The Power of Advocacy: Patience, Persistence, and Progress
By: Mario E Tapia,
Presidente del Latino Center on Aging
www.lcaflorida.org
Advocacy requires patience. It is not for the faint-hearted or for those who expect immediate results. Change, especially when it involves policies and services that impact the well-being of vulnerable communities, takes time. The real key is persistence, and today, I want to share an example that demonstrates the importance of staying the course in the fight for justice and fair representation for our elderly population.
In April 2024, an important forum took place at Miami Dade College West Campus in Doral, organized by the Doral Family Journal. The event brought together several experts to discuss what could be done at the individual, collective, and governmental levels to improve senior care services. The panel featured notable speakers, including Florida House Representative for District 119, Juan Carlos Porras; President/Founder of the Latino Center on Aging, Mario E. Tapia; Chief Executive Officer of United Home Care, Carlos L. Martinez; Regional Manager of Advocate Health Advisors, Lupe Bruneman; and President of the Florida Adult Day Services Association (FADSA), Jason Abdala.
Moderated by Associate Professor of Psychology at MDC West Campus, Dr. Trinidad Argüelles, the forum set the stage for a robust discussion on the future of aging in Miami-Dade County. Dr. Argüelles began by highlighting a critical point: while people today are living longer and healthier lives than previous generations, we must be proactive in preparing for the future. Each presenter shared valuable insights and recommendations, ranging from policy changes to community initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for our elderly population.
However, when it came to advocacy, the Latino Center on Aging (LCA) took a bold and dissonant stance. We questioned the methodology the Miami-Dade County Office on Aging (also known as “The Alliance for Aging”) was using to collect data on the needs of the county’s elderly population. Their approach at the time involved using a survey that mixed a group of older and younger residents, resulting in skewed and inaccurate findings that did not truly reflect the realities of the aging community.
For instance, one of the key survey questions asked respondents to identify their preferred method of receiving important information. Older participants overwhelmingly indicated that they relied on traditional media sources such as television, radio, and newspapers. Meanwhile, younger respondents favored digital communication channels such as email and social media. Because the survey combined both age groups, the results misrepresented the actual communication needs of seniors, making it difficult to develop effective outreach strategies that would genuinely serve them.
This discrepancy raised serious concerns about how the county was planning for the present and future needs of older adults. If the data used to shape policy and resource allocation is fundamentally flawed, then the decisions based on that data will also be flawed. As representatives of the Latino Center on Aging, we made our position clear: the county needed a dedicated survey specifically for the elderly population to ensure accurate data collection and informed decision-making.
At the time, our concerns were met with resistance. Change is never easy, and questioning an established process can often feel like an uphill battle. However, we remained persistent. We continued raising awareness about the issue, engaging with community leaders, and emphasizing the importance of reliable data in shaping policies that affect hundreds of thousands of seniors in our county.
This week, we received confirmation that our efforts had not been in vain. The Miami-Dade County Office on Aging recognized the validity of our concerns and conducted a new survey exclusively targeting the county’s elderly population. The results of this revised study will be published this February, and we are eager to share the findings with the community as soon as they become available.
This victory, though seemingly small, is a testament to the power of advocacy. It underscores the importance of questioning the status quo, voicing concerns even when they go against popular opinion, and, most importantly, never giving up. Advocacy is not about instant gratification; it is about persistence, about continuously pushing forward until the voices of those who are often overlooked are finally heard.
The implications of this revised survey are significant. Accurate data will allow local government agencies, non-profits, and service providers to better understand the real needs of our aging population. It will enable more effective allocation of resources, improved communication strategies, and the development of policies that truly support the well-being of seniors in Miami-Dade County.
This achievement also serves as a reminder that community involvement is essential in shaping the future of aging services. We encourage everyone—whether you are a caregiver, a family member, or a concerned citizen—to stay informed and engaged. Attend forums, ask questions, and challenge practices that do not seem to serve the best interests of our elderly population. Change does not happen overnight, but with persistence and collective effort, it does happen.
At the Latino Center on Aging, we remain committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of Latino seniors, not just in South Florida but nationwide. Our work is far from over, but this recent development serves as motivation to continue pushing forward. We thank all of our supporters, community partners, and local leaders who have joined us in this fight, and we look forward to seeing the impact of this revised study in the months and years ahead.
In closing, we leave you with this thought: advocacy is not for those seeking immediate results, but for those who understand that real, meaningful change takes time. What matters most is persistence. And as we have seen, persistence pays off.
** Editorial Note – On May 16th, Mario E. Tapia will be honored with the 2025 Senator Claude Pepper Award for Hispanic Leadership in recognition of his dedicated advocacy and contributions to improving the lives of Hispanic older adults in South Florida and beyond.