myriam grajales-hall bio
From Extension Collaborative Wiki
Vice-Chair Myriam Grajales-Hall
Myriam Grajales-Hall came to the USA as an exchange student from Colombia to pursue her dream of becoming an interpreter with the United Nations; but while studying Spanish, French, and English at a Southern California college, she stumbled into a position at a Spanish radio station. "It was there I learned what a valuable service public affairs programs can be to the Latino community," Grajales-Hall said. "As the public affairs director, I could invite and interview people from all walks of life and use the airwaves to share important information with the community."
Grajales-Hall took that concept with her to the University of California Cooperative Extension 25 years ago when she was hired to work on its own newly established Spanish-language radio service. Today, News & Information Outreach in Spanish (NOS) produces a monthly release of Spanish-language radio clips, plus Spanish-language mass media and social marketing campaigns, videos, curricula, and online educational material.
"When I came to the U.S. to study, I could identify with difficulties of immigrants who wanted to find a better life here. But I had so many advantages they did not. I have profound respect for the hard work of immigrants and ethnic communities considering the hardships they often encounter," Grajales-Hall said. "I consider it a privilege to contribute, even in a small way, to help the Latino community to learn new things, to be better informed, and to live their lives with practical information about nutrition, farm safety, and parenting."
"Working with ethnic communities reminds me that even though our upbringing, backgrounds, and accents might be different, our essence as human and spiritual beings is not any different. Ethnic communities provide me with a richness, texture, and flavor that I value immensely!"
Myriam has been associated with the University of California's News & Information Outreach in Spanish program since 1981. Currently she is Program Manager, with special responsibilities for Cooperative Extension and the Spanish-Language broadcast and print media.
