People Archives - Page 8 of 34 - Buffalo Latíno Village

NO FRACKING WAY!

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NO FRACKING WAY! As I witness the finale of Women’s History Month, and enter Earth Month, I think about the air quality after a train carrying toxins derailed in Ohio last month as the polluted plume of air was said to be traveling downstream of the Ohio River at about 1 mph. I also observe my FB news feed to learn how many Buffalonians will be concerned about how this affects our water and air quality as it’s only 200 miles away. I began pondering which uncrowned ComeUnity member I would be highlighting. One person came to mind who was not only an advocate, but a sponsor of a Bill turned Law, that banned not only fracking in Erie County but the “treatment” of fracked water coming into Erie County, through Buffalo and the surrounding areas to be “processed and cleaned.” I remember when a handful of friends were sharing this information by presenting the “Gasland” documentary at different venues in 2012 & 2013. I had not heard about fracking before then. Although, it has been around in some form or another since the 1940s. I learned that it is a process of hydraulic drilling deep into the Earth’s crust, beyond the hard rock, which allows for the extraction of natural gas and oils. I remember being at the Burchfield Penney Museum — there was an art exhibit and a documentary being shown. I asked the former Erie County Legislator, Betty Jean Grant if she was going to attend. She said she “was going to stay as long as she could.” She stayed until the end! The documentary sparked discussions among the audience; they spoke about what they were witnessing on roads in the suburbs: Vehicles suspected of carrying the polluted waters from the fracking process traveled, there were concerns about birds and other animals found dead on the roads and in fields, and numbers, they had not seen before. Mrs. Grant let the audience know she was looking into these claims, and that she would do everything in her power to prevent these trucks from moving in and around our County. For months, activists rallied by the bus load to the State Capitol in Albany; carpooled to Erie County Legislative & Buffalo Common Council meetings; and even a “Welcome Brigade” for former Governor Cuomo (on his visit to Buffalo), who was considering allowing Fracking in NYS. We were front and center, with handmade signs on wooden sticks that read “No Fracking Way,” “Just Say No to Fracking,” “Don’t Frack Erie County,” and “Vote Yes” (to Ban Fracking)! It was an exciting period in the Activism community that brought people of all social-economic statuses TOGETHER IN THE CAUSE TO SAVE OURSELVES from the damages caused by fracking. I am proud to know Mrs. Grant who took this Cause and not only listened to the concerns of her constituents that elected her but the whole county as well. She watched, listened, and most importantly, DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT! As we enter Earth Month and are enjoying the upcoming warm breezes that the Spring will surely bring, take a moment to appreciate this very important Law that was sponsored by Mrs. Betty Jean Grant, Former District 2 Erie County Legislator and Author of “Falling Through the Cracks.” If you see or run into her: SALUTE HER! Watch “Gasland” on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6mp4ELXKv-w; and Rita Yelda’s article celebrating this win: https://www.buffalorising.com/2014/01/with-a-fracking-waste-ban-poloncarz-does-right-by-erie-families/ Read More From This Writer All Post Food Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development People NO FRACKING WAY! April 13, 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 “MODERN MODESTY BEGINS WITH ME” March 13, 2023/No Comments “MODERN MODESTY BEGINS WITH ME” “Our Mission is to help women feel Empowered in their modest clothing, leaving you feeling Read More “PULLING THE RACE CARD”, LITERALLY February 13, 2023/No Comments “PULLING THE RACE CARD”, LITERALLY As we celebrate Black History Month, I wanted to feature my Sisters Sarah Pearson Collins Read More Load More End of Content.

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INTERVIEW #28: FEATURING CHANEL J. LOPEZ

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DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LGBTQ AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, NEW YORK STATE “Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.” Standing in the parlor at the Governor’s Mansion in Albany, I thought about that phrase. I ran my newly manicured finger over the name “Chanel J. Lopez” on the stark white business card. I learned something about Governor Hochul (fearless leader/her boss) in 30 seconds. I learned the Governor believes in innovation. On Chanel’s card, I read a title I never knew existed before “Deputy Director of LGBTQ Affairs”, with the seal of New York State, a masterpiece. Meeting Chanel was firstly a lesson about my Governor, but secondly a moment of relief for me. As a SUNY-trained policy analyst, I am always weary of homogenous voices governing all. I knew Chanel could speak for me. — And that was before I learned that Chanel was from Harlem, a place I love dearly. To go first in history is to be “damned if you do and damned if you do not.” It never goes perfectly. Never. Chanel J. Lopez accepted that privilege/responsibility on her first day. I am thankful for that. The voice Chanel brings to the government is one that has been, maliciously, silenced for too long. Politically speaking, Chanel, identifying as an Afro-Latina transwoman, is an asset to our government. As a Latina political scientist, I will have greater faith in the policies emanating from Albany because Chanel is there. Effective governance requires understanding and empathy for “the average citizen”, and RIGHT NOW, the average citizen in New York is beautifully complex. Those complexities are also opportunities if you seek to leverage them. Patriots see the most vulnerable Americans and center them in conversations and planning. I trust Chanel to do that. When you meet Chanel, you will see the light behind Chanel’s eyes. The light — that’s evidence of a person who has accepted the love of their creator and the fact they were made in the eyes of perfection. “Rise to meet your place in history,” I tell the youth during workshops. Chanel did that; did I mention that Chanel’s from Harlem (New York City)? When I discovered that Chanel was Puerto Rican, I felt lucky. Supported by a family with strong values and an abuelas love. A public-school kid and graduate of an “alternative school” and a survivor of childhood bullying, Chanel will bring stronger perspectives to government policymaking. Taught at home to always stand up for what you believe in, and in an inner-city neighborhood life is a runway and should be treated as such. The journey to the white business card (with the state seal) was not always glamorous and in fact, required finding the courage to live in the full expression of the human spirit in middle school. Many of our neighbors are lost in pain on the journey of self-discovery and for those New Yorkers, I am confident, Chanel will speak for them, too. I crave authenticity in my leaders and so do the close to 10 million Puerto Ricans living in the United States. Puerto Ricans are among the Latinos leading the way in overall percentages of new voters, every year, in major states like ours. Puerto Rico’s population dropped by 11.8% between 2010 and 2020 (according to the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College), and 440,000 of us left the island and took our votes with us (BIG WEPA). In hiring CHANEL, our governor has sent a message about how our state will welcome our new neighbors — with inclusion. Join me in recognizing National Day of Silence(*), and stand up for somebody with the courage to stand up to the world, to be there, to be counted! INTERVIEW WITH CHANEL J. LOPEZ: How do you define an advocate and ally? How do you see the future of your advocacy growing? I define an advocate as someone who knows their community, who knows the needs and fights for the rights of their community, and someone passionate about their community. An ally in my opinion is someone who wants to be educated about the community and who is right next to us with a passion for fighting for our rights. I see my advocacy growing by running for office in the future. Who are you and what values were taught in your home? I am Chanel J. Lopez, an Afro-Latina transwoman, who was raised by her grandmother, grandfather, and my mom in what they called “El Barrio” which is referred to as East Harlem these days. The values I was taught at home were to always stand up for what I believed in and to always watch whom I have in my surroundings. What was your experience as a student and your favorite learning moment growing up? The school was not the best of memories growing up for me, I was always teased and bullied for being feminine, and I was jumped two (2) times after for just being me. When I went to high school, I was in one of the most dangerous schools with nothing but gangs, so I transferred to a vocational school and obtained my diploma. Do you see yourself as a leader? I do not see myself as a leader, I see myself as an advocate, a representative of my community, and an activist. I am much behind the scenes these days and make a difference from the inside, especially working for our governor, I get to have an input in policymaking and make decisions that would protect our community and give them equal access. How do you define an advocate and ally? How do you see the future of your advocacy growing? I define an advocate as someone who knows their community, who knows the needs and fights for the rights of their community, and someone passionate about their community. An ally in my opinion is someone who wants to be educated about the community and who is

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“MODERN MODESTY BEGINS WITH ME”

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“MODERN MODESTY BEGINS WITH ME” “Our Mission is to help women feel Empowered in their modest clothing, leaving you feeling comfortable and confident in your clothes.” Julie Algubani As this is Women’s History Month, I wanted to highlight a beautiful woman who has done so much in her immediate community and beyond – especially in the vein of Women’s Empowerment! I met her through a mutual friend several years ago and we have stayed in contact on and off for over 10 years. My most memorable moment invested with her was when she asked, and I agreed, to help at World Hijab Day on February 1st, 2015, at the Walden Galleria. We had so much fun connecting with so many local women from all walks of life to encourage them to try on a hijab. The response was overwhelmingly positive! Most recently, we reconnected as we were competing in an “All Ideas Pitch Contest”, where we both won a Monetary Prize for our Business Ideas! Julie Algubani is the Owner of Modesty Marketplace. Her desire to open the shop on January 1st, 2021, came from a frustration that many women experience when trying to shop for the perfect outfit, particularly modern-looking modest clothing! This laid the foundation for the one-stop boutique “for fashion-forward women who don’t want to sacrifice style for modesty. The handpicked pieces are curated from international designers from places like Dubai and Turkey.” The boutique also features products from local businesswomen and nonprofits, including a local non-profit, Buffalo Stich, which helps low-income & refugees develop their skills and talents and turn them into profits. Beyond that, she has regularly hosted pop-ups at the boutique to assist local female entrepreneurs to share their businesses, talents, and wares! When you meet Julie, you FEEL her! Her passion, love, and even her sense of humor with all she does is a whole VIBE. The experience – whether at the shop, at an entrepreneur event, a panelist, or listening to her at a speaking engagement – is a time you will not soon forget. Julie truly is the embodiment of Modesty Marketplace’s motto ~ “Elegant, Exclusive, Empowering.” So, for Women’s History Month and for every event that you intend on attending this year & beyond – where you want to stand out in a unique and handpicked outfit – YOUR search will begin and end there! No more multiple stores to string together the perfect outfit for YOU! Visit her on all social media platforms, including TikTok, where she frequently posts: Customer Reviews, Tunic Tuesday, Women Empower Women Wednesday, Outfit of The Day, Tips on Modesty, and Specials. For people outside the immediate Buffalo & Erie County area, they can visit her wonderful online shop at: www.modestymarketplace.co/ I highly recommend that you and your friends visit Modesty Marketplace, located at 4498 Main Street, Amherst, NY. Make sure to call or check store hours before heading out. Lastly, SHARE your Modesty Begins with Me experiences and tag her when you do… You never know when your testimony or photo will land on her ‘Socials’ for the world to see! Read More From This Writer All Post Food Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development People “MODERN MODESTY BEGINS WITH ME” March 13, 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 “PULLING THE RACE CARD”, LITERALLY February 13, 2023/No Comments “PULLING THE RACE CARD”, LITERALLY As we celebrate Black History Month, I wanted to feature my Sisters Sarah Pearson Collins Read More REDEMPTION STORIES: TOMMY WALKER January 13, 2023/No Comments REDEMPTION STORIES: TOMMY WALKER In preparing to write the first article of 2023, I listened to Bob Marley’s Redemption Song. Read More Load More End of Content.

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