Author name: Buffalo Latino Village

A SENSIBLE HUMANE IMMIGRATION REFORM IS NEEDED NOW

Politics /

A SENSIBLE HUMANE IMMIGRATION REFORM IS NEEDED NOW A bipartisan sensible humane immigration reform is needed now by our nation. We are facing a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions at our Southern border. Our border is not open as many believe and as the misconception runs throughout the world that if you just show up, you will be allowed in. The current situation at the Southern border, throughout the route leading to the border via Central America and Mexico, is a true humanitarian crisis. We need a bipartisan effort and commitment to pass viable immigration reform. Mayorkas properly expressed it: “The border situation reflects a fundamentally broken immigration system that has not been fixed for more than two decades”. The situation in mass at the border during the middle of May reflects the imperative need for Congress to allocate time, and resources and work across party lines to resolve a humanitarian crisis that is a national interest issue. The border situation, the refugee, and the adjustment of the status of millions of undocumented immigrants is a national security issue that affects all of us not just the border communities and the big democratic cities where migrants are being sent. This is a humanitarian crisis that is impacting domestic matters as it is taxing resources at all levels. It is not a migrant issue; it is a public administration issue. The legalities of civil rights organizations such as the New York Civil Liberties Union suing Orange and Rockland counties in New York City for blocking the arrival of asylum seekers in New York City. The declaration of a state of emergency across municipalities and states signals the imperative need to work together with the federal government. to find concrete solutions to this crisis. We are facing domestic issues in housing, education, criminal justice, employment, and the economy that need to be addressed without losing our humanity and the compassion that defines us as people. The time is now for a sensible, humane, and compassionate immigration reform by Congress. We need to write, advocate, and lobby our elected officials that a nonpartisan solution is needed. Responding to disasters like the surge and the crisis at the border is not fixing the problem, or the broken system we have. The federal crisis has been avoidable for a long time, now it has become a local crisis affecting border towns and extending to all the places where the migrants are being sent to without resources and with the resentment of many. Resources are limited and stretched, without proper planning and proper public administration they will continue to be more limited…the time to act and seek legislation is now. This is not a Latino Caucus matter; this is a Congressional matter that is of interest to all. Take a moment and let your congress members know where you stand and what needs to be done to fix a system broken and in need of repair. How to find out who represents you in Congress?  Find and contact elected officials: Get the names and contact information of the people who represent you on the federal, state, and local levels. Information about elected officials is provided by the Google Civic Information API. USAGov does not guarantee the accuracy of results. In  addition, you can go to the following link to find all your elected officials: https://elections.ny.gov/district-map.html, or contact your local Buffalo & Erie County Board of Elections: Erie County Board of Elections 134 West Eagle Street Buffalo, NY 14202 Hours: Mon – Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM General Inquiries (716) 858-8891 Absentee Department (716) 858-7818 Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Culture Education Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Military & Veterans Our Community Peace People Sports Uncategorized Who We Are A SENSIBLE HUMANE IMMIGRATION REFORM IS NEEDED NOW June 23, 2023/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More MADRE SOLO UNA:FELICIDADES A TI MADRE! May 23, 2023/No Comments MADRE SOLO UNA:FELICIDADES A TI MADRE! A todas las madres que son nuestras lectoras especialmente a aquellas quienes con mucho Read More LA PRIMAVERA EN NUESTRA DEMOCRACIA April 23, 2023/No Comments LA PRIMAVERA EN NUESTRA DEMOCRACIA La primavera llego, ha florecido. En esta primavera historica, reflexional junto a nosotros y preguntate: Read More Load More End of Content.

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“MAKE LOVE HAPPEN!”

People /

As Juneteenth is quickly approaching, I decided to feature Jomo Akono. I have known him for over 15 years. He is affectionately known as Ras Jomo by his community. My fondest memories are of him drumming for Kwanzaa with all his children at the African American Cultural Center for Buffalo Kwanzaa Committee. The energy in the room was always at 100, and it would always be difficult to leave the space afterward!! And when we finally did, there would be the wonderful spread of authentic Jamaican Food that his family would prepare. It would occur at an after-event party at what is now known as “R Healin’ Center” on Kensington Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Another lasting memory was witnessing how he connected with youth while teaching them how to drum at classes that my nephew attended. It took place in a back room of a hair salon on Main Street. t near Fillmore Avenue. Great times for sure!  Jomo Akono has been the Vice President of the Juneteenth Festival, Sankofa Days Committee in Buffalo, NY, for quite some time. He is also known for helping with the Buffalo Kwanzaa Committee and has been instrumental in getting artists and performers from Jamaica to perform at Kwanzaa and Juneteenth. Jomo and others helped establish the Marcus Garvey “CommUniversity,” a ‘Back to School readiness program sponsored for 2 weeks before school starts back up every fall. The goal is to help youth transition back into the school mindset and decrease the summer learning loss gap. While at the same time educating our youth with Knowledge of Self and Honoring the Giants Who’s Shoulders We Stand On!    Jomo Akono is also a carpenter by trade since 2007. He is currently a Council Representative for the Carpenters Local Union #276. In this position, he has helped increase awareness of the potential of Carpentry as a lucrative career choice for youth, including young ladies of Western New York, that may not otherwise pursue this as a career path. In 2020, he was honored for being a defender of diversity and an advocate for inclusion by the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. He was an advocate for classes forming in the community that helped youth pass the testing portion required to be part of the Carpenter’s Union. He was instrumental in advocating that this trade’s classes take place in the community instead of youth going out of the community to learn about the business. Beyond all this, he is also a radio personality and evening jock named DJ Ras Jomo. He has a show every Sunday night from 6 – 9 PM on WUFO called “Access To A-Free-Ka,” he has been on air since 2007. You can hear the Best of Reggae and AfroBeats – and as he puts it – experience “Your Weekly Few Hours Holiday!” Using this platform, he has invited community members to travel to Jamaica every January for their Rebel Salute concerts. While in Jamaica, people visit schools and community organizations. He also broadcasts The Access to A-Freeka show LIVE from Jamaica! Follow him on social media and listen on Sunday evenings, as he always tells the audience: “Make Love Happen! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports “UNAPOLOGETICALLY & UNCOMPROMISING” August 1, 2023/No Comments This month I am shining the spotlight on a woman whom I met a few years ago. When I met Read More “MAKE LOVE HAPPEN!” June 7, 2023/No Comments As Juneteenth is quickly approaching, I decided to feature Jomo Akono. I have known him for over 15 years. He Read More Focused on What Counts: “The People” MEET RENATO GRAHAM May 4, 2023/No Comments Focused on What Counts: “The People” MEET RENATO GRAHAM When I thought of which Uncrowned King in our community that Read More Load More End of Content.

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MAKING A MARK ON OUR YOUTH

Education /

During my column last month, I wrote about having the opportunity to visit my childhood school, Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy, School #76, on Buffalo’s lower west side for the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York’s annual “Dia de los Ninos y Libros” event. I was invited to participate and meet with young people and awarded the opportunity to give a presentation on my film “Boricua Soy Yo” to Mrs. Smith Quiñonez’s 8th Grade Spanish class. The segment I chose to focus on during my 45 minutes was part of my film that explored the question of “What does it mean to Boricua?” I had an incredible time, walking the halls of my childhood school and seeing folks I had not seen in decades. To my surprise, as I sat in the newly (new to me) renovated library on the third floor, I heard a voice I had not heard since I graduated from the 8th grade in 1992. It was the voice of Dr. David Caban, my old school principal. To say that Dr. Caban, and other educators, did not make a mark on my young adult life and the lives of my classmates during our time as students at School #76 back in the late 1980s and early 90s would be a lie. Dr. Caban and I chatted and reminisced about the old school, and I was happy to learn that Dr. Caban had retired years ago but was still somewhat involved with the educational community, being invited to attend the day’s events. For a student body of mostly Brown and Black students, it is important to see our own in leadership positions or as educators teaching children and guiding them on the right path. Seeing my old principal brought back memories of other educators such as Mr. Torres, Mr. Mercado, Dr. Rivera, Mrs. Sanchez, and many others who left an indelible mark on my life in one way or another. After some introductions and discussion, volunteers were escorted to our classrooms to spend time with the children we would read or present to. Once I arrived at my room assignment, I started my presentation by asking the class a simple question: What do you want to be when you’re all done with school? Of course, I received many of the cliche answers young folks would often respond with, such as entering military service or being a beautician, as well as the expected rapper and YouTuber responses. I also asked the class if they liked history, to which many responded with a resounding “NO!” As we spoke, I mentioned to the class that I was once a student in this very school close to 30 years ago and I also was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life once I was done with school.  All the young men and women in the class were Latino, mostly Puerto Rican, either born here in Buffalo or on the island itself, and I saw myself in the faces of these children. When I was in their shoes, I never in my mind —  envisioned ever being a filmmaker; it just was not a career nor a field many of us young folk on the lower west side were exposed to. Here I was, however, thirty years later, presenting to a classroom full of children who sat in the same seats I sat in, hoping to make a positive impression and make a mark like the one that was made on me by the men and women who educated me in this very same building so many years ago. After my documentary film segment finished, the classroom and I exchanged a little bit, asking and answering questions. Documentaries are more geared towards older or more mature audiences, especially a documentary that discusses history and culture, and although some of the kids looked bored, I was incredibly happy that they all were watching the segment, paying attention, and following along with what was being discussed onscreen. As my 45 minutes with the class ended, I was proud to have been invited to present at my old school. We all need to make a mark on the lives of the young people we meet, whether they be family or children, we see in the neighborhood. I just hope I could make a mark on at least one of these students, and if so, it would have been worth it. It is cliche to say it takes a village to raise a child, but I honestly believe this. I was blessed to have both my parents raise my brothers and me; however, I feel doubly blessed to have positive (Latino) role models in this very school that helped me see the value of an education. And I proudly carry that mark with me everywhere I go. Until next time Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports A BITTERSWEET NIGHT, LISTENING TO THE MUSIC OF “GITANAA July 6, 2023/No Comments On Saturday, June 24th, my wife and I joined a few friends and enjoyed a night of live Latin music Read More MAKING A MARK ON OUR YOUTH June 6, 2023/No Comments Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More Read More IT STARTS WITH A BOOK May 12, 2023/No Comments IT STARTS WITH A BOOK On Friday, April 29th, I will have attended the 13th Annual Dia del Ninos y Read More Load More End of Content.

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