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MEET OUR LATINA BUS DRIVER

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“Public service is a calling that involves giving of oneself for the greater good. At 21, I had the privilege of driving public transportation (Metro Bus) for over three years, which allowed me to safeguard our environment while serving the community.”  —- Alondra Morales Alondra Morales, a Buffalonian and proud Puerto Rican, serves her community as a volunteer, mother, friend, and leader. Her role as a city bus driver mirrors national employment trends, with Hispanics or Latinos making up 17.0% of the workforce in this field. Spanish is the most common second language among city bus drivers, spoken by 25.0% of them. Alondra’s contribution to public transit is a significant factor in the progress of Latinos across the nation. In 2022, 27% of Latinos depended on public transit more frequently than 14% of whites, and 12% of Latinos were less likely to own a car compared to 6.5% of whites, according to UnidosUS.org. The absence of public transit access to college campuses is an obstacle for Latino students, sometimes resulting in them discontinuing their education. According to the American Public Transit Association, transit riders completed 7.1 billion trips on public transportation in 2023, marking a 16 percent increase from 2022. The Northeast depends more heavily on public transit compared to other regions, and women, particularly female workers, are the most reliant on it. Picture yourself as a young girl, anxiously waiting for the bus. You speak Spanish, and the bus, or “la guagua,” is your gateway to the world. The arrival of the bus and your experience aboard can set the tone for your whole day. As “la guagua” approaches, you’re instantly washed over with relief. The doors swing open, and you’re welcomed in your native language with respect by the kind Alondra Morales, filling you with relief and pride. That event occurred, and there’s no need to confirm it with Alondra. There were moments when I was that little girl waiting for the bus with my aunt. The sheer amazement of seeing a Latina at the wheel left a lasting impression and provided a powerful affirmation for the Buffalonian communities that Alondra served. Alondra excels in affirming others through her service, which reaches beyond her role as a driver and into the community. Her words mirror her dedication to her causes: “A smile, a kind gesture, or just giving your time can be incredibly valuable. To instill and share these values, I serve as a co-leader for my daughter’s Girl Scouts troop, fostering girls with courage, confidence, and character.” In her role as a Girl Scout troop co-leader, Alondra influences the local Girl Scouts world and infuses their mission with her unique identity and experiences. Her participation strengthens every organization she is involved with. Surrounded by women who share her mindset and dedication to service, Alondra considers Alicia Montalvo one of her role models. “Alicia has always inspired me and remains a mentor,” Alondra says. “As both a business owner and public servant, she motivates me to ponder, ‘How far can I go? What’s the best way to navigate this hurdle?’ Alondra’s influence on the community is reflected in intangible moments where her presence, her distinctive identity, and her generous spirit have raised the morale of those around her. Leadership is an investment in one’s community, arising from intentional actions that endure through change and the distinct challenges of being Latina. It contributes to a culture where, as Alondra describes the notion of helping others is akin to a superpower. If you’re in search of your purpose, eager for new challenges, or yearning for greater fulfillment, you might contemplate following in Alondra’s footsteps. Some of these paths involve, quite earnestly, gripping the steering wheel and accelerating to grant those behind you access to vital services and, quite literally, the flow of commerce. 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 Politics Sports Technology MEET OUR LATINA BUS DRIVER September 1, 2024/No Comments “Public service is a calling that involves giving of oneself for the greater good. At 21, I had the privilege… Read More REMEMBERING ANNA LEE July 22, 2024/No Comments What can a well-pleated skirt suit and a can-do  attitude achieve? For my grandma G (as I affectionally called her),… Read More MEET Pura Teresa Belpré y Nogueras June 6, 2024/5 Comments Today, you began with a dream and a fresh Google search. Searching for “it,” whatever “it” may be for you.… Read More Load More End of Content.

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SLAVES FOR THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMY

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Playing the Game It seems like America has become not only the paper processing agent of the world, but it has also changed its role from producers to consumers of goods and services. It’s become the mecca for many migrants to come, make their nest, gather their eggs, and return home to fulfill a dream. In the process they, like everyone else, work round the clock, day after day, in a numbing state of automated activity from dawn to dusk. During that time, people submit their identity and conform to roles necessary for assuring personal survival: the paycheck! That ticket which, after the bills (e.g. rent, utilities, services, and groceries), might offer opportunities for some leisurely escapades.   Thus, the need for multiple breadwinners, with multiple jobs, to sustain a single household. Meanwhile, their children are often left to fend for themselves either in the streets or stuck in the often seductive and violent world of virtual reality. Need you wonder why the young are in the news – why unchecked curiosity often leads to rebellious deviance? To many, It’s a mad world. Things are happening fast! Demands are coming from all directions and the threat of becoming an outcast is constant. The fear of being left alone and obsolete is real and it’s easier to become an ostrich; just stick your head in the sand and leave the rest of you up for grabs – Isn’t that a swift kick in the ###.   Under such circumstances, prolonged feelings of powerlessness and helplessness grow and give birth to feelings of neurosis, depression, anxiety, panic attacks and more. Thus, the system knows the automaton needs occasional tweaking and lubrication; it (you) needs to experience some sense of freedom and control. Thus, enters government endorsed and supported Hedonism; the simple effort to live life in the most pleasurable way possible. It’s the pursuit of sensual self-indulgence in ways that tries to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. Just prioritize pleasure in one’s lifestyle, thoughts, or actions and let Viva La Vida Loca!   Top on the list of immediate gratifications is Consumerism: when you feel ill, stuck, whatever – just shop! Shop! Shop! And when necessary, just Charge It! Alas you become a slave to the next paycheck. But do Party when you’re a bit stressed and in need of company. By all means, feel free to spice your life with vises of all sorts: Buzz it all out and get loose with a drink and a touch of coke, dope, smoke, or some new exotic trick in a pill. Just Chill! After all, you can always get on the couch and legally medicate with your neighborhood pill pusher/psychiatrist and brain twist er/psychologist. But beware! When all else fails there are labels to assign and justify institutionalization; face it! Hospitals and prisons do good business.   And so, with good reason, the system is flexible: To survive the alienating effects of constant shifts in socio economic compartmentalization and sustain sufficient cognitive dissonance (a split between one’s internal values and external reality), it expands to accommodate and contracts to motivate the new slave, the automaton. Point! Capital ism needs, and sustains, a certain level of Neurosis, narcissism, deviance, and addiction. Until the next issue, consider the movie “Wolf of Wall Street” where one is allowed, based on affordability, to indulge one’s insatiable hunger for pleasurable people, places, and things. Meanwhile, let’s medicate to animate the automaton party.     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 Politics Sports Technology SLAVES FOR THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMY September 1, 2024/No Comments Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More… Read More NEW SLAVES FOR THE NEW  GLOBAL ECONOMY – Part 3 April 4, 2024/5 Comments Playing the Game It seems like America has become not only the paper processing agent of the world, but it… Read More NEW SLAVES FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY Part 2: Slaves vs Automatons March 4, 2024/8 Comments “Slave labor anywhere threatens real jobs everywhere.” When the idea of profit is its justification, watch out! Rulers tend to… Read More Load More End of Content.

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FINDING THE WONDERFUL IN THE TERRIBLE – A RECIPE FOR HOPE

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Lo maravilloso y lo terrible están uno al lado del otro, y están íntimamente conectados. The wonderful and the terrible are side by side, and they are intimately connected.   You have very likely seen how the wonderful and the terrible have been connected in your own lives and works. For instance, the ongoing tragedy in Gaza is profound, with reports indicating that around 40,000 individuals have been killed by Israeli armed forces, predominantly women and children. A man, upon returning home with the birth certificates of his newborn twins, tragically discovered that both infants, along with his wife and mother-in-law, had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. It is reported that at least 115 journalists and media personnel, as well as 224 aid workers, have lost their lives. These incidents are being condemned as clear war crimes. In response, South Africa has boldly initiated proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice for alleged violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention. Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile, Spain, Turkey, Libya, Belgium, Egypt, Maldives, Mexico, Ireland, and unsurprisingly, Palestine have joined as plaintiffs. It’s noteworthy how many Latin American countries are advocating for human rights. Additionally, the vast majority of South American, African, and Asian nations have recognized Palestine as a sovereign state. I engage in lobbying at the UN, visiting missions of various countries to express gratitude or to encourage them to employ the Resolution Uniting for Peace in order to circumvent the Security Council and issue a censure against Israel. Collaborating with remarkable activists and fostering those connections, along with establishing rapport with the staff of the countries’ missions, has been immensely fulfilling. The most impactful experience for me was encountering Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Lutheran theologian known for his prophetic insights, such as his “Christ in the Rubble” sermon last Christmas. His lecture “Silence is Complicity,” delivered at Riverside Church on August 14, served as a compelling summons for bravery and engagement. The recording is readily accessible on YouTube, featuring the enchanting music of Brooklyn Nomads and Mona Miari. (It’s important to communicate your stance on US involvement in the devastation to both officials and political candidates.) Such is the case with many of our challenges. The grievous wrongs are tempered by the satisfaction derived from striving for justice, and the bonds formed with remarkable individuals bring joy and hope. Take, for instance, the empathetic and altruistic individuals at the Latino Village. As Alberto eloquently states in his influential book, “Back to the Twilight Zone,” upon returning, he discovered a ‘Hispanic’ community, Boricuas engulfed in the Twilight Zone, ensnared in the depths of the beast. It’s a distressing reality laden with injustice, epitomized by a mayor serving five terms. The Latino Village confronts these issues in each edition. At the gathering hosted by publishers and founders Alberto and Ramona Cappas, the Buffalo Latino Village staff, columnists, and their families celebrated together. Among them were editor and organizer Solomon Joseph, who is expecting another child; poet and social worker Seraphim Grace, author of “Healing Poems for Tired Souls”; and community activists, researchers, and writers Rocco Anastasio, Dr. Steve Perez, and Queenia AsheeMa’at. Spending the evening with such talented, wise, and compassionate individuals was a delightful experience, further illustrating the intricate connection between the wonderful and the terrible in both our work and our lives. Numerous other instances abound, including Latina Herstory, where columnist Talia Rodriguez showcases Latina businesses and leaders (refer to Buffalo Latino Village); the ongoing efforts to completely restore Humboldt Parkway (through the Eastside Parkways Coalition); the initiatives for No New Jails and Community Responders; among many others! La idea principal es: ¡Sí, se puede! ¡Juntos! Y que encontremos paz y amor en cada paso…. May each step we take be filled with peace and love… 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 Politics Sports Technology FINDING THE WONDERFUL IN THE TERRIBLE – A RECIPE FOR HOPE September 1, 2024/No Comments Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More… Read More TALKING IS KEY TO SUICIDE PREVENTION August 26, 2024/No Comments “Un million de gracias! Por traernos un taller de prevencion al suiciding. Es importante! Es primordial. Debemos educarnos! Suicide prevention… Read More UN MOMENTO JUSTO POR LA PAZ July 22, 2024/No Comments PEOPLE AND PLANET COME FIRST:  MORE PUBLIC CLEAN AND  GREEN TRANSPORTATION!   Nuestras decisiones sobre el transporte determinan mucho más… Read More Load More End of Content.