The British Medical Journal recently released a study that says “people’s happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected.”

There’s no truer time when that statement can be applied than at Christmas. It’s this time of the year when everyone is asked to dig a little deeper into their pockets and put a smile on someone else’s face.

Peter Barrera at the Improv

Yet, a unique event at the Addison Improv next week aims to put a happy twist on Christmas-giving this year.

Next Tuesday, local comic Peter Barrera will hold a toy drive at the Addison Improv. In return to bringing an unused, unwrapped toy, people will be feted to a comedy show with a line-up that is bound to put a smile, and illicit a few belly laughs, from everyone who goes.

The comedy line-up features: Barrera, Josh Barrera (a semi-finalist in NBC Stand-up for Diversity Tour), Mark Agee (Last Comic Standing), and the headliner for the evening, Paul Varghese (Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing).

In an e-mail to Latina Lista, Barrera writes, “These toys are going to the Santa’s Helpers’ organization which provides toys for kids who would otherwise have a dismal Christmas.”

In these tight economic times, what better bargain is there than to be able to make a child’s Christmas brighter while also receiving the gift of laughter too.

Where: Addison Improv
When: Tuesday, December 9, 2008; 8 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.)
Reservations: 972.404.8501
Cost: One unused, unwrapped toy or $12 admission

Filed 6 de Diciembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

By Arlinda Arriaga
Staff writer of the North Texas Daily
The official student newspaper of the University of North Texas

Texas' fastest-growing population is changing the face of NT.

Hispanic student enrollment at NT has increased 48 percent in the past five years, according to enrollment management numbers.

In 2003, NT's Hispanic enrollment was 2,812, and in fall 2008, it increased to 4,174.

Troy Johnson, associate vice president for enrollment management, said a change in enrollment was a measure of the university's growing diversity.

"I think that reaching the 4,000 mark is a significant milestone for the university and the Hispanic population," Johnson said.

Patrick Vasquez, director of Center for Outreach and Community Enrollment, said he thinks the increase is because of a number of factors.

"I think there's a lot of initiatives that support the minority population, not just at NT, but statewide," Vasquez said. "It's also because of the growth in the demographic population."

International relations junior Sergio Guzman said he feels NT has been better at attracting Hispanic students.

"When I began here three years ago, the environment didn't offer as many resources as it does today," Guzman said.

According to the fall 2007 enrollment numbers, Hispanic females led in enrollment compared to men. The enrollment numbers were also distributed by college and showed a significant enrollment of Hispanics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Vasquez said NT programs such as the G-force program, a program that encourages minority high school students to go to college, and the Champions of Outreach, a mentoring program geared at giving presentations to elementary and middle school students, have been effective in actively recruiting Hispanic students.

"UNT is good at developing and implementing programs that are supportive to Hispanic students and families," Vasquez said, "But we know there is a still a gap that remains."

Filed 26 de Noviembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

DALLAS — One of the last vestiges of a glass ceiling that doesn't yet have "18 million cracks" in it for Latino representation are the boards of nonprofit organizations.

In Dallas, there exists an under representation of Latinos on boards of nonprofit organizations. Gary Godsey, president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, says his organization works closely with 95 nonprofit organizations and all need and want Latino board members. The problem is they don't know how to find them.

That's where the Dallas Concilio of Hispanic Service Organizations comes in.

Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Dallas Latinos, the Concilio launched a new initiative grooming Latino professionals to sit on area nonprofit boards. Concilio officials created the two-part training program teaching expectations, duties and responsibilities for prospective board members.

In turn, the hope is that more Latino professionals will learn what it takes to help nonprofit organizations beyond simple volunteering, and answer the call.

Filed 22 de Noviembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

Though Barack Obama has finalized his choice of Chief of Staff (Rahm Emanuel) and is already focused on putting his administration together, the buzz from Tuesday's election is still fresh on people's minds.

Therefore, we're posting some freshly edited video of Latina Lista's election night coverage from Dallas, Texas.

As in all parts of the country, people came together to watch the election. In Dallas, it was an area known as the Bishop Arts District which served as the headquarters for the Dallas Democratic Party.

Latina Lista Special Correspondent Rebecca Aguilar asked some Dallasites their feelings on the election and their hopes for the future.

(Latina Lista thanks Manuel Vasquez from Doce Productions for being an awesome videographer and film editor and Rebecca Aguilar who illustrates why she was chosen Hispanic Journalist of the Year in 2007.)

Latina Lista 01 from Doce Productions on Vimeo.

Continue reading "Latina Lista's Election Night Coverage Lives On and on and on and …" »

Filed 6 de Noviembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

DALLAS — The Bishop Arts District, a Dallas suburb served as the stage for the Democratic election night headquarters. With its easy mix of trendy restaurants, modern art galleries and offbeat shops, it was a perfect backdrop for the hundreds of people of all ages, races and professions who filled the streets to witness history in the making.

Latina Lista special correspondent Rebecca Aguilar interviews Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba Garcia.
(Source: James Khattak)

Along with the throngs, Latina Lista was there filming the night. Latina Lista special correspondent, Rebecca Aguilar, spoke with people about why they were there, what the election of Barack Obama meant to them and the future of the country.

But as the old saying goes — pictures speak louder than words. Latina Lista contributor, photographer James Khattak, shared some memorable photos of the unforgettable night — none of which should need a caption.

Filed 5 de Noviembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

DALLAS — Due to an unforeseen budget shortfall, the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) had to lay off 630 employees, teachers comprised 375 of those positions and 320 retired or resigned voluntarily.

While it was an emotional time for the laid-off employees, some are charging that the layoffs had a racial undertone to it. Some employees are enraged that certified teachers were let go while uncertified, bilingual teachers brought in from foreign countries were allowed to stay and even protected from the layoffs.

Though DISD has a majority Latino student population, the employees that questioned the decision to protect bilingual teachers from the layoffs allege that students enrolled in the bilingual programs don't advance in English as they should. Thus, they feel the bilingual teachers aren't really teaching in two languages.

Also, former DISD employees were angered to hear a rumor that the Superintendent, Michael Hinojosa, was going to replace teachers and staff with people earning pay on an hourly basis.

"If they don't show up, they don't get paid," this teacher said. "If this goes down, what it amounts to is DISD educating kids with day laborers."

Even with the staff trims, the Texas Educational Association isn't convinced that the district has solved its financial problems and will continue to monitor the situation to see if further oversight is needed.

Filed 25 de Octubre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

CARROLLTON — When Ron Branson won the mayor's seat of Carrollton, he vowed to create a special committee to help crack down on undocumented immigrants in the town. It was a campaign promise made as part of his platform to rid the city of Carrollton of undocumented immigrants.

However, instead of choosing who will be on the special committee, Mayor Branson is pointing fingers at who derailed his idea. Branson blames Carrollton City Council member Herb Weidinger when he withdrew his support for the committee.

In turn, the Carrollton City Council couldn't agree on the details of the selection of the committee members or its mission. Finally, recommendations were made to let four subcommittee members study illegal immigration in lieu of creating a special citizen's task force on the subject.

The four committee members who will study the issue are: Mayor Branson, Councilmember Weidinger, Mr. Willimas and Terry Simons. The first order of business will be an immigration symposium planned at the end of the year with a law professor and representatives from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mayor Branson said that officials from other cities would be invited to the symposium slated for near the end of the year.

Filed 13 de Octubre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

DALLAS — In the on-again, off-again battle between the Dallas City Plan Commission and the city's Hispanic leadership over which street in downtown Dallas will be renamed after Latino civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, comes yet another suggestion.

A Dallas city council member suggested that the Farmer's Market be renamed the Cesar Chavez Farmer's Market. Hispanic leaders were lukewarm to the idea and are still holding out hope that the Dallas City Plan Commission will vote to change the name of Ross Ave. to Cesar Chavez. However, the Dallas County's historical commission has gone on record opposing the name change feeling that the Ross Ave. name has "historic familial significance."

The historical commission, an arm of county government, plans to submit its thoughts to the City Plan Commission before the ruling later this week.

Filed 23 de Septiembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

FARMERS BRANCH — On Friday, September 12, 2008, the city of Farmers Branch found itself the target of a complaint filed in federal court against the city's insistence of trying to enforce a city-wide ordinance that would require all renters to register their presence with the city and obtain an occupancy license.

The complaint was filed by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of Texas. The complaint charges that Farmers Branch Ordinance 2952 violates the U.S. Constitution and federal and state statutes by trying to enforce immigration law, a responsibility of the federal government.

Though the city has tried twice before to enforce the ordinance, and both times it was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge, the city refuses to give up. The latest attempt was to start enforcement of the renter's ordinance on Monday, September 15, 2008.

"Far from curing the defects of the previous ordinances, the new ordinance continues to violate the Constitution. Rather than ending the city's misguided meddling in people's lives, it seeks to expand its reach by subjecting everyone to this intrusive registration and licensing regime, which would expose private domestic arrangements and personal details," noted Omar Jadwat, staff attorney for the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project.

Filed 15 de Septiembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

DALLAS — The consulates of Mexico, El Salvador and Peru, along with the honorary consulates of Paraguay, Ecuador and Chile have joined forces to serve and defend the rights and interests of their citizens living in North Texas.

Calling themselves "Grupo Latinoamericano Consular de Dallas y Fort Worth" GRULAC-DFW (Latin American Consulate Group of Dallas and Fort Worth), the consul generals of the consulates want to identify the common social problems that confront their compatriots and promote what each country has to offer from a commercial point of view.

Also, the consul generals want to work with local authorities regarding the treatment of immigrants.

"There it is important that we get closer to the (local) authorities and clarify what is the reality in which we live. In this way, we are going to have much more voice and strength if we do it as a group," said Enrique Hubbard Urrea, Mexico's consul general in Dallas.

In an interview with EFE news service, Hubbard said this was the best time for the consuls to seek closer dialogue with authorities to negotiate, establish and promote culture, tourism and investments.

On the other side of the coin, the consuls also want to use the group as a way to resolve the issues and concerns that plague their respective communities during a time of heightened prosecution of immigrants who are undocumented.

Last year, the Mexican and El Salvadoran consuls in Dallas met with authorities in Irving, Texas before the rumors that its agents used racial profiling to stop and then prosecute Hispanics solely for having committed a traffic offense.

According to Mario Roger Hernandez, Consul General of El Salvador in Dallas, with GRULAC, they are able to diminish the "misunderstandings and confrontations because there will be a block of dialogue presented when there exists common problems like immigration."

On September 10, GRULAC-DFW will have its first real test by hosting an import and export conference entitled "Doing business with Latin America."

The hope is that this conference, along with future ones, will give a wider audience information about the variety of investments available south of the border.

Filed 6 de Septiembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

DALLAS — María Martínez, the woman who was arrested for using a false Social Security card when she applied for a job in a cafeteria located in a local hospital, opted to return to Mexico though she had a good chance of staying in the United States.

Martinez' daughter said that her mother signed the papers to be voluntarily deported back to her native state of Jalisco in Mexico without consulting her lawyer or relatives and was pressured by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to sign the papers.

The daughter said that her mother suffered from pneumonia and doesn't tolerate cold places like the holding cells. The ICE officials told her mother that if she didn't sign the papers she would spend a long time in those cells even though her lawyer attested to the fact that Martinez' immigration hearing was to be held in less than a week.

Martinez' lawyer further stated that Martinez was in the process of gaining legal residency and had no prior criminal record and would have been able to receive bail and could have prevented her deportation.

Yet, because Martinez voluntarily deported she may have ruined any chance to legalize her residency.

Filed 15 de Agosto, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

CARROLLTON: Maria Martinez thought she was meeting with hospital human resource officials last month to sign paperwork for a job at a private chain cafeteria located in Trinity Medical Center in Carrollton, Texas. Instead, Martinez was met by police who were waiting for her arrival, tipped off by hospital officials.

Martinez is a 40-year-old undocumented immigrant who had submitted a fake Social Security card to apply for the job. Initially when hospital officials realized that Martinez had submitted a fake card, they told her they couldn't hire her and sent her home. Yet, the next day, hospital officials called her back and reoffered her the position and told her that the documents were not needed anymore.

So Martinez, eager for work, happily returned. Only this time, she was arrested by Carrollton police who placed her in a detention facility with an immigration hold. They are charging her with tampering with government records. She faces two to 20 years in prison before being deported if she's found guilty.

Filed 10 de Agosto, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)