Platform : ‘Leaders Must Be Willing to Take Risks, Sacrifice’

Good leaders are always in short supply, but even more so today in Southern California because of economic and social pressures. We asked some members of the community to define leadership and tell what makes a good leader.

MARIA ELENA DURAZO

President of Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union, Local 11, Los Angeles

When I think of leaders I’m thinking of those who are fighting for what is fair, for equality and economic justice. This takes a lot of courage because you are many times fighting very powerful people or corporations. You have to challenge yourself, be willing to take risks and be willing to sacrifice a lot for the betterment of a whole lot of people.

I see some really good examples (of good leaders) right in our own union. One of our executive board members, Pearl Daniels, a 60-year-old black woman, has gotten arrested several times, not for her own contract but to help brothers and sisters in other places win contracts for themselves. She had never done that before until she got into an atmosphere of seeing that was the only way to win. That’s the kind of leader we need more of. You don’t have to be a Cesar Chavez. Cesar talked to us many times in our union about what it takes to be a good leader and it sure isn’t easy.

WAYNE MARMORSTEIN

Owner, Pine Mine furniture store, Los Angeles

The first thing that comes to mind is understanding. Whatever it is you are trying to lead, you need to understand everything about (it).

A leader must be able to see both sides of an issue and analyze both sides. You know how when you were in school, they used to give you a (debate) subject and say, “You have to fight for (this issue)” and you’d have to come up with all these great arguments for it even though you might personally be against it. You need to be able to do that.

A leader can listen to what everybody has to say. We’re not always right; we like to think we are, but we’re not. There are other people with better ideas or who can help.

ISIS LEYVA

Junior at Orange High School, Orange

Good leaders know how to take hold of a situation and put it in order. They are open-minded and listen to other opinions. They are generous and give help with an open heart. I don’t want a leader who has all the answers, who seems like they’re God or something because they’re not. They need to be humble and spend time with the people (they’re leading.)

I was in a gang, a real pig-headed person. Then I met Robert Wachts and Robert Colderon (of Teen Challenge ministry in Santa Ana). They related to me. Robert Colderon grew up in a gang. I could see that this man has a lot of respect. I said if this man could change, why can’t I? He said I was just a statistic, the Latina gang member living off welfare. He’s showing me that I’m a person that can be respected, not because people are scared of me. (I’ve had) six months without being in trouble.

GUY LEE

Guy Lee & Associates talent agency, Burbank

A good leader is one who is inspiring, who has a sense of direction.

C. Bernard Jackson, head of the Inner City Cultural Center in Hollywood, comes to mind. This is a minority (theater) group that started after the Watts (riots) and progressively held its own and is still doing good things. I attribute that to Mr. Jackson’s leadership.

He’s doesn’t try to get publicity for himself. He’s serving the community very unselfishly. He’s given his whole life to this theater. He’s a brilliant talent in his own right but has put it aside for others.

GENE HALE

President and CEO of G&C; Equipment Corp., Gardena

You have to have the ability to withstand a lot of pain to be a good leader. A lot of times you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t; you just can’t please everyone. You must have the ability to feel as though what you’re doing is right for the common good, as opposed to the individual good; that’s where you’ll start to experience the pain.

In the business community, we have a lot of good leaders. Ed Lara, president of Westside Distributors, and Larkin Teasley, president of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance, the oldest black insurance company in California, come to mind. Anytime you can take those kinds of businesses and maintain a certain semblance of sanity through a recession, you’ve done well. Non-minority insurance companies have been aggressive in terms of getting minority business now, especially the African-American business. And as for Lara, the distribution of alcoholic beverages is very competitive. To stay in business (as long as the company has) says a lot about their ability to look at a situation and look into the future, if you will, and make the adjustments that are necessary to continue.

JUDE NARITA

Actress/writer, Redondo Beach

A leader is one who has a vision that benefits more than oneself.

I think of Colin Cox, who has his Will & Co. at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. He’s opened up theater to those who’ve been shut out by economics or language. His vision is to have a multiethnic company of classically trained actors who can also do contemporary works from around the world. This means he opens up the leads to all people so Caucasians are neither excluded nor the sole people cast. He put on “A Christmas Carol” in sign language. He wants all people to feel that this is their theater.

He’s been doing this for many years. He’s poured in his savings, his time and his energy. He doesn’t care about anything material and sometimes even forgets to eat. He’d rather give a workshop in the schools; his favorite (one) is in Watts.

I’ve gone down to (the theater) to help with mailings. A lot of people, teachers and professionals, come together to work for Colin because they admire what he’s doing.