POOR FARMER WITH PRIDE
By Lou Carrión
 Born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, more
than 57 years ago but raised in the
United States since six months old, I
always wondered why I had such a personal
passion and love for my birthplace, the “enchanted island.” Over time, I learned
that “my people” are simple people who
have a very special love for God, family,
friends, nature,music, food, hard work and,
in general, our rich, diverse culture.
Growing up in a family of 14 siblings, I
was always surrounded with love, mentors,
disciplinarians and role models.Along with
my loving parents, these teachers taught me
much about our culture, language, faith
and great Hispanic traditions.
You can then imagine the disappointment
I felt when I entered school for the
first time in Ohio and was told that my
name would now be Louis vs. Luis and that
I should not speak Spanish in school.
Later in life, when entering my first job
after college, I still recall my first supervisor
suggesting that I should get rid of
my accent and try to “fit in” more if I was
ever to be successful. I suspect that even
today, some young child is being given the
same misguided advice by some person
in authority.
That is why I have made inclusion and
diversity such a huge part of my life both in
and out of work.We should not have to give
up or deny who we are in order to “fit in.”
Inclusion and diversity are all about recognizing
that we are all different and it is those
differences that make us special and unique.
As I speak to our youth through outstanding
organizations such as the YMCA,
Junior Achievement, COMPACT and INROADS,
I give them the same simple
advice that my dad provided me in his
dying bed more than 40 years ago: “Have
faith, believe in yourself, trust others and
work harder than anyone else in order to
achieve your dreams.”
It worked for this “little farmer,” and
I am so proud to now be able to have a
larger stage as chief diversity officer for
Embarq and make a positive difference in
this important lifetime work.
Lou Carrion has risen through the ranks of
Embarq Corp. to become both vice president of
national field sales and chief diversity officer.
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