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Spanish paper sheds light on Herndon issues
La Luz al Mundo, which translates to "The Light to the World," is a Spanish-language newspaper that started with Herndon resident Susan Aguilar's miraculous vision.The paper, which covers news events local to the Herndon area from a Christian perspective, literally came to Aguilar in a vision, following an all-night religious revival.
Aguilar's family moved to Herndon from her native Venezuela when she was 6 years old. She attended Clearview Elementary, Herndon Middle and Herndon High schools.
She says she always wanted to start her own Spanish-language paper because existing ones lack a local focus.
"Growing up in Herndon, I was always aware of Spanish newspapers, but none of them ever had local news. Herndon needed local news in Spanish," she said.
Aguilar graduated from Herndon High in 1995 and immediately married and had four daughters, the oldest of whom is now 13. "The dream never died, but it was too crazy when all my children were small to do anything about it," she said.
Then last year, after a Pentecostal revival that lasted until 1:30 a.m., Aguilar said she had a vision of herself holding a newspaper. "It was called 'La Luz al Mundo,' because Jesus Christ is the light to the world," she said.
The monthly paper published its first edition in February, and now has a circulation of 10,000. Aguilar and her multinational staff of six translate local news events and issues into Spanish. Aguilar also writes original stories and translates local advertising into Spanish for her readers.
She said she is proud to have produced a Spanish-language campaign ad for former Herndon Councilman Harlon Reece's bid for mayor in May's town election.
"There were about 50 or so Hispanic voters in the 2006 election," she says. "This last election, there were about 300."
Aguilar also offers spiritual services to her readership. Pastor Carlos Jovel is often on hand to provide spiritual leadership to those who request it. Also, a Spanish-speaking attorney gives legal advice on Wednesdays at the paper's Dulles Center office.
"If I can keep day laborers from standing around drinking or using drugs when they can't find work, then I am doing God's work," she said.
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