Lydia Guzman: Setting an example of Latino advocacy

By Diana Prieto-Bernal

Born and raised in Glendale, Calif., Lydia Guzman is well-known for her long-time advocacy for civil rights in Arizona.

A recipient of Chicano’s por la Causa’s Lorraine Lee Advocacy Award and many other national and local recognitions; Guzman has taken on highly controversial issues such as SB 1070, undocumented immigrant rights, Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s immigrant sweeps, voting rights and has supported political candidates like Sam Chavira, who was just elected to Glendale City Council and Congresswoman-elect Kyrsten Sinema.

She is a doer, not a talker. She is head of Respect/Respeto, an organization with a hot line for immigrants to ask questions or report abuses, she led Somos America immigrant rights group, and most recently formed a statewide network of civil rights organizations who say they will protect people – undocumented immigrants or citizens — against racial profiling. This group is seen as a model for other states with similar laws.

 Guzman is in the media frequently, answering questions on English- and Spanish-language TV, radio, and print publications. She’s also an avid user of social media, tweeting and posting multiple information and alerts daily. She helped organize the first cell phone texting system to alert the community about Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s immigrant sweeps so other advocates could gather to protest the actions.

What is not so well-known is Lydia’s personal life and feelings. In this exclusive interview with ArizonaLatinos.com, she shares information about herself.

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: The second of six children,  I am married with two wonderful children of my own. My son is a senior in high school and my daughter is an inspiring entrepreneur.

My parents are the most influential part of my life. They taught me the way to teach is by providing a good example of life.

Q: Share something that people don’t know about you; or your hobbies.

I would like to be a stand-up comedian.

My hobbies are fishing and monitoring seismic activity. I even get phone alerts about this topic on my smart phone from time to time.

I love to cook and learned it from the best, my grandma in Mexico. My knowledge extends to true and traditional recipes. My husband enjoys my cooking. 

Q: How or when did you determine your need to help people, your community?

A: Everybody has it in them, it’s natural to want to help people, and it comes from the heart!

At a young age I started helping my neighbors by filling out forms, translating school notes for parents who did not speak or write the language (English).

My involvement in journalism in high school placed me ahead in my community, allowing me to help even more. Helping others is in you from day one, and I have to do it, it’s my passion to help others. My long-term goal has always been and always will be helping my community.

That is the reason I started the hot line Respect Respeto, a phone line that has almost become the 911 for undocumented people here in Phoenix that stand up to abuse and seek protection.

This line has a high number of calls reporting cases of abuse among the Latino community here in the Valley; it varies from domestic violence, wage fraud and rape.

I consider myself an activist, and I have been supporting voter registration for over 17 years, empowering people to vote. I have worked for Progressive Mayority, clean elections, and the secretary of state’s office for the past 10 years.

(Lydia also points out the lack of Latino candidates running for office, she expresses that empowering the community to vote is useless if there are no candidates to vote for.

Q: What is next for Lydia Guzman?

At the present time I would like to transfer responsibilities from being the front of Respect/Respeto to another organization that will manage and care in the same way that I did.

The new chapter in my life carries national responsibilities; working with LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens).  LULAC is the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy group in the United States. This group has been active for over 83 years. I will continue my activities with this organization; I will continue to fight for civil rights and immigration reforms. My future plans include empowering communities to have political power via voter registration and participation.

Q: What message do you have for our Latino community?

The Latino vote was powerful this past  election and we are not a one-hit wonder; like wine, we are getting better. The giant has awakened.