WE ARE HACE – Juan Avila

My father came here as an engineer from Colombia. He joined the military and I grew up as an Army brat, moving from base to base, around the country and around the globe. Academic success and achievement was always part of the conversation growing up, but so were traditional Latino values such as respect to elders and authority, not rocking the boat, hard work, keeping your head down, loyalty… Many of these values served me well, but they also worked to limit my own professional and economic growth. Through my work serving HACE as a board member, I recognized these limitations in our members and in myself. The need to take control of our destiny, to make our career happen, and not just let our career happen to us. The need to develop a career plan and seek out the resources and the organizations, such as HACE, that would help you achieve your true potential.