San Diego Metropolitan - 20/20

Susan Albin sees the United States/Mexico border as “something we share, not something that divides us.” With that view firmly in mind, she is concerned with people on both sides. She says her interest stems from growing up in California and frequently traveling in Mexico with her family.

Now living and working Downtown, Albin has border expertise in her job conducting business development/Hispanic relations for Fleishman-Hilliard International Communications. She participates in many civic organizations, including the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Partnership.

For the past few years, Albin has been a volunteer for “Stations for Saving Lives” in the Imperial Valley desert. The effort provides water in the summer and blankets and warm clothing in the winter for illegal immigrants crossing the border in the rugged mountain terrain.

“I don’t do it to facilitate illegal crossing, but to save lives,” she says. She calls the project one of the most rewarding activities of her life. Lately she has become involved in Project Mercy, which helps build houses in Tijuana.

In addition to frequent travel in Mexico, Albin has studied in Oaxaca and spent time in Jalisco.

This is the fourth year at Fleishman-Hilliard for the San Jose State University graduate. Her degree in communications and Mexican American studies prepared her for establishing a Hispanic capabilities division at the public relations firm, and for identifying opportunities for companies to reach the Hispanic community.

Although Albin also is involved in non-Hispanic efforts — the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for breast cancer and fund-raising for AIDS organizations — the Hispanic Chamber takes much of her time. She attends as many chamber events as possible and has been elected for a two-year term on its board.

Since joining the organization, Albin has worked on the chamber membership committee, reinstated new-member breakfasts, upgraded the newsletter to a magazine format and served on the installation dinner committee for 2001 and 2002.

Albin sees the border as an opportunity for positive interaction, she says, because “we share so much culturally.”