Northern Journey Exhibit Documents Latino Accomplishments, Influence in U.S. by Fresia Rodriguez Cadavid Latino achievement in the United States has touched every avenue of life. From the sciences to literature, from music to politics, Latinos have helped to shape todayís society. These accomplishments are the theme of a new Spanish- and English-language photo exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives and on display at the National Museum of American History. Comprising 25 newly commissioned color portraits, ìOur Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievementî includes in-depth bilingual biographical highlights and excerpts from recent interviews of the subjects. Dichos, or familiar sayings, that inspired the subjects also adorn several of the portraits. Some of these sayings include ìSi se puede! (We can do it),î ìSi vale la pena hacerlo, vale la pena hacerlo bien (If itís worth doing, itís worth doing well)î and ìEl que adelante mira, atras se queda (He who doesnít look ahead, stays behind).î In addition, there are historical panels that showcase 12 Latinos and Latinas who paved the way for individuals featured in the main exhibit. The panels pay tribute to, among other s, singer Celia Cruz, social activist and founder of the American GI Forum Hector P. Garcia and actress Rita Hayworth. After seeing all of the photographs and stories, viewers walk away with a sense of the wide spectrum of Latino contributions to this country. No face or experience is alike, and the exhibit celebrates the beauty of Latino diversity. Among the 24 individuals depicted in the exhibit are Chicana author Sandra Cisneros, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Dolores Huerta, Nobel Prize-winning chemist Mario Molina and astronaut Ellen Ochoa. Photographers Luis Mallo, Celia Alvarez MuÒoz and HÈctor MÈndez-Caratini captured their subjectsí individuality through their camera lenses. The Virgen de Guadalupe, for example, set behind National Council of La Raza President Raul Yzaguirre emphasizes the spirituality from which the civil rights leader has drawn his perseverance. Joseph Unanue, founder of Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic food company in the United States, is depicted in the office from where he has built an empire. All of the photographers are Latino, which helped add an authenticity and intimacy to the relationship between sitter and photographer that shines through in the final product. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, noted for his political contributions first as a U.S. congressman, then as an ambassador to the United Nations, is caught in a pensive stareóas is Mel Martinez, a former housing and urban development secretary now seeking to become a U.S. senator. Both Henry Estrada and Evelyn Figueroa, co-project directors of the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, interviewed the subjects. ìThey really opened up their hearts to us and let us hear all about how they grew up, some of the struggles and challenges that they had. We wanted to get at the kind of knowledge that they wanted to pass on to others, what sustained them and what motivated them to get to where they are today,î Estrada explained. Homage is another undercurrent of the exhibit. One of the most notable elements in the display is a portrait of the Garza family, who live in the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Selected for their commitment to education, the family is composed of 49 members, 31 of whom hold college degrees. Knowingly or not, the Garza family provides a fitting backbone for all of the individuals featured in the exhibit because without education and commitment, there would be no achievement to celebrate. Juan Romagoza, executive director of La Clinica del Pueblo, a health clinic serving the Washington, D.C., area, is among those featured in the exhibit. He called the show a tribute to undocumented workers, immigrants and refugees. ìMany of these people remain silent and those who enter [this country] silently bring much richness and so many values,î said Romagoza. ìSeeing our Latino and Latina brothers and sisters inspires that all in their place, in an original way, have made a big contribution to this country.î Yzaguirre of the National Council of La Raza called the exhibit a great gesture on the part of the Smithsonian. ìWhat weíve got to do is to tell the American public that we are here, that we exist, that we make contributions to this country, that weíve got leaders. And this helps.î ìOur Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievementî runs through April 25 at the National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. For more information, please call (202) 633-3168 or visit www.americanhistory.si.edu. Fresia Rodriguez Cadavid is a freelance writer in Largo, Md.