LATIN TIMES MAGAZINE - 2019 Summer Edition | Page 20

Latina Lideres Awards
in community
Margarita Gonzalez
2019 Latina Mover N Shaker
by: Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla
Life has many ironies. For example, I did not become a teacher be-
cause I was shy and later became the Executive Producer and Host
of two television programs on the City of Tampa Television, “Nuestra
Tampa” being the first of its kind. This gave me the opportunity to
provide access and information to programs and opportunities to
Hispanics and for non-Hispanics to reach the Hispanic community.
I commend Latin Times Magazine for the great work you have done
and remind anyone with a communication tool at their command,
that there is a responsibility that comes with that of not only
entertain, but inform and educate your audiences. Mil gracias.
LTM: Tell us about where you were born and raised and where
your family is from
Margarita Gonzalez: I live in Tampa, Florida. I was born in Cuba
and left in 1966 through the “Freedom Flights.” We came to the
United States looking for freedom from a communist dictator-
ship. I was born in the province of Habana and raised in a nearby
town by the name of San Antonio de los Baños where my moth-
er’s family had lived for three generations. Although my father’s
family was from the province of Las Villas, all my ancestry is
from Spain.
LTM: Tell me about what you do for a living
Margarita Gonzalez: I just retired after working almost 35 years
in government. First, I worked for former Governor Bob Gra-
ham’s Florida Commission on Hispanic Affairs, later for Port
Tampa Bay (formerly known as the Tampa Port Authority) and
was later recruited by Mayor Sandra W. Freedman to work at the
City of Tampa where I worked for almost 30 years, with her and
the three other Mayor’s that followed.
LTM: Tell me about what organizations you are a part of
Margarita Gonzalez: I have served in many organizations at a
national, state and local level, especially those serving the His-
panic community; however, I currently serve on the Hispanic
Professional Women’s Association, of which I am a co-founder
and Honorary Chair; the Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Committee
which I am the founder and Honorary Chair of as well, and the
Sheriff 's Hispanic Advisory Council where I have served since
1985.
LTM: Tell us about the biggest highlights of your career.
Margarita Gonzalez: Being able to impact the lives of so many
people. I have had the opportunity to create awareness in gov-
ernmental, business, educational, law enforcement, and cultural
settings of the needs of underserved communities, most nota-
bly the Hispanic community. I feel fortunate that my bi-lingual
communication skills have served to create many opportunities.
Many wonderful highlights, but serving on the Superbowl XXV
Committee, meeting and interviewing dignitaries and celebri-
ties, like the Prince of Asturias, Celia Cruz, and the list goes on
and on. Especially proud of having been recognized with out-
standing alumni awards from both USF and HCC and by the
Public Relations Society of America. My most recent award:
“2018 Hispanic Leadership Award” presented by the NFL and
the Hispanic Heritage Foundation which provided a $2,000
donation to the organization of my choice.
LTM: As a Latina leader in the community, business or other…
what has been your biggest challenge and how have you been
able to overcome it
Margarita Gonzalez: Breaking the stereotypes and perceptions
of non-Latinos, but ironically our own cultural biases which
traditionally saw females in a supporting role, not in leadership
positions. In many cases, I had the opportunity to be the only
Hispanic in a work setting or community-wide board in order
to overcome that I had to work twice as hard, be professional
and at the same time, educate others about my culture.
LTM: How important is being a Latina to you
Margarita Gonzalez: Maybe because I lost my country, I held
on tightly to my roots, and that gave me the opportunity to
be in touch with my heritage. I feel very blessed to be a Latina
and be part of a group of women that are intelligent, devoted,
loyal and have a wide spectrum of talents that we do not mind
sharing on behalf of our community.
LTM: IF you can go back to let’s say 18-21, what are some of
the pivotal decisions that you have made that you would do
differently
Margarita Gonzalez: I would not have let fear get in the way,
and would have been more assertive, but in my time, assertive-
ness in a woman was perceived as something else.
LTM: What famous person do you most identify with and why
Margarita Gonzalez: I admire and identify with former Frist
Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who my mother met when she was a
little girl in Cuba. She was instrumental in the creation of the
Declaration of Human Rights and served as Chair of the Unit-
ed Nations. I recommend her bio to any young Latina pursuing
her dreams. My favorite quote from her: “No one can make you
feel inferior without your consent.“
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