LATISM National Conference 2011 & My 20 Minutes of Fame
Andy Warhol famously said that we each get 15 minutes of fame. Well, I got 20 minutes of fame this past week, which I’ll explain in a moment. But more importantly, I basked in 3 days of relentless inspiration, love and energy from influential and passionate Latinos from all across North America at the LATISM (Latinos in Social Media) National Conference in Chicago this past week. Those who attended may not have seen me much prior to my 20 minutes but I was blessed to have worked in “la famosa sala 328” (The Famous room 328) at Chicago’s Navy Pier in the conference logistics room… aka – The War Room!
With the lovely Lynn Ponder (@Ponderful) & el Jefe Rebelde Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) during a break.
Now, if I were to start naming names, I would forget someone, which I don’t want to do but many of the two dozen or so conference workers and organizers were my brothers and sisters this week. This core group of conference workers, bound together by a common desire to ensure smooth conference function and transition, started our days at 7am and ended our days between 10pm and 12am during the conference. But you know what? I would gladly do it again this week if given the opportunity! Two days after returning home to Kansas City, I feel an elation and emotional connection with the palpable spirit that dominated the conference. When you consider that the #LATISM movement is only two years old, you can’t help but be excited for the future!
Now, for my 20 minutes. I had the marvelous opportunity to deliver one workshop and prepare another. The workshop I delivered, Twitter 102 – Managing your Tweetflow, offered me an opportunity to do what I love and feel I do best: Share my passion for helping others better understand how technology can enrich their lives. The energy in the room was great; my attendees were engaged. We streamed the workshop live online and even engaged #LATISM Twitter followers online during the workshop, which really did wonders to drive home the points we were covering. I have been asked to make the notes from that workshop available online as well as the ‘Cracker-Jack’ surprise extra gift I brought attendees: my notes for the Google 101 – Mastering the Art of Google-Fu that I had prepared as a backup workshop. Here are links to both primers, as promised:
- Google 101 Workshop Handout: 20111012_Workshop_Google 101_TOV
- Twitter 102 Workshop Handout: 20111109_Workshop_Twitter102_TOV
I know I said I wouldn’t mention names but I do want to go on record to very publicly thank the lovely Ana Roca Castro, Elianne Ramos and the rest of the amazing group within the LATISM leadership team for allowing me to to attend the conference and form part of a cause that is so much larger than myself or any other singular member or friend of the Latino community in this great country. To attend this year’s conference, for me, has been to very tangibly realize that there is unity and purpose within our reach inside of a wonderfully diverse and rich cultural tapestry that we all form a part of. I am more proud than ever to actively form a part of the #LATISM movement and invite you to join us too, both now and in the future!
Here I am with a rowdy bunch: Luís Dieppa (@Ldieppa), Elma Placeres Dieppa (@Mzelma), La mama de Elma & the best dancer of the entire LATISM Gala Event, bar none, Brian Cockman (@Bcockman). Photo taken by amazing artist, Edwin Gil (@Edwingil). I was so blessed to enjoy time with these amazing people and invite you to join us at #LATISM '12 in Houston!
My Education Crossroads. A World of Opportunity
This article was included as one of the featured pieces during the 10/20/2011 #LATISM Twitter Party: EDÚCATE – Transforming Higher Education.
My story is a simple one but it’s not an uncommon tale, as there are many Latinos in the U.S. who will relate with this story. I was born in the heart of the U.S. to a multi-cultural family, exposed to different languages and cultures from birth and later chose the path of becoming an immigrant myself.
My family migrated from the northern border town of Guadalupe Bravos in Chihuahua, Mexico in an effort to flee violence in that region a few of generations ago, stayed in the heartland to help build the railroads and connect the East to the West, returned to Mexico during the Great Depression and later returned to Kansas City to stay. As a matter of fact, many forget that the U.S. was connected via rail largely thanks to the back-breaking work of Mexican, Italian, Irish and Asian immigrants.
I was fortunate during my upbringing in that my parents encouraged me to try my hand at whatever I was passionate about. This freedom coupled with an amazingly constant blue collar example of hard work and perseverance offered me a blueprint that has served me very well throughout my life. Many who know me today, think of me as an engineer and a technologist first but I actually attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City on a full-ride music and academic scholarship. My original intent was to study music education. However, an internship at my part-time job with GE Capital locally sent me down a different path, though I celebrate and value my experience in both the arts and sciences. This combination has helped me become an unusually effective and innovative technologist.
Toward the end of my studies, I met my wife of seventeen years and mother of our two children. Let me be honest. I married up. Way up! We were blessed that, four years into our marriage, we followed an opportunity to work and live in Madrid, the city of my wife’s birth. It was there that I refined my native fluency with the Spanish language, completed my graduate studies in Computer Information Systems at, arguably, the most prestigious Spanish language university in the world and blossomed into the innovative, technological problem solver that has allowed me to ‘pay the bills.’
All of this wouldn’t likely have been possible, and most certainly never have been as fulfilling and complete had it not been for the privilege of carrying the dreams, hope and constant impulse of my family with me along this journey. To this day, every time I see him, my father ends every visit we share by telling me with awe-inspiring sincerety: “I’m proud of you, son.” This embarrasses me and I feel unworthy of such praise as it is he who has always inspired me, but it always makes me feel amazing! Honest, I’ve never seen him quit or give up… at ANYTHING! I desire to set the same example for my children.
And this is my message to those youth who I now try to encourage to follow suit. You are part of a larger cause and you are not alone. Literally millions support you and remain ready and willing to help you along your own journey to educate yourself and turn this world upside down with the amazing gifts you have to offer. ¡Ánimo… os acompañamos; os apoyamos!
Poseso,
Tony
A new day; A new reason for Purpose & Unity: Sept. 11 & LATISM
As published on 9/11/2011 on the LATISM.org blog.
10 years ago today, I was working hard during the late afternoon hours from within the Alcatel Wireline laboratories in Villaverde, one of the southern most of the 21 districts that compose the automonous community of Madrid in Spain. I was well-known at the Research & Development hub for Alcatel for working hard, too hard; como un estadounidense típico. I delighted in conducting my daily symphony of operating 4 to 5 servers in concert as I conducted my quality testing batteries on telecommunication management equipment alongside my Spanish co-workers. My colleagues would poke light fun at me but this was all just part of our daily “buen rollo” (good vibes). September 11, 2001 changed all of that though.
I remember perfectly well when I perceived a tangible & heavy weight of concern coming toward me as five co-workers approached me to ask me if I had heard “The News.” One of these co-workers, Miguel Ángel, would later be killed himself while
coming to work 2.5 years later in the Madrid train bombings on March 11, 2004. Life can be so cruel and unfair. It was then and remains a reminder that we should always live every day to the fullest and love those around us with all our might. Of course, this all occured before the proliferation of the Social Media age and Google Reader was still 6 years from hitting the market. I had NO idea what they were referring to.
My world just stopped once I heard the news. Now, I’m from the mid-west and don’t have family in New York. However, I do have a dear family member who works in the heart of Washington D.C. so I was desperately concerned for my family as well as my country of birth. Do you know what most marked me about this experience? It wasn’t what the medias were reporting on either side of the Atlantic. It was the love, compassion, concern and warmth that that overflowed in waves from my co-workers, my neighbors, my friends, my family. None of which were American citizens; all of which were residents from Spain but represented at least 8 Spanish speaking countries. We forged an eternal bond and they became my family that day. I leaned on them for support, comprehension, love and they gave willingly, expecting nothing in return.
I have not found anything comparable to this until the past year. During a period of professional transition, I made a decision to immerse myself in the Social Media age as a networking tool and received much more than I bargained for. And, of all the groups I have met and forged a relationship with, none have been as open, warm and supportive as the LATISM community & family (standing for: Latinos in Social Media). LATISM is a not for profit, online group of passionate social media leaders who are unwaveringly committed to helping create online and offline unity for the 55 Million plus Latinos in the US and beyond! Whether it’s collecting books for libraries in need, helping reconstruction efforts in hurricane ravaged Haiti or attending the White House to offer perspectives on the education needs for our youth, LATISM is there and makes a difference in the world around us. I feel the same warmth from this group, the same strong emotional bond; unconditional love and support that I felt 10 years ago today!
But I’ve been missing something additional! Online support & encouragement is fantastic but I have yet to have the opportunity to thank my LATISM friends & familia in person; have yet to hug these friends who have supported me unconditionally and compassionately as I’ve aimed to find my social media voice and use this space to promote social good. Fortunately though, I will soon finally get that opportunity. From November 9 through 11, I will be travelling to Chicago to take part in The LATISM 2011 National Conference! I am so excited, I feel like Paulo Coehlo in the journey he takes in his story: The Pilgrimage.
If you are a LATINO or simply interested in supporting LATINO issues, you should absolutely follow the #latism hashtag on Twitter and make plans to attend this event. Online support & encouragement is fantastic but I can’t wait to thank my LATISM friends & familia in person.
Poseso,
Tony
- The boy and I stopped by to watch the Spring Tournament. Man do I miss watching his big sis play! @anissa_m_vargas http://t.co/R3vq2Fr9
- The tonytorero Daily is out! http://t.co/25vTBFKd ▸ Top stories today via @silvermaneman
- “@Juanofwords: Raising a Bilingual Kid: Getting Your Kids to Buy Into español #latism #parenting #dad #bicultural http://t.co/8zHoHblO”
RSS Feed- LATISM National Conference 2011 & My 20 Minutes of Fame
- My Education Crossroads. A World of Opportunity
- A new day; A new reason for Purpose & Unity: Sept. 11 & LATISM
- Protecting Your WiFi Network For Your Family
- Make Time to Show Social Media Who’s Boss!