Life is a Risk

I live in a very pretty house; in my room right next to by bed, there is a window that faces a beautiful large oak tree that is over 100 years old. The window faces the east so every morning I get to see the sunrise through the leaves of my oak tree. This action is a constant reminder that God is present in my life. So no matter my mood for the day, I can always find something that I can be thankful for.

Life is a game; we are up today and down tomorrow. We are winning and losing. Life is a risk, even when you don’t like to take risks there is level of risk by just being alive and in bed. As long as we are breathing we are playing, and that means we are in the game.

I do believe that the bigger the risks the bigger the opportunity to create some thing great but also the chances to fall are even higher. This is true in all aspects of our life: relationships, business, investments, family, etc.

I have taken a lot of risks in my life, from romantic relationships to difficult business transactions. I have lost and won. The key here is to take the losing with a winning attitude. I know… this is hard to do, but the fact of the matter is that you are only a loser if you don’t have a winning attitude.

In the game of life the winners fall and stand up again, they keep on trying, they find encouragement within themselves, and they learn from mistakes. In the game of life the losers are afraid to try again, they feel sorry for themselves, and they prefer to live their life through others.

What kind of game are you playing? Are you on the winning circle or at the back observing? Do you want to live your life to the fullest? Or do you want to wait for life to pass by?

I know where I am; I am at the winning circle with my friends and my three beautiful daughters. I am enjoying life to the fullest and I am falling and standing up… now the question is… do you want to join me?

If you decided to join the winning, here are five thoughts to keep in mind when taking a risk:
1.) Visualize the worse case scenario; can you afford to lose every thing?
2.) Visualize the best case scenario; can you handle the responsibility of getting what you want?
3.) Take “smart” risks, which means analyze, compare, and listen to other people’s experiences.
4.) Plan with the end in mind.
5.) Think who else might be affected by the risk you are taking.

Our life is a precious gift from God, and because of that it is our responsibility to make the journey the best that we can.

Life is a risk but only through risks is that we get to live our life. Live it!

Friday the 13th

I checked my facebook this past Friday and I have this really bad habit of checking my ex it-is-what-it-is-uncommitted-boy-friend’s facebook page. Maybe I should just call him by his name, but I won’t, that will make him even more real on my head.

He left me without a good bye, an explanation, a fight or a last kiss. Nothing; and ever since that day, more than eight months ago, I keep hoping, praying, and dreaming, that he will be back apologizing and asking me for my love again.

Facebook is my little window to his life, I feel like I am God because I can read and see a little about his life. Friday the 13th he took the “in a relationship” status off his description and his girl friend’s pictures were also gone. For a second, I though, I must have missed the information or I must have deleted the access to the pictures. But after checking and double checking, I realize that I was doing it alright. YES! She was gone and his status was gone with her.

My hurt jumped, my breath stopped, and my hands sweated. Is it possible? I though that now that she was gone I had a chance to be back with him, after all he was a single man again. My excitement was so great that I felt light headed and I though I was going to fall off the chair.

I called my closest friends and let them know about my joy. One of them cautioned me with a strong “so what?” He never loved you, he never cared for you, and he never committed to you. My other friend also cautioned me with a strong “be smart.” Do not answer the phone right away, make him believe that you are busy, do not call him. Two very different views from two people that I know love me.

I almost call. He is alone and surely he is thinking of me, after all I love him just the way he is and he knows that. I am glad I did not call. More than once I have reacted before thinking and this was going to be the same case because today after 4 days of suspense, stories on my head, and dreams in my bed, he placed her pictures back again and I am left with emptiness, disillusion, and deep sadness. I am such an idiot.

Thursday March 19 Beginners SALSA Lesson

Beginners SALSA Lesson @ The Mexican American Cultural Center
600 River StreetAustin, Texas 78701http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/macc/
Second Floor
From 6pm to 7pm $10.00 per class
No need to bring a partner but do bring your friends!

For more information:
Email: marion@Salsa-Bembe.com
Log on: http://www.salsa-bembe.com/
Or just show up!

Next Pura Salsa Socials with 100% Salsa Music April 2
First Thursday of EVERY month.

Next socials: April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, September 3, October 1, and Nov 5 2009

Fabian and I are please to announce DJ Jason Lozada (El Puerto Riqueno!!!) to DJ at our April 2 Pura Salsa Social! Don’t miss it!

The Salsero’s Dream Social:

1.) Spacious wood dance floor

2.) Excellent air conditioning
3.) FREE parking
4.) FREE water

5.) Downtown Austin!!!

Also @ Mexican American Cultural Center

Beginners Salsa Lesson: 6pm to 7pm ($10.00 per person) by Marion

Pura Salsa Social: Dancing 7:30 pm to 10pm ($5.00 per person)

Instructors free with emailed R.S.V.P. to Marion at marion@Salsa-Bembe.com, Please invite your students!

Continue dancing at Austin’s favorite salsa club:

Copa (217 Congress)

Show your Pura Salsa Social stamp and get in for just $3.00!!!

More information about guest instructors, performances, DJ’s and more @ http://www.purasalsasocial.com/ & http://www.salsanewsaustin.com/

Obama and his Message of Change

The concept of change is universally understood. Culturally and philosophically we can all relate to the word and the meaning of it. Change can be an exciting time or a stressful time; it can be an opportunity, a challenge, or a way to motivate. Most importantly, at such difficult times in our nation, change meant hope for everyone. Obama’s key campaign message for change touched every emotions and feelings of the individuals, the nation, and the entire world.

To craft a good message it’s important to take into consideration the audience, the speaker, the tone, and the current historic environment that is affecting the audience. Obama with his strong presence, diction, and excellenct deliverance captivated everyone. His ability to choose words that people can personally relate to is very impressive. “We meet at a moment of great uncertainty for America,” said Obama as an introduction on many of his speeches. These particular words set the tone for what was coming next on his speech; it also made the audience feel that Obama was “one of them” and that he could also feel the pressure of the economic challenges that the United States is currently facing.

Obama not only took his message across the nation traveling from town to town, utilizing the media, and attending town hall meetings, but he did something that no one else has done before: he took his message to the social media networks and the heart of the households of the disfranchised communities. From technology to the lowest level of grassroots strategies, he touched everyone, and with that he became the buzz of the world and at the conversation at the dinner table of the American families.

Very similar to Martin Luther King, Obama delivered his message following the Sermonic Tradition. At his inaugural speech at the White House, he started with the disclaimer, “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.” He ends his speech with an open ended statement:

“This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.”

But he also achieved the goal of creating excitement, energizing the community, maintaining the commitments made during his campaign, and setting the tone for realistic expectations: “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.”

Every communication sent by the Obama campaign focused on the message of hope, change, and that “we can do it together” attitude. Messages were delivered from speaking engagements, major media networks, the Internet, and at the grassroots level. In Austin in particular, the community was pleased to have Obama at a town hall meeting where regular people such as attorneys, secretaries, house wives, single men, etc. who could sit very close and ask him questions. This strategy allowed the opportunity for the people who were still undecided to have a closer encounter with the candidate and hopefully persuade the audience to decide to support Obama. In other words, he took his campaign to the level of the masses and to the level of the individuals.

Internet and social media are relatively new communications strategies. Social media started with the concept of a network of “friends” where advertising and publicity communications were not acceptable a few years back. Now, these communication avenues have become an intricate and necessary part of any campaign, though they are still very new and risky. But this is where the genius of the Obama campaign team came into place under his leadership, Internet and social media became one of his key communication channels to send his message and get connected to everyone that uses a computer anywhere in the world. One of his Facebook sites http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/barackobama?ref=ts includes pictures, videos, comments from supporters, and a network of over 5 million people, but interestingly enough, his Facebook site targeting the Latino community http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Latinos-for-Obama/22203686533?ref=ts only has a little over 15,000 supporters. This key sample shows that even though United States still has a large gap in technology between the minority and non-minority populations, Obama decided to maintain a site specifically for the few Hispanics who are connected through the Internet and expanded his campaign to the grassroots level for this specific target market. The “Proyecto Latino Para el Cambio” was the guiding document to target the Hispanic/Latino community. This document laid out the plans, strategies and needs of the Hispanic/Latino community with clear, perfect Spanish and simplicity that everyone at just about any education level could understand.

Communication cannot be analyzed as a flat piece of information because it has many dynamics that make it complex. Visually, Obama picked a logo that was pleasant to the eye, easy to attach to the key message, and marketable enough to add at a series of products such as bumper stickers, t-shirts, baseball caps, purses, etc. The logo was strong enough that it could stand by itself and people could recognize it as the central graphic for all the communication efforts performed by either Obama or his team.

Delivery is another strong talent that Obama presented on every occasion. With a strong stage presence and an easy and calm way to speak in public and under pressure the audience felt that he was the ideal person to represent the nation in local and international matters.

During the different debates between Obama and his opponent McCain, he demonstrated a presidential air, authority, active listening, and openness and yet firmness that surely increased the popularity of his campaign and message and the backing of the voters.

Critics might say that Obama only uses rhetoric with lack of substance, or they might say that it was all a political campaign; the fact is that he does have a track record and so far his campaign and first weeks as President have sent a strong message to the opposition, to his supporters, and to the world that the United States will prevail and we will become a nation respected by all once again.


Works Cited


"Obama Speeches." Obama Biden. Organizing for America. 18 Feb. 2009
http://www.barackobama.com/speeches/index.php

Proyecto Latino Para El Cambio. 19 Feb. 2009
http://obama.3cdn.net/f3fe74c297f597139d_e4m6i2awh.pdf

Gentrification: Nice Word for Displacement of the Poor

I walked into a house located at 1000 East Cesar Chavez Street; inside it was dark, dirty, and full of closed doors and hallways. My real estate agent and friend, John Hernandez, came with me. We walked upstairs and found more closed doors. I forced one door open facing west and a raccoon ran out of the room. We both jumped and laughed at the same time. The room was full of dirty clothes, old newspapers, smelly trash, and an old broken bed. It was very hard to breathe inside. I looked at one window that was about 20 feet tall and I pulled the old curtains down and the bright sun came in like thunder, and I saw Downtown Austin. Without hesitation I said, “I’ll take it.” The year was 1995. The house was a 105-year-old Victorian mansion with 3800 square feet of space, and the price was $95,000. That was the beginning of an interesting journey, a love affair with the east side, and a commitment to fight gentrification.

East Austin history is as rich as all of Austin but with a different twist. In the 1940’s East Austin started to become the home of primarily poor Hispanics and African Americans. Small businesses owned by people of color that served the minority populations prospered, including newspapers, restaurants, barber shops, accountants, doctors, and attorneys. The houses were small bungalows with Victorian mansions in between them. For the longest time East Austin was a haven for these families and their businesses. Here, segregation was very vivid but the comfort of the surroundings, friends, and families made the neighborhood feel safe. For many years, East Austin was neglected, forgotten, and underserved by elected officials and city leaders.

The year that I bought my property, East Austin was considered a very dangerous area. If you had no business being there, which was the case of most of the population in Austin, you simply did not go. In fact, most of the Austin population was not even familiar with the east side of Interstate Highway 35, but they knew that poor “Mexicans and Blacks” lived there.

Through out the years there were rumors that wealthy people were buying properties and leasing them back to those families. The east community was concern but still could not understand what was going on since the people that sold their properties did not provide any information. In 1999 the Travis Central Appraisal District raised every one’s properties taxes by at least 30%. People were concerned about losing their homes because they could not afford to pay their taxes. At that moment we all knew something was definitely happening. The Austin City Council under the leadership of Mayor Kirk Watson appointed a group of East Austin community leaders to head a planning process with the charge of creating a plan for the future of East Austin. The request for the plan came a little too late. By that time the exchange of ownership of properties was moving at a rapid pace.

The dictionary defines gentrification as “the restoration and upgrading of deteriorated urban property by middle-class or affluent people, often resulting in displacement of lower-income people.” In other words, gentrification displaces long residing poor families from their neighborhoods to create new living spaces for the wealthy. A lot of these families are not aware about their property values and sell their homes at a lower price, and because the income of the sale is not enough to purchase another property, they either have to rent or buy a house outside the city limit. It is important to point out that gentrification not only displaces families, but it also destroys the character and history of a specific community creating a new urban character and sense of community.

The average value of a house in the year 2000 with 1200 square footage in the 78702 zip code was approximate $57,000. Today the average value of a home with the same square footage is $270,000. Currently, the web site http://www.ziprealty.com/ is advertising five houses in the market for over $500,000. The highest one is advertised with a value of over $750,000. The same site is advertising over 20 condominiums with the highest price being $299,000 and the lowest $229,000. Small houses are now sitting right next to either an urban upscale house with all the luxuries or a condominium complex of 3 to 5 floors.

These changes not only are challenging for the community, but also for the city. Because of the new structures and the new high density in the area, the city now needs to provide new roads, improved utilities, state of the art technology, and urban transportation to decrease traffic. New businesses are making East Austin their home and killing the old small mom & pop shops. Affluent residences are the new neighborhood leadership while the old school residences are trying to survive and maintain their voice.

In a short period of time, East Austin has changed and it will never be the same. We do not have the same character; we are losing the culture; the small businesses are closing; and the old families are moving out. Gentrification is not stoppable but it can be controlled. After the 2000 Gentrification Study took place, the City Council created several ordinances to protect the residents in East Austin, including new zoning change procedures, limitations of the use of land, and a series of incentives for the developers to create affordable housing. The city also created a program for residences to obtain loans, grants, and other financial assistance for regular maintenance of their properties. The Travis Appraisal District also created a series of workshops for the business and residential property owners to educate them about current property values, sales trends, and property rights. Most important the community, businesses, and non-profits are working together to maintain the fabric of the neighborhood and to create an environment to communicate with the developers to look for win-win strategies before the design and construction phase of new structures.

Gentrification is not all negative though. Thanks to the new developments, we now enjoy a greater diversity of services and businesses creating new job opportunities for the residents, at the end of this month East Austin will be one of the few Austin areas with two rail stops, and crime has come down. The city has also made investments on the area such as new street signage and better street lighting. This has changed the flow of some of the major streets to increase mobility. East 11th and East 7th can apply for grants to renovate the façade of the properties; 7th street is one of the official corridors to the international airport creating traffic and visibility for the East Austin businesses; and a new commission (Austin Revitalization Authority) was created by neighbors to watch and provide comments to any development, site plans, or zoning changes in the area.

My office is still located at 1000 East Cesar Chavez, I bought the property because I felt in love with the architecture, $95,000 was a lot of money for a commercial property on that side of town back then, now, about 6 months ago, a non-profit organization offered $650,000 cash to purchase the property, John Hernandez, my friend and real estate agent, represented the organization. I smiled at him and said, “No thank you."

Works Cited

"Gentrification Committee Report." City of Austin. 14 June 2001. City of Austin. 1 Mar
2009. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/housing/downloads/gentrification.pdf

"Travis County Property Information." Travis County Appraisal District. 2008. Travis County Appraisal District. 1 Mar. 2009. <http://www.traviscad.org/tcad_search.php?mode=situs&kind=real>