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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Front Page Items

UC launches Degree Completion Program to assist reenrolling students

“…The universities are reaching out to students, aiming to engage first-generation students and underrepresented minority students, Martin said, adding that both groups have historically high stopout rates.

UCR identified about 6,600 students who stopped out of their university with good academic standing between 2008 and 2020, Martin said. The program’s goal is to serve 800 students over the next two years, aiming for 50% to be underrepresented minorities and 45% first-generation students, she added…”

https://dailybruin.com/2022/09/29/uc-launches-degree-completion-program-to-assist-reenrolling-students

 

Pasadena Mexican American History Association Honors “Rosie” and South Pasadena Police Detective

“Commemorating more than 25 years of service to Pasadena, the Pasadena Mexican American History Association Sunday celebrated two “local heroes,” as they honored 99-year-old Herlinda Ruiz,  the oldest supporter member of the organization, and South Pasadena Police Detective Lieutenant Shannon Robledo, during a luncheon event at Mijares Restaurant, itself a long time supporter of the non-profit organization…”

https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/pasadena-mexican-american-history-association-honors-rosie-and-south-pasadena-police-detective

HACR Partnership Helps Medtronic Develop Hispanic Talent

“NORTHAMPTON. MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 29, 2022 / Alina Vargas had leadership goals from the moment she began her career at Medtronic more than six years ago. But her road to success has been winding. Vargas knew she had the skills and the willingness to lead but was sometimes challenged by the Hispanic cultural norms she grew up with. They didn’t always translate in a corporate setting.

“Cultural aspects of leadership can be very different,” Vargas said. “I wouldn’t speak up as much as others or call attention to myself.”

Her role with Medtronic was her first American corporate job, coming after an eight-year career at a company in Switzerland. That shift made the Mexican-born professional unsure about how to navigate the corporate world. “The shift to working with people who didn’t understand me, my culture,” she said. “It was the first time I realized that I was different.”…

https://www.yahoo.com/now/hacr-partnership-helps-medtronic-develop-121500788.html

 

2 Hispanic Americans Speak Out About Dementia in Their Communities

“Tony Gonzales is proud of his heritage as a third-generation Mexican American, but it wasn’t until he was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in 2021, at age 47, that he learned that Hispanic Americans are at higher risk for cognitive decline compared with those of other racial and ethnic groups….”

https://www.everydayhealth.com/alzheimers-disease/two-hispanic-americans-speak-out-about-dementia-in-their-communities/

Mexico’s 1st labor center Centro Laboral UAQ opens with UCLA support

“The Autonomous University of Querétaro has opened Mexico’s first labor center with support from the UCLA Labor Center.

The Centro Laboral UAQ, which opened in August, seeks to provide more resources to workers in Mexico by supporting working class mobilization, assisting in contract negotiation and helping workers understand how to unionize, according to UCLA Newsroom…”

https://dailybruin.com/2022/09/26/mexicos-1st-labor-center-centro-laboral-uaq-opens-with-ucla-support

70+ Latino-owned businesses to support in 2022 and beyond

“Ellen Bennett was at her company’s factory in Vernon, California, in March 2020 when she found out Los Angeles County was going into lockdown because of Covid-19.

For her company, Hedley & Bennett, which makes kitchen gear like aprons for professional chefs, the future was suddenly in doubt — the lockdown effectively meant customers could no longer dine in restaurants or go to bars. But with the same colorful fabric her company used to make aprons, Bennett was able to pivot…”

https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/latino-owned-businesses-shop-ncna1281477

Business Mexico draws young American professionals working remotely

“…“They love the climate,” she said. “They love the people, the culture, the food, the beauty.”

“Yes, of course, safety can be an issue. … And when I say quality of life, I mean of course, we can’t avoid the fact that your dollar goes a long way in Mexico,” she added.

According to data from the U.S. Department of State, there are over 1.6 million U.S. citizens living in Mexico, but that number only includes people who have applied for legal residency, which some remote workers do not do.

Mexico City’s tourism agency said more than 1.9 million foreigners arrived at the capital city’s international airport during just the first half of this year. They spent almost $2 billion in hotel stays there….”

https://vigourtimes.com/mexico-draws-young-american-professionals-working-remotely/

 

Key facts about U.S. Latinos for National Hispanic Heritage Month

“…The U.S. Hispanic population reached 62.5 million in 2021, up from 50.5 million in 2010. The 19% increase in the Hispanic population was faster than the nation’s 7% growth rate, but slower than the 23% increase in the Asian population. In 2021, Hispanics made up nearly one-in-five people in the U.S. (19%) – the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is up from 16% in 2010 and just 5% in 1970…”

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/09/23/key-facts-about-u-s-latinos-for-national-hispanic-heritage-month/

 

Celebrating National Hispanic American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Seven Transportation Leaders

“…What began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week expanded in 1988 to become National Hispanic American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Spain. In honor of this important month, seven Latinx leaders share how they are making a mark on the industry and their perspectives on the importance of National Hispanic American Heritage Month…”

https://www.railwayage.com/freight/class-i/celebrating-national-hispanic-american-heritage-month-a-qa-with-seven-transportation-leaders/

 

55 Latina And Hispanic Actresses Who Are Changing Hollywood For The Better

“…Hollywood still hasn’t caught up with the fact that while there are so many talented Latina actors,t hey’re still underrepresented in film and television. Latinx actors held just 7.7 percent of top film acting roles in 2021, according to the 2022 UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report. Angered by the disproportionate amount of Latinx folks in the industry, more than 270 Latinx showrunners, creators, and television and feature writers wrote an open letter to Hollywood in October 2020, calling for systemic change, noting: “We refuse to be filtered through a White perspective….”

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/g37091944/latina-actresses/

 

How a San Antonio Author is Using Fiction to Shed Light on Mexican American History

“…San Antonio author Rudy Ruiz knows there’s no rewriting history.

But in his latest novel, Valley of Shadows, he blends history, his own experience growing up near the border and plenty of fiction to look at what it might be like if certain events had turned out differently…”

https://www.sanantoniomag.com/how-a-san-antonio-author-is-using-fiction-to-shed-light-on-mexican-american-history/

 

Saks Spotlights Hispanic and Latinx Designers in New Campaign for Hispanic Heritage Month

“…The luxury retailer tapped Madrid-born fashion designer Alejandra Alonso Rojas, Mexican-American professional soccer player Sofia Huerta, and Black American Dominican filmmaker Djali Brown-Cepeda for the campaign, which also spotlights apparel from Hispanic and Latinx designers available to purchase on Saks.com. Among the designer labels that are featured on the site include Proenza Schouler, Oscar de la Renta, Demarson, Aquazzura, and Manolo Blahnik, as well as pieces from Alonso Rojas’ eponymous brand, which launched in 2016…”

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/fashion-trends/a41190336/saks-hispanic-heritage-month-campaign/

Latinx Heritage Month: What Is It and How Can You Get Involved?

“…From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, NC State joins in the national celebration of Latinx Heritage Month. Over the next four weeks, all of campus is invited to take part in a series of events honoring the experiences and impact of the Latin American community on our Wolfpack and this country.

Many of these events are coordinated by Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), one of four campus community centers that serve to inform, support and expand the cultural horizons of the entire NC State student body…”

https://news.ncsu.edu/2022/09/latinx-heritage-month-explained/

 

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month from HRMorning

“…Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) starts on Sept. 15, the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores that began the Mexican War of Independence, and runs until Oct. 15. September 15 is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18 respectively…”

https://www.hrmorning.com/news/hispanic-heritage-month/

 

Does Culture Affect our Personality?

“…Loosely defined, culture refers to the shared values, beliefs and norms of a specific group of people. Culture, therefore, influences the manner we learn, live and behave. Because of this, many theorists believe that culture is an important shaper of our personality. One of the general assumptions asserting the effect of culture to personality is that people who are born and bred in the same culture share common personality traits…”

https://explorable.com/culture-and-personality

 

Strength in Numbers

“…UC Santa Barbara is among the 20 top-tier research institutions comprising the recently launched Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). The member universities, which span nine states, all are designated HSIs. Its collective goals are to double the number of Hispanic doctoral students and increase by 20% the Hispanic professoriate in our universities by 2030…”

https://www.news.ucsb.edu/2022/020699/strength-numbers?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Strength%20in%20Numbers&utm_campaign=September%2014%2C%202022

 

Jenna Ortega Net Worth: Early Life, Professional Life, Personal Life, Ventures, Cars Collections, and Much More!

“…Jenna Ortega started out in the business as an actress. With the help of her mother and agents, she started getting auditions at a young age. In 2012, she made her first guest appearance in the popular TV show Rob, and then she had a short role in the American show CSI NY.

In 2013, she got her start in movies with a small recurring role in Iron Man 3, and in the same year, she made a big impression in the horror movie Insidious Chapter 2…”

https://www.jerseyshorevibe.com/2022/09/13/jenna-ortega-net-worth-early-life-professional-life-personal-life-ventures-cars-collections-and-much-more/

Women and minority lawyers gain ground in Calif., but white men still predominate

“…Two-thirds of California’s 195,000 lawyers are white, compared to 39% of adult residents, according to the state bar’s latest diversity report card, released Monday. Hispanics comprise 36% of California’s adult residents, but only 6% of its lawyers as of 2021. And Black lawyers comprise 3% of attorneys in the state, though 6% of Californians are Black…”

https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/women-minority-lawyers-gain-ground-calif-white-men-still-predominate-2022-08-09/

 

Spotlight: Cybersecurity regulation in Latin America

“…Brazil and Mexico are regional data protection leaders, as they also suffer a rising number of cyberattacks, Carolina Pardo, partner at Baker McKenzie, told BNamericas. “Other jurisdictions are not implementing specific measures, although there are some good starting points in the guidelines on data security in Colombia and a bill in Chile,” she added…”

https://www.bnamericas.com/en/features/spotlight-cybersecurity-regulation-in-latin-america


  

Poem
“…And would it have been worth it, after all,
Would it have been worth while,
After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets,
After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor—
And this, and so much more?—
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen:
Would it have been worth while…”

T.S. Eliot
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

Mexican American Proarchive Annual Report for 2022

The American Community Survey is an annual survey administered by the federal government to help local officials and community leaders and businesses understand the changes that take place in their communities. It includes percentages of our population’s graduate school attainment and the employment of Mexican Americans in various occupations.  These important factors influence the allocation of federal resources. Mexican American Proarchives uses the data provided by the American Community Survey to better understand how Mexican Americans compare to the general population.

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