From The Unapologetic Mexican: “AS HISTORY IN THE USA pointedly picks favorites and leaves some of us out of the books and movies and stories and truths unless we are positioned as lessors, or alternately kick up hella ruckus, it is very important for raza to continue to tell our own stories through art, poetry, song, and performance. This is one of the reasons that arte is so integral to nuestra cultura. My own familia has been a part of this, and I do my best to carry it on today.”

…read full articles of "Chicana Art and Experience: Mujeres con Garbo"

Jesse Arreguin’s interest in politics and social justice began when he begged his mother to let him stay home from first grade to see anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela on television after his release from prison.

…read full articles of "Berkeley’s first Latino council member ready to serve"

Mexican Director, Bill Melendez dies at age 91.  Known best for directing the 1965 Classic, A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS as well as his skills as an animator for Warner Bros.  An activist and a former President of the Cartoonists guild his death is truly a loss for the Latino Community.

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…read full articles of "Mastretta MXT will be Mexico’s first homegrown car"

Maria Leticia Gomez delivers the news to thousands of viewers who tune into Univision 14, the region’s most popular Spanish language news station. But on the day she moved into her new Bay Area home, she seemed to be someone else in the eyes of one neighbor.“He asked me ‘How much do you charge to move people?’” Gomez told a group of Latinas who gathered at Yountville Community Hall Wednesday.

Gomez had to explain that she wasn’t the mover; she was the new neighbor. She had to explain it again to another neighbor, who asked how much Gomez charged to do yard work.Gomez’ tales captivated a crowd of 95 women who came to the community hall for the 4th Annual Latina Women’s Conference.

…read full articles of "Crossing cultures, inspiring women"

By DANIELLE SOTTOSANTI

SOUTH SIDE

Toltecalli wins kudos from Chicano group

Visitors to a South Side charter school will see a special sculpture of Mexican-American labor activist Cesar Chavez when they enter, but Chavez’s influence on the students goes beyond first impressions.

“He was a Mexican-American hero,” said Larissa Barreda, a sophomore at charter high school Toltecalli Academy, 251 W. Irvington Road.

Barreda, 15, said she’d like to incorporate some of Chavez’s qualities into her own life.

“He cared about everybody,” she said.

Chavez’s values of community, respect and cultural knowledge permeate Toltecalli Academy on many levels.

…read full articles of "Latino Studies School’s Focus"

Article written about the reading and signing event for the new book by Rudy Garcia, “Latinos in Lotusland”.

From: LaBloga:

On May 21, Rudy Ch. Garcia and I hosted a reading and signing event for Latinos In Lotusland at the Colfax Avenue version of the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. The bookstore people, as always, were gracious and accommodating; the audience was attentive and eager to hear about this amazing collection of short stories that features more than thirty writers; and the night turned into one of those where everything fell into place and a great time was had by all. Camaraderie and affection filled the air as old friends greeted one another with enthusiastic hugs, while strangers shook hands and introduced themselves. Everyone was primed for a literary evening, and no one left disappointed.

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A Latino museum is an interesting idea, i’m surprised we don’t have one yet.  I think, considering how much of the U.S. USED to be Mexico, and the influence of Latinos in this country, a National Museum is well deserved.

From: The South Chicagoan:

“There is one positive aspect of the desire by some federal officials to create a National Museum of the American Latino – we’re going to have to come up with a more realistic definition of what constitutes a Latino.

Otherwise, I can’t help but think that all we’re really accomplishing is giving the nativist elements of our society a new location for them to picket in Washington.

AT STAKE IS whether the cultural contributions to the United States by people with ethnic ties to Latin America are worthy of a separate museum.

…read full articles of "What should a Latino museum include?"

Imperial Sugar Co. has formed a joint venture with Mexican sugar processor Ingenios Santos SA de CV to market sugar in Mexico.

The Sugar Land-based sugar maker said the venture will be made possible by the full implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement on Jan. 1, 2008, affecting sugar trade between the United States and Mexico.

…read full articles of "Imperial partners with Mexican sugar maker"