ne of the most visible spokespersons for America's Latino community, Emmy Award-winning actor Edward James Olmos is best known for his roles in Stand and Deliver, American Me and TV's Miami Vice. Unmasking his Hollywood persona, he approaches his humanitarian work with the same dedication he brings to his acting, firmly believing that even the most daunting obstacles can be overcome with self-discipline and determination.
From the very first, Olmos believed strongly that he had a responsibility to "give back" to his community, and to the world. He maintains that, far from getting in the way of his career, his work with youth at risk actually fed his acting. "They are an extraordinary source of energy that I would not have otherwise," he says. "After an hour of speaking with those youth, I walk away with a buzzing feeling inside. Because, you're one person giving to more than three hundred people who are giving back to you. I learned that the first time I gave a talk. After I finished that day, I had to perform that night in a play. It was one of the best performances I had ever given."
Olmos once told Susan Stark of "The Detroit News" that he takes his message to at-risk youth about two or three times a week, 52 weeks a year. "The schools and detention halls are my normal itinerary and the movie is what's added on," Olmos says simply of his one-man public service program. "And what an energy base! There's nothing like it. It heals your soul. It helps you mentally, physically, spiritually. There's a real harmony now in the professional and personal parts of my life. When that happens you can really understand the ethic that says, `you are what you eat. You are what you do. You are what you think.' Like I tell the youth, I don't smoke, I don't drink and I don't do drugs. I keep a heck of a schedule, between what I do in my work and in my life. And I feel good. I highly recommend it." [Excerpt reprinted with permission.]Edward has been given too many awards to recount here. But among them are: Academy Award Nomination (for Stand and Deliver), Nosotros Golden Eagle "Special Tribute" Award (for his work during the L.A. Riots), the Desi Entertainment Award, the Hispanic Heritage Award (a national award given by representatives of both the private and public sectors), Los Angeles Heritage Award, John Anson Ford Award (given by the Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations for his "outstanding and consistent efforts to raise awareness to the need for harmonious and sensitive intergroup relations, and the promotion of civil rights for all"), the Eastman Second Century Award (given by the Eastman Kodak Company during their centennial celebration of motion pictures to honor distinguished individuals for their help and encouragement of young talent in the entertainment industry), and The Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Edward has been honored by the NAACP for his leadership toward racial unity, was named by the Colgate-Palmolive Company and the Hispanic Children's Foundation of America as their "Role Model of the Year", and was given the Harvard University Multi-Cultural Award. Edward has been given several honorary doctorates from colleges including Whittier College, Occidental College (both in the L.A. area), California State Fresno University, and the American Film Institute.
SPECIAL THANKS TO CARL WALKER, PH.D. FOR COORDINATING THIS EVENT AND TO THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION AND OFFICES OF THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS FOR FUNDING SUPPORT.
Sexuality Week 1999
University at Albany
State University of New York