a walk in their shoes
DESCRIPTION
What better way to start learning about U.S. history than to witness a conference during veteran´s day! We went back in time and stepped out of our own realities for two hours and walked in the shoes of the code talker himself: Chester Nez.TRANSCRIPT
felt personal because it was a
lesson about life not about war,
a lesson on how to make deci-
sions, how to face your reality,
about team work and not giving
up.
One of his answers to a ques-
tions from the audience: “It was
an honor to serve my country and to
have come out alive. Even at this age.
If I´m asked to do it again, I will”.
My batteries were recharged for
life by this small man that just
happens to have the biggest
heart, with an awesome story
that made history.
What better way to start learning
about U.S. history than to witness
a conference during veteran´s day!
We went back in time and stepped
out of our own realities for two
hours and walked in the shoes of
the code talker himself: Chester
Nez. We heard his story and how
he and other 28 code talkers
helped assure victory for the Unit-
ed States over Japan in the South
Pacific during WWII. No one in
the audience could ever fill in
those shoes. I will never be so
close to history as I was that day.
An inspiring story about a native
American who faced discrimina-
tion, injustice and survival, who
felt love, patriotism and courage.
Even to me , a total outsider of
this country, it felt personal, it was
not my war, nor my beliefs, I
wasn´t even born yet, and it still
Starting with the right foot
“A Walk in Their Shoes”
DECEMBER 16TH, 2013 EVELYN MENESES CASTRO´S NEWSLETTER
ISSUE # 2
Veteran´s Day Tribute. Chester Nez,
the last living Navajo code talker
Visiting rotarían @ Stevens Point Rotary Club
Being a Rotarian myself, former secretary to my
home club: “Club Rotario Las Brumas Jinotega”, it
was a must to visit the local rotary club meeting. I
was invited by Mr. Terrald Arnold, member and
honorary past president of the Stevens Point Rotary
Club. A meeting in which the Stevens Point mayor
was a guest speaker (now that was different from
where I come from).
A club under the leadership of a women as presi-
dent, with half the members, female, and filled with
Rotarian spirit.
I learned about their volunteer work, their projects,
and their enthusiasm for helping others in need
right there at home and abroad.
It is simply a nice rewarding feeling to be a Rotari-
an. Stevens Point Rotary Club meeting at Stevens Point Coun-
try Club
know that I am not alone
and that, yes we can, we are
able to achieve our goals
without feeling guilty when
trying to raise a family while
achiev ing profess ional
growth.
Lesson learned: best practic-
es for developing and sup-
porting women as leaders.
Experiencing politics in the making
history teacher Elizabeth An-
derson, former teachers Judy
Ordens & Marilyn Slusarsky,
and the most inspiring lesson
came from Katie an 8-year old
that was sensible to the fact that
kids in Nicaragua lacked school
supplies and was able to raise
awareness and came up with her
very own backpack project.
It doesn´t matter where you live,
women always face challenges to
find that balance between a hap-
py family life and a successful
professional career. But I found
key common elements in all my
mentors: the passion for what
they believe in and the persever-
ance and determination to
achieve it.
I am specially thankful to all of
these women for letting me
Learning and Owning it: Women empowerment and leadership.
Experiencing cultural perspectives
and opportunities for women in the
United States was the most enjoya-
ble part of this fellowship for me.
Why? Simply because where I
come from, there are little opportu-
nities for women, even less oppor-
tunities if you´re over 40+.
I met with community leaders that
were mentors to me: Portage Coun-
ty Executive Pattie Dreier, Repre-
sentative to the State Assembly
Katrina Shankland, Wisconsin/
Nicaragua Partners Director Amy
Wiza, School of Health Promotion
& Human Development staff Lisa
Ebert, , UWSP Spanish Teacher
Anna Runnion, UWSP Emergency
Management Specialist Corrina
Neeb, small business manager Lori
Terril, Stevens Point Fire Depart-
ment Chief Tracey Kujawa,
SPASH Hispanic/Native American
Portage County Democratic Party. Executive
board meeting at Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Although I was able to identify a few adminis-
trative similarities, certainly the ways the USA
does politics is different from how is done in
Nicaragua. I was impressed to see the assem-
bly representative´s assistant account for the
work the democratic reps do at the state capi-
tol and for the county as well. There was an
announcement on senate bill 274, and how
rare it is for a bill introduced by a Democrat
to pass both houses controlled by Republi-
cans. It was also interesting how a regular
citizen just took the microphone and an-
nounced he would be running for office in
spring election (non-partisan). Back at
home, we do things differently. On the oth-
er hand, it was inspiring to hear Mrs. Barb
Gifford, a retired business owner and an
environmental protection advocate for the
Little Plover River.
Lesson learned: if I want to make a differ-
ence, I can´t just sit around and criticize. I
have to become more engaged in my com-
munity and try to develop a holistic plan to
improve its conditions.
Page 2 “A WALK IN THEIR SHOES”
There I am, under the dome,
sitting at the west wing gallery
witnessing my very first state
assembly, trying to overcome the
vertigo due to my fear of heights.
First order of business: a prayer
to the Lord asking for guidance
and the pledge to the flag of the
United States.
Before the agenda begin, there
were several announcements
made by the representatives who
where called out by the assembly
speaker not by their names but by
their seat chart number, and, oh
yes, all of the sudden I hear my
name! There she was, Katrina
Shankland announcing my partici-
pation in the legislative fellowship
program and my interest in learn-
ing about civic participation in the
law making process in the differ-
ent government levels. I have to
say it: it was cool.
It was indeed a very organized
and long meeting with an exten-
sive agenda. It ended about 2 am.
This experience was more signifi-
cant to me because of Katrina
Shankland, how young she is,
and what she stands for and
what she believes in. She is a
very eloquent, educated,
young politician who I
learned a lot from. She is the
author of senate bill 274 that
passed both houses controlled
by Republicans. This bill will
help 5,700 people with disa-
bilities find work through
career guidance and training,
job placement and transporta-
tion. Kudos to her on this
achievement.
Thank you Annika L. Petty
for arranging my visit to the
Wisconsin Capitol Assembly.
My passion for progressive values
like economic and social justice
and my concern about my com-
munity has driven me to think
about the possibility of someday
running for local office in my
country. This was the place to be
for identifying those leadership
skills required for the job: the
candidate training workshop. One
on one training from the sponsors
on the left on how to craft a cam-
paign plan that suits a candidate´s
abilities, their schedules and their
community.
Even though the political struc-
ture is different between Nicara-
gua and the USA, I was able to learn
how to coordinate a strategy, fund raise,
hire team staff , identify volunteers, and
to work on how to build an infrastruc-
ture that can support my ideas. Every-
thing from how to successful manage a
campaign to track donations, from
finance reporting to campaign messag-
ing.
Having a project management back-
ground, it all became so relatable to me.
I came out of that workshop feeling
empowered because I felt reassured I
have what it takes to be a leader but
most importantly I now have the tools
to make it happen.
Wisconsin Assembly at the State Capitol
Identifying my leadership skills
Page 3
Note to self:
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Jeff Smith. Regional Political Director.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Eric Couto . Program Director. Wisconsin
Progress
ason Sidener. Member Mobilization Coordi-
nator. Wisconsin Council 40 AFSCME
Top: Wisconsin State Capi-
tol in Madison: Its dome is
an exact replica to the
U.S. capitol dome in DC.
Right: Meeting with Katri-
na Shankland, a 27 yr
democrat representative
to the state assembly.
Wisconsin River. The most worked river in the USA. Along its banks
are hundreds of paper mills
WHAT´S WORK
WITHOUT PLAY?
Special thanks for their hospitality to:
Tom & Judy Ordens
Patrick Sinnot & Mary Vills
Donald & Marilyn´s Slusarsky
Brian & Amy Wiza
Dr. Mike Curtis & Sandy Curtis
Wisconsin Nicaragua Partners' staff, volun-teers & board members.
Anna Runnion & Rosalind Kealiher.