The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion, and Contribution by Juana Bordas

Author:Juana Bordas [Bordas, Juana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ethnic Studies, Leadership, Social Science, Business & Economics, Hispanic American Studies
ISBN: 9781609948870
Google: BOHRND3efwAC
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

Juntos: Collective Community Stewardship

AS NOTED, THE ANCESTRAL groups that melded into the Latino culture had strong family ties, community bonds, and centered on We, or the collective. Leadership flows from this orientation and is based on a communal process where people work together to serve their communities. This spirit is captured in the word juntos, which means “union, being close, joining, being together”—and expresses the principle of collective community stewardship.

Whether I or We is central to a society contours the shape of its leadership. In an I, or individualistic, culture, I become a leader because of my initiative and competence as well as my winning personality. I am a can-do, take-action person. By calling attention to myself—my accomplishments and skills—people believe I am competent and follow me. Unanimity or group consensus follows the leader’s decisions. The leader strives for self-mastery—as I become empowered, I can empower others. Leaders maintain status by remaining youthful, vigorous, attractive, and able. Seniority is secondary to performance.

In contrast, the status of a collectivist leader increases as he or she becomes older and acquires seniority and experience.1 A We identity prompts a collective view of leadership. We cultures acknowledge that the community has nurtured them. In individualistic cultures, there is a belief that I made it on my own. Collective cultures understand that success is due to the familia and the community. Antonia Pantoja, who started ASPIRA, understood this: “I am interdependent. I was nurtured to be who I am and am responsible and accountable to a community of others.” Pantoja urged an aspiring leader to answer this question, “Am I a leader that is going to be accountable to my people, to the community from whence I came? If you decide to be that kind of leader, then your skills, energy, and endurance are for the well-being of your community.”

The heart of leadership, therefore, is sustaining, educating, and advancing the community. Anna Cabral describes this commitment: “What motivates people in our community who are doing great work and leading efforts is that they are looking out for the collective. The collective good drives them.”

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