Sí Trends

Junot Díaz: The self-proclaimed geek has made pocket protectors hip, well, at least tolerable. The D.R.-born, New Jersey-raised writer swept away literary critics and fans alike with his debut work Drown in 1996. Instead of immediately releasing a follow-up Díaz taught his skill to the next generation as a creative writing professor at Syracuse University and presently at MIT. This year his second novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao wowed enough to warrant a Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

Michelle Bachelet: While the U.S. isn't ready for a female president yet, Chile was in 2006 when they elected Bachelet as commander-in-chief. After being jailed, tortured and forced into exile by the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, Bachelet resurfaced years later to become Chile's Health Minister and, later, Defense Minister. Bachelet has inspired a generation of women including U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton. Earlier this year in TIME Clinton wrote: "In every country, on every continent women and men can draw inspiration from leaders like Bachelet, leaders with grace and courage, leaders who never give up and never give in. Count me among the inspired."

Raul Yzaguirre: During his 20-year term as the president of the National Council of La Raza the organization became the nation's premier advocacy group for Latinos. NCLR also expanded its cultural make-up by including all Latinos not only Mexican-Americans. Today he continues being one of our gente's most powerful mouthpieces in the classroom (as an Arizona State University professor) and on the world stage as he urges the political union of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.

Rosario Dawson: No one expected one of the potty-mouthed teen actress from the cult hit Kids to become a leading actress, much less, a leading activist. In addition to having a stellar Hollywood career with blockbusters like Sin City and Grindhouse, the native New Yorker has used her celebrity to urge young Latinos to vote. She co-founded the non-partisan organization Voto Latino in 2004, and has been our golden girl ever since.

Juan Gonzalez: This award-winning journalist has been lauded for his sociopolitical commentary in his articles and his books (Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America). As a columnist for the New York Daily News, Juan Gone has tackled Latino issues and post-9/11 air-related illnesses, which led to his first Pulitzer Prize in 2007. As a Columbia University student in the late 1960s he co-founded the Young Lords, a Puerto Rican revolutionary organization, and in the 1980s he also co-founded the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. This past summer he was inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame due to his vast contributions to media.

Íngrid Betancourt: This Colombian politician has been a crusader against her nation's drug woes for almost two decades. As a 2002 presidential candidate she was kidnapped by the FARC aka Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia while campaigning in a guerilla-run area. In July 2008, she was rescued along with 14 other hostages and was heralded for her perseverance and devout Catholic faith. Even though she presently lives abroad, she hasn't ruled out a return to Colombian politics. Upon her release, Betancourt vowed to educate the world on the FARC and to encourage open dialogue with alleged terrorists.

Arturo Moreno: With surnames like Rodriguez and Ortiz ruling MLB it made sense that there be a Latino owner. Enter Los Angeles Angels' Moreno. The Mexican-American billionaire bought the team from the Walt Disney Company in 2003, for a reported $180 million. Aside from doubling the Halos net worth, Moreno also delves in philanthropy. With his Moreno Family Foundation in Arizona and Angels Foundation he donates to youth education and athletics along with collegiate athletic scholarships to his alma mater the University of Arizona.