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CARTA A  LOS REYES MAGOS

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CARTA A LOS REYES MAGOS Ahi vienen Los Reyes Magos! Estoy feliz de saber que ya vienen y que la Estrella del Rey David nos ilumina. Con su llegada quiero pedirles a ellos que abogen por el bienestar de la comunidad Latina y progresista. Necesitamos un plan de accion de empoderamiento legal y legislative para el 2023 y mas alla del calendario. A Melchor,Gaspar y Baltazar les pido que nos iluminen y nos ayuden a no solo levantar la voz de protesta sino a exigir que las promesas politicas se hagan realidad.  Agradecemos que muchos en su busca de representacion politica vengan a nuestros desfiles, fiestas e Iglesias…pero eso es solo una apertura. Necesitamos que cumplan las promesas de mas recursos y fondos a nuestras escuelas, programas de arte y musica para todos no solo un segmento de la población. Esperamos por una reforma a la economia, a los entrenamientos y a la ayuda a la clase obrera. Una respuesta a la inflacion que nos agobia. Una respuesta concreta a la crisis de Vivienda y de salud mental que vivimos. A Gaspar, Melchor y Baltazar, les pido que su luz y fe ilumine a cada rincon de cada hogar y comunidad. Que su lampara de luz ilumine los pasillos legislativos y que haya una reforma justa, humanitaria y digna en la frontera con nuestros hermanos en busca de paz y un mejor future para sus hijos/as. Que la luz de un nuevo amanecer este con todos nosotros y con nuestras comunidades. Que el 2023 nos vaya bonito y nos de las fuerzas a edificarnos mas y a hacer los cambios necesarios para que la representacion politica y  legislativa sea real. 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 CARTA A  LOS REYES MAGOS January 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 VOTO LATINO:  RUMBO AL 2024 December 23, 2022/No Comments VOTO LATINO: RUMBO AL 2024 Las recientes elecciones y el resultado del control del senado de los EEUU es en Read More CRISIS MIGRANTE EN  NUEVA YORK:UMBRAL DE LA  ESPERANZA November 23, 2022/No Comments CRISIS MIGRANTE EN NUEVA YORK:UMBRAL DE LA ESPERANZA Nueva York. Umbral de la Esperanza de millones de migrantes e inmigrantes Read More Load More End of Content.

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A GENERATIONAL STORM THAT LOOTED OUR  PROGRESS

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A GENERATIONAL STORM THAT LOOTED OUR  PROGRESS A WEEKEND OF MISERY I originally was planning on continuing my look back into the History of Buffalo column which has been a months-long series, however, as I write this, the lower West Side is still buried under the snow from the Christmas Blizzard of 2022.  All my life I’ve heard the stories of the Blizzard of ‘77, and although I was born the year after, the Blizzard of ‘77 is a memory that has always stayed with me, from the pictures I’ve seen to the stories I heard. When I look at my youths, the Blizzard of ‘85 was one I remember very well, and from what we have seen thus far from this storm, the blizzard winds blew the 1985 storm away as far as storms I’ve lived through. The wind and nonstop snow just caused a weekend of misery and after the snow ended, when the stories started hitting social and the news media, the strength of the storm was clear for all to see. Sadly, many folks perished due to the storm, either directly from freezing or storm-related cardiac issues. Unfortunately, the devastation wasn’t only tied to the snowfall totals and deaths that were recorded, but to the lack of morals many Buffalonians experienced. Like many, I was embarrassed and disappointed with the way some of our citizens acted during the hours after the storm winds let up. Seeing images of people looting stores for non-essential items such as gumball machines and big-screen TVs just made me sick. Most shameful was the fact that some began looting convenience stores that are frequented by the elderly and others who may not have means of getting around to a bigger grocery chain due to transportation issues. We knew well over five days that this storm was headed our way, so the excuse some may use for the looting, claiming that people were trying to get food, is hogwash. Tell that to the 7/Eleven convenience store on Niagara and Hampshire where people ransacked it for everything, including gasoline. During the storm, with the use of my camera and a phone app, I was able to make a few dollars filming stringer videos, documenting the conditions of the lower West Side. My videos were picked up by Reuters and were aired on CNN, CBS, ABC, WGN, and FOX News. Never did it cross my mind to go down the street to Sams to loot for stuff I didn’t need. This city already has an identity crisis, a negative complejo as it is, but seeing our neighbors act out in the most ignorant and disappointing ways was shameful and disheartening. We need to be better than this, but sadly, many just don’t want to hear it. This storm was one for the ages, one that we’ll talk about for years to come. I hope people remember it for the good we saw, and not the looting that took place that put yet another stain on Buffalo’s identity Read More From This Writer All Post Business Culture Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Our Community Peace People Sports A GENERATIONAL STORM THAT LOOTED OUR  PROGRESS January 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 A LOOK BACK INTO  BUFFALO’S HISTORY: THE RIOTS OF 1967 December 23, 2022/No Comments A LOOK BACK INTO  BUFFALO’S HISTORY: THE RIOTS OF 1967 The sixties were a turbulent decade where our nation   Read More A LOOK BACK INTO BUFFALO’S HISTORY November 23, 2022/No Comments A LOOK BACK INTO BUFFALO’S HISTORY BUFFALO’S ETHNIC CITY — Like many other cities of similar size during the late Read More Load More End of Content.

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The WNY Peace Center had a great 55th Annual Dinner — A follow-up:

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Algunas personas preguntan, “Como estaba, la Cena Annual?” The WNY Peace Center 55th Annual Dinner uplifted us all. We were enlightened and inspired by the speaker, the renowned Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm, and her keynote, “Planting Seeds of Justice, Harvesting Peace.” Leah was humble and wise, telling her story, delving into our histories and actualities, and exploring ways to work for social change. She shared four solidarity strategies for pursuing such change, all of which are used by WNYPC, as follows: RESIST: Protest, marches, civil disobedience/civil resistance, litigation, boycotts, etc. The WNYPC is often known for our work in this area, including many marches and protests, especially recent Women’s Marches, which were the best-attended protests in Buffalo/WNY in memory, with ~4K and ~5K respectively in 2017/18.   REFORM: Public education/awareness, lobbying, petitions, speeches, teach-ins, etc. The WNYPC holds panels and shares info to increase the public’s political education and awareness, lobbies our elected officials, and petitions our government for the redress of grievances (re war, criminal (in)justice, economic oppression, environmental destruction, and more).  BUILD: People’s assemblies, freedom schools, creating just institutions, etc. The WNYPC offers PeaceJam and Camp Peaceprints to foster our youth and works to build the Beloved Community by amplifying the voices of those most heavily affected, and supporting alternatives (e.g., restorative justice).  HEAL: Ceremony, ritual, prayer, vigil, art, story, therapy, community building. Embracing Buffalo is a project of the WNYPC with the Center for Mind-Body Medicine and UB School of Social Work for supporting Buffalo’s Black community and those who serve them, and frank discussions for communities’ reciprocity/solidarity. The 2022 Women’s March was all about healing as the community was reeling from the trauma of 5/14 the previous day. The Dinner’s Awards were timely. Yanenowi Logan, Seneca, Emerging Leader Awardee, subsequently was elected Co-President of the National Congress of American Indians’ Youth Commission; and was a guest at the White House three days after the dinner! Charley Bowman, Lifetime Achievement Awardee, emphasized the importance of Civil Disobedience (e.g., We Are Seneca Lake). The Phoenix Award to the Families of Victims, and Survivors, of the May 14 Massacre, was presented by our renowned Jim Anderson. It was received by Ebony White, Heyward Patterson’s niece; Garnell Whitfield, Ruth Whitfield’s son; and Fragrance “of Yah” Harris Stanfield, Tops employee survivor of the massacre.  John Spear, Director of Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System, accepted the award for the May 14 Community Collecting Initiative. Ebony and Fragrance will distribute to the other 11 Families and 29 Tops employee survivors respectively. Fragrance “of Yah” Harris Stanfield’s song expressed with heart-wrenching beauty her traumatic experience and unconditional love. Queenia AsheeMa’at represented Latino Village beautifully. The room was packed, the crowd large (170-180) and diverse by every measure. The food was terrific, from Sunshine Vegan. Niagara University and UB’s Food Lab (co-sponsor) came out, with more collaboration to follow! We’ll pursue economic, racial, and environmental justice in food systems, land, usage, and more! Si, se puede – juntos!! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics A TRAGEDY July 4, 2023/No Comments LEADING TO AN ANTI-BULLYING CAMPAIGN (a Community Responders Pilot and a Peace Ship for a Nuclear-Free Future) Hola, mis Amigos!!  Read More CAMP PEACEPRINTS 2023: HEALTHY LIVES MATTER June 4, 2023/No Comments ¡Hola, Amigos! Pronto sera el tiempo por los ninos para ir a campamentos de verano. We are excited to present Read More EMBRACING BUFFALO / HEALING MOMENTS May 10, 2023/No Comments EMBRACING BUFFALO / HEALING MOMENTS “No podemos dejar que la gente abra brechas entre nosotros… porque solo hay una raza Read More Load More End of Content.

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