Former Chicana Activist Shares Her Favorite Tunes

Courtesy of National Public Radio

Rosie Castro was a Chicana civil rights activist in El Movimiento Chicano during the 1970s. She passed down her passion for change to her children, Texas State Representative Joaquin Castro and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. For Tell Me More's 'In Your Ear' series, Castro talks about her favorite songs.

Election Day Memories

 Photo by Ann Marie Leimer, Ph,D. Click photo to enlarge. 

By Jesús Manuel Mena Garza

It is election day. How exciting. I started voting when I was a child in San José, California. My mother could not read or write and would let me fill out her ballot. Since the beginning, in the early sixties, I supported progressive candidates and causes. In 1970 when I turned 18, I continued to vote for candidates who vowed to end the war in Viet Nam. 

Today, to me, Barack Obama is the culmination of many years of struggle. I could never let down the thousands of marchers in Selma, Delano and across the country who made his ascendency possible. On Election Day, now at the ripe-old age of 60, in the very-red state of Texas, I look forward to supporting a man I truly believe in, President Obama.

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DSLR Camera and Lens Combo Mambo

I am in the process of deciding what new DSLR and lens combo to buy. There are so many choices out there. What do you recommend for street, landscape and travel photography? What camera and lens combo  makes sense to you?

Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino call on congress to join bipartisan effort to pass Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act

FRIENDS update community and national leaders during 35th Annual CHCI Policy Conference

Last Wednesday, the Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), a 501(c)(3) created to push forward the American Latino Museum initiative, hosted its annual reception in conjunction with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) 2012 Public Policy Conference. With sponsorship from CHCI, FRIENDS gathered Board members, Congressional leaders, administration officials, policy makers, and museum supporters to discuss the museum’s legislative progress and FRIENDS community engagement efforts.

Legislation to designate a location for the museum on the National Mall, the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act, is still pending in Congress, yet grassroots support has remained strong and continues to build steadily. Through a combined effort of social media and direct community engagement, FRIENDS have amassed a base of over 300,000 fans, followers, and supporters of the cause. In addition, the FRIENDS have amassed a bipartisan list of over 50 members of the House and Senate who support the museum initiative. That list will continue to be a focus for the remainder of the year with the goal of hitting 100 members of Congress.

FRIENDS used the event to call Washington’s political leaders to action. Passing the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act would designate space along the National Mall to the project and create a landmark to the culture and contributions of the Latino community to the founding and strengthening of our nation.

“This event is another exciting milestone in the journey toward an American Latino Museum,” said Jonathan Yorba, chair of FRIENDS. “We call on members of the House and Senate to support the museum legislation, and we call on all Americans who support this project to join our effort on our website or social networks. An historic achievement like this one does not come quickly or easily, but through the hard work of our supporters, this museum is closer than ever to becoming a reality.”

Eduardo Diaz the Director of the Smithsonian Latino Center stands next to photographer Jesus Manuel Mena Garza.

The reception featured the historic photographs of Jesus Manuel Mena Garza, The Chicano Photographer is known for documenting movements and leaders like Cesar Chavez and Corky Gonzales that empowered the Latino community over the last few decades. Garza made remarks during the reception noting that despite being approached by other cultural institutions, he is “holding out for a National American Latino Museum to show case my work.” Attendees of the reception also received the 2012 American Latino Museum Campaign Poster, the contest-winning poster created by the Latino-owned firm, UNO Branding found here.

Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (www.americanlatinomuseum.org)
Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, Inc., a 501(c)(3) incorporated in Washington, D.C., strives to create a museum in our nation’s capital to educate, inspire and encourage respect and understanding of the richness and diversity of the American Latino experience within the U.S. and its territories by highlighting the contributions made by Latino leaders, pioneers and communities to the American way of life.

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The National Museum of the American Latino

One of Jesús Manuel Mena Garza's photos on exhibit next week at the Ronald Reagan Building promoting the National Museum of the American Latino. See you there.

Click photo to enlarge

Jesús Manuel Mena Garza will exhibit his photographs and speak at a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute gathering in Washington D.C. on Sept. 12, 2012. Garza will clarify CHCI’s work with the Smithsonian Latino Center and its efforts to celebrate the cultural richness and diversity of the Latino community. The photographer will underline the need for a physical home on the National Mall for a Museum of the Latino. The photographs on display at the Ronald Reagan Building were captured from 1970 to 1975. During this period, Garza took intimate photographs of Chicano icons César E. Chávez, Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzáles and others. The photographs provide a retrospective glimpse from the unique perspective of the photojournalist and activist. Midwestern State University Professor Dr. Ann Marie Leimer adds, “During the past decades, Garza has extensively published and exhibited several documentary photographic series. The Chicano Photographer series explores important aspects of the American experience, historic events and cultural practices often marginalized by the dominant culture.” Photographs from the series are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, various universities and have been published in journals and books. The Chicano Photographer series and press kit can be accessed at Garza’s website, www.jmmgarza.com. Contact: Ann Marie Leimer, Ph.D., (940) 397-4264, ann.leimer@mwsu.edu

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The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation Announces Photography Grant Call for Entries

The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for International Photography announced today that it is again seeking entries for outstanding work in social documentary photo reportage. Photographers around the world are encouraged to submit entries focusing on lives and populations ravaged by war, famine, poverty, religious persecution, political oppression, forced migration and other social injustices. The winning submission will be awarded a grant of US$5000 to be utilized for the production or completion of a social documentary project.

"This year's call follows an incredible first season. We received nearly 200 entries representing some 45 countries including, surprisingly Iran and Myanmar, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa and Saudi Arabia," said Manuel Rivera-Ortiz, himself a recognized documentary photographer and the Founder and President of the foundation. "Our ultimate goal is to support both emerging photographers and the causes they cover. This annual grant will be awarded to the photographer whose body of work and vision and heart best exemplifies humanity on the move."

Last year's judging took place at the Swiss Reinsurance Company offices in London at the Gherkin. The 2012 submissions will be evaluated in two rounds with finalists being judged in Paris by a renowned international panel of photographers and foundation trustees. The grant winner will be announced in July 2012. Submission details and entry rules can be found at www.mrofoundation.org under "Grant 2012." Entries must be submitted no later than May 31, 2012.

About the Foundation The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for International Photography is a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Organization committed to positive social discourse in underrepresented communities throughout the world by encouraging emerging and established photographers working in developing nations to keep their lenses fixed on the plight of the poor and disenfranchised. Headquartered in New York, with a presence in Paris and Zurich, the foundation is a charitable trust serving the international photographic community through exhibitions, publishing, grants, education and other curatorial projects.

Established in 2010, the foundation aims to encourage a new generation of photographers, armed with only a camera and a vision of a better world, to take to the streets every day and document humanity on the move. For additional information, please visit www.mrofoundation.org.

Press Contact: Michael Palmieri, 917.720.5769

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Can You Afford To Go To College?

By Jesús Manuel Mena Garza

Today, after listening to several conservative politicians complain about colleges, I learned that they want to change the way they are run. They blast that colleges need to be more cost effective (not necessarily affordable) and of course less liberal.

Here are the facts. It costs more today to go to college than just a decade ago. Students are now incurring tremendous debt to attend school. Full-time professors are being replaced by adjuncts. Colleges want to attract more foreign students because they pay higher tuitions and fees.

During the heated conservative discussion, they complained that colleges force students to take classes that are not going to them land a job (aka: Ethnic Studies, Philosophy, Art, Art History, Poetry, etc.) These politicians desperately want to micromanage colleges, eliminating courses that don’t meet their conservative agenda.

The panel felt colleges were liberal bastions that spread propaganda promoting Marx, Castro and Obama. They wanted to give the boot to liberal professors and ethnic studies. Yes, they have a very-long list of classes they would like to excise. Maybe your favorite college subject is on their list?

These right-wing politicians also advocate long-distance learning as a way to save money. They proclaim that Internet courses are the wave of the future and that this new student body would be international. Again, it would be more profitable.

Some Historical Context

Those of you under forty probably don't know this, but California back in the 1960s and 70s had what was once considered the finest public university system in the world. It was also affordable. Back in the good old' days, when I went to college, I paid less than $100 a semester to attend San Jose State University. Now, a quality education is exponentially more expensive. What used to be the best university system is now just average. Despite all the fiscal attacks several of the UC's still compete at a high level despite their shrinking budgets.

With less money, colleges have had to make drastic cuts. Today, universities are scrambling to find new sources of funding (like the aforementioned foreign students). Many Californians who want to go to college can’t because they can’t afford it. In the end, maybe only the rich from America and abroad will be able to go to school. Once these select few are accepted, they may find themselves in over-crowded classrooms or staring at a lonely computer screen from home. At least that is the plan if many conservative politicians had their way. What do you think?

Bonus article: Harvard Cheaper than Cal State!

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