Writer in Louisville, Kentucky

Imagine if you were raised in Mexico before coming to the United States where you were used to getting up at 4:00 a.m. in the morning just so you would be the first in your family of four siblings to get to use the one towel you shared with your family while it was still dry. And, you would also find the good pieces of cardboard that you would slip into your shoes to cover the holes worn in them—taking out the worn, torn remnants of the day before.  One day (after 3 days without eating) I ventured out into the neighborhood where I came upon an outdoor restaurant and a team of American baseball players. One of the tall, blonde-haired Americans noticed me as I watched them eating their lunch when, at that moment, my stomach ached with pangs of hunger—as I stared at the leftovers on the plate. The American motioned to me to take his leftover food, but the burning pain in my stomach stopped me from taking the plate and there was a silent pause as we made eye contact. At that moment, the piece of cardboard in the sole of my shoe slipped back exposing the hole and my foot touched the hard ground below and, feeling embarrassed, I turning around, shuffling my foot—running, swallowing my pride—all the way home. When you experience life’s adversities at an early age, you learn to survive and it gives you a sense of real pride. Today, I am very proud of some of the noteworthy accomplishments I have achieved in my life as a marketing/advertising/PR professional living here in Louisville, Kentucky: 2017: Voted no. 4 among Insider Louisville’s “Top 100 Marketing/Advertising Influencers in Louisville” 2016: Service For Peace “Man Up” Award for Community Leadership 2015: Adelante Hispanic Achievers’ Board Champion Award for 10 Years of Service 2014: The Lyman T. Johnson Community Leader Award by Louisville Central Community Centers 2013: Adelante Hispanic Achievers’ Center For NonProfit Excellence PYRAMID Award for Board Governance 2012: Leadership Louisville Community Connector 2010: JFCS MOSAIC 2010 Community Leader Award