Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Rafael Gonzalez, Esq.

I lost my mom, Miriam Lera Gonzalez, eight years ago. I miss her. I think about her every day. She was, still remains, and will forever be my inspiration, source of pride, and clear example of our immigrant story.?

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage, I dedicate my thoughts and hopes and thanks to her and her memory. Each of us owe those who have made it possible for us to be here, those who have enabled us to live in freedom and peace, those who have allowed, encouraged, and nurtured us to grow, prosper, and become.?

I am forever in her debt for her sacrifice, her perseverance, her determination, her spirit, and for her love, respect and admiration of our great nation. It is with this gratitude in mind and heart that I again celebrate our Hispanic heritage and the American dream.

I am the American Dream.?

I am the embodiment of the eternal dream of every immigrant who has ever landed on this incredible and amazing country.

My history is your history. My dreams are your dreams. My story is your story.?

Like you, I was born in another land, in another time, in another culture.

And like yours, my family sacrificed everything they had, everything they owned, everything and everyone they loved.

They did so that I could arrive at these shores, this amazing land of opportunity, this melting pot where dignity and respect are the rule of law.

They brought me here so that I could have a chance to live in peace, so that I could work and prosper, so that I could become all that I was destined to be.

They gave up their country, their family, their lives, so that I could have a chance at an education, become a professional, a man of knowledge, of peace, of words.

My history is your history. My dreams are your dreams. My story is your story.?

Like you, I bear the burden of such dreams, of such expectations, of such aspirations.

And like you, I have not only embraced them, I have made them my goals, my dreams, my life.

They are an integral part of who I am, who I want to become, who I will always be.

Like you, I do not awaken to any day in which my sole focus isn't to honor the sacrifice my family has endured to provide me with the opportunities I am blessed with.

As it is for you, it is a life long debt I could never repay, an eternal gift that my great-great-grandchildren will know about, and will be thankful for.

As it is for you, it is a determination that today, every day, and forever, I will nurture and pass on their gift of freedom, of peace, of respect, of dignity, of opportunity, of admiration, of love.

You are the American Dream.?

You are the embodiment of the eternal dream of every immigrant who has ever landed on this incredible and amazing country.

Your history is my history. Your dreams are my dreams. Your story is my story.?

All of us here today share a humble beginning, a dream of success, the determination of hard work, the love, comfort, and support of family, and the desire to share the fruits of our labor.

It is what generations of immigrants to this rich and fertile land have again and again proven to be the formula for success, the key to making it, the centerpiece of thankfulness.

Let's also be honest with each other. As all of you can also attest to, living as an immigrant is not easy. Our parents struggle, our grandparents suffer, and our brothers and sisters go without.

As each of us could speak to, growing up poor, living from paycheck to paycheck, and struggling to pay rent and feed your family is always difficult, always challenging, but never disheartening, unforgiving, or without reward.

As each and everyone of you in attendance here today can provide testimony about, that struggle, that difficulty, that sacrifice, that dedication, that perseverance, it is what sets us apart, what makes us different, what pushes us forward, what motivates us, what liberates us.

It shapes us, it molds us, it becomes us. Undeniably, it affects us, it reminds us, it is us.

We are Hispanic immigrants to this wonderful, caring, and loving nation. We come from every Hispanic country in Central and South America. We share a culture, a language, a history together.

Although we grew up in different corners, with different customs, and different politics, we share a common belief, a common tradition, a common respect, a common faith, a common spirit.

As a people, we sing, and laugh, and dance to the same beat, the same rhythm, the same chorus. As a people, we are united, we are in unison, we are together, we are one.

As we discover each other, we learn how very similar we are, how closely related we are, how the roads we have traveled have brought us to the same place, the same goal, the same end.

We are the American Dream.?

We are the embodiment of the eternal dream of every immigrant who has ever landed on this incredible and amazing country.

We are a new generation, here to fulfill our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents dreams and aspirations.

We are here, in the greatest country in the history of the world, with opportunities abound, with a promise of liberty and justice, with a desire to do right, to do good, determined, focused, willing, hungry for a better life, for a better tomorrow.

We are one nation, with individual views, with varied interests, with divergent voices that some times make us feel we are not welcomed, that we do not belong, that this may not be our homeland.

But through it, we persevere, we push forward, we grow, we serve, we advocate, we make our voices heard, we dream, we engage, we vote, we accomplish, we become part of the fabric that makes this great land our home.

I am here because of her. I have become what I am because of her. All I have accomplished is because of her, her sacrifice, her sense of fairness, her respect for others, her decency and kindness. I am the man, the husband, the father, the leader I am today because of her love, her compassion, and her desire to make certain I understood her history, her dreams, her story.

Her history is my history, your history - our history.

Her dreams are my dreams, your dreams - our dreams.

Her story is my story, your story - our story.

About Rafael Gonzalez, Esq.

Rafael Gonzalez was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1964. Escaping communism, Rafael and his family migrated to Madrid, Spain, in 1969. Seeking freedom and opportunity, Rafael and his family immigrated to Miami, Florida, in 1974. This early experience continues to guide his principles and ideas on service, leadership, commitment, dedication, and perseverance.

Realizing the incredible opportunities this amazing country would provide him if he worked hard, Rafael graduated from Shenandoah Junior High School in 1979 and from Miami Senior High School in 1983. While at Miami High, Rafael won several local, state, and national awards, including the Miami Herald Silver Knight.?

Knowing that a higher education would provide him the tools with which to serve his community, after graduating from Miami High, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida in 1987. While at UF, Rafael received numerous scholarships, won several state and national awards, and served in various state and national organizations.

Truly understanding that a higher education was the key to his dreams and aspirations to serve those around him, after graduating from UF, Rafael earned his Jurisprudence Doctorate degree from the Florida State University in 1990. During law school, Rafael interned for the Florida Legislature and the Florida Supreme Court, received numerous scholarships, won several state and national awards, and served in various leadership roles in a number of state and national organizations.?

Based on his belief that service to those around him is at the core of success, over the last 35 years, Rafael has worked in the areas of liability, no-fault, social security, workers’ compensation, Medicare, and Medicaid, serving as corporate counsel, director, vice-president, chief legal counsel, chief executive officer, and president of the different entities he has worked at. All throughout, his focus has been on establishing, maintaining, and growing successful businesses that are committed to fairness, diversity, respect, opportunity, inclusion, growth, commitment, and financial soundness and stability.

Committed to sharing his knowledge and experience, over the last 30 years, Rafael has published numerous articles, book chapters, and books, including his series on Workers’ Compensation, Permanent Total Disability, and Medicare Set Asides. Rafael has also taught workers’ compensation, social security disability, Medicare, and Medicaid at the FSU College of Law, Stetson University College of Law, USF Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, USF Department of Occupational Medicine, USF College of Public Health, and University of Tampa.?He continues to lecture frequently on a national basis on these subjects.?

Committed to giving back to his profession, over the last 25 years, Rafael has served as Chair of the Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section and Chair of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Workers’ Compensation Section. Rafael also served as President of the FSU College of Law Alumni Association, has served on the Board of Directors of the National Medicare Secondary Payer Network, Healthcare Education Associates Advisory Board, Foundation Research Associates Medicare Advisory Board, RISE Medicare Secondary Payer Advisory Board, and Work Comp Central Comp Laude Awards Advisory Board. He currently serves as Chair of the CLM Workers Compensation Community Advisory Board, and Chair of the DRI Workers Compensation Section Medicare Committee.

Committed to serving his community, over the last 20 years, Rafael was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida Rehabilitation Council, appointed by Hillsborough County Commissioner and now US Representative Kathy Castor to its Human Relations Council, and appointed by Mayor Pam Iorio to the City of Tampa Hispanic Advisory Council.?Rafael has also served on the Tampa Bay History Center Board of Trustees, and Tampa Hispanic Heritage Board of Directors. He currently serves as Chair of the University of South Florida Latin Community Advisory Council.

After meeting at UF, Rafael and Lisa were married in 1988. After graduating from FSU, they moved to Lithia, FL. They have two sons, Alex and Andres, their pride and joy. Alex graduated from UCF in 2018. He manages all social media for Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC and continues to play the bass with Stoned Mary Band. Andres graduated from UCF in 2021. He manages all accounts receivables and invoicing for Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC and continues to play basketball.