INDIA WALTON THE CANDIDATE OF PUSHING LATINOS FORWARD, THE LEGITIMATE ENDORSED DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE

Politics /

Buffalo has been a flat beer for too long — no creativity, no imagination, with a mayor who wants to be a dictator, ruling this city for too long, refusing to accept defeat, now acting like a kid crying for his lollipop; and supported by Trump-related roots or links. Buffalo needs a new dress, a clean and new face to complement New York State’s first female Governor.  The reasons why we should support and vote for India Walton are obvious and essential. She has young people supporting her candidacy, young Buffalonians ready to help with the growth and development of this city, displaying lots of ideas and energy. It is something we have not seen in a long time.  If we want Buffalo to grow and develop, to keep our young people here in the city, we need to jump out of the destructive comfort zone that voters have experienced for the past 15 years. The mayor is tired, with no energy, old ideas, has the same story, with no vision or mission that will keep our young people in Buffalo, a college town, where upon graduation, these young people leave the city after receiving their education after 4 plus years. They hit and run! With Brown, you get the same flat beer, a continuation of a comfort zone that holds on to the past, full of greed, and a selected small group enjoying the fruits of the controlled comfort zone.  With India Walton, you get new ideas and a future that our young people will work and live with.   We have a great opportunity to make history by electing the first female mayor, complimenting New York St which just confirmed the first female governor. The time is here for us to accept a new journey, an exciting challenge.  With India Walton, this city will grow, create real jobs for everyone, and make it possible for college students to stay here instead of leaving for career opportunities elsewhere. This is the time for Byron Brown to pass the torch to the endorsed Democratic nominee. India Walton is the new Buffalo, the new challenge, our future, our children’s future. She is not perfect, (and neither was Brown), but India Walton represents an important and bright beginning. Please do not get manipulated by the mass of advertisements the Brown people are throwing at us. In this new city, it will no longer be: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. That will come to an end.  In this new city, it will no longer be: “You have to pay to play.” That will come to an end. In this new city, everyone will have the same opportunities, regardless of color, class, or political affiliation.  It would be wise to give your support and vote to India Walton’s mayor on Tuesday, November 2nd. If not for you, do it for education and our young generation. 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.

INDIA WALTON THE CANDIDATE OF PUSHING LATINOS FORWARD, THE LEGITIMATE ENDORSED DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE Read More »

TRAILBLAZERS: LATINAS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CENTENNIAL

Health /

TRAILBLAZERS: LATINAS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CENTENNIAL Aurea Martinez and Yvonne Carretero, public health educators and community empowerment organizers, will be forever remembered for their contributions in the development and implementation of community health in New York City and globally. Mrs. Martinez and Ms. Carretero are real trailblazers. Back in the 1980’s when AIDS, Crack, and urban poverty heavily impacted black and Latino communities, I had the opportunity as a young woman to be their student. Martinez and Carretero were the eyes and ears of community-based initiative and programs in Washington Heights, serving and empowering through their community, led sessions and parenting skills programs. Mrs. Martinez taught sexual education, leadership skills and health education with joy, respect, and dignity. Ms. Carretero was the program director of a public health initiative from Columbia University School of Public Health for and by young people—Teatro HEY (Health Education for the Youth). Such was a vehicle of empowerment, knowledge, and learning, through vignettes and improvisational theater, we led sessions on the pressing issues of the 80’s and 90’s. We opened doors for all community stakeholders to join in dialogue and action. Because of this work, many community-based organizations were able to serve and create viable school-based health programs for parents, students, and educators. Their profound knowledge and love for public health education has been pivotal in what is now known as Community Health Education. Generations of students like me benefitted from their wise counsel and support. I still remembered when we chatted about with Dr. Alan Rosenfield, M.D., supporter of all community programs about our professional dreams. They believed in us and took the time to listen and guide. Today, I can attest that part of my public interest lawyering passion started with them. Other members of Teatro HEY are health and community educators, counselors, and public interest servants because of Rosenfield’s, Martinez’ and Carretero’s visionary guidance and counsel. Columbia University School of Public Health celebrates the Centennial of the Public Health School. I urge our global community to honor them by naming community programs, schools, and streets with their names. Their legacy is timeless and profound, and had a national impact, from downstate to upstate, NY, and beyond. I hope they are given the national and international recognition their work and legacy truly deserve. Note: Go to Monthly Issues to see this article with subject photos) 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 TRAILBLAZERS: LATINAS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CENTENNIAL October 22, 2021/No CommentsRead More NECESITAMOS UNA REFORMA INMIGRATORIA: HUMANA, SENSIBLE Y COMPASIVA-YA! September 22, 2021/No Comments NECESITAMOS UNA REFORMA INMIGRATORIA: HUMANA, SENSIBLE Y COMPASIVA-YA! La crisis en la frontera sur es real. A diario cientos de Read More Y LA VACUNA PA’ CUANDO August 22, 2021/No Comments Y LA VACUNA PA’ CUANDO Estamos viviendo una crisis comunitaria y global, la pandemia continua hacienda estragos y robandosno nuestros Read More Load More End of Content.

TRAILBLAZERS: LATINAS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CENTENNIAL Read More »

OUR CULTURE IS NOT A COSTUME

1 Comment / Food & Culture /

OUR CULTURE IS NOT A COSTUME By the time you’re reading this month’s issue of The Buffalo Latin Village, we will be smack in the middle of “Hispanic Heritage” month. All throughout the middle of every September and October, you will see television ads, print ads, internet ads and possibly, depending on the market, radio ads “celebrating” Hispanic Heritage. It’s just like Christmas. Suddenly, you’ll see a celebration of Latin American Flags and cultures, language, but if you blink, you’ll miss it. I’ve always been a little critical of the forced inclusion regarding our culturally different communities which were jammed into one “Hispanic” monolith, but alas, this is a battle I grow tired of every year. Outside of the forced inclusion of our cultures for the purpose of celebration, my frustrations are aimed at the commercialization of this monthly celebration and the way these “corporate celebrations” always focused on part of our heritage. My issues with the term “Hispanic” are tied to the way it ignores what makes up a person of “Hispanic” origin. All the attention is paid to “Hispania” but the cultural and genetic influences from our African and Native Indian ancestors go unacknowledged. Furthermore, and this is something I mentioned a few columns ago with regards to how we don’t all fit within one identity. Puerto Ricans and Puerto Rican culture is as like Argentinians and Argentinian culture as Canada is to Australia. Yes, they speak the same language, but they are not the same people. However, having one “celebration” and throwing everyone under that one umbrella basically ignores the beauty of our separate Latin American cultures all in the name of inclusion. It’s like whenever a person says “I don’t see color” when it comes to issues of race. This phrase has always made me cringe because, to not see color is to not acknowledge the struggle and history people of a certain racial makeup have had to endure, in this racially biased society we live in. I’m in no way saying we shouldn’t acknowledge or celebrate our cultures, I just have a hard time understanding why so many are OK to see corporations and others who quick to jump on the “Hispanic” bandwagon, celebrating this month with Tacos, Trumpets, and Salsa. Our culture is not a costume, it isn’t a thing you can pull from a closet once a year and celebrate like an old musty Santa Claus outfit sitting in storage. We live and celebrate our culture year-round, and seeing corporations, businesses and entities only stop once a month, in the middle of two months, every year to finally say, “Oh yeah, you guys” is a little insulting. I guess anything is acceptable so long as corporate dollars are involved. We should celebrate our cultures, our identities, and traditions, but also make a point of seeing each for what we are; individual cultures that have a similar experience, but very different traditions, even if we speak the same language. Latinos aren’t one monolithic culture, instead we are many pillars, each with our own stories to tell. 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 OUR CULTURE IS NOT A COSTUME October 18, 2021/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 PRESSURE-COOKED CULTURE September 18, 2021/No Comments A PRESSURE-COOKED CULTURE As another month goes by and my film (Boricua Soy Yo) production continues, I’m amazed at the Read More A LIBRARY OF FLAVORS August 18, 2021/No Comments A LIBRARY OF FLAVORS This past month, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of an exhibit at Mills Read More Load More End of Content.

OUR CULTURE IS NOT A COSTUME Read More »

Scroll to Top