Community Role Model's Anniversary

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was highlighted in an article on the one-year anniversary of the county's Community Role Models program in The Connection. Tejada has championed the program since he was elected to the County Board.

"The program's aim: to get 20- and 30-something adults involved in the local community, and it has worked, creating what County Board member Walter Tejada has called "the next wave of civic activists in Arlington." Since its inception, the program has conducted several meet-ups connecting adults with the volunteer opportunities that interest them. Local organizations credit the program for enlisting new recruits."

Others cited in the article include Miles Grant who volunteers on stream cleanups and other projects with Arlingtonians for a Cleaner Environment; and Sara Girovasi-Marron who volunteers at Doorways for Women Temporary Shelter, a safe haven for battered and homeless women.

"The program is partnered with more than 50 local volunteer groups focused on issues like environmental conservation, affordable housing, youth mentoring, public health and homelessness. And according to a 2004 report from the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, the help is much needed."

See Also:

• Tejada's CRM Program in Action (June 2, 2005)
• Tejada and Community Role Models (June 2, 2004)

Tejada Gives Democratic Hispanic Radio Address

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada delivered the Democratic Hispanic Radio Address today in which he discussed the Supreme Court vacancy suggesting possible candidates, what's at stake for Hispanics and civil rights, and declared that President Bush had a unique opportunity to unite the country. Tejada's address was heard nationwide through local Univision Radio, Latino Broadcasting Company, Radio Formula, Radiovisa, Radio Bilingue, and CNN en Espanol Radio.

You can listen to the 3-minute Spanish audio as an .mp3 file or read it in La Tribuna Hispana. (Tejada last delivered the Democratic Hispanic Radio address on March 15, 2003.)

Below is the text of the address in English:

"Good morning, this is Walter Tejada, Arlington County Board Member and member of Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary. This week the terrorist attacks in London took place while the leaders of the world's most developed countries met to find ways to make the world a better place. The terrorist attacks in London, as those in Madrid and here in America, were senseless and vicious. Our prayers are with the victims, their friends and family. As Democrats we continue to stand with our allies around the world to defeat terrorism and to protect our liberty.

Here in America, our country faces a critical decision for the protection of civil rights and liberties for which so many have fought. President Bush faces a historic opportunity to make good on his promise to unite the country in choosing the best candidate to fill the seat being vacated by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. The President can work with Democrats to nominate a fair-minded, common sense jurist in the mold of Justice O'Connor, or he can appease his hard-right constituency and put forward a nominee who will further tear the country apart based on partisan leanings.

There is no more important decision in terms of protecting the rights and liberties of all Americans, than choosing a Supreme Court justice. For Hispanics, there is much at stake. The Supreme Court has made historical decisions that deeply affect all minorities with regards to affirmative action, civil rights and immigration.

It was the Supreme Court that ended the segregation of Hispanic school children in Orange County, California 7 years before the famed Brown v. Board of Education decision. And it was the Supreme Court that required schools to help students with limited English skills, making bilingual education available to millions of students over the past three decades. President Bush has the historic opportunity to choose a Hispanic nominee for the Court, but should look beyond personal friendships and consider the Hispanics who would make great Justices, including Edward Prado and Sonia Sotomayor.

President Bush has allowed the extremist right wing of his Party to dominate the agenda on everything from immigration to Social Security. The far right has already launched deplorable attacks designed to get an extremist nominee for the Supreme Court who would alter the balance of the Court and roll back constitutional rights.

Americans deserve a dignified process, one that puts our democracy and the rights of all Americans ahead of partisanship and ideology. President Bush should use this opportunity to unite the country, and work with members of both parties to nominate a Supreme Court Justice that all Americans can be proud of.

This is Walter Tejada for the Democratic Party, thank you for listening."

Tejada on BRAC

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada will be offering a briefing in Spanish on the Base Realignment and Closure 2005, or BRAC, on Friday, July 8, according to a notice in The Connection. Accompanying Tejada will be Congressman Jim Moran. The event will be at 10 a.m. at Courthouse Plaza, on 2100 Clarendon Blvd.

Tejada on School Bus Crash

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada hosted a community meeting about the fatal school bus crash on April 18 that claimed the lives of two students from Hoffman-Boston Elementary School, according to the Arlington Connection. The meeting was co-hosted with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

The meeting was geared toward members of Arlington's Latin American community. At Hoffman-Boston, Latinos account for 38 percent of students, according to the school district's statistics. Along with taking input from the public, Tejada said Monday's meeting was also intended as a way to reach out to the school's immigrant families — families that might be afraid to bring problems to a government employee otherwise.

Said Tejada, "In Arlington, we try to be an accessible government, one that isn't afraid to come into the community. For some people, that might not make a whole lot of difference, but for the immigrant population, it can."

Tejada: Day-Laborers are a Community Issue

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada's work with the Shirlington Employment and Education Center was highlighted in an article titled 'Counties Help Day Laborers Find Work, Ease Tensions' in County News, the newspaper of the National Association of Counties. Said Tejada, “I think that [the day-laborer issue] is one of those ultimate tests for localities to really state whether they are indeed a caring and welcoming community, where everyone is important. We didn’t have all the answers when we set out to do this and we have to constantly check ourselves, but what we see from the indications that we have now is that what we’re doing is working.”

Tejada said of the day-laborer issue, “No matter what we thought, we could not ignore a community issue that was very real and happening. Either we take an antagonistic approach, or we find ways that we can constructively resolve the situation.” He pointed out that an often-ignored component of the day-laborer issue is the fact that those seeking daily employment often have children in county schools and spouses and family members working in the community as well.

Tejada Joins DC United Committee

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada has joined Major League Soccer team D.C. United's new 'Hispanic Advisory Committee,' according to this press release. "The objective of the committee will be to work closely with the club in identifying programs and initiatives to strengthen relationships, as well as to fortify existing outreach efforts within the Hispanic community. "

The four other members of the newly created committee are:

• Alejandro Carrasco, President of Radio America
• Alberto Avendaño, Associate Publisher of Spanish-language newspaper El Tiempo Latino
• Saul Solorzano, Executive Director of the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)
• Dr. Elmer Huerta, a nationally renowned cancer specialist at Washington Hospital Center

The Club's President and CEO Kevin Payne said that "D.C. United has always worked closely with the Hispanic community in our region. The creation of this committee is intended to help us do so more effectively and to better use our resources to help address issues which affect the Hispanic community in the Greater D.C. area."

Tejada's CRM Program in Action

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada attended the environmental forum on Tuesday for the Community Role Models program, an initiative supported by the county to engage young adults in community service, according to the Arlington Connection (see archived version). Said Walter, "We need new energy, fresh ideas and creativity. I believe young people have that." Walter initiated the Community Role Models program to engage Arlington young adults, "our 20- and 30-somethings in mentoring and other civic activities."

Tejada Encouraged by Villaraigosa Win

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was included in post-election news on newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The Washington Dateline noted that Tejada “is the lone member of an exclusive club -- the only Hispanic elected official in a state where more than 5 percent of the population is Latino.” Walter declared that “I did not set out to enter politics. The road for me was activism … in leadership development, citizenship [drives], voter registration.”

Tejada Helps Connect Employers/Employees

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada's leadership was highlighted in an article in the Potomac News that compared how different counties in Northern Virginia were responding to the day-laborer issue. The article declares that "As officials from Herndon and Prince William County consider day-laborer sites, they have looked to Arlington County for inspiration. In February 2000, Arlington County opened the Shirlington Employment and Educational Center (SEEC) near Four Mile Run, a place where day laborers have been waiting for work near a lumberyard for at least 10 years. SEEC offered computer and English classes for day laborers, but the workers still stood on the street to get jobs. In October 2003, the center built an open-air pavilion nearby, that now serves as a hiring hall for 60 to 150 day laborers. From 6 a.m. to noon, a daily lottery at the pavilion matches laborers with employers."

The Potomac News quotes Walter saying that "if they are looking for work and there are employers that want to hire them, it is in the best interest of a locality that it happen in a coordinated manner." Walter was instrumental in SEECs founding through an Arlington County Community Development Block Grant. "Arlington County contributes $130,000 annually for the center, and federal funds account for $52,000 of the yearly budget."

Tejada on 'Status of Women in Arlington'

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada will be speaking tonight on the Status of Women in Arlington at the Soroptimist International of Arlington. Soroptimist, a non-profit business women's organization service organization, seeks to improve the status of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

Tejada on HB 1798

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada, a supporter of Virginia Governor Mark Warner, disagreed with the Governor signing "a measure that tightens laws prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits, including Medicaid and public assistance," according to the Washington Post. The legislation --House Bill 1798 and Senate Bill 1143 -- requires state and local governments to verify whether anyone who requests non-emergency public benefits is in the United States legally.

Said Tejada, "It's very disappointing. It serves no other purpose but to fan the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment . . . and that is simply wrong." Tejada echoed the concerns expressed by opponents of the legislation and several local officials, who said it will create onerous red tape for people here legally.

On Latinos For America: Walter Tejada offers a sample letter for citizens to write to their representatives in the Virginia state legislature: "Please take a moment to e-mail the following Delegates on the House General Laws Committee and tell them to OPPOSE HB 1798. Necesitamos que actúen y ayuden!"

Walter Tejada and Lou Dobbs

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada today appeared on CNN's interview program, 'Lou Dobbs Tonight.' Below is the selected text of the Tejada/Dobbs conversation found in the entire transcript.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: As we reported last night, Virginia Governor Mark Warner signed a measure that would limit public benefits such as Medicaid and welfare for illegal aliens. Among those opposed to that bill, and now law, is my next guest. Arlington County board member Walter Tejada says the bill, quote, "fans the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment," end quote. He also says there is no evidence illegal aliens are abusing the system.

Walter Tejada joins us tonight from our Washington studios. Good to have you with us.

WALTER TEJADA, MEMBER, ARLINGTON COUNTY BOARD: Thank you for inviting me.

DOBBS: The fact is that it's clearcut that Medicaid and other services are provided to illegal aliens. Why do you resist that suggestion that taxpayers are providing benefits for illegal aliens?

TEJADA: First, Mr. Dobbs, no human being is illegal. And the fact is that we have laws already in the books, called federal law, that prohibits undocumented persons from receiving public benefits. What we have in Virginia is a redundant law for something that already exists. Undocumented persons do not qualify, yesterday, not today or tomorrow, to receive any public benefits such as Medicaid or otherwise.

DOBBS: So let's start out with a couple of things. No person in this country is illegal? Sir?

TEJADA: There's no human being who is illegal, Mr. Dobbs. And what we're talking about are human beings, your next-door neighbor your co-worker, your next-door shopper when you go to the mall, and your classmates.

So what we're talking about here specifically is whether undocumented persons are receiving benefits or not. The fact is, there's no evidence to show that they are in Virginia.

DOBBS: Well, there's no evidence to show that illegal aliens are in Virginia?

TEJADA: Sir, those are your words. What I said, there's no evidence to show that undocumented workers are utilizing public benefits. There is -- we've asked for that information. Let's see it. The fact is, they are undocumented persons, already do not qualify for receiving benefits such as public benefits.

DOBBS: So let's go to a couple points. And if you don't mind, let's just you and I try, irrespective of the fact you think I'm anti- immigrant, which I assure you I'm not, but I am absolutely pro-truth and honesty.

An illegal alien is one who crosses our borders illegally, who is in this country illegally. Now, that is a person I would refer to as an illegal alien. It does not make them evil, but it does make them lawbreakers. It does, by definition, make them illegal.

TEJADA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

DOBBS: Secondly, secondly, the fact is that the documentation of the cost for Medicaid services in the Commonwealth of Virginia is clear. You are aware of it. And you certainly, because you are urging local control over this issue, you must know your community very well. You were a state director of LULAC, for example. You know your community, Latino, legal and illegal, native born, in the state of Virginia. Do you not?

TEJADA: Sir, first, these are human beings we are talking about.

DOBBS: I've acceded to that. You don't need to keep repeating it.

TEJADA: Well, you know...

DOBBS: We wouldn't be talking about them if they weren't people, human beings.

TEJADA: Well, sir, I agree with you that you are anti-immigrant, absolutely. You have made a way to flame this kind of discussion all the time, not allowing folks an opportunity to allow you to provide balance in your stories.

The fact is that immigrants contribute to the fiber of this country every day. We have $421 billion, with a B...

DOBBS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- Mr. Tejada, I have never denied there's a contribution to the country. I've only tried to point out that corporations and businesses and employees are exploiting cheap labor. And the fact of the matter is, they are exploiting the very people you say you want to represent. They're exploiting the people you said you did represent when you were the director of LULAC.

You continue to create a fiction about me being anti-immigrant? I'm pro-immigrant.

TEJADA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

DOBBS: I'm anti-illegal immigration, and I'm anti, anti, positioning and posturing, like the kind that you're carrying out right now.

The reality is, taxpayers are paying for the services. And you suggest they are not? Mr. Tejada, you are far, far too intelligent to expect any of us to buy that.

TEJADA: Sir, I am proud of my service with the Legal (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Latin American Citizens. It's a great organization.

DOBBS: I agree with you.

TEJADA: The fact of the matter...

DOBBS: It's a terrific organization.

TEJADA: The fact of the matter is, in providing balanced journalism, sir, I think it's important that you also highlight the positive contributions that immigrants make day in and day out to this community, to this nation. If we were talking a few years ago, we'd be talking about the Irish, we'd be talking about the Polish, we'd be talking about the Italians.

(UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

DOBBS: The Irish, the Poles, the Italians...

TEJADA: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

DOBBS: ... Mr. Tejada, as you know, as a student of history and a very bright and educated man, came through Ellis Island, didn't they?

TEJADA: Sir, this is part what I mean. You don't allow a balanced journalism in your show. Last night, you had three great guests, and you wouldn't allow them to elaborate.

But I would say to this, what we need in this country is true, comprehensive immigration reform, in that we all agree, I think. I think you will agree on that as well. We need to create the political will to make sure that we do have true immigration reform, so we don't have to deal, folks like myself at the local level, and have to carry out -- put the burden that we already have high assessments in northern Virginia. Our taxpayers are already drained, we're having to pay a lot of (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

DOBBS: Mr. Tejada...

TEJADA: ... and we're trying to provide tax relief.

So we want to know, what to make sure that whatever the state is putting into place, it is funded. How much is this going to cost us in Virginia to implement this bill? We need a study to determine what the impact of that is going to be.

DOBBS: You need a study. Well, I appreciate you taking the time. I hope you'll come back, and we'll have a more comprehensive look at what you call comprehensive immigration reform. Will you do that?

TEJADA: I'd be delighted to attend your show if we can do it a balanced way, so we can talk about the...

DOBBS: Well, we're going to do it our way...

TEJADA: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

DOBBS: ... and, you know, what you call fair and balanced...

TEJADA: Well, sir...

DOBBS: ... you got to go over to the place over there, what is it, Fox that does that?

TEJADA: Sir, you -- Sir...

DOBBS: You know, we appreciate it.

TEJADA: Well, you have generated public opinion with the...

DOBBS: And if you want to have an honest discussion, you're welcome back any time. But you're not going to sit here and dictate the terms.

TEJADA: Well, sir...

DOBBS: We appreciate you for being here.

TEJADA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

DOBBS: Come back any time you feel like it.

TEJADA: Balance in reporting is what we ask for.

DOBBS: I just ask for the truth and straight facts. No politics, no games. Thank you, Mr. Tejada.

Tejada Organizes Learning Forum

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada's Community Role Models program was featured in a Community Development Learning Forum Wednesday night that drew a crowd of more than 75 prospective activists to Arlington's Central Public Library, according to the Arlington Connection. "The county-funded initiative aims at inspiring young adults to become active in social issues and volunteer work."

Said Tejada, "Government cannot just continue with business as usual. We have to create a forum where young people can participate. It is important that we engage the diversity of this community. Diversity is not just about race. It is about having different perspectives.

The forum featured a panel discussion with voices from Arlington's government, business community and social services organizations including:

• Jim Byers, director of marketing for Arlington's Cultural Affairs Division, who "encouraged local youths to get involved in the county's arts scene as a way of building new collaborative ties." Byers said he learned about the powerful role of the arts in shaping a community through working with a group of young Latino jazz musicians.
• Roseanne Campbell, community resources coordinator for The Arlington Community Temporary Shelter (TACTS).
• Virginia Patto with The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing.
• Palma Strand, a professor at Georgetown University and representative of the Arlington Forum, a civic organizing group. "It's mostly about relationships," she said. "When people get together to get things done, that's community development."

Also cited in the article were Ed Hallen, 22, from Tennessee who said, "I've only just moved to Arlington, and when I heard about this, I thought it would be a good way to get involved in the community.” ryan Simmons, 23, came looking for opportunities to teach."I graduated from the University of Maryland last May, but while I was there, I took some classes in teaching English as a Second Language and taught some students. It was very rewarding, and I'm hoping to get involved in another ESL program here, in Arlington."

Tejada Links Hispanics To Democratic Victories

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada spoke on Hispanic turnout in this week's elections, according to the Washington Post. "This election marked a political awakening among immigrants who are just starting to vote. Democratic Latino activists, for example, mounted major voter registration drives that they said paid off. "We are pleased with what we saw," said Democrat Walter Tejada, Arlington's first Latino County Board member, who led get-out-the-vote efforts in his county, Alexandria and Fairfax.

Fairfax, Washington's largest suburb went solidly blue, choosing Democrat John F. Kerry over Bush by 32,668 votes, the first time it did so in 40 years.

Tejada and CAFTA

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada's opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, was noted in the Washington Post. (The agreement is awaiting congressional ratification.) Tejada, a Salvadoran-born U.S. citizen, asked "Is this something that will benefit the neediest of the neediest in El Salvador? Those who will support CAFTA really want to be able to answer to the [Salvadoran] community."

The article also noted that Tejada met with Antonio Saca, the president of El Salvador, who inaugurated the second annual meeting of representatives of Salvadorans who live abroad at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Salvadorans are the biggest immigrant group in the Washington area, with more than 104,000 people.

Tejada Leads 'Civic Activists'

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada's leadership in the Community Role Models Program was profiled in The Connection in an article titled, 'Next Wave of Civic Activists.' The program's first organized event was a forum held at the Arlington Central Public Library last Wednesday to give young adults the chance to learn about volunteer opportunities in Arlington. More than 10 volunteer organizations were on hand to take new recruits.

Said Tejada, "I've always felt we have lots of talented young adults in Arlington that simply have not been asked to participate in civic life, and there are a lot opportunities in Arlington. We talk a lot about being diverse. Well, diversity is not just race, it is also age and interest. We have many young adults that go to Washington for volunteer work and internships, yet there are many other opportunities we can offer them right here."

According to Tejada, "Mentoring is a large focus of the program. One of the goals is to create a pool of mentors who can help our youth. I want our young adults to come up with their ideas and their own ways of doing things so the programs really have a life of their own."

School Board member Libby Garvey added, "This is exactly what we need to be doing more of here in Arlington, connecting young people with the community. Students identify more and in a different way with young adults than, say, volunteers who are older. It's a good way to get young people back into the community."

Among the organizations at the forum were the Argus House, a group home for young boys, the Arlington Community Action Program, Arlington Kiwanis Soccer and the Girl Scouts. Representatives from the Reading Connection, a literacy outreach program for children living in shelters and Arlington Refugee Services also attended to sign on tutors and volunteers for other work.

Tejada on Latino/Jewish Collaboration

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada participated on a panel on Latino and Jewish Participation at the Democratic National Committee according to the American Jewish Committee. The panel discussion was entitled 'Public Policy Concerns of the Latino and Jewish Communities' and held on July 27. In addition to Tejada, it featured presentations by Congressman Howard Berman (CA); Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (TX), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Richard Foltin, Legislative Director of the AJC; Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Earlier: Tejada on Latino/Jewish Collaboration (August 8, 2000)

Tejada Responds to HB 570 (cont.)

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada responded to a new Virginia state law that allows local police to detain some illegal immigrants, according to the Washington Post. Tejada declared that "This is the kind of law that makes a vulnerable community even more vulnerable. Immigrant communities are already reluctant to contact the police if they are victims of a crime or a witness to a crime. Now it will make the communities even more hesitant."

The paper noted that Tejada has been holding forums to educate Latinos on the law. The law, House Bill 570, "provides that all law-enforcement officers have the authority to enforce immigration laws and that a law-enforcement officer may, in the course of acting upon reasonable suspicion that an individual has committed or is committing a crime, arrest the individual without a warrant upon receiving confirmation from the Bureau of Immigration and Customs."

Tejada Responds to HB 570

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada spoke out against House Bill 570, according to the Washington Post and in the Associated Press. Joining a press conference with the Virginia Alliance for Sensible Community Police Efforts, Tejada said that "we are in favor of stopping terrorism, gang activity and drug trafficking, but what this law will do is make a vulnerable community" even more vulnerable." He also stated that misinformation about the law has caused fear among immigrants. A possible consequence, he said, is that immigrants "will not report crime."

The Virginia Alliance is "a coalition of advocates and community leaders [who] encouraged immigrants to continue to cooperate with local police departments on criminal investigations despite a new Virginia law allowing them to detain some illegal immigrants without a warrant." The Washington Post reported that "the law, which will take effect July 1, allows police to arrest and hold illegal immigrants who return to this country after being convicted of felonies and deported. Police will be able to hold suspects as long as 72 hours without bond while waiting for federal immigration agents to pick them up."

Tejada and Community Role Models

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada's efforts in the Community Role Models program was highlighted in The Connection. The program is organized by the county’s Volunteer Office to attract young, working adults who might be interested in volunteering, with a special focus on finding volunteers for youth services, environmental and community development programs. Last week, "county staffers and current volunteers gathered with 100 young adults at Whitlow’s on Wilson to celebrate the kickoff of Community Role Models, and to attract young volunteers to the program."

Sara Girovasi-Marron, a member of the Community Role Models task force organizing the program, said that the central idea is “to get people in their 20s and 30s involved … a lot of them may not be involved in civic life, and may not know how. Finding younger volunteers can help local programs. But the process can also let young adults know that they play a role in the community.”

Tejada worked with staffers and young working adults to form the Community Role Models task force and plan for the program last week. In addition, Tejada named the program and last week declared that “this county-wide program will tap into the one-third of Arlington’s population who may not otherwise be engaged in our civic life and seek to connect this valuable resource with youngsters who could benefit from a caring adult in their lives.”