Latinas leading the way

I am going to tell you a story about three Latinas in Kern County.
One brings truth to tale of surrounding yourselves with mentors who will
teach you more about yourself, your abilities and drive.

The second shows how working hard and dedicating to your field will take you
to a greater path of success.

The third, well, she is an example that dreams, no matter how big or distant
they may seem at the time, they will come true if you don’t give up.

It’s likely these three women hardly cross each other’s paths on an everyday
basis, but that doesn’t matter.

What matters is that each one was equally honored Saturday July 18 for their
own story, their own trailblazing and setting a high standard for other
Latinas to follow.

My congratulations to these strong women: Chief Deputy RoseMary Ramirez Wahl
of the Kern County Sheriff’s Department; new Kern County Superintendent of
Schools Christine Lizardi Frazier; and Laura Arredondo, co-owner of Delano
Family Motors and local philanthropist.

Admirers nominated Wahl, Frazier, and Arredondo for the recognition, which
was presented at the 11th annual Latina Leaders of Kern County awards
dinner, in conjunction with Hispanas Organized for Political Equality.

“What really helps you overcome barriers in life are your dreams,” Arredondo
recently told The Californian.

At a little girl, living in poverty in Mexico, that’s all she had. Then, her
parents set out to bring their 11 children to the States, the land where
dreams and opportunities will cross paths, as long as you stay on track.

Meanwhile, Christine Lizardi Frazier has spent the past 30 years of her
educational career taking on a variety of posts, including teacher,
principal, and school district superintendent. She was recently appointed as
the new county superintendent, making her the first woman and Latina to hold
the post.

“This year's Latina Leaders honorees are women who hold key positions of
power and influence,” said Norma Rojas, president of group, whose membership
includes top local Hispanic women professionals to young aspiring college
students. Rojas is also special projects and supportive services Manager for
the Housing Authority of the County of Kern. “What better role models for
the young women who participate in our youth leadership program? In our
honorees, they can see themselves and the possibilities before them.”

Funds from the event benefit young Latinas who are part of the group’s
mentoring program, says Kathryn Lomely, Latina Leaders past-president.
Lomely who works, by day, as an academic advisor for the Bakersfield campus
of the University of LaVerne, is chair of the group’s Latina youth mentoring
program.

“We take 35 young Latinas through a series of leadership workshops … and be
inspired to find solutions,” Lomely said.

Inspiration is the impression Wahl hopes to leave behind for the young
Latinas as well as the young ladies who are part of the Junior League of
Bakersfield, an organization dear to Wahl’s heart.

“Giving back to the community is so important to me,” says Wahl, the
highest-ranking Latina within the sheriff’s dept. “It's more important that
you're out and giving your time. It's easy to write a check.”

Throughout the span of her 28-year law enforcement career, Wahl has sought
mentors who have placed her under their wings.

Among them are: Cal State Bakersfield Police Chief Claudia Neal; Sheriff’s
Department Detentions Lt. Vetrice Mitchell; and of course, her husband,
Willy, also a Chief Deputy with the county agency.

“It's so important they have positive role models,” Wahl says of the youth
leadership participants. “Hopefully, I can empower them and let them now
that if they stay in school, surround themselves with good influences, they
can also be successful.”

No Average Joe

There are times when we run across people who are always busy finding ways to improve the world around us.
They don't seek glory. Their payoff is knowing they made a difference in their own special way.
Such is the case with Joe Serrano.
He is a small business owner, running Serrano Investigative Services and working as a bail agent for Gotta Go Bail Bonds in Bakersfield.
Maybe it's a good thing I've never had to deal with Serrano under those terms.
But I have partnered and observed him through his board of director's work with the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where he has given his time for community events and supporting local businesses.
In fact, there are a few other community events that I have attended only to turn around and find Serrano there. He's often seen making new friends, getting people involved in local causes or simply taking photographs that land in the Hispanic Chamber's newsletter, his Facebook account or as a citizen journalism submission to local media.
His goal may be to spotlight other people making a difference. But he's just as deserving.
That's why I was happy to hear that his peers picked him as the Private Investigator of the Year.
Serrano received the award by the California Association of Licensed Investigators during its annual conference in Burlingame last month.
The award honors those who have excelled in their profession and demonstrated exceptional service to the public, among other things.
Serrano said he became emotional when he received the award, comparing the feeling to the day his daughter, Sandra, was born in 1972.

“I'm serious, it was an identical feeling,” said Serrano, who also serves on the Lamont Chamber of Commerce board. “It was very hard to hold back the tears of joy and happiness, and all I could do was bury my head into the shoulders of those that came up and congratulated me.”

As a private investigator, Serrano says he's worked a variety of cases, including personal injury cases, murder and vehicle accidents involving wrongful deaths. He's reunited several families.
Some of his cases have required him to travel to other states and in Europe and Mexico.

“I love my job and would not trade it for anything else,” Serrano said.

Bakersfield attorney H.A. Sala who's worked with Serrano on some cases wrote a letter to the association describing the private investigator.
In the letter, Sala praised Serrano for his tenacity and hard work ethic. He added that Serrano was successful in uncovering critical witnesses and physical evidence.
He also noted Serrano's other duties, such as working for the Indigent Defense Panel of Kern County.
Serrano says he was so proud of his award that he placed on top of his wife's pillow while she traveled in Guadalajara.

“It's better than any Oscar or any lottery winning because it comes from people I highly respect and look up to in this profession,” he tells me.

Back to his community work, I expect to see more great things from Serrano. He's not the kind of person who will tell you though. He's just a natural at it.

“I am involved in a bunch of other things in my area and volunteer for a lot of events,” he says. “It does take away from my personal life … and I appreciate my wife, Alma, understanding what I love to do and allowing me to do it.”