Latinos Contribute to the Functionality and Greatness of the United States: Olivia Díaz

Por

Angélica Simón Ugalde

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Publicado: 18/10/2024 · 4:50 p.m. MX | Actualizado: 18/10/2024 · 4:50 p.m. MX

The glamorous city of Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, known for its grand casinos and themed hotels, was built and continues to function largely thanks to the work of the Latino community.

Daughter of Mexican parents from a small town in the state of Durango, Olivia Díaz was born in Las Vegas and has witnessed throughout her life the daily work of her father, who arrived at 16 to this city and worked for over 35 years cleaning the famous Caesars Palace Casino to support a family of six children.

Now, as the first Latina woman to hold the position of City Councilwoman in Las Vegas, representing District 03 and overseeing public works, arterial roads, traffic signs, as well as granting business licenses, housing development permits, and franchises under her jurisdiction, Díaz affirms that the Latino workforce is what allows the city to function day by day.

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“Like my father, there are many more who provide services in kitchens, cleaning rooms, maintaining facilities, landscaping, and construction… Here in Las Vegas, we’ve been that strong labor force, those tireless workers who do the hardest but necessary jobs. If you go to the hotel corridor known as The Strip, much of the labor that built those hotels was Latino; I think more than 60 percent of construction unions are Latinos, and it’s the same in the culinary industry union,” says Díaz.

“We Are Very Important”

In a conversation with the team from El Heraldo USA and TAL CUAL from El Heraldo de México, hosted by Antonio Anistro, Olivia Díaz emphasized that this is a workforce so vital that it allows the city’s economy to remain strong and thriving.

“We also bring with us those values and principles of loving family, working at 100%, not expecting anything to be handed to us, but earning everything with the sweat of our brow.”

However, the impact of the Latino community is not only in labor and the economy. It is also crucial in electing the country’s leaders.

“We are a very important vote,” she says, highlighting that Latinos are the fastest-growing population compared to any other ethnicity.

“I’m tired, as a Latina, of election cycle after election cycle, where certain people see Latinos in a negative light instead of focusing on something very positive… They want to concentrate on the small minority of people who sometimes do bad things, but that exists in all cultures and civilizations; it’s frustrating that they try to define us by a certain stereotype and fail to highlight our contributions, our strength, our integrity, and all the good we have been doing to make this country great.”

In that sense, she urges those who don’t plan to vote in the upcoming elections on November 5th not to forget that voting gives them a voice, power, and allows them to choose leaders who will respect them and recognize their contributions.

“It’s very important that we choose candidates who truly consider us and will work for us.”

Councilwoman Díaz concluded the conversation by expressing her pride that Mexico has set an example by electing a well-prepared, capable woman as president, who measures up to any candidate.

Angélica Simón Ugalde