Overview

Raised in the squalor of a New York tenement until he was 10 years old, Nelson Díaz saw his life change when his family moved to a brand-new high-rise project in West Harlem in the 1950s. That experience, along with lessons learned as the only Latino law student at Temple University, would drive him throughout his life as a lawyer and activist, fighting for the expansion of rights for all Americans. “No soy de aquí ni de allá” is a mantra for Puerto Ricans who feel like foreigners wherever they are and who seek a place for themselves. In his inspiring autobiography, Not from Here, Not from There, Díaz tells the story of his struggles and triumphs as his perspective widened from the New York streets and law school classrooms to the halls of power in Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Whether as a leader in economic development, a pioneer in court reform, or a champion of fair housing, Díaz has never stopped advocating for others. Díaz was happy to be the first Latino to “do something,” but he never wanted to be the last. This story of an outsider who worked his way to the inside offers powerful lessons on finding a place in the world by creating spaces where everyone is welcome.

Full Product Details

9781439913604

Table of Contents

Reviews

This book is a valuable read for all young people, but especially for children of immigrants and for aspiring Latino and African American youth. -John P. Clarke, St. John's University, New York Nelson Diaz has written a powerful and engrossing memoir of outstanding leadership, courage, and resiliency. Filled with practical advice backed by fascinating and inspiring personal lessons, victories, and challenges, this book is truly a gem-a smart read for everyone: the general public and leaders alike. An easy-to-read, invaluable resource that's packed with insight, Not from Here, Not from There provides a solid road map for all leaders who want to better serve their communities. -Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy, Rutgers University-Camden Nelson Diaz was exactly what a White House Fellow should be: smart, dedicated, and a true believer in public service. We worked together on bilingual education and employment, and his advocacy for fellow Latino voices at the highest levels of government helped usher in a change in national politics. As Not from Here, Not from There/No Soy de Aqui ni de Alla shows, he has spent a lifetime making the most of his chances and has blazed a trail for countless others to follow. -Vice President Walter F. Mondale

Diaz--a former judge, city solicitor, and member of the Clinton administration--unspools his gripping life story, beginning with his pregnant mother's 1946 voyage from Puerto Rico, winding through a youth in Harlem tenements, and concluding with his rise to prominence in Philly public life. Diaz's dual status--American but also other--is a constant theme. A vital read for turbulent times. -Philadelphia Magazine This book is a valuable read for all young people, but especially for children of immigrants and for aspiring Latino and African American youth. -John P. Clarke, St. John's University, New York Nelson Diaz has written a powerful and engrossing memoir of outstanding leadership, courage, and resiliency. Filled with practical advice backed by fascinating and inspiring personal lessons, victories, and challenges, this book is truly a gem-a smart read for everyone: the general public and leaders alike. An easy-to-read, invaluable resource that's packed with insight, Not from Here, Not from There provides a solid road map for all leaders who want to better serve their communities. -Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy, Rutgers University-Camden Nelson Diaz was exactly what a White House Fellow should be: smart, dedicated, and a true believer in public service. We worked together on bilingual education and employment, and his advocacy for fellow Latino voices at the highest levels of government helped usher in a change in national politics. As Not from Here, Not from There/No Soy de Aqui ni de Alla shows, he has spent a lifetime making the most of his chances and has blazed a trail for countless others to follow. -Vice President Walter F. Mondale

Author Information

Nelson A. Díaz, who graduated from St. John’s University in 1969 and from Temple University Law School in 1972, was the first Puerto Rican lawyer to pass the Pennsylvania Bar Examination and the first Latino judge, administrative judge, and partner in a top-100 law firm in the state. Appointed by President Jimmy Carter to a White House Fellowship and by President Bill Clinton as General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, he has had a legendary career serving as a public defender, as Philadelphia City Solicitor, and as a member of several corporate boards, including Exelon Corporation, a Fortune 100 company. His fight for civil and human rights and his promotion of neighborhood economic development and housing reform have blazed a trail for other Latinos. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Sara Manzano.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available