Whenever there is talk of immigrants, it's always about how they want to achieve the "American Dream." Well, a second part of that Dream is how these same immigrants help their families left behind. Usually, it's in the form of remittances sent back to the families but sometimes it's bigger than that.

This is one of those times.

Daisy Ramirez, founder and president of North Carolina-based Potencia Energy drink, is originally from Honduras. She has spent the last ten years working towards her American Dream. It was a dream she planned to share with her family back in Honduras but, unfortunately, tragedy recently struck Daisy when she lost her father Juan Ramirez.

Daisy always knew that she wanted to help her home country and with the death of her father she knew what she had to do. She's channelled her grief in the creation of the Juan Ramirez Foundation.

As Daisy says:

Our Foundation is dedicated to bringing better heathcare to all children and seniors alike in Tegucigalpa Honduras. We will work hard to be sure everyone who needs a wheelchair or walker gets one. Anyone who needs medician gets it, anyone who needs healthcare finds it and remind people that no one is unimportant!

We will also take your donations to children with no shoes, children with no clothes will be clothed and we will work to bring knowledge and love to those who need it most.

We will even bring your donated toys and gifts to those who are without. We will brighten the smiles of all the beautiful children and let them know they are loved and there are people who care .

The Foundation has a wish list of items that they would like to see donated for those in need in Honduras and, of course, money is always helpful in paying for shipping costs and buying extra items.

Daisy's creation of this Foundation in her father's honor is a perfect example of how migrant prosperity earned in the US should be used to elevate the quality of living back in these countries that suffer third world conditions and which are on the doorstep of the United States, but too often below the radar of most Americans.

Filed 8 de Julio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

There's a new campaign underway to register as many Latinas as possible who are as yet unregistered to vote come November.

The Latina Vote campaign spearheaded by the Southwest Voter Registration and Education (SVREP) organization has been building momentum over the past several months. It now has a dedicated web site and a challenge to Latinas everywhere: To register, at least, ten Latinas!

The tagline for the campaign is: Vota Una Latina Vota Una Familia. As the SVREP explains:

SVREP believes, when a Latina votes, she inspires her family and friends to vote, too - together we can make a new family tradition!

There is truth in that statement. After all, everyone knows that Latinas are listas!

Filed 7 de Julio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Recent rumblings in the Latino blogosphere have focused on why sponsorships promoting Latino talent or events always seem to be by the big alcohol companies.

Well, in a refreshing twist, a new mobile art exhibit promoting Latino artists is being sponsored by two companies whose products are found in communities in the Southwest, and they don't have anything to do with alcohol.

The Sabrosura Art Tour is the culmination of a contest sponsored last fall by Dr. Pepper and Whataburger — two products well known throughout the Southwest.

The Grand Prize winning entry was painted by Maricela G. of McAllen, Texas. She says her inspiration was "los multicolores de la vida latina (the multitude of colors found in Latina life)...my mission is to promote art awareness, cultivate friendships and enrich lives through cultural art."
(Source: Saborsura web site/Maricela G.)

Student, amateur and professional artists created artworks showcasing the sabrosura (tastiness) flavor of Dr. Pepper and how it figures into Latino culture. The results were an amazing set of entries by Latino artists from around the country.

Twenty-three entries were chosen for the exhibit (because there are 23 different flavors in Dr. Pepper) with one chosen as the Grand Prize winner.

The exhibit is set to kick-off a tour of 38 Texas and New Mexico Whataburger locations on July 9 in Dallas, Texas and ending on August 24 in Houston.

What is really cool about the touring exhibit is that at each Whataburger location at least one artist will be on hand to autograph their artwork and at each event, an 18” x 24” reproduction of the framed art will be given away in a raffle drawing. Rounding out the exhibit will be music, interactive games and coupons.

If you're unlucky enough not to live near a Whataburger, you can check out the online gallery where all 23 winning entries are on display, along with, info about its creator.

Check the Sabrosura/Whataburger website for dates and locations of the mobile exhibit.

Filed 3 de Julio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

There's a popular saying that goes something like "everybody has at least one good story in them."

Well, if you're under 30-years-old, Latino/a and think you can tell your story in about ten pages in script format then the folks at Teatro Bravo want to hear from you.

The Phoenix-based theatre is accepting submissions to their UNDER 30: YOUNG LATINO PLAYWRIGHTS SPEAK OUT play competition.

The plays can be about any issue and written either in English, Spanish or Spanglish.

In addition to discovering new talent and promoting opportunities among young Latino playwrights, the competition is also "to uncover the issues in the minds of younger writers, and portray them on stage."

The selected submissions will be staged during the Latino Play Festival in 2009.

Deadline is October 1, 2008 and you can either mail or email your submissions to contest officials. There is no entry fee.

So what are you waiting for? Isn't it time you told that story?

P.S. If you've never written a play before, don't let that stop you. There are books that show you how to write in script format.

Filed 2 de Julio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

This Friday, in honor of the Declaration of Independence a new declaration will be drafted at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago.

It will be called the Declaration of Immigration and it's a new exhibit that focuses on the variety of viewpoints and experiences in attaining the American Dream that exist in immigrant communities across the country.

Over seventy artists from across the country participated in the exhibition which spans from July 4 - September 7.

The exhibit features not only striking visual images, some of which have become synonymous with the immigration debate, but also interactive elements such as an immigration symposium titled Sin Papeles (Without Papers) and featuring respected Latino panelists from Chicago and California; an immigration film series; various family educational workshops like a session where families share stories of their family's background and a wall installation that will serve to represent the U.S.-Mexico border wall currently under construction and comparing it with the Berlin Wall.

Team Mex: Copa inmigración a.k.a. deport-a-mex foosball; Artists Juan & Ricardo Compean
(Source: National Museum of Mexican Art)

The exhibit kicks off on Friday, July 4 with a special "co-cultural" ceremony where Chinese Lion dancers will perform, along with, Mexican folkloric and traditional dancers. During this reception, Angie Moreno, director of public relations for the museum, tells Latina Lista that "some staff members will approach unsuspecting visitors and ask to see their identification, as part of an interactive project that is meant to help visitors experience firsthand some of the moments immigrants have endured, while struggling to come to this country in search of the American Dream."

What is interesting to note about the exhibit is that it strives to present the unheard voices of all immigrants, regardless of citizenship status, and which are all too often disregarded in the national immigration debate on reforming the system.

Perhaps the Museum should create one more symposium — "Fixing the System — From those who lived through it." What better way to fix what's wrong with it than to include the voices of those who know firsthand what it will take to right the wrongs.

The Declaration of Immigration exhibit is open during museum hours from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Sueños Humedos/ Wet Dreams; Artist Juan Carlos Macías
(Source: National Museum of Mexican Art)

Filed 1 de Julio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

One fallacy of the illegal immigration debate is that undocumented immigrants don't want to learn English.

Across the country there are stories of how undocumented immigrants are so desperate to learn English that they will work all night, get off in the early morning and either head home to check on their families and then go straight to English as a Second Language class.

Some business owners, seeing this desire on behalf of their non-English speaking employees have made special arrangements with local junior colleges to televise special English classes to their employees either during lunch breaks or at special times during the day, taught by the professors.

Well, the city of Boston is taking English classes for non-natives a step farther — they are posting English classes on their website to help their residents virtually sit in on an English as a Second Language class.

The classes, part of a 28-episode series, address different workplace scenarios such as talking on the phone, reading a medicine label, interacting with store clerks, etc.

The internet-vised programs are of a real English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class taught by the director of education at Boston's Asian American Civic Association, who was named Teacher of the Year in 2002 and has taught ESOL for 15 years.

The classes, which are also televised on the city's public cable system, is a part of the citywide initiative called English Works Campaign which aims to make English classes more available to immigrants. Currently, the state registers a 14,000-name waiting list to get into their English classes.

While Latina Lista applauds the idea of making these English classes available 24/7 on their web site, we feel that the classes are hard to follow given that the instructor is having to interact with his class and cannot always directly address the "virtual student."

Since the English Works Campaign is already calling on investments by local businesses to help with the funding for more English classes, the campaign should go ahead and create a lively series that directly address virtual students and includes them in learning English.

After all, English is for everyone!

Filed 30 de Junio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

What happens when video cameras are put into the hands of teenagers and they are instructed to create films about the American Dream, community violence and immigration?

Three powerful documentaries, one which was selected to be screened earlier this month at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York City.

Elly from Fighting Community Violence
(Source: mediaartscenter.org)

The films were made by teenagers participating in the Teen Producers Project of the Media Arts Center San Diego. The students come from various San Diego neighborhoods and the films were an exploration of these three issues and their impact on the people in their communities.

The young filmmakers worked with media arts instructors from the Center and learned the whole process of how to put a documentary together, from research and interviews to filming and editing.

The three films, "Perspectives of the American Dream," "I Want My Parents Back," and "Fighting Community Violence," present three different stories with a common thread — each issue has a profound impact on its community.

In "Perspectives of the American Dream," teens compare and contrast the experiences of individuals from two specific San Diego communities, East African Refugees and Latinos, in order to examine the opportunities and obstacles these two communities face as they attempt to establish a life for themselves in a new city and country.

"I Want My Parents Back" focuses on the issue of immigration by highlighting the story of a local San Diego family, the Muñoz family. Teens explore the ways the current immigration policy in their community affects the lives of its residents. This film was screened at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival.

"Fighting Community Violence" has teen producers documenting the effects gang violence has on former gang members, emphasizing the consequences of joining a gang as well as providing positive alternatives to participating in gang activity.

If you happen to live in the San Diego area, you'll be able to see a free screening of each of these films, and the world premiere of "Perspectives of the American Dream" on Friday, June 27. However, if you don't live near San Diego, some of the films are available to watch online, as well as, past film projects.

If these films are any indication, this generation is finally learning how to use the power of words and images and that's a potent weapon when combined.

Filed 27 de Junio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Are people's civil rights being violated today?

It's a question that crops up with every protest march, discrimination (pay, gender, ethnicity) lawsuit and public rally. Some feel that at the height of the civil rights movement, the fight of the 1960s, never really got resolved. Others think that today we have a new set of civil rights that need to be protected.

A new video contest by The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights wants to explore the question of what the next generation is doing to protect civil rights. The Civil Rights 2.0 Video Contest is open to students between the ages of 16-25.

All that's required is to upload a 2-minute video to YouTube, tag it "civilrights2.0," fill out the registration form and make sure all of this is done before July 31, 2008.

This wouldn't be a contest without prizes — the Grand Prize is a trip to New York City and three runners-up will each receive a new video camera.

The fight for civil rights is such an important component of our nation's democracy that a contest that celebrates it deserves a big shout-out!

Filed 26 de Junio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Did you know that McDonald's and Latinos go hand-in-hand like, well, a burger and fries?

Jim Delligatti, an early McDonald's franchisee, invented McDonald's Big Mac sandwich in 1967. He poses with the world's largest Big Mac statue (14-feet high and 12-feet wide) during the opening of the Big Mac Museum Restaurant in North Huntingdon, Pa.
(Source: AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, McDonald's)

According to a 2006 fact sheet, over 30 percent of the McDonald's workforce was comprised of Latinos/as. Also, the McDonald’s Hispanic Owner’s Association (MHOA) is the largest organization of Hispanic franchisees in the country.

So news of the latest contest sponsored by McDonald's just begs for some Latino talent to enter.

It's called the Big Mac Chant-off and the folks at McDonald's are looking for a new soundtrack to the old hamburger favorite.

In homage to the burger that inspired its own museum — yes, the Big Mac Museum Restaurant, dubbed "the most tasteful museum in the world — the contest's official website, in addition to providing the rules for the contest, also has a downloadable audio kit which contestants can use to "mash-up" their own music or if they're feeling particularly creative, can lay down their own track.

There's only one hitch — the final product has to include the original lyrics: Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.

The winning soundtrack will not only appear in the next McDonald's Big Mac commercial but also on MTV.

The contest is currently opened and closes on July 16.

Big Mac Chant - Commercial

Filed 25 de Junio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Something big is happening in Mexico City this weekend.

It is a festival celebrating something that not that long ago people only whispered about, but has grown to be the biggest event of its kind in Latin America.

This Saturday, June 28, is the 30th Anniversary of Mexico City's Gay Pride event. The theme of the march is "Marching for Equality."

Anyone who is a casual observer of Mexico's telenovelas can't help but notice how gay characters have gained acceptance in the country's top entertainment programming. Given the influence telenovelas have over the society-at-large, it makes sense that gays, lesbians and transgenders have felt more at ease in "coming out of the closet."

Maybe for that reason, crowd estimates for Saturday's parade are projected to be half a million people.

The parade activities begin at 11 a.m. near the Angel of Independence monument ending at el Zócalo Capitalino followed for the rest of the afternoon with planned activities.

And while the parade is being touted as an opportunity for the country's gay population to come together to show their mutual support for one another, it is also a time, say parade organizers, to elevate awareness of this demographic and the homophobia and lack of legal rights they face on a daily basis.

All in all, Latina Lista sources tell us that it's one wild time that people of all ages and sexual persuasions enjoy and don't soon forget.

Filed 24 de Junio, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)