Reading Help

Tag: Latino Empowerment

Latino Empowerment: Nancy Jimenez Rosario

Posted on by NHCOA Media

Dr. Nancy Jimenez Rosario has 32 years of experience in the nursing profession. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo, a Master of Science in Medicine and Surgery with a role in education at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ponce, and a second Master of Science in Nursing in Occupational Health and Safety with a role in the administration at the University of the Sacred Heart in Santurce, PR. Furthermore, she also has certifications in forensic nursing, supervision and management, intensive care, and emergency room nursing.

In 2017 she obtained her doctoral degree in Public Health Epidemiology at the Ponce School of Medicine. As a doctoral student, she was selected to participate in the Frontier Internship during the summer of 2009, sponsored by the Hispanic-Serving Health Professionals Schools (HSHPS). This experience allowed her to play a part in the health promotion and prevention of infectious diseases that affect the health of Hispanic communities located on the border of Mexico and Arizona. She served as a valuable resource, offering talks on chronic and infectious diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, influenza, and tuberculosis. She was vital in the development of research proposals on diabetes in Hispanic communities and actively participated in obesity, diabetes, and hypertension clinics in indigenous communities in Magdalena, Mexico, and San Luis de Potosi.

She is an active member of the College of Nursing Professionals in Puerto Rico. On May 9, 2011, she was recognized for her dedication and commitment to the nursing profession in Puerto Rico by the House of Representatives at the Capitol. In 2010, she was recognized at the UPR-Arecibo for her dedication and commitment to nursing students and in November 2005, she was recognized by the Rector of the UPR-Arecibo for her dedication and good example. She has worked in institutions that provide care to terminally ill patients at home. Moreover, on August 28, 2021, she was certified as a first responder by the Puerto Rico Department of Health.

Her commitment to health motivated her to join the group of volunteers of the non-profit organization known as Alianza Médicos al Rescate, helping the victims of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. She has published several articles in Impulso Magazine, the official publication of the College of Nursing Professionals of Puerto Rico. She has been an active resource at the University of Puerto Rico and in the community, offering talks on health promotion and prevention of domestic violence, as well as chronic and infectious diseases.

She currently serves as a Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo and part-time faculty in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at the University of Sacred Heart in Santurce. In her spare time, she volunteers as a nursing professional in the Medical Reserve Corps, Puerto Rico Chapter, where she has been a volunteer in the COVID-19 screening tests, and in the COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Puerto Rico.

 

Latino Empowerment: Julia Alvarez

Posted on by NHCOA Media

Julia Alvarez was born in New York and grew up in the Dominican Republic. At the age of ten, she returned to the United States, where she began her literary career and where she currently resides. She made her literary debut in 1984 with the poetry collection Homecoming, which she continues to write along with prose.

She began her undergraduate studies at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut, later transferring to Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude. In 1975, she received a Master’s in Creative Writing from Syracuse University in New York. She completed this training along with several graduate courses in English and American Literature at the Bread Loaf School of English, located in Ripton, Vermont.

For several years she developed teaching and literary animation activities in schools at various levels, as well as in communities. During this period, she wrote the novel Yo!, a sequel to her popular 1991 book How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents.

Subsequent work commitments took her to Phillips Andover Academy, University of Vermont and George Washington University. From 1985 to 1988 she was an assistant professor in the English department at the University of Illinois. She has also served on the staff of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious writers’ conference.

Alvarez was honored as one of six Dominican-Americans who have made significant contributions to the Dominican community in both countries, hosted by the Dominican American Assistance Fund and the U.S. Department of State (1995). The John Jay College, The City University of New York, awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in Human Sciences (1996). In addition, the 1997 Santo Domingo Annual Book Fair was dedicated to her work and in September 2000 she was declared Woman of the Year by Latina Magazine.

On July 28, 2014, former U.S. President Barack Obama awarded her the National Medal of Arts. “In poetry and prose, (…) Alvarez explores themes of identity, family, and cultural difference. She illustrates the complexity in navigating two worlds and reveals the human capacity for resistance in the face of oppression,” said former President Obama.

Her novels have been praised by major media outlets in the United States and Latin America. Her first novel How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents was declared Book of the Year in 1991 by the New York Times and Library Journal and has been translated into several languages.

The poet explores and portrays in her verses injustice, pain, and sadness, but also joy, strength, and liveliness. Her creations, without a doubt, are a source of pride for the entire Latino community and shine within the United States and beyond its borders.

Sources:

https://opac.pucmm.edu.do/virtuales/html/dominicanos2/jalvarez/biografia.htm

The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/es/2018/06/28/espanol/cultura/julia-alvarez-poeta.html

NHCOA Launches its Second Annual Latino Empowerment Campaign sponsored by AARP

Posted on by NHCOA Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/02/2021

Contact: Ricardo Posada
Company: National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA)
Phone: 202-347-973
Email: media@nhcoa.org
Web: www.nhcoa.org
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @NHCOA

Washington, D.C. – For the second year in a row, the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by launching its virtual campaign, Latino Empowerment, developed in collaboration with and sponsored by AARP. This campaign will raise awareness about the Latino culture and reflect on Latino role models by highlighting their contributions in disciplines such as science, medicine, and the arts, and how they are transforming the history of the United States.

Latinos continue to advance in their communities across the country as small business owners, veterans, teachers, public servants, and more, and during Hispanic Heritage Month, NHCOA will celebrate their accomplishments through this campaign. This year, the Latino Empowerment campaign will focus on distinguished Latinos who raised the bar with their projects and whose efforts helped improve the lives of those in need during the pandemic.

“During the pandemic, Latinos have been the example of resilience in the face of adversity. A large part of our community has served as front-line workers or have created projects to help those in need, saving many lives while putting even their own at risk. Today is the time to celebrate them and to recognize their contributions to our society. We are grateful for their strength and courage while building a better country for all of us,” states NHCOA’s President and CEO, Dr. Yanira Cruz.

“Individually and collectively, Latinos strengthen the fabric of this nation, working hard to lift up their communities,” said Yvette Peña, vice president in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at AARP. “AARP is committed to helping Latinos weave better futures every day, and so, we are proud to sponsor the second annual NHCOA Latino Empowerment Campaign, which aims to highlight those who have dedicated their talent, skills and careers to serving others during the pandemic.”

The digital campaign consists of five biography articles and commemorative social media posts, that will be published every Friday on NHCOA’s social channels.  The articles and posts will highlight the main contributions by each of the role models, telling their stories to inspire more Latinos to become agents of change and stand out in their fields.

NHCOA proudly joins the celebration of such an important month for Hispanic communities and renews its commitment to ensuring the development of projects that empower and celebrate our communities, to ensure the best possible life for all of us as we age with dignity.

Follow the campaign on our social media to learn more about this project and see who we are highlighting this year.

About NHCOA

NHCOA is the leading national organization working to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults, their families, and their caregivers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NHCOA has been a strong voice dedicated to promoting, educating, and advocating for research, policy, and practice in the areas of economic security, health, and housing for Hispanic older adults, families, and caregivers for more than 50 years. For more information about NHCOA call 202-347-9733 or visit www.NHCOA.org.

About AARP

Updated January 4, 2021: AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.​

###

 

 

 

Latino Empowerment: Mónica Ramírez

Posted on by NHCOA Media

Mónica Ramírez is recognized, both inside and outside the United States, for her valuable fight against discrimination towards working women in agriculture. The activist leads important efforts to ensure that rural women in Mexico and Central America are treated with dignity.

Born in Fremont, Ohio, Mónica Ramírez is an activist, author, civil rights lawyer, social entrepreneur, and speaker who has dedicated more than two decades to eradicate gender-based violence and promote gender equality, specifically in favor of Latinas and agricultural immigrant workers.

The activist had her first contact with this issue when she was just 14 years old; when she visited a local newspaper in an US town to ask why they did not address a story about farmers who had lost all their crops after a severe storm. That was the reason why, at that time, she was invited to write the report “The people who feed us don’t have what to eat.”

Currently, Mónica is promoting important initiatives in favor of immigrants. In 2003, she founded the first state legal project focused on fighting gender discrimination against female agriculture workers in the state of Florida. Then, in 2006, she joined the Southern Poverty Law Center, where she created the first national legal project to end sexual violence in the workplace and other forms of gender discrimination against migrant farm workers.

Years later, in 2012, she joined the Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. as Deputy Director. In that institution, she provided support and leadership in the migrant women project. Subsequently, in 2015 she became the first Director of Gender Equity and Advocacy for the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 major Latino organizations in the United States.

Monica is a skilled speaker, author, and social innovator. She graduated from Loyola University, Chicago and also holds a Juris Doctorate from Ohio State University and a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Harvard University. In addition to her role in NHLA, she also serves as Director of Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Workers of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA).

Monica is an innate leader who, with her talent and knowledge, has an enormous impact on improving the quality of life and working conditions of migrant agricultural workers. Her efforts are part of building an equal country for women and men. Her arduous work defending Latina agricultural workers in the United States, as well as the rest of the contributions that continue to leave a legacy within the community. NHCOA honors her for her commitment to Latino communities.

Sources:

World Without Exploitation:

https://www.worldwithoutexploitation.org/co-chairs/monica-ramirez

Forbes México:

https://www.forbes.com.mx/la-activista-que-defiende-a-las-mujeres-migrantes-en-estados-unidos/?fbclid=IwAR0oOB4EmcIIXk0cxw7LU1KwcKqErkuVpEv-7Q0kGeqEI6GgozguzdrD

Latino Empowerment: Jackie Reyes-Yanes

Posted on by NHCOA Media

Mrs. Jackie Reyes-Yanes is the first Salvadoran woman to run the Washington DC Mayor’s Office for Latino Affairs (MOLA), serving as its Executive Director. In her tenure, as the Executive Director, she has allocated more than $ 13 million to support programs that improve the quality of life for Latinos in the District of Columbia. She also increased MOLA’s budget from 2.9 million to 5.9 million dollars. Likewise, she has been a key piece in the design and implementation of the Immigrant Justice Legal Services Program (IJLSG) in Washington, DC.

Previously, the Salvadoran leader also served as the Director of Latino Affairs and Community Outreach for former DC Council Member, Jim Graham. While working under the Graham administration, Reyes-Yanes led initiatives to address the needs of Latino residents in the District of Columbia.

In her current role, Reyes-Yanes, also served as a case manager at the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) and provides support to the Mayor’s Office in gang prevention and aided in securing funding to rebuild the apartments in the Monseñor Romero building in Mount Pleasant, that were destroyed by a fire in 2008.

Her expertise and dedication to improving the conditions of Latinos, both inside and outside the United States, make Mrs. Reyes a perfect example of courage, commitment and effort; leaving her mark in the creation of a more prosperous future for Latino communities. She is truly a sense of pride for Latinos. NHCOA honors her for her commitment to Latino communities.

Sources:

El Tiempo Latino:

http://m.eltiempolatino.com/news/2019/may/31/jackie-reyes/

MOLA:

https://mola.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ola/biography_content/attachments/Spanish%20Director%20Jackie%20Reyes-Yanes%20Bio_0.pdf

Latino Empowerment: Dr. Frank Rubio

Posted on by NHCOA Media

Salvadoran descent, Dr. Frank Rubio is part of the first class that graduated in the new program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States (NASA) called Artemisa. This program has the mission of installing a permanent base on the Moon and preparing the first trip to Mars. Dr. Rubio is one of the astronaut candidates to travel to the fourth planet from the Sun, and if fulfilled, he would be the first Hispanic to reach Mars.

The Salvadoran-American is part of a group of 13 people, out of 18,000 applicants, who will now be eligible for a space flight, including performing assignments of the International Space Station.

The Florida native graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and earned a Doctor of Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Prior to attending medical school, he served as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and flew more than 1,100 hours, including more than 600 hours of combat and imminent danger time during deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Rubio is a board-certified family physician and flight surgeon. At the time of his selection, he was serving in the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Dr. Rubio has been awarded the Bronze Star (second award), Meritorious Service Medal (second award), Army Commendation Medal (fourth award), and Army Achievement Medal (fourth award). He is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College, US Army Aviation Captain’s Career Course and Officer Basic Course, Joint Firepower Control Course, Cavalry Leader’s Course, and the US Army Flight Surgeon Course. He has earned the US Army Senior Aviator, Pathfinder, Air Assault, and Airborne badges.

Dr. Rubio is a source of pride for the space forces, the country, and, especially, for the entire Latinx community. His knowledge and dedication serve as a great inspiration for all, making him one of the candidates to be part of this historic mission for the United States.

Sources:

NASA:

https://ciencia.nasa.gov/frank-rubio-primer-astronauta-hispano-de-la-generaci%C3%B3n-artemisa

Estrategia y Negocios:

https://www.estrategiaynegocios.net/centroamericaymundo/1343829-330/frank-rubio-el-salvadore%C3%B1o-cercano-a-una-misi%C3%B3n-de-la-nasa

 

Latino Empowerment: Sonia Mora

Posted on by NHCOA Media

During the last twenty-five years, Mrs. Sonia Mora has been a leader on important social issues such as access to health services, health promotion, development of the workforce, community participation and empowerment among Latino and immigrant communities.

Ms. Mora is a Senior Manager at the Latino Health Initiative (LHI) in Montgomery County, Maryland, and she has successfully created model programs in various areas related to inequities in access to health and has provided technical advice to community based organizations in the development, implementation, and evaluation of culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and services.

She has served as a technical consultant for numerous national and international organizations in the development, adaptation and translation of educational materials for Spanish-speaking audiences. In 2011, her Welcome Back Initiative received the prestigious E Pluribus Unum award from the National Center for Immigrant Integration Policy.

She was the winner of the “Outstanding Community Award” for demonstrating her courage, integrity, and commitment to the well-being of Hispanic seniors in the United States. This award was given at the 2018 NHCOA Annual Awards Dinner, an opportunity to recognize, honor and celebrate people like Ms. Mora, who with their work make a positive impact on the lives of older adults.

In recent years, NHCOA has collaborated with LHI, under Ms. Mora’s leadership. LHI is a city council that oversees and manages the health, welfare, migration, and other issues which impact more than 1,000 Hispanic seniors, their family members, and caregivers.

Ms. Mora is a fundamental part of that organization, exemplifying exceptional leadership and commitment to the community and especially to older adults. Ms. Mora’s knowledge and experience continues to aid in the creation of a better life for these communities, through the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate projects, and that is why she represents a source of pride for the entire Latino community in the United States.

Latino Empowerment: Dr. José Romero

Posted on by NHCOA Media

Dr. José Romero is recognized nationwide for his work on treatments against infectious diseases. In recent days, he has been actively involved in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. His knowledge of viral infections and his years of work within the medical community allowed him to become the new Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).

He attended medical school at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara (UAG) and had internships at Centro Medico Del Noroeste Program in Tijuana, Mexico and at SUNY at Stony Brook State University in New York.

In 2008, Dr. Romero moved to Arkansas to work as Director of the Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and served as Director of Clinical Trials Research at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute from 2008 to 2019.

He was a member of the Arkansas Vaccine Medical Advisory Committee and served as the Chairman since 2015. Since 2012, he has been the ADH Pediatric Tuberculosis Physician at the Arkansas Department of Health. During this time period, he served in the capacity of Director for Latino Health-Related Research Affairs and the Director of the Minority Health Education and Research Office at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Dr. Romero is currently the Chairman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which currently provides nationwide guidance on the development and administration of a future COVID-19 vaccine.

His work related to the management of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus plus his extensive experience in health has positioned him as one of the most important medical figures in the United States.

NHCOA celebrates Dr. Romero’s work and his essential role in medicine! His contributions to medicine make Latinx communities proud. We acknowledge his well-deserved appointment as the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, where, we are sure, he will be able to continue his work for the betterment of all people.

*This blog was created in collaboration with our friends at AARP. We are proud to continue using our platforms to amplify the voices of outstanding members from our Latino community. Thanks, AARP, for joining our “Latino Empowerment” campaign!

References:

AMP:

https://armoneyandpolitics.com/romero-named-permanent-arkansas-department-of-health-secretary/

KNWA:

https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/governor-hutchinson-appoints-dr-jose-romero-as-health-secretary/

Arkansas Governor

https://governor.arkansas.gov/news-media/press-releases/governor-hutchinson-appoints-dr.-jose-romero-as-health-secretary

State of Arkansas

https://portal.arkansas.gov/agency/department-of-health/#:~:text=Department%20of%20Health-,Dr.,executive%20leadership%20for%20the%20agency.

NHCOA launches “Latino Empowerment” virtual campaign with AARP

Posted on by NHCOA Media

Every year, from September 15th to October 15th, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States, and in many countries around the world. Hispanic Heritage Month is recognizing the contributions that Hispanic people have made to this great nation, in culture, history, etc. This tradition has remained alive for generations since its start in 1968.

As an organization that works to improve lives of Hispanic older adults, their families and caregivers, every year, NHCOA commemorates and recognizes the great contributions of Hispanic communities have made, while also paying tribute to those who have enhanced the lives of all Americans through their work and efforts.

This year, our organization celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by launching a virtual campaign called Latino Empowerment, that was developed in collaboration and with the support of our friends at AARP. This campaign is designed to raise awareness about Hispanic/Latinx culture and contributions to the United States. Its purpose is to reflect on specific Latinos, and highlight the contributions that have been made in the areas of science, medicine, politics, the arts, etc. and also that have positively marked the history of the United States.

Latino Empowerment recognizes Hispanic figures who stand out for their work and who are constantly working to improve society in their careers, directing all of their efforts to achieve greater good both inside and outside the US.

“We are delighted to collaborate with NHCOA to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. As a committed ally of the Latino community, AARP proudly supports initiatives that honor and recognize the achievements of this vibrant community,” said Yvette Peña, vice president of multicultural leadership Hispanic/Latino audience strategy at AARP. “The Latino Empowerment campaign pays tribute to the richness and diversity Hispanics have to offer, and it shines a light on their everlasting contributions to our nation.”

This digital campaign consists of two complementary elements: the development of a blog and the publication of a commemorative post on social media. The blog shares more comprehensive bibliographic data and sums up the main contributions made by those being recognized and our social media publication will provide high level highlights of each person’s work and contribution, accompanied by visual content. Both products are published on Fridays via NHCOA’s social media.

The goal of this campaign is to empower Latino people inside and outside the United States through stories of the contributions made by their Hispanic peers which have benefitted the United States. Likewise, it aims to encourage Latino participation in all fields of society and to inspire new change agents within our communities.

With these initiatives, we continue to open spaces that reinforce the pride of belonging to the Hispanic community even during challenging times. NHCOA proudly joins the celebration of such an important month for Hispanic communities and renews its commitment to ensuring the development of projects that empower and celebrate our communities, in order to ensure the best possible life for all of us as we age with dignity.

We invite you follow us on social media to learn more about this project and see who we are highlighting this year!

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Latino Empowerment: Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo

Posted on by NHCOA Media

Puerto Rican descendant, Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo is a national leader in primary care and the fight against health disparities in Americans. With more than 20 years of experience, his outstanding work in the field of medical care in vulnerable populations makes him one of the most important figures in medicine, especially for minorities.

He is a physician, professor of medicine and public health sciences, as well as chief of the division of general internal medicine at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. He also serves as director of the division of health services research and policy in the Department of Public Health Sciences and directs the community engagement and cultural diversity program at the Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

He has conducted extensive research on access to health care among racial minorities and other vulnerable populations. He also leads several studies examining community-based strategies to improve healthcare among racially and ethnically diverse populations.

Dr. Carrasquillo was a faculty member of the Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he was director of the Center of Excellence in Health Disparities Research and director of the Primary Care Program, a space created for health training and research, in areas such as pediatrics and family medicine.

His research has been published in a variety of journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association and the American Journal of Public Health. He is a frequent guest on television network shows in Univision and Telemundo, in which he talks and educates on health care issues of particular relevance to the Hispanic community.

Currently, Dr. Carrasquillo actively participates in several organizations for access to health for all and is co-founder of Latinos for National Health Insurance, where he serves as president and policy director.

Thanks to his experience and efforts regarding health issues, Dr. Carrasquillo continues to leave a legacy in research, higher education, and the fight for equal access to health care for all, making him a proud example for the Latino community in the United States. 

*This blog was created in collaboration with AARP. We are proud to continue using our platforms to amplify the voices of outstanding members from our Latino community. Thanks, AARP, for joining the Latino Empowerment campaign!

References:

https://pnhp.org/about/speakers-bureau/olveen-carrasquillo/

https://umiamihealth.org/sylvester-comprehensive-cancer-center/research/faculty/olveen-carrasquillo-md-mph