In this year's "Lust List," the Nashville Scene profiles Puerto Rico-born Miguel Otero of NPT and Argentina native Diana Holland of Hispanic Link Consulting and Tango Nashville. The Lust List is an annual cover story featuring locals who attracted the attention and affection of Music City's alt-weekly paper. There are 15 lustworthy honorees in 2008.

From the profile of Holland:

Her physical charms are well-matched by a sharp intellect and an even sharper tongue, both of which are put to good use at Hispanic Link Consulting, the private business she founded. But Holland is probably best known as the founder of Tango Nashville...

From the profile of Otero:

Sign us up! We’ll answer phones, we’ll scrub floors—hell, we’ll watch Bill Moyers if it means spending some time with NPT volunteer coordinator Miguel Otero.

Read the full profiles here.

Lips photo by Dario Sarmadi. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Portrait photos copyright Nashville Scene. Reproduced with permission.

Labels: argentina, immigrants, puerto rico

Dalia Garcia, Richie Flores, Jesus Diaz, Lalo Davila, Glen Caruba, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez

MTSU tonight

"Cuban Fire" tomorrow: joint performance with Nashville Jazz Orchestra at Vanderbilt

Eric Moreno, president of the Hispanic Student Association at MTSU, wrote in to mention "several events going on involving a Salsa Band headed up by MTSU's own Lalo Davila, [in] which he is featuring very famous percussionists who have played with several amazing acts throughout the Latin music industry. He will be hosting a tribute to Celia Cruz and Tito Puente in a concert in Murfreesboro." The music comes to Murfreesboro tonight and to Nashville tomorrow night.

The MTSU tribute is tonight, Thursday October 18, at 9pm at Sweetwater. There is a $7 cover charge and no one under 21 will be admitted.

Details of the Nashville event are below:

A NIGHT OF EXPLOSIVE SALSA AND JAZZ
NASHVILLE JAZZ ORCHESTRA PLAYS "CUBAN FIRE" OCT. 19
WITH GUEST ARTISTS RICHIE FLORES, JESUS DIAZ, DALIA GARCIA AND SPECIAL GUEST HORACIO “EL NEGRO” HERNANDEZ

The Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University will host "CUBAN FIRE", a night of explosive salsa and jazz by the NASHVILLE JAZZ ORCHESTRA in the Martha Rivers Ingram Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Both concerts will feature the classic Latin jazz music of Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Arturo Sandoval, and others climaxed by selections from Stan Kenton's famous 1956 Latin jazz opus "Cuban Fire Suite". A special 27-piece edition of the NJO, led by Director JIM WILLIAMSON will take the stage, including vocals by DALIA GARCIA, and guest percussionists Pearl Recording Artists RICHIE FLORES, JESUS DIAZ, LALO DAVILA, GLEN CARUBA, and HORACIO “EL NEGRO” HERNANDEZ, acknowledged as the top Latin drumset player in the world today. With NJO drummer Bob Mater also being a Pearl Recording Artist, the NJO will have an all-Pearl percussion section, and Pearl Drums USA will be a co-sponsor for this event. Guest conductor for the "Cuban Fire Suite" will be ROBIN P. FOUNTAIN, Professor of Conducting at Blair School of Music where the NJO is "Artist in Residence". Admission to either concert is $20 general admission, $15 for seniors, VU faculty and staff, and $10 for students. Tickets are available from Blair or band members; or at the Ingram Center box office the night of the performance.

THE ARTISTS

HORACIO HERNANDEZ, given the name “El Negro” at birth, was already a master studio and touring percussionist in his native Havana when he escaped Cuba to live in Italy in 1995. Two years later he came to the US, where top Latin jazz musicians like Paquito D’Rivera and Michel Camilo began using him. Word quickly spread of his explosive virtuosity in both Latin and jazz idioms, and he has worked non-stop since. From the Latin sounds of Santana, Los Hombres Caliente, and Tito Puente, to the pop of Paul Simon, to the progressive jazz of Dizzy Gillespie and Joanne Brackeen, Horacio’s universal percussive abilities have already made him a drum legend with dozens of videos, books, and articles published about him. www.elnegro.com

RICHIE FLORES was born in Brooklyn but raised in Puerto Rico, and began playing congas at the age of 5. In a few years he was playing with top groups like El Gran Combo and Batacumbele. Moving back to New York, he joined Eddie Palmieri at the age of 17. He also works with David Sanchez, Dave Samuels, and a host of Latin Jazz greats.

JESUS DIAZ arrived in the San Francisco bay area from Cuba in 1980. His talent as percussionist, arranger, and vocalist have kept him working with top artists like Carlos Santana, Dizzy Gillespie, Pete Escovedo & Sheila E, and the Caribbean Jazz Project ever since. As an educator, he does numerous clinics and workshops, and has several instructional videos and books as a member of "Talking Drums". www.bombomusic.com

From Nashville, Pearl Recording Artists LALO DAVILA and GLEN CARUBA will complete the expanded percussion section. Davila is co-leader and vocalist of Music City's popular Latin jazz band, "Orkesta Eme Pe", Director of Percussion Studies at MTSU, and leader of the MTSU Salsa Band and Percussion Ensemble. Caruba is a percussionist and teacher, author of several books and DVDs, and has worked with Jimmy Buffet, Barry Manilow, the Mavericks, and "Orkesta Eme Pe". www.lalodavila.com www.pearldrums.com

DALIA GARCIA, from Madrid, Spain, is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress. After being crowned Miss South Carolina, she toured for 8 years with Julio Iglesias, performing in 8 of his videos, and appeared in the movie "Lycanthrope". Her singing and songwriting has dominated several charts on MP3.com, and she appears across the US with Al Delory & Salsa En Nashville, and others. www.daliamusic.com

THE MUSIC

STAN KENTON led one of the most famous jazz big bands from 1941 to 1979. One of its seminal works was the 1956 "Cuban Fire Suite" by composer Johnny Richards. At the time, the marriage of American swing music and traditional Afro-Cuban music into a form called Latin jazz was little more than a decade old. Richards was of Latin heritage (born John Cascales), his work encouraged more use of Latin idioms in big bands, and musicians in the Latin jazz movement continue to site the Cuban Fire album as an influence and inspiration.

TITO PUENTE, master percussionist and arranger, was the most popular and influential of the "Mambo Kings", the great bandleaders who created Latin jazz in the 40's. "El Rey" (The King) worked from 1937 to 2000, recording well over 100 albums. His fame skyrocketed in the 50's dance craze for mambo and cha-cha, and his "Oye Como Va" was a huge hit. He won 5 Grammys, is in the Hispanic Hall of Fame and the Jazz Hall of Fame, has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and received a Smithsonian Lifetime Achievement Award.

CELIA CRUZ is the best-known and most influential female figure in Cuban music, with 23 gold albums and the title "La guarachera de Cuba". Joining Cuba's renowned Sonora Matancera orchestra, she became a star all over Latin America in the early 50's. In 1960 she moved to the US to pursue a solo career. Two decades of work with Tito Puente and the Fania All-Stars made her even more famous, and she continued touring the world in the 80's and 90's, winning a Grammy in 1990.

ARTURO SANDOVAL, composer and bandleader, was a virtuoso trumpeter in his native Cuba in the 70's and 80's. A master of Afro-Cuban music and influenced by bop trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, he became a leading exponent of modern Latin jazz upon his defection from Cuba in 1990. His band and bravura trumpet style were featured with the Nashville Symphony in 2001.

The Oct. 19 “Cuban Fire” concert is the first event in the NJO's 2007/2008 concert season as "Artist in Residence" at Blair School of Music. Founded in 1996 by Director Jim Williamson, the NJO is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating big band jazz. With 17 of Nashville's top session and jazz players, they play clubs and jazz festivals, often with guest artists like Randy Brecker, Lou Marini, Donald Brown, Bob Kurnow, Annie Sellick, and Connye Florance. Later concerts in the series include Dec. 1 - NJO presents David "Fathead" Newman in association with the Country Music Hall of Fame's Ray Charles Exhibit, Feb. 29 - NJO presents Wycliff Gordon, and April 17 – NJO's Third Annual Jazz Writer's Night. Their current CDs are Live at B.B. King's featuring Annie Sellick, and Legacy – First Annual Jazz Writer's Night.

The Martha Rivers Ingram Center for the Performing Arts is on the Blair campus at 2400 Blakemore Ave. For tickets, call 615-322-7651.

Labels: arts, cuba, events, puerto rico

Co-sponsored by the Office of Student Unions and Programming and the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

Laura Fuentes y Calicanto will bring their Latin urban and roots stylings to MTSU with a performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. The concert is free and open to the public.

Earlier in the day, Fuentes will be at a brown bag lunch at 12 noon in the SunTrust Room of the Business and Aerospace Building. MTSU students, staff, faculty and administrators are welcome to attend. Reservations can be made by calling the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or sending an e-mail to jawc@mtsu.edu.

Fuentes, who was born to North American parents in Santiago, Chile, is a classically trained guitarist and vocalist. She lived in Chile until 1973, the year Army Commander-in-Chief Augusto Pinochet overthrew President Salvador Allende in a coup d’etat. The coup and its aftereffects had a great impact on Fuentes’ social consciousness

According to the Web site http://www.realpeoplesmusic.com, “Calicanto is a bridge of warmth and song between musicians from Latin America and audiences from all over the world. Founded by Laura Fuentes in 1996, the Calicanto project gets its name from the historic landmark that once united the shores of the Mapocho River in Santiago, Chile. The core duo of Laura Fuentes and Pedro Villagra join together to light a new fire, celebrating the rich diversity of Latin American music from Chile, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.”

Calicanto is: Fuentes on lead vocals, guitar, cuatro and percussion; Villegra on quena, quenacho, sikus, flute, charango, saxophones and vocals; Patricio Acevedo on guitar, vocals and percussion; Orlando Cabrera, percussion; Raquel Gonzalez Paraiso, violin, mandolin, sikus and vocals; and Robert Schoville, percussion and drum set.

The concert is co-sponsored by the Office of Student Unions and Programming and the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. For more information, contact Intercultural and Diversity Affairs at 615-898-2987.

Labels: arts, chile, mexico, peru, puerto rico, venezuela

The Nashville Scene published this review of Murfreesboro road restaurant Los Happy Belly's:

LOS HAPPY BELLY'S
895 Murfreesboro Road,
356-7757

...

Co-owner Jose Santos arrived in Nashville about five months ago from New York, where he immigrated as a teenager from the Dominican Republic. His business partners are fellow Dominican Alexandra Abreu and Guatemalan brothers Alfonso, Santos, Chavelo and Danny Perez, who came to the U.S. about a decade ago.

While none of them is from either Cuba or Puerto Rico, the owners would all be familiar with the flavors and ingredients that weave throughout the Caribbean and find their way to Los Happy Belly’s. Beans and rice are a primary feature of the buffet table, which usually holds moro rojo (red beans and rice), arroz con gandules (white rice with peas), congri (rice with black beans) and plain white rice.

...

Los Happy Belly’s offers a handful of specialties that are interesting, even delicious. Among them is the yuca frita (fried cassava root). The thick, deep-fried exterior of the tuber chunk melts in the mouth, and is made even more intriguing by a drizzle of garlic-infused oil.

...

Los Happy Belly’s opens 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday and closes 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Sunday. Saturday is Caribbean Night with dancing from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Read the full review here.

Photo by yasmapaz

Labels: cuba, dominican republic, food, guatemala, puerto rico

The Tennessean reported here on the graduation of Puerto Rican Jessica Smith from Trevecca University. Smith is blind and has worked part-time as a Spanish translator in Nashville. She has plans to start a family and return to graduate school. As a Puerto Rican, Smith is a U.S. citizen and has no immigration bureaucracy to navigate.

The Tennessean also reported here on the graduation of Venezuelan student Luis Pacheco from Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management and the prospect that he will not be able to legally remain in the United States, despite the fact that he is well educated and has applied through the proper channels.

"The H-1B visa program is designed to give foreign workers an opportunity to work in the United States for up to six years in their field of expertise. The visas are awarded to 65,000 new foreign-born workers by lottery each year. This total is known as the 'cap.' An additional 20,000 visas are reserved for those with master's degrees or higher."

"This year, the capped H-1B visa program began accepting applications on its traditional April 1 start date. U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Service, the agency that processes the applications, had received 'well in excess of 120,000 petitions,' and on April 2 it officially closed the lottery, Christopher Bentley, an agency spokesman, said."

"Last year, applications were accepted until May 26; in 2005, applications were accepted until Aug. 10."

"Pacheco said Amazon.com's attorney told him that the H-1B visa petition submitted on his behalf arrived by the April 2 cutoff. But in the six weeks that have followed, neither Pacheco nor Amazon has received a lottery decision. It is unclear whether Amazon will hire him if he can work only one year."

"'Obviously, the main point of doing the MBA is finding a job,' Pacheco said, 'When you come here you know this process is going to be hard. But I had no idea this year would be like this.'"

Labels: education, immigrants, puerto rico, venezuela

Chinese, Latin-Reggae-Cumbia, Andean, Indie/Pop/Acoustic, Appalachian, Arabic, Mexican, Navajo, Puerto Rican, Egyptian music, dance, and visual art

Hosted by Dr. Ming Wang and Demi Escudero of Colombia

"How many artists are there in Nashville that no one knows about because they are from other countries?"

Dr. Ming Wang, an internationally known LASIK eye surgeon, and Ms. Demi Escudero from Columbia, South America, will host the 2nd annual multi-cultural music diversity event “Seeking music, seeking vision, seeking voice” on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 6pm in Brentwood, TN.

This unique, multi-cultural event will feature music performances from several continents and from many different countries from around the world. Dr. Wang and Ms. Escudero organized the first “Seeking” event last year and it was a sensational success with artists from 19 countries represented. While preparing for this year’s “Seeking music” event, the overwhelming response from artists and the public made the organizers move the venue to a new location with larger space to accommodate the musicians and artists from the various countries.

“A unique, multi-cultural artistic event like this is in its range of diversity”, Dr. Wang said, who together with Ms. Escudero are the founders of the “Seeking music, seeking vision, seeking voice” annual event. Dr. Wang explained: “Artistically, it is so much more fun to compare and to experience the range of different artistic expressions among the artists from different cultures and countries. Music for example is an art of contrast, namely, the very essence of music lies its contrasting themes, rhythm, tempos and musicality. The strength of multi-culture art lies not in its singular prominence like many European works of art, such as those of Da Vinci and Michelangelo, but in the range of different expressions by different cultures. When we enjoy and contrast the artistic styles and expressions of artists from different cultures and people, we truly experience the best in all of us as human beings.”

“In February 2006, I was introduced to Dr. Wang at a small gathering of musicians and artists. At once, there was a connection to the doctor. We shared many of the same views on cultural art”, co-founder Ms. Escudero said. She continued: “Dr. Wang asked: ‘How many artists are there in Nashville that no one knows about because they are from other countries? The barriers of segregating artists must be removed’. This statement from Dr. Wang caught everyone's attention immediately. That evening, ‘Seeking music, seeking vision, seeking voice’ was born. I realized that here was a visionary who saw that the barriers between cultures had to be removed in order for acknowledgement of a multi-cultural society to take root and bloom in a city of newly found cultural diversity such as Nashville.” The purpose for "Seeking music, seeking vision, seeking voice” is to collectively explore and support the talents of our multi-cultural artists through music, the visual arts and dance.

Musical performances at this year’s “Seeking music” event will include music and dance and other forms of art shows from several continents and a large number of countries. The evening will begin with a performance of the Chinese violin (er-hu) and classical guitar by Dr. Wang and Mr. Carlos Gonzales, Latin-Reggae-Cumbia by Danny Salazar, traditional Andean performance by Jaime Chavez and Calixto Cordova, photography and jewelry by Melissa Lea Albuquerque, Mexican folk art by Danny Salazar and Mexican fine art paintings by Lupita Martinez, tranditional Egyptian oriental dance by Jennifer, Chinese folk dance by Lucy Lan, Indie and pop dance by Samantha lu, Applalanchian dark folk dance by Aimee Wilson and Arabic dance by Hussam AL-Aydi. The evening will also include Rex Begaye from Sarasota, Florida, Puerto Rican fine art by Betsy Nieves, fine art show by Mike Quinones Zongzalez and traditional Columbian dance and salsa dance performed by Xiomara.

Dr. Wang described the broader significance of such a multi-culture art event in today’s society. He said: “In today’s tumultuous and warring world, there are much misunderstanding among countries and people. We increasingly realize that the most precious thing in all of our lives is peace, security, love and happiness. I firmly believe that the best way for people to live peacefully on Planet Earth and truly enjoy the spirit of the human experience is to be sensitive to and respect each other, and to truly value each human being for who he or she is, and not for who she or he should be based on what another person thinks. A multi-cultural artistic event such as this one is truly timely and much needed. It will help break the barrier among people and connect people through common interest and appreciation of art and common aspiration for happiness and joy”.

Dr. Wang, Ms. Escudero and Ms. Melissa Lea Beasley are founders of the “Seeking music” annual event and they plan to form a non profit organization that supports and exposes multi cultural artists and brings awareness of the beauty and diversity of the human race through the arts to Nashville.

For information about this year’s “Seeking music” annual event, contact Ms. Demi Escudero at demiescudero@comcast.net and Dr. Ming Wang at drwang@wangvisioninstitute.com. $5/person (to support Seeking Music Foundation). RSVP to Ms. Escudero or Dr. Wang or call Don and Maxine Dearman at (615) 776-7262.

For more information click on the flyer below:

Labels: arts, colombia, mexico, puerto rico

"Doing Business in Puerto Rico" is the topic at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on March 27

NAHCC will represent Tennessee

U.S. Hispanic Chamber Annual Convention will be hosted by Puerto Rico in September

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce its participation in the 1st Summit "DOING BUSINESS IN PUERTO RICO".

Taking place March 27th, 2007 at New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel, this Summit organized by the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce will showcase not only the clear advantages of doing business in Puerto Rico, but also will offer an invaluable opportunity to hear from major corporations currently investing in the island.

The financial capital of the world, is the site for this first ever stateside conference to promote business investments and opportunities in Puerto Rico.

At this summit, representatives from the public and private sectors, investors, analysts, and business executives will convene to address the myriad of opportunities that Puerto Rico offers.

The NAHCC participation in support of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce will continue to strenghten relationships in our region.

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will represent Tennessee at the Summit. The NAHCC is part of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Region VI which includes the territories of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missisipi, Tennessee and Puerto Rico.

This year the USHCC Annual Convention will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico September 19-22, 2007

NAHCC members wishing to attend the upcoming convention are encouraged to contact Loraine Segovia or Alejandra Rodriguez by phone at 615-216-5737 or via e-mail at info@nashvillehispanicchamber.com

Labels: business, puerto rico

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Monday: immigration forum at University School of Nashville

"Making sense of the debate"

Monday, January 22, from 7 – 9 p.m.

University School of Nashville Auditorium
2000 Edgehill Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212

Please join us for an educational forum designed to illuminate the complex and emotionally-charged rhetoric surrounding the immigration debate. This session will center on a thoughtful and constructive conversation on immigration and the positive steps that can be taken to address the problems associated with illegal immigration. The forum will address:

· the history of immigration in America

· the influence immigration has had on the democratic process

· current trends in immigration in Nashville, Tennessee, and the nation

· the impact of immigration on the US economy

· the national and local legislation being proposed

· alternative solutions to the problems and challenges at hand

Presenters include Dr. Katharine Donato (Vanderbilt Professor of Sociology), Stephen Fotopulos (Policy Director – Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition), Tom Negri (Tennessee Hotel Association/General Manager Loews Vanderbilt Hotel), and members of the immigrant community. The panel discussion and audience participation will be moderated by Caroline Blackwell, Director of Multicultural Affairs, University School of Nashville.

The forum is being sponsored by University School of Nashville’s Office of Multicultural Affairs in partnership with the Coalition for Education and Informed Conversation on Immigration.

Catholic Charities, Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation, Conexion Americas, Fisk University Race Relations Institute, Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Jewish Family Service, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Human Relations Commission, Nashville Peace and Justice Center, National Conference of Community and Justice—Middle Tennessee, Scarritt-Bennett Center, Tennessee AFL-CIO, Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Hispanic Voters Coalition, Tennessee Hotel and Lodging Association, Tennessee Human Rights Commission, TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Woodbine Community Organization

For more information about this event, contact Caroline Blackwell at (615) 277-7480 or at cblackwell@usn.org. The forum is free and open to public.

Thursday: Border-crossing composer drives story in "Al Otro Lado," showing at Vanderbilt

Director will be present for discussion

The Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies Spring Film & Speaker Series presents "Al Otro Lado" (To the Other Side, 2005) on Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in Buttrick 101. This film tells the story behind illegal immigration and drug trafficking between the U.S. and Mexico through the eyes of Magdiel, a 23-year old fisherman and aspiring composer who dreams of a better life.

As movingly chronicled in "Al Otro Lado," Natalia Almada's debut feature, the border is a place where one people's dreams collide with another people's politics, and the 200-year-old tradition of corrido music vibrantly chronicles it all. In fact, if you really want to understand what is happening on the U.S./Mexico border, listen to the corridos, troubadour-like ballads that have become the voice of people whose views are rarely heard in mainstream media.

A discussion of the film with director Natalia Almada will follow the screening.

Thursday: Tango Nashville's second monthly Milonga

A new twist for dance group

Tango Nashville is already on the dance floor in 2007, having held beginner, intermediate and advanced classes and one Milonga already. The group has will hold its second January Milonga this Thursday, January 25 and has announced various special events for dance-minded Nashvillians this year:

NEW in 2007: TWO Monthly 'Milongas'!!
New: 2nd. Sunday of each month: 4 to 6 pm
As always: 4th. Thursday of each month: 7 to 9 pm

By popular demand, we have added a new date and time to share your Tango spirit and moves!
Here's the skinny for January 2007:

Thursday, January 25, 2007
7 to 9 pm
Ibiza Night Club
15128 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville, TN 37211
(almost corner with Nolensville Pike, in the Hickory Trace Village strip mall where the Sherwin Williams store is).
http://ibizanc.com
Practice and show off your Tango! Socialize and relax, while dancing to a great selection of Tango music.
Tickets are:
$12 per person for non-Tango Nashville members
$8 per person for Tango Nashville members
CASH OR CHECK ONLY

**************************
SAVE THESE DATES!!

Saturday, February 3, 2007
4:30 to 7:30 pm
'Tango & Art', in partnership with the Tennessee Art League

Tuesday, April 24, 2007
6:30 to 8:30 pm
'Tango & Romance' @ the Nashville City Club

June 2007
'Tango & Wine'

Saturday, August 18, 2007
'Tango & Country' - Our Annual Fundraiser

For information about classes, visit the Tango Nashville web site at www.tangonashville.com

Photo credit: FangFangMM

Thursday: Austin Peay Spanish Professor Dr. Miguel Ruiz-Aviles speaks at Charlemos Spanish on "Medieval Spain: Model of Tolerance"

Dr. Miguel R. Ruiz-Avilés will speak, in Spanish, on Medieval Spain as a model of religious tolerance for the present day at Charlemos Spanish on Thursday 25 January. Charlemos Spanish meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Palette Gallery and Cafe at 2119 Belcourt Avenue in Hillsboro Village. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Ruiz is an Associate Professor of Spanish; the Director of the Hispanic Cultural Center; and the Coordinator of the Study Abroad Program in Spain for the Department of Languages and Literature at Austin Peay State University. He is originally from Puerto Rico.

“Miguel has some very interesting ideas and is a dynamic speaker”, said Charlemos president, Elizabeth Worrell Braswell. “This is an opportunity to hear about one of the most fascinating periods of Spanish history, from an expert”, added Braswell.

“In 711, Spain began the first European renaissance. Jews, Muslims and Christians were allowed, for the most part, to freely practice their religions and many Jews and Christians held important post in the Moorish government of the time. Today, when we are looking for political, military or social solutions to the problems in the Middle East, Spain could very well serve as a model that needs to be studied in more depth”, explained Miguel.

Charlemos Spanish is a social conversation group, for all levels of Spanish-speakers, created in December 2006 by the Spanish Committee of Sister Cities of Nashville, a nonprofit organization, founded in 1990, dedicated to the promotion of global understanding through educational, professional and cultural exchanges.

Mayor Bill Purcell is the Honorary Chair for Sister Cities of Nashville.

Charlemos Spanish is for persons who wish to:
* Speak Spanish on a regular basis
* Make bilingual friends
* Learn more about Hispanic culture.

Founding members of Charlemos Spanish include—
* Claudia Villavicencio, Spanish teacher at MBA, Montgomery Bell Academy
* Kim Sorensen, Online Producer at CMT, Country Music Television
* Diana Holland, President of Tango Nashville, and a Hispanic cross-cultural consultant
* Elizabeth Worrell Braswell, online Spanish instructor for Austin Peay State University, president of Charlemos Spanish.

For directions and more information on the gallery go to: www.palettegallerycafe.com

Photo credit: Ruth Lozano

Hispanic Nashville Datebook

Labels: argentina, arts, immigrants, puerto rico, spain