News (Noticias) Tagged ‘blog’

With literacy levels in the Unites States hovering at around 75 percent — an embarrassing rate for one of the world’s most powerful economies — and literacy a key issue in many Hispanic communities, Latin Baby has launched a new blog for Latino parents as part of its new Book Club.

The book club was created to help parents find bilingual books and selections that describe Hispanic culture and traditions. Most of the books are either bilingual or help parents maintain a connection to traditional children’s games, Latin American folk songs and nursery rhymes that are being forgotten as younger generations of Hispanics assimilate ever faster into the U.S. mainstream.

“I’m all for progress, but many of our cultural traditions are being lost with the passing of our abuelitos and the creeping influence of electronic games and toys that don’t really teach our children how to truly think and develop their imaginations,” said Monica Olivera Hazelton, founder and president of Latin Baby. “Latinos have a rich cultural heritage that is evolving as it merges with the best of U.S. creativity and innovation. I believe our grandparents’ wisdom and time-honored customs are an essential part of our U.S. identity and can take us to new levels of achievement.”

Both the book club and blog are designed to encourage parents to read to their children. Reading has become increasingly crucial as major studies emerge showing that unless a child can read by third grade, it is unlikely that child will succeed in school.

Through the book club, Ms. Olivera also sees much benefit in supporting Latino authors and songwriters who are writing and maintaining Latino traditions for future generations. “Like all great art with universal themes, the works of Latino artists help us see the present through the prism of history. These artists are the whispers of our past. They give voice to la sangre hispana — Hispanic blood — that is coursing through our veins, and not only help us understand ourselves, but help others to understand us, as well.”

The blog (latinbabybookclub.blogspot.com) will feature reviews of bilingual songs and literature for children, ages infant to young adult; book suggestions for parents; interviews with emerging and established authors; and special events held at local libraries and book stores. Of particular interest will be the LBBC’s Libro del Mes/Book of the Month, which will highlight must-have books for Latino or bilingual family libraries.

Besides Ms. Olivera, other stellar bloggers will submit reviews to the blog, including:

* Aurora Anaya-Cerda, owner of La Casa Azul Bookstore, (www.lacasaazulbookstore.com) an independent bookstore offering new and used books and music. She is an active member of the East Harlem community as a participant and supporter of cultural and educational events. She was awarded the Juanita Centeno Leadership Award and the UCLA Women for Change Leadership Award, both for outstanding dedication and service to her community.

* Violeta Garcia-Mendoza, born in Madrid, Spain, is a writer, poet, and blogger from Multi-Culti Mámi. The Pennsylvania resident is Co-Editor and Columnist for Literary Mama and a book reviewer for RainbowKids Magazine. Her poetry and prose have appeared in a variety of publications. She conducts writing workshops on-line in creative nonfiction and poetry through her website (www.TurnPeoplePurple.com).

* Carrie Ferguson Weir has four gigs going at once — she co-owns Los Pollitos Dicen, a boutique line of Spanish baby T-shirts, does public relations for small businesses, writes freelance, and posts for her own blog, Bilingual in the Boonies. Weir’s love of all things Spanish, Latino and bilingual comes from her Miami-bred, Cuban-American heritage, which she honors by regularly dousing her house with pine-scented cleanser and making a memorable flan.

* Christianne Meneses Jacobs is the Nicaragua-born publisher/editor of Iguana Magazine. In 2007, she was honored as one of the recipients of the “Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund” for her entrepreneurial spirit and service to the Latino community through Iguana, the only Spanish-language children’s magazine in the U.S.

For more information, contact Ms. Olivera at 252-826-9956 or go to the web site, latinbabybookclub.blogspot.com. “

For nearly four decades, Juan Felipe Herrera has documented his experience as a Chicano in the United States and Latin America through stunning, memorable poetry that is both personal and universal in its impact, themes, and approach. Often political, never fainthearted, his career has been marked by tremendous virtuosity and a unique sensibility for uncovering the unknown and the unexpected.

Through a variety of stages and transformations, Herrera has evolved more than almost any other Chicano poet, always re-inventing himself into a more mature and seasoned voice. Now, in this unprecedented collection, we encounter the trajectory of this highly innovative and original writer, bringing the full scope of his singular vision into view. Beginning with early material from A Certain Man and moving through thirteen of his collections into new, previously unpublished work, this assemblage also includes an audio CD of the author reading twenty-four selected poems aloud.”*

En apenas 48 horas, el conjunto argentino se convirtió en un boom de boletería y confirmó la gran popularidad que posee en México desde la época en la que temas como “Matador” y “Mal bicho” dominaban los rankings de difusión radial de toda América Latina.

La actuación en el Distrito Federal, que se realizará el 5 de noviembre, es la única que tiene fecha confirmada, ya que aún no se dieron a conocer los días y lugares de las presentaciones en Monterrey y Guadalajara. “*

Though Obama’s office called the other Congresswomen to invite them to the gathering, sigh, Latina grudges don’t easily go away, especially with just a phone call.

It probably also didn’t help that this week the Obama campaign announced they had hired Clinton’s former campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, as Chief of Staff for the VP candidate. Since Clinton and Solis Doyle haven’t even spoken to one another since Solis Doyle was fired from the campaign, it sends (maybe) the unintentional message that Clinton isn’t in the running for the VP spot which is bound to be a sore point among the Latina leadership waiting for personal outreach from Obama.

On top of his problem outreaching to some Latina congressional leaders, the campaign has been strangely silent with the Latino blogosphere.”*

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that it will permanently shutter its field office in Tijuana, Mexico. Officials for the agency, part of the Homeland Security department, said the office is being closed as part of a larger effort to trim overseas costs and because the Tijuana office did not have “much of a workload.” The office will close on July 3, 2008. “Applicants should not be adversely affected by the office closures,” said Chris Rhatigan, an agency spokesman.”*

Though advocates of bilingual education still groan when they hear his name, it’s been several years since Ron K. Unz, a California businessman, stepped away from the national debate on how best to educate English-language learners. Before Mr. Unz’s withdrawal, he financed campaigns that succeeded in getting voters in Arizona, California, and Massachusetts to approve ballot initiatives to curtail bilingual education in those states. He financed a similar campaign in Colorado as well, but lost that one.”*

I post a press release about this yesterday but Mary provides more info on this.

A song about a new understanding, “No te quiero nada,” is driven by strumming guitars and the sisters’ vocal harmonies. The single is from Ha*Ash’s upcoming “Habitación doble” CD, scheduled for release in August.”*

“Regional balance,” Richardson said should be a top consideration, and he pointed out that the recent Democratic presidential coalitions have consisted of the East Coast, the West Coast, and not much in between. “We’ve ignored the Southwest,” he continued. “We’ve ignored the Southwest Hispanic vote.”"*

Mexican rock/pop singer says Alejandra Guzmán says that on her new CD “Fuerza” she learned that the best way to help yourself is to help others.

“I have been through so much, from surviving cancer and alcoholism, that I feel if I can help someone else, I am more than happy to do it,” she said in her native Spanish during a recent interview.

Guzmán was in a refreshing good mood. Her latest CD “Fuerza,” has just been awarded gold and platinum awards for top sales in Mexico. “*

Today the Oregon Secretary of State’s office announced that Initiative Petition #19 has qualified for the upcoming ballot. The unfunded mandate termed “English Language Instruction” would prohibit teaching a public school student in a language other than English for more than two years. This November, Oregonians will have the choice to reject or pass a law which will take control away from local school boards, families and educators and place it in the hands of convicted racketeer Bill Sizemore.

“School children targeted by Bill Sizemore’s measure speak over a hundred languages in our public schools and come from a variety of backgrounds. Many of these children suffer from economic hardship and some have spent years in refugee camps with no formal schooling before coming to Oregon,” said Kayse Jama of the Center for Intercultural Organizing. “This is a new low even for Sizemore, destroying their educational hopes in a land where they should be given equal opportunity”.

Similar measures that have been passed in other states have been shown to hinder the ability of children to learn English. In California, a recent study revealed that after six years since an anti-bilingual education measure’s passage just one-quarter of Hispanic pupils could expect to be reclassified as fluent in English.

This staggering revelation shows that students have been prevented from making the most of their education thereby having a negative impact on their economic future and the future of the communities they live in. The fact remains, children learn English more quickly, along with math and science and other academic subjects, when at least some of their instruction is in their native language. Last year, there were 62,084 students enrolled in English Language Development programs in Oregon school districts.

A broad coalition of immigrant, refugee, educators and ally organizations are set to fight the ill-conceived measure by educating Oregonians about the additional costs the measure will create, the fact that it will take federal money away from Oregon’s General Fund Budget, the harm it will do to children and the control it will take away from local school boards, families and educators, those whom know best about educate our children.

“We are in the process of educating families in communities around Oregon about the harmful consequences of this measure”, said Aeryca Steinbauer, coordinator of CAUSA. “Oregonians everywhere should be concerned about its damaging effects on children and disruption of local control”.”*

The latest national polling in the presidential race is nothing if not consistent — most of the recent ones, including an ABC News/Washington Post survey released today, show Barack Obama with a four- percentage-point lead over John McCain among registered voters.

That’s not great news for the presumptive Democratic nominee, given all the factors seemingly weighing against the Republican Party (most obviously President Bush’s in-the-tank approval ratings). But Obama should be heartened by a new poll that focused solely on Latino voters in 21 states.”*

Tisha Tallman, who served as the Southeast regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund, has been named to be the new president and CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Tallman, who will take on her new role on July 14, will fill the spot that has been vacant since January when Sara Gonzalez, the long time executive of the chamber, died unexpectedly.”*

A blog about storytelling, design, the projects we work on, the things we learn along the way.”*

Colombian rocker Cabas is touring behind a new CD titled “Amores Dificiles.”

a recent interview, he said his new album “is a little more acoustic than my previous ones.”

As implied by the title, the themes are all about romantic adventures.

“The songs are all about love. Good loves, bad loves,” he said in his native Spanish. “All the good loves have been difficult loves too with unforgettable moments.”“*

Gary Piña, a news editor/page designer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, is among the hundreds of McClatchy employees laid off today. He has been with the Star-Telegram for over 20 years.”*

Christina Medina takes a big leap - 100 markets - landing as a reporter at CBS affiliate KCTV-5 in Kansas City, Missouri. “*

Janet Rodríguez leaves D.C. to head west. A Telemundo reporter for the ZGS affiliate, Janet will now be a reporter for the Telemundo O&O in Phoenix.”*

You can thank (or malign) the Supreme Court for decreasing the number of illegal immigrants — not with fancy fencing but with a rule switch.

In a 5-4 decision today, the court decided (pdf) that an illegal immigrant who has agreed to depart voluntarily can instead stick around while trying to get approval to remain in the U.S. (Voluntary departure grants the immigrant some privileges — they are likelier to be allowed back into the states, for example.) The ruling will make it easier for immigrants who find themselves a few documents short of legal status and want to get their papers in order even as their visas lapse.”*

Latino activists, workers and Portland City Council members celebrated the opening of a government-sponsored center for day laborers this afternoon.

The center, for now a trailer and an awning inside a parking lot owned by the Portland Development Commission, offers day laborers a safe and centralized place to seek work in landscaping and construction.

City leaders and activists are hoping they’ll congregate there starting Monday morning instead of their usual gathering spots — the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Interstate 84 and Southeast 6th Avenue and East Burnside Street.”*

Summary: Despite a recent poll showing Sen. Barack Obama holding a 34 percentage-point lead over Sen. John McCain among Hispanic voters, the New York Times blog The Caucus uncritically reported remarks by Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) touting McCain’s helpfulness to GOP candidates in Colorado and New Mexico “because of the Hispanic vote.”"*

The nomination fight is over, but the warring between the Obama and Clinton campaigns lives on.

The Obama team announced today that it had picked former Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle to serve on its general election staff. Fair enough: Solis Doyle is a native Chicagoan with deep ties to many senior Obama aides.

But Solis Doyle — who after her firing midway through the primaries is no longer on speaking terms with much of the Clinton inner circle, including the senator herself — has been tapped to serve as chief of staff to the future vice presidential running mate. Not exactly a signal that Obama is considering Hillary Clinton for the job.”*

The Obama campaign announced on Monday that it has chosen Patti Solis Doyle to a key general election post, making her the first prominent Clinton official to make the leap to the other side.

But it is not exactly being seen by Clinton loyalists as an olive branch.

Obama is installing Solis Doyle as chief of staff to the future vice presidential nominee, who has not yet been picked. Given that Solis Doyle was fired from the Clinton campaign, is now at odds with several senior officials who remained and has a strained relationship with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton herself these days, the appointment may well signal that Clinton’s chances of being picked for the vice presidential slot are close to nil.”*