ENTRE TIROS Y  ESPERANZA (Parte 1 de 2)

Community, español /

ENTRE TIROS Y ESPERANZA (Parte 1 de 2) Las balas me han cambiado la vida, solo tenia 17, y empezaba ya la universidad. Ese dia tenia mi primer examen final cuando senti una sensacion de angustia en mi corazon, y no era por el examen. Estaba preparada y entendia la materia. Lamentablemente mi angustia era un pre aviso de la tragedia que me cambiaria la vida. LA BALA: DE ADOLESCENTE A MUJER — Los acontecimientos de las balaceras en todos los lugares del pais, me trasladan a diario a la sala de urgencias de Nueva York: Lincoln Hospital donde mi papa era intervenido de urgencias por un asalto a mano armada por unos adolescentes quienes entraron a robar en su tiendecita. Mi papa sobrevivio un ataque brutal de varios tiros! Uno de estos impacto su mandibula y la fracturo. La vida nos cambio a todos esa noche. Esa noche pase de 17 a edad media: 40! Me volvi una adulta, cabeza de familia y proveedora para mis padres y mis hermanos, las balas nos impactaron a todos no solo a Papi. Pase de nena a mujer en un abrir y cerrar de ojos! Ya nada fue igual. A pesar del impacto adverso de ese acto de violencia, nunca he perdido la Esperanza. NECESITAMOS REFORMA CONCRETA Y REAL — Como sociedad necesitamos reforrmas para el control de armas. Necesitamos invertir mas en la educacion, la salud mental y viviendas para todos. La salud mental pre pandemia era fragil, post pandemia esta rota y necesita ayuda inmediata. La violencia no es normal y no podemos aceptarla como la normalidad. Como sociedad es necesario enfrentar la raiz del problema: la necesidad de balancear el derecho constitucional protegido por la segunda enmienda y la crisis de violencia que nos afecta a todos en particular a la juventud. Hago un llamado a la comunidad educacional y legislative para que trabajemos en conjunto y enlistemos ayuda viable y concreta de todos los sectores: medico, legal, artistico y comunal. A todos nos concierne, y nos afecta. Necesitamos combatir juntos la pandemia de violencia que nos azota. No es un problema aislado. Es un problema colectivo, un desafio intergeracional y global. Este es el momento de actuar firmemente.  A los legisladores necesitamos el apoyo legislativo y fiscal en las escuelas, en los deportes y el arte. Beneficio colectivo, avance colectivo y global. A los manufacturadores necesitamos sentarnos y trabajar colectivamente: el derecho a ganarse la vida  es parte al derecho a vivir! Sin vida no hay nada. EL ARTE: ES VIDA.  UN LLAMADO DE AYUDA! — Este es un llamado a la comunidad artistica, a todos quienes con su arte hablan, cantan y representan la vida: no importa el genero! Ustedes tienen el alcance que todos necesitamos. Su arte corre por las venas de todos. Sus palabras nos indican la realidad que vivimos. Ustedes junto a nosotros somos la esperanza. Este espacio esta disponible para que encontremos una solucion entre todos. Escribeme y dejame saber como podemos construer  juntos el camino! El momento es ahora! 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 ENTRE TIROS Y  ESPERANZA (Parte 1 de 2) July 23, 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 AHORA — ES EL MOMENTO June 23, 2022/No Comments AHORA — ES EL MOMENTO La masacre en la ciudad de los vecinos, Buffalo es un llamado a la accion Read More YOUR VOTE — YOUR VOICE May 23, 2022/No Comments YOUR VOTE — YOUR VOICE Your vote is being courted and sought by politicians and aspiring public servants of all Read More Load More End of Content.

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RETHINKING THE FOOD WE EAT

Food & Culture /

At the time of writing this article, I can accurately claim that I am an award-winning filmmaker with my film “Boricua Soy Yo.” My film has won an Exceptional Achievement Award at the Multi-Dimensional Film Festival and the Award for Best Narrative Documentary at the Bright International Film Festival, both taking place in the UK. Work never ends and as soon as I wrapped up “Boricua Soy Yo” I immediately started thinking about what the next project would be, striking while  the iron is hot, and creative juices are hot.  While working on “Boricua,” one of the subjects that I wanted to spend more time on was the foods we eat and why traditional “Puerto Rican” foods have led Puerto Rican communities to have such high Type II Diabetes rates, second only to the Pima Indians of Arizona. After some discussion with Puerto Rican doctors and Health Care professionals, I knew this was an idea that could stand on its own, either as a limited series or a documentary feature, and thus, the idea for “Puerto Frito: Diabetes & Nutrition in the Puerto Rican Community” was planted. Through a series of interviews and onsite production, this project will investigate the history of how different cultures came together to create the Puerto Rican diet, consisting of many of the foods our community enjoys. These influences will include foods and customs from our Spanish, African and Indigenous ancestors in addition to Northern African influences, cooking techniques, recipes, and spices brought to the island. Because many of the foods we enjoy are fried, we will investigate what fried foods do to the body and how we can begin introducing new cooking techniques to make healthier versions of the foods we enjoy to hopefully begin slowing down the rate of Type II Diabetes. Have you ever wondered why canned Vienna sausages were such a staple in our kitchens or questioned where alcapurrias came from? Why is our modern diet so starch and fried food heavy? Additional areas I will be exploring are the origins of barbecue food as we know it, which originated from our Taino ancestors. When Spanish colonizers arrived on the islands, they observed the cooking technique Tainos used for meat, callebarbecuecu which became barbacoa or barbecue we use today. Keep in mind, that the intention of this project isn’t to shame the Puerto Rican diet, but instead, to acknowledge how our dietary practices have led to a health epidemic within our communities. So many of us have been touched by friends and family living and dying from the effects of Type II diabetes. This project is still very early and in the proposal stages, but as I mentioned above, the idea is still very fresh and one I look to accomplish while the creative juices marinate. My hope is, that once this project is completed, we may all rethink and reconsider our foods and take better care of our health. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports A BITTERSWEET NIGHT, LISTENING TO THE MUSIC OF “GITANAA July 6, 2023/No Comments On Saturday, June 24th, my wife and I joined a few friends and enjoyed a night of live Latin music Read More MAKING A MARK ON OUR YOUTH June 6, 2023/No Comments During my column last month, I wrote about having the opportunity to visit my childhood school, Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy, Read More IT STARTS WITH A BOOK May 12, 2023/No Comments IT STARTS WITH A BOOK On Friday, April 29th, I will have attended the 13th Annual Dia del Ninos y Read More Load More End of Content.

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CAMP PEACE PRINTS:  JUSTICE FOR ALL!!

Peace /

CAMP PEACE PRINTS: JUSTICE FOR ALL!! “Si queremos tener paz, debemos empezar por los niños” — Mahatma Gandhi “Darles a los niños ropa y comida es una cosa, pero es mucho más importante enseñarles que otras personas además de ellos son importantes y que lo mejor que pueden hacer con sus vidas es usarlas al servicio de otras personas.”  — Dolores Huerta We are excited to offer our 15th annual Camp Peaceprints to the community – a tremendous opportunity for our children and youth to learn and explore social justice in a diverse group – to work and play to Be The Change we want (and need) to see in the world and to have fun!! Camp Peaceprints, a collaboration between the SSJ Sr. Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence (SKC) and the WNY Peace Center (WNYPC), offers campers aged 8-13 an alternative day camp focused on Justice, Peaceful Conflict Resolution, and the Arts. It will run July 18-29, Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (except for two or three of the field trip days!). It’ll take place at SS. Columba-Brigid Church, at 75 Hickory Street, Buffalo 14204 (opposite the JFK Recreation Center). We have exciting field trips – to Niagara Falls where we’ll go on Maid of the Mist, and explore the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Museum; and to Ganondagan, Seneca Center with Longhouse and Haudenosaunee teachings. We’re also planning a trip to the beach and three trips to the pool! We have opportunities for adult volunteers. Parents and community members are especially welcome to help with transportation needs – both in getting children to Camp, as well as to field trips and/or swimming trips. (Unfortunately, the City won’t be opening the JFK pool, apparently due to a lifeguard shortage.) We provide gas money for servicing camp transportation needs. Many parents have found this a wonderful way to share more fully in their children’s camp experiences. The children and youth who attend will get to explore justice issues with community leaders, including Citizenship; the Law and Law Enforcement; the Justice System (as it is called) – “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” and especially How to Work for Change. Cariol Horne – local shero and a nationally known former police officer who was fired for stopping a fellow officer from choking a community member; proponent of the City-adopted #CariolsLaw – will facilitate a session on Law and Law Enforcement. WNYPC’s Executive Director, Deidra EmEl, will facilitate numerous portions of the programs, which include Mindfulness, Movement, and Music. SKC’s Director, Vivian Waltz, will lead experiential learning exercises from the Alternatives to Violence Project. Art Educator Jan Burns, Director of the Focus on Consequences for Adolescents (a program of the Prevention Council of Erie County). will facilitate art sessions related to the themes, including an art session at the beach.  —- For more information, including online registration, please go to the Camp Peaceprints page on sisterkarencenter.org. For questions, contact Vivian by email at vivian@sisterkarencenter.org or by phone at 716.982.6501. Read More From This Writer All Post Food Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Peace People CAMP PEACE PRINTS:  JUSTICE FOR ALL!! July 16, 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 EN ESTE TIEMPO DIFICIL,  NECESITAMOS UN MOMENTO JUSTO POR LA PAZ… June 16, 2022/No Comments KEEPING OUR BALANCE IN THE WHIRLWIND! EN ESTE TIEMPO DIFICIL,  NECESITAMOS UN MOMENTO JUSTO POR LA PAZ… After the #BuffaloMassacre Read More WOMEN’S MONTH: WOMEN’S MARCH, & MORE! May 16, 2022/No Comments WOMEN’S MONTH:  WOMEN’S MARCH, & MORE! The WNY Peace Center (WNYPC) is working – together with others – on our Read More Load More End of Content.

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