Tony Reyes: 'We have to stop being known as the sleeping giant'

Editor's note - This is the eighth 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.

Marco Antonio Reyes has dedicated the second half of his 52 years to helping Hispanics achieve the American dream.

Twenty-five years ago, he started Comité de Bien Estar, a nonprofit housing cooperative that pools the funds of its members, people of low income, to develop land for their homes.

Today, he continues to serve as executive director of the organization whose 62 employees devote themselves to making home ownership a reality. He says the committee has developed more than 50 percent of the residential areas in San Luis, Ariz.

Known as Tony in San Luis and around Yuma County, he is proud to be the first Mexico-born Hispanic elected to the Yuma County Board of Supervisors in District 4. He has held this

position for more than 10 years. Previously, Reyes was mayor of San Luis, Ariz., for a decade.

Originally from Navolato, Sinaloa, Reyes came to the United States when he was 10 years old.

He got married and had four children, one of whom is Tony Reyes, Jr., a current San Luis city councilman.

"My family gives a purpose to my life. Professionally, my goal is to make sure Comite is viable for another 20 years. As a politician, I want to continue making way for younger Hispanic generations," he said.

The way his parents worked to get ahead despite humble beginnings has inspired him to accomplish his goals.

Reflecting on the Hispanic experience in the United States, Reyes said: "I think that the contributions and efforts of Hispanics are diminished because of the negative way in which illegal immigrants are portrayed. Our culture is more colorful than that, more diverse and a work ethic that is stronger and more solid than the American work ethic. Our values about work, effort, and the natural talent of our people, our sense of humor, that is what we bring to this country."

Despite the positive aspects of the Hispanic culture, racism and discrimination are the most common problems faced by migrants or Mexican-Americans, Reyes said.

"They exist because the American perception of Mexicans is what comes from the news which is always negative, about drug trafficking."

These are some of the obstacles we have to overcome, so that Americans can began to see us for who we are, hard-working people with family values and a joy for living," he stated.

Reyes said he thinks the best way to face discrimination is to insist and show that Hispanics are valuable, regardless of their color or race. He added, "we must believe that what's inside us is more positive than negative, even if we have to work harder than someone who was born here or who is white. This struggle is what makes us stronger."

Additionally, the leader pointed out the importance of the Hispanic vote in the upcoming elections.

"I would say we have to stop being known as the sleeping giant. We need to wake up a little and realize that although we've been hearing this for a long time, we can have an impact on the elections in the United States. We have to believe it and act on it.

"We need to move our people ahead. More people need to understand the power of voting in America and to make clear to Hispanics who can vote that when they vote they not only vote for themselves but for all Hispanics who can't vote," he said.