Marisa Treviño — Syndicated journalist and local public radio commentator writing about family, education and other social justice issues for over a decade. Dedicated Chicana, playwright, and citizen.

2 de Agosto 2010

A political passion to help those with no voice

—By Marisa Treviño

By NHLI Staff
LatinaLista.net

Integrating herself into Washington's political scene, Sindy Benavides, director of community outreach and voting for the Democratic National Committee, never forgets her commitment to the Latino community.


For those who know her and have been impacted by her work, much can be said about Sindy Benavides and her accomplishments to date.

sindy.jpg A proud Honduran immigrant who came to the United States when she was a mere 1-year-old and didn't start learning English until third grade, Sindy credits her immigration experience and the struggles her family endured to integrate and become full contributors to this nation with shaping who she is today.

Sindy Benavides
 

Calling Virginia home these days, this young woman's desire to serve others began when she was a teen helping to translate for people while at the doctor's office, or at a local store, or anywhere someone needed assistance.

But she was also inspired by her parents' hard work to move the family forward. Her mother, who was born in severe poverty in Honduras, became a nurse. Through hard work and determination after arriving in the United States, her mother now owns her own cleaning company.

Sindy set out to emulate her mother.

At Virginia State University in Petersburg, Sindy graduated valedictorian of her class with a political science degree. She went on to pursue a Master's degree in International Affairs from the School of Service at American University.

Upon graduation, Sindy combined her knowledge and skills with her passion to serve the Latino community. She served as Latino liaison for former Governor Tim Kaine, as well as, Director of Appointments for the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

As Latino Liaison, she worked closely with the community, leaders, diplomats, and organizations serving the Latino community throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

During this time, Sindy was an essential force in helping to defeat nearly 100 anti-immigrant bills introduced in the 2006-07 legislative session, mobilizing the Latino community to take action.

"Giving back to the community through public service is an investment in our future," believes Sindy, who in 2009 became a Fellow of the National Hispana Leadership Institute's Executive Leadership Program, a highly competitive program for mid-career Latina professionals.

NHLI quickly recognized Sindy's leadership and potential honoring her with a Rising Star award at its 2009 Executive Leadership Training Conference and Mujer Awards, an annual gathering of hundreds of Latina leaders which this year will take place in Miami, Nov 4-5.

And others have also taken notice.

An alumna of the Sorenson Political Leadership Program through the University of Virginia and the Virginia Executive Institute and Minority Political Leadership Institute through Virginia Commonwealth University, Sindy was featured as one of the top 20 People to Watch in 2009 by Richmond magazine.

Earlier this year she was named a "Women of Excellence" by Hispanic Business magazine and became 1 of 12 Latina leaders selected to participate in Project Interchange, an exchange training program of the American Jewish Committee.

Today, at 27 she is the highest ranking Latina at the Democratic National Committee where she serves as Director of Community Outreach & Voting.

Her accomplishments are impressive but recognitions aside, what makes Sindy an exceptional leader and role model is her relentless commitment to the Latino community. Also, it's her unflagging example of the type of work ethic, determination and passion that immigrants, like Sindy, bring to this nation to make it a better place to live for everyone.

About NHLI

The National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) is the premier executive leadership organization preparing Latinas for positions of national and international influence, public policy impact and to contribute to the advancement of the Hispanic community. Since 1987, NHLI has trained and empowered more than 10,000 Latina leaders from the public and private sectors who have been appointed to leadership positions in government, corporate America, nonprofits, and foundations or have started their own businesses.

NHLI is currently recruiting for its Executive Leadership Program. To find out more and apply by August 13, visit www.nhli.org.

18 de Junio 2010

Linda Ronstadt continues sharing her talents but in a new venue

—By Marisa Treviño

By Al Carlos Hernandez
Herald de Paris


SAN FRANCISCO -- Linda Ronstadt is an iconic international singer. Her many vocal styles, in a variety of genres, have resonated with the general public over the course of her four decade career. As a result, she has earned multiple Grammy awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy award, and an ALMA award.

linda.jpeg

Her numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums have included a Tony Award and Golden Globe nominations. In total she has released over thirty solo albums and more than fifteen compilations or greatest hits albums.

Ronstadt has charted thirty-eight Billboard Hot 100 singles, twenty-one of which have reached the Top 40, ten have reached the Top 10, and three peaking at No. 2. Her number 1 hit was "You're No Good." In addition she has charted thirty-six albums, ten Top 10 albums, and three Number 1 albums on the Billboard 200 Pop Album charts.

Linda Ronstadt was born in Tucson, Arizona. Her father, Gilbert, came from a pioneering Arizona ranching family and was of Mexican-American descent (with some German ancestry); a family that has contributed much to the arts and culture of the American Southwest. Her mother, Ruthmary, was of German, English, and Dutch descent.

Beginning in the mid-1970's, Linda Ronstadt's private life was given major publicity. It was fueled by a relationship with the then governor of California, Jerry Brown. Since that time, she has adopted two children, Mary Clementine and Carlos Sangria. Since 2007 Ronstadt resided in the San Francisco area while also maintaining her home in Tucson, Arizona.

In 2009, in honor of Linda Ronstadt, the Martin Guitar Company made a 12-fret, 00-42 model "Linda Ronstadt Limited Edition" acoustic guitar. Ronstadt has appointed the Land Institute as recipient of all proceeds from her signature guitar.

In August of 2009, Ronstadt, in a well publicized interview with Planet Out Inc. entitled Linda Ronstadt's Gay Mission, championed gay rights and same sex marriage. She stated that, "Homophobia is anti-family values. Period, end of story."

On January 16, 2010, Ronstadt converged with thousands of other activists in a "National Day of Action." As a native Arizonan and coming from a law enforcement family, Ronstadt stated that her "dog in the fight" was the treatment of illegal aliens. She has serious concerns with Arizona's enforcement of the rule of law and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration efforts.

On April 29, 2010 Ronstadt began a campaign (including joining a lawsuit) against Arizona's new illegal immigration law, SB1070, calling it, "A devastating blow to law enforcement. The police don't protect us in a democracy with brute force." This is something she said she learned from her brother Peter, who was the chief of police in Tucson.

In May, 2009, Ronstadt received an honorary doctorate of music degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music for her achievements and influence in music as well as her contributions to American and international culture.

Recently, Linda Ronstadt has emerged as a major arts advocate in the United States. In 2008, Ronstadt was appointed Artistic Director of the San José Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival held in San Jose, California. She continues to present the festival this year, a festival that is touted to be the biggest and best ever.

Now in its 19th year, the San José Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival presents a week long schedule of music and educational events. To celebrate Mexico's bicentennial in 2010, the festival has expanded to include terrific cultural programming throughout the year.

The Mexican Heritage Festival has recently won an $800,000 grant to run three summer music and dance camps for children of low-income families in San Jose. This year's theme of the Festival is Solderadas (a solderada is a female soldier). They commemorate the centennial celebration of the Mexican Revolution from 9/15 until 9/26 with a week's worth of cultural activities consummating in a stellar concert.

Ronstadt, as well as festival guest special honoree United Farm Workers Union founder Dolores Huerta, believe that Mexican woman have fought side by side with men against social injustices, as they do to this very day. Strong women of political action and awareness should be celebrated and appreciated for all of their important work and lifetimes of sacrifices.

Herald De Paris Deputy Managing Editor Dr. Al Carlos Hernandez (AC) was invited to Linda Ronstadt's (LR) San Francisco home by dear friend and festival creative director, Dan Guerrero* to talk about her latest endeavor. She is quite the gracious host.

AC: We live in a post-ethnic society. Why the Mexican festival? Who is it for - us or another culture?

LR: In our culture you can't say that there is Mexico and there is USA. There are Mexicans in the USA but there is also this third culture. It is the conversation that is back and forth between the Americans and the Mexicans.

It was hard for the guys in Los Lobos, for example, because they are in between two worlds, They are not fully Mexican, yet, they are fully American with Mexican culture and ancestry, Where do they fit in?

I remember going to Mexico as a young woman. My accent is very good but I cannot speak much Spanish. While talking to the cab driver he asked me where I was from, I said I was from Arizona and he said, "So you are an American." I said, "No. I'm Mexican. My Dad is Mexican." he asked where my dad was born and I said that he was born in Arizona.

I viewed myself as Mexican. We had tamales and we would serenade people on their birthdays. We would wake up my grandma at 4 o'clock in the morning singing Las Mañanitas. We followed these little forms and traditions; sometimes it is hard to discern your place. Where you are is your place and that is fine as long as you are doing something good with it.

Culture, heritage, and tradition are great to sort out for many of us. There is this amazing root. There are all of these different regions in Mexico which, for many who live here, are a significant part of them.

This is what this festival is all about. For some, we celebrate the cooking or maybe the music of Vera Cruz or Jalisco. There are mariachis from Jalisco who have absorbed different currents of all kinds of music so we are trying to sort all of these influences, these flavors.

There is a tremendous diversity of culture that comes from Mexico - it came up here and got entangled with what was going on in the USA and became a hybrid culture.

There is a lot of good music, good food and good will that can be created from all of that stuff. We intend to showcase this in the best possible light.

Continue reading "Linda Ronstadt continues sharing her talents but in a new venue" »

17 de Mayo 2010

Lila Downs in Paris

—By Marisa Treviño

By Al Carlos Hernandez
Herald de Paris


HOLLYWOOD - Lila Downs is an enigmatic singer who has transcended international boarders with her unique vocal styling. She has gained critical acclaim and legions of fans from throughout the world. She sings from her heart. Her honesty is ethereal, her performances dramatic and viscerally challenging. Lila is a citizen of the world who brings a message of healing and wonderment.

lila2-294x300.jpg

Lila grew up with the culture of her father, a professor from the United States, but eventually turned her back on this to explore the traditions of her mother, a Mixteca Indian from Mexico. In doing so she has created a very individual strain of song that has indigenous Mexican roots and North American sonorities.

Lila Downs (Source: Herald de Paris)

Born in 1968, she spent her early years in Mexico. After her parents split up she was shuffled off to live with a relative in California.

She grew to love music, specifically classical and opera, and began studying both in college. After two years, however, she experienced a crisis. She began questioning why she was singing. Lila droped out to become a "Deadhead" following the Grateful Dead around the country in a VW bus and earning money by making and selling jewelry - and not singing at all.

Though she was not particularly moved by the Dead's music, she enjoyed the lifestyle for a short time. Soon she headed back to college in Minnesota where her father lived. When she finally graduated she had degrees in both anthropology and voice. Lila had a renewed enthusiasm for her Mexican heritage and singing.

Settling in her mother's hometown of Oaxaca, she began vocalizing again and exploring her roots while realizing that she was still half Yankee. She met up with Philadelphia-based jazz pianist Paul Cohen and the pair began a professional and personal relationship.

Their first fruit was the self-released (cassette only) Ofrenda in 1994. That was followed two years later by another cassette, the live Azuláo: En Vivo con Lida Downs, one of whose songs won "Best Original Latin Jazz Composition" in a Philadelphia poll.

Along with jazz she was slowly developing a more intense, folkloric style that began to rear its head on 1997's La Sandunga (released in the United States on BMG in 1999). The title track and "La Llorana" offered a hearty passion showing her jazzier efforts.

That vocal promise was fulfilled in 2000 with the release of Tree of Life, the lyrics of which were largely derived from the religious codices of the Mixteca and Zapotec people.

The album was recorded in Oaxaca, where Downs and Cohen were sustained by a foundation grant, although their home base remained in Mexico City. Tree of Life was her first recording for the Narada label, where she would remain for eight years.


Continue reading " Lila Downs in Paris" »

5 de Febrero 2010

Drawing inspiration from life proves the perfect path to finding the American Dream

—By Marisa Treviño

LatinaLista.net


Eva Ruiz, a self-taught artist, finds it's possible to make a living at something that comes natural, as well as, rewarding when giving back.


Eva Ruiz was never the teacher's pet in school. No matter how hard she tried, Eva just couldn't focus on taking the kind of notes her teachers expected. Instead, she filled her notebooks with another kind of note-taking that had nothing to do with school.

l_3127e98b10ec08382a1cfd7050793dae.jpg

"I got into a lot of trouble at school," Eva admitted. "My notebooks were filled with drawings. I was never a good student."

While the rest of the class was learning history or English, Eva envisioned shapes coming alive and parading through her mind. What she saw in her mind's eye was so vivid and amazing that Eva just had to draw it -- on notebook paper.

Eventually, Eva graduated from her spiral notebooks to canvas. Her journey to being a successful artist was the second one this young Colombiana made in finding her "American Dream."

Arriving in Miami from Bogota, Colombia at the age of eleven, Eva, her sister and parents left their friends and family behind in search of a better future for themselves in the United States.

Eva Ruiz focuses on bringing her imagination to life.

For Eva, though creating art came natural to her, it was something she never seriously thought she could make a living at. So, she followed the more traditional route of answering want-ads.

Continue reading "Drawing inspiration from life proves the perfect path to finding the American Dream" »

1 de Febrero 2010

A crowning achievement: Sharing the beauty of family and love with troubled young adults

—By Marisa Treviño

Winning the title of Mrs. Kentucky International 2010, Elaine Barnes Bateman uses her pageant platform to raise awareness for mentoring and adopting troubled young adults.

To look at Elaine Barnes Bateman, one can easily see how this petite, pretty Venezuelan-Cuban with the mega-watt smile was crowned Mrs. Kentucky International 2010.

more pics for mrs kentucky 003.JPG

What's not so easy to see is how this Latina beauty queen has overcome personal tragedy, and in the process, developed such a strong passion for mentoring troubled and abused young adults that, these days, she is officially "Mom" to a brood of twenty.

While Elaine always envisioned herself a mother, and had four children she was raising alone after a divorce, the notion of being an adoptive mother to so many wasn't on her radar until she met her second husband, William Cody Bateman.

Elaine had joined a local church after the brutal murder of her father and was mentoring young women who were victims of broken homes. However, it wasn't long before she could see past her personal grief and notice William. A single father of four boys, William was mentoring fatherless boys at the same church.

Mrs. Kentucky International 2010 Elaine Barnes Bateman

Before Elaine knew it, her and William's shared love of helping troubled young adults turned their newfound love for one another into a unique family mission.

"Each and every time a young adult enters our home, my husband and I -- with the help of the rest of the family -- begin the long process of lovingly embracing them. Never an easy task with so many issues involved: spiritually, emotionally, physically and even financially (but) we emphasize repeatedly with each young person the core foundation for what we believe -- "Parents are not raising children. They are raising parents!"

Continue reading "A crowning achievement: Sharing the beauty of family and love with troubled young adults" »

18 de Enero 2010

"Drawing" on natural talent to connect with autistic children

—By Marisa Treviño

Artist Diana Trevino-Wilson uses her creativity to create a special character named Fabil that reaches through the wall of autism to teach basic skills.


"If Walt Disney could start his empire with a cartoon mouse, anything is possible," says Diana Trevino-Wilson, artist and entrepreneur.

Diana and Fabil.jpg

Artistic since the age of five, Diana has always had the gift of creating one-of-a-kind designs. Originally using her creativity to create items like beaded cloth headbands, decorative décor objects, paintings and even writing poetry, Diana found a greater calling for her artistic talent when her daughter was diagnosed with autism.

"My daughter "cooed" and looked me straight in the eyes when she was just months old," Diana remembered. "She was very normal until around the age of 2, then it seemed she could not hear, because she would not respond to my voice, her name, or situations going on around her. She was tested and followed by her doctor, and finally diagnosed around the age of 5."

In 2005, Diana began home schooling her daughter because the local elementary school didn't have an adequate classroom to meet her daughter's specific needs.

Equipped only with a GED, Diana read as much as possible about the affliction and connected with other parents of children with autism. She started gathering material and curriculum with which to teach her daughter.

"I could not find many of the items that I needed to help her learn, starting with the most basic of information. I remembered a cartoon character that I had created in 1991," Diana said. "I began to draw posters for her room, using this cartoon character, to teach her: "today, tomorrow and yesterday" as well as "morning, noon and night" concepts. I started making coloring pages and flash cards to use as well. Now I design part of her curriculum. Drawing is a part of me, but now I do it for a different reason."

The cartoon character that Diana resurrected from her art pile that she thought could reach through to her daughter was a bird, but not just any bird. It was a bird with definite attitude and a very human personality. Such a unique bird needed a unique name.


Continue reading ""Drawing" on natural talent to connect with autistic children" »

2 de Diciembre 2009

Focusing the Hollywood spotlight on fellow Latino artists turns a job into a mission

—By Marisa Treviño

By Nilki Benitez

Bel-lissima! Latin Heat's CEO and founder, Bel Hernandez, curtsied out of the limelight to promote Latinos in Hollywood.


Bel Hernandez is a Hollywood star, but she's not your typical star. Although her talent has graced television and film heavy-weights such as L.A. Law, Beverly Hills 90210, Born in East L.A. and Selena, today, Bel Hernandez's star shines brighter off camera than on.

Bel.jpeg

As co-founder and president of Latin Heat, Hernandez has lead the only trade publication focused on Latino talent in Hollywood into a multi-media company which includes a magazine and website, as well as film and TV production and consulting.

Bel Hernandez

Hernandez is also President of the Latino Entertainment Institute and has served on the Board of the George Peabody Awards. Hernandez' level of success is extraordinary, her commitment to the Latino community; exemplary.

When asked about her success on and off camera in Hollywood, Hernandez states, "My tenacity for working to accomplish a goal, came from my mother. (She) was always a forward-thinking woman who worked hard to buy a house, and provide for her children."

Growing up in Boyle Heights, an area of East Los Angeles, things were not easy for the Hernandez family. "I remember having butter tacos for dinner. However, we were too busy trying to survive and (there was) no time to feel bad about what we didn't have. It was always about what we could obtain."

Her family was very close and although all six siblings went their separate ways in adulthood, they have remained close thanks to their mother "(She) was the glue that held us together. We always get together for all the holidays and the special occasions. She is now 86 years old, drives a truck, and likes to surf the Internet and collect recipes she tries out on her family."

Despite the hardships of a family struggling on minimum wage incomes, young Bel Hernandez was a dreamer. "My face was always buried in a book. I woke up reading and went to bed reading by the streetlight outside my window. When I was sent on errands, I would walk to the store with a book in hand and read all the way to and from," she recalls. However, as a young child and into high school, Hernandez' only aspirations were to become a secretary.

"There was a lack of role models for me. No one I saw on TV looked like (me). I didn't know of any Latino doctors, lawyers...so up until high school that is what I wanted to do," Hernandez reflects.

Continue reading "Focusing the Hollywood spotlight on fellow Latino artists turns a job into a mission" »

21 de Agosto 2009

Painting a broader picture of Latino talent one artshow at a time

—By Marisa Treviño

By Mariana Llamas-Cendon

Veronica Valadez has been recognized as an Emerging Artist of the City of Ventura 2009 Mayor's Arts Awards, but to her this distinction has many meanings...


Art has many faces; one of them is named Veronica Valadez. A Latina visual artist, Aztec dancer, gallery owner, teacher and community activist, among other roles, Veronica Valadez was nominated under the Emerging Artist category to the City of Ventura 2009 Mayor's Arts Awards.

"Some time had passed and then I saw online that they had really sent out the letters and I didn't receive anything so I was bummed out," said Veronica Valadez, owner of Under the Sun Gallery at Bell Arts Factory in Ventura. "Then I found that I did get it".

valadez-a.jpg

To Valadez such recognition means more than just an award; it signifies an honor to represent the community she belongs to.

"I was honored more than anything because I don't think that very many Latinos have gotten this award. I was happy to be able to represent my community," Valadez said.

This award also means for Valadez that her efforts to make sure that Latinos, their art, and talents are properly represented haven't been in vain. But most of all, she appreciated that there is a place for their culture and history in Ventura that as Latinos they didn't have before.

"For me this is just what this award means, that Ventura is accepting of that and it is appreciating and validating our culture," Valadez said.

Award-winning artist Veronica Valadez poses in front of one of her artworks. (Photo: Carlos J. Licea/Amigos805.com)

But this is not an individual distinction, according to Valadez, who is always working towards exposing what she calls her "compañeros" (partners) and her artists' friends.

"I am always putting up art shows of other people's artwork and my dance group is a work group, I may be one of the leaders but a leader can't be a leader without a group of people so you know I feel it is more an award for our community than just for me," Valadez said. "There is no way I could do this by myself".

Continue reading "Painting a broader picture of Latino talent one artshow at a time" »

10 de Agosto 2009

Taking the lead to keep classical music alive among a new generation

—By Marisa Treviño

Professional symphony music conductor Sonia Marie De León de Vega shares her love of classical music with families and Latino communities through programs and concerts that bring classical music "home."


When most young girls dream of a career in music, it usually includes visions of strutting across a stage in a sexy outfit and belting out a hit song while muscular dancers shadow their every move before an audience of screaming and adoring fans.

Not so for Sonia Marie De León de Vega. Even from a young age, Sonia knew her musical path would involve no sexy outfits or sweaty dancers. Yet, she did know that everyone on stage would be following her lead, there would be applauding audiences and she would perform the kind of music hits that can only be described as "timeless classics."

Sonia Marie De León de Vega is a symphony orchestra conductor. Born in San Antonio, Texas into a family of professional entertainers, Sonia felt a calling to pursue classical music.

conductor.jpg The Santa Cecilia Orchestra performs the program "Fate and Passion" at the Alex Theatre, in Glendale, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006. Sonia Marie de León De Vega, Music director/conductor. (Photos by Damian Dovarganes)

"As a very young girl, I read the biographies of the great composers: Beethoven, Bach, Mahler, Chopin, Mozart and it was the story of their lives that inspired me to choose the classical music field," Sonia said. "I loved this music so much that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping keep it alive."

After her family moved to California from Texas, Sonia's father bought her a $50 piano, jumpstarting her music studies. At 17, she studied organ and it wasn't long after enrolling in the music program at California State University, and reluctantly taking Conducting 101, when she learned just what a natural talent she had for the art and how hard it really was.

"Many think that the conductor isn't doing anything, just waving their arms around," explained Sonia. "It's much more complicated than that. There is actually conducting technique and much work that goes into it. The work is musical, mental, physical and even emotional."

As she developed her skills, Sonia studied with numerous famous conductors and her love for classical music grew deeper.

"There is so much beauty and depth in classical music," Sonia shared. "I find it emotionally powerful and there is beauty in it that I can find nowhere else."

However, in a field that has historically been dominated by men, Sonia knew her aspiration to conduct an orchestra was not going to be achieved easily.

Continue reading "Taking the lead to keep classical music alive among a new generation" »

16 de Julio 2009

Filling a fashion niche with the right fit creates a business always in vogue

—By Marisa Treviño

Seeing the growing influence of the Hispanic consumer on the fashion industry, entrepreneur Michelle Sanchez creates a modeling agency catered to representing Latina models.

In Spanish, "moda" means fashion. To Michelle Sanchez, a 31-year-old Dallas, Texas entrepreneur, there wasn't a more fitting word to include in the name of her current business venture.

Born with an entrepreneurial spirit, Sanchez was always on the lookout for ways to create unique business opportunities for herself. One opportunity she saw developing was the inevitable inclusion of more Latina and Latino models in the fashion industry.

michelle.jpg Moda Modelos CEO Michelle Sanchez

Sanchez knew it was only a matter of time before the fashion industry would realize the buying power of the growing Hispanic population and how Latino consumers would want to see clothes modeled by people who looked like them. Wanting to be ready to seize the opportunity when it fully developed, Sanchez knew there was only one way to plan for it -- create her own modeling agency that focused on representing Hispanic models.

"I knew I would have a niche in the Dallas market by representing Latinas," said Sanchez.

Yet, she needed a catchy name that embodied what her business was all about.

"I decided on the name MODA because it's easy to recognize and remember," said Sanchez. "Also, since moda, in Spanish, means fashion, it was just easy to add modelos to it and create MODA Modelos."

Next came the business plan. Sanchez started out with a short business plan but credits her success in getting the venture off the ground with her ability to network and meet a variety of people with whom she was able to do trade arrangements with.

While coming up with the name, finalizing the business plan and networking took effort, it was convincing the fashion industry to include Latina and Latino models in their shows and to be featured in fashion catalogs that has been a four-year struggle that Sanchez finally feels is paying off.

Continue reading "Filling a fashion niche with the right fit creates a business always in vogue" »