“Like many other organizations, COMMUNITY GRAND MARSHAL
ALBERTO CORTÉS KEEPING MAMA COOKING by joel martens
Over the last 16 years Alberto Cortés has served as executive director for Mama’s Kitchen,
overseeing the nonprofit’s efforts to support the nutritional needs of people living with critical illnesses, including HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure and diabetes. The organization does this by providing home-delivered meals, pantry and nutrition education services to over 1,200 men, women and children in San Diego County annually. His leadership has successfully guided Mama’s Kitchen through the changing needs of the
community it serves and as the HIV/AIDS crisis evolved, so did the requirements of the clients they serve. In the end however, the organization’s overall commitment to providing quality services and a sense of connection to its clients, remains categorically unchanged.
Cortés discussed what he sees as essential
characteristics for a successful community organization and its leader. “In my experience the capacity to listen is at the top of the list of leadership qualities. I also believe it essential to be responsible with our words, they are a powerful tool, they will inspire, alienate or do nothing,” he said. “I try to liveThe Four Agree- ments by Don Miguel Ruiz: Be impeccable with your words. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t make assumptions. Always do your best. I fail often in living within these agreements, but I don’t give up. And sometimes, it’s as simple as expressing love and appreciation for those willing to go on a journey with you, despite the challenges and doubts experienced along the way.” He opined on the most pressing issues that we
as a community face here in San Diego: “Many in our community live in quiet despair, triggered
by poverty, isolation, hopelessness and depression,” he said. “A great value in providing home-delivered meals at Mama’s Kitchen, has nothing to do with food and everything to do with human contact. Oftentimes our delivery volunteers are the only connection our clients will have during the course of their day. It is for many the highlight of their day.” Connection is at the heart of Mama’s Kitchen,
Cortés discussed his future hopes for the orga- nization, “I envision Mama’s Kitchen being an integral component of our healthcare system. A system that readily includes nutrition as a tool of health maintenance, illness prevention and healing. I see Mama’s as the premier provider of medically tailored meals across multiple health issues including, but not limited to, HIV, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The “Food is Medicine” paradigm will be evident in all our services.”
NOTHING I MAY CLAIM TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WAS AC- COMPLISHED IN ISOLATION. THE WORK AT MAMA’S KITCHEN AND IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY IS COLLECTIVELY DONE BY COWORKERS, VOLUNTEERS, CONTRIBUTORS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, ETC., AND IT IS IN THIS COLLECTIVE SPIRIT THAT WE’RE ABLE TO AFFECT BROAD AND POWER- FUL CHANGE.”
Mama’s Kitchen started in 1990 in response to the hunger and isolation created by the AIDS epidemic: a stigmatized public health issue that triggered the expression of bias, homophobia, rank discrimination and rejection of those living with this then deadly condition,” offered Cortés. “In this hostile environment, the LGBT community and our allies stepped up to the plate to take care of our own. In the process we created a comprehensive system of care like no other; with many lessons learned, skills gained and resources developed. Today, Mama’s Kitchen and other organizations like ours, are sharing those skills and resources to the benefit of the broader community without regard to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race or ethnicity, etc. We do it with dignity, respect, and care for all those who need our services… this is why I’m honored to be a part of our community.” As to what it means to him to be named Community Grand Marshal, Cortés said this: “This very special honor is a joy, and provides the opportunity to create awareness of the wonderful work that so many people do in our community,” he said. “Nothing I may claim to have accomplished was accomplished in isolation. The work at Mama’s Kitchen and in the broader community is collectively done by coworkers, volunteers, contributors, community leaders, etc., and it is in this collective spirit that we’re able to affect broad and powerful change. This is an opportunity to acknowledge all those in our community who give of their time, talent, and treasure towards something that’s not about them.”
JULY 2018 | RAGE monthly 35
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