iF October DIGITAL September-October 2020 | Page 8

the first word
EDITOR’S NOTE
I
I want to thank all of you for being such gracious
inspiring hosts to me the last few years
as I entered the International Arena in Houston.
I especially want to thank our Publisher Val
Thompson for his vision and for approaching
me early on and asking me to be a part of IF. I
myself am a Guatemalan American and my family
has always been involved in international relations.
My father, Eric Prera, and mother Sandy
both worked in Guatemala helping the indian
population. My stepfather was Mr. Physical Fitness
USA, Paul Bernstein, a Korean veteran. Together
as a team we promoted the fitness and
longevity lifestyle globally for 25+ years before
his passing. I was excited from the beginning at
the ability to showcase the world and Houston’s
unique diversity.
It has been a pleasure working with and capturing
Houston’s International Community the last
4+ years as IF Magazine’s Chief Photographer
and Global Journalist. Through the many special
events and international business forums I
have had the opportunity to attend, I have been
inspired by community leaders from all nations.
The dedication and pride that the diplomatic
appointees to Houston show in the countries
they represent to us is a model worthy of imitating.
Their photos have graced our covers, and
their stories have been our features over the
years. It has been my distinct privilege to play a
significant part in sharing their experiences and
their cultural heritage with you. Coming from
a fitness, entertainment, and art background, it
has been a joy to portray the different countries’
unique art, culture, music, and entertainment
styles.
Since March of this year there has been a struggle
for everyone living in Houston and the rest
of the world. It has been impressive to witness
how the international communities have come
together to help each other and their Houston
neighbors.I have witnessed so many miracles
of the communal spirit and people supporting
each other through this time. Houston is an example
for the rest of the country as a genuine
melting pot. The various communities we have
of immigrants shows how they are able to maintain
their traditions in food and culture while
at the same time, they participate in the life of
Houston and experience the American way of
life. And they are happy and generous in sharing
their lives with the rest of Houstonians.
As we move forward, we are in this together, and
I look forward to serving in a new capacity as
IF Magazine’s editor-in-chief, I hope to get to
know all of you better. Together we can continue
to publish Houston’s most talked about
magazine and continue to be a voice for all the
international communities that call Houston
home, be it for a lifetime or for a few years as
a diplomat. We hope that they will come back
to visit Houston and reconnect with us. I want
to be a part of a bigger and better International
Focus Magazine and to play a significant part in
that growth.
Heidi
Thank you,
Heidi Powell-Prera
Editor-in-Chief
IF Magazine
8 iF Magazine |September-October 2020