Committed to Latinos' Empowerment

Hispanic Times Magazine, Jan, 2001

From His Roots as a Farm Worker to his Success as a Community Leader, Juan Andrade Jr.'s Commitment to Empowering Latinos has Never Wavered.

A farm worker for 18 years, Juan Andrade Jr. knows how to appreciate the fruits of his labor. His life in the fields of his hometown of Brownwood, Texas during the 1950s and '60s taught him perseverance and the importance of a job well done.

But farm work also made him realize that to succeed in the United States, Latinos need education, political representation and participation.

In the late '60s, Andrade became involved in voter registration efforts and embarked on what would become a lifelong pursuit of higher learning. His academic accomplishments thus far-an undergraduate degree, two master's and a doctorate -- paved the way toward realizing his calling as a community leader.

As co-founder and president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, a Chicago-based, non-profit organization with a mission to increase voter registration and participation, Andrade exemplifies the importance of education and political participation in the Latino community.

"One of the biggest challenges facing Latinos is the lack of leadership in our community," says the 53-year-old Andrade. "As America turns more and more to the Hispanic community for leaders, we must be prepared to step up and meet that challenge and the key is education."

Andrade is currently working toward his third master's degree, and upon completion, he will have earned five higher education degrees in disciplines ranging from Education to Urban Studies, in addition to an honorary doctorate from Howard Payne University.

When asked what compels him to continue earning degrees, Andrade thoughtfully responds that education energizes and nourishes him, adding, "As leaders we need to take ourselves out of our comfort zones and learn different things outside of our field of work."

A father of four, Andrade smiles when he proudly relates that two of his children are college graduates and the other two are following closely in their footsteps.

Because of Andrade's work as a promoter of political participation, he is often invited to speak at conferences and seminars promoting democracy, especially in Central and South America and Mexico.

Andrade has come a long way from picking cotton, cabbage and cantaloupe in 105-degree weather deep in the heart of Texas. But not much has changed when it comes to embracing his community, increasing Latinos' political participation and his pursuit of higher education.