Que Pasa? : PEOPLE

Rose Queen Liana Yamasaki calls racism a great challenge facing today’s youth. “Ethnic diversity is something that should be appreciated,” she said, reiterating the answer that helped her win the crown she will wear for the Tournament of Roses Parade. “Our generation and future generations have to learn to respect each other.” The 17-year-old senior at Alverno High School in Sierra Madre is quite a melting pot herself. She speaks Spanish with her parents and grandparents, who came to this country from Peru. Her Japanese last name reflects a grandparent who moved to Peru from Japan. Another grandparent moved to Peru from China. Yamasaki, who took ballet lessons for years, hopes to incorporate dance therapy into a career of working with handicapped children.

Jesse Durazo, the first Latino postmaster of Los Angeles, has ambitious plans to improve mail delivery and customer service. Durazo, 44, grew up in San Pedro and is the married father of three. He realized a dream when he returned in October to be postmaster of Los Angeles. He spent the last four years in Texas as postmaster of El Paso and the San Antonio area. Durazo said his Los Angeles work force of 5,000 is enthusiastic and experienced, “so we have all the right ingredients to become better,” he said. During this holiday period, retail windows will open as early as 7:30 a.m. and on Sunday.