Bronx Latino: Participate in 'From Mexico with Love' movie giveaway

Promoters for the film "From Mexico with Love" reached out to Bronx Latino for a movie giveaway for our readers and visitors. This time it's for the NYC screening of "From Mexico with Love," and we got a bunch more passes to give away. The screening is October 8 at a Manhattan theater. If you are interested in a free pass for you and a guest, send me an e-mail to bronxlatinoblog (at) puertoricosun.com. In the e-mail, please make sure to leave your full name in the message. Good luck. The first 25 winners will be selected on a first come first serve basis. The free pass is only for the screening. The movie opens in theaters on October 9.

Here's the synopsis:

In "From Mexico with Love, Hector Villa (Kuno Becker), a scrappy migrant farm worker and part-time prizefighter, joins forces with an old-school trainer to take on a rich rancher’s boxer son in the ring.  An adrenaline-pumping action drama that also stirs the heart, the film stars rising talent Kuno Becker (Goal!) as well as Steven Bauer (Traffic), Bruce McGill (Collateral) and Danay Garcia (“Prison Break”), and features thrilling fight scenes from stunt coordinator-turned-director Jimmy Nickerson (Rocky, Raging Bull, Fight Club).

Farm laborer Hector toils in the fields of a Texas ranch by day and moonlights as a boxer by night in whatever impromptu bouts he can line up. The winnings aren’t much, but they help support his ailing mother (Angélica Aragón), who works beside him in the fields. Meanwhile, the ranch’s tyrannical owner has fighting ambitions of his own: his son Robert (Alex Nesic), an all-American playboy, is a rising star on the local boxing scene.

Hector wants to face Robert in the ring—not least because Robert has taken an interest in the beautiful Maria (Garcia), a young worker recently smuggled across the border by the gruff but kindhearted Tito (Bauer). But the ranch owner doesn’t want his son fighting a Mexican “picker.” Hector’s shot at a better life appears doomed when he gets fired after brawling with ranch heavies who have slashed his mother’s pay. Beaten up, broke and jobless, he gets dumped back over the Mexican border for his troubles.

While there, Hector tracks down a veteran boxing trainer (McGill) who takes him under his wing and helps him prepare for the ultimate David-and-Goliath faceoff—a fight against Robert. After some tough negotiating by Tito, the ranch owner agrees to the match. The bout becomes a dramatic showdown between the racist ranchers and the masses of downtrodden farm workers, who see a victory in the ring as a chance to reclaim some of the dignity they’ve lost in the fields. Their hopes rest in the calloused hands of a young hero with something to prove.

UPDATE: Congratulations to the winners. Giveaway is now closed.

Bronx Blue Bedroom Project seeks art

I am planning to participate in this upcoming art show at the Bronx Blue Bedroom Project in the South Bronx. Support local art. 

Here's a letter from the curator Blanka Amezkua:

Unforeseen circumstances call for fun considerations…So during the month of November instead of one mixed media artists displaying her/his work in BBBP, we have decided to invite as many artists as possible to display their already framed, ready to hang 2D work (one piece per artist) all over the apartment, not only in the Blue Bedroom.  We are having a Pre-Holiday Art Sale!!! And I hope you will take part and help us spread the word so we can fill every inch of the apartment with art…Sure, sure…you might be questioning, “Who is going to buy art in these times? You just never know…So I propose that instead of wondering if this or that, simply join us and take your chances…just as we are…We are excited, hopefully you will be too!  I look forward to working with you and finding out where this risk takes us…

Please help me spread the word!

Gracias,

Blanka

For more information, visit http://www.bronxbbp.com .

PRSUN Radio chats with Urban Jibaro George Torres

My upcoming guest on PRSUN Radio is Urban Jibaro George Torres of Sofrito for your Soul. The show airs at 9 p.m. Wednesday at http://blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

George Torres is a social media consultant, cultural activist, radio personality and founder of cultural online magazine SofritoForYourSoul.com. Read a brief bio at my blog at http://blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

PRSUN Radio is another project of Puerto Rico Sun Communications.

UPDATE: To listen to the interview, go to my archived show at http://blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio

Brides march against domestic violence

The 2009 Brides’ March will begin at the Fort Washington Heights Presbyterian Church located at 21 Wadsworth Ave, corner of West 174 Street in Washington Heights, Manhattan.  The marchers will walk through Washington Heights into the Bronx and will make a stop at the Bronx County Building, where Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. will welcome them. The march ends in East Harlem in Manhattan.

With domestic violence plaguing so many in our Latino community, Bronxites are invited to join in this march to take a stand against abuse. 

 

Diaz and the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, Yolanda Jimenez, will announce the calendar of events against domestic violence that will take place in the Bronx in October.

The 9^th Annual Gladys Ricart and Victims of Domestic Violence Memorial Walk/Brides’ March, Saturday, September 26. 

Please visit www.BridesMarch.com for the complete route and other information.

'It's Just Begun' book signing event at Bronx Museum

Things to do in the Bx

Bronx Talks - "It's Just Begun"

      Book Signing with DJ Disco Wiz

     FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

     6 - 8 p.m.

      

       FREE!

       The Bronx Museum of the Arts

       1040 Grand Concourse (at 165th Street)

       North Building - 2nd Floor

       

Image courtesy of powerHouse Books

Join The Bronx Museum of the Arts for our new monthly series “Bronx Talks". This premier event will feature the legendary Luis DJ Disco Wiz Cedeño who will be signing copies of his memoir

It’s Just Begun: The Epic Journey of DJ Disco Wiz, Hip Hop’s First Latino DJ.

Featuring over 50 never-before-seen photos, It’s Just Begun is a gritty and gripping tale of one man’s struggle to not only survive, but to triumph over adversity and abuse that will make your blood run cold.

Call for entries for artists for Manhattan show

The 11th Annual Hudson View Gardens Arts Event, celebrating the creativity of North Manhattan/Bronx artists and artisans, will be held in November. The deadline to enter is October 9. This is a juried show. For more information:

http://hvgartsgroup.com/HVGArtsGroup/11th_Annual_Arts_Show.html

Bronx Latino: Take part in Hispanic Heritage Month book giveaway

Bronx Latino is hosting a Hispanic Heritage Month book giveaway on behalf of Hachette Book Group. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated September 15^th through October 15^th.

 

 

1. Zumba® By Beto Perez , Maggie Greenwood-Robinson ISBN: 0446546127
2. Evenings at the Argentine Club By Julia Amante ISBN: 0446581623
3. Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz By Belinda Acosta ISBN: 044654051X
4. Tell Me Something True By Leila Cobo ISBN: 0446519367
5. Amigoland By Oscar Casares ISBN: 0316159697

 

Each winner will receive one whole set of books (5 books) for the giveaway.

 

If you are interested in receiving the book giveaway, please send me your name and address to clarisel (at) puertoricosun.com. Only five winners will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Giveaway is only open to US and Canadian residents. No PO Boxes please.

 

Good luck, and Happy Hispanic Heritage Month.

UPDATE: The book giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to all the Bronx Latino winners.

 

Lehman College receives $50,000 Award for Innovative Program Committed to Latino Student Success

Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lehman College will receive a $50,000 grant to help Latino students prepare for college level math courses by giving high school students the opportunity to gain college credit for algebra courses, the non-profit organization Excelencia in Education said.  Lehman College was one of only twenty colleges and universities from across the nation chosen to receive the award.

The SEMILLAS grants, supported by the Walmart Foundation, are part of Excelencia in Education’s “Growing What Works” national initiative.  The initiative aims to accelerate Latino student success by refining and replicating model educational programs that are proven to advance Latino achievement in two-year and four-year colleges. The long-term goal of the project is to increase the use of these effective programs for the country’s fast-growing Latino college age population.

Semillas is the Spanish word for seeds.  It also stands for Seeding Educational Models that Impact and Leverage Latino Academic Success.

According to the US Census Bureau, Latino young adults are less likely to have earned an associate degree or higher than other young adults. In 2008, eight percent of Latinos 18 to 24 years-of-age had earned a degree, compared to 14 percent of all young adults. Latino adults, 25 years and over, were also less likely to have earned an associate degree or higher than other adults, with 19 percent of Latinos earning a degree, compared with 29 percent of blacks, 39 percent of whites, and 59 percent of Asians.  Meanwhile, census projections estimate that Latinos will be 22 percent of the nation’s college-age population by 2020.

“Today’s undergraduate population looks very different than it did a generation ago,” said Sarita Brown , president of Excelencia in Education, a non-profit organization that advocates for higher education programs and policies that serve Latino students and families. “All of the institutions selected to receive these grants understand this reality and have actively worked to create a climate on their campuses where Latino students are welcomed as an asset, regardless of their needs.  This kind of supportive environment is critical to promoting Latino student success.”

Colleges and universities received grants for work in one of four areas: 1) Helping first-generation, low-income Latino students gain college entrance, 2) Improving retention rates for students enrolled in college, 3) Helping Latino students transfer from two-year to four-year colleges, and 4) Increasing college graduation rates for Latinos.

“We are honored to receive the SEMILLAS grant,” said Dr. Ricardo R. Fernandez, President of Lehman College. “This award acknowledges Lehman College 's ongoing commitment to promoting Latino student success and creating a pipeline to higher education for young people in the community we serve, and beyond.”

Excelencia staff and members of the “Growing What Works” initiative will work with the selected institutions throughout the 2009-2010 academic year, and then share their findings.

"The Walmart Foundation is pleased to support the 'Growing What Works' initiative in its efforts to promote Latino student success,” said Michelle Gilliard, Senior Director of Workforce Developmenteducational programs that will serve as models for universities across the nation.” and Education for the Walmart Foundation. “We are hopeful that with help from the SEMILLAS grants this impressive group of colleges will be able to build the foundation for successful

A full list of SEMILLAS grant winners may be found at http://edexcelencia.org/programs/what_works/.

 

Excelencia in Education, is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate Latino student success in higher education.

source: press release

Bx Annual 9/11 Memorial Service is today

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. encourages everyone throughout the Bronx and adjoining boroughs to join him, along with community leaders and residents of the borough, to commemorate the lives and sacrifices of those lost on September 11^th during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

The memorial service will take place on the steps of the Bronx County Courthouse, located at 851 Grand Concourse at East 161^st Street. The Fire Department of New York and the New York Police Department, in addition to other government agencies and community groups, will play a key role in the memorial service.

An interpretive dance performance by the Uptown Dance Company will accompany soloist and song writer Hank Fellows, a Riverdale resident, who after September 11^th, 2001, wrote a song in memory of the New Yorkers lost on that day. The service starts at 2 p.m.

source: Bronx BP press release

No Reservations - Outer Boroughs

ON TV

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations airs Monday on the Travel Channel. Tony will be discovering the best that New York has to offer beyond Manhattan. One of his stops is the Bronx. I hope next time he stays a bit longer in the good old Bx. Here's a promo video, courtesy of TravelChannelTV on YouTube.


Episode Description:

Tony knows the jungles of Malaysia and the streets of London better than he knows what's just outside Manhattan...so he enlists some locals to help him explore NYC’s five boroughs.


While in Queens, Tony enjoys traditional Chinese, Indian and Korean foods such as pigs feet, head cheese, lamb noodles, fried pancakes, wriggling chopped octopus (the scene I sent you at the beginning of the season) and piles of steaming seafood.


When traveling to Staten Island, Tony meets up with the lead singer David Johansen of the former band, the NY Dolls. Their first stop is New Asha, a Sri Lankan restaurant, where they enjoy the Sri Lankan specialty, black curry goat. They also take some time out to discuss the true roots of rock and roll.


After Staten Island, Tony goes to Brooklyn and joins Chris Chung for a delicious dim sum breakfast of duck feet, tripe, fried bread, pork meatballs and hargao in Sunset Park. A Mexican lunch is next on his list and Tony meets up with Carlos, his close friend and chef at Les Halles, at Los Hermanos, a tortilleria that both manufactures and serves tacos.


His trip to the Bronx is fast – Tony meets his friend Fat Dave, who runs a taxi tour of local restaurants, for a traditional meal of ribs, collard greens, rice and beans and oxtail at Sam’s, which is located next to Yankee Stadium.


Back in Brooklyn, he discovers the budding enterprise of Marlow and Sons, as well as Marlow and Daughters, serving sustainable foods from local farms in the Hudson Valley, the only locally-sourced, whole-animal butcher shop in NYC. Tony and Peter Meehan, food writer and critic, are treated to a delicious meal of seared beef heart and bone marrow, which are enough to render Tony speechless. Diner Restaurant, right next door, Peter and Tony are immersed in exquisite dishes – pig’s head fettuccine, brussel sprouts and grits, and a deliciously juicy rib-eye steak while discussing whether or not Tony missed the boat to Brooklyn.


Anthony Bourdian: No Reservations, New York Outer Boroughs airs on Monday, September 7 at 10 p.m. E/P on the Travel Channel. Check it out.

Q&A: Lillian Jimenez, Producer/Director, Antonia Pantoja: Presente!

“Antonia Pantoja: Presente!” is in the lineup of this season’s VOCES series, which also features films about music legends Celia Cruz and Tito Puente. The signature series airs this month on WNET (Channel 13 in NYC) and is a showcase of documentaries celebrating the rich diversity of Latino life. It will be presented on national public television in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month.
New York Latino Community Examiner interviewed the director/producer Lillian Jimenez on her project about the late Puerto Rican visionary. Go to my site at Examiner for more

http://www.examiner.com/x-11970-NY-Latino-Community-Examiner~y2009m9d3-QA-Lillian-Jimenez-ProducerDirector-Antonia-Pantoja-Presente