Carlos Ramirez, UNM, Los Alamos' executive director, gave a Hispanic Heritage Month talk on the importance of education Tuesday at the Materials Science Laboratory Auditorium. Inset: Hispanic Diversity Working Group chairperson Senaida Martinez of Internal Security (ISEC) presented Ramirez a certificate of appreciation after the talk. Photos by Ed Vigil, Public Affairs
Hispanics and Latinos are underrepresented in many professions not because of a lack of work ethic or desire for education, but because of the many issues they encounter outside work, said Carlos Ramirez, executive director of the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos. Ramirez spoke Tuesday on the importance and value of education in New Mexico as part of this year's national Hispanic Heritage Month observance at the Lab.
"Hispanic Americans: Honoring our Past, Surpassing our Present and Leading our Future," is this year's theme. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationally from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Ramirez began his talk by providing the audience with a historical perspective on a few of New Mexico's larger than life heroes such as Father Martinez of Taos, Territorial N.M. Gov. Miguel Otero, historian and author, Benjamin Reed and U. S. Sen. Dennis Chavez.
Ramirez elaborated on Chavez's life because of the former senator's many diverse accomplishments in New Mexico's Hispanic community and because Chavez was Ramirez's great uncle. Chavez was born into a poor family in Los Chavez located between Belen and Los Lunas. His father died when he was 13, forcing Chavez to work to support the family. Chavez struggled, but his strong work ethic and desire to become educated led to a law degree from Georgetown University. He returned to New Mexico in 1920, establishing a law practice in Albuquerque. Eventually, Chavez became a state legislator. "He was a populist; he believed in the common people, he mixed and he was down-to-earth," said Ramirez.
Chavez served two terms in the State Legislature and was a strong advocate for Native American issues. In 1934, he ran against Bronson Cutting for the U.S. Senate. Two years later then-Gov. Clyde Tingley appointed Chavez a U.S. senator after Cutting's sudden death. Chavez served as senator until his own death in 1962.
Ramirez said Chavez was a spokesman for all Latinos serving as an ambassador to Latin America. He was a strong supporter for the United States' entry into NATO and was the fourth ranking member in seniority before his death, Ramirez said. He also was the only Spanish speaking person in the senate at that time and the first to advocate in Congress for the Fair Employment Practice Bill. Chavez's statue is on display in the Rotunda in Washington, D.C., Ramirez proudly said.
"World peace cannot become reality unless men are able to exercise their basic rights without discrimination because of race or creed," Ramirez quoted Chavez as saying.
"Chavez hobnobbed with royalty, popes, heads-of-state, but he always maintained his constituency here in New Mexico," said Ramirez. "He never forgot who elected him, never," he added.
Tying into the importance and value of education is a known fact that Hispanics and Latinos still find themselves underrepresented in many professions. This occurs not because of a lack of work ethic or desire for education, but instead because individuals must sacrifice a lot for education, Ramirez said. "Many of these individuals are working full or part-time while attending classes and also have family responsibilities," he said.
"It's a tragedy that in the U.S. there is an increase in segregation not only in high school, but in higher education," he said. "The bulk of Latinos are attending a two-year institution not funded at the same level and receiving segregated education in K-12 and in post-secondary," Ramirez said.
Ramirez also said, "More collaborative efforts with the Laboratory are needed so that in the long run the demographic profile can be changed at all levels. The Lab hasn't done enough locally to promote science and engineering; aggressive recruiting is what's needed. Give us the resources and we can train people—they're knocking to come in."
Ramirez has served as executive director for the UNM-Los Alamos branch campus since 1989. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from San Francisco State University, his master's degree in political science from UNM and his doctorate in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Ramirez's talk was sponsored by the Laboratory's Hispanic Diversity Working Group and the Diversity (DVO) Office.
The working group's closing event will feature educator and musician, Arsenio Cordova talking about "Culture, Traditions and our Responsibilities to Preserve Them" from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the Physics Building Auditorium at Technical Area 3.
For more information, go to the Hispanic Heritage Month Web site at http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/dvo/hdwg/hhm/hhmonth03.htm online.