Every Day is Magic: Ada Limón
In her 2015 collection, Bright Dead Things, a National Book Award finalist for poetry, Ada Limón writes of moving to Kentucky: “Confession: I did not want to live here.” It’s perhaps not a surprising sentiment coming from a coastally oriented person who was raised in Northern California, attended college in Seattle, and then spent over a decade in New York City.
But Limón and her husband, Lucas, have been in Lexington for seven years now and the effects of settling into this place are noticeable in her new book, The Carrying (Milkweed, Aug.). It’s a phenomenally lively and attentive collection replete with the trappings of living a little closer to nature. While Bright Dead Things is marked by a preponderance of light, such as images of fireflies and neon signs, The Carrying features numerous appearances by various trees, birds, and beetles. Limón also demonstrates a greater willingness to be explicit in naming colors, particularly green. “It’s crazy green, the whole book,” she says. “Lexington is the greenest place I’ve ever lived.” Similarly, where in Bright Dead Things, Limón tells a lot of stories and anecdotes, in The Carrying she is very present in her thoughts and experiences.
As it turns out, these shifts in focus have another, altogether unexpected source. While putting Bright Dead Things together, Limón was diagnosed with chronic vestibular neuronitis, which can cause bouts of vertigo. “If I’m really having vertigo, it’s pretty intense and I really have to focus,”
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UK DMA student elevating opportunities for Mexican, Mexican American compose
“LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 21, 2023) — Juan Saldivar Jr., D.M.A. student in the University of Kentucky School of Music, is elevating opportunities for Mexican and Mexican American composers through a new initiative.
Saldivar, a native of border town Laredo, Texas, co-founded the trombone duo, Border Bones, with friend Alex Lopez Velarde, principal trombonist of the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico. Through Border Bones, Saldivar and Velarde aim to increase trombone duet repertoire from rising marginalized and underrepresented composers…”
A Mexican American professor who struggled with impostor phenomenon helps others overcome it
“…Like many people of similar backgrounds who she meets through her research, Gutiérrez suffers from the affliction commonly known asimpostor phenomenon, a condition that Gutiérrez refers to as “impostorization.” It’s the uneasy, ever-present sensation that you’re a fraud, your successes aren’t deserved, and it’s only a matter of time before you’re unmasked as the failure you truly are.
Typically, and ironically, it tends to afflict high achievers. In the United States, impostorization also tends disproportionately to affect women, people of color and immigrants or their offspring…”
Policy Concerns or No, Mexico Natural Gas Imports to Keep Growing, Experts Say
“Mexico’s pipeline imports of U.S. natural gas should continue rising over the coming years even in the most conservative demand scenarios, experts agreed at the US-Mexico Natural Gas Forum
Mexico: The Medical Profession Defends Conscientious Objection
“…Rosario Laris, general director of the Safe Sex platform and holder of a doctorate in bioethics, explained during the press conference what conscientious objection is in the context of the medical profession. She explained that “conscientious objection arises from the knowledge that the health professional has acquired through his academic preparation and that he continues to acquire with the sum of his daily experience, which allows him to consider whether a treatment is appropriate or not for his patient.” “In other words, this ‘conscience’ pushes him to seek the good of the patient at all times,” she emphasized…”
CWC Global: Corazón Azul
“Science-fiction drama Corazón Azul (2021) immerses viewers in an alternate reality where Fidel Castro—one of the foremost leaders of the Cuban Revolution and long-time President of the post-revolutionary Cuban state—uses genetic engineering to build a new kind of man and save his socialist utopia. Castro’s brazen experiment, however, eventually fails as these new beings prove to be highly intelligent but also cruel and uncontrollable. Rejected by their creators, a group of these engineered outcasts organizes a series of terrorist actions and sows chaos across the island. Along the way, one of its members, Elena (Lynn Cruz), traces the origin of her genes and begins a journey to try to discover her humanity.”
Undocu Open House highlights support systems for students without legal status
“…“For a lot of undocumented students, the biggest concern in terms of pursuing higher education has to do with financial aid and funding,” Moreno said. “Even though we have the California DREAM Act and AB 540 legislation, there are still a lot of students who are left out.”
According to the California Student Aid Commission, the California DREAM Act allows eligible students, including students without legal status, to pay in-state tuition at any public college in California and receive certain types of financial aid. Under California law Assembly Bill 540, eligible nonresident students who meet certain criteria can be exempt from paying nonresident supplemental tuition, according to the UC admissions website…”
UTHealth Houston partners with Mexican organizations for $5 million NIH grant to improve implementation of cancer control interventions in Mexico and Latin America
“A five-year, $5 million grant has been awarded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to the UTHealth Houston Institute for Implementation Science to support research and training in implementation science, with a focus on improving cancer control efforts in Mexico and Latin America.
The grant brings together researchers from UTHealth Houston, the Mexican National Institute of Public Health (INSP), the Mexican National Cancer Institute (INCan), and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF)…”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1007686
Mario Lopez set the doubters straight — he’s Mexican American In a video, the longtime Access Hollywood co-host seemed surprised that people were questioning his Latino heritage after seeing him on videos discussing Mexican dishes.
“Mario Lopez just wanted to show us how yummy his mariscos (shrimps) with mayonnaise were, but instead he shocked a few fans with this reality: He’s Mexican American!
In a video he posted on social media, the longtime “Access Hollywood” co-host noticed he was trending. When Lopez investigated why, he learned some people were shocked to find out he was of Mexican descent when they saw him on videos discussing his favorite dishes, using slang of the raza, or culture…”
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/mario-lopez-set-doubters-straight-he-is-mexican-rcna124659
Refusing to Forget seeks oral histories of Mexican Americans in South Texas
“A lonely historical marker stands in the desert winds of Presidio County in far West Texas, telling of the 1918 Porvenir Massacre, when 15 Mexican American members of a farming and ranching settlement were murdered by a company of Texas Rangers.
The marker is the result of efforts by San Antonio-based nonprofit Refusing To Forget working with the Texas State Legislature to give a more complete historical picture of life along the Texas borderlands…”
Mexican and Cuban experts to discuss diversification of the sugar agroindustry
“HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 3 (ACN) Experts and specialists of the Associations of Sugar Technicians of Cuba and Mexico (ATAC-ATAM) are meeting today in Havana for their 7th meeting on the flexibility and diversification of the sugar agribusiness in their countries and also in Brazil.
The deliberations will be held at the National Sugar Training Center, starting from the consideration of aspects common to their respective managements, especially for a space for analysis, reflection and exchange of experiences, ATAC reported exclusively to the Cuban News Agency.
Mainly, it added, to contribute to the reorientation and development of the productive chains of co-products and derivatives, in an efficient and effective way in the current conditions, taking into account the requirements of sugarcane agriculture that supports it…”
Meet the fellows: UC President’s and Chancellor’s postdoctoral fellows begin new award year
“Julio Orellana, English
President’s Postdoctoral Fellow
A child of Guatemalan migrants who left Guatemala under dire structural conditions, Orellana joins UC Santa Barbara with a doctorate from UC Riverside. His research in Central American studies looks at forced migration in Guatemala.
“The study examines Guatemalan labor migrants from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, primarily Maya and mestizo/a/x ladino/a/x,” he said. “My family was part of these large migration streams that arrived in the U.S. beginning in the late 1960s and throughout the 1980s and 1990s during Guatemala’s 36-year civil war. People were forced to leave Guatemala for various reasons including those in search of dignified material conditions, along with those fleeing political violence, persecution and in the case of Mayan communities, state sponsored genocide.”…”
The 7th Annual US-Mexico Natural Gas Forum takes place November 13-15, in San Antonio, TX
“HOUSTON —
U.S.-Mexico cross-border natural gas market decision-makers participate in key industry event to gain insight, analyze, and structure arrangements to buy, sell and transport natural gas. Hundreds of energy industry professionals convene in November to gain insight and conduct analysis of up to the minute issues facing US-Mexico cross-border natural gas markets. The 7th Annual US-Mexico Natural Gas Forum takes place November 13-15, in San Antonio, TX. This is the industry’s premier gathering for natural gas industry professionals, which is much more than simply a conference with participants routinely negotiating transactions during the event. Dedicated networking time is incorporated into the agenda to ensure participants are able to engage with other key stakeholders. The Program for this year’s event includes all the critical issues faced by stakeholders in this dynamic market. Agenda highlights include:…”
t News to Share? Send 2 FREE Releases ↓ NATIVE AMERICAN/HISPANIC STUDENTS & PROFESSIONALS SHINE-SACNAS 2023 NATIONAL DIVERSITY IN STEM CONFERENCE #2023NDiSTEM
“Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science holds nation’s first, all-Native American/Indigenous session focused on mathematics.
We’re investing in the current and future workforce. We want to help lead change at the highest level.”
— Juan Amador, FASAE, CAE, SACNAS Executive Director
PORTLAND, OR, USA, October 28, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science) will continue its National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference at Oregon’s Portland Convention Center on Saturday. Friday’s highlights included the nation’s first-ever all-Native American/Indigenous session focused on mathematics, Indigenous Perspectives in…”
San Antonio event discusses the barriers preventing Latinos from buying homes
“SAN ANTONIO — City of San Antonio leaders are working with federal partners to address housing barriers, particularly as it pertains to the Latino community.
According to research by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, only half of Hispanic households are homeowners in the U.S. On Thursday, Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) hosted the housing forum to discuss the factors why…”
How Can Family Affect Diabetes Management in Mexican American Adults?
“Interviews with Mexican American adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) revealed that most feel supported by their family regarding their diabetes management in general, but many still desired more familial social support and support around dietary changes, feeling that their family members don’t understand what it means to live with diabetes.
Additionally, focus groups that included both Mexican American adults with T2D and their relatives showed that most family members want to learn more about how to help their relatives manage their diabetes, while also acknowledging how cultural norms can affect their relatives’ well-being…”
https://www.ajmc.com/view/how-can-family-affect-diabetes-management-mexican-american-adults
From the archives: UCSB Library showcases community art collection
“An exhibit of groundbreaking prints dating back to the inception of California’s Chicano Civil Rights Movement opens on Oct. 25 at UC Santa Barbara Library.
The event, “Cultura Cura: 50 Years of Self Help Graphics in East LA,” highlights the library’s Special Research Collections extensive archive of art, records and related ephemera from Self Help Graphics & Art (SHG), an intergenerational Los Angeles-based nonprofit that has been facilitating and promoting printmaking and other art media by Chicano/a, Latinx and other BIPOC artists since 1970. SHG was founded by artists Carlos Bueno, Antonio Ibañez, Frank Hernandez and Sister Karen Boccalero…”
Jessica Gonzalez Discusses Recent Hispanic Representation in Mainstream Media and Its Impact on Culture
“Holland & Knight’s Diversity Council and Hispanic Affinity Group are proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and pay tribute to the generations of Hispanics who have enriched America’s history and continue to play a role in its future success. Since last year, we have taken time to speak to some of our Hispanic attorneys, who have shared their stories with us. We now present the 2023 video series showcasing some of these conversations. We hope that the stories conveyed in these videos inspire those struggling with recognizing their roots and shine light on the contributions that Hispanics have provided to the United States…”
https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/media-entities/2023/10/jessica-gonzalez-discusses-recent-hispanic
Warrior spotlight celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet M.D.-Ph.D. student Rafael Ramos
“Rafael Ramos is a first-generation Mexican-American enrolled in the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s M.D.-Ph.D. program. He was born in the United States and grew up in Mexico. He moved back to his birth country for higher education, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree before moving to Detroit in the late 2010s. Ramos has completed his first two years of medical school, and is in his third year of the doctoral portion of his degrees. He is a candidate in Biomedical Engineering, funded by the Detroit Cardiovascular Training Program T32 grant hosted by the Department of Physiology. He also received a Michigan Space Grant Consortium Graduate…”
Some GOP candidates want to use force against Mexico to stop fentanyl. Experts say that won’t work
“MIAMI — Ron DeSantis wants suspected drug smugglers at the U.S.-Mexico border to be shot dead. Nikki Haley promises to send American special forces into Mexico. Vivek Ramaswamy has accused Mexico’s leader of treating drug cartels as his “sugar daddy” and says that if he is elected president, “there will be a new daddy in town.”
Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for the 2024 nomination and long the person who has shaped his party’s rhetoric on the border, has often blamed Mexico for problems in the United States and promises new uses of military force and covert action if he returns to the White House…”
https://www.wlrn.org/americas/2023-10-10/latin-america-mexico-fentanyl-opioid-gop
Review: Who are Mexican Americans? ‘American Homeboy’ at Portland Film Festival offers perspective
“Making use of 50 hours of illuminating restored archival footage, the film elicits an array of perspectives from Mexican American historians, scholars, artists, activists, a retired law enforcement officer, and cholos — members of a subculture associated with street gangs — to help viewers understand the origins and import of pachuco and cholo culture and Xicano experience…”
