when you come to this country and you enter Manhattan at the base of the
enter Manhattan at the base of the
enter Manhattan at the base of the Statue of Liberty there’s a plaque that
Statue of Liberty there’s a plaque that
Statue of Liberty there’s a plaque that reads give me your tired give me your
reads give me your tired give me your
reads give me your tired give me your poor your huddled masses yearning to be
poor your huddled masses yearning to be
poor your huddled masses yearning to be free the wretched refuse of your teeming
free the wretched refuse of your teeming
free the wretched refuse of your teeming Shores send these the homeless
Shores send these the homeless
Shores send these the homeless tempest-tossed to me I lift my lamp
tempest-tossed to me I lift my lamp
tempest-tossed to me I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door there’s from a
beside the Golden Door there’s from a
beside the Golden Door there’s from a phrase a poem from Mr Lazarus and it has
phrase a poem from Mr Lazarus and it has
phrase a poem from Mr Lazarus and it has a lot of meaning because that’s who we
a lot of meaning because that’s who we
a lot of meaning because that’s who we are
are
are Americans immigrants from different
Americans immigrants from different
Americans immigrants from different countries all over the world that made
countries all over the world that made
countries all over the world that made this country so great and so strong from
this country so great and so strong from
this country so great and so strong from the early days of the colonists who came
the early days of the colonists who came
the early days of the colonists who came to this country and they fled
to this country and they fled
to this country and they fled persecution because of their religious
persecution because of their religious
persecution because of their religious beliefs to the latest waves of post 1965
beliefs to the latest waves of post 1965
beliefs to the latest waves of post 1965 immigrants from Central America and also
immigrants from Central America and also
immigrants from Central America and also Asia fleeing violence they flee in
Asia fleeing violence they flee in
Asia fleeing violence they flee in poverty looking for an opportunity here
poverty looking for an opportunity here
poverty looking for an opportunity here but yet today they’re being challenged
but yet today they’re being challenged
but yet today they’re being challenged and we want to create walls but we want
and we want to create walls but we want
and we want to create walls but we want to rescind the dreamers and daca act
to rescind the dreamers and daca act
to rescind the dreamers and daca act what have we turned into America what
what have we turned into America what
what have we turned into America what have we become we are a nation of
have we become we are a nation of
have we become we are a nation of strength through our immigrants see
strength through our immigrants see
strength through our immigrants see diversity is what makes this country so
diversity is what makes this country so
diversity is what makes this country so strong diversity if you look at great
strong diversity if you look at great
strong diversity if you look at great leaders men who have changed history who
leaders men who have changed history who
leaders men who have changed history who have changed science like Albert
have changed science like Albert
have changed science like Albert Einstein had Jewish German immigrant who
Einstein had Jewish German immigrant who
Einstein had Jewish German immigrant who became a citizens here in this country
became a citizens here in this country
became a citizens here in this country and developed the laws of the theory of
and developed the laws of the theory of
and developed the laws of the theory of relativity and how we approach science a
relativity and how we approach science a
relativity and how we approach science a day or the first u.s. women’s Secretary
day or the first u.s. women’s Secretary
day or the first u.s. women’s Secretary of State Madeleine Albright from
of State Madeleine Albright from
of State Madeleine Albright from Czechoslovakia who became a citizen here
Czechoslovakia who became a citizen here
Czechoslovakia who became a citizen here or how about the code one of the
or how about the code one of the
or how about the code one of the cofounders of Google Sergey Brin Russian
cofounders of Google Sergey Brin Russian
cofounders of Google Sergey Brin Russian became citizen here they impact the
became citizen here they impact the
became citizen here they impact the lives here we are a much greater and
lives here we are a much greater and
lives here we are a much greater and stronger nation because we are a land of
stronger nation because we are a land of
stronger nation because we are a land of immigrants and we can never forget that
immigrants and we can never forget that
immigrants and we can never forget that and I want to thank also the
and I want to thank also the
and I want to thank also the borinqueneers the 65th infantry who
borinqueneers the 65th infantry who
borinqueneers the 65th infantry who finally in 2016 received the
finally in 2016 received the
finally in 2016 received the Congressional Medal of Honor they were
Congressional Medal of Honor they were
Congressional Medal of Honor they were discriminated they were set aside but
discriminated they were set aside but
discriminated they were set aside but yet they gave their lives and they
yet they gave their lives and they
yet they gave their lives and they served in three US Wars all Puerto Rican
served in three US Wars all Puerto Rican
served in three US Wars all Puerto Rican and we had one of them here in Delaware
and we had one of them here in Delaware
and we had one of them here in Delaware Manuel vyasadeva’s who we should be very
Manuel vyasadeva’s who we should be very
Manuel vyasadeva’s who we should be very proud of that thank you I want to share
proud of that thank you I want to share
proud of that thank you I want to share with you my personal life story my
with you my personal life story my
with you my personal life story my family’s story see I have two young boys
family’s story see I have two young boys
family’s story see I have two young boys I’m very proud of them one of them is a
I’m very proud of them one of them is a
I’m very proud of them one of them is a medical doctor and he serves in the US
medical doctor and he serves in the US
medical doctor and he serves in the US Army finished his last year residency he
Army finished his last year residency he
Army finished his last year residency he was able to go to some of the finest
was able to go to some of the finest
was able to go to some of the finest universities here in his country Johns
universities here in his country Johns
universities here in his country Johns Hopkins University as well as Mount Zion
Hopkins University as well as Mount Zion
Hopkins University as well as Mount Zion and Manhattan study medicine and the
and Manhattan study medicine and the
and Manhattan study medicine and the second one my youngest at Carnegie
second one my youngest at Carnegie
second one my youngest at Carnegie Mellon who now later went on to be a
Mellon who now later went on to be a
Mellon who now later went on to be a construction manager building beautiful
construction manager building beautiful
construction manager building beautiful hometown in southern Delaware I’m
hometown in southern Delaware I’m
hometown in southern Delaware I’m extremely proud of them but the only
extremely proud of them but the only
extremely proud of them but the only reason that was possible is because of
reason that was possible is because of
reason that was possible is because of their grandfather my father their family
their grandfather my father their family
their grandfather my father their family the sacrifices that they paid to come to
the sacrifices that they paid to come to
the sacrifices that they paid to come to this country you see life wasn’t easy
this country you see life wasn’t easy
this country you see life wasn’t easy for my father he struggled he had a
for my father he struggled he had a
for my father he struggled he had a difficult time as a young man he worked
difficult time as a young man he worked
difficult time as a young man he worked in sugarcane plantations and if I’m sure
in sugarcane plantations and if I’m sure
in sugarcane plantations and if I’m sure none of you working to shoot Kim
none of you working to shoot Kim
none of you working to shoot Kim plantation
plantation
plantation if you ever worked they would tell me
if you ever worked they would tell me
if you ever worked they would tell me the stories we had to wear long sleeves
the stories we had to wear long sleeves
the stories we had to wear long sleeves as a little kid eight nine years old
as a little kid eight nine years old
as a little kid eight nine years old because the Lee’s would cut his hands
because the Lee’s would cut his hands
because the Lee’s would cut his hands but he had to support his two sisters
but he had to support his two sisters
but he had to support his two sisters and his mother and when he grew up
and his mother and when he grew up
and his mother and when he grew up finally lefty Sen donor gave him an old
finally lefty Sen donor gave him an old
finally lefty Sen donor gave him an old mule that was his parting gift in the
mule that was his parting gift in the
mule that was his parting gift in the 40s and the 50s there was love you
40s and the 50s there was love you
40s and the 50s there was love you Lancia between the Conservatives the
Lancia between the Conservatives the
Lancia between the Conservatives the haves and the Liberals to have-nots
haves and the Liberals to have-nots
haves and the Liberals to have-nots it was an agricultural economy either
it was an agricultural economy either
it was an agricultural economy either you had money or you didn’t there was
you had money or you didn’t there was
you had money or you didn’t there was really no middle class and my father
really no middle class and my father
really no middle class and my father was just a poor man looking for
was just a poor man looking for
was just a poor man looking for opportunities and lobular Lancia took
opportunities and lobular Lancia took
opportunities and lobular Lancia took hundreds of thousands of lives in
hundreds of thousands of lives in
hundreds of thousands of lives in America I’d rather in in Colombia and
America I’d rather in in Colombia and
America I’d rather in in Colombia and we’re still seeing those effects today
we’re still seeing those effects today
we’re still seeing those effects today but thank God he was almost set before a
but thank God he was almost set before a
but thank God he was almost set before a firing squad and his life was spared and
firing squad and his life was spared and
firing squad and his life was spared and he even tried to basically look for
he even tried to basically look for
he even tried to basically look for opportunities in Colombia as a pioneer
opportunities in Colombia as a pioneer
opportunities in Colombia as a pioneer in the Amazon jungle lost two daughters
in the Amazon jungle lost two daughters
in the Amazon jungle lost two daughters because he didn’t have access to health
because he didn’t have access to health
because he didn’t have access to health care I never knew those two sisters of
care I never knew those two sisters of
care I never knew those two sisters of mine but was interesting that the
mine but was interesting that the
mine but was interesting that the parents sacrifice equals the children’s
parents sacrifice equals the children’s
parents sacrifice equals the children’s future he sacrificed and saved enough
future he sacrificed and saved enough
future he sacrificed and saved enough money to come to America because he
money to come to America because he
money to come to America because he heard about this great country of
heard about this great country of
heard about this great country of opportunity a land of opportunity and he
opportunity a land of opportunity and he
opportunity a land of opportunity and he came to this country and he set aside
came to this country and he set aside
came to this country and he set aside here and he decided finally a year later
here and he decided finally a year later
here and he decided finally a year later in 1964 when he came here year later in
in 1964 when he came here year later in
in 1964 when he came here year later in 1965 he brought his family we moved to
1965 he brought his family we moved to
1965 he brought his family we moved to Brooklyn New York and we were it was
Brooklyn New York and we were it was
Brooklyn New York and we were it was something tremendous for the family a
something tremendous for the family a
something tremendous for the family a great opportunity we lived in a
great opportunity we lived in a
great opportunity we lived in a second-floor apartment at that time six
second-floor apartment at that time six
second-floor apartment at that time six of us by the time we left the nine of us
of us by the time we left the nine of us
of us by the time we left the nine of us and two bedrooms one bathroom we shared
and two bedrooms one bathroom we shared
and two bedrooms one bathroom we shared I remember coming home from church and
I remember coming home from church and
I remember coming home from church and turning on the lights and my mother
turning on the lights and my mother
turning on the lights and my mother would yell Matt Vanessa cucarachas kill
would yell Matt Vanessa cucarachas kill
would yell Matt Vanessa cucarachas kill those cockroaches there was thousands of
those cockroaches there was thousands of
those cockroaches there was thousands of them and we chased them and we kill as
them and we chased them and we kill as
them and we chased them and we kill as many as we possibly can see at Christmas
many as we possibly can see at Christmas
many as we possibly can see at Christmas time my father I could remembers given
time my father I could remembers given
time my father I could remembers given me a little match back part because
me a little match back part because
me a little match back part because that’s all he could afford that’s all
that’s all he could afford that’s all
that’s all he could afford that’s all I didn’t have all the technology the
I didn’t have all the technology the
I didn’t have all the technology the gifts and all the things you get from
gifts and all the things you get from
gifts and all the things you get from your uncles and aunts and so forth
your uncles and aunts and so forth
your uncles and aunts and so forth that’s all he could afford but his son
that’s all he could afford but his son
that’s all he could afford but his son said son Merry Christmas
said son Merry Christmas
said son Merry Christmas is all I can give you but that left an
is all I can give you but that left an
is all I can give you but that left an impression in my mind that it carried on
impression in my mind that it carried on
impression in my mind that it carried on to my children that they could honor
to my children that they could honor
to my children that they could honor their parents see Latinos we love our
their parents see Latinos we love our
their parents see Latinos we love our families we religious and we’re hard
families we religious and we’re hard
families we religious and we’re hard workers and we’re extremely loyal and
workers and we’re extremely loyal and
workers and we’re extremely loyal and that’s why when you hear about today
that’s why when you hear about today
that’s why when you hear about today about your immigrants and you hear these
about your immigrants and you hear these
about your immigrants and you hear these families and
families and
families and they suffered to come across the border
they suffered to come across the border
they suffered to come across the border and they’re trying to make their lives
and they’re trying to make their lives
and they’re trying to make their lives matter here make a difference it reminds
matter here make a difference it reminds
matter here make a difference it reminds me of them we face many barriers today I
me of them we face many barriers today I
me of them we face many barriers today I remember as a little child going to the
remember as a little child going to the
remember as a little child going to the hospital or the doctor’s office and my
hospital or the doctor’s office and my
hospital or the doctor’s office and my mother suffered from umarete arthritis
mother suffered from umarete arthritis
mother suffered from umarete arthritis and she the day she died she was in a
and she the day she died she was in a
and she the day she died she was in a wheelchair
wheelchair
wheelchair it’s a crippling disease affects your
it’s a crippling disease affects your
it’s a crippling disease affects your joint your knees everything you can
joint your knees everything you can
joint your knees everything you can barely walk and the only reason I stood
barely walk and the only reason I stood
barely walk and the only reason I stood up and kept standing has a young child
up and kept standing has a young child
up and kept standing has a young child was because I had to interpret for my
was because I had to interpret for my
was because I had to interpret for my mother as they injected her with these
mother as they injected her with these
mother as they injected her with these long goal shots into her joints the
long goal shots into her joints the
long goal shots into her joints the nurse would turn to me and she said ‘i
nurse would turn to me and she said ‘i
nurse would turn to me and she said ‘i hope are you okay son are you okay and I
hope are you okay son are you okay and I
hope are you okay son are you okay and I said as white as ghost yes mom I’m okay
that still happens today in America
that still happens today in America where Latinos don’t have access the
where Latinos don’t have access the
where Latinos don’t have access the language don’t have access to health
language don’t have access to health
language don’t have access to health care because of that barrier or when
care because of that barrier or when
care because of that barrier or when you’re a young child and you’re taught
you’re a young child and you’re taught
you’re a young child and you’re taught by your parents son when I talk to you
by your parents son when I talk to you
by your parents son when I talk to you don’t look at me you look down with
don’t look at me you look down with
don’t look at me you look down with respect see Papa see my mom so you send
respect see Papa see my mom so you send
respect see Papa see my mom so you send you what I see
you what I see
you what I see but today they look at you and say look
but today they look at you and say look
but today they look at you and say look at me when I’m talking to you that’s
at me when I’m talking to you that’s
at me when I’m talking to you that’s disrespectful you have to understand our
disrespectful you have to understand our
disrespectful you have to understand our culture who we are what we wear who we
culture who we are what we wear who we
culture who we are what we wear who we are we should be able to accept our
are we should be able to accept our
are we should be able to accept our culture but those are barriers that are
culture but those are barriers that are
culture but those are barriers that are created sometimes in we as Latino
created sometimes in we as Latino
created sometimes in we as Latino sometimes aren’t understood or Huggy
sometimes aren’t understood or Huggy
sometimes aren’t understood or Huggy were kissing we love each other I
were kissing we love each other I
were kissing we love each other I remembered we had a community
remembered we had a community
remembered we had a community conversation in southern Delaware and
conversation in southern Delaware and
conversation in southern Delaware and this young man went to the doctor’s talk
this young man went to the doctor’s talk
this young man went to the doctor’s talk about trust relationships and they went
about trust relationships and they went
about trust relationships and they went to the doctor’s office and he was
to the doctor’s office and he was
to the doctor’s office and he was hurting with toothache and he said
hurting with toothache and he said
hurting with toothache and he said porfavor please and his broken nation
porfavor please and his broken nation
porfavor please and his broken nation can you help me that receptionist please
can you help me that receptionist please
can you help me that receptionist please take a seat
take a seat
take a seat he waited all day long so the very end
he waited all day long so the very end
he waited all day long so the very end when they were getting ready to close
when they were getting ready to close
when they were getting ready to close reception to ask how can I help you
lost that trust we suffered through a
lost that trust we suffered through a poverty of cycle see when you’re poor
poverty of cycle see when you’re poor
poverty of cycle see when you’re poor when I was growing up in Brooklyn you
when I was growing up in Brooklyn you
when I was growing up in Brooklyn you know New York my toys were a popsicle
know New York my toys were a popsicle
know New York my toys were a popsicle stick with the other boys racing him
stick with the other boys racing him
stick with the other boys racing him down the gutter when they turned a fire
down the gutter when they turned a fire
down the gutter when they turned a fire hydrant on or when they rained or we
hydrant on or when they rained or we
hydrant on or when they rained or we made our own guns with a wooden stick
made our own guns with a wooden stick
made our own guns with a wooden stick and a rubber band that was clipped at
and a rubber band that was clipped at
and a rubber band that was clipped at the very end we stretched it I had a
the very end we stretched it I had a
the very end we stretched it I had a clothespin
clothespin
clothespin hanger and then we put pop sticks caps
hanger and then we put pop sticks caps
hanger and then we put pop sticks caps at the end and we were shooted at each
at the end and we were shooted at each
at the end and we were shooted at each other that’s the safest toy but that’s
other that’s the safest toy but that’s
other that’s the safest toy but that’s what we did that’s what we had but when
what we did that’s what we had but when
what we did that’s what we had but when it comes to a choice a young man that he
it comes to a choice a young man that he
it comes to a choice a young man that he asked when he grows up and he has to
asked when he grows up and he has to
asked when he grows up and he has to decide where did they go to college or
decide where did they go to college or
decide where did they go to college or feed his family and go work as what the
feed his family and go work as what the
feed his family and go work as what the choice is pretty easy because he decides
choice is pretty easy because he decides
choice is pretty easy because he decides the supported family rather to get a
the supported family rather to get a
the supported family rather to get a college education and then that cycle of
college education and then that cycle of
college education and then that cycle of poverty and that mentality still exists
poverty and that mentality still exists
poverty and that mentality still exists in our community and we need to be able
in our community and we need to be able
in our community and we need to be able to break that we need to be able to
to break that we need to be able to
to break that we need to be able to provide those wraparound services
provide those wraparound services
provide those wraparound services programs such as Stand By Me that
programs such as Stand By Me that
programs such as Stand By Me that empowers stand by me Spano that have
empowers stand by me Spano that have
empowers stand by me Spano that have individuals that can reach out to these
individuals that can reach out to these
individuals that can reach out to these families and provide them with home
families and provide them with home
families and provide them with home ownership preparing for college give
ownership preparing for college give
ownership preparing for college give those individuals opportunities
those individuals opportunities
those individuals opportunities resources that are much needed becomes a
resources that are much needed becomes a
resources that are much needed becomes a sense of hopelessness and despair and
sense of hopelessness and despair and
sense of hopelessness and despair and thank God for my family sacrifice that I
thank God for my family sacrifice that I
thank God for my family sacrifice that I was able to avoid that see when I was
was able to avoid that see when I was
was able to avoid that see when I was growing up in New York she I remember
growing up in New York she I remember
growing up in New York she I remember being asked do you want to join a gang
being asked do you want to join a gang
being asked do you want to join a gang or going to school and ducking because
or going to school and ducking because
or going to school and ducking because bullets are flying in the neighborhood
bullets are flying in the neighborhood
bullets are flying in the neighborhood or being held down with a switchblade
or being held down with a switchblade
or being held down with a switchblade because they’re stealing the very last
because they’re stealing the very last
because they’re stealing the very last toy that you had that was my life I
toy that you had that was my life I
toy that you had that was my life I understood what that was
financial empowerment 2014 we had our
financial empowerment 2014 we had our first Latino summit here in Delaware and
first Latino summit here in Delaware and
first Latino summit here in Delaware and we hear many Latinos who attended and
we hear many Latinos who attended and
we hear many Latinos who attended and you heard those voices we did the train
you heard those voices we did the train
you heard those voices we did the train by cell survey and the voices you heard
by cell survey and the voices you heard
by cell survey and the voices you heard is we want good jobs we want a good
is we want good jobs we want a good
is we want good jobs we want a good education we want equality we want to
education we want equality we want to
education we want equality we want to contribute to society we don’t want to
contribute to society we don’t want to
contribute to society we don’t want to receive we want to give back we want
receive we want to give back we want
receive we want to give back we want representation and it’s so important and
representation and it’s so important and
representation and it’s so important and you see what the graphic artist drew
you see what the graphic artist drew
you see what the graphic artist drew here it draws a picture of hope a
here it draws a picture of hope a
here it draws a picture of hope a picture of dream of vision and the Bible
picture of dream of vision and the Bible
picture of dream of vision and the Bible says that my people perish because of
says that my people perish because of
says that my people perish because of lack of vision Latinos do have vision
lack of vision Latinos do have vision
lack of vision Latinos do have vision see financial empowerment allows you to
see financial empowerment allows you to
see financial empowerment allows you to plan and dream for the future whereas
plan and dream for the future whereas
plan and dream for the future whereas poverty makes you react to the present
poverty makes you react to the present
poverty makes you react to the present and remind you of your past struggles
and remind you of your past struggles
and remind you of your past struggles but if you take that dream seed like my
but if you take that dream seed like my
but if you take that dream seed like my father’s story and you basically make
father’s story and you basically make
father’s story and you basically make the sacrifices for your children in
the sacrifices for your children in
the sacrifices for your children in education it’s a planned process that
education it’s a planned process that
education it’s a planned process that it’s a mindset that you have to change
it’s a mindset that you have to change
it’s a mindset that you have to change to get out of poverty with the support
to get out of poverty with the support
to get out of poverty with the support and help of organizations such as the
and help of organizations such as the
and help of organizations such as the ones we have established here in
ones we have established here in
ones we have established here in woman–the in the Latin American
woman–the in the Latin American
woman–the in the Latin American community center or the one down south
community center or the one down south
community center or the one down south lies pedasi in Delaware that have
lies pedasi in Delaware that have
lies pedasi in Delaware that have coaches of Stand By Me is final
coaches of Stand By Me is final
coaches of Stand By Me is final that gives us individuals opportunity
that gives us individuals opportunity
that gives us individuals opportunity then you can cultivate that seed you
then you can cultivate that seed you
then you can cultivate that seed you nourish it and it bears fruit
”
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