Ana Navarro is a Nicaraguan-American political commentator and strategist. She has commented on numerous news channels including CNN, CNN en Español, ABC News and Telemundo. She was the National Co-Chair of the Hispanic Advisory Council for John McCain in 2008. All of her experiences have shaped her into the woman she is today and she spent time at the University of Florida discussing them.
Navarro was the speaker invited to one of UF's Hispanic Heritage Month events known as Forum. This year's HHM theme was Stand up, Speak up, Empower. Navarro lives by this theme because she firmly believes in standing by your principles and speaking up for what you believe in. Navarro referred to herself as a "survivor" of the Republican party because she stands firm with her Republican beliefs, yet does not feel as though the current party represents the party of the 80s and 90s that she grew up with. For these reasons, she encouraged students to not be disillusioned and instead speak out about what they believe in and causes they care about.
During her one hour and thirty minute Q&A session, Navarro discussed topics like DACA, the hurricane efforts in Puerto Rico, Richard Spencer and how she came to find and discover her own political and personal views. She urged the Hispanic/Latinx students in the audience to try and understand the gap between our communities. She discussed the fact that sometimes a Cuban-American who fled Castro's regime does not understand the struggles of a Mexican-American and vice versa. She urged us to stand up for one another and work to understand all of our community's backgrounds. She also discussed how growing up in Miami, FL, with a large Republican presence shaped her views and led her to where she is today.
Navarro talked about one of her mentors and friend, IIeana Ros-Lehtinen, who was the first Republican woman elected to the House in Florida. Through the people Navarro has worked with and met, she has learned how important it is to stand by your beliefs and defend them. In accordance with this year's theme, Navarro was truly an empowering voice urging students to stand up and speak up.
