7QUESTIONS+PLUS

Yolanda Santos Adams was elected earlier this month to her fourth term as state director of League of United Latin American Citizens, but you’ve probably seen her around Kenosha in other capacities too. She tells us about why community involvement is so important to her, why she’s rooting for Barack Obama and what she would do if only she had a superpower.

Yolanda Santos Adams will now take your questions ...

Tell us a little about what you do as state director of League
of United Latin American Citizens. My responsibilities include upholding the National Constitution and Bylaws, presiding at all sessions of the State Executive Board, naming all State Committees and appointing State Officers. I also guide the newly formed councils and ensure they are meeting regularly and not working in conflict with or contrary to National LULAC.

What are your goals for your latest term as state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens? My goals for my final, fourth term as the LULAC State Director are to open new councils in Waukesha and Green Bay where residents have indicated they need a civil rights organization. Five new adult councils and a youth council have been formed since I was first elected State Director in 2004.

What are the biggest challenges facing LULAC? I believe the biggest challenge facing LULAC is the aging membership. LULAC is the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country with over 700 councils nationwide. In April 2007, the first LULAC Youth Council in the state was opened at South Division High School in Milwaukee.

What are the toughest issues facing Latinos in the Kenosha area? The toughest issues facing Latinos in the Kenosha area are the economic conditions, educational attainment and lack of healthcare. Political influence is lacking without Hispanic representation on the County Board, City Council or School Board. LULAC Council 320 members serve as advocates to fill this void.

Would you consider another run for the school board? In your view, what are some of the biggest challenges facing Kenosha Unified? Although I enjoyed school board service and miss the opportunities I had to set board policy, procedures and the budget, I believe you should "never go backwards" and must move forward. My time has come and gone for school board service, but I've encouraged others to run for this important office. I believe the biggest challenge facing the District continues to be improving the graduation rate followed by overcrowding in our high schools.

Which presidential candidates have interested you the most so far? Why? Barack Obama, the senator from Illinois, is my favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. He's a beacon of hope and yes, I do believe a black man can be elected president of the United States. His opposition to the war and support for comprehensive immigration reform are equal to mine. Hillary Clinton is my second choice.

Who have you looked to in your life as role models? The role models in my life were my mother, the late Raquel Santos and my oldest brother, Armando Santos, who became a Chrysler Executive. Nationally, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Therese. Locally, I've looked to Irene Santos, former Associate Director of the Spanish Center and the late Thelma Orr, former Director of the Urban League. I am also proud to have been able to call the late Mary Lou Mahone a friend and followed her lead the NAACP-Kenosha Branch.

What do you enjoy most about Kenosha? I enjoy Kenosha's hometown atmosphere where most of the people I went through public school with are still around. This is evident at UAW-Local No. 72 picnics and other community events like the Fourth of July Parade and fireworks display when it feels like Kenoshans are at one big high school reunion. I love Kenosha and am proud to call it home.

Why is community involvement so important to you? I believe the only way you can facilitate change is to observe, learn and participate. We must all invest in our community to make it a better place for our children.

What are you most likely to be doing in your spare time? I am most likely will be babysitting one of my grandchildren. I would rather sleep than watch television and enjoy going to the summer festivals.

If you could have one wish granted, what would that wish be? It would be to end world hunger. I would scrap the space program and feed the poor.

How would you classify Kenosha in terms of race relations? Is Kenosha better or worse than other communities? I would classify Kenosha as better than Milwaukee and Chicago but in denial that we have problems with race. The recent, local Mexican-immigrant bashing we are experiencing as the immigration reform legislation is being debated in Washington confirms my belief that we have a long way to go as a community that does not pre-judge or stereotype people based on the action of a few. Remarks I've heard such as "now it's your turn" are not acceptable in 2007. As I've stated before, I prefer to move forward and not backwards.

What are you looking for in immigration legislation? I am looking for a comprehensive immigration reform that enforces border security, unites families, protects human rights and creates an avenue for eligible, undocumented immigrants to legalize their status. As a result of recent intervention by the President, the Bill 1348 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007) is back before the Senate and if it passes, the House of Representatives will be able to debate it and negotiate a compromise.

What superpowers do you wish you could have? I wish I had the superpower to identify all persons wrongly convicted and incarcerated serving life sentences or awaiting the death penalty. Every time I hear of someone incarcerated for years being exonerated as a result of new DNA evidence, I wonder about how many more remain. Such an injustice as a result of our society's eagerness to be more tough on crime.

What is your favorite travel destination? I've been fortunate to have traveled to Atlanta, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, St. Louis, Washington DC, parts of Florida and all over Texas. However, my favorite travel destination is San Antonio, Texas because I love the music, culture and hot weather.

What’s some good advice you’ve received? I think "do not forget where you came from" was the advice I always remembered. My life has not always been easy so I try to remember it was because of help and encouragement from others that I made it through the hard times and try to do the same for others.