like the other children athis elementary school. He found out he was different at lunch, wheneveryone was staring at him. While the other students atesandwiches, he had his traditional tortilla, which was a commondish at home.
Hernandez, who now owns his own business in Fort Wayne, andAlbino Perez, a professor at Indiana University Purdue UniversityFort Wayne, spoke Monday about today's perceptions on Latino's,like the ones students had of him in elementary. They have beenworking together for 15 years and were featured speakers during theLatino Student Union week of events.
"We want to enlighten people to see where we've been and to knowwhat we're doing," Perez said.
Hispanics have the highest high school drop out rate in thenation, Perez said. He works to encourage students to finish schooland further their education, Perez said. He said he didn't get hereby himself, and he wants to help others achieve.
Hernandez said his father made him promise that if he went tocollege he would finish and get a professional job and not digditches for a living. Hernandez worked his way through college, andhe said his father's words got him through. He said it's importantfor people in his position to think beyond themselves and try togive back to the community.
Hernandez also discussed the growth of the Latino population inthe United States and in Allen County, where he grew up. He learnedmuch of his information from "Peopling Indiana: The EthnicExperience," where the first recorded Hispanic name was in 1870 inIndianapolis.
Perez discussed how perceptions change from age, gender andbackground. He described how he could be perceived differentlybecause he is a Hispanic professor who was a marine who served inthe Vietnam War. He said there are countless perceptions peoplemight have of him, which could be right or wrong.
"Whether it's verbal or visual, it can be perceived differently,and we should be careful how we look at things," Perez said.
Sarra Trevino-Norris, Latino Student Union's vice president,said Perez is a family friend and was recommended by her mother.She said Perez and Hernandez are examples of what can beaccomplished with an education. She said she hopes this programencourages others to go out into the community and talk withstudents about the importance of education.
"The goal of this program was to promote awareness and startdialogue about cultural issues at Ball State," Cat Zakrajsek, ajunior Spanish education major, said. Zakrajsek is a member of LSUand the Latino sorority Gamma Phi Omega.
Both speakers promote education by speaking and working throughother organizations. Hernandez, a Mexican-American, and Perez, ofSpanish and Mexican descent, are charter members of the Greater Ft.Wayne Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. It was incorporated in April1990 with only 12 members and now has more than 50 members. Theorganization looks to sponsor two students in an internship toboard membership program, preparing students for leadershippositions in companies. Perez said the group's goal is to "growleaders."
"We want to send out a positive message and show the positiveattributes of getting an education," Hernandez said.
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