Summer 2010
Your Subtitle text
Diana Palomar is somewhat of a local celebrity in Chicago as she is the VP of Community Affairs for ABC 7 Chicago. She’s no stranger to her local community, and finds her greatest joys come from giving back. “I enjoy working with local people. Maybe it’s because I used to work in retail, but I’ve been doing community affairs in some capacity since 1992. I love it,” she shares. Diana currently sits on the boards of quite a few non-profit organizations. Her work with the non-profits ranges from fundraising to using corporate contacts to assist with larger events. A lot of times non-profit organizations struggle, but Diana believes in their work and their potential to uplift the community, so she never hesitates to jump in and share her resources and knowledge. Several of the organizations Diana lends her time and talent to meet various needs within the community including: care for seniors, the arts, culture, and education, but Diana confesses her passion is working with women and girls issues.
With so many women of color being victims of violence and inequality, it’s no surprise the Diana Palomar chairs the board for Mujeres Latina en Accion. This organization is very close to Diana’s heart because of all the work they do to empower women that might feel disenfranchised. Their powerful mission statement reflects the values that Diana holds dear. Mujeres Latina en Accion, a bilingual/bicultural agency, seeks to empower women, their families and youth to become self-reliant and able to take full advantage of available opportunities and create opportunities to improve the quality of their lives. She says, “As women, it’s important to help other women. Sometimes just talking to someone and sharing your experiences might help them skip what could have been a difficult step.” It’s no wonder she works so hard for this worthy cause!
Diana doesn’t work a typical 9 to 5 schedule, and working with the community often means longer work hours. “Sometimes I don’t get home until nine or ten o’clock at night,” she admits. Diana Palomar keeps a busy schedule, but she finds her work so rewarding. “Work/Life balance can be hard, but when you are doing something that makes you happy, you find a way to make it work.” For Palomar balance comes by taking care of herself and dedicating at least one day a week for quiet time. “My husband and I spend Sundays at home together. I love to cook, so Sunday I prepare a home cooked meal for us.”
It’s hard, but Diana tries to take good care of her body. “As women we have to listen to our bodies. No one knows better than us when something is wrong, so it’s important to pay attention to what your body is telling you.” When she was diagnosed with high blood pressure, she was very surprised, but she monitors her diet and her blood pressure is controlled with medication. She encourages women to know their family medical history, but also know that sometimes it’s not enough.
Fitness and staying in shape is important to Diana as well. She converted a guest room in her home to a gym, so that she could work out on a regular basis. With so many diseases out there disproportionately affecting women of color, physical activity is an important part of staying healthy. GIRLFRIENDS we should strive follow the examples set by Diana Palomar. Give back to our communities whenever possible, and always take time to take care of our bodies!
