INTRODUCING ANGELO FALCÓN

By Joan Hollendonner

“We can’t afford to write off 5 million Latinos to alcohol abuse and 5 million to tobacco use. We have the know-how and numbers to change those statistics.The real challenge is for the Latino community and the nation as a whole to find the will,” explains LCAT Board member Angelo Falcón.

Mr. Falcón is Senior Policy Executive with the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund in New York City and heads its Policy Division, which he founded.

He oversees the Division’s work in a wide range of areas including welfare reform, voting rights, census, nonprofit research and language policy.

“Policy change is the key if we are to decrease these unconscionably high numbers,” notes Falcón. “We must demand and pursue public policies that discourage the harmful use of alcohol and tobacco. LCAT does this, and it is a critically important role.”

It is LCAT’s work in the policy arena that enticed Falcón to expand his Board activities to include LCAT. He also sits on such Boards as the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, Latino Alumni Association of Columbia University, and Center for Excellence in NYC Governance of New York University (NYU), and co-chairs the New York Chapter of the National Hispanic Media Coalition and Roundtable of Institutions of People of Color at NYU.

“Policy change does not occur out of thin air,” says Falcón. “There has to be a push for it, as well as an environment that is accepting of the change. This is what LCAT is building through its community mobilization and public education activities—the push and the receptivity.”

Mr. Falcón brings both vision and passion to LCAT’s Board. When asked what policy change would look like in Latino communities, he responds avidly: “It can remove offensive and exploitive advertising, the kind that demean Latino women and capitalize on our cultural symbols. It can end the saturation of our neighborhoods with alcohol outlets—bars, restaurants and stores that sell alcohol. Like alcohol advertising, alcohol availability is disproportionately concentrated in ethnic minority communities. Policy change also can go a long way to preventing tobacco and alcohol from getting into the hands of our children.”

Can LCAT be effective in preventing alcohol and tobacco use among Latinos? Drawing on lessons from his multi-faceted career as a political scientist, educator, and author of numerous books and articles on Latino politics and policy issues, he replies: “LCAT has been around since 1989. It is well established with a capable and dedicated staff and Board. LCAT collaborates with many outstanding partners and hopes to collaborate with many more. It must continue to issue the wake-up call to our 37 million fellow Latinos. When the community answers the call, without question there will be success. With the will, there comes a way.”