Alaska may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of Latino culture, but the Latino community in the Last Frontier is thriving and making significant contributions to the state’s culture and economy. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Latinos make up about 7.7% of Alaska’s population, with a significant presence in cities like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. The Latino community in Alaska is diverse, with roots in countries like Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Puerto Rico, among others. One of the factors that has drawn Latinos to Alaska is the state’s strong economy ..read more

Central and Eastern Washington have a long history of Latino farm workers not only migrating to each region in search of agriculture jobs, but of also settling down and starting families, according to the Latino Center for Health. Although Latino farm workers make up a large part of the farm workers in Washington, they still seem to live in the shadows, and much of their life stories go untold. But now a poet who grew up among the farm workers in eastern Washington is helping to share their stories. Ricardo Ruiz, 34, is a Mexican-American poet from Othello, Washington, who was raised by m ..read more

Public libraries are an invaluable resource in any community. They provide access to knowledge, information, and entertainment for people of all ages and backgrounds. From books to digital resources, they offer a wide range of materials that educate, inspire, and empower individuals. Public libraries play a critical role in fostering literacy, promoting lifelong learning, and enhancing community engagement. Maria Nava, the Community Engagement Manager with the Warren-New Port Public Library (WNPL), was a guest on the program “3 Questions With…” hosted by Hugo Balta, publish ..read more

Here’s a riddle: If I was Diana, like the princess from K-12, and then later became Diana, with a diphthong and two syllables, what am I?  With the first pronunciation, I can be anyone; the second marks me as Latina. When people ask me what I am, I fear they think I’m other, and I stutter.  My struggles with identity are not new and not based on shame. I am a US-born daughter of Costa Rican immigrants who arrived stateside in 1965. I grew up in beachy West Haven, Connecticut, where we were the only Latinas in our school, but I never felt different from the rest of the kids. We moved ..read more

Vibrant paintings, antique chairs, and framed family photos—faded in color but rich in sentiment—recreate a cherished family living room, one that transports visitors beyond TheaterWork Hartford’s historic theater. Siempre Pa’Lante, curated by Hartford-based Artist Joel Cintron, accompanies the performance of Sanctuary City. Both the exhibit and the show run through April 25, 2024.   OBIE Award-winning play Sanctuary City follows two young DREAMers, three months after the attacks of 9/11, as they strive for the American dream in a shifting social and political lan ..read more

I’m on the road nonstop these days. In just the past few weeks I’ve been to Ohio, Florida, California, North Carolina and Michigan. Everywhere I go, I love telling the story of Reading, Pa. I never tire of it. Why? Because I can think of no clearer example of what it looks like for a community to come together and build, especially at this time of such division, mistrust and lack of hope in our nation. Ten years ago, Reading was declared the poorest community in the United States. It used to be predominantly white and is now around 65 percent Latino. It suffers from persistent poverty, fragmen ..read more

https://thefulcrum.us/civic-engagement-education/harwood-institute-reading-pennsylvania The post Reading, Pa., didn’t wait for national leaders. It led the way. first appeared on Latino News Network ..read more

Blanca spoke no English, so the Bowman, North Dakota, hotel cleaning worker from Guatemala sought her brother’s help when she wanted to attend church but could find no service available in Spanish. Together, they visited the Bowman Assembly of God. César, an oil field worker, interpreted for Ed M. Kvaale, its pastor, what Blanca says she felt the Holy Spirit told her to share: she was to attend his church, even if she didn’t understand a word of the language. Kvaale, 44, was moved. Credentialed since age 20, he’d never received a word or comment like Blanca’s. In the decade that Kvaale had min ..read more

If some or all of the eligible immigrants naturalize this year and then vote in the 2024 presidential election, it could significantly sway the outcome of the election, according to the American Immigration Council. For example, in Nevada, the number of immigrants eligible for naturalization this year is close to 102,200. The margin of victory by which President Biden won the state in 2020 was just over 33,596 votes. In Florida, the number of immigrants eligible for naturalization this year is about 574,800 and the margin of victory by which Trump won the state in 2020 was a bit more than ..read more

OLYMPIA — A bill designed to offer comprehensive assistance to asylum-seekers, is currently awaiting Governor Jay Inslee’s approval. The legislation focused on improving the integration of immigrants and refugees into society and the economy, signals a major step forward in increasing state support for the marginalized group. Sponsored by Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac, the bill passed the House with a vote of 61-35 on Feb. 13 and the Senate with a vote of 29-20 in March. It’s now up to the Governor. Over the last year, the number of asylum-seekers in King County has grown to exceed 1,000 people ..read more