Tag Archives: Washington

Major Latino Organizations Speak Out Against PBS series THE WAR

August 20, 2007The ForumAldo Lauria Santiago, America, Amherst, and National Bronx Member, Armando Rendon, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of Education, Associate Professor of Spanish, Austin Angela Valenzuela, Austin Armando Vazquez-Ramos, Austin Miguel "Mickey" Melendez, Austin Richard Valencia, Boston, Brown University, CA National Institute for Latino Policy, California, California State University, Candida Tapia Donato Tapia, Carlos Molina, Carlos Rodriguez, CEO and president, Cepeda, Chair, Charles Pitt Robinson, City College of New York, City University of New York, Clara E. Rodriguez, Clinical Coordinator, co-chair, Commander, Commissioner, Congressman, Coordinator, Cynthia Garcia Coll, D. Tanya K. Hernandez, DC National Association of Latino Independent Producers, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Department of Educational Psychology, Department of History, Department of Political Science, Department of Sociology, Department of Urban Studies, Dolores M. Fern, East Region Area Organizing Director, Ed (Gato) Castillo-Rubio, Edgar De Jesus, Educational Administration, Edwin Karli Padilla, Emilio Zamora, Esteban Torres, Eugene Rivera, Evelyn Collazo, Executive Director, Federal Communications Commission, Florentine Films, Frances Aparicio, Francisco J. Gonzalez, Franklyn Perez, Frederick W. Hall Scholar, Gabriel Haslip-Viera, Gloria Tristani, Grissele Camacho, Gus Chavez, Hector Soto, Herbert H. Lehman College, Hilda Hern, Hill Health Center, Hispanic Media Coalition, Hispanic War Veterans of America, Hostos Community College, Illinois, Investigator, Jaime Estades, James Jennings, Jess Quintero, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, John Palmer, journalism professor, Jr., Juan Flores, Ken Burns, La Resurreccion UMC Social Justice Committee, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Latin American and Latino Studies, Latina, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Angeles League, Louise Bonanova, Luis Aponte-Par, Luis O. Reyes, Luis Urrieta, LULAC, Luz Rodriguez, Maggie Rivas-Rodr, Major, Marta Garc, Martin Espada, Massachusetts, Medger Evers College, Middletown, Minerva Delgado, Miriam Jim, Myra Y. Estepa, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, National Endowment for the Humanities, national president, Nelson Sierra, New York Chapter, New York, New York University, Newark, NY National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention, NY Izzy Sanabria, Office for Civil Rights, Officer, one of the founders, Panama, Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO, Placido Salazar, President, Professor, Professor of Education, Professor of Law, Professor of Social, Puerto Rico, Queens College, Raul Madrid, Ricardo R. Fernandez, Rights, Rosa Rosales, Rosalina Diaz, Rudy L. Ramos Civil, Rudy L. Ramos Civil Rights Chapter, Rutgers University, Rutgers University School of Law, San Anotnio Carlos Sanabria, San Antonio, San Francisco, San Juan, Sharon Percy Rockefeller, Texas, The War, Tuft University, United States Department of Education, United States, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Houston, University of Massachusetts, University of Puerto Rico, University of Texas, USD, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Viet Nam Veterans, Washington, WETA, WETA-TV, Williams College, Williamstown, WWIIescalona

Major Latino Organizations Speak Out:
The WAR AGAINST KEN BURNS / PBS’
“THE WAR” IS NOT OVER
Why the Latino Community Can’t Let This Matter Rest

The Latino “war” against Ken Burns’ upcoming documentary, “The War,” to be aired on PBS is not over. Despite recent press statements, key Latino organizations and leaders across the country today publicly announced that the issue is far from resolved and that they will continue pressing for a respectful resolution. Latino organizations and leaders called on Ken Burns and Florentine Pictures to meet with a representative cross-section of the national Latino leadership to explain in detail the changes they have made to the film, how they plan to include the Latino experience in their future projects and how they plan to include Latinos on the Florentine team. They also call on PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger, as well as WETA-TV’s CEO and president, Sharon Percy Rockefeller, to explain the measures that will be taken to assure that such a gross exclusion of the Latino community does not occur again in their current and future programming, and how they will supplement The War with other programming and activities to include the Latino experience, in particular with the educational programming.

At the urging of a corporate sponsor, Burns met with two Latino groups in early May and reiterated that he would include interviews with some Latino veterans in the 14.5 hour documentary, without offering many details. This was a commitment that he and PBS had already made publicly. Citing the results of this meeting, Burns and PBS officials at both the national and local levels have declared the issue closed. “Ken Burns cannot choose to make a secret deal with only two of the many Latino groups that were involved in this issue and in discussion with him and PBS, and then claim that the matter is resolved,” explains Marta García, co-chair of the New York Chapter of the National Hispanic Media Coalition and one of the founders of Defend the Honor, a Latino grassroots mobilization that first raised the alarm about Latino exclusion from this PBS documentary at the beginning of this year. “He must bring closure to this issue by paying the Latino leadership of this country the respect, respeto, of meeting with us to explain himself and his future relationship to the Latino community.”

Some progress had been made on the issue over the past several months in that Burns has added interviews with two Mexican American veterans and one Native American to the 14 hour and 28 minute documentary. “But make no mistake,” said Iván Román, executive director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, “we will withhold judgment on how meaningful that additional material is – whether it truly speaks to the Latino experience and whether it is reflected in the companion book and educational material.” In subsequent statements to the press, Burns has been dismissive of the arguments that the inclusion of Latinos is about historical accuracy rather than political correctness.

“It is unfortunate that Ken Burns continues to see this issue as one of politics and rhetoric that he must rise above,” said Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodríguez, the University of Texas journalism professor who co-chairs the Defend the Honor Campaign. “It has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with historical accuracy andinclusion.” Rosa Rosales, national president of LULAC, said that it was crucial for the Latino
organizations to publicly challenge statements in the press by Burns and PBS that the issue had been resolved. “As Ken Burns travels across the country as part of the $10 million promotional effort by PBS, he still characterizes this as a terrible misunderstanding,” Rosales said. “It’s no misunderstanding. We understand perfectly that he only added the new interviews under pressure and, right now, it looks like he’s not very proud of that new material.”

Another sticking point are the discrepancies between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant proposal that provided federal funding for the film, and what he and PBS have said in recent months. For instance, Burns has said repeatedly in news interviews that in the more than 6 years of production, “no Latinos came forward” to be interviewed about their WWII experiences. But he apparently excluded Latinos from the beginning: in the NEH grant proposal submitted in 2004, Burns and Florentine Films said that the film “will celebrate American diversity” and that
it will be about the “diversity of wartime America . . . African-American, Japanese American and white.” “This is certainly very different from the way he discusses his film today in defending himself against Latino criticisms,” observes Jess Quintero, president of the Hispanic War Veterans of America. That documentary will shape how Americans view WWII, and if short shrift is given to the Latino contributions, there will be a reinforcement of the widespread ignoranceof the Latino contribution to the building of the U.S. “Ken Burns and PBS are playing recklessly with our history, both as Latinos and Americans,” observes Gus Chavez,one of the co-chairs of the Defend the Honor. He concludes, “This is something every
American should be upset about.”

“We are very uncomfortable with taking Burns and PBS’ word that they have addressed the Latino community’s concerns before actually seeing the product,” Armando Rendon of Defend the Honor Campaign of Northern California adds. “The anger in the grassroots Latino community continues unabated by the manner in which he and PBS have handled this matter.”-30-

Preliminary signatories to this statement include the following, with additional signatures to be added through Sept. 22, 2007.

Organizations:
Afro-Latino Project, Queens College (CUNY), Flushing, NY
APITO Centro Cultural de Puerto Rico (ACCPR), San Juan, Puerto Rico
Defend the Honor
Latino Literacy Now, Los Angeles
League of United Latin America Citizens (LULAC)
Lic. Rudy L. Ramos Civil Rights Chapter of the American GI Forum, San Antonio, Texas
National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), Washington, DC
National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), Los Angeles, CA
National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), Los Angeles, CA
National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP), New York, NY
National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (LCAT), New York, NY & Wash., DC

Individuals (affiliations for identification purposes only):
Vicente “Panama” Alba, New York, NY
Frances Aparicio, Ph.D., Professor, Latin American and Latino Studies, University
of Illinois at Chicago
Luis Aponte-Parés, Boston, MA
Louise Bonanova, Civil Rights Investigator (Retired), Office for Civil Rights, United
States Department of Education, San Francisco, CA
María Cabán
Grissele Camacho, Esq.
Ed (Gato) Castillo-Rubio, Commander, Viet Nam Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post
9305 of Imperial County
María Elena Cepeda, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Latina/o Studies, Williams College,
Williamstown, MA
Evelyn Collazo, New York, NY
Edgar De Jesus, AFSMCE East Region Area Organizing Director, and National Bronx
Member, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LACLA)
Minerva Delgado, Bronx, NY
Dra. Rosalina Diaz, Associate Professor of Education, Medger Evers College (CUNY), Brooklyn, NY
Martin Espada, Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Jaime Estades, Brooklyn, NY
Myra Y. Estepa, Brooklyn, NY
Dolores M. Fernández, Ph.D., President, Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College
(CUNY), Bronx, NY
Ricardo R. Fernandez, Ph.D., President, Herbert H. Lehman College (CUNY), Bronx, NY
Juan Flores, Ph.D., Visiting Professor of Social and Cultural Analysis, New York University, New York, NY
Cynthia Garcia Coll, Ph.D., Charles Pitt Robinson and John Palmer Barstow Professor
Professor of Education, Psychology & Pediatrics, Brown University, Providence, RI
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Queens, NY
Gabriel Haslip-Viera, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Sociology, City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY
Hilda Hernández-Gravelle, MSW, Ed.D.
Tanya K. Hernandez, Professor of Law and Justice, Frederick W. Hall Scholar, Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, NJ
James Jennings, Ph.D., Professor, Tuft University, Boston, MA
Miriam Jiménez Román, Afro-Latino Forum, New York University, New York, NY
Francisco J. Gonzalez, Cottage Grove, MN
Aldo Lauria Santiago, Ph.D., Rutgers University
Raul Madrid, Ph.D., Department of Political Science, University of Texas at Austin
Miguel “Mickey” Melendez, New York, NY
Carlos Molina, Ph.D., New York, NY
Edwin Karli Padilla, Associate Professor of Spanish, University of Houston-Downtown
Franklyn Perez, Esq., Hostos Community College, Bronx, NY
Luis O. Reyes, Ph.D., New York, NY
Eugene Rivera, Clinical Coordinator, Hill Health Center, Middletown, CT
Clara E. Rodriguez, Ph.D., Bronx, NY
Luz Rodriguez, New York, NY
Carlos Rodriguez-Fraticelli, Ph.D., University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
Placido Salazar, USAF Retired Vietnam Veteran, State Veterans’ Affairs, Officer
of The American GI Forum of Texas, San Anotnio
Carlos Sanabria, Ph.D., Coordinator of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Eugenio
Maria de Hostos Community College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY
Izzy Sanabria, publisher, Latin NY Magazine; Salsamagazine.com
Dr. José Ramon Sánchez, Chair, Department of Urban Studies, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
Nelson Sierra, Albany, NY
Hector Soto, Esq., La Resurreccion UMC Social Justice Committee, Bronx, NY
Candida Tapia
Donato Tapia, JD, San Francisco, CA
Hon. Esteban Torres, former U.S. Congressman, California
Gloria Tristani, former Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Luis Urrieta, Jr., Ed.D., Department of Curriculum & Instruction, University of Texas at Austin
Richard Valencia, Ed.D., Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
Angela Valenzuela, Ed.D., Department of. Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Administration, University of Texas at Austin
Armando Vazquez-Ramos, Ph.D., Chicano & Latino Studies Department, California State University, Long Beach
Emilio Zamora, Ph.D., Department of History, University of Texas at Austin

Court win fuels Puerto Rican citizenship debate – article from the Right

July 14, 2007The ForumAmerican embassy, American University Law School, Americas, and sitting senator, Angelo Falc, Caracas, Center for Constitutional Rights, Central Intelligence Agency, Charlie Hern, Chicago, Congress, Constitutional Rights, Cuba, current Secretary, electoral law, ex-lieutenant governor, Fernando Bonilla, founder, FRANCES ROBLES, Governor, Havana, heart attack, I experiment with the law, independence party legislator, Juan Mari Br, law school, lawyer, legislator, lieutenant governor, local statehood activist, Mari Br, Mari Brï¿½s' court, MAYAGUEZ, Miami Herald, Michael Ratner, National Institute for Latino Policy, nationalist leader, New Progressive Party (PNP), New York, Norma Burgos, Pedro Albizu Campos, Popular Democratic Party, President, President and Founder, Puerto Rican Socialist Party, Puerto Rican Supreme Court, Puerto Rico, Secretary, Secretary of State, Spain, State's Office, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. military, United States, Washington, www.latinopolicy.orgescalona

Note: See the very end of this article about former Secretary of State Norma Burgos’ “Puerto Rican citizenship.” What are the implications of this for the right of Stateside Puerto Ricans being able to vote in a plebiscite on the political status of Puerto Rico? Interesting.

—Angelo

PUERTO RICO

Court win fuels Puerto Rican citizenship debate

After a long battle, the elder statesman of Puerto Rico’s independence movement finally has what he wanted: citizenship

BY FRANCES ROBLES

Miami Herald (July 14, 2007)

MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico — The seeds of Juan Mari Brás’ quixotic patriotism were planted when his parents draped a Puerto Rican flag over his crib.

Those seeds flourished 13 years ago, when the elder statesman of Puerto Rico’s independence movement renounced his U.S. citizenship in an effort to be officially recognized as a Puerto Rican. He’s 79 now, and after a 60-year anti-colonial crusade, he has something new to adorn his surroundings: a certificate of Puerto Rican citizenship.

He is the first Puerto Rican in history to have one. And as the U.S. Congress considers Puerto Rico’s status, Mari Brás’ newfound and hard-fought citizenship has refueled the heated debate about what it means to be Puerto Rican.

The certificate was issued in October after Mari Brás successfully sued for the right to vote in local elections. Last month, the Secretary of State’s Office here offered citizenship to eligible islanders. About 450 have requested certificates, and legislators are drafting bills to codify the process of obtaining them.

The tangible value of the certificates is in doubt, even among some of Marí Brás followers.

”With this certificate, can I travel from here to some other country?” asked independence party legislator Víctor García San Inocencio. “When I come back, will Homeland Security let me in?” The answers: no and no.

For Mari Brás, the citizenship certificate is more legal test than meaningful evidence of nationality. He said his win is important because it marks the first time the government here has recognized a national identity not tied to the United States. But he shrugs off the significance of his long court battle, recognizing that while it may have been the most important achievement Puerto Rico’s tiny independence movement has seen in years, it is a far cry from the sovereignty he craves.

”Biologists experiment with plants and animals and chemists do so with elements,” he said in a recent interview at his office at the Eugenio María de Hostos Law School in Mayagüez. “Since I am a lawyer, I experiment with the law. The certificate is an achievement, but it’s not the independence of Puerto Rico.”

When Mari Brás was born to a deeply political Mayagüez family, the U.S. military had seized Puerto Rico from Spain barely 30 years earlier. People like nationalist leader Pedro Albizu Campos were frequent dinner guests at his uncle’s house next door.

”Back then, we thought independence would happen the day after next,” he said. “We never thought we would remain the most important colony of the most important empire.”

His father took him to political events, and he founded an independence movement in high school. It became a passion that got him jailed seven times, kicked out of law school and a heart attack at 36.

Mari Brás graduated from American University Law School in Washington. As a lawyer, he took on controversial cases such as the independence activists who opened fire on the U.S. House of Representatives. He founded the Puerto Rican Socialist Party and ran a spirited campaign for governor in 1976 until his son was murdered, a death Mari Brás blames on the CIA.

A Marxist with close ties to Havana, he was disbarred from practicing in federal court when he skipped a client’s appearance to attend a conference in Cuba.

But after decades of sometimes violent activism, even now the independence movement gets only about 4 percent of the popular vote. The vast majority of Puerto Rico’s 4 million people are split between wanting to become the 51st state and keeping some form of its current commonwealth status.

In a mission to prove Puerto Ricans had a separate national identity, Mari Brás in 1994 went to the American embassy in Caracas and renounced his U.S. citizenship. When he returned to Puerto Rico, a local statehood activist sued him, arguing that Mari Brás no longer had a right to vote in local elections. Puerto Rico’s electoral law says that only U.S. citizens can cast ballots.

”I wanted to see if in Puerto Rico you could continue breathing without being a U.S. citizen,” he said.

The case made the Puerto Rican Supreme Court, and, last fall, Mari Brás won.

”It’s extraordinary,” said Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, a New York group that has represented Puerto Rico’s independence activists. “He has been after this for 30 or 40 years. The next step is people will demand passports. What other things can flow from there?”

The Popular Democratic Party, which seeks more autonomy for Puerto Rico while keeping the island’s current relationship with the United States, agrees.

”An empty wallet does not have everything a full wallet has,” said legislator Charlie Hernández, who has submitted a bill to codify the citizenship process.

Puerto Rico’s New Progressive Party (PNP), which supports statehood, is vehemently against the citizenship plan, calling it a useless and illegal residency certificate. It also alleges that current Secretary of State Fernando Bonilla, of the ruling Popular Democratic Party, agreed to go along with it in order to attract votes within the independence movement.

In a statement, Bonilla said he offered the certificate to obey the constitution and the court decision. He stressed that it doesn’t replace the U.S. passport.

‘I understand Juan Mari Brás’ purpose and respect it, but Puerto Rican citizenship does not exist,” said PNP Sen. Norma Burgos, a former secretary of state who once denied Mari Brás’ petition for citizenship.

To prove her point, Burgos, who was born in Chicago and moved to Puerto Rico when she was 5, asked for citizenship. Under rules that the Secretary of State drafted after Mari Brás’ court victory, she did not qualify.

”Was the Secretary of State going to tell me, Norma Burgos, ex-secretary of state, ex-lieutenant governor, and sitting senator, that I am not Puerto Rican?” she said.

Bonilla redrafted the requirements to include Burgos — and lots of other people. Now, if you live in Puerto Rico and one of your parents was born here, you qualify. U.S. citizens who have lived here more than a year are also eligible.

NILP 3
National Institute for Latino Policy
101 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 313
New York, NY 10013

www.latinopolicy.org
Angelo Falcón, President and Founder
212-334-5722 Fax: 917-677-8593
afalcon@latinopolicy.org

IS CDC DOING ENOUGH ABOUT AIDS IN LATINO COMMUNITIES?

December 15, 2006The ForumAtlanta, Bienestar, Catalina Sol, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chicago, Communication, DC, Dennis De Leon, Departamento de Salud y Servicios Sociales, Department of Health and Human Services, Estados Unidos, Georgia, Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, Ingles, James Fenton, La Comisi, Latino Consultation, Latino Health, Latino Leaders, Mario Guerrero, Oscar De, Puerto, Salud Latina, Southern, VIH, Washingtonescalona

LATINOS MEET WITH CDC,
ASK FOR STRONGER RESPONSE TO HIV CRISIS

ATLANTA, GA– (December 13, 2006) Latino Leaders representing community based organizations from multiple states met with Dr. James Fenton, Director of the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday to discuss CDC’s response to the increased infections of HIV in the Latino communities across the United States and Puerto Rico. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal Federal agency for protecting the public health and safety of all those living in the U.S. The CDC is also charged with providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves. The data on HIV infection among Latinos is alarming: they represent one of every five HIV infections. This proportion continues to raise, particularly among Latinas.

“This was a great meeting but it is just the first step in addressing the needs of the Latino community,” stated Oscar De La O, President and CEO from BIENESTAR. “We look forward to a continued dialogue and a partnership to improve CDC’s response to this health crisis,” stated Dennis De Leon, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. Catalina Sol, Director of HIV Services at La Clinica del Pueblo in Washington, DC stated that “Our delegation was unified in speaking with one voice to Dr. Fenton in hope to a greater response to the AIDS epidemic among Latinos.”

In this historical meeting, among the requests to CDC, Latino leaders sought the following:

· Request for Increased Communication. Dr. Fenton agreed to meet at least on a yearly basis with Latino Leaders. CDC also agreed to identify a liaison that would be a point person for issues related to HIV and Latinos.

· Latino Consultation. CDC agreed to come up with a strategy within its strategic plan in which to focus on HIV issues specific to the Latino communities that involves many or all of the branches at CDC. This strategy will include prevention, capacity building, epidemiology, leadership involvement, research, among others. This plan would take into account the diversity of Latino communities and will address issues such as language, culture, and socioeconomic variances.

· Creation of a behavioral research journal. Request that CDC sponsor a journal to highlight behavioral research for Latinos. It is imperative to raise the visibility of the research challenges concerning Latinos and HIV/AIDS.

· Two day Latino social science consultation. Request that CDC consider funding a two day Latino social science consultation after the National HIV Prevention Conference which will take place December 2-5, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia.

CDC agreed to most of the requests and also pledged to focus on Latino participation at the 2007 National HIV Prevention Conference by way of a Latino track and roundtable discussions. The two day Latino social science consultation was not confirmed, but would be given consideration.

The Community Based Organizations Present Included: Clínica del Pueblo, Washington, DC; BIENESTAR, Southern California; The Latino Commission on AIDS, NY; Salud Latina/Latino Health, Chicago, IL; CPG, Puerto Rico, Mujeres Unidas Contra el SIDA, TX

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

Contactos: Mario Guerrero, Bienestar (626) 628-5219
Guillermo Chacón, Comisión Latina sobre el SIDA, (212) 920-1611

Latinos y Latinas se reúnen con los CDC, para pedir una respuesta más agresiva ante la crisis del VIH/SIDA

Atlanta, GA – (13 de Diciembre del 2006) Latinos representando organizaciones comunitarias de distintos Estados se reunieron con el Dr. James Fenton, Director de los Centros Nacionales para la prevención del VIH, Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual y Tuberculosis, perteneciente a los centros para el control y la prevención de las enfermedades (CDC siglas en Ingles) para discutir la respuesta de los CDCs al incremento de infecciones por VIH en las comunidades Latinas a lo largo y ancho de los Estados Unidos. Los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades son uno de los 13 principales componentes operativos del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Sociales (HHS siglas en Ingles), el cual constituye la agencia principal en el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos para proteger la salud y la seguridad de toda la población americana, así como proveer servicios humanos esenciales, principalmente para aquellos que no pueden ayudarse a si mismos. Las estadísticas de infección por VIH son alarmantes. Los Latinos y Latinas representan una de cada cinco infecciones de VIH y las infecciones por VIH entre Latinas continúan incrementándose.

“Esta fue una muy buena reunión, pero es solamente el primer paso para tratar las necesidades de las comunidades Latinas” declaro Oscar de La O, Presidente y Director Ejecutivo de BIENESTAR. “Estaremos en espera de un diálogo continuo y un trabajo conjunto que pueda ayudar a mejorar la respuesta de los CDC a esta crisis de salud” declaro Dennis de Leon, Presidente de La Comisión Latina sobre el SIDA; Catalina Sol, Directora de Servicios de VIH de “La Clínica del Pueblo” con sede en Washington D.C., dijo que “Nuestra delegación se presento de forma unificada y se expreso en una sola voz al dirigirse al Dr. Fenton con la esperanza de una mejor respuesta a la epidemia del SIDA.”

En esta reunión histórica, entre las peticiones que se formularon a los CDC, los líderes Latinos buscaron lo siguiente:

Una petición para más y mejor comunicación. El Dr. Fenton estuvo de acuerdo en reunirse –por lo menos- una vez al año con los Lideres Latinos. Los CDC también estuvieron de acuerdo en identificar una persona de contacto, que servirá de puente para temas relacionados a VIH y Latinos/as
Una Consulta Latina. Los CDC acordaron desarrollar una estrategia como parte de su plan estratégico, esta estrategia será enfocada en temas específicos relacionados al VIH e involucrara a muchas o todas las ramas de los CDC, que incluyen entre otros, la rama de prevención, capacitación, epidemiología, desarrollo de liderazgo e investigación. Esta iniciativa tomara en cuenta la diversidad dentro de la comunidad Latina y temas como el bilingüismo y otros temas en el área social, económico y cultural.
Una publicación relacionada al campo que investiga el comportamiento. Se solicito a los CDC el patrocinio de una publicación enfocada en la investigación sobre el comportamiento dentro de los/as Latinos/as. Esto es importante para incrementar la visibilidad sobre los retos de investigación concerniente a Latinos/as y el VIH/SIDA.
Dos días de consulta sobre el campo social en Latinos. Se solicito a los CDC que consideraran apoyar económicamente dicha consulta después de la conferencia nacional sobre prevención de VIH, programada entre el 2 al 5 de Diciembre, 2007 en Atlanta, GA.

Los CDC concordaron con la mayoría de las solicitudes y también aseguraron poner atención para la participación Latina en la Conferencia Nacional de Prevención de VIH, estableciendo un enfoque Latino así como mesas de discusión. Sobre la consulta de dos días, no fue confirmada, pero será considerada.

University of Puerto Rico Recruiting U.S. Puerto Rican Students

October 13, 2006The ForumConnecticut, Eduardo Bhatia, Estados Unidos, Florida, Nueva Jersey, Puerto, The Associated Press, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Washingtonraquelzrivera

UPR busca estudiantes latinos

Por The Associated Press

(11:02 a.m.) Se realizarán charlas en Estados Unidos para los que quieran obtener un grado universitario en la Isla.

SAN JUAN — La Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) y la Administración de Asuntos Federales de Puerto Rico (PRFAA, en inglés) arreciarán esta semana en Estados Unidos una campaña en busca de jóvenes puertorriqueños o latinos que deseen estudiar en la isla.

“Los latinos continuamos rezagados en la obtención de grados universitarios. El aprovechamiento académico de nuestros jóvenes es imprescindible para el desarrollo socio-económico y político de nuestras comunidades”, señaló hoy Eduardo Bhatia, director ejecutivo de PRFAA, cuya sede principal está en Washington.

El programa en el que podrían estudiar los jóvenes es bilingüe y se ofrece en los recintos universitarios de Humacao, Cayey y Río Piedras.

Bhatia destacó que al 2003, tan solo 13.1% de los boricuas mayores de 25 años que residen en los Estados Unidos tenía un bachillerato, en comparación al 34.8% de los blancos, 18.5% de los afro-americanos y el 59% de los asiáticos.

En términos de estudios graduados, el panorama es aún más precario: tan solo 3.1% de los puertorriqueños mayores de 25 años había obtenido diploma de estudios graduados, en comparación a los blancos (8.7%), afro-americanos (4.1%) y asiáticos (15.6%).

Esta semana, la UPR y PRFAA realizarán charlas sobre el programa bilingüe en Connecticut y Massachussets. En octubre y noviembre, las charlas se moverán a Pennsylvania, Nueva Jersey y Florida.

http://www.endi.com//XStatic/endi/template/nota.aspx?n=86993

FBI Destroying Records

August 26, 2006The ForumCongressman, DC, DIRECTOR, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louis Freeh, Puerto Rico, Washingtonescalona

Congressman José E. Serrano
Representing the Sixteenth District of New York

Serrano to FBI: Destroying Records is Counterproductive to Gov’t Openness

Washington, DC – August 22, 2006- Congressman José E. Serrano sent the following letter to the FBI late last week in response to recent revelations that the Puerto Rico field office destroyed certain records in the past. Serrano asked that the Bureau immediately suspend any further destruction of records. In 2000, Serrano and then-director Louis Freeh initiated a years-long effort to promote openness and accountability by the FBI in Puerto Rico.

###

August 17, 2006

Robert S. Mueller, III, Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building

Dear Director Mueller:

As you know, I and other members of the Puerto Rican community have been grateful for your continued cooperation in the initiative by your predecessor, Louis Freeh, to disclose files related to the Bureau’s actions against supporters of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement. These files have been invaluable in building the historical record of this dark period in our nation’s history, and it is my ongoing interest in this subject that inspires this letter.

It has been brought to my attention that the San Juan field office destroyed certain records on the independence movement in February of 1989. This information came to light as the result of a Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act request by Jan Susler of the People’s Law Office.

I write to request that, notwithstanding any standard procedure, you suspend any further destruction of records concerning organizations and individuals related to the Puerto Rican Independence Movement. I would also like to request documentation of the destruction of any such records to date, and their former locations before they were destroyed.

Given the fact that the recent release of the Inspector General’s report on the Ojeda Ríos incident has done little to allay concerns about the Bureau’s modus operandi in Puerto Rico, I believe that the your continued commitment to the preservation and disclosure of these files will be essential to improving the Bureau’s image on the island.

Thank you for your attention to these concerns. I look forward to continuing our cooperation on this matter.

Sincerely,

José E. Serrano
Member of Congress

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Congressman José E. Serrano has represented the Bronx in Congress since 1990. He is the longest serving Member of Puerto Rican descent.