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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Changing the face of science
“When Faith Bowman was deciding where to attend graduate school, the University of Utah wasn’t exactly at the top of her list. Coming from Wisconsin, she didn’t know much about the school or the state. But during her recruitment visit, an informal gathering with students from the all-inclusive University of Utah SACNAS (Society for Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) chapter helped her see things differently. After talking with them, she knew that if she came, she would be surrounded by a supportive community. She chose the U, and three years later, that prediction has held true…”
https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/changing-the-face-of-science/
Texas now more demographically diverse, 2020 Census count shows
“A majority of the Texas population is now made up of people identifying as racial and ethnic groups other than white, according to information released Aug. 12 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The information is based on the 2020 Census count and will be used by state legislators to draw up new political districts this fall.
A 15.9 percent increase in population netted Texas two additional members in Congress. The areas they will represent will be determined during a fall special session of the Texas Legislature.
The total population in Texas is now 29,145,505. According to the 2020 Census, the population is split into the follow percentages among racial and ethnic groups:
- White (non-Hispanic) — 39.8 percent, 11,584,597, up 187,252 from 2010
- Hispanic — 39.3 percent, 11,441,717, which is 1,980,796 more than in 2010
- Black or African American — 11.8 percent, 3,444,712, an increase of 557,887 from 2010
- Asian — 5.4 percent, 1,561,518, an increase of 613,092 from 2010…
- https://www.dailytrib.com/2021/08/13/texas-now-more-demographically-diverse-2020-census-count-shows/
UCLA announces new efforts to be designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution
“…The university plans to create 15 new faculty lines for faculty whose work has ties to Latinx experiences, the Sept. 24 announcement said. Deans have the option to match these appointments, totaling 30 additional faculty. UCLA will also fund 20 postdoctoral fellowships for work on Latinx issues, the email said.
Over the next five years, the university also plans to allocate $1.25 million in grants for research that focuses on Latino populations, the announcement said. UCLA also plans to fund eight full-time positions and one part-time staff position to support Latinx student life and scholarship on campus over the next five years…”
History professor Omar Valerio-Jiménez uncovers the hidden figures of Texas history
“..
While conducting research for my current book on the use of collective memories of the U.S.-Mexican War as a motivation for civil rights struggles, I ran across an exchange of letters between four scholars/activists: Adina de Zavala, Elena Zamora O’Shea, José T. Canales and Carlos Castañeda.
These letters were fascinating to read because these scholars were discussing the way Texas history was taught in schools and its negative effects on Mexican American children. The 1935 exchange of letters between State Rep. Canales and scholar Castañeda was particularly fascinating because Canales was very optimistic that Texas history textbooks would change within five years. As we know from recent news articles regarding the state legislature’s attempts to dictate what school teachers can include about Texas history, the debate about what is included and excluded from textbooks continues today…”
https://www.utsa.edu/today/2021/10/story/Hidden-Figures-of-Texas-History.html
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Happening Today: Mayor Turner to honor Hispanic Heritage Award Winners
“…Ana Maria Martinez is the 2021 Mayor’s Hispanic Arts in the Community Award winner. The Grammy Award-winning soprano was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Martinez has 24 albums and an international career that spans the world’s most prestigious opera houses and concert halls. Ana Maria is also the first ever Artistic Advisor for the Houston Grand Opera and was recently designated Artist in Residence at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music…”
‘Appreciation for one’s roots’: Latino professionals honor family heritage on social media
“Bismarck Lepe’s earliest memories of spending time with his parents riding in the family’s Ford Granada in the early 1980s as they went from Mexico to Southern California to pick lemons and strawberries, then to the Central Valley to pick apricots, peaches and nectarines, then to northern Washington to pick apples — and then back to Mexico.
In Gridley, California, especially, he remembered how the “brutally cold” mornings would become warm by noon. It became a kind of “Groundhog Day” routine as he followed his parents’ field work, occasionally sharing housing with other migrant workers along the West Coast and knowing just…”
Latinx Writers Couldn’t Get Hollywood’s Attention. So They Came Up With Another Way
“During last year’s Latinx Heritage Month, Nuyorican actor and filmmaker Dominique Nieves launched a mentorship initiative for up-and-coming Latinx television writers having a harder-than-normal time getting their foot in the door. Using the hashtag #ReadLatinxWriters, Nieves issued a call on Twitter for established industry professionals willing to read scripts from Latinx writers and provide feedback. Then, she deployed the hashtag to encourage aspiring writers to sign up for mentorships…”
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/09/10641181/latinx-authors-writers-representation-in-media
The new Latino landscape The swift growth of U.S. Latinos is reshaping big states and small towns. Meet the faces of a new era.
‘In New Hampshire, a Roman Catholic church where Irish and French Canadian immigrants used to worship now has the state’s largest Latino congregation. In the Deep South, a county in Georgia is one of the nation’s top 10 in diversity. Hispanics accounted for over half of the nation’s population growth in the last decade. This is not just reflected in larger cities, but in mountain towns, Southern neighborhoods and Midwestern prairies. “The Latino population has been dispersing across the United States for years — a reflection of where the nation’s population is moving and where opportunities are located,” said Mark Hugo Lopez, director of race and ethnicity research at the Pew Research Center…”
Crediverso, bilingual financial platform, first to serve Hispanic community
“…Fresno, Calif. (KFSN)-Hispanic-owned personal finance company is taking action to break down barriers by launching its first bilingual platform to serve more than 62 million Hispanic consumers. ..Crediverso is a new one-stop shop for Latin Americans looking for free access to compare credit cards, loans, international money transfers and credit checks.Digital platforms set themselves apart by providing these resources in Spanish. This is the first time in this country.We also offer a live forum moderated by advisors of Spanish-speaking professionals such as personal finance professionals and celebrities.Carlos Hernandez, CEO of Creed Verso, said:Carlos Hernandez says the idea began a few years ago with a personal experience growing up in a Mexican-American family. He says the team is also passionate about the opportunities they are creating for Latino Americans….”
Six Latino artists break through in the acting categories with 2021 Emmy nominations
“The 2021 Emmy Award nominations were announced Tuesday, and across all acting categories, six Latino performers were recognized by the Television Academy: Anthony Ramos, Anya Taylor-Joy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mj Rodriguez, Rosie Perez and Alexis Blede
“…“Gilmore Girls” star Bledel, who is Argentine on her father’s side and Mexican on her mother’s side, was nominated for guest actress in a drama series for “The Handmaid’s Tale.”…”
SC campaign highlights culture, traditions of Hispanic Heritage
“Every day during Hispanic Heritage Month, an SC agency is sharing details about food, music, historical figures, and yearly festivities from Latin American countries…”
Latin American leaders divided on OAS at regional meeting
“…Lopez Obrador has suggested the OAS is interventionist and a tool of the United States. But he did not formally propose leaving the organization. Rather, he opposed any kind of sanctions and said questions of human rights and democracy should only be considered if a country accused of violations requests that…(?)
Bilingual mental health resources for the Latinx community Mental health is an issue that affects over ten million people in the Latinx community
“According to a report from Mental Health America, the Latinx community is seen as “happy people” by 66% of the United States population. However, mental health is an issue that affects over ten million Latinos/nas/ne.In 2020, 16% of people reported having a mental illness. It is essential to highlight that 18.3% of the U.S population is estimated to be Latinx or Hispanic…”
The new Latino landscape The swift growth of U.S. Latinos is reshaping big states and small towns. Meet the faces of a new era.
“…Hispanics accounted for over half of the nation’s population growth in the last decade. This is not just reflected in larger cities, but in mountain towns, Southern neighborhoods and Midwestern prairies. “The Latino population has been dispersing across the United States for years — a reflection of where the nation’s population is moving and where opportunities are located,” said Mark Hugo Lopez, director of race and ethnicity research at the Pew Research Center…”
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month With PBS Wisconsin
“Every year since 1988, Congress has recognized Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month, highlighting the impact of Hispanic Americans on our nation and recognizing five of our Central American neighbors who celebrate their independence in September.PBS Wisconsin pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have enriched American society and culture with these programs airing in September and October on PBS Wisconsin and on the PBS App on your phone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV, other digital TV devices and many Smart TVs…”
https://pbswisconsin.org/article/celebrate-hispanic-heritage-month-with-pbs-wisconsin/
With Latin American Demand for Cloud Rising, Oracle Hunts for Tech Professionals
“American software firm Oracle Corp is reportedly gearing up to add as many as 500 professionals to its operations in Latin America.The news comes barely a month after the Austin, Texas-based company reshuffled its top management team in the region.Oracle has been present in Latin America for more than 30 years, with its clients including the likes of Grupo Bimbo, GNP Seguros, McDonald’s (Arcos Dorados), Dorinka (Walmart), Arcor, Televisa, TV Globo, Solistica, Consultatio and Smartfit…”
Exclusive: Wizeline’s New Majority Shareholder Will Empower an Enduring Vision
“Wizeline is “the global services technology provider founded by Mexican-American entrepreneur Bismarck Lepe, has taken a giant step towards its expansion goals after Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) purchased a majority stake in the firm…”
Reconceptualizing Hispanics in America: From Reading Stark Statistics to Confronting Racial and Ethnic Trauma
“…Historical bias, lack of culturally humble and aware providers, inadequate or misinformed care, fear of deportation, language barriers, and underrepresentation of Latinx child psychiatrists are just a few of the factors that exacerbate disparities in access to care among Latinx communities. Clinicians should use a cultural component in their formulation when conceptualizing clinical presentations, thinking ethnographically while remaining patient-centered so that patients and families can teach providers about their own culture. Clinicians should not shy away from asking patients about experiences they have had in facing racism, discrimination, or hierarchical mistreatment. An understanding of patients’ sociocultural background, including experiences of discrimination and racial/ethnic trauma, will have important effects on treatment adherence and the likelihood of seeking future care…”
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/reconceptualizing-hispanics-in-america
Silicon Valley pledged to become more diverse. A year later, has anything changed?
“Minorities remain underrepresented
Percentage comparisons for tech workers versus overall workforce:
| Category | Tech | Overall | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 5.0% | 15.3% | |
| Hispanic and Indigenous | 11.1% | 18.6% | |
| White | 58.0% | 59.3% | |
| Asian | 25.1% | 6.8% |
The 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul airport attack
“David Espinoza
20, of Rio Bravo, Tex. — On Wednesday, Elizabeth Holguin received a call from her son, who was stationed in Kabul. Before hanging up, he said, “I love you,” she told The Washington Post. That was the last time they ever spoke.
Inspired by the prospect of helping others, Espinoza had always dreamed of being a Marine, his mother said. He enlisted after graduating from high school.
“It was his calling and he died a hero,” Holguin said…”
