|
Mr. Alberto L. Esparza, Founder & President of Si Se Puede, is native of Arizona and could see even as a young adult the high dropout rate of minority students. As he, too, fought to continue his education and obtain his college degree, it became apparent that his focus was in the area of social services. Today Mr. Esparza is the President and CEO of the program commonly known as Si Se Puede! His efforts in teaching young people to become “Peaceful leaders” in their communities are well documented.
Mr. Esparza earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University and obtained a Master’s Degree from Northern Arizona University. He serves on the Board of Directors of Chicano’s Por La Causa (13 years) and recently completed his two year term as Board Chairman. He served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board and held the position as chairman (5 years). He served on The City of Phoenix Human Relation’s Commission and held the position of Vice-Chair (6 years).
In 1996, Mr. Esparza co-founded the City of Phoenix and Human Relation’s Commission’s Cultural Diversity Program, “We’re all on the Same Team”. In 1998, the program received national recognition for its work in celebrating diversity. In 1999, Mr. Esparza was recognized by the City of Phoenix’s Human Relations Commission for his work in civil rights. In 1999, he received the City of Mesa Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Spirit of Unity Award”. In 2001, he received the City of Phoenix Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Living the Dream Award”. In 2004, Mr. Esparza received the “Key to the City of Chandler”. In 2006, he was honored by the Chandler Unified School District as the “Volunteer of the Year”, in 2008, he received the City of Chandler’s Chamber of Commerce “Diversity Champion” Award and On October 25, 2008 he will honored by Northern Arizona University as their "2008 Dr. Cliff Harkins Distinguished Citizen Award" recipient.
Mr. Esparza attributes his work ethic and compassion for others to his loving parents Marcelino and Amada. He says, they are his role models and are responsible for him being the man he is today. Wherever he is invited to guest speak, he reminds his audiences that a community of a man is more important than all the material things that he acquires. And that, in the end, the only thing that matters is whether or not an individual was important in the life of a child.
|
President & CEO
