LATINO TRANSPARENCY IN 2022: ACCOUNTABILITY

Community /

This year in 2022, let’s open our eyes and be more alert and observant of the way our community functions and is treated by the political community.  Be responsible as a citizen. Since you pay taxes, find out who are the politicians or elected officials that represent the community you live in. Get to know your community leaders and observe how they are doing. Are they legitimate community leaders or “self-proclaimed leaders produced by politicians always looking for easy votes, winning elections without opening their eyes, or accountable to anyone except the few who help in the manipulation and delivery of the community votes? (Empty promises). Let’s start the new year with a commitment to get our house in order – socially, economically, and politically. Let’s get closer to our local organizations, like Hispanic United of Buffalo, PRLC, Father Belle, PRACA, Hispanic Heritage Council, Hispanic Women’s League, El Buen Amigo, El Batey Puerto Rican Center, Pushing Latinos Forward, etc.  Visit them, introduce yourself, ask questions, and request to see the budget, how they operate, what are the salaries of their top personal el, and who’s on their board of directors?  Ask about their mission and purpose in the community. Ask about employees, what they do, and how they get their jobs. What money are they getting from the city, state, and federal government? How is that money spent or utilized?  You need to pay attention to your community. Did you know there are plans for a “Hispanic Heritage Center” planned for Niagara Street, sponsored by the Hispanic Heritage Council? Ask them about who’s involved, and what they have in mind.  Have they talked to you or your neighbors about it, what community people are involved in? Who’s putting up or funding the project? Who’s handling the construction contracts? Who’s getting the jobs? These are all legitimate questions for you to ask, it’s the responsibility of the people, of a community to care.  Join and support some of them, especially if you like what you see and learn. White communities will tell you, “Homie don’t play that.” They demand to be kept informed of what is happening in their communities. We need to do the same.  Unfortunately, the reason why black and Latino communities are always behind the 8 ball is that we don’t ask questions, and we don’t care. Change that in 2022, let’s make our community better, for our children, family, and community.  Let’s meet and talk to our leaders, let us build a better community.  In 2022, work on Transparency.    Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Community Education Entertainment Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics LATINO COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE INEQUALITY AND CULTURAL ISOLATION AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK at BUFFALO March 25, 2023/No Comments LACK OF COLLEGE SERVICES FOR LATINO STUDENTS: This is in response to a story by UB Spectrum reporter, Kayla Estrada, Read More “GETTING VERY LITTLE FOR THE WHOLE,  BUT GETTING A LOT FOR THE FEW” WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2023 January 25, 2023/No Comments While I might appear to be biased and selective, I strongly feel the four people in the photo are the Read More The Isaías González-Soto Branch Library (formerly Niagara Branch) is a member of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System December 25, 2022/No Comments When the Hispanic Heritage Council (HHC) moved to rename the Niagara Branch Library several years ago, with the support of Read More Load More End of Content.

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CARTA ABIETA A LA PRIMERA DAMA:Dr. JILL BIDEN

español, Politics /

January 2022 CARTA ABIETA A LA PRIMERA DAMA:Dr. JILL BIDEN Gracias por su liderazgo y mayordomia en el campo educativo. Anoche vi un reportaje en el cual usted como primera dama hablaba del compromiso que tiene el Presidente Biden con la educacion y el tema de la inmigracion. Me gustaria motivarla a que junto a las diversas comunidades a traves del pais, hagamos un programa de apoyo y capacitacion para educadores, comunidades y estudiantes acerca de los desafios de la salud mental que estamos atravesando en la nacion., Usted como educadora es un faro de luz para todos los que nos interese el tema de la educacion y la edification de comunidades. Necesitamos escuchar con un oido compasivo a los jovenes quienes estan siendo impactados por todos los desafios domesticos e internacionales que vivimos. Una de las ideas que ha surgido es una serie de conversaciones virtuales por y para la juventud. Con el proposito de escucharlos y forjar una agenda de trabajo en la cual ellos puedan contribuir a soluciones viables. Este es un momento crucial que nos define como humanidad. Tomemos esta oportunidad para escuchar, platicar y edificar. Se que con su liderazgo y mayordomia podremos forjar una agenda de edification civica para todos en la nacion. Que el 2022 sea el comienzo de una epoca de dalogo y accion concreta para todos. Ojala puede platicar y trabajar con usted. Gracias de nuevo por su apoyo y su contribucion a la education y participacion civica.  LETTER  TO THE FIRST LADY: DRA. JILL BIDEN By Angelica Aquino  Thank you for your leadership and stewardship in the educational field. Last night I saw a story in which you as first lady talked about President Biden’s commitment to education and the issue of immigration. I would like to encourage you, together with the various communities throughout the country, to start a support & training program for educators, communities, and students about the mental health challenges we are facing in the nation. You as an educator are a beacon of light for all of us who are interested in the subject of education and the building of communities. We need to listen with a compassionate ear to young people who are being impacted by all the domestic and international challenges we are experiencing. One of the ideas that has emerged is a series of virtual conversations by and for youth; with the purpose of listening to them and forging a work agenda in which they can contribute to viable solutions. This is a crucial moment that defines us as humanity. Let’s take this opportunity to listen, talk and edify. I know that with your leadership and stewardship, we will be able to forge an agenda of civic building for everyone in the nation. May the year 2022 be the beginning of an era of dialogue and concrete action for all. Hopefully President Biden can talk and work with you. Thank you again for your support and your contribution to education and civic participation. 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 Who We Are CARTA ABIETA A LA PRIMERA DAMA:Dr. JILL BIDEN January 23, 2022/No Comments January 2022 POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, Read More 2022: ENFOQUE HAICA DONDE VAMOS December 23, 2021/No Comments 2022: ENFOQUE HAICA DONDE VAMOS  Se acerca el 2022. Nuestras comunidades se preparan para contiendas locales en diversos estados claves, Read More COMITE NOVIEMBRE: MES DE LA HERENCIA BORICUA November 22, 2021/No Comments COMITE NOVIEMBRE: MES DE LA HERENCIA BORICUA Celebrando la herencia de Puerto Rico y su legado pionero aqui en los Read More Load More End of Content.

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DON’T FORGET OUR TRADITIONS

Food & Culture /

DON’T FORGET OUR TRADITIONS With the new year comes expectations for new beginnings, prosperity, losing that little holiday weight and a clean slate. As most folks put their Christmas decorations away the hope for a better year ahead looms large. On January 6th, many Puerto Ricans on the West Side (and worldwide) will celebrate Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos (Day of the Three Kings’ Day). Shoeboxes will be full of grass and placed under children’s beds in hopes for one last present to celebrate the Epiphany. Over the last two months of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, it will not be surprising to see holiday lights and festive foods at any Puerto Rican household you visit. The festive spirit is ingrained in our people, possibly due to the struggles and hardships we have had to endure throughout generations as citizens of the United States. Recently, a friend and an interview subject for my documentary (Boricua Soy Yo), Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez, wrote a column on how “Puerto Rico Has the World’s Longest Christmas Season” and it honestly didn’t surprise me. Whether they are holiday traditions or National cultural celebrations, our people are proud, humble, and full of joy. It is rooted in the Puerto Rican spirit. As a mainland born and raised Puerto Rican, it is something I try to recapture and regentrify into my own identity. I was never raised on the island, the traditions I know were passed to me from my mother, my aunts, and uncles, all here on the west side of Buffalo. These traditions may seem “old school” to some, but these traditions are the way we honor those who came before us. It’s one of the reasons I set forth in producing my documentary and telling it from the point of view of someone who was not born on the island. If you were to read the title of my film, you would notice the grammatically awkward title is a call back to how many of us living here of Puerto Rican descent speak broken Spanish. Although I sometimes feel like our traditions are dying every year, it makes me happy when I see grown Puerto Rican men wearing Middle Eastern robes on January 6th, as it brings hope that our traditions aren’t lost. A year ago, I wrote a column about our elders’ stories being like recipes, and how we need to write them down to pass on to generations that come after us. Hollywood is taking note. It’s no surprise that over the last few years, films, animated and live action, have been made to capture Latino Audiences. I’ll admit, I’m happy to see the attention our cultures are given for the masses, I also cannot help but feel a little guarded over how our culture is portrayed and how our traditions are not co-opted by others for their own gain. Celebrate and protect our traditions. Share them with the world but protect them from those who want to take them over or change them to fit into their own circle. May you all enjoy a beautiful Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos, and may the new year bring you blessings and joy. Read More From This Writer All Post Business Culture Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Music Our Community Peace People Sports DON’T FORGET OUR TRADITIONS January 18, 2022/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More YEAR IN REVIEW: FROM INSURRECTION TO WRITE-IN December 18, 2021/No Comments YEAR IN REVIEW: FROM INSURRECTION TO WRITE-IN As we’re coming to the end of the year 2021, I wanted to Read More FROM LOWER WEST SIDE TO CENTER STAGE November 18, 2021/No Comments FROM LOWER WEST SIDE TO CENTER STAGE As I’m celebrating the first year as a columnist with the Buffalo Latino Read More Load More End of Content.

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