Latino Author Robert Renteria to Receive Outstanding Humanitarian Award for Extensive Work with Troubled Youth
Central Asia Institute honors Robert Renteria's continuing efforts to teach, inspire and redirect teens and young adults.
- Chicago, IL (1888PressRelease) October 13, 2011 - Humanitarian. The word does not typically conjure an image of an angry, bitter, teenaged boy, engulfed in a life of drugs and gangs in the barrio of East L.A. But that was the picture of Robert Renteria, now a respected author, mentor, motivator, civic leader, and yes, humanitarian. At one point, as a high school dropout, Renteria stood at a crossroads, realizing he could continue down his current path of violence and destruction, or he could make a change that would give him a chance for education and success.
Renteria made the change by going back to school for his G.E.D., honorably serving in the U.S. Army for over seven years as an elite soldier and eventually working his way up to corporate Vice President of a publically traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. But even as Renteria created his own success, he realized that there were still too many young people who remained trapped in the barrios and ghettos. In order to show today's youth that they could break the vicious cycle of poverty and desperation through hard work, determination and education, Renteria has shared his story through his best selling book, "From the Barrio to the Boardroom," through his graphic novel, "Mi Barrio," and through his From the Barrio Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit.
Through his books, which give both a message of hope, dreams, and a strategy for success, Renteria has touched the lives of tens of thousands of teenagers and adults throughout the country. The books and accompanying curriculum (donated by the Foundation) are used in middle schools, high schools and colleges throughout the United States, as well as in churches, community centers, youth detention centers and jails.
Now, the Central Asia Institute (CAI), a nonprofit organization promoting peace and education, locally and globally, is honoring Renteria for his achievements. During the CAI's October 29th Building Bridges of Peace Conference in Chicago, Renteria will receive the Central Asia Institute's Outstanding Humanitarian Award for his unceasing efforts to inspire today's youth.
"Robert Renteria has struggled to make the world more peaceful through his selfless actions," says Sadia Ashraf, outreach coordinator for CAI. "We are thrilled to have Robert win the CAI 2011 Outstanding Humanitarian of the Year Award."
"I'm honored and thankful that CAI has recognized the value of the Barrio movement and message," Renteria says, emphasizing the common goals both organizations share. "This award proves that two worlds can come together. It's not about age, race or religion. It's about our kids and about our families and about building the future of tomorrow," he adds.
"Renteria is a true hero in real time," says his publisher Corey Michael Blake who has been instrumental to the Foundation. "What people don't know about Robert is that when he realized his book was having a major impact on the lives of our teenagers and at-risk youth, he not only left his business to start the Foundation, but he sold his extra cars, cashed out his life insurance policy and his 401k, and even sold jewelry and other personal belongings so that he could impact the lives of our youth full time. This is a man who started from nothing, climbed to the top, and then walked away from it all for the opportunity to serve what he refers to as his moral calling. Humanitarian describes him well."
The CAI's Building Bridges of Peace Conference will be held October 28th-29th at the Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL. For tickets or for more information about the event, please visit http://www.ikat.org/chicago/.
About the From the Barrio Foundation
The Foundation's Mission is to address conditions that help youth avoid choices that may lead to violence, delinquency, drugs and gangs, while promoting education, valuing a sense of pride and accomplishment, and advocating social values which foster improved self-esteem by using the books, From the Barrio to the Board Room and Mi Barrio, and curriculum, From the Barrio to the Classroom. The Foundation was formed based on the core values of Family, Education, Inspiration, Hard Work, and Determination. For more information, visit www.fromthebarrio.com.
About The Central Asia Institute
The mission of the Central Asia Institute is to empower communities of Central Asia through literacy and education, especially for girls, to promote peace through education and to convey the importance of these activities globally.
To learn more about From the Barrio Foundation, please contact Cheryl Maraffio at Cheryl ( @ ) fromthebarrio dot com or call her at 630-649-0915. To learn more about the Central Asia Institute, visit http://www.ikat.org.
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