Taller PR's newest space revealed

::GASP:: I knew Taller Puertorriqueno had plans for their new building on 5th and Huntingdon but never did I imagine the building looking this awesome. During Taller PR's 16th Annual Schomburg Syposium Carmen Febo, executive director, described and showcased their newest venue. Word has it they will break ground soon but until I confirm I won't say anything else :). The new venue will bound to be an arts & culture center for all artists...Latino and non-Latino. No details have been released yet but from what these and other images show, both old buildings will turn into this amazing space, house a cafe and host multiple exhibitions as well as house artist space to create...art. To see this space come to life will not only be a dream come true for Taller PR, but it will definitely begin a change for El Centro de Oro.

PPRA Leaped Into Social Media

Earlier today I presented at the Philadelphia Public Relations Association's (PPRA)  program "Leap Into Social Media" along with Jessica Lawlor and Aimee Cirucci. The three "younger" public relations' professionals discussed tips and tricks businesses and organizations can use to improve their social media use. Whether it's for personal branding or corporate structure, social media is there and using it isn't as easy as ABC. Social media is a changing industry that can build up your corporate branding as well as make it into an open-casting call to people who just dislike life.

I'm glad there were questions about personal branding. Before you had to send a resume and bio in person (or through e-mail), but now you can add your bio in 140 characters and even create an online resume. People tend to wonder whether tweeting about your employer on your personal account is acceptable; I say yes. Just ask yourself if you do work on your personal cell phone? Most likely you do but not a lot. As you get deeper into social media, I'd suggest adding a social media policy. It really helps with dos and don'ts and just makes sense. Other than that, do what you're doing. Social media is about being social and experimenting with new initiatives.

Be sure to follow @JessLaw and @PPRA for other public relations' tips and tricks.

2012 Billboard Latin Music Awards' finalists anounced

This morning on Telemundo's Levantate, finalists were announced for the 2012 Billboard Latin Music Awards presented by State Farm. The event will  broadcast live on Telemundo on April 26. Don Omar, Pitbull, Prince Royce, Mana, Romeo Santos, Shakira and Wisin & Yandel are among the top finalists. The Billboards are one of the most watched awards show on Telemundo and is basically a huge music party. Winners are chosen via album sales and digital downloads. Did you know the Billboard Latin Music Awards' is a post-conference event? Between April 23 and April 25, music industry experts come together to discuss new trends and the state of the industry.

For a listing of all nominations, click here.

Opinion: Why Philadelphia doesn't have Latino bloggers

Time and time again I ask myself, "Where are the Latino bloggers (in Philadelphia)?" I've asked countless times via LATISM's Twitter fiestas which by the way are um awesome. I've asked professional journalists. I've seen posts on Facebook asking the same question and no one answers. I am definitely not here to toot my own horn but ask yourself this, "Is anyone in the Philadelphia Region blogging about positive issues in our community?" If the answer is no, why not? Al Dia published an article about Latino bloggers but it was focused nationally. So where are they!?

I thought about the answer to my question and came up with a broad yet interesting answer. Latinos and social media in Philadelphia doesn't really exist. We are aware of the trends but unfortunately our community is so involved with social justice issues that they fail to see how social media/blogging can support their efforts. When I attended Temple University a lot of my friends were studying "the usual" degrees. Criminal Justice, Political Science, Education, Psychology, etc. Strange how although we graduate in these industries yet make it into another field.

There is a need for social media enthused people in Philadelphia; there just isn't time. While we constantly fight battles in government (and then some), we don't seem to move forward in other battles. We get stuck in a "Latino box" as I like to call it and can't seem to find openings anywhere else. Raising the bar, seeking new opportunities is what life is about. This leads to the struggle of the older generation versus the younger generation. I only call it a "versus" since there are constant battles in our organizations.

Blogging is something that comes natural and should not be used as a selling tool. I dislike it when I hear, "I don't have time." Well find time. It has nothing to do with being an awesome writer (or maybe it does). It has to do with marketing and communications. Integrating these tools into your business is essential. Sometimes the way these Latino organizations are using SM in Philadelphia is a little sloppy. This leads to the other question about Hispanic agencies in the market. I look at Miami, Los Angeles and New York City and see a boom in Latino bloggers, agencies, etc. Egh. So why doesn't Philadelphia have any Latino bloggers? Only you can answer this question.

Highlighting our community heroes

I like it when organizations come up with cool ways to highlight our community heroes. Now a community hero can be a CEO or executive director of a company, but they can also be your average working mother, father or student. El Zol 1340AM recently made a call for those community heroes. The radio station is encouraging listeners to nominate heroes from all walks of life—the neighbor running nonprofit bake sales, a volunteer who serves the elderly at a local retirement home, a teacher building a school for the underserved, the community organizer bringing people together, a student who accomplishes.

The hero of the month will not only be featured in one of El Zol's radio programs but they'll also have the opportunity to become hero of the year and be the recipient of a daylong radiothon where they will raise money for the sponsoring organization at the end of 2012. Talk about an opportunity huh? Sorry government officials, but you can't be nominated. Not to say they are not heroes, but there are plenty of other people in our lives that deserve a little exposure. Be sure to visit elzolphilly.com and nominate today!

Video: Gloria Estefan on Glee

Because Gloria Estefan is awesome. And now she is appearing on GLEE. I wonder if she'll perform like Ricky Martin did a few weeks ago.

Opinion: Trusting your local community

I have been in Philadelphia for almost nine (9) years now and let me tell you, it's been interesting to say the least. Don't worry; I'm not going to sit here and bash anyone because that's not what I do. The relationships I have built in Philadelphia I will cherish forever. The friends I have made here are the most important because they are the ones I can go to at the end of the day and complain :). It's true because I would never complain to a colleague or coworker. Coworkers are there to talk about work...and an occasional happy hour or two. However, sometimes I find it hard to trust people in Philadelphia. I know all places are the same; but my experience living, working and playing here have been somewhat frustrating.

There are two types of Latinos in Philadelphia. There's those that stay in the barrio (neighborhood) and won't leave and then those that don't want to associate themselves and love Center City. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with either, but why can't you do both? The best is when at a young age and in college, no one really cares who you are. "Oh you're an intern? What can you do? He/she won't last. What's the point?" These are just some of the countless things people say to young people. The idea to trust people as you get older gets slimmer and slimmer.

Even during community meetings (which I attend rarely), there is a negative feeling in the air. When someone brings a new idea, no one likes it. When someone has a second opinion, no one listens. The mentality of the older generation has not been too kind over the years. I'm not saying everyone is like this, I just want to see change in our community. The mentality that one Latino culture is better than the other is getting old...real old. The years to come shall be interesting considering the change throughout the U.S. We shall see.

TIME is paying attention

Time Magazine's recent cover (which hits stores Thursday) is a clear representation of the change many people have been discussing. Ironically enough, the Wednesday night presidential debate took place in Arizona where a huge battle of immigration has been going on for more than a year now. So the question is will Latino pick the next President? Some say yes. Republican Senator Marco Rubio is also looking to swing the Republican party into the right direction. Read the entire story here.

Time Magazine says, "Nearly 9% of all voters in 2012 will be Latino, up 26% from four years ago, according to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials." The time has come and we will choose the next President. Think we don't have the power in politics? Thing again. The change is gradual. As generations continue to pass by, our involvement in different industries will soon turn mainstream. The best part about this cover is the variety of Latinos. Remember, Latinos aren't one cultural background, we're a combination of everything.

Someone launched a fancy new website

Ah yes our dear friends at Being Latino have launched their brand new website. Um awesome? Originally just a Facebook page used to connect Latinos with pretty much everyone in the world, BL has pretty much turned into one of the most "go-to" media sites for everything Latino. Topics range from media, politics, entertainment and one of my favorites...food! BL has also developed content partnerships with various online followings.

So let's take a look at the site. Sure the WordPress site seemed a little outdated but it was still had a great following. Now with a .us domain, the site looks much cleaner and will soon be a $$ generator. That's what I'm getting from the "advertise here" banner. But unlike other sites, the homepage is very easy to read and there's not a lot going on...I like that. I'm also happy to see they highlight their writers above the fold; that's BL pretty much is about. It's about their writers and volunteers. I wish I still had time to write for them ::sad face::. Congrats Lance and the entire team. Here's to a great year.

Social media madness

Last year I told myself I would love to be a part of panel discussions a little more. And sure enough throughout the 2011 (and this) year, I've been speaking on various public relations, social media, marketing panels. One may think it's all fun and games but it's a lot of pressure and takes a lot of work. Preparing examples and getting your speaking points ready takes a lot of time. And you have to be sure to discuss things that people either don't know about or are aware; so don't make yourself look like an a**.

In the next few weeks I'll actually be discussing social media to two completely different audiences. The pressure is on I would say. The first will be at the Philadelphia Public Relation Association's "Leap Into Social Media with Gen Y" where I (along with two others) will discuss how to use social media to enhance your work. The good and bad about this workshop is that this will be a small discuss with "older" public relations' practitioners. A few days later I'll be at the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer workshops discussing communications and social media. 

I'm glad I agreed to participate in these discussions/panels because I can learn from them as well. There's no such thing as a social media specialist because things are always changing. Just look at Pinterest? I mean what the hell is that? lol. The only thing I don't want is to repeat what has been said in the past. When I go to different social media workshops, all I see is people nod their heads; never a perplexed or "oh wow that's new" look. These workshops/panels are also useful to people of all ages, not just young -_-.

Event Alert: Hispanicize 2012

There comes a time when Latino(a)s come together to talk about all things social media, entertainment and marketing. Yes it's the second annual Hispanicize conference thanks to the Pappy Blogger himself, Manny Ruiz.    Hispanicize 2012 brings brands, media, marketers, celebrities, filmmakers, innovators and bloggers together in a unique creative environment focused on creative ideas and best practices. The conference is a launch pad for creative endeavors, new products, technologies, marketing campaigns, films, books and more targeting Latinos.

Taking place April 11 - 12 in Miami, Fl, the conference will host sessions for all Latino (and non-Latino) professionals including media, public relations professionals, artists, politicians and more. Don't assume you can just register for free, there's always a cost. Attendees will have to fork up anywhere from $300 to $700 per registration. And if you are traveling from anywhere else other than Florida, add that flight and hotel stay.  I'd say it is pretty much worth the price, especially since all the influencers will be there. This is a perfect chance to learn about new innovative projects, network with like-minded individuals and just have fun. Enjoy! Wish I could make it :(.

Exploiting our culture through art

Jean-Michel Basquiat. Recognize the name? I didn't until a week ago when my friend introduced me to his biographic film "Basquiat." Truly an astounding artist and person , Jean-Michael painted because he just wanted to paint and express himself. Fortunately and unfortunately he was soon discovered and pretty much exploited his entire (short) career. Jean-Michael was half Haitain, half Puerto Rican which to his was a norm; but to society he was different. He was a "black" artist and Andy Worhol's "pet." Unfortunately through depressiona and an addiction to drugs, he died at the young age of 27. Today his paintings sell for millions of dollars.

LatinoLines Coalition demands representation

The drama continues with redistricting our community. The LatinoLines Coalition in Philadelphia is demanding everyone to tell the Pennsylvania Reapportionment Commission not to allow the primaries to take place with decade old maps that are not representative of the population shifts in PA as shown by the 2010 census. And to be honest this makes so much sense (well the demanding). There was pressure to redistrict the city based on Census numbers and now voting will be based on old maps? Makes no sense at all. Some say the government is blocking voter justice.

Well if you want to do something about it join the LatinoLines Coalition on Monday, February 20 at 1 p.m. at the Federal Court House on 6th and Market. City leaders will be discussing the denial of Latino voting power in Pennsylvania’s state legislative districts. LatinoLines characterizes recent court rulings to ignore the legislature’s redistricting plans as an obvious robbery, committed in broad day light. So what's going to happen? Will these community leaders be able to run for state representatives? Only time and effort will tell.

J.Lo taking over our TVs

I'm not going to sit here and bash Jennifer Lopez but does she really need to be everywhere on television? As some of you know she has partnered with (former hubby) March Anthony for Q' Viva, The Chosen. So according to the Hollywood Reporter, "The singer-turned-reality star has sold an English-language version of her Univision competition series to the American Idol network." Really? Really? The show will air on Fox starting March 3 doubling up on footage since they are pretty much late. I wonder if I'll watch? Maybe. Anyways, her children, like many other celebrity children, will probably never have to work...EVER. She currently earns $20 million for her American Idol appearances; and now ill have over 60 hours on the Fox Network. So here's to more Latinas on mainstream television. Let's try to give others a try :).

Video: Sh** Latinos Don't Say

Because Being Latino creates awesome content :). "What's a bodega?" "I LOVE THE COLD!" lmao

The new-age American Latino

So who is the new-age American Latino? First of all, Latino has always been an American term...let's get that straight. Colombians in Colombia do not call each other Latino, Dominicans in the Dominican Republic don't call each other Latino and you get the point. The year is now 2012 and if you've been reading (online), everything is drastically changing and corporations are launching new platforms for people like you and me. Media companies are the obvious first adopters like the Huffington Post Latino Voices, NBC Latino and FoxNewsLatino. There's also talks about a 24/7 English-language news channel with ABC/Univision.

And just recently announced, Google is increased their focus on the Latino Market. A MediaPost article stated, "Google is accelerating its focus on building out YouTube channels for the Hispanic market through partnerships with independent and traditional media companies, such as Telemundo, and Univision. The consumer segments range from retail to automotive to consumer products to technology." Even Sonic has launched a bicultural site. Imagine that!? According to the press release, the website features a distinctly Hispanic flair while capturing the authentic dining experience that makes the popular destination unique in the restaurant industry.

So what industry will be next? The National Museum of the American Latino is going to have one hell of a job depicting our history. With a changing climate, this new generation is bound to get new messages from various marketers. Whether or not we pay attention is another story. There's a stigma that says Latinos only care about Latino things...wrong. We are a bicultural audience that loves arroz con pollo, french fries, American Idol, Sabado Gigante and everything in between. So what are you doing to reach this new audience?

So why are local festivals needed?

So I like festivals...I'm not going to lie. Growing up my parents took my brother and I (forced) to so many festivals in Elizabeth, NJ. You know these were the free festivals where mom wanted to wait in every line just to get a key chain. While my brother and I waited with her, dad just stood there with the food -_-. Anyways, Philadelphia has clearly hosted many festivals. Whether they are cultural, entertainment, sports related or just free, they are awesome filled with musical acts, free food and other activities. Which is why I want to say...Philadelphia, you deserve more.

I know, I know some people are tired and complain about the 4th of July concert/festival and even bring up the way cultural festivals are supported. These organizations raise an enormous amount of money to bring these festivals to life. And hundreds (sometimes even thousands) of people come out and bring in more money to the city. Festivals like the Hispanic Fiesta, Global Fusion and Feria del Barrio bring a sense of pride. However, something we are not used to (in Philadelphia) is an indoor festival.

My job actually hosts the Feria de la Familia in the fall. Although for the past two years approximately 2000 people have attended each, it can be much better. Last year I received calls asking, "How much?" And of course the, "Um if it rains is it still happening?" Our Latino community in Philadelphia is not used to an indoor festival being free. The other interesting fact is that there is no indoor venue in our community that can hold 2K+ people. Don't tell me a high school because it's not going to happen. Philadelphia...an outdoor festival town needs to embrace other type of festivals. And that's what I have to say on that subject :).

Events: Pennsylvania's Latino Film Festival

Awesome news alert: There's a Pennsylvania Latino Film Festival? How come I didn't hear about this before? The Latino Film Series will be held in Millersville University in Lancaster, PA starting March 9 - March 12. Films include The Borinqueneers, Seed, The Maid and Almost a Woman.

Here's information on a couple of the films:

• The Borinqueneers - The documentary chronicles the never-before-told story of the Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment, the only all-Hispanic unit in the history of the U.S. Army.
• Seed - A Puerto Rican boy, who watches his mother be abused, finds hope, dreams, and aspirations outside the harsh city in the countryside of Lancaster County.

Sounds like these are not-to-be missed flicks huh? Anyone want to make a trip to one of the films? To purchase tickets visit Millersville University's Ware Center website. Most of the screenings are free but are still ticketed.

Video blog: Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars

And in embarrassing moment number..I've lost count. As you all know I'm participating in this year's 4th Annual Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars.I've been practicing every Wednesday for the past month or so and from what my instructor tells me, we're doing great! Hopefully the performance comes out great. Now to think about costumes?

Anyways, because I find this whole experience fun, I told a certain someone to make video blogs of the participants. She was happy and mad at the same time: happy because it's a good idea, mad because more work for her. Since I watch reality TV shows (not a lot) I decided to go for blood and fulfill that stereotype of the talking trash contestant. Remember though, it's for a great cause! Enjoy :).

Purchase your tickets today at www.dancingwiththephiladelphiastars.com.

Event: Remo Inc. Step/Stroll Championship

A little friendly competition never hurt anyone right? Unless you're Latino #toosoon? Anyways. Just a few days after Greekster announced their competition in L.A., Remo Inc. has announced their summer show. Although the shows are in two different weeks of July, it puts a lot of pressure on Greek-lettered organizations. Will all organizations perform at both competitions? The difference is that the Remo Inc. competition is both step and stroll. They will also provide step classes for those interested which is pretty awesome if you ask me. I wonder what Greekster will announce in the next few weeks; they usually throw out a curve ball to make you want to attend :).

Continuing our education

As I apply for graduate school at St. Joseph's University I couldn't help but notice the lack of scholarships. I know they are out there but it's very difficult. Luckily I found La Unidad Latina Foundation (LULF). The LULF was established in 1999 to serve as an independent, non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to educational achievement and civic empowerment in the Latino community.

The scholarships are available to undergraduate and graduate students. Educational scholarships are awarded to Hispanic students on a competitive basis and range from $250 to $1000. I certainly plan on applying but have to wait and complete one full semester. Luckily they also have two deadlines; one in the Spring and in the Fall. So if you're in need of financial aid, apply now!

P.S. For those interested in other funding opportunities mi amiga is blogging about some at emmania-travels.blogspot.com.

Gala update: Congreso's Puerto Rican fiesta

As one gala ends, the next one continues! Congreso is in full anniversary mode. Celebrating its 35th Anniversary in 2012, Congreso is taking the opportunity to highlight the sights, sounds and cuisine of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Congreso was founded in 1977 by Puerto Rican activists, and today, Puerto Ricans comprise Philadelphia’s largest Latino group, and has the highest percentage of Puerto Ricans of any major city in the nation. Now that I think about it, this has been the only gala I've never attended in Philadelphia. And yes it's just a party, but these galas are the biggest fundraisers for our non-profit organizations. For those that think $300 per ticket is too much, there's a $175.00 Young Professionals option for 35 and Under. But act fast because there's limited quantity and it's a first-come, first-served deal.

Saturday, March 17, 2012
Hyatt at the Bellevue, Philadelphia
6:30 p.m. Dance Lessons
7 p.m. Gala Latina

No Justice - No Grammy

So what is going on with the Grammys? Insiders at the Recording Academy quietly eliminated 31 categories of awards from the Grammys this year, at least 15 of them which are received predominantly by people of color. Awards for Latin Jazz, Regional Mexican, Banda, Tejano, and Norteño music, all central to Latino culture, were eliminated or consolidated. Awards for Native American, Hawaiian, and Cajun music were eliminated too. But is it really harsh? Sure the shady quietness of this move isn't too cool at all, but aren't there Latin Grammy Awards? Some might argue having a separate awards ceremony seems like we're not good enough but some might think the opposite

There's even a petition to reinstate the awards at presente.org. And for those looking to take this to the grassroots level can actually go protest the day of the Grammy awards on 2/12/12. I wonder if the Grammy awards are being presented in Arizona? Too soon? Either way, the quiet deletion of these categories to me is disrespectful. Music is music...it's the one form of expression people have the most freedom and creativity. According to a Reuters article, "Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt and Bobby Sanabria are among the dozens of artists who have spoken out against the decision. Musicians say the Grammy cuts will harm their careers financially and diminish the profile of music enjoyed by minority communities." So what are your thoughts? Did the Recording Academy perform the right move? They claim 100+ categories diminish music credibility.

Speak English in Arizona

So if a city is 98.7% Latino, I would hope that a Latino would represent the city in council. Not the case in San Luis, Arizona though. An NBC Latino article stated, "Alejandrina Cabrera had her appeal rejected by the Arizona Supreme Court and will not appear on the San Luis city council ballot. Cabrera appealed an earlier ruling that she did not speak, read or write English well enough to run for office." Crazy right? Sure politics are politics but when most of the city's population speaks Spanish why can't a mostly Spanish-speaking resident run for office? She's not running for president for goodness sake. Although most of us reading about this incident assume she most likely speaks well English, we probably can't judge until we hear her. The American climate is changing and unfortunately politics is the only industry not moving forward with changes. -_-

English and Spanish TV...the same

As we all know Ricky Martin is going to be on Glee tonight (2/7/11). Not sure what the story line is behind the Spanish teacher but as always it's good to see mainstream TV embracing Latinos. Sure no one ever wants to be labeled the "Latino" but when it comes to this type of show it's no problem. Reality TV always labels the minority. The other day I even saw a small clip of Relaciones Peligrosas at home with the parents and wow. I wanted to watch more but unfortunately I don't have the channel at mi casa. I was so happy to hear English and Spanish commentary which to me is astounding. Spanish and English broadcast outlets are paying attention to the new American Latino. We're bilingual, bloggers, lover of pizza and arroz con pollo and don't mind listening to LMFAO and Shakira at the same time. Try marketing to us :).

And now here's Ricky Martin performing "I'm Sexy and I Know It" with the Glee cast. Hilarious if you ask me.

Salsa con football

So what did this year's Super Bowl prove? Not only that the NY Giants are the better team, but also that Latinos do indeed watch and play football. Victor Cruz probably just showed mainstream America that all "we" do is salsa but it was his way of adding his roots to the game. A Latina.com article stated, "Prior to this season the half-Puerto Rican wide receiver Cruz was virtually unknown, but few would have guessed as millions of viewers watched him salsa dancing in the endzone after catching the Giants’ first touchdown according to NYDailyNews.com." It was pretty awesome to see the entire world notice how diverse our people can be. Sure salsa dancing isn't everything but it's one small component and important to us.

One small note, I wish he wouldn't say we are of Latin descent. Egh. *See below*

Event: SILK 2012 hits the West Coast

It's that time of year again when Greek-lettered organizations decide to show off their stroll skills and pretend they are better than everyone else. Reinventing the wheel is always difficult which is why I'm happy to hear this year's Greekster SILK show will be in Los Angeles, CA! Glad to see a lot of the west coast organizations will be able to perform; anyone from the east coast attending? And not that anyone cares I probably won't be attending. Although a weekend trip to L.A. would be exciting, it would be fun to experience this show in another part of the country. It also makes me wonder what else could organizations do to reinvent strolling. I mean isn't it the same every year? "Bring back the Greek judges!" <-- LOL smh.

When: Saturday, July 7, 2012 – Doors Open @5pm, Show @6pm
Where: East Los Angeles Performing Arts Center 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez – Monterey Park, CA 91754
Performances by: 2011 National Champions – Lambda Theta Alpha "Against All Odds" – & THE BEST STROLL TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY, such as Sigma Lambda Gamma (G-SQUAD), Lambda Theta Nu, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, Sigma Lambda Beta, and many more...

The Latino List

Why am I just hearing about hearing about "The Latino List"? Maybe it's because I didn't have any TV/cable back in 2011 lol. Anyways. This Latino (celebrity) List is part of an HBO documentary series which explores what exactly it means to be Latino in the U.S. today. Makes sense since the Census came out with their exciting results. However, most of the stories highlighted are sad which then again makes sense. Growing up in the 50s, 60s and 70s probably wasn't the best for new arrivals. John Leguizamo, Gloria Estefan, Pitbull, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez are just a few Latinos interviewed.

I wonder if they had a follow up in 20 years would the theme still be the same? Most of the interviewers took place during the whole SB1070 debate in Arizona as well. Identity is a huge issue in the Latino community. Last night there was a #Latism discussion and people were going in! I digress. I wonder where I can find The Latino List book as well? Saw it on Twitter of course.


The Latino List from Latino List on Vimeo.

Movie: The Apple Pushers

Five immigrants. New York City. Health crisis. $146 billion is spent on obesity-related health costs per year. This number will rise to $343 billion by 2020. http://www.applepushers.com/

Go GOYA or go home

In support of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative, Goya Foods, the largest, Hispanic-owned U.S. food company, is committing resources to promote the USDA's MyPlate, or MiPlato, a new food group symbol to remind families about making healthy meal choices with easy “how-tos” about proper portions. The partnership includes cookbook distributions, education programs throughout cities across the U.S., coupons and more.

Eating unhealthy in the Latino community unfortunately isn't unusual. We eat so much fried food, especially in poor communities. With a high case of diabetes and obesity, why not start eating healthier! Maybe it's because fried chicken and french fries are extremely delicious lol. My taste buds aren't used to healthier foods unfortunately. So let's try to go against the grain and start eating those salads, soups and absolutely nothing fried.

The Mayan prophecy arrives early

As the Mayan prophecy approaches you have to wonder whether it's true or not. The chances are unlikely (or not) but I'm sure there will be a lot of hype behind it. Glad to know the Penn Museum is presenting an awesome exhibit in May 2012 (7 months before the end of times lol). MAYA 2012 leads visitors on a journey through the Maya’s time-ordered universe, expressed through their intricate calendar systems, and the power wielded by their divine kings, the astounding “lords of time.” Visitors explore the Maya world through interactive experiences and walk among sculptures and full-sized replicas of major monuments.

Learn about the ideas behind Mayan culture, sculptures straight from Copan, Honduras and some full-size replicas of major monuments. Doesn't the video below make you wonder?

Event: Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars (and me)

So what happens when you mix the nine (9) Philadelphians above on one floor? No you don't get America's Next Favorite Philadelphia Star, you get Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars! This year's fourth annual celebration (Sunday, April 22) will be bigger than ever...that's because yours truly is participating. This is a wonderful opportunity to raise money for a great cause and also just perform. It's been years since I performed due to my injury but I'm looking forward to it. It's not like I'll be flipping around and jumping over people...right?


Former participant Dan Gross stated, "It's hard to follow in the footsteps of Your Humble Narrator, especially when it comes to dance steps, but nine brave souls will be doing just that when they participate in the 4th Annual Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars event April 22 at the Crystal Tea Room atop the Wanamaker Building" All nine of us will be partnered with a professional from Society Hill Dance Academy and will perform a two-minute routine before a panel of judges.Do you want to know what dance I'll be doing? NO it will not be the salsa, merengue, bachata or anything remotely Latino. -_-

The fundraiser raises money for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA). Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder affecting the red blood cells. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that become hard and pointed instead of soft and round. Please come and support so we can make this year's fundraiser more successful. According to the SCDAA website, sickle cell disease is a global disease affecting approximately 80,000 people in the United States with those of African descent being affected in the greatest numbers. In addition people of Mediterranean, Hispanic, Asian, Sicilian, Greek, Italian, Indian and Turkish ancestry are also affected, but in smaller percentages.

Tickets are $100, and will include a cocktail hour and silent auction. For tickets or info, visit dancingwiththephiladelphiastars.com.