Millennial Author and "Most Influential Millennial" Paulo Sibaja Urges His Generation to Heed Coronavirus Warnings

Washington, DC- National Latino relations expert, millennial author of the book "Can We Call Them Mexican? An Easy Guide to Understanding and Marketing to U.S. Latinos," and one of the Washington Examiner's 2014 Top 40 Millennials Under 40, Paulo Sibaja released the following statement urging millennials to "be the someone who does that something" as it relates to the coronavirus pandemic:

Panic begets panic. Fear begets fear.

And fear can lead us to act inhumanely towards one another. 

Today, I choose not to panic. Today, I also choose to forcefully reject fear. Rejection of the coronavirus fear does not mean ignoring it is happening. I am always reminded of Benjamin Franklin’s quote: an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure. Now is the time to act, work together, each contributing our ounce in preventing this virus from spreading, overwhelming our healthcare system, and further taking our grandparents, our sick friends, as well as society’s most vulnerable. 

Our sacrifices today will mean we could stave off disaster tomorrow. 

Often times in examining history, we turn to each other and ask, “Why didn’t someone do something?” or “Why didn’t society do more?” Today, we should say to one another, “Let’s be that someone who does that something.”

Since March 10, I have practiced a combination of social distancing and self-quarantine. And in doing so, I hope my decision contributes to stopping the spread of this virus. This in addition to religiously washing my hands, wiping things down, using my feet to open doors, and every other recommendation given to us via the CDC. 

My fellow millennials may think, “Paulo, you are being dramatic, you are letting fear take over!” Quite the contrary, it is with a sound, calm mind I make this decision. I chose to be that someone who does that something. Today, I urge my generation to be that someone who does that something too. 

Sometimes in our life we are given a great task, it may seem insurmountable, and it is how we respond that determines who we really are. It will test our mettle, define who we were when the tough got going. The Greatest Generation knows this, soldiers who have fought in wars know this, medical professionals who go to work every day to treat our sick and deathly ill know this. Today, I ask my fellow millennials, "Who will we be?"

The changes to my life do not begin to mirror the sacrifice of those doctors, nurses, soldiers, and people who spend countless hours working on a solution and implement a plan of action. 

To my generation I say: Let’s reject fear together, let’s act, together, to tell this virus, “Not today, coronavirus, not today!”


About Paulo Sibaja
Paulo Sibaja is a national expert in Latino relations. Having worked with presidential, senatorial, and congressional political campaigns, national and international nonprofits, businesses small and large, as well as top media outlets, Paulo is called upon for his insightful and practical approach to engaging America's U.S. Latinos. As the President of P.S. Marketing, Paulo helps top leaders, organizations, and companies bridge the information gap. Paulo was born in Costa Rica and moved to the United States when he was nine years old. In 2014, Paulo was named one of the most influential millennials in America by the Washington Examiner for his national political work. He has addressed crowds ranging from 10- 10,000 people. You may learn more about Paulo Sibaja here. 

Paulo Sibaja is available for television, radio, and print interviews to encourage millennials and U.S. Latinos to take action today to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.