Latinos in the Capitol
BBC Mundo (Translated)
Friday, August 3, 2007
By, Lourdes Heredia

Strength, hope and inspiration.  These three words summarize the experiences of Casey Edwards, one of 34 Latinos who worked in the US Congress this summer as part of their internship program.

"It wasn’t easy, but I am leaving with lots of dreams because I know that we can leave our mark.  We can contribute to improving things in our communities,” said Casey in a meeting with the other students to mark the end of their internships.  

This June, all of them came from different places throughout the United States to work in congressional offices.  Esther Aguilera, President of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), told BBC that the program is highly regarded by the Members of Congress.  

"The Members of Congress and their offices look to us, they know that these young people are hard working, have a lot of determination and are very active.  They also know that these are very good students and represent an important voice in the United States,” said Aguilera.

Even though they are from different cities, colleges and career tracks, all of them have something in common; they are Latinos. 

“We face many prejudices.  You know, people say that Latinas marry very young, that pursuing a college degree is not a priority for us, and things like that.  But we are here to show that this is not true; if we are given an opportunity to study we can go very far, including the U.S. Congress,” said Linda Vasquez, a political science student at California State University.   

According to the CHCI President, one of the most important lessons that students take back with them is that Congress belongs to everybody.

“We are as American as we are Latinos.  We are very proud of our culture.  Appreciating our culture enriches us; it is not an obstacle.  As we come here, they also understand that this is our House.  We have the same rights and the same opportunities as any other American working on national issues,” said Esther Aguilera. 

According to Sasha Moreno, a student from the University of North Texas, it is even more important to demonstrate that they were there based on their own merits.

“We were chosen, not only because we are Latinos, but because we are capable.  We have studied hard, and we have overcome many obstacles,” said Moreno.

Not Only Receiving, but Giving Back

For Michael Vargas, who dreams of becoming a congressman in the future, what matters are not the stereotypes, but what they contribute to make a difference.

"I come from the Rio Grande area; I live in a place very close to the border.  When I arrived here, I realized that many people spoke about the immigration issue without understanding the reality of the situation.  We can contribute to make the dialogue a more constructive one,” said Vargas. 

As they hug and say goodbye with promises of keeping in touch, nearby Congress wraps up its session before leaving for the summer recess.

"My dream is that the voice of every American is heard, regardless of their origin.  If I achieve my dream of becoming a legislator, I will keep in mind that I am in Congress to speak for my community,” said Vargas, the first in his family to attend college.