Impact of position in the community: As Director of Ohio Latino Affairs, I run an agency that is directly responsible for advising policy makers and elected officials on issues facing Hispanic Ohioans; connecting the diverse Latino communities with resources, agencies; and each other, building the capacity of Latino-community serving organizations. This state budget cycle we are working on economic development initiatives with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce through our Project OPEN program. We are identifying solutions to the challenges Latino students face in the area of education through our Soluciones Education Campaign, and we are helping to strengthen Latino community groups in the areas of grant-writing skills and policy advocacy through our Grassroots Initiatives. We also maintain a web site with a wealth of resources for community leaders and organizations to use in their projects and advocacy efforts.

Alpha Psi Lambda and personal development: Alpha Psi Lambda gave me an opportunity to learn more about different people, different perspectives, and the diversity WITHIN the Latino community. We are a tight-knit group of brothers and sisters, and just as with any family, you’ve got to learn to work together, deal with adversity, and accomplish meaningful goals together. Alpha Psi Lambda is different from other organizations because membership is for life, and the bonds created are very deep. That means that in order to be successful as a brother, as a leader, and as a Chapter President in my senior year, I had to really improve my listening skills, learn how to build a strong team with diverse people and skill sets, and sometimes I had to learn how to work with people I disagreed with, and even sometimes disliked.

Contribution to Alpha Psi Lambda: I would like to think that first, my years as an officer were marked by growth in membership, programs, unity, and also in our treasury, thanks to the hard work and leadership of my team — including Israel Najera, Tracy Najera (Salas-Lynch), Rosemarie Payne, Jean-Marx Mantilla, Chris Brandon, and so many others. Ohio State is the birthplace of Alpha Psi Lambda, so it was so important for us all to make sure that the first chapter, the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda, was also the strongest. Our unique chapter motto is: Primus Inter Pares — first among equals. Since graduation, I have been involved in half-a-dozen National Conferences, served as chair/moderator of the National Convention just as many times, and have delivered leadership workshops to our undergraduate members. Most recently, I served as OSU Chapter Advisor between 2001 and 2005.

Special memory: My most special memories of Alpha Psi Lambda are still being made! Sure, I have many memories of projects, parties, dancing, and road trips as an undergrad. But my closest friends today are my sisters and brothers of Alpha Psi Lambda. We get together regularly and spend time with each other (and our children, too!) We have played a role in each other’s weddings (rarely, but occasionally, as spouse!); we have been godparents to each other’s children; and we have been co-workers and co-community leaders. One of my favorite memories goes back two years when I had the challenging task of defending our agency’s budget before a legislative committee at the Ohio Statehouse. I looked around the room and saw a senior analyst from the Office of Budget & Management, a gubernatorial appointee serving as a member of a state government commission, a legislative liaison for the Department of Public Safety, and a policy liaison for our agency — all of them Latinas — all of them sisters of Alpha Psi Lambda – and three out of four of them were also former Chapter Presidents just like me! That gave me so much pride to think that these special people were able to polish and hone their leadership skills, discover abilities they did not know about, and learn things they did not know — all because they ARE a part of Alpha Psi Lambda. That cannot be a coincidence — I have not seen that many other Latino alumni from Ohio State so deeply involved with conviction in community leadership posts across Central Ohio. Something brought us together, and who knows what it was… but Alpha Psi Lambda has kept us together through time and change.

Message to students: Don’t be afraid to try new things or to learn new things, because you never know what skills and experiences are going to offer you the most “return on investment” for the future. The experiences that have served me the most, are also the ones I LEAST expected to be so beneficial. Don’t be afraid to take risks, to launch impossible projects, to aim high and work hard. The only time you stop growing is when you decide you are done growing.

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Florentina Staigers, J.D.

1. To provide advisory services and information to the governor, general assembly and state departments regarding the problems/challenges and solutions of the Latino community,
2. To introduce state programs that enhance the effectiveness of government in meeting the needs of Latinos,
3. Provide research regarding policy affecting Latinos in Ohio, and
4. To increase channels of communication between government and Latinos to ensure their access to decision-making bodies in government.

An example of how this has an impact on the community is Senate Bill 260, which would allow local law enforcement agencies to enforce immigration law, and House Bill 477, which would declare English as the official language of Ohio government. For more information on these bills, visit http://ochla.ohio.gov/ohla/reports.aspx. These bills would have a tremendous influence on the Latino community. Thus, my job is to ensure that the Latino community is aware of the impact of these bills and that their concerns and opinions reach the Governor and Legislature. More broadly, I don’t want to just inform the Latino community about the bills and other state policy that may affect them, but instead help empower them by educating them about the bill processes. Ultimately, I want the Latino community to be able to understand the legislative process, obtain information about legislation, and be able to appropriately respond if necessary. This would apply to not only legislation with which the Latino community has concerns, such as the above bills, but also to legislation that would positively impact the Latino community.

Alpha Psi Lambda and personal development: Alpha Psi Lambda helped ingrain in me a commitment to involvement in the Latino community. I grew up in a very small town where I didn’t know other Latinos. So I had a lot to learn not only about myself, my heritage, and the diversity of Latinos, but also where I fit into all that. It was the fraternity that helped me find my place in the Latino community on campus, which then translated into a commitment to continued involvement in the Columbus Latino community. Additionally, being part of the group taught me a lot of work and interpersonal skills that I was able to use in employment positions after I graduated.

Contribution to Alpha Psi Lambda: I was President of Alpha Psi Lambda during my senior year. During that time, I always stressed the importance of academic goals. I didn’t want my fraternity brothers and sisters to view going to college as something that they were just getting through, but rather, as an opportunity to prove to themselves how much they could do, how far they could go. And I pushed them to look even further. A college degree is just the first step in the process. So, I hope that I helped to strengthen that message among my fraternity brothers and sisters.

Special Memory: There are so many special memories that I have from Alpha Psi Lambda activities and events that I can’t pinpoint one. I met all of my closest friends in the fraternity. Even though I have met other friends at jobs, or even in law school, nothing compares to the strength and endurance of the friendships that I made in Alpha Psi Lambda. The fraternity brought us together, and then the experiences we had in the organization and the amount of time we spent together made our bonds even stronger.

Message to students: I encourage any student to become involved in a student organization. It helps you become more grounded as you grow as a person in college. The people you meet and the activities in which you are involved aid you in the process of self-discovery so that you are more assured of the important life decisions you face in college. Additionally, the experiences, work and interpersonal skills you gain are integral to becoming a well-rounded person so that you can work in a variety of jobs and environment.

For more info on the Public Policy Center, visit
http://ochla.ohio.gov/ohla/publicpolicy.aspx.

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Impact of position in the community: I specifically work to engage new and diverse audiences to the various programs the Wexner Center offers. In particular, I have worked directly with the Latino community to build an awareness of the various Spanish language films and Latino-themed programming we feature throughout the year including the annual Cinema Latino series we host.

Alpha Psi Lambda in your personal development: Alpha Psi Lambda was instrumental in my personal development. It was through the leadership and organizational skills that I learned in the fraternity that I am able to effectively plan and organize events and maintain my network of contacts. My involvement also allowed me to develop a network of community contacts which have proven essential in my current line of work.

Contribution to Alpha Psi Lambda: As treasurer and then President I was able to effectively position the fraternity for growth and expansion in many different ways. It was under my leadership that we created the signature Y Tú, Quien Eres? series, the Unas Palabritas event and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women programming, all of which continue to this day. During those two years I was also able to effectively fundraise for all of the various programs and events that we organized.

Special memory: I have many special memories of Alpha Psi Lambda, the majority of which occurred during my intake process. The fraternity has had a lasting impression in many different ways and remains one of the highlights of my collegiate career.

Message to students: I cannot stress how important it is that students get involved and develop their leadership skills while in college. It is the perfect time to do this because it allows you to learn to work with others who are different than you and gives you the chance to grow and develop.

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Impact position in the community: The Office of Budget and Management is responsible for assisting the administration in the development of the biennial state budget and once the budget has passed is charged with implementing policy and budget priorities of the administration and ensuring efficient use of taxpayer dollars. I believe that I have an impact in that I interact with people everyday that are not like me — that are not Latino — and hopefully I am a positive representative of Latinos in general.

Alpha Psi Lambda and personal development: I pledged the fraternity during Winter quarter 1995 and did it mainly to meet new people and get involved in the university community. I can honestly say I received more than I bargained for. I made wonderful friends, many of whom I remain close to. I served as President during my junior year and learned many difficult life lessons about leadership, negotiating trying situations, and the importance of empathy. It provided a very supporting learning lab for me and I carried many of those lessons to graduate school and to my professional life.

Contribution to Alpha Psi Lambda: I don’t believe that there was much that I did as an individual, but as a group of motivated students we accomplished quite a lot. During my tenure as President, the fraternity was invited to participate in welcome week activities, which my good friend and pledge line sister, Paula Gonzalez, organized for new students and as a result the fraternity experienced a lot of positive exposure. That year the fraternity also hosted its 15th year celebration formal under the leadership of Francis Quinones and Monica Carrillo. As Treasurer, Ken Kilty was instrumental in making sure we were on sound financial footing. Stephen Martinez, who is now Dr. Martinez, DVM, served as Internal Vice President and as interim President providing critical leadership to the membership. Renee Sandoval provided outstanding recruitment and education of two pledge classes which resulted in twelve new members that year. Of course, friends in the fraternity like Sheila Kilty Barnhart, Delia Torres, Carlos Rivera, Veronica Walter, Abby Sevenberger Suarez, Kathy Black, David Rodriguez, Omar Alvarado, Rosemarie Payne, Ezra Escudero, Jean-Marx Mantilla, and Maria Menchaca-Howell reminded us all to take a moment to enjoy life and have fun — which is what it’s all about.

Special memory: My fondest memories of the fraternity include attending annual conventions as a delegate setting national policy for the fraternity, making wonderful friends from across the country that I still keep in touch with, and of course meeting my husband. I look back on my experiences and can honestly say that the friendships and the mentoring from the alumni including our beloved advisory Frank Gencur, greatly contributed to the person that I am today. The lessons learned about time management, responsibility, maintaining a positive outlook, and team work were critical in my development.

Message to students: Involvement in student activities and the soft skills learned outside of the classroom are critical for future success. Outside of the fraternity, I was also involved with ¿Qué Pasa, OSU?, the University-wide Council of Hispanic Organizations, and the Hispanic Oversight Committee. These experiences also reinforced lessons learned and added to the richness of my experiences at the Ohio State University. There are very few places, outside of a student organization, where one can be afforded the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them. College is truly what you make of it and your experiences during your time in higher education outside of the classroom are just as important as being successful in the classroom. Bottom line — enjoy what you do and have fun while making a difference.

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Impact of position in the community: Our mission is to connect Hispanic business and professionals to the Greater Columbus business community.

Alpha Psi Lambda in your personal development: Alpha Psi Lambda got me involved in the Columbus community. I always thought I would leave Columbus right after graduation. Though I still hope to go back to Texas, I have roots here and am connected to the community from a social and political aspect.

Contribution to Alpha Psi Lambda: I was involved with Alpha Psi Lambda since I was a freshman. I held many leadership position, have helped recruit, and was involved in development of the Beta chapter, and continue to promote Alpha Psi Lambda when possible at work and in the community.

Special memory: I met several of my current friends and I do not think I would be here if it were not for them. Perhaps the Latino games held at IU (Indianapolis) and all of our trips to get Beta Chapter on board, are some of my fondest memories. We did a lot of road trips and had time to bond.

Message to students: College can be a very lonely place if you let it; getting involved with an organization like Alpha Psi Lambda will connect you nationally and worldwide.

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Impact of position in the community: My current position is specific to veterans in Ohio. I work with the General Assembly to create and form new state legislation. I use this experience to help the Hispanic community in Ohio.

Alpha Psi Lambda in your personal development: I learned so much from the other members about life, work, leadership, and how all of them run together. Individually, if I ever had a problem, I knew I could find someone to talk to about it and I would always get an honest answer. As a group, we had such a strong philanthropy push that it has stayed with me through today. For me, putting time into my community has taught me what it means to be a volunteer and a leader. I also learned Robert’s Rules of Order, which is extremely helpful working with the General Assembly.

Contribution to Alpha Psi Lambda: I was a Dean of Education for a quarter, and I am very proud of the pledge class that crossed under me. All of them went on to leadership within the chapter and helped spread the word about Alpha Psi Lambda and Hispanic awareness and education.

Special memory: Pledging! My line brothers and sisters were my family. When I needed to laugh or have a shoulder to cry on, they were there and they still are for those same things.

Message to students: My time with Alpha Psi Lambda was key. Walking into college, I didn’t know what it was like to be part of something larger than me and I was a little scared of it. What if I failed, what if I let people down? All that faded when I joined the fraternity. The other members mentored me, and eventually I was not intimidated by leadership and large tasks, I was empowered by them.

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