Abel Almanza: A voice for farmworkers in Yuma County

Editor's note - This is the first in a 10-part series of profiles of area residents picked as the 10 Most Influential Hispanics in Yuma County, an annual recognition by Bajo El Sol, The Sun's Spanish-language sister newspaper.

Abel Almanza was not born in Mexico, but Mexico has a special place in his heart.

And so do the people who come from Mexico.

The 58-year-old Yuman's desire to help people started with his volunteer work for the fire department in Somerton, as well as when he was a driver for Yuma Ambulance.

"Many of my memories are of that time; it is only when you see people suffer that you learn compassion. Practically on my own, I helped four women deliver babies. I remember that one of those women lived in "Yellow Camp" (Housing Authority apartments on the outskirts of Somerton) and another woman delivered her baby in a car parked in front of the Somerton Police Department."

Almanza, who today is vice president of Pan American Underwriters, was 24 years old when he came to Somerton, and that is where he met his mentor, Joe Muñoz, an ex-city administrator, who was known for his ability to work with people and for helping others.

Nonetheless, given the fact that Almanza's parents were farmworkers, his destiny was tied to farm work.

"My parents were farmworkers. They picked cotton in Texas. I was born in San Antonio but they came from a farm. I wanted to work with farmworkers and I was already working for

Pan American when I came to Yuma and that is how I began to interact with farm workers as a security consultant for employers and training employees on accident prevention. "

Almanza said there were many injustices against Hispanics because the industrial injuries system was complicated. And, he said, at times employees had to defend themselves because the system put them at a disadvantage.

"During those times, it was our own people, some employers that would not provide employees with the opportunity to report an injury, obtain medical attention, or get a break at work, etc."

Almanza continues helping out in special cases where people suffer work-related injuries, especially when he is consulted by community agencies.

But he has also become involved in other causes, such as scholarships for low-income students in the early 90s.

Recently, he became involved in helping raise funds for agencies that prevent child abuse.

His contributions have earned him a spot on the 2008 list of the 10 most influential Hispanics of Yuma County, an annual recognition program by Bajo El Sol.

"I am not against recognitions, I respect them," he said of the honor. "But I prefer a thank you from the person I have helped. It doesn't cost us anything to help someone else out; helping others should be a habit, a tradition even.

"Helping others is very satisfying and many times brings recognition, but it is more of a need I have. My father told me, if we don't help ourselves how can we expect others to help us."