Word Power – From the Barrio

When Robert Renteria came down the stairs and opened the door for me to enter his business center and discuss the writing of his book, I knew instantly we would work together. Robert had integrity and Robert had heart, and it was not just in his words — it was in his actions. He came outside, shook my hand and then opened the door and held it open for me as I passed. How many people these days extend such respect to someone they do not know? Indeed, I knew that Robert was special. He was the real deal.

Two years later, Robert and I have finished his inspirational memoir; a journey of truth that outlines his youth in the barrio of East LA and his teen years being involved in gangs, doing and dealing drugs, being stabbed and shot at and dishing out the same. Then Robert’s grandfather put forth the challenge to him that if he was to Leave LA and return ten years later, he would find his friends doing the same thing: drinking in bars and working dead end jobs, if they were not dead or in prison. Robert listened to his grandfather, got his GED, and enlisted in the army. Seven and half years later he returned to LA and found his grandfather’s words to have been true. Not wanting to fall into old patterns, Robert moved to Chicago and started looking for a job. He climbed the broken ladder of corporate America, successfully became VP of a publicly traded company, and was one of the highest paid people in his industry, only to eventually leave and start at the bottom, building his own business.

When Robert came to me, he had no idea where this journey was going to take him, he just knew he had a message for the youth of our country: “Don’t let where you came from dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you become.”

Over the past two months as people have started to hear about what we created together, Robert has been invited to more than a dozen events to speak, including Northeastern University and the Aurora East School District. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and we have been told that the United States Chamber of Commerce loves the message. Robert has been met with Congressmen and has been invited to speak to the Mayor, and will be attending and speaking at a luncheon of 45 area principals in January who need this message for their students. Robert has even been invited to participate in a documentary focused on the juveniles in an IL prison.

Robert is an example of the most exceptional outcome that comes from the power of words and the truth. Robert was unashamed to share his reality and give others the opportunity to learn from it. And while the connections that are occurring as a result of the book are impressive, it is these children of our nation, the under-privileged, the scared, the hungry, who most need to hear Robert’s message of hope and dreams. Their willingness to take his challenge will be the greatest accomplishment that Robert’s words achieve. He is lighting a fire under the people. A revolution of sorts. This book will change lives and as a result, Robert’s life has already been transformed. His purpose has become greater.

Robert, I salute you in your effort to create change in the Latino community, the African American community, and around the world.

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