Author name: Buffalo Latino Village

KEEPING PUERTO RICAN CULTURE ALIVE IN THE DISAPORA

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ART WITH SOUL:CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT DEFINES USBy Dianiz Roman Rodriguez Being Puerto Rican in the diaspora does not mean being disconnected from our culture. On the contrary, it is often outside the island where the need to preserve, celebrate,and share our identity becomes even more powerful. Keeping our culture alive is an act of love. remembrance, and hopе.Puerto Rican culture lives in our food, our music, our language, our stories, and in the way we connect with others. Every time we organize an event to share our heritage, curate an art exhibit inspired by our roots, or teach younger generations about our traditions, we are reinforcing that inv isible thread that binds us to the island no matter how far we are. Recently, I had the privilege of participating in a cultural exhibit, organized by and for our community. It was a modest space, but full of life, a celebration of Boricua talent, creativity, and ancestral memory. Seeing peopleof all ages come together around culture and art, remind me that our identity does more than survive in the diaspora, it flourishes.Keeping our culture alive is not a burden, it’s a joy. It means discovering new ways to express who we are,adapting without forgetting where we come from. It’s our way of saying, “We are here, and we are still us.”The Puerto Rican diaspora holds vibrant energy, generosity, and deep commitment to cultural identity. We don’t need grand platforms to express it; all it takes is the will to create, share, and teach. Every gesture, no matter how small, plants the seed of pride and cultural awareness in future generationsTo celebrate who we are, is also to resist invisibility. It is to affirm that our roots travel with us, sustain us. andcontinue to grow wherever we are. And as long as we keep speaking, creating, cooking, dancing, and dreaming as Puerto Ricans, our culture will not only live, butit will also, shine. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Photography Politics Sports Technology KEEPING PUERTO RICANCULTURE ALIVE IN THEDIASPORA August 7, 2025/ ART WITH SOUL:CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT DEFINES USBy Dianiz Roman Rodriguez Being Puerto Rican in the diaspora does not mean being disconnected… Read More

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FREEDOM OF SPEECH:BEDROСКТО OUR DEMOCRACY

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By Angelica Aquino One of the greatest rights we have as citizens is our freedom of speech, a true bedrock of our democratic system. The First Amendment of the US Constitution Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. encourage you to take a moment and read the US Constitution and the respective constitution of your home state. I believe that we have more in common in our diversity than values and issues that separate us from each other. I also believe that this is a pivotal time for community and civic engagement to support each other through community participation and planning. I encourage you to take a moment and research how the right path evolved and what it means in the context of the social challenges and economic challenges we are living in. As we become more of a digitized society, what does freedom of speech mean in the context of Artificial Intelligence and in the context of our ever-going digitized world in which social media has somehow substituted our human touch and presence. Take whatever time you need to leam about the rich history of such a fundamental right. To start, I leave you with few resources, share, enjoy, reflect and galvanize: https://www.usconstitution.net/freespeech-vs-hate-speech/, https://www.thefire.org/, and https://constitution.congress.gov LIBERTAD DE EXPRESIÓN: BASE DE NUESTRA DEMOCRACIA  Uno de los mayores derechos que tenemos como ciudadanos es nuestra libertad de expresión, una verdadera base de nuestro sistema democrático. La Primera Enmienda de la Constitución de los Estados Unidos dice: El Congreso no promulgará ninguna ley con respecto al establecimiento de una religión o que prohíba el libre ejercicio de la misma; o que restrinja la libertad de expresión o de prensa; o el derecho del pueblo a reunirse pac ificamente y a solicitar al Gobierno una reparación de agravios. Te animo a que te tomes un momento y leas la Constitución de los Estados Unidos y la constitución respectiva de tu estado natal. Creo que tenemos más en común en nuestra diversidad que valores y problemas que nos separan unos de otros. También creo que este es un momento crucial para que la comunidad y el compromiso cívico se apoyen mutuamente a través de la participación y la planificación de la comunidad. Te animo a que te tomes un momento e investigues cómo evolucionó el camino correcto y qué significa en el contexto de los desafios sociales y económicos en los que vivimos. A medida que nos convertimos en una sociedad más digitalizada, ¿qué significa la libertad de expresión en el contexto de la Inteligencia Artificialy en el contexto de nuestro mundo digitalizado en constante desarrollo en el que las redes sociales han sustituido de alguna manera nuestro toque y presencia humanos? Tómese el tiempo que necesite para aprender sobre la rica historia de un derecho tan fundamental. Para empezar, te dejo con pocos recursos, comparte, disfruta, reflexiona v galvaniza: https://www.usconstitution.net/free-speech-vs-hate -speech/, https://www.thefire.org/, y https:// constitution.congress.gov Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Photography Politics Sports Technology FREEDOM OF SPEECH:BEDROСКТО OUR DEMOCRACY August 5, 2025/ One of the greatest rights we have as citizens is our freedom of speech, a true bedrock of our democratic… Read More WE ARE ALL AMERICANS: RESPECT FOR FREEDOM AND INDIVIDUALITY September 2, 2024/ The current air of contempt and division that reigns in some circles of our American Society is problematic and worrisome…. Read More YOUR VOICE IS YOUR VOTE: MAKE IT COUNT August 26, 2024/ Your Voice Is Your Vote, Make It Count. As a nation, we are facing a crisis of identity marked by… Read More Load More End of Content.

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Un Momento 7-25 I.C.E. vs. the Community

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By Victoria Ross La injusticia en cualquier lugar es una amenaza para lajusticia en todas partes/Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywlere.—Rev. Dr. Martin King I.C.E. – Immigration & Customs Enforcement- is acting illegally and is on the attack in a way that is truly shocking. Agents in masks are coming, with no identifying badges or numbers, and kidnap ping people without due process. I.C.E. agents are active both in the city – on both the East Side and West Side of Buffalo, and throughout the countryside. taking people and incarcerating them without notice or due process. Some of these people are citizens. Some are fully compliant with asylum requests and are pursuing their asylum cases with due respect for the law. I.C.E. agents however are showing no respect for the law. In fact. when I.C.E. agents show up and take or attempt to take someone to incarceration in a detention facility, using unmarked vehicles and hiding their identity, we begin to feel the tightening grip around our necks This is what an authoritarian dictatorship looks like. Indeed, fascist governments such as the Third IMMIGRATION BUILTTHIS NATION Reich Nazis in Germany did and do the same. Perhaps the only reason my father survived was that he was forced to flee so early on (1933, as a 15-year-old because he was such a radical) and was out of the country before these terrible practices became even more widespread. Last month the WNY Peace Center’s Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC)’s monthly coffeehouse was I.C.E. vs. Buffalo, with reporter J. Dale Shoemaker sharing what he’s learned about our government’s illegal acts and disinformation on the topic. This month the topic is further explored in I.C.E. vs. Farms & Workers on Monday, July 28, 7pm, in the Canisius University Math & Science building lounge (at Main & Jefferson). Jim Bittner, a local farmer, will talk about how the farmers need their farm workers! When crops aren’t harvested, when people are afraid to go out of their houses, when parents go missing and children are traumatized, we all pay! All are welcome to the coffeehouse and discussion! Last month was standing room only- you should come early if you want to get a seat! (Light refreshments are also on hand.) The fact that I.C.E. agents are abducting people who are going to court in accordance with legal requirements just shows how rabid these authoritarian efforts are as does deporting U.S. citizens and refusing to enforce returns for those illegally deported. We must stand up for each other!! The erosion of our already very limited democracy is a frightening tun of events. We’re all in this together. #sisepuede #juntos!!! Heads up re Elbows UP! A continuation of soli darity events with Canada will be held on August 16 at Beaver Island State Park. The cross-border solidarity will be as inspiring and energizing as it was last time!! Check out wnvpeace.org for more events, campaigns, and ways to support each other (including more Peacekeeper Trainings coming soon!) Millon de gracias!! Solidaridad!! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Photography Politics Sports Technology Un Momento 7-25 I.C.E. vs. the Community August 5, 2025/ I.C.E. – Immigration & Customs Enforcement- is acting illegally and is on the attack in a way that is truly… Read More FINDING THE WONDERFUL IN THE TERRIBLE – A RECIPE FOR HOPE September 1, 2024/ Lo maravilloso y lo terrible están uno al lado del otro, y están íntimamente conectados. The wonderful and the terrible… Read More TALKING IS KEY TO SUICIDE PREVENTION August 26, 2024/ “Un million de gracias! Por traernos un taller de prevencion al suiciding. Es importante! Es primordial. Debemos educarnos! Suicide prevention… Read More Load More End of Content.

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