When Lena Avila-Robison was a child, friends and relatives filled her parents’ home in Newton. As an adult, she has carried that tradition to her own place in Des Moines, hosting not only about 30 family members for holidays, but also community members to enjoy Latino food or make piñatas. Her passion for the Latino culture and desire to share it with her community encouraged her to form Latinos Unidos of Iowa, which helps newcomers, especially Latinos, find education, employment and cultural understanding through activities such as resource fairs, scholarships, and fund-raising efforts to purchase more Spanish-language library books. As an investigator for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Avila-Robison does all this in her spare time, but her hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. This year she received the YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award for her efforts to empower women in the Des Moines area.

How did Latinos Unidos get started?

It had been a while since we had any kind of event in Des Moines. Matt Rosen, horticultural manager at the Botanical Center called me in the spring of ‘89 and said, “Can you do something?” It just took off from there. It was such a big hit. People had tears running down their eyes. I asked them, why are you crying? Because I’m so happy, they said. I haven’t seen this flower since I left my home. It opened doors for them as well as for us. By going to the Botanical Center, I wanted people to see the other things that are out there besides home, TV, work and school. Things they could enjoy.

Why have you stuck with the program for so many years?

Because I love it. It’s not a job. It’s like my child. I gave it birth. I want it to grow. I want it to succeed.

What’s one word to describe yourself?

Happy.

What was your family like?

My grandparents are from Mexico, father from Mexico, and Mom from El Paso, Texas, but of Mexican decent. My mother could speak English but my father couldn’t. It was challenging, but I think because of those challenges, I can understand other people’s plights. Then I can get to the root of how to help them.

Did you grow up speaking English?

No. I’m a kindergarten flunky. My first day of school, my mom received a call at work to come and get me because I couldn’t communicate with the teachers. They told her to bring me back next year when I could speak English. But when I returned, my mom had worked with me so diligently that I felt like I was a third-grader. I could tie my shoes, count to 100, and read a little.

Who do you most admire?

My mother. She taught me everything. How to be wholesome. How to be sincere. To be independent. To study hard. Be all that you can be. She was poor, but we didn’t know we were that poor. She would sacrifice not having her medication so that we could get an ice cream cone. My mother ended up blind and with no legs, but even then she still was voting. She still had the Department for the Blind provide her with books. She had all kinds of challenges and barriers, but I think that’s what helped me. Those bumps in the road, they were mountains and she was able to leap over them.

How has the organization handled the debate over immigration reform?

We have a new section in our newsletter where we are going to be addressing educational issues. We will have two to three paragraphs for immigration. Our bylaws right now say that we cannot take sides with any party. We’ve always avoided it before now and now our board has decided that we’re going to amend our bylaw to allow us to at least share our political views and thoughts and use it as an educational voice.

Describe what it felt like to win the Women of Achievement award.

I am still awed that I could be so honored. I’ve never have felt that I’ve done anything to really deserve it. I look at my certificate and I think: I can’t believe it. You’re on this wall with all these women. My gosh, these are astute women. Women who I have admired for years and I’m on the same wall.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love to dance.

-Sarah Bzdega