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,”
Read More…
Mexicans judge the USMCA trade deal’s first year a success
“…One thing Mexicans do agree on is that the USMCA has proved a success in its first year, albeit not always for the reasons they imagined. Business is happy that the deal’s detailed strictures on regulation and governance provide a layer of protection against López Obrador’s more radical ideas. The president and his supporters like the deal’s role as a job creator, as well as its labor provisions. These help improve wages for Mexicans and have enabled moves against a union closely tied to an opposing political party.
Above all, the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of manufacturing close to home, providing a reason for U.S. businesses already in Mexico to consider expanding operations, even when the overall business climate under López Obrador is far from ideal…”
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/analysis/mexicans-judge-the-usmca-trade-deals-first-year-a-success/
Eva Longoria Teams With Grace Parra Janney, Josh Bycel to Develop Mexican American Comedy at ABC
“Eva Longoria will direct and executive produce a single-cam comedy in the works at ABC that hails from Grace Parra Janney and Josh Bycel.
The untitled series is inspired by Janney’s own large Mexican American family in Texas. It is described as a multi-generational comedy about an upper middle class family handling grief, identity, and a reevaluation of their roles following the death of the family’s patriarch.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Josh’s work since our time together on ‘Telenovela’ and Grace and I share similar ‘Texican’ backgrounds,” Longoria said. “At UnbeliEVAble we are always pushing to tell real and authentic stories so I’m particularly proud to share one that is not unlike my own family’s experience.”…”
University of California makes more admission offers following big spike in applications
“…Last year, for the first time ever, Latino students made up the largest ethnic group of admitted students. This year, that happened again, with Latino students making up 37% of admitted freshmen, up from 36% last year…”
News on DACA: Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
“On July 16, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas held that the DACA policy “is illegal.” The Court granted summary judgment on plaintiffs’ Administrative Procedure Act (APA) claims; vacated the June 15, 2012 DACA memorandum issued by former Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano; remanded the memorandum to DHS for further consideration; and issued a permanent injunction prohibiting the government’s continued administration of DACA and the reimplementation of DACA without compliance with the APA. The Court, however, temporarily stayed its order vacating the DACA memorandum and its injunction with regard to individuals who obtained DACA on or before July 16, 2021, including those with renewal requests…”
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-of-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-daca
Warner Media Access Writers Program Announces Finalists in U.S. And Canada
“…One of the writers of 21 selected domestically is Gabriel Vallejo, a Mexican American screenwriter who is using his experience growing up amidst poverty and gangs in Los Angeles to help youths locally at Central Juvenile Hall and adults in California State Prisons by teaching reflective writing…”
https://deadline.com/2021/07/warnermedia-access-writers-program-finalists-1234793708/
Biden’s Historic Pick For Census Director Says Bureau Needs To Build Public Trust
“…Robert Santos, President Biden’s nominee for director of the U.S. Census Bureau, is a step closer to a potential political appointment for the history books after testifying before Congress on Thursday.
If confirmed, Santos, who is Latinx and one of the country’s leading statisticians, would be the first person of color to become a permanent director of the bureau. The agency produces the nation’s most comprehensive public data on race, ethnicity and other demographic characteristics used to redraw voting maps, guide federal funding and enforce civil rights protections. In 1998, James F. Holmes, who is African American, temporarily headed the bureau as its acting director…”
The next crisis? Homelessness.
…”But now it seems there will be no more reprieves for the nation’s roughly 8 million households behind on their rent and mortgage payments. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, more than 4 million of those households face the likelihood of eviction in the next two months.
This prompted the Biden White House to hold a summit, encouraging cities and municipalities to develop eviction prevention plans — and take advantage of the $46 billion in emergency funds the federal government set aside to keep people in their homes.
“Renters at risk of eviction are desperate for that relief,” Susan Rice, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said at the event. “And landlords need to cover their bills.”…”
Chilemonos Offers its Entire Lineup Online, For Free, to Latin American Animation Fans
“This year’s official festival sections include both international and Latin American short film competitions, international and Latin American student short competitions, a Latin American series competition and a Latin America-Spain animated feature competition. Three features fill out 2021’s feature film competition: Celia Catunda and Kiko Mistrorigo’s “Tarsilinha” from Brazil, Toni García’s “Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds” from Spain, and Leopoldo Aguilar’s Mexican feature “Monster Zone.”
Charades
Supplementing the festival’s competition sections, Chilemonos will also host several public conversations and conferences as well as masterclasses and workshops hosted by established industry professionals from around..”
Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey (a comparison of employment rates by ethnicity)
Seven Latino heritage sites in need of protection
“WASHINGTON, DC – A new report, Place, Story and Culture: An Inclusive Approach to Protecting Latino Heritage Sites, released today by the Latino Heritage Scholars, an initiative of the Hispanic Access Foundation, emphasizes the need for the protection of seven Latino heritage sites that embody the architectural, cultural and deep historical roots of the Latino community currently in need of preservation. The scholars are a group of young Latino professionals focused on historic preservation and ensuring that Latino history is protected, shared, and celebrated as part of the U.S. narrative…”
https://patch.com/michigan/farmington-mi/new-report-highlights
US journalist tangles with AMLO over his crime, coronavirus record
“President López Obrador and United States-based Mexican journalist Jorge Ramos engaged in a robust verbal duel on Monday morning as the latter challenged the former on his record in reducing violent crime and managing the coronavirus pandemic.
Ramos, a reporter for the U.S.-based Spanish language television network Univision, appeared at López Obrador’s morning press conference — the mañanera — at the National Palace in Mexico City, and didn’t hold back when given the opportunity to probe the president…”
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/us-journalist-tangles-with-amlo-over-his-crime-coronavirus-record/
Latino groups push for confirmation of voting rights expert Myrna Pérez as federal judge
“National Latino leaders are pushing the Senate to quickly confirm voting rights expert Myrna Pérez as a justice for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. If confirmed, she would be the only Latina on the bench of that federal appeals court and the first since Sonia Sotomayor moved from it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
President Joe Biden nominated Perez last week for the appeals court, which serves New York, Connecticut and Vermont…”
Lupita Infante Among 2700+ New Members Diversifying The Recording Academy
‘Regional Mexican star Lupita Infante is among the 2,710 new members that were invited to join the Recording Academy this year. The institution that hosts the Grammys every year wanted to diversify the membership who votes for the awards. Among the new invitees, 13 percent identified as Latino or Hispanic…”
https://wearemitu.com/latidomusic/recording-academy-new-members-lupita-infante/
Fresno-area college criticized over hiring white chancellor.
“As West Hills Community College looks to fill two president positions at its campuses, western Fresno County leaders are urging the district to appoint leaders who represent the population — a majority of whom are Mexican and Mexican American.
In a letter to West Hills board members, Huron Mayor Rey Leon expressed disappointment at the April 20 appointment of Kristin Clark as the new chancellor of the district.
UC Board of Regents votes to end affiliation with restrictive healthcare institutions
“University of California Board of Regents voted on a proposed amendment Wednesday to end the UC’s affiliations with hospitals and healthcare institutions that do not follow the University’s non-discriminatory policy by 2023.
The amendment, written by UC Board of Regents Chair John Pérez, stated the UC should only affiliate with organizations that offer non-discriminatory care and refrain from entering into new affiliations with institutions with discriminatory guidelines. The amendment also protects the freedom of UC personnel working in affiliate facilities to provide care without being prohibited by any discriminatory or religious restrictions and plans to terminate any affiliations with organizations unwilling to comply with the UC’s non-discriminatory policy by Dec. 31, 2023…”
Reimagining Regional Governance in Latin America
“…Latin America is experiencing one of the most difficult moments in its recent history as it confronts three overlapping crises: the coronavirus pandemic, a steep economic contraction, and high levels of political polarization and democratic erosion. No region has been more impacted by COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, than Latin America, both in human and economic terms.1 As of April 30, 2021, Latin America had a total of 28 million confirmed cases (out of a world total of 150 million) and just over 900,000 deaths (out of a world total of just over 3 million). With around 8 percent of the world’s population, the region has almost 19 percent of confirmed cases and 28 percent of total deaths. Also, as of April 30, Latin America had administered only 8 percent of the total vaccines.2..
https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/06/24/reimagining-regional-governance-in-latin-america-pub-84813
Mexican tech sector looks to benefit from improved business scenario with US
“Mexico’s ICT sector could benefit from increased business with the US thanks to geopolitical tensions with China, cloud software demand from US corporates and scarcity of skilled professionals north of the border.
In Mexico, the industry is looking to satisfy demand for tech talent from the trillion-dollar US software market…”
Survey reveals Latin America’s cybercrime map
“…Countries with large populations which are intensely digitized, such as Brazil and Argentina, are ‘fertile ground’ for these two types of attacks. Mexico also fits these criteria, but, in Vieira’s view, most Mexican digital gangs prefer to focus their efforts on the US and not on other Latin American countries.
“This explains why Mexico does not stand out in the list of countries that most attack our region,” he said.
Experts from F5 Labs and Effluxio also analyzed the incidence of attacks focused on web pages.
“We tend to think that the Internet and the Web are the same thing – they aren’t. The Internet represents the way where IP traffic will pass. The web, heavily dependent on the browser, servers, the URL and the way in which the page was developed, is the platform that uses Internet routes,” said Vieira…”
https://www.intelligentcio.com/latam/2021/06/18/survey-reveals-latin-americas-cybercrime-map/
The “Diabetes Garage” Is Coming To El Paso
“…Over the next two years, organizers of UTEP’s Diabetes Garage, a diabetes self-management program for men, will offer health care organizations and providers including physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and dietitians a $1,100 grant to become certified in Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services. UTEP will cover the $100 cost to existing programs that want to add an educational site…”
NEA Announces 2021 National Heritage Fellowship Winners
“…Several musicians and groups were inducted among this year’s honorees. The best-known are the Mexican-American band Los Lobos, from Los Angeles, who are cited for having “the East Los Angeles sonic landscape for nearly a half century,” and the Irish-American flute and whistle player Joanie Madden from Yonkers, N.Y., who is the founder of the group Cherish the Ladies…”
