"Nashville is at a crucial juncture in its history. We are not yet a truly diverse city,
but we are about to become one, and the real question is, Can we do it right?"
Red Cross conducts Middle Tennessee's first open-to-the-public CPR class in Spanish
Baptist Hospital, the Community Foundation, and the Nashville Area Red Cross recently hosted a Spanish-language CPR class at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. The participants in this class learned to save lives by recognizing and responding to victims of heart attacks, stroke, and choking (both conscious and unconscious). According to the Red Cross, being able to perform CPR early on is crucial in preventing brain damage and will greatly increase a victim’s odds for survival.
The entire content for this event was in Spanish - the video, learning materials, and the live education from instructors. Each participant earned a CPR certification card at the conclusion of the class.
The Tennessean reported here that this was the Red Cross' first public CPR class to be held in Spanish in Middle Tennessee:
The growth of the Hispanic community, including English and Spanish speakers, shows the need to offer the class, said Matt Moody, manager of health and safety services for the chapter. ... "We have not had, and still don't have, a strong enough working relationship with the Latino community," Moody said. "This will be a doorway for folks into the Red Cross, and we have the opportunity to broaden our base of volunteers." ... Red Cross volunteers have given the class in Spanish, but only when businesses asked for it. Moody estimates there about a dozen CPR classes for Spanish speakers at businesses each year in the chapter area.
This is a grant position that is funded for three (3) years. This position is anticipated to end on June 30, 2012. This position works directly with Hispanic families, promoting the role of Higher Education and working to help students access this resource, ensuring quality customer service to minority and Spanish-speaking students, and will provide assistance to faculty, staff, and community members who come into or contact the Advising Center. Some college background is preferred for this position.
Minimum Job Requirements:
A High School diploma or GED, some college preferred; One (1) year of experience in an office setting; Fluent oral and written skills in Spanish and English; Must demonstrate excellent problem solving, communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills; Detail oriented; Exhibit positive customer service philosophy; Experience with basic computer operation and Microsoft Office products; Ability to work flexible hours to meet demands of high volume times, special events and/or projects.
Essential Job Functions:
Meet with prospective students (and their families) both on and off campus; Work with community groups/organizations and organize events that directly impact the Hispanic community; Provide basic college information to students and families; Coordinate flow of students to Advisor/Counselors, assist students with PRIDE web registration procedures, orientation, and basic web searches; Process work orders for events/special projects and paperwork for bill payment, travel, payroll, etc.; Conduct surveys and provide documentation and assessment for TBR grant requirements.
Posting Date:
01-11-2010
Application Deadline:
02-05-2010
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Employment Type:
Regular Full Time Fiscal Year (12 Mos.)
Required Applicant Documents:
Cover Letter Letter of Reference 1 Letter of Reference 2 Letter of Reference 3 Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Initial Review of Applications:
02-05-2010
Eric Melcher
Coordinator of Communications and Public Relations
EXPANDING OPENING OFICES: LOOKING FOR PART/ TIME FULL TIME SALES AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPING BROKERS- FINANCIAL SERVICES SVCS (INSURANCE AND INVESTMENTS)
CONTACT NANCY MOLINA SHARBER AT 615-347-1592.
ATL/MURFREESBORO LATINO EXPANSION PROJECT.
Nancy Molina Sharber Exit Realty Bob Lamb & Associates 1202 SE Broad Street Murfreesboro TN 37130 Cell: (615) 347-1592 Office: (615) 896-5656
Trade Broker
Works with client base as a customer service rep.
Doesn't have to be a certified trade broker but experience is great.
Marketing degree preferred.
Broker matches clients needs together.
Constant phone work and gratifying relationships with clients.
Training provided.
Salaried position plus bonus if goals achieved.
Will begin interview after January 9th.
Marketing/Sales representative
Contacts people via phone, mail or meetings and sets appointments to meet with business owners.
They explain the benefits of Tradebank and how it works.
Once they sign up they are assigned to a broker who then services the account.
North Nashville Attorney looking for bi-lingual assistant for part-time work which, if successful, will lead to full-time work. Applicants must be 18 years or older with a driver's license and transportation. Salary: $8-$12.50/hr depending on experience, education level, and ability. Send resume to Attorney Marc A. Walwyn by mail to the address below or by e-mail to: marc@walwynlaw.com. No telephone inquiries, please.
Account Executive Station: WLLC 42, Telefutura Nashville Telefutura 42, Middle Tennessee's only locally-owned and operated Spanish television station is looking for talented and motivated individuals to fill Account Executive openings.
Account executives are responsible for developing and maintaining business relationships with advertisers. The ideal candidate will be able to generate sales leads, close sales and offer clients advertising solutions in marketing, brand building and brand recognition
Bilingual in Spanish and English strongly preferred. Previous experience in media sales not required.
AGLA 2000 American General Way Brentwood, TN 37027
Program Specialist for the Latina Birthing Project, which serves pregnant Latina teens here in Davidson County. Applicants must be fully bilingual. This is a full time job with full benefits. Please respond with any questions to:
Grant funded position to work directly with young pregnant women and their community matched "Sister Friends". Program Specialist 1 oversees: - Development and provision of resources for individual participants - Helps with problem solving - Compliance with prenatal and support services. - Helps plan and attends monthly meetings, assures pairs of pregnant teen and Sister Friend are well matched with successful communication, and individual compliance with program guidance. - Responsible for tracking participants - Following up on missed appointments - Required paper work, and meetings, planning quarterly baby shower
Must have received a high school diploma and have had at least one year of experience working with youth. Must have strong customer service skills, ability to effectively collaborate and work with economically and ethnically diverse populations, and like working with adolescents. Works closely with Federal Healthy Start staff, as well as other partnering agencies. Requires use of own transportation on the job, and willingness to work alternate hours.
The Church Resources Division of LifeWay Christian Resources is currently seeking a content editor to focus upon Hispanic products and published materials. The individual chosen for this position will participate in the editorial direction, creative concept and design, production, and quality improvement of products and published materials for the Hispanic population. This person will focus upon resources produced in Leadership & Adult Ministry Publishing. The content editor will manage the production schedules and will enlist, train, and develop contract writers and translators for the products. Responsibilities include editing and reviewing content and concept to ensure educational soundness, biblical accuracy, and doctrinal integrity. The individual selected for this position must ensure that our Hispanic products promote the intended message to the leaders and adults in the Hispanic church audience. It is critical that this person has a passion for ministry to these audiences and be able to apply that knowledge to resource development that meets customer needs. The editor will collaborate with copy editors and graphic designers on the development, relevancy, and production of Hispanic resources and materials. This individual must also understand and promote budget compliance and responsible financial management.
After reviewing the job description, if you would like to submit your application to be considered for employment, please complete the application in English.
We Need:
BS/BA in biblical studies, English, liberal arts or related area is required
Master's degree is a plus, with preference given to seminary graduation
Strong editorial experience and skills are required
Candidates must be fluent in the Spanish language, both verbal and written
Candidates must have a thorough understanding of the Hispanic culture
Membership in a Hispanic church that is aligned with the Southern Baptist is required
3-5 years recent and active participation in a Hispanic church is required with preferences given to those with activities that engage the church leadership and adult audiences
Candidate must also have a strong command of the written and verbal English language
Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work within a team environment
Strong organizational skills, able to meet repeated deadlines and evaluate processes to increase production and productivity
The Domestic Trade Account Rep will receive inbound telephone, email, fax orders and inquiries from domestic trade stores and distributors. Research, and resolve trade customer complaints and questions regarding resources, orders, shipping and billing. Make outbound sales calls to U.S. trade accounts/distributors to increase current account buying levels and to add the number of new accounts purchasing LifeWay Church Resources products, events and services. Provides back up assistance to the International Trade Team. Receives inbound telephone, email, fax orders and inquiries from Domestic trade stores and distributors. Researches, resolves trade customer complaints and questions regarding resources, orders, shipping and billing. Makes outbound sales calls to U.S. trade accounts/distributors to increase current account buying levels and to add the number of new accounts purchasing LifeWay Church Resources products, events and services. Provides back up assistance to the International Trade Team. Must be fluent in spoken and written English and Spanish.
We Need:
High School diploma or GED required, Bacehlor's degree preferred
Must be fluent in Spanish language, both verbal and written
Two years of customer service and/or telephone sales experience
Knowledge of trade/distributor business processes and practices desired
PC knowledge and proficiency required
Knowledge of international business cultures and customers required
Active involvement in a local evangelical church
Must have a good understanding of the Hispanic culture and community
Ability to work under stress and heavy workload demands
Must be highly motivated, organized with excellent time management skills and a positive attitude
Regional Manager - LifeWay Espanol - Latin America & Spain - Req 3049
This position is located in Nashville, Tennessee.
LifeWay Espanol of LifeWay Christian Resources is seeking a representative to be a direct link between the Hispanic population and LifeWay's Hispanic resources and events for the Hispanic Christian market located in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina. The individual selected for this position will be responsible for expanding and growing the brand and sales of Hispanic products through developing and executing a customized sales plan with distributors, retail stores, churches and ministry organizations. The Regional Manager will develop and introduce customized resources that promote the understanding use of LifeWay products.
The Regional Manager will communicate and interact with distributors, retail store leaders, and church leaders via one-on-one meetings, telephone, mail or e-mail, with the specific purpose of understanding the needs and dynamics of the Hispanic population, and serve as a liaison of that information to LifeWay. This individual will represent LifeWay resources/products to the customer groups and assist in customizing solutions to meet those needs. These interactions between LifeWay and the customer groups should promote the understanding and implementation of church growth strategies that will result in trusted relationships, growing churches and kingdom impact.
The Regional Manager will be responsible for identifying, enlisting, and training key pastors and church leaders, evangelical organizations, distributors, conference organizers, and Volunteer Consultants to plan, coordinate, and schedule training events for the Hispanic communities. This individual will conduct training events to inform and educate other trainers about the full range of the Hispanic ministry resources available from LifeWay.
WE NEED:
BA or BS degree is required
Master's degree (MBA, MRE, MDIV, or equivalent) is preferred
Exceptional bilingual (Spanish and English) skills are required
Sales experience is required
At least 2 years church staff and/or consulting and training experience is required
Must be an active member of a Southern Baptist church
Must have proven knowledge of LifeWay products and resources
Very strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills
Self-disciplined and organized
Ability to strategically think and execute
Excellent writing skills are needed
Strong with computers and communication technologies
Must be available for travel throughout the region at least two (2) weeks of every month
Be a part of LifeWay Christian Resources as we "...help people and churches know Jesus Christ and seek His Kingdom by providing Biblical solutions that spiritually transform individuals and cultures."
Instituto Allegro hosts open house Friday, launches Spanish-language praise and worship classes Saturday at Christ Church
Nicely dovetailing Sunday's article in the Tennessean about the growth of Nashville's Hispanic churches, the Allegro Institute (Instituto Allegro) (Blog / Twitter) will host an open house this Friday showcasing its slate of Spanish-language praise and worship music and multimedia classes, which begin this Saturday in its new location at Christ Church on Old Hickory Blvd.:
Wayne Hilton, international director of Músico a Músico, announced that Allegro Institute, founded in July of 2008 in Nashville by the teaching non-profit, Músico a Músico, also based in Nashville, will relocate to Christ Church, 15354 Old Hickory Blvd., effective January 16.
An open house will be held this Friday evening, January 15th at 7:00 p.m., where visitors can hear the MaM Band featuring many of the Instituto Allegro instructors, take tours of the new building, have personal conversations with all school instructors, and hear testimonials from students.
During this evening, five visitors will receive a certificate for one month of free weekly lessons.
For nearly two years, the Instituto Allegro music school has given classes all day each Saturday to lots of area Hispanic musicians. “Grateful for the [previous] location of the school but very excited about this new location as this move is being precipitated by growth,” Hilton says. The institute teaches all types of music including theory, voice and instruments like drums and percussion, keyboard, guitar and more with all classes conducted in Spanish.
“Our goal”, Hilton comments, “is to train a large number of church worship musicians & singers to not only serve in their own churches, but to prepare them for potential musical careers without limits. Most of our students are already involved in their churches throughout middle Tennessee and beyond. But, we’re not limited to teaching just a certain type of music. Music is universal and can transcend social, political and religious prejudice. So, we invite others to study on our campus with our main student body of Christian musicians. This is a three year program that we are very serious about.”
Starting Saturday January 16, Allegro Institute will be presenting group & individual lessons at their new location. This is a good move for Allegro because the next phase of our projected curriculum expansion is to create classes for all types of worshiping arts like dance, drama, mime, theater and other visual arts. Hilton sums up, “This new location allows us to be even more creative in our classes and ultimately promote our goal of a creative Christian Community of musicians and artists equipped for service in response to an explosion of growth in the world-wide church”.
For further information contact Allegro director, Rachel Vasquez at 804.7177 regarding student classes or teaching possibilities.
A plea at La Espiga bakery on Nolensville Road, "la espiga" in the Gospels, and Christmas thoughts of Alex, Alexis, and Alan
Earlier this month, I was buying a "tres leches" cake at the La Espiga bakery on Nolensville Road.
If you haven't tasted tres leches cake, it's kind of moist. I don't really have a taste for it, but it's my wife's favorite, and it was her birthday.
As I was paying for the cake (and a few other pastries we called "Berliners" in Chile), I noticed a box next to the cash register, with this message:
"I need your cooperation with little boy Axel. He was born with a bone problem called 'antigriposis.' His parents Alexis and Alan were reported, and the three children stayed behind with their grandmother. I ask you for your help, brothers. May God bless you."
Axel, Alexis, and Alan: three names of Hispanic Nashvillians. Two of them - the "reported" parents, may or may not return here to be Nashvillians ever again. If they do, it will almost certainly constitute an immigration violation, at least under current law.
What "la espiga" means, and Jesus' lawbreaking disciples
Before I sat down at the computer to post this picture and this story, I had thought "La Espiga" - the name of this bakery - meant "the crumb." Actually, "miga" is the word for crumb, and "la espiga" means, "the head of grain." It's a word that comes up a lot in the Bible.
I went looking for some "head of grain" verses, and three of the four times the word appears in the Gospels is in a story about Jesus and his disciples being rebuked for lawbreaking.
One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus:
Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?
Jesus said to them:
Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.
My thoughts turn to Axel, Alexis, and Alan during this Nashville Christmas.
Heartbreaking. It stuns me that the little ones are most often the victims of our failed system. Too many here lack compassion, and it will not serve us in the long run. Stay up, my brother, yours is an important voice.
Students and aficionados of Hispanic culture will want to witness firsthand this great event, probably the most celebrated date in the Hispanic calendar. Below is the schedule of the 2-day event beginning on Dec. 11, as celebrated by Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Nashville.
NOTE: The first day's schedule is quite lengthy (about 7 hours) and no one is expected to stay for the complete duration of the event.
Because parking may be scarce, we will meet at 7 pm at the K-mart located at the corner of Harding Place and Nolensville Rd., then carpool as a group to the church.
El horario del Festejo (primer día) de La Iglesia Católica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, ubicado en 3112 Nolensville Road en Nashville (former site of Radnor Baptist Church):
Andres Gutierrez to conduct financial seminar in Spanish at Dave Ramsey's Brentwood HQ today
The Lampo Group unveils the new Spanish-speaking face of Dave Ramsey's financial education empire
The above invitation was sent out by the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* to its membership, announcing today's "Financial Peace" seminar in Spanish at the Dave Ramsey headquarters in Brentwood. The seminar will be led by Andres Gutierrez, who is the new face of Dave Ramsey's financial education empire to the Spanish-speaking audience. As Gutierrez puts it, he's "the Hispanic Dave Ramsey."
According to Gutierrez, Ramsey's Lampo Group has had trouble getting market penetration with its Spanish-language DVDs, due largely to the fact that even though videos of Dave Ramsey dubbed into Spanish may be effective with the individual Hispanics who take the course, the product doesn't relate culturally to a wider a Hispanic audience. Going forward, Gutierrez will the face of the "Financial Peace" message in Spanish instead of Ramsey. Over the next year, the Spanish-language DVD course will be re-written to apply to a Hispanic cultural perspective, and they will subsequently be re-filmed with Gutierrez as the speaker. Seminars and live events will feature Gutierrez, as well.
The one-hour free event today, Wednesday, will be held at 6:30 p.m., but guests are encouraged to arrive early. The venue is Financial Peace Conference Center, 1749 Mallory Lane, Brentwood, Tennessee, 37027. For more information, call 800-781-8897 or jorge.hoyos@daveramsey.com
Dave Ramsey, on hiring Andres Gutierrez: "I've found the guy we're looking for"
"We came to Tennessee, prayed about it and felt it was a calling from God"Andres Gutierrez joined the Dave Ramsey organization in 2009 after attending a "platinum ticket" breakfast prior to a Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover live event earlier this year, according to this recent interview with Gutierrez by his alma mater's magazine (coincidentally named Scene). Gutierrez told the Schreiner Scene how this breakfast, where he was in a room with Ramsey and only 100 other people, landed him the job:
"They were looking for someone to help reach the Hispanic community. His books had been translated, but they needed a more personal connection. I've been told he [Dave Ramsey] went back to the office after that event and said, 'I've found the guy we're looking for.'" ... "They invited my wife and me to visit Nashville," he said. "We came to Tennessee, prayed about it and felt it was a calling from God. I hope to reach the Spanish-speaking community with this commonsense message so people can feel good about handling their finances."
Prior to working for Dave Ramsey, Gutierrez was an owner at San Antonio-based Pax Financial Group, LLC, which still has this video featuring Gutierrez on YouTube. Prior to Pax, Gutierrez worked at MassMutual and John Hancock Insurance.
Gutierrez graduated from Schreiner University (Kerrville, Texas) in 1999 with a degree in chemistry. He played for the tennis team, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Gutierrez was born in Brownsville, Texas and grew up in Matamoros, Mexico. He moved back to Brownsville in high school and proceeded to Schreiner from there. Both Gutierrez and his wife still have family in Matamoros.
Gutierrez and his wife have been living in Nashville for four months, and he raves about how welcoming the city is, even telling the story of a neighbor bringing the couple a homemade pie, "like in the movies." The couple attends La Casa de Mi Padre church ("My Father's House") in Franklin.
The history section of the Dave Ramsey web site traces the organization's Spanish-language history back to the 2003 release of a Spanish translation of Financial Peace. In 2004, according to the same section, "Six FPU lessons are translated into Spanish, and more than 150 families go through the Spanish version of the program." A 2006 press release announces the translation of the full 13-week Financial Peace University DVD series into Spanish.
All incoming MNPS K students are eligible for the lotteryThe lottery deadline for 2010-2011 enrollment in Glendale Spanish Immersion Elementary School is December 4, 2009. The school encourages families to get their paperwork in now.
According to its web site, Glendale Spanish Immersion Elementary offers an exclusive Spanish immersion school curriculum and all incoming MNPS K students are eligible for the lottery, regardless of where you live. There is no longer entrance into a traditional elementary program.
Spanish materials are provided by parents, and no less than 51% of the teaching is in English, according to the Nashville Public Radio piece "Getting into Glendale" produced by Anne Marshall in February 2009. Marshall also reported that the high demand for Glendale was the driving force behind moving to the magnet model, and the change opened up 40 additional seats.
Glendale has a small population, an enthusiastic PTO and a newly renovated facility. The Spanish Immersion curriculum is highly desired with 200+ incoming students per year wait-listed. ... Fabulous school that is only going to get better, especially now that is has become a 100% lottery school specializing in Spanish immersion. In addition, the teachers are amazing and parent envolvement is wonderful. ... Glendale is one of the best schools I have looked into.
Glendale Kindergarten teacher Christina Amezquita was named WKRN's "Educator of the Week" for the week of October 22, 2009.
The September 2007 edition of Nashville Parent also raved about the benefits of Spanish immersion and Glendale:
Statistically, the addition or study of a second language helps all areas of the curriculum. “Research has shown that critical thinking skills, listening and even creativity improve in association with foreign language study,” says Janice Rodriguez, executive director of the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute. Beckie Gibson, the coordinator of foreign languages for Metro Nashville Public Schools, agrees, pointing out that when learning a language, you use the whole brain: the left brain — the logical and factual side — as well as the creative parts of the right brain. “It helps students learn their other subjects faster,” Gibson says. “Last year, Glendale Spanish Immersion Elementary School (Nashville’s only Spanish immersion school) had one of the highest TCAP scores in the city, so it’s proven it works.”
Application instructions
Applications are available via download at www.mnps.org or in person at the Magnet Office (2601 Bransford Avenue Nashville, TN 37206) and must be returned to the office no later than 5:30pm on December 4, 2009. Families interested in touring Glendale Elementary can contact the school directly at 615-279-7970.
Club 700 Hoy taping today; audience members needed
Guests: Fernando Arau, Carlos Baerga
Christian Broadcast Network's Spanish-language version of The 700 Club - translated as Club 700 Hoy (The 700 Club Today) - is looking for live audience members for a taping today in Nashville. The show has been taped in Nashville three times a year, a week at a time, for the past five years. Club 700 Hoy can be viewed at 6am Central Time Sundays on Galavision, on the show's web site club700hoy.com, and on the show's YouTube channel.
Today's guests are Fernando Arau, former co-host of Univision's Despierta America, and Carlos Baerga, major league baseball player from Puerto Rico. The taping will take place at North Star Studios at 3201 Dickerson Pike, Nashville, TN 37207 today November 20, 2009 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The taping is free, and audience members will also receive gifts.
For more information, contact Monica Perez, 700 Club Audience Club coordinator, at entremedioslatinos@gmail.com or 787-485-8758.
CBN has broadcast The 700 Club continuously in Latin America for the last 40 years, making it one of the longest-running programs in the region's broadcast history.
Now Club 700 Hoy presents its latest cutting-edge Spanish version of the program. Hosted by reknowned musician Hector Hermosillo and the multitalented Amarilis Rivera. The show continues to offer a mix of commentary, interviews, music highlights, and feature stories.
Club 700 Hoy airs in many local markets across the United States, including the number one ranked Hispanic market in the United States, Univision 34, broadcast in Los Angeles. It can also be seen in more than 16 countries across Latin America.
As fall begins to drift south NFL fans are feverous for their football and so is Hank Williams, Jr. Williams is joined by Gloria Estefan to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Week in this 40th anniversary season of ESPN's "Monday Night Football" (MNF.) The broadcast special show open was supervised by Habana Avenue executive producer/creative director Steven J. Levy. Ms. Estefan joined Williams on Week 5 of the open, when the Miami Dolphins battled the New York Jets.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the show ESPN director Robert Toms decided to keep Williams close to home, using Nashville's full-scale replica of the Parthenon to give some historical gravitas to a raucous MNF party. With help from Fresh Paint Visual Effects and Design (now represented by Spots & Content @ Habana Avenue), the classical edifice was cast as the MNF Hall of Fame in which stone statues of football players come to life as Williams performs to cheering crowds. The open marked the 21st season Williams has been featured; he's won four Emmy Awards for his work on MNF.
Habana Avenue was charged with creative consultation, staging and lighting the extensive two-day shoot at the Parthenon, an art museum in Nashville's Centennial Park. Radio and Internet casting calls recruited some 250 extras for an interior Parthenon party scene and another 500 for an exterior party sequence. During this shoot Williams teamed with Gloria Estefan on a rousing bilingual, Miami-themed duet.
"Making of" videos
There are a few "making-of" videos highlighting the behind-the-scenes of the bilingual Parthenon video shoot: the official "making of" video embedded below, the Tennessean version, and the video of a local who was there.
The Miss Tennessee Latina Pageant will not take place in 2009, according to Marjorie Weller, state coordinator of the 2008 event. The national pageant, Miss Latina US, has also been pushed back from its originally scheduled September 2009 date and moved to May 25–30, 2010, with some details still yet to be finalized. The national Teen pageant for younger contestants, is on hiatus and will be separated from the main national competition going forward.
Interviewed by the Jackson Sun, Leon described the benefit of having a Miss Tennessee Latina pageant:
Sometimes I feel like we're overlooked. There are so many Hispanic girls out there who are bilingual and accomplished. It's so important for us to gather and do events like that. This just shows other Hispanics that they're not alone.
When asked to describe her greatest inspiration, Leon pointed to her mother:
She came here not knowing how to speak English. After she learned how to speak English, she started helping other women who can't. She takes them to the doctor. She does a lot in the community, especially in Jackson.
Even before confirming the H1N1-related death of Gomez, the Metro Nashville Public Health Department was getting out the word about the virus, in the hopes that education could prevent widespread transmission in Middle Tennessee. Multilingual communications are in process, starting with Spanish (see Spanish-language letter to school parents, students, and staff here; and Spanish-language "Cover your Cough" poster here). Other languages to be added include Arabic, Somali, and Amharic.
The Health Department announcement of the death of Max Gomez is here and also reproduced below in its entirety:
The Metro Public Health Department received confirmation today of the death of a child as a result of H1N1 influenza.
The child, a 5-year old boy from Davidson County, became ill on Friday evening and died Monday night at a hospital. Health officials are investigating whether any underlying medical conditions may have contributed to the death.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this child,” said Bill Paul, M.D., Director of Health of Nashville/Davidson County. "Even though most people who get H1N1 flu have a mild illness and quick recovery, this death is a sobering reminder that it can be a serious illness. We all need to pay attention and do what we can to help reduce the spread of the virus."
Metro Public Health officials are receiving many reports of flu-like illness from individuals, schools, physicians, and workplaces throughout the county. Typically at this time of year flu-like illness is not common. The Health Department expects to see a continued increase in flu-like illness due to H1N1 in the coming weeks.
Symptoms of H1N1 influenza have been similar to seasonal flu. This includes fever, muscle aches, and either cough, sore throat or runny nose. Headache, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea also may occur. Most people who are ill will recover on their own and do not require specific testing or treatment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets seasonal flu each year. According to CDC, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications and about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes each year.
Parents are urged to use the same judgment about seeking medical care that they would during a typical flu season - do not seek medical care if your child is not sick or if symptoms are mild. If your child has a fever and respiratory symptoms, including cough, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion, please contact the child’s doctor for guidance before going to a clinic or emergency room.
Please seek emergency assistance if your child experiences any of the following: * Fast breathing or trouble breathing * Bluish skin color * Not drinking enough fluids * Not waking up or not interacting * Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held * Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough * Fever with a rash
Young children and pregnant women are priority groups to receive H1N1 vaccine because they are at increased risk of serious complications from flu. “Even though the risks are relatively small, extra caution is important for those at higher risk,” said Dr. Paul.
Health Department officials remind all adults and children to take the following precautions: * Avoid close contact with people who are sick. * Cover coughs and sneezes with the crook of your elbow or a tissue. * Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. * If water and soap are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. * Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. * Get the seasonal flu shot, which is now becoming available locally. * Children and adults who are sick should stay home if they have symptoms of fever (over 100 degrees F) and cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea. Ill persons should not return to school or work until 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Get the H1N1 flu shot when it becomes available—currently projected for Mid October. Anyone with concerns or question about flu-like illness should call their physician. More information about H1N1 flu is available on the Metro Public Health Department's website www.health.nashville.gov or by calling the community information telephone line 615/340-7775.
Alan Campbell to teach Spanish at Ravenwood High School
Speaking Spanish with native-speaker co-workers in high school was "the first time I could really use something I'd learned"
Returned from Army stint in Afghanistan in MayThe Tennessean reports here that Alan Campbell, son of Brentwood Planning Commission chairman Randy Campbell and graduate of Brentwood High School and Virginia Tech, will be teaching Spanish at Ravenwood High School this year.
The Tennessean reports that Alan picked up Spanish with the help of co-workers at a restaurant job in high school and also majored in Spanish in college, followed by a master's degree in second language education:
Campbell, who admitted he didn't exactly know what career path he'd take when he was growing up, discovered his spoken word skills when he got a part-time job in a restaurant kitchen when he was a high school sophomore. Most of his co-workers were from Mexico and Guatemala and were native Spanish speakers, so he started picking up words here and there talking with them.
"It was really the first time I could really use something I'd learned, outside of for a test at school," he said.
Alan served as an Army lieutenant in Afghanistan after college and returned in May of this year, according to the Tennessean. Campbell blogged about his experience in Afghanistan at vtgringo.blogspot.com.
Arriesgarse Reír, es arriesgarse a parecer un tonto. Llorar es arriesgarse a parecer un sentimental. Hacer algo por alguien, es arriesgarse a involucrarse. Expresar sentimientos, es arriesgarse a mostrar tu verdadero yo. Exponer tus ideas y tus sueños, es arriesgarse a perderlos. Amar, es arriesgarse a no ser correspondido. Vivir, es arriesgarse a morir. Esperar, es arriesgarse a la desesperanza. Lanzarte, es arriesgarse a fallar. Pero los riesgos deber ser tomados, porque el peligro más grande en la vida es no arriesgarse a nada. La persona que no arriesga, no hace, ni tiene nada. Se pueden evitar sufrimientos y preocupaciones, pero simplemente no puede aprender, sentir, cambiar, crecer, amar y vivir... SOLO UNA PERSONA QUE SE ARRIESGA ES LIBRE.
Risks To laugh is - to risk appearing the fool. To weep is - to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is - to risk involvement. To expose feelings is - to risk exposing your true self. To place your ideas before the crowd is - to risk their loss. To love is - is to risk not being loved in return. To live is - to risk dying. To hope is - to risk despair. To try is - to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love - LIVE. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave, he has forfeited freedom. Only a person who risks is free!
George Strait sings "El Rey" in Spanish on new album Twang
Gabe Garcia: "He grew up around a lot of Spanish speaking people and a lot of Spanish bands"
Pierce Greenberg writes at The 9513 that George Strait's new album Twang features a Spanish-language track, "El Rey," which means, "The King." Strait is popularly known as The King of Country.
The 9513 explores the history of "El Rey" and its songwriter Jose Alfredo Jimenez, and "the prevalence of Mexican culture in country music," citing country music historian Don Cusic:
The Mexican influence on country music extends from the clothing (colorful) to the music, via Texas. The image of the cowboy is strong in both–and George Strait is certainly part of that culture. The cattle culture, horses, saddles, lariats and all that is heavily influenced by Mexico.
The article also mentions Hispanic country musicians such as Freddy Fender, Rick Trevino, and Nashville Star runner-up Gabe Garcia. According to the story:
Garcia grew up 15 minutes from Strait’s hometown, in Pearsall, Texas, and knows the Hispanic influence is strong around those parts.
“He grew up around a lot of Spanish speaking people and a lot of Spanish bands,” said Garcia. “That’s part of being from South Texas. That’s the culture down there.”
The Straight cover of "El Rey" will be released with the full album Twang on August 11. There is a link to hear the entire song at the end of the article at The 9513.
There have been three Hispanic top finishers in the country music TV competition Nashville Star on USA/NBC: Gabe Garcia, Melanie Torres, and John Arthur Martinez. Julio Iglesias Jr. won the CMT show Gone Country. Read those stories, and learn about the country music industry's efforts to target the Hispanic audience, at hispanicnashville.com/labels/countrymusic.html
A lawsuit filed July 21 in Davidson County Circuit Court by the Latino News accuses a former employee, Alfonso Nieto, of breach of contract, trademark infringement and theft of services in launching his competing Tennessee Latino News. Nieto declined Wednesday to comment on the suit because of a pending conciliation meeting. ... Since 2000, at least 13 different Spanish, Portuguese and bilingual Spanish/English publications targeting the area's growing Latin American population have at one time been published or distributed in Nashville...
Audience members needed for Spanish "700 Club" taping today on Dickerson Pike
Club 700 Hoy has been taping in Nashville for five years
Today's guest is Fernando Arau, of Despierta AmericaThe Tennessean reports here that the Christian Broadcast Network's Spanish-language version of The 700 Club - the sister program is called Club 700 Hoy (The 700 Club Today) - is looking for live audience members for a taping today in Nashville. The Tennessean report says that the show has been taped in Nashville three times a year, a week at a time, for the past five years, and that this is the first time a local audience will be used for the taping. The use of local audience members is intended to grow the show's viewership, according to the Tennessean.
The live recording will take place today from 2 to 6pm, and an audience of 100 people is needed. Today's guest is Fernando Arau, one of the hosts of Univision's Despierta America. The taping is free, and audience members will also receive gifts.
"We would like to reach out to the Hispanic community in Nashville, which is becoming very prominent," said Rafael Barreiro, producer of Club 700 Hoy. "The heart of the program is to give the Hispanic community hope."
Local minister Rev. Anibal Pena of Iglesia Monte Los Olivos told the Tennessean that he would like to see the show air more frequently than its current broadcast schedule. The show can be viewed Sundays at 6am Central Time on Galavision, and on the show's web site club700hoy.com.
CBN has broadcast The 700 Club continuously in Latin America for the last 40 years, making it one of the longest-running programs in the region's broadcast history.
Now Club 700 Hoy presents its latest cutting-edge Spanish version of the program. Hosted by reknowned musician Hector Hermosillo and the multitalented Amarilis Rivera. The show continues to offer a mix of commentary, interviews, music highlights, and feature stories.
Historically, CBN programming has been seen in more than 25 Iberoamerican countries on national secular television markets.
Club 700 Hoy potentially reaches 83 percent of Spanish cable TV households in the United States on Galavision, every Sunday at 7am [Eastern] and can be seen in more than 16 countries across Latin America.
The Tennessean indicates that potential audience members need to send an e-mail to info@club700hoy.com with the subject line “audience.” An alternate contact is Monica Perez, 700 Club Audience Club coordinator, available at entremedioslatinos@gmail.com and 787-485-8758.
The taping will take place at North Star Studios at 3201 Dickerson Pike, Nashville, TN 37207
Salvador Guzman and his brother are acquiring WPFD-AM Fairview at a selling price of $100,000 plus "an additional amount at closing for seller’s inventory," according to RBR.com. Guzman already owns Nashville's Spanish-language radio station WHEW-AM, according to the report.
Guzman also owns two stores and six local restaurants in the Nashville area, according to a March report in the Tennessean. In a 2007 interview with CNN/Money/Fortune (with photo), Guzman describes his entry into the restaurant business and concludes, "Mexican immigrants are used to working hard."
Guzman has hosted fundraisers for the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Tennessee (TNRNHA) and for Howard Gentry's mayoral campaign.
In 2006, Guzman was elected to the board of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a national organization of 150 local Hispanic chambers.
"By releasing this country record in Spanish I feel that I am paying homage to this great country as well as to my father"Venezuela-born country music singer Linda Bandry dropped me a line recently from her home in Florida. To learn about Linda, watch the clips above and read the bio on her web site.
Excerpts:
“Until I was 16 years old I didn’t listen to any other kind of music and I actually thought that country music originated in Venezuela. I would wake up in the morning to the roosters crowing and the beautiful melody of Patsy Montana’s “Cowboy’s Sweetheart.”
Her father, Elias Bandry, was fascinated by bluegrass music and one day asked her to make Spanish versions of his favorites songs so that he could understand them. “By doing this, I realized that I could write my own songs, and Daddy loved hearing me sing them.”
At just 8 years old, Linda joined 5 other girls in a singing group called the “Super Youngs”. They sang Linda’s songs and even some of Dolly Parton’s and Kenny Rogers’ songs everywhere and anywhere they could. ... Linda arrived in the United States in 1998, and her primary goal was to record an album of original country songs in Spanish. With God’s grace, help from Najib Seguias and the talent of her friend, guitarist and producer Ed Gonzalez, her dream came true in May of 2003. Among the musicians integral to the album entitled “COMO LUNA” (Like the Moon), are Alan Kendall (Pedal Steel), David Scully (Guitars) and John Lengel (Drums).
“Only those who live and love country music can actually convey the nuances specific to the genre.” “By releasing this country record in Spanish I feel that I am paying homage to this great country as well as to my father.”
Local Hispanic Republican group schedules April 30 fundraiser, attracts politicians and Davidson County GOP promo
Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Tennessee event to feature 2010 gubernatorial candidate and current Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey
The Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Tennessee (TNRNHA) will hold a $100/ticket fundraiser April 30 at La Hacienda restaurant in Franklin. The scheduled topics are recruitment of Hispanics into the Republican Party, the Latino vote, and the 2010 elections.
TNRNHA's web site is primarily in English, but it is not in English only - see the bilingual I Am a Republican Because page. There is also a a link to the RNC's Spanish-language site.
Here is the April 30 event announcement on the Davidson County GOP web site:
You Are Cordially Invited to Attend A Special Private Event to Benefit the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of TN
Join Us and Special Guest Speaker Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey
Host Committee Owner of La Hacienda Salvador Guzman State Representative Glen Casada State Senator Jack Johnson Dr. David and Vicky Watts Owner of Ambrose Printing John Ambrose State Executive Committee Member Nathan R. James
As we discuss strategies to recruit Hispanics into the Republican Party and the importance of the Latino votes in TN
As we look to the Future for many Victories in 2010
Thursday, April 30, 2009 6:00pm La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant 509 Hillsboro Rd Franklin, TN. 37064 $100.00 per person/per couple
Free Health Screenings and More at Whitsitt Elementary School
From Catholic Charities of Tennessee:
Nashville families with young children are invited to “Building Futures for All Children / Construyendo un Futuro Mejor Para Nuestros Niños” on Thursday, April 23, a festival at Whitsitt Elementary School sponsored jointly by Nashville non-profit and government agencies. The event, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., will feature free health screenings, information booths on children’s development and health, the opportunity to register to vote and apply for a library card, and games and activities for children and their families.
“We specifically have planned to welcome Hispanic families,” said Eileen Beehan, Catholic Charities of Tennessee, one of the sponsoring agencies. “The event will be well staffed by Spanish-speaking healthcare providers, social workers and others. All the materials to be distributed will be available in Spanish.”
Complete physicals and dental screenings for children will be offered on April 23. If needed and requested, referrals will be made to community resources for additional screenings and testing. The April 23 “Building Futures for All Children / Construyendo un Futuro Mejor Para Nuestros Niños” festival is sponsored by Catholic Charities of Tennessee, TENNder Care, Metro Public Health Department, Whitsitt Elementary School, Baptist Hospital, Meharry Medical College, and AmeriChoice.
“Building Futures for All Children / Construyendo un Futuro Mejor Para Nuestros Niños” will be held during the Week of the Young Child, a national observance. The Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize that children's opportunities are the responsibility of the community and adults, and to ensure that each and every child experiences the type of early environment--at home, at child care, at school, and in the community--that will promote their early learning and well-being.
Whitsitt Elementary School is located at 110 Whitsett Road in the Woodbine community. For additional information, contact Hispanic Family Services at 615-445-8310, ext. 222
Photo of Dr. Viviana Lavin by Susan Adcock for the Hispanic Nashville Notebook.
Not everyone can get away with "mis amigas mexicanos" blunder; bilingual marketing preference demands relevance
Humor helps, too; see the four funny commercials below
"Reaching Latino consumers can successfully be done in both English and Spanish, not either or"
Sentimental, bilingual Toyota Camry ad
Bilingual in the Boonies' Carrie Ferguson Weir recently published this article about Marketing to Latinos, in which she mentions a recent Nashville seminar on the importance of ethnic media and marketing (see also this Hispanic Nashville Notebook story about the economy's impact on ethnic media in Music City).
Weir expresses a preference for relevant, bilingual advertising (probably not surprising, considering the title of her blog):
[A] few days ago I read a story online that basically said reaching Latino consumers can successfully be done in both English and Spanish, not either or. ... What language are Latinos speaking most? What language do we want to be addressed in by media and marketers? ... For me -- a bicultural, bilingual consumer -- as long as the message is culturally relevant, it doesn't really matter what language is used. Just don't show me a stereotype or I shut you out. But, I do prefer English ads, marketing and web sites; it is the language of the academic side of my brain. Spanish is the language of my spirit. Reach them both and you win me.
Many of the comments below Weir's article echo the same preference:
Latin Grammys? Am all over it. I like the ads they play during it - the bit of spanish in them & people that look like me - totally wins me over. ... I think we need a "Chicana" channel that caters to those of us who are bi-cultural. It could run shows/ads in either/both languages and be very effective. ... I prefer my ads in English with a hint of Spanish.
(The sentimental Toyota Camry ad above is bilingual, but doesn't it sound like the "Mira" part of the ad is a voiceover? I wonder if it's as noticeable as I think, and if that impairs its impact.)
Since humor is a frequent element in successful advertising, I've included below a few funny commercials targeting Hispanic consumers, except these are primarily in Spanish. The first one (which I dub "Mis Amigas Mexicanos") has a high "relevant" quotient, playing on the U.S. stereotype that everyone south of the Rio Grande is Mexican; the fourth one gets extra points for its Titans/Jaguars highlights:
Finally, to round out the humor, The Onion had this funny take on how "empowering" ads can be if they celebrate Latino culture.
If you want to comment on the commercials above (are they relevant?) or if you want to suggest a different one (maybe another primarily English commercial peppered with Spanish), let me know what you think in the comments below, via the contact link above, on Facebook or on Twitter.
There are twenty ethnic media outlets in Nashville; some close doors in the down economy
Flashback: Tennessee Staatszeitung was the official newspaper of the Fifth Congressional District
Third in a seriesNew America Media reports here on the twenty ethnic media outlets in Nashville and on the struggles they face in the difficult economy:
On a Friday morning, in a small house outside downtown Nashville, La Sabrosita, a Spanish-language AM radio station, was airing its shows in full swing. Immigration was the most pressing topic. ... "Many are unaware of what immigrants are facing here," said Ramón Cisneros, whose Franklin City-based publication, La Campaña, includes a section for immigrants to share their experiences and information with one another. ... Abdul Farah, social adjustment director of Nashville’s Somali Community Center, lamented a local Somali television producer who gave up running a syndicated network due to budget constraints. Now he’s driving a truck for a living.
Read the entire story on New America Media here (h/t: Post Politics).
The ethnic media used to have official status in Middle Tennessee. According to Robert Donald Rogers' M.A. thesis The Tennessee Staatszeitung (1975), the German-language Tennessee Staatszeitung was the official newspaper of the Fifth Congressional District - including Davidson County - in the 1860's (p. 12). Tennessee Governor Brownlow "praised the newspaper as the organ of the loyal Germans" (p. 47). In fact, Governor Brownlow "began the practice of having his messages to the legislature printed in German and distributed throughout the state. Fifteen thousand English copies and six thousand German copies of Brownlow's 1865 address were printed, but of a later report one thousand English copies and two thousand German copies were issues" (pp. 53-54).
In the 1890's, German American Day was one of the celebrations at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in Nashville's newly inaugurated Centennial Park, and the role of German-language newspapers as an integration tool was lauded in a speech that wound up in the New York Times (partial excerpt here).
This story is the third in a series about the history of the Staatszeitung newspaper and German history in Tennessee (click the following links for the first and second installments in the series).
Spanish-language paperbacks and magazines needed for incarcerated immigrants
New library privileges in Davidson County jails
Vanderbilt University graduate student Amada Armenta is collecting Spanish-language paperbacks and magazines for immigrant inmates in Davidson County jails:
As we all know, there are hundreds of immigrants who are currently incarcerated and awaiting removal in Davidson County jails. Up until several months ago, immigrants in custody did not have library privileges. Now they do, but the collection of available books in Spanish is tiny. I am working to change that by collecting Spanish language paperbacks and magazines to donate to the jail.
You can help! If you have any Spanish language paperbacks or magazines that you would like to donate, please let me know. I will come and pick them up.
Armenta can be contacted via e-mail at amada.armentavanderbilt.edu
Anti-corruption message is one part of award-winning bilingual police outreach to Spanish-speaking residents
Chief Ronal Serpas: "Our police department views the El Protector Program as a critical service"
On February 27, NewsChannel5 reported here that the Metro Nashville Police Department has won national recognition for its El Protector program, which engages the Hispanic/Latino community with communications in both English and Spanish. The Vera Institute of Justice recently recognized the Nashville program in this report of "best practices" by law enforcement officers addressing language-related challenges.
On the same day of that local story, NewsChannel5 also reported here that Vanderbilt students are canceling spring break trips to Monterrey, Mexico due to violence there. A Reuters report describing the Monterrey incidents mentioned by the Vanderbilt students is here. The report says that "[a]bout 300 protesters carried signs complaining about army operations in the northern city of Monterrey," and indicates that the protests were funded by drug cartels. It further says that "the army is disrupting drug gang operations, but is failing to cleanse Mexico's corrupt police forces that are working for the cartels."
The corruption of police in some Latin American countries is one reason for Nashville's El Protector program, according to one of the local officers interviewed by NewsChannel5. In the video accompanying the story, Officer Gilbert Ramirez said that one of the goals of the program is to communicate to natives of Spanish-speaking countries who are living in Nashville that they can trust the police here. The program's ability to effectively communicate by bridging language barriers is part of the reason it won recognition by the Vera Institute.
“Our police department views the El Protector Program as a critical service that reaches out to a segment of our community who may not be familiar with American, and particularly Nashville, law enforcement practices,” Chief Ronal Serpas said in a press release. “I am grateful that the Vera Institute of Justice believes that our program is one that can be considered for replication by other law enforcement agencies in the United States.”
Officer Rafael Fernandez and Officer Gilbert Ramirez are the current face of El Protector. Both appear on the program's bilingual home page on the MNPD web site.
English, GED and college info at Hispanic Family Night in Springfield March 3
Families welcome; entertainment for children provided
From Volunteer State Community College:
Volunteer State Community College and Workforce Essentials of Robertson County are teaming up for a night designed to help the Hispanic community. Information about English classes, GED preparation, and college courses and degrees will be available at the event on March 3 in Springfield.
“This is our first Hispanic Family Night in Springfield. They’ve been quite popular in Gallatin. We’ll have advice and information for the entire family, from teenagers getting ready for college, to parents who are looking to improve English skills,” said Eric Melcher, Communications Coordinator for Vol State. “It will be held at the Tennessee Career Center in Springfield, which is a good community resource for everyone who wants basic education and career help.”
Translators will be available for Spanish speakers. Representatives from Robertson County Adult Education will answer questions about Basic English classes, and high school GED classes. Vol State staff will assist with information about college level ESOL English classes, as well as the 70 academic programs, and several degree options, offered by the college. Vol State has a main campus in Gallatin, but the college also offers several evening courses each semester at Springfield High School.
Hispanic Family Night will be held on Tuesday, March 3rd from 5:30pm to 8pm at the Tennessee Career Center in Springfield, 229 10th Ave East, just two blocks off of highway 41. It is free and open to everyone. Families can show up at any time during the event. There will be refreshments, and coloring books and videos to entertain the children. For more information in English call 615-230-3570 and for more information in Spanish call 615-230-4846.
Race, religion, and reconciliation to be addressed in Thursday lunch panel at Hispanic church on Concord Road
Panel: Rev. William Buchanan, Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church; Dr. David Choi, Bridge Community Church; Ps. Scott Roley, Christ Community Church; Ps. Germán Castro, El Shaddai Christian Church
Operation Andrew is sponsoring a lunch panel Thursday called Coming Together, to discuss race and reconciliation in the context of area pastors' congregations and communities. The event will be held at the El Shaddai Christian Church at 10604 Concord Road, from 11:30am - 1pm.
According to its web site, Operation Andrew formed in the wake of the most recent Billy Graham Crusade appearance in Nashville:
During the first four days of June 2000, the Middle Tennessee Billy Graham Crusade was held in Nashville. The Executive Committee of the Crusade was deeply moved by all that it saw God do as racial, ethnic, cultural, and denominational walls were broken down for the purposes of evangelism. As the Crusade ended the Executive Committee agreed that some ongoing strategy needed to be developed so that the good things that the Crusade produced might continue and expand. A special committee was appointed and before the end of the year The Operation Andrew Group was formed as a non-profit 501(c)3 ministry organization.
The group was also instrumental in bringing Argentina evangelist Luis Palau to Nashville in 2007. The Hispanic Nashville Notebook published this report from the Palau event, noting that then-Mayor Bill Purcell and then-Vice Mayor Howard Gentry marked the occasion as a moment of both diversity and unity for Nashville:
Mayor Purcell boasted of Nashville being a "friendly" and "welcoming" city. Vice Mayor Gentry said, "Nashville looks like it's never looked before," in an apparent nod to the diversity of the crowd, which was well represented by various ethnic groups, including African-Americans, Asians, caucasians, and indigenous/mestizo Hispanics. "It is great to see you here in peace, love, and unity," continued Gentry to applause. "I want to thank Luis Palau for bringing hope to Nashville," he said.
English and Spanish were both present at Palau:
[Q]uintet El Trio de Hoy performed in English and Spanish. At one point, the band asked in Spanish, "How many Spanish-speakers do we have here," and received audible applause in response... English and Spanish t-shirts in the crowd included references to Bible verses, such as Isaiah 40:31... and Phillipians 4:13...
Nashville has also addressed race, reconciliation, and religion in the locally written and produced film The Second Chance, a 2006 movie starring Michael W. Smith and jeff obafemi carr, with a supporting role performed by Yuri Cunza, current president of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Hispanic Nashville Notebook story here).
No hemos tenido la comida peruana desde que se cerró El Inca. Vamos a Cuzco. Es un poco más lejos que lo de estamos acostumbrados pero la comida es bien rica...y si no has probado un pisco sour y lo quieres hacer, Cuzco es el lugar. Chevere!
Advanced Placement exam increase among Tennessee's Hispanic high schoolers
"They are sticking it out."
The Greeneville Sun reports here that the number of Hispanic high school students in Tennessee who take at least one Advanced Placement exam has risen 35% since 2007.
The Tennessean quotes one source here who says that the uptick represents a higher mastery of English among those Hispanic students whose native language is Spanish (not all Hispanic students are immigrants or native Spanish-speakers). Overton High School is used as an example:
"In those higher-level classes we have not had that population of bilingual kids, but now we do," she said. "We had 25 Hispanic seniors (at Overton) last year. This year we have 75. This tells you they are sticking it out."
The Tennessean further reported that 14 percent of the overall Metro student population is Hispanic, with the number at 5 percent for the entire state.
Education is the focus for Vol State Hispanic Family Night
Education is important, but going through the college application process can be complicated. Volunteer State Community College has an event that can help. Hispanic Family Night will have information about everything from basic English classes, to college level courses and degree programs. It will be held on February 10. It is free and open to everyone.
“Hispanic Family Night really is for the whole family,” said Eric Melcher, Communications Coordinator at Vol State. “Many adults are interested in English classes or returning to school, and teenagers are just getting ready for college. We’ll have counselors who can speak to people in Spanish and English, to better answer any questions they might have.”
“No matter what skill level people have in English this event can help,” said Terry Bubb, the Director of the Advising Center. “Sumner County Adult Education will have information about basic English classes and their GED program. Vol State folks can talk about our advanced level English classes and how to prepare for college.”
Volunteer State has many support services available for students, including the award-winning NewSkills Center, which provides help with math, reading and writing. The Language Center has resources for people who speak foreign languages, including Rosetta Stone software. The TRIO Student Support Services program has a wide array of help for first-generation college students, those with low family incomes, or those with certain disabilities.
Refreshments will be served. There will also be movies and fun to keep the kids entertained, so parents can have time to ask questions. Everyone is invited to attend. The Hispanic Family Education Night will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and people can stop by whenever it’s convenient. It will be held on Tuesday, February 10 at the Thigpen Library on the Vol State campus at 1480 Nashville Pike in Gallatin. For more information call 615-230-3570 or in Spanish 615-230-4846.
Hispanic business leaders in Knoxville sit down for "roundtable" with News Sentinel
The Knoxville News Sentinel conducted a roundtable interview with local Hispanic business leaders in that city - the article is worth a read.
Some excerpts:
Mother unaware her daughter was in the infirmary
I do think that the state governments have certain measures to care for the community. Public schools do a great job of taking kids. They don't ask. They don't care if your parents are legal - if a kid was born here or not. If you live in the area, you come to school no matter what. So that's great. However, there are like three or four translators for the whole county. That's not enough. I've been as a mom in meetings at the school where all the parents are there and the principal of the school has asked me to translate? And he sits me in a corner with all the Hispanic parents, and me a parent, is translating the meeting. So, yes, they're taking the kids, but it doesn't stop there. A lot of these parents don't speak English. I'm just using public schools as an example because that's what I see every day. A Hispanic lady called me and said "can you please call school. They are calling me. I don't know what's happening. And they just tell me OK, OK." She didn't know what they were saying. I called. Her daughter was throwing up in the infirmary and they wanted her to pick her up. If you're going to take the kids, you need to care for that community.
FBI apologizes
I was at the Citizens Academy of the FBI and one of the agents mentioned that the Hispanic community was growing and with the growth of the Hispanic community they also brought their problems, which is gangs. So I raised my hand because I thought, well I'm part of that community. I don't think I bring my problems like a gang. So I make the correction that the problems follow all these gangsters, they follow the community because we are a target of them. Then they made the correction and apologized.
Cheekwood hosts 9th annual Day of the Dead this Saturday, November 1
"It's about celebrating your loved ones"
Cheekwood will host its 9th annual Family Fall Day - celebrating El Dia de los Muertos ("Day of the Dead") - this Saturday, November 1, from 11am to 5pm.
The Tennessean reports here that "Cheekwood decided to start hosting the event, which draws about 3,000 people, when the Hispanic population began growing in Nashville." The paper quotes Hillary Steinwinder, event coordinator, as saying, "It's about celebrating your loved ones."
"It's a beautiful time of the year to celebrate and make others aware of the Mexican culture," Steinwinder told the Tennessean.
Come Celebrate with us at our ninth annual Fall Family Day, El Dia de los Muertos. Join us for traditional music and dance, vibrant art activities and authentic Mexican food as we recognize and celebrate this Latin American holiday. Shop in our bustling Mexican marketplace, enjoy fine cuisine from local establishments, and explore tradition through our beautiful altar displays and other traditional arts.
Massey Auditorium 11:00 – 11:15 Alma de Mexico Mariachis 11:15 – 12:00 Grupo Folklorico Hispanoamericano – Traditional Dance 12:00 – 1:30 Sabor Latino 1:30 – 3:00 San Rafael Trio 3:00 – 5:00 Serenatta
Potter Classroom Ongoing Stories & History with Abuelita Irene Ongoing Movie Screenings Flickering Lights: Days of the Dead
Lot B Marketplace Stage 11:15 – 11:30 Alma de Mexico Mariachis 11:30 – 12:30 La Colmena Flamenco Troupe - Traditional Dance 12:30 – 1:30 Destellos Culturales de Mexico – Traditional Dance 2:00 – 3:00 Alma de Mexico Mariachis
*Parade 1:30 Sing and Dance your way to Botanic Hall & the Marketplace from the Learning Center with the Alma de Mexico Mariachis
Frist Learning Center 11:30 – 1:30 Alma de Mexico Mariachis 2:00 Nashville Public Library presents Tomas & the Library Lady – en Espanol 3:00 Nashville Public Library presents Tomas & the Library – in English
CRAFTS and ACTIVITIES
Paint A Gourd Papel Picado Paper Marigolds Family Journals Calaveras Masks Tombstone Factory Scavenger Hunt Spanish Bingo *Sugar Skulls *Tapete!
*NEW Activities
VENDORS
Food La Hacienda El Rocodo #2 Las Paletas US Border Cantina Art & Merchandise HispanoAmerica Jacky Almaguer Mexican Curious Elena Vargas Ruben Torres Cheekwood Gift Shop
ALTAR PARTICIPANTS
Cheekwood Books from Birth of Middle Tennessee Conexion Americas Nashville Public Library Metro Parks & Recreation Catholic Charities Rape & Sexual Abuse Center
Solo Nashville posts local Spanish-language news on YouTube
Solo Nashville, which has been broadcasting local news in Spanish since 2004 (story here), has relaunched its website on the WordPress blog platform and is posting its video content on YouTube. This is not the only locally produced YouTube content in Spanish, last week, the Hispanic Nashville Notebook reported here on Spanish-language appeals by the a Republican group in Tennessee.
Eva Melo presents the local news for Solo Nashville (and has been doing so since January 2007 - story here), and local events are announced by Sheyla Hicks and Karina Camilo.
The world's languages are no stranger to Nashville
Centennial Park speech: "...thanks to the German-American press..."
Tennessee Staatszeitung, Emigrant Und BeobachterReminders are everywhere that Nashville's present is not English only - see this salute from the Nashville Scene to the national media for the Belmont debate ("English only. What you'll be speaking for the duration of your stay in Nashville, though perhaps not what you'll be hearing.") and this local middle school where the students speak 37 languages.
This week's Scene (see here) also mentions in passing that linguistic diversity is in Nashville's past as well as its present - referring to a German-language newspaper which once flourished in Nashville:
His thorough research allows him to take on everything from minstrelsy to Mozart. In more than 200 vintage photographs, he showcases editorials from long-gone publications such as the German language newspaper the Tennessee Staatszeitung, pictorial renderings of historic buildings like an 1835 Christ Church Episcopal and posters from an 1873 performance by the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
According to snippets available on Google Books, the Staatszeitung wasn't the only such Tennessee paper almost a century and a half ago. Contemporaries included Emigrant Und Beobachter (also Nashville), Sudliche Post (Chattanooga), and Anzeiger des Sudens (Memphis).
At the German American Day at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition inaugurating Centennial Park in 1897, the role of German-language newspapers as an integration tool was praised in a speech that landed in the New York Times:
Among the people featured in the videos are the organization's chairman Raul Lopez, Vice Chair Juan Borges, and local businesswoman Marcela Gomez, whose YouTube profile hosts the videos.
If your organization serves the Spanish-speaking population in Nashville, the 16-24 Year Old Out-of-School/Out-of-Work Committee invites you to join a network of organizations that provide information about GED and adult high school programs to Spanish-speaking youth, ages 16-24.
The initial meeting of the network will be held on Wednesday, October 22nd at 10:00 am at the Martha O'Bryan Center. During the meeting, your organization will receive copies of a brochure, developed by the Nashville Career Advancement Center in conjunction with Metro Nashville Public Schools and other GED service providers, that provides information about how to access information and services. You will also learn how being a part of the network can increase your organization's capacity to serve this population, as well as how the entire network can increase the number of Spanish-speaking youth receiving these credentials.
Please RSVP to Melissa Jaggers at melissa.jaggers@nashville.gov or 862-5004 by Friday, October 17th. If you have questions about the project, please contact the 16-24 Committee chair, Ellen Zinkiewicz, at ellen.zinkiewicz@nashville.gov.
Speaker: Paulo Boero, Argentina-born Spanish professor at Belmont
From Charlemos Spanish:
This week's Charlemos Spanish meeting will be located at Bistro 215, the same location used by the Sister Cities’ Mendoza Committee. The Bistro’s address is 3821 Green Hills Village Drive, next door to the Green Hills Regal Theaters.
Paulo Boero, a Spanish professor at Belmont University, will be presenting at the Thursday, October 9 meeting of Charlemos Spanish. The meeting is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mr. Boero is originally from Argentina, although he moved to Nashville at the age of twelve. Argentine film is the subject of Mr. Boero’s presentation.
When you arrive at Bistro 215, tell the hostess that you are with Charlemos and you will be directed to the private meeting/dining room located at the end of the bar. The Bistro has plenty of parking and great food and drink—including wines from Argentina, Chile, and Spain..
Nashvillians with roots outside U.S. contemplate identity in America
Carrie Ferguson-Weir
Carrie Ferguson-Weir was born in Miami and now resides in a Nashville suburb. David Park was born in Dallas, spent a number of years in Nashville, and now lives in Atlanta.
Both have parents born outside the U.S., both maintain blogs, and both recently commented on losing or maintaining their inherited cultural identity in America.
Carrie was interviewed here on the Voices en Español podcast. Here are a few excerpts, translated from the original Spanish interview:
Even though we grew up with Cuban traditions, my parents have always told us that we are Americans first because we were born here, and there is a lot of pride in being American. But certainly we weren't supposed to "recoger gringadas" ... it was something that they told us a lot. ... When I realized I was the two things [both American and Cuban], I was 11 years old. ... I can be very Latina and I can be very American. ... Even though it can be somewhat tiring, that is the story of our country - there is always someone navigating two cultures.
Carrie also wrote this recent post on her blog Bilingual in the Boonies. An excerpt:
It wasn't until I moved to New Jersey from Miami that I met children of other immigrants -- Italians, Russians, Japanese, and others -- whose parents didn't teach them to speak the language of their ancestors, or the very grandma who lived at home with them. That blew me away.
In Miami, among the Cubans, as you know, there used to be no choice. So, I carry that attitude forward. But, given I do know Latinos who aren't teaching their children to speak Spanish, is my attitude in the minority?
From David, who self-describes as having been disenchanted, broken, redeemed, restored, and reformed in Nashville, this post on his blog Next Gener.Asian Church:
I think I hate the fact that I sold my ethnic heritage so quickly. Unlike my Black brothers and sisters who perhaps had their freedom and identity taken from them, I’m disappointed that I gave mine away. I sold my inheritance for a bowl of soup. I’m angry that no one told me that who I am is valuable, where I came from is beautiful and proud, and that I have something to offer even before my grades come back or resume is read or my paycheck stub is necessary. And if it’s true that God created race and wants to bring the glory of the nations into heaven, I want to know that race matters and that I’m fighting a good and worthy fight so that my child will have a sense of who they are to go along with the content of their character and the color of their skin.
How great to be an American and something else as well. Schoolhouse Rock "Great American Melting Pot"
Tim Chavez: don't mangle reason for Spanish-language political ads
Former Tennessean columnist Tim Chavez, in his blog Political Salsa, tells Bill O'Reilly here why Spanish-language political ads exist:
The political ads are in Spanish because the voter is more comfortable in communicating in Spanish, not that he or she cannot speak English.
Chavez goes on to say that O'Reilly's discussion of Hispanic voters should have included a Hispanic panelist.
An interesting discussion about the linguistic diversity of the Hispanic population is this one, by the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
“It was just sort of natural for the three of us to have our own band,” Garza said. “We saw our father and his brothers playing all those years and really were thrilled at the Conjunto music that they played during the ‘70s and ‘80s. But at the same time we grew up listening to rock, the blues and country, and doing songs in both Spanish and English. So it was natural that all those things wound up in our songs, especially since we decided to mainly write our own music.” ... Now Los Lonely Boys, who’ll appear tonight at the Wildhorse Saloon along with Dave Barnes, has emerged among the top bands in the rock/pop world. Their third studio release Forgiven was released in July and produced by Steve Jordan. ... Los Lonely Boys spent a lot of time in Nashville during the ‘90s, and while they never quite hit it big here, they have some fond memories of their stint in Music City.
“There were some tough times, but it was also the place where we really learned the craft of playing and writing music,” Garza said. “It’s such a music place and has so many great musicians around that you either get better or you don’t survive. It can be a tough town as well, and there were experiences that were difficult, but overall we’re very thankful for the time we spent in Nashville and we always look forward to coming back and playing there.”
Grupo Fantasma launches Vanderbilt's 34th Season of Great Performances
From the Nashville Spanish Language Meetup Group:
Friday, September 19 at 7:30 pm Great Performances at Vanderbilt brings Grupo Fantasma to Vanderbilt University’s newly renovatedLangford Auditorium!
The finest, funkiest, and hardest working Latin-American orchestra brings their groove to Music City with cumbia, salsa, and pyschedelia. Grupo Fantasma’s trademark sound of 10 musicians has translated comprehensively on their new album Sonidos Gold – in an incredible and animated performance interwoven with mature and intelligent songwriting that is equally at home with the classic 1960’s Fania All-Stars sound. This band is forging a fresh new standard of excellence in Latin music.
The band’s guitarist Adrian Quesada claims the newest album, Sonidos Gold, as “the definitive Grupo Fantasma album.” The organic, live sound of the band will have the audience instantly fall in love with this timeless classic.
“This freight train of a Latin band could easily hold its own in a sweaty bandbox in the Bronx… they’ll knock you down with the grooves.” - The Village Voice
“The ten members of Grupo Fanatsma represent a new generation in Latin music." -Washington Post
Tickets for the performance on Friday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. are on sale at the Sarratt Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster telecharge at 615.255.9600, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Single ticket prices are $36, $32, and $28 for individuals, $16 for VU Faculty/Staff, area students always $10 for Great Performances for students/children with a valid ID, and $5 for VU students.
If available, tickets will be sold the night of the performance at the box office, cash, check and credit card. For more information, please call (615) 322-2471 or email bridgette.kohnhorst@vanderbilt.edu or visit http://www.vanderbilt.edu/greatperformances/0809/grupo.html
Ya Es Hora Tennessee: family festival and voter registration drive this Saturday, September 6
A Hispanic-American Family Festival and Voter Education and Registration Drive will take place this Saturday:
HISPANIC BUSINESS LEADERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SPANISH MEDIA AND YA ES HORA TENNESSEE! (Now's the Time Tennessee!) SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS JOIN IN A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO REGISTER AND EDUCATE VOTERS
Eligible U.S. Citizens to Register to Vote and Learn How to Use Voting Machine
What: Hispanic-American Family Festival - Voter Education and Registration Drive
When: Saturday, September 6th, 2008 from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Coleman Community Center, 384 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN
Why: Latino voters across the United States are expected to be a key constituency in the upcoming elections. Over nine million Latinos voted in 2004, and up to ten million are expected this year. With education and healthcare as two of the populations most pressing concerns, the Latino vote will impact the election results in November.
Ya Es Hora Tennessee! launched its voter education campaign earlier in the summer with the goal to actively educate people about the importance of voting, when and where to vote, and how the process works.
Nashville's city leaders published "Agenda" on immigration in 2007: status report, anyone?
I'd like to know what's being done to advance the proactive immigration plank of Nashville's Agenda, a 2007 plan for Music City:
IMMIGRATION
To make Nashville the best it can be…
Identify ways to encourage understanding of immigration issues – including the problems associated with illegal immigrants – in a broader context of valuing cultural diversity and encouraging appreciation for new Nashvillians.
* Create more positive image of immigration in the city. Encourage corporate and political leaders to educate city on value of diversity and immigration. Find ways to increase cultural awareness in Nashville through more city-wide celebrations like the Celebration of Cultures festival. Educate public about differences between immigrants and illegal immigrants with a focus on the total immigrant population. * Expand diversity training to identify cultural differences provided in the workplace, school, religious institution and govt. * Encourage local corporations to “adopt” at-risk or immigrant neighborhoods for civic training and job placement. * Provide a database and services that are multi-lingual to address specific newcomer needs. * Convene a group of policy-makers to develop a special driver’s license for undocumented immigrants that, at a minimum, allows them to drive to and from work. * Create an Office of Immigrant Integration that provides education, information services and forums that encourage civil conversation * Hold “civics” classes at schools and libraries for new Nashvillians on local laws, government processes and services available. * Create a leadership academy which partners immigrant leaders with native Nashvillians to expand partnerships and create stronger leaders.
Volunteer State's free Hispanic Fiesta coming October 11
Vol State sent out this press release for its Hispanic fiesta, just one of many local events that will take place during Hispanic Heritage Month September 15-October 15:
Live music, free food, dance groups and a soccer tournament are just a few of the activities planned for the second annual Hispanic Fall Fiesta at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin. Fiesta de otoño, as it is known in Spanish, will be held on Saturday, October 11. Organizers say 450 people turned out last year, and they expect an even bigger crowd this year.
"The word of mouth about this event has been incredible," said Eric Melcher, Communications Coordinator for Vol State. "People are really excited and I think we'll have a big turnout."
The Fiesta celebrates Hispanic culture. The Nashville band Son Latino will be performing outside on the campus plaza, along with dance groups Salsa Maniacs and the Hispano Americo Dance Troupe. There will be a soccer tournament running all day long. It will be a half-field, half-team elimination competition with prizes for the top teams. Players and teams can sign up starting at 10 a.m. People will show off their favorite family recipes during a Latin American food cook-off contest, which will feature dishes from many different countries. That contest is sponsored by the Sumner Hispanic Alliance which is also helping to organize the Fiesta itself.
"We've had so many people tell us how much they enjoyed the Fiesta last year," said Cristina Frasier, Chairperson for the Hispanic Alliance. "We want to make sure it's even bigger and better this year. Aside from the fun of the cook-off contest we have an entire health fair planned. We'll have screenings for blood pressure and information about all sorts of health issues and resources. We'll have lots of Spanish translators available so people can feel comfortable in both languages."
There will be Hispanic themed story telling in Spanish and English. Kids can also enjoy inflatable games, and face painting.
"The Fiesta is an event for the whole family" said Melcher. "We're encouraging people to bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and spend the day. And it's not just for Hispanics, we hope everyone will come out and have fun."
The Hispanic Fall Fiesta at Vol State is free. It will be held rain or shine, with the college Gym being used in case of bad weather. The Fiesta de otoño will be held on Saturday, October 11 from 10am to 4pm on the Vol State campus at 1480 Nashville Pike in Gallatin. There will be free food and drinks at noon and events scheduled throughout the day. For more information visit www.hispanictennessee.blogspot.com or in English call 615-230-3570 and in Spanish 615-230-4846.
Vanderbilt International Lens Film Series brings films from Argentina, Chile, Caribbean, Spain
Vanderbilt University's International Lens film series will begin Sept. 3 at Sarratt Cinema. The series, which is free and open to the public, will screen 27 films from 21 nations from September through December. Each film screening will include an introduction by a Vanderbilt faculty member or program director, who will also lead a post-screening discussion. Most films will be shown in 35 mm prints.
The series includes three contemporary South American films – one from Chile and two from Argentina – and another film from Spain. The Caribbean documentary On The Map will also be shown, with Filmmaker Annalee Davis in attendance.
“We want to help the Nashville film community grow,” said Joel Logiudice, director of the Office of Arts and Creative Engagement. “The International Lens film series is an opportunity for us to bring some of the best in foreign film to Nashville, but films that might not otherwise be shown because of their special topics or niche appeal. We want to complement what’s already happening in Nashville art cinema circles while also engaging the research interests of our faculty and center directors. We feel that access to these films and the chance to discuss the themes and ideas they raise will translate into real benefits for our students and the Nashville community.”
The series is made possible through the sponsorship of the Office of the Dean of Students, the Max Kade Center for European and German Studies, the Vanderbilt departments and centers represented, and through the generous support of Nashville cinephiles Mimi and Scott Manzler and The Tournées Festival of the French American Cultural Exchange. All films will be screened at 7 p.m. in Sarratt Cinema unless otherwise noted. A full schedule is here.
These are the Chile, Argentina, Caribbean, and Spain films:
Oct. 1, Machuca (2004, Chile) directed by Andrés Wood. Presented by Jason Borge, Assistant Professor of Spanish.
Oct. 16, On the Map (2007, Barbados) directed by Annalee Davis. Presented at 7:30 p.m. in Room 235 of The Commons. Presented by Ifeoma Nwankwo, Associate Professor of English.
Oct. 22, Los Muertos (2004, Argentina) directed by Lisandro Alonso. Presented by Jason Borge, Assistant Professor of Spanish.
Oct. 29, Cautiva (2004, Argentina) directed by Gastón Biraben. Presented by Marshall Eakin, Professor of History.
Dec. 3, Bodas de Sangre (1981, Spain) directed by Carlos Saura. Presented by William M. Akers, Senior Lecturer in the Film Studies Program at Vanderbilt.
Parking for International Lens screenings is available free in Zone 2 Lot 2 on West End Avenue. Sarratt Cinema is on the first floor of the Sarratt Student Center at Vanderbilt University.
Nashville Rotary needs local Spanish-speakers for Argentina exchange program
"To foster a better understanding of each country’s culture and promote friendships between the participants and their hosts"
Call for local businesses with Spanish-speaking management, other volunteers The Rotary Club of Nashville (District 6760) sent the following announcement to its members calling for participation in two exchange/study projects with Argentina Rotarians:
Group Study Exchange to / from Argentina
Do you speak Spanish or have a household member who does?
Dana McLendon, Board member and International Service Liaison and Tom Turk, GSE Committee Chairperson need your help on two initiatives.
First: Receiving Team from Argentina
From April 16 to May 19, 2009, our Rotary District (6760) and a district in Argentina will exchange Group Study Exchange Teams for almost five weeks. In the last several years, we have exchanged GSE teams with English speaking countries (England and Australia) or regions of other countries where English is widely spoken as a second language (France).
We understand that English is not widely spoken in the northern provinces of Argentina where our Rotarian visitors live. For that reason, we want to put together a Spanish-language resource list. Specifically:
1. Do you or a member of your household speak Spanish? 2. Do you have a close friend, neighbor, or relative (not in your household) who speaks Spanish? 3. Do you know of sizeable Middle Tennessee businesses where there are Spanish speaking members of management (possible tour sites for the in-bound GSE team visitors)?
If your answer to any of these (or similar) questions is “yes,” please email Suzanne at: suzanne@nashvillerotary.org with a copy to GSE Committee Chairperson Tom Turk at: turktj@comcast.net.
Second: Outbound Trip to Argentina
We need to identify and encourage young professionals (age 25-39) who speak Spanish to apply to be outbound team members, plus Spanish-speaking Rotarians desiring to apply to be the team leader of the outbound District 6760 Tennessee team. Preference will be given to conversational and fluent Spanish speakers.
The interviews/ selection for team members and the team leader will be held Saturday, October 18 at the Renaissance Center in Dickson.
Interested persons can find the application form for Group Study Exchange at www.Rotary.org. Completed applications are submitted through any District 6760 Rotary Club.
Thank you.
Rotary GSE Trip to Argentina
The purpose of the trip will be to foster a better understanding of each country’s culture and promote friendships between the participants and their hosts. While in Argentina the group will stay in the homes of Rotarians, see spectacular sites and scenery, and meet the fascinating people of this country.
NON-ROTARIAN Team Members: Individuals who apply for the Group Study Exchange Team must be twenty-five through thirty-nine years of age and employed full time in the area. They must also be able to leave their employment for the period of the exchange or approximately a month. Rotarians and their families are not eligible to be team members.
ROTARIAN Team Leader: The team leader acts as advocate, confidant, mediator, organizer, intermediary, consultant, colleague, friends, motivator, arbitrator, and protector of team members. As the only Rotarian on the team, the team leader is expected to assume complete control of the team and put its interests first.
Criteria for Team Leader:
---Be an experienced Rotarian;
---Not be the current district governor, immediately past district governor, or district governor-elect;
---Remain with the team for the duration of the exchange;
---Be willing and able, physically and mentally, to keep pace the GSE;
---Not be accompanied by a spouse, companion, or other relatives or dependents.
Applications for both a team leader and team members are available through the Rotary Club of Nashville; PO Box 110102; Nashville, TN 37222-0102. Applicants can also call 615-781-2700, fax 615-781-2775 or e-mail suzanne@nashvillerotary.org.
Deadline to file applications is: September 30, 2008.
Group Study Exchange Application forms (both team member and team leader) can be downloaded from the Rotary International website
In playful ads, conductor Giancarlo Guerrero takes symphony passion to La Hacienda, Tootsies, historic Franklin and Bicentennial Mall
"One of the biggest goals of this orchestra is to open it to everybody"
La Hacienda ad: "Gracias, Maestro" Nicaragua-born and Costa Rica-raised Giancarlo Guerrero, the new director of the Nashville Symphony, is the star of a popular series of playful ads that take the Maestro beyond the typical symphony surroundings and into Middle Tennessee landmarks like La Hacienda, Tootsies, historic downtown Franklin, and the Bicentennial Mall.
The Tennessean reported here on the ads and quoted Guerrero as saying, "One of the biggest goals of this orchestra is to open it to everybody." Single-concert ticket sales are up 50% over last year, according to figures published in the Tennessean.
The ads have been placed on YouTube and elsewhere and are featured below. In the ad filmed at La Hacienda, both a restaurant customer and Guerrero speak a little Spanish.
Los Pollitos Dicen debuts new Spanish clothing line for children
"We are proud of our language and culture and revel in celebrating it with little kids all over the country"
Nashville-based baby clothier Los Pollitos Dicen announced its new Spanish-language line in this press release:
Los Pollitos Dicen, the premier line of children's Spanish tee shirts, debuts new gift items: bilingual baby hats, bibs and tank tops.
The company also introduces its first embroidered design, a cheerful "Los Pollitos Dicen Pio Pio Pio'' on vibrantly colored red and yellow infant onesies.
The new items in the apparel company's offerings are, like the rest of the line, boutique quality and 100% cotton, made in the U.S.A. The items join a selection of bright and festive onesies and tees screen-printed with funny and popular Latino colloquialisms like Gordito, Pachanga and Candela (Chubalicious, Par-TAY! and Spitfire.)
Los Pollitos Dicen (The Little Chicks Say) sells many of its t-shirts and onesies packaged in a wooden, egg-shaped gift box with a beautiful illustration and story in English. The box can be decorated and cherished as a keepsake or fun box for toddler treasures.
All the t-shirts and onesies, like the company's tag line, are "Vibrant Threads for Colorful Babes.'' Prices range from $6 to $24. All items are available on-line and at select boutiques across the country.
Los Pollitos Dicen launched in 2005 and has been featured in national newspapers and magazines such as Working Mother, The Miami Herald and the Dallas Morning News. Los Pollitos Dicen also was a Target.com Hispanic Heritage Month Red Hot Shop vendor in 2007.
The founders, Carrie Ferguson Weir and Oscar Alonso, are South Florida-born Cuban-Americans who created the line to celebrate and promote la cultura to all -- regardless of Mother Tongue. Weir is a former newspaper reporter who blogs about "life on the hyphen'' at Bilingual in the Boonies. She also writes for the popular site, Parenting.com. Alonso is a Philadelphia-based artist and graphic designer.
"We are proud of our language and culture and revel in celebrating it with little kids all over the country,'' Weir said. "Our loyal customers appreciate our originality and our quality, so we always are working to expand our line. We know the new offerings will be a hit.''
For more information visit Los Pollitos Dicen at www.piopio.biz Use the code PACHANGA to receive 20% off your next purchase.
# # #
Los Pollitos Dicen, the premier line of Spanish baby gift t-shirts and onesies, has been making familias happy since 2005. Our designs are bold in color and rich in Latino heritage.
Leticia Mason, Natalia Pelaz, and Paulo Boero to speak at Charlemos Spanish
Charlemos Spanish, one of Nashville's Spanish chat groups, sent out this press release announcing its upcoming speakers:
Sister Cities of Nashville’s Spanish social conversation group, Charlemos Spanish, announces its speakers for the beginning of the 2008-2009 season. Each meeting begins with a presentation, in Spanish, followed by small group conversation, in Spanish.
Charlemos Spanish meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Palette Gallery and Cafe at 2119 Belcourt Avenue in Hillsboro Village. All levels of Spanish-speakers, from beginner to native, are invited. The event is free and open to the public.
The speakers are:
* Leticia Mason--originally from Guadalajara, México; a lawyer and certified Spanish court interpreter in the state of Tennessee; “Spanish court interpreters in Tennessee and main differences between the American justice system and the Mexican justice system”; 11 September * Natalia Pelaz--Spanish professor at Belmont University; originally from Spain; “Until soccer united us--How the European Cup created a sense of Spanish unity”, 25 September * Paulo Boero--Spanish professor at Belmont University; originally from Argentina; moved to Nashville at the age of twelve; will speak about Argentine film, 9 October
Charlemos Spanish was 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.
Sister Cities of Nashville has one Spanish-speaking sister city--Mendoza in the wine country of Argentina. Nashville has developed a successful high school student exchange with Mendoza. Sister Cities is currently exploring a relationship with Chihuahua, Mexico. A formal International Friendship City relationship with El Port de la Selva, Catalonia, Spain is pending.
Mayor Karl Dean 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.
The founder and president of Charlemos Spanish is Elizabeth Worrell Braswell. Ms. Braswell is an online Spanish instructor for Austin Peay State University and a board member of Sister Cities of Nashville.
For directions and more information on the gallery go to: http://www.palettegallerycafe.com
Contact:
Elizabeth Worrell Braswell 615-202-0482 elizworrell@comcast.net
The Tennessean reports here that the multilingual Homework Hotline will resume today. The service, which received 32,407 total calls in 2007-2008, is available not only in English but also in Kurdish, Somalian, Arabic, and Spanish.
The service is a partnership between Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and corporate leaders including Dell, Bridgestone/Firestone, AT&T, NewsChannel 5, Sonic, and Tri-Star Health System.
Republican National Hispanic Assembly forms Tennessee chapter
"A forum for Hispanic Americans to play an influential role in local, state, and national political activities"
Born from candidate Nixon's "Spanish Speaking Committee" and George H.W. Bush's "Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee" Thanks to Kleinheider for pointing out the newly formed local chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.
From the press release:
The Republican National Hispanic Assembly announced the formation and slate of officers of its Tennessee Chapter at the inaugural state chapter meeting on Thursday, July 31, 2008. The mission of the chapter is to build a membership organization to foster the principles of the Republican Party in the Hispanic community, to provide a forum for Hispanic Americans to play an influential role in local, state, and national political activities, and to create and maintain a network of Hispanic Republican leaders.
“The Tennessee Chapter is excited about spreading the core principles of the Republican Party throughout the Hispanic community in our state,” said Chapter President Raul Lopez. “In addition, we look forward to electing Republican candidates who represent these core values of family, faith, and freedom. As a growing voting bloc, Hispanics will play an increasingly important role in the political process in Tennessee and across the country.”
Guests at the inaugural meeting included Republican officials from across the state including Governor Winfield Dunn, State Senators Jack Johnson, Jim Tracy, and Bill Ketron, and State Representatives Debra Maggart, Beth Harwell, Glen Casada, Susan Lynn, and Dolores Gresham.
According to the national web site, the RNHA's origins date back to the 1972 Republican presidential campaign, which included a "Spanish Speaking Committee":
The 1972 Presidential campaign, for the first time in U.S. history, created an outreach committee to involve Hispanic American voters in politics. The Spanish Speaking Committee for the Re-Election of President Nixon was instrumental in the acquisition of 60% of the Hispanic vote.
In 1972 President Nixon appointed George Bush as Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Reviewing the substantial gains scored by GOP candidates among voters of Hispanic background during the past election, Bush believed there was a need to keep all those Hispanic Americans who participated in President Nixon’s presidential election in the ranks of the Republican Party.
In April of 1973, Chairman Bush announced the formation of the Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee to the RNC to expand and improve the participation of Spanish surnamed persons in the Party.
Under the leadership of the national members of the Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee the RNHA was officially born...
AVANCE seminar offers comprehensive integration orientation for Spanish-speakers at Belmont tomorrow
Conexion Americas will host its annual AVANCE Spanish-language seminar at Belmont University tomorrow, July 26, from 9:30am to 3:30pm. The seminar will cover topics designed with Conexion Americas' mission in mind - "Promoting the social, economic and civic integration of Latino families in Middle Tennessee" - and will specifically include personal finances, insurance, homeownership, and consumer protection, as well as "creating a family plan in case of deportation or detention, and rights and responsibilities in the United States," according to this announcement:
Dear Community Organizations,
Attached you will find an invitation and information about a free educational conference for the Latino community this Saturday, July 26 from 9:30am-3:30pm at Belmont University.
“Avance 2008: Infórmate Hoy para Lograr un Mejor Mañana!” - Information Today for a Better Tomorrow – is a seminar on topics such as immigration, legal education, creating a family plan in case of deportation or detention, and rights and responsibilities in the United States. The event will also include a motivational keynote speaker with information about how to be successful in the United States. AVANCE is completely free of charge. We will provide breakfast, lunch and childcare. Interested participants can register for the event by calling (615) 269-6900.
Please inform any Spanish-speaking clients which your organization serves about this event. Feel free to print the attached invitation to distribute or let us know if you need additional information!
TN and VW illustrate how foreign language can be a gesture of hospitality, respect
Yesterday, the State of Tennessee welcomed Volkswagen to the growing list of major automobile manufacturers located here (Saturn and Nissan also have major operations in the state), as the German automaker announced that it will locate one of its manufacturing operations in Chattanooga (story here).
To communicate the cementing of the bond between Tennessee and the German company, a backdrop offering a welcome in the German language appeared behind Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee and Stefan Jacoby of Volkswagen Group of America.
To greet Koreans in Korean as a non-Korean is always a sure fire way to elicit surprise and a bit of cultural cool points. It doesn’t matter how much I mangle the pronunciation or use the improper honorific or fail to conjugate the verb, it never fails to please at some level.
Trying to speak someone’s language is a sign of respect... It indicates that you value them, or at least care enough to recognize that they are not altogether like you, and that this is a good thing.
Nieto and Preciado lead Spanish-language portion of Lipscomb's Summer Celebration lecture series July 2-4
"To bring the members of Hispanic Churches of Christ in Nashville together into one community"
Classes, activities for kids, food, fireworksFrom Lipscomb University:
Lipscomb University’s 2008 Summer Celebration lecture series, July 2-4, will feature a track of classes held completely in Spanish. Local Hispanic church leaders hope the July gathering can serve as a catalyst to bring the members of Hispanic Churches of Christ in Nashville together into one community.
The Spanish-language classes will follow the same theme as the overall lecture series: “Bringing Stones to Life: Nehemiah’s Call for Courage, Passion and Revival.” The keynote speakers for the event will include Jose Gregorio Nieto, minister at Brewer Road Iglesia de Cristo (Church of Christ) in Winston Salem, N.C., and Carlos Preciado, a full-time missionary for the past three and a half years.
The daily programs are not just for adults. Fun children and teen activities such as devotionals, classes, games and service projects will keep the kids busy all day, and a professional fireworks display, live entertainment and plenty of family fun and food will end the annual festival of faith and fellowship.
July 4 activities start at 4:30 p.m. with a picnic and Kid’s Zone; a community worship begins at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks are expected to begin around 9 p.m.
Nieto’s Brewer Road Iglesia de Cristo is one of the fastest growing congregations in North Carolina. He is part of a team of preachers that travels throughout the U.S. and Latin America, strengthening congregations by presenting leadership seminars, gospel meetings, and in-depth Bible studies to prepare men and women to be better equipped to serve their local congregations.
Nieto has been a full-time minister for eleven years. He graduated from the Harding School of Biblical Studies and received a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Ministry. He has been involved in mission trips to establish new congregations in Spain and Mexico.
Preciado has been a full-time missionary for the past three and a half years. They have been working with the Griffin Road Church of Christ in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.. His focus is personal evangelism, and he frequently leads Bible studies with families, young adults and teenagers during the week.
He graduated from East Tennessee State University. In 2001 he and his wife Maribel enrolled in the Atlantic International Bible Institute, a branch of Sunset International Bible Institute, where they graduated in December 2004. During that time, the couple were serving their home church in Hialeah, Fla., working with the youth, and with a new Spanish ministry in Naples, Fla.
Charlemos Spanish, a conversation group for all ages, meets at the Palette Gallery 'n' Café (2119 Belcourt Ave. in Hillsboro Village) the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend or join. Each meeting begins with a presentation, in Spanish, by a guest speaker. For more about speakers, see our Program Speakers page. For a schedule of upcoming meetings, visit the Sister Cities Calendar. Please contact Elizabeth Worrell Braswell (elizworrell@comcast.net) for more information.
Bienvenidos, amigos! If you're interested in the Spanish language and Latin culture, come to our meetups and get to know other folks with the same interests. We come from many different Latin American countries, Spain, and of course the U.S. With weekly meetups, regular salsa parties (with our own DJs), and the occasional movie or other activity, there are plenty of opportunities to practice your dusty old high school Spanish. Don't be shy! Come hang out with us. Questions? Send us an email. Everybody welcome.
Sign up for the Conversemos Language Exchange Program! We have openings available for English speakers who need to improve their ability to communicate in Spanish (particularly conversation skills). Volunteer language mentors are willing to help you with Spanish, while you help them practice and improve their English.
Triqui Indians in the state of Oaxaca have the reputation of being an ornery, reclusive, emotionally explosive, and, even violent, people. They fight. They fight with each other—other Triqui clans, villages, and political parties. They fight with other indigenous tribes. They fight with the police and the authorities. They fight with machetes, knives, arson fires, and guns. Just a few weeks ago, two young female Triqui political activists were killed nearby in cold blood. Many other killings are long unsolved. No one talks to outsiders. There is no need. They take care of their own business in their own ways.
“Outsiders” and their influences are generally not tolerated for long. It is not just Christian missionaries who have been run out of their areas, but all kinds of “outsiders.” The gospel has not penetrated very far into the Triqui culture—not from a lack of great trying on the part of some heroic missionaries from all kinds of places and over a long period of time. But it has been tough for the gospel to find the fertile soil that we know exists somewhere among the Triqui people.
However, something new, and incredible, is afoot. At least these 20-25 Triquis are defying the conventional notion that the Triquis will likely remain unresponsive to the message of God found in the Bible for all people. When asked why they come 45 minutes before the 8:00 start time, the elderly couple who arrive first say that for so many, many years they had nothing in their lives that they looked forward to—nothing. But now, they can’t wait for Sunday morning to come. They start thinking about and preparing for the journey on Friday. They can’t wait to fellowship with the others, to enjoy a hot breakfast together provided by their parent Mixteco Indian congregation, to sing songs in their Triqui language, to have the Bible read aloud in Triqui, to have the word taught and explained, to have a safe place to encounter Jesus, to meet other members of the family of God who speak Mixteco, Spanish, and, today, English.
For centuries, the small Triqui indigenous region — a 300 square-mile green oasis situated in the middle of the dry and eroded indigenous Mixteca region of western Oaxaca — has been known for endemic violence. The Triquis resisted Spanish colonial incursions and, in 1823, were the first indigenous people to rise up against the independent Mexican state, successfully beating back an attempt to evict them from their land.
After the Triquis were victorious in defending their territory in two wars — one in 1823, the other in 1843 — the Mexican government decided to shift its approach from direct, armed confrontation to a divide-and-conquer strategy, says Francisco L — pez Bárcenas, a Mixtec indigenous lawyer, historian and author of the forthcoming, San Juan Copala: Political Domination and Popular Resistance.
From the late 19th century to the present, internal divisions in the Triqui region, fomented by the state government, have led to cycles of political killings and massacres.
Giving to Guadalupe congregation unites 6-year-old Elizabeth and 81-year-old Vita
Overbrook student and columnist's late mother among donors
$400,000 loan from diocese keeps doors open, donations still needed
"More than a church ... a refuge"
"My friend goes to that church and I wanted her to be able to keep going there"By TIM CHÁVEZ for HispanicNashville.com
For 6-year-old Elizabeth, the answer to the question about giving to save Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Nashville was simple:
I wanted to send money because I wanted to help the church. I had saved money from the tooth fairy and from cleaning out the car so I wanted to help the people at the church. I know God would appreciate that. My friend goes to that church and I wanted her to be able to keep going there.
For 81-year-old Vita Hernandez Chávez, the answer was a matter of honoring a central figure of her faith and culture.
Mary the Mother of God, in her only appearance in this hemisphere, blessed this world with her presence over four days in December 1531 to an Indian man, Juan Diego. He had been widowed from his wife, cared for his sick uncle and survived the Spanish Conquest that butchered tens of thousands of indigenous people. St. Juan Diego also survived the local Aztecs, who sacrificed hundreds of thousands of lives for years in worship of a serpent God.
Into this evil, Our Lady of Guadalupe with her dark skin appeared at a hilltop wasteland five miles north of Mexico City.
She promised to be a protectress. And as Pope John Paul II noted almost five centuries later, her appearance was meant to unite the European and indigenous people. The Spaniards came to Mexico and the New World at the direction of Spain's Queen Isabella. And Vita as a Mexican-American was descended from Juan Diego and the indigenous people.
So within weeks of one another, Elizabeth from Overbrook School gave all she had, $7, and Vita from her Oklahoma City nursing home bed gave $7,000 -- both sums to keep open Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Nashville. One inspired the other. And Europe and Mexico were united by Our Lady of Guadalupe according to John Paul's vision.
For the past 45 days, raising funds to save Our Lady's has been difficult approaching a June 30 deadline to pay off the church's debt in an economic recession. But the miraculous acts of giving like those of Elizabeth and Vita have inspired advocates onward.
Sunday, Father Fernando Garcia and parishoners of Our Lady's hosted Nashville, opening their doors Sunday afternoon to give tours and cook food for more than 100 Anglo brothers and sisters united by a love for Our Lady of Guadalupe and her son, Jesus Christ. One set of people had given and one set had of people received, and they showed off the marvelous things they have done with this investment. With their own sweat, they've refurbished the former Baptist church and molded young minds in the faith of generations since St. Juan Diego. Incredible.
And to see the pride on these Hispanic faces was priceless and worth so much more to the heart than the despair in fearful faces being deported and harrassed.
Sadly, Nashville's Big Three TV news media weren't present, at least from what I could see, and from watching early evening newscasts. How sad and telling. If an undocumented worker been arrested, or immigration officials had conducted another raid of a worpklace, or some fool in Spring Hill was protesting his son's class singing a national hymn in Spanish as a class project, or some silly politician and his narrow-minded friends propose a ridiculous referendum about the obvious of speaking English but the unnecessary hate of a mandate or someone had complained about Electrolux in Springfield hiring undocumented workers, then the stories would have led the newscasts..
Ironically, NewsChannel 5's anchor on Sunday was reporter Scott Arnold, who used several days of airtime to chronicle the wrongs of Electrolux and undocumented workers and their families on the pitiful souls of native folks in Springfield. Yet Arnold apparently couldn't bother to drive only a few miles to Our Lady's and bring a camera for a few seconds of Hispanics in a positive light on Sunday evening's newscast.
Positive news about Hispanics and amazing stories of giving across ethnicities aren't considered newsworthy. Instead, we have to hear about a Titan player being arrested for DUI and people being killed on a railroad and a Goodlettsville man stabbing his roommates.
God help us. No wonder people are deserting the mainstream news media. Mr. Arnold, people want stories of hope, and you and your colleagues missed a big story of hope -- and achievement over adversity -- Sunday afternoon. Don't complain that you didn't know. If you didn't know, then you are either not trusted by the Hispanic community to be fair or you're not interested in being connected to a people who live just a few miles from your station.
It is your viewers' great loss, because Elizabeth inspired Vita and vice versa. Elizabeth's Spanish teacher told her students about the plight of Our Lady's and Hispanic families in Nashville from reading my column on John Lamb's provocative website, the Hispanic Nashville Notebook. The column included mention of Vita's initial gift of $3,000 to Our Lady in honor of her marriage to Natalio Chavez more than five decades ago at a church of the same name in a Topeka, KS, barrio.
So on the last day of school, Elizabeth brought $7 from her piggybank and gave it to her teacher. Elizabeth left a lot of adults on the Dominican Campus in tears with the purity of her gift. In honoring Our Lady, she also answered Pope Benedict's appeal to Americans to protect our immigrant brothers and sisters.
Our Lady's in Nashville is the largest Catholic church in the diocese and Tennessee, says the Rev. Joe Pat Breen, pastor of nearby St. Edward Catholic Church. The good people of Our Lady's have contributed to save their church -- almost $75,000 -- while still supporting daily operations, staff and services to the community.
Parishoners at nearby St. Edward keep giving $3,000 to $4,000 per week for a total of more than $300,000 over the past year.
The effort to create Our Lady's is the dream of Father Breen. It was made possible through the generosity of the late Rev. Paul Durham's family that offered the land and buildings for less a third of their appraised value. Breen and Durham were good friends. Finally, it took the generosity of three local Catholics who put up the $1.5 million a year ago to allow time for fundraising. They've also paid an additional $70,000 in interest costs over the past 12 months. Those three Catholics come from St. Henry's, The Cathedral and Christ the King. They're being repaid so they can spread their giving to others in need.
Our Lady's is more than a church, or a "temple" as to the Holy Mother's wishes almost five centuries ago. It is a place of refuge for a people beset by politics and demonization from the heinous 287(g) deportation program enacted by Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall and supported by U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Lamar Alexander.
Within Our Lady's walls, no one is a stranger and love and compassion are unconditional. As the greatest American in our history -- the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- said: "Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds."
I realize my African-American brothers and sisters in Nashville know what it is like to mistreated and persecuted and your good news ignored by the mainstream news media. Let us join in our suffering and support one another in pursuit of justice for all. Perhaps we can do it in the upcoming general election. We'll come to your churches or host you in ours; we're united by the same God and cause.
For Our Lady's, we're still $400,000 short of the goal of $1.5 million to pay off the church's debt by June 30. Just to get to this point, besides the giving of Elizabeth and Vita, we have been very blessed. A stunning $100,000 donation came from St. Philip Catholic Church in Franklin and the good Father Kirk. Holy Family Catholic Church and the good Father Alberts in Brentwood gave $25,000 despite being in the middle of their own building project. God bless both congregations.
How that's for crossing county and ethnic lines as Our Lady of Guadalupe promised?
The good sisters at the Dominican Campus in Nashville have given $500. And they are the ones who are educating Elizabeth, besides her fine parents.
In these last seven days, we will be saying more prayers and asking for more miracles of giving. And we will remember Our Lady's words, as taken from the website www.guadalupeshrine.org:
Am I not here, I who am your mother? Are you not in my shadow, under my protection? Am I not the fountain of your joy? Are you not in the fold of my mantle, in my crossed arms? Is there anything else you need?
Father Breen has successfully talked with the diocese to make a loan available to Our Lady's after June 30. Technically, Our Lady's is now saved. But it is not the best situation. The good people at Our Lady's really do not earn enough for the church to pay for its operations and social services -- and pay off a $400,000 loan each month. That's why we are praying over these last seven days for more gifts from $7 to $7,000 to make the loan payment more affordable.
Catholic Charities under the leadership of Nashville attorney Gregg Ramos will be opening an office at Our Lady's. That's positive news to start these last seven days. In the coming week, we must not fail extraordinary people of faith such as Elizabeth, 6, and Vita, 81.
In the early morning hours of June 7, on her mother's birthday, Vita Hernandez Chavez slipped away in her sleep under the watch of Our Lady to be reunited with her three sisters and Mama in heaven. Her devotion was rewarded.
She is missed desperately by those who adored her, including me, her son. She remains a marvelous mother and friend, who got me involved in political writing.
Her faith and devotion to Our Lady also remain alive in Elizabeth, who by God's grace and loving parents has many more decades of giving to inspire.
With Vita gone on to her eternal reward, Elizabeth now looks to us and how we will respond to their gifts from the heart. For these two marvelous souls from different cultures but one love of God, please consider giving to Our Lady's and build on the miracles of hope and faith for a better Nashville and world.
(Tim Chávez was a political columnist for 10 years with The Tennnessean newspaper in Nashville. For the past five years, he has been a regular contributor of political commentary to Hispanic Link News Service in Washington, D.C. and distributed over the Scripps-Howard News Service. He publishes a new political blog, Political Salsa, at politicalsalsa.com)
FOR OUR LADY's and ELIZABETH and VITA:
* Go to www.stedward.org. On the left side of the home page is a box labeled "Our Lady's". Click there and you can view a presentation about the church. Or you can go directly to a credit card form to donate.
* If you want to use mail, send your contributions to St. Edward Catholic Church, 188 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37211. On a bottom corner of the envelope, write "For Our Lady's".
* Checks should be made out to St. Edward Catholic Church but put "Our Lady of Guadalupe" in the "memo" part of the check.
* If you would like someone to come to your organization or place of worship to speak about Our Lady's and answer questions, please e-mail me at timchavez787@yahoo.com. I'll be there at any time, day or place, for Catholics or non-Catholics, believers or non-believers. All are good people.
* If you can't give, you have our prayers that God will bless you in your difficult times. Remember, Our Lady of Guadalupe is there for you, too.
Musico a Musico and Allegro Institute launch Spanish-language Worship Arts Academy
Nashville-based Musico a Musico, which conducts musician training for Spanish-speaking Christians around the world, will be starting a Spanish-language Worshiping Arts Academy in Nashville in conjunction with the Allegro Institute.
The registration started for the Allegro Institute in Nashville, TN, the classes are Schedule to start Saturday July 12. There are many already signed up, and many interested and planning on registering. In Nashville, Allegro Institute will start this with a very important partnership with Músico a Músico in the city of Nashville. MaM is a ministry dedicated to have Congresos of praise, worship, and arts in different cities in the Latin world. The Allegro Institute is joining efforts with MaM to start this program in Nashville. We believe that this union and the classes from Allegro Institute/Músico a Músico in the city of Nashville, TN will be the beginning of a long project for both institutions.
The Director of Instituto Allegro/Músico a Músico in Nashville is Rachel Vasquez who has been working hard to have every detail ready for the start of the classes.
SPANISH-TV and the Nashville Zoo will host "Latino Day at the Zoo" on Sunday, June 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This is one of two events at the Zoo this year that will cater to Nashville's Hispanic fans of fauna. The other event is called Dia Familiar at Nashville Zoo and will be part of Conexion Americas' Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in September.
Here is the "Latino Day at the Zoo" press release:
SPANISH-TV Presents Latino Day at the Zoo
Nashville Zoo and SPANISH-TV present the first Latino Day at the Zoo on Sunday, June 1. Activities will run from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., and SPANISH-TV hosts Sheyla Paz Hicks, Raul López, Karina Camilo and Alexis Martinez will be at the Zoo meeting guests.
Translators will be stationed throughout the Zoo, and Spanish language maps and map inserts outlining the day's activities will be available. The Zoo’s award-winning animal shows and Historic Home tours will be offered in Spanish. Zoo staff and docents will also work with translators to deliver educational presentations and answer guests’ questions about:
Discounted admission coupons for Latino Day can be picked up at La Reyna Supermercado 1 & 2, Las Cazuelas Mexican Grill, La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, Azeca Restaurant, Los Arcos, Jalisco Market, Periodico Latino Newspaper, La Campana Newspaper, Latina 900 AM and La Ley 1380 AM.
Latino Day at the Zoo is the result of a partnership between Nashville Zoo and SPANISH-TV. SPANISH-TV launched in 2006 and airs on Telemundo Nashville, Middle Tennessee’s sole Spanish-speaking network. For more information about SPANISH-TV, visit spanish-tvtucanal.com.
Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry. The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Road and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The mission of the Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership. For more information about Nashville Zoo, please call 833-1534 or visit our website at nashvillezoo.org
In Memoriam: Air Force Senior Airman Pedro I. Espaillat Jr. and Army Lt. Richard Torres
Torres: son of Peruvian immigrants, 3.9 GPA at Austin Peay, Purple Heart and Bronze Star
Espaillat: came to Maury County from Dominican Republic, honors at Spring Hill HS, enlisted week before 9/11This Memorial Day, the Hispanic Nashville Notebook remembers two Hispanic servicemen who came to Tennessee before their names were added to the lists of the fallen:
Army Lt. Richard Torres was the first Austin Peay ROTC graduate killed in combat since the school began the program in 1971. ... Torres grew up in Passaic, New Jersey, the son of Peruvian immigrants Dora and Gulian Torres, and during his childhood he discovered his interest in military service. ... The Rev. Antonio Rodriguez, pastor at Holy Trinity Church, performed the liturgy in both English and Spanish for those who had traveled from Tennessee, Texas and Peru to pay their final respects. ... entered the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., where Torres got a three-year scholarship and maintained a 3.9 grade-point average. ... "His dream was to retire in the military and get his master's and teach at West Point. He said he wasn't going to stop until he got his doctorate. He said, 'Watch, one day, I'll be the president of the United States.' " ... Richard Torres was posthumously honored with a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star
Air Force Senior Airman Pedro I. Espaillat Jr. came to Maury County in 1993 with his mother and two brothers from the Dominican Republic. His father, an assembly worker at Saturn Corp., had arrived about three years earlier. ... a 2001 honors graduate at Spring Hill High School ... chose to enlist ... one week before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Hondurans inspire Nashville teens, doctors, hospital, church
Surgery, Spanish majors, call to missions result from visits to Central American nation
The Nashville City Paper reported here about Escarleth Betancourt-Gutierrez, a 15-year-old Honduran girl, and her spinal surgery in Nashville courtesy of support from Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Dr. James Netterville, Dr. Greg Mencio, and Harpeth Hills Church of Christ:
Netterville discovered Escarleth’s condition two years ago and pulled strings to bring her to Nashville. Dr. Greg Mencio performed the spinal surgery for free and Netterville’s congregation donated the $5,000 for materials needed to perform the procedure.
Young members of the Harpeth Hills congregation have been inspired by their trips to Honduras, according to this report by proud grandfather Bailey McBride:
Savanna and her brother, Luke, have gone to Honduras since he was 16 and she was 13. They immediately made a connection with the children of Jovenes en Camino, an orphanage near Tegucigalpa. Through the years, they have strengthened their connections in Honduras. Both have studied Spanish in high school. Luke has recently returned from a Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica and will graduate from college with a Spanish major. Savanna will go to college this fall with five years of high school Spanish and plans to major in Spanish and prepare for a life of missions.
The Tennessean reports today on the award and ceremony as reproduced below.
Three Nashville-area public school principals were among 18 in Tennessee whom an education-focused organization recognized this week for excellence. In a ceremony Monday at the state Capitol, the Education Consumers Foundation honored principals whom it called "the best of the best" in advancing students academically. Among them are: • Mary Lou Del Rioof Paragon Mills Elementary in Metro Nashville. • Brian Bass of Fairview Middle School in Williamson County. • Johnny Chandler of Dickson Middle School in Dickson County. The winners were selected from the more than 1,300 public elementary and middle schools statewide, based on year-to-year gains in reading and math. Schools whose students make the greatest annual achievement gains earn the highest value-added scores.
Mrs. Mary Lou Del Rio, an educator with more than 30 years of experience, is the wife of Mr. Luis del Rio, a retired coach, bilingual interpreter, and a prominent Cuban-American in the advisory board of COPLA (Comitede Padres Latinos, the council of Hispanic parents with children in Metro schools).
This Tennessean article contains its own roundup of Cinco de Mayo events at Agave Tequila Lounge, Lot 7, Sam's Place Sports Bar and Grill, The French Quarter Cafe, Lime, and Alleycat Lounge.
Then there's these other events:
The Fiesta Belmont on May 3, which the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* is sponsoring:
FIESTA BELMONT is a one day event that will be held at the campus of Belmont University on Saturday May 3 from 11 AM to 7 PM. This family oriented event will have food stands as well as LIVE MUSIC interpreted by several of our most prominent Hispanic performers including Belmont Salsa All-Stars, San Rafael Band, Ocho Treinta, Carlos Negron & Trabuko as well as our local Mexican Folkloric Dance Group. There will be games for children and most of all a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and celebrate together our Cinco de Mayo.
There is a Cinco de Mayo Fair running now through Sunday May 4 at the Nashville Fairgrounds.
The Middle TN Hispanic Democrats (MTHD) are hosting a Cinco de Mayo Celebration and Fundraiser ($25 donation appreciated) on May 5 at 5:30pm. Contact info@mtnhd.org for details.
The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* sent more details about the French Quarter event listed in the Tennessean article above:
Every year on the fifth of May, party-goers look for the most unique venues to commemorate Mexican heritage and pride with festive music, décor, and drinks. This year, Nashvillians are in for a treat when Cerrito takes the stage at the French Quarter Café at 7:30 PM for his celebratory Spanish-English performance, and they can feel great about supporting the event as all proceeds from tickets will be donated to the "Make A Wish Foundation" in the hopes of fulfilling the dreams of terminally ill children.
"Cinco de Mayo is such a great time of year to show appreciation for Spanish-influenced music, and we are really looking forward to putting on a great show," says Cerrito.
"We are so delighted to celebrate Cinco De Mayo with Cerrito, and help grant a wish in the process.
Events like this are a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and support for wish kids in the 38 counties that we serve," says Michelle Rosen with Make a Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee.Make a Wish will have a child on-site that will personally benefit from the donations and share the story behind their wish.
Cerrito became immersed in the Spanish-English music scene while performing for years with legendary flamenco guitarist Charo. Cerrito then moved on to San Antonio, TX where he headlined his own show at the Arneson River Theatre on the river performing traditional country music (in English and Spanish) in front of ravenous audiences who seemed to want more. Cerrito found his place in the Country Music scene.
Cerrito's interest and success in learning to translate traditional country music to the Spanish language opened doors to a number of opportunities. Renowned Nashville producer Byron Gallimore approached Cerrito with the request to translate Tim McGraw's hit record "Re-fried Dreams," and the Country Music Association, Nashville, solicited him to perform on stage at the first "Fiesta Nashville" show--Fan Fair 2001.
Fans are guaranteed an evening full of entertainment, some culture, as well as some great prizes for their donation at the door!
"Near-wordless" Spanish-language film packs crowd at NaFF
In the City of Sylvia sells out quickly
The Nashville Scene's recap of the first few days of the Nashville Film Festival ("NaFF") mentioned the popularity of a (barely) Spanish-language film:
It was a good sign when a near-wordless art film, Jose Luis Guerin’s gorgeous Spanish-language reverie In the City of Sylvia, sold out its one screening so fast it had to be moved to a larger auditorium.
Two new stories serve as reminder that sloppy immigration response can change Nashville reputation from hospitable to hostile
San Antonio headline says "a haven for refugees, immigrants, but tune may be changing"
National columnist ponders bans of taco carts, Spanish-language books
"Americans in name only"
Karl Dean: "There should be no question that we are a welcoming city"The San Antonio Express-News web site MySA.com and nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarette both refer to Nashville in recent pieces about immigration. The immigration issue, which is purportedly about the borders, has repeatedly (here, here and here, to name a few) affected the image that Nashville tries to paint for individuals and business looking to visit or relocate to Music City.
The Express-News story points out Nashville's welcoming reputation but wonders aloud if that reputation is at risk with the weaponization of the immigration debate. A Nashville shopowner is quoted as saying that learning the language and following the law will insulate immigrants from animosity, but columnist Navarrette is not so sure. Navarrette focuses on the impact of the immigration debate on Hispanics in general, many of whom are not immigrants. In his column, Navarrette cites at least one and maybe two Tennessee incidents targeting Hispanics in general. The Hispanic Nashville Notebook has documented similar troubling incidents in and around Nashville, in which immigration status is not the sole focus of animosity (see stories here and here).
From MySA.com:
Many foreign newcomers still find Nashville more open to them than other U.S. cities polarized by immigration controversies — but the honeymoon seems to be coming to an abrupt end. ... In Nashville, it's the opening of places such as Super Mercado Latino, Coco Loco restaurant or Salón de Belleza Internacional that's sparking animosity. ... One is the Cyber Café, opened four years ago by Gerardo Mendoza. The Mexico City native has lived in Nashville for 14 years — and can't remember a single Hispanic-owned shop when he moved here. He considers it a much better place for immigrants than Houston, where he previously lived.
"Now that there's lots of us, they don't want us here anymore," said Mendoza, 34. "But I don't think it's racism as much as wanting things done right. If you follow the law and learn English, you're fine."
From Navarrette:
You might live in Colorado or New Mexico or Arizona and come from a family that has lived in the United States for several generations. And yet, your citizenship is being challenged by nativists who paint with a broad brush. [Commenters on the Tennessean's recent profile of Ramon Cisneros openly questioned his legal status; those comments and others were later deleted by the Tennessean. -ed.] All they see is your skin color or surname and, from this, they conclude that -- unless you go along with every harebrained scheme to combat illegal immigration -- you're, as one reader recently informed me, "an American in name only." How do you suppose Hispanics will react? ... Part of the problem is that the right-wingers weren't content to just attack illegal immigrants. They had to attack an entire culture, which is shared by legal immigrants and U.S.-born Hispanics. And so, a discussion that should have been about exactly three things -- improving border security, smoothing the path for legal immigrants, and deciding the fate of 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States -- became about outlawing taco trucks, limiting the number of people in a home, blasting pizza parlors for taking pesos, banning Spanish language library books, and other nonsense.
When Navarrette speaks of outlawing taco trucks, he is speaking of Nashville. He mentioned Nashville specifically in this previous column on the subject. The reference to bans of Spanish-language books may or may not refer to Middle Tennessee. Nearby Marshall County rejected a local teacher's proposal to eliminate that city's foreign-language collection (story here).
The negativity against Hispanics in general that Navarrette reveals is a poisonous side effect of weaponizing the immigration debate, and it wasn't unexpected. See this earlier story in the Hispanic Nashville Notebook:
At the national and even the local level, there were warnings about the cost of a spiraling negativity towards Hispanics in general in the context of immigration. In 2005, U.S. Representative Jim Cooper (D-Nashville) called on Nashville's business community to "stand up and make a difference, otherwise the debate on this could get out of control in a hurry" (story here). That same year, former Bush White House official Leslie Sanchez warned Republicans against fanning the intensity of immigration politics "into an anti-Hispanic free-for-all" (story here). Acknowledging and apologizing for that free-for-all in Nashville last Saturday was U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), who "[asked] a Hispanic man onstage for forgiveness for the negative tone Washington's immigration debate has taken," and said, "'We want you in America. We love you and ask you to forgive us for these negative comments'" (story here).
Early in 2007, Governor Phil Bredesen condemned the spillover:
"Illegal immigration is bad. It is OK to fight it," he said. "But when that starts slopping over into ‘We’re opposed to anybody who speaks Spanish or we’re opposed to anybody who’s not American-born,’ I think you get into very, very bad territory. And there’s been some of that."
Nashville mayors have consistently promoted Nashville's reputation of hospitality. Former Mayor Bill Purcell said in February 2007, "The great overarching truth in our success in this still new century is that we are a welcoming, inclusive, and friendly people and place." Current Mayor Karl Dean said in October 2007, "There should be no question that we are a welcoming city."
Whether those mayoral statements register outside of Nashville appears to be subject, in part, to ongoing local behavior and speech regarding immigrants and the laws that apply to them, and regarding Hispanics in general.
May we all heed these Nashvillians' calls to resist negativity, be neighbors and love our neighbors, and speak out instead of being silent.
Nashville Diocese ordered Spanish Mass 20 years ago
The Chattanooga Times Free Press notes in this article that Spanish Mass was a priority in Nashville at least 20 years ago:
The Rev. George E. Schmidt, pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, said the then-Diocese of Nashville recognized the influx of immigrants more than 20 years ago when it assigned a priest to hold a monthly Spanish Mass in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities.
Español in country music was WSIX's April Fools joke
Angry listeners don't see through prank and bemoan supposed change
A Nashville radio personality tested the limits of the April Fools' art form with a fake format change supposedly designed to attract Spanish-speaking listeners. CMT's Country Music Blog describes the April Fools' joke crafted by WSIX's Gerry House this year, which was that the country music station would try to broaden its listener base by playing some Spanish-language songs in the rotation.
After issuing the phony announcement and playing some songs en español, here is what happened:
House opened his phone lines and listeners started calling in. Did they ever. And most of them were angry. Angry that another culture was being "forced" on them. Vowed to leave the station and never return. Forget the fact that Spanish-language singers and writers are a big part of country music history. I guess House waited too long to remind his listeners that it was April Fool's Day. Oh - and then he played the new single by Gone Country winner Julio Iglesias Jr. and invited listeners to vote on that song.
This particular joke comes during an increasing push to fight negativity against Hispanics, African-Americans, immigrants, and/or Spanish-speakers (see this round-up or today's Tennessean story). According to this article about April Fools Day in the Altoona (PA) Mirror, an artful prank does two things: it builds comraderie, and it doesn't hurt anyone. Reader comments on the CMT Country Music blog post criticize both House and his listeners for the negativity generated by the stunt.
As the CMT blog points out, however, the fake news at the heart of the prank was not entirely unimaginable, since Spanish-language songs are a part of country music's past and present. See previous Hispanic Nashville Notebook stories on Freddy Fender and Julio Iglesia's Gone Country win.
I was listening that morning and was completely appalled at the hateful comments listeners were making.
I agree with the commenter, CME, over at the CMT blog who said,
"I thought it was a brilliant show. It brought out the blatant ignorance in our community and one of the best ways to make changes is to bring the problem to light."
and
"Again, I think bringing the subject out on the radio so that others can hear the ignorance and racism only helps shed light on the problem. The less we hide it the more hope it has to change."
I wish some of those people who called could hear themselves played back and realize how ignorant they really are.
Grew up hearing Spanish and answering in EnglishEric Volz, the immigrant from Nashville to Nicaragua who was cleared of a murder conviction in that Central American country in a case that is still not over, told a group of Belmont University students about the Hispanic portions of his autobiography in the context of a media ethics lecture.
Volz was born and raised in Sacramento and considers himself a Californian. He was 13 when his father, a musician, decided to move to Nashville to pursue a musical career.
Growing up, family members spoke to Volz in Spanish and he would answer in English.
His Mexican grandfather was the catalyst for his immersion.
"It was because of him that I really learned the language," Volz said in Spanish. "I learned about the culture, how to read it, write it and talk with the accent."
Volz's Mexican-American family lived in border towns. His mother, Maggie Anthony, was raised in Nogales, Ariz.
He went to several high schools and remained interested in Latin America and added another hobby — photography. He went to school at the University of California, San Diego, and majored in Latin American cultural studies.
Walwyn in last year as chairman of the board of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber
Goodpasture Christian graduate with Cuban heritage, founded Nashville law firm
Nashville attorney Marc Walwyn is in his last year as chairman of the board of directors of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*, which is more commonly associated with its President, Yuri Cunza. Walwyn addressed the group in its recent annual meeting (text of address below), highlighting increased influence and interaction with other local and national groups. Profiles of the full board are available here, including one of Walwyn:
Marc Walwyn is an attorney of Cuban heritage and the founder of the only certified minority owned law firm in Tennessee. Marc is very proud that his lawyers and staff speak to clients in their own language which include Portuguese, Korean and Spanish. While serving large American companies, Walwyn takes pride on serving families and those who need an advocate. He served as an Administrative Law Judge in Chicago before returning to his home town of Nashville. Marc graduated from Goodpasture Christian High School, obtained his B.A. from Carleton College in Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School where he served as Administrative Editor of the Wisconsin Law Review.
Walwyn's address to members of the chamber:
Dear members,
Last year has been both challenging and exciting for the NAHCC. Re energized by our successes we at the NAHCC will continue the work that will strengthen our Hispanic businesses and aggressively move the NAHCC forward.
This work cannot be done unless we all team up JUNTOS, because TOGETHER we can make a difference.
Serving as NAHCC Chairman has given me the opportunity to work with our Board of Directors to move the organization towards financial self-sufficiency.
This is a hard task for any volunteer board; I am very appreciative to those who have invested time and effort to advance the work of the NAHCC.
To our Board, President, staff and volunteers: THANK YOU for your determination and hard work.
Highlights from last year include our increased our influence and participation with the mainstream business community and government. We are here to serve our members, but to serve our members we are to work diligently, creating opportunities, building the much needed trust, creating a bridge between communities. In order to move forward the PARTICIPATION of all of us is needed.
To our members and supporters who helped us this past year, we THANK YOU for your time and commitment. JUNTOS we are creating a better Nashville for all.
Gracias Marc Walwyn NAHCC Chair 2006-2008
Upcoming events and announcements can be found on the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber's web site.
Winner of CMT's Gone Country: Julio Iglesias Jr., with bilingual song
Judge John Rich: "About half my friends were Spanish kids - Mexican kids - and their first language was Spanish"
The Canadian Press is one of many international sources to report the newly minted Latin/country crossover star that is Julio Iglesias, Jr., who earned that title with his win of the Nashville-based reality show "Gone Country." Airing on CMT, the show featured an American-Idol-style showdown of various non-country artists taking a stab at country music, including Iglesias, Jr. On his way to victory, the Madrid-born, Miami-raised crooner stopped by Manuel's Nashville shop to pick up some bona fide country duds (episode info here).
Judge John Rich of Big & Rich said in his blog that he picked Iglesias because of his "X Factor" with both male and female fans, but also because of the missing Hispanic element in modern country music:
I think, that Julio Iglesias Jr. brings an element to country music that does not exist -- and that being the Spanish-English element. I remember growing up in Texas and hearing Johnny Rodriguez on my radio station, and about half my friends were Spanish kids -- Mexican kids -- and their first language was Spanish. They were all my buddies. I remember Johnny Rodriguez turning them on to country music. They liked it, but it wasn't something they completely related to until they saw Johnny Rodriguez.
Well, I think, it's been 30 years since that, and I think it's time we pay attention to that audience again. I see Spanish-speaking people coming to Big & Rich shows by the hundreds and thousands, depending on the part of the country that we're in, and right now, there's nobody in our format speaking to that audience.
Big & Rich have included bilingual Spanish/English raps on at least one album before, and Hispanic artists have done fairly well on at least other country music reality show - see John Arthur Martinez' second place finish and Melanie Torres' top-ten spot on Nashville Star. The country music industry has commissioned reports and engaging in soul-searching and head-scratching about what Hispanic interest in country music could mean for the business.
Julio Iglesias, Jr.'s winning Gone Country video performance, which includes bilingual English/Spanish lyrics, is here.
When I worked at Sony Music back in the '90s, we tried to get Rick Trevino launched as a bilingual artist. We even released his album in both an English version and a Spanish version. For some reason, his career just never took off. He had one or two hits, and then fell off the radar.
I believe the market is ripe for another try, and with the name recognition of Julio Iglesias, Jr., as well as the backing of John Rich, this could be the beginning of an explosion.
This is great. John Rich is right on. He knew how strong Johnny Rodriguez was, and now he found some one who has the name, the look and the work ethic to finally get a Latino in Country Music. Thank you John Rich!
Two groups of city employees learn Spanish, but Hendersonville offers $5,000 bonus
Murfreesboro to give all PD employees "survival Spanish" by end of year
The Tennessean reported here about a program for Hendersonville employees that "gives them the chance to earn $2,500 if they get credentialed as Spanish court interpreters and an additional $2,500 if they stay with the city for two years."
The article also said that half of Murfreesboro's 271-employee police department was trained in "survival Spanish" last year, and "the rest are expected to train this year." There is no mention of any financial compensation for the Murfreesboro employees.
Cuba is still waiting for its big day, says Ferguson Weir
Cuban-American Nashville blogger Carrie Ferguson Weir of Bilingual in the Boonies reacted to Fidel Castro's resignation here and here. Some excerpts:
When the arch enemy of your people just kinda resigns it's a little bit of a let down. ... For those of you with kind of a passing or romanticized idea of bearded dictators, know this: Bearded Dictator: Bad Bearded Dictator Brother: Badder ... Growing up, I imagined the Any Day Now really could be Any Day Now. I imagined taking to the streets, like we did when the Dolphins won in '72, honking horns, causing traffic jams, waving flags. I imagined the pachanga of a lifetime. A party to last for days, a party to end all parties. The tears of joy, the boats leaving for Havana Harbor and coming from Havana Harbor, just like during the 1980 Mariel Boat Lift.
The Any Day Now of my making would have meant these TV reporters could barely have heard themselves above the total Cuban racket, the kind only Cubans know how to make. But it was so damned calm.
According to her bio, Weir is a former newspaper reporter who now sells a line of Spanish children's T-shirts. She lives on the outskirts of Nashville, "far from the Cuban-American homeland that is Miami."
Spanish-TV brings local Spanish-language programming to Nashville airwaves
Giancarlo Guerrero, Jose Feliciano, international "lucha libre" champion, Metro Schools among 2008 interviews
Airs on Telemundo Nashville
Episodes also available onlineNashville-based Spanish-language television show "Spanish-TV" announced its second season in this press release:
Second season of Spanish-TV
2008 brings exciting changes to Spanish-TV
Expanded segments on governments issues regarding the hispanic community, new sports segments including Spanish wrestling along with more entertainment and news segment. Airing weekly on Telemundo Nashville, Spanish-TV has become a hit in the Hispanic community.
Advertisers have been enthusiastic about the show's unique reach into our community and have committed to support our show in 2008.
The show’s Eye on Nashville segment continue its man-on-the-street interviews that feature a detailed look at our Hispanic heritage.
Episodes of Spanish-TV are thirty minutes long and are broadcast Saturday mornings at 10am via Comcast Cable Channels 246 and 611, on Charter Channel 24, or on the program's web site spanish-tvtucanal.com, under the link for "See the Show."
The Hispanic Nashville Notebook had previously reported here on a different locally-based Spanish-language TV show, Noticias Locales, aired on Telefutura and in conjunction with WTVF-Channel 5. At the time, Telemundo was looking for local content, which it appears to have found with Spanish-TV.
Middle TN gets new anti-DUI campaign for Spanish-speaking men
Partnership between MADD, Governor’s Highway Safety Office, and Conexión Américas
Story-based ads appeal to identity as providerMADD held a press conference last Friday to announce a new campaign to educate Spanish-speaking men in Middle Tennessee about the dangers of drunk driving. Funded by federal money administered through a grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Office ("GHSO"), the campaign furthers the GHSO's bottom-line goal of saving lives by closing a gap in messaging, according to Kendell Poole, GHSO Director.
Some materials for the new initiative are borrowed from a similar effort by El Pueblo of North Carolina, which has images of the print ads on its web site here.
The press release is as follows:
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2008 Spanish Language Drunk driving prevention campaign funded by the Governor's Highway Safety Office and conducted with the aid of Conexión Américas. The slogan for this campaign is:
¿Manejar Borracho? !No seas tonto Muchacho!
Roughly translated this means, "Drive Drunk? Don’t be crazy man!" The campaign is geared toward providing Spanish language, culturally relevant education about the dangers and consequences of driving drunk with a goal of preventing drunk driving in the Hispanic community. The campaign will include television, radio and newspaper public service announcements along with educational booklets, posters, and key chains.
As our population of Spanish-speaking individuals grows throughout our state, we must provide education and awareness programming that addresses the seriousness of driving drunk. The goal of this campaign is to reduce the incidence of drunk driving in the Hispanic community throughout Middle Tennessee.
MADD and Conexion Americas conducted a smaller campaign in Middle Tennessee during the holiday season of 2006 (story here).
Bilingual, bicultural facilitators needed for "STARS" Hispanic family outreach
Bilingual facilitators are needed for a Hispanic educational program to be conducted by Students Taking a Right Stand (STARS). According to Vanderbilt grad student and STARS intern Jacqueline DeSelms-Wolfe, STARS plans to expand its Strengthening Families Program (SFP) to the Hispanic population in Nashville, and bilingual and bicultural facilitators are needed.
SFP is an evidence- and video-based curriculum that has been shown to reduce adolescent at-risk behavior and to increase family cohesion. The 7- to 10-week series deals with family issues that may arise in relationship to discipline, drug and alcohol use, peer pressure, and related issues. To conduct the Hispanic outreach, STARS is looking for 3 to 5 bilingual facilitators who would be willing to work with the families one evening a week at Cameron Middle School and administer the Spanish-language curriculum materials.
The families who will be participating will have at least one middle-school aged child that attends Cameron. Outside of the one evening a week, STARS would like for the facilitators to call and contact the families to encourage them to return to the program. A more detailed job description will be made available for those who request it.
Any prospective facilitators should contact Jacqueline DeSelms-Wolfe at (615) 969-7966 or jacqueline.m.deselms-wolfe@vanderbilt.edu . DeSelms-Wolfe says that STARS would like to start the program within 2-3 weeks.
Nashville Hispanic Chamber: annual meeting February 21
Debuts Spanish-language commercial
The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* sent out this invitation to its 2008 Annual Membership Meeting:
Annual Membership Meeting Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce DATE: Thursday February 21st, 2008 TIME: 5:30 P.M to 7:00 P.M
RSVP: RSVP@nashvillehispanicchamber.com
Our 'Annual Membership Meeting" is held every beginning of the year as mandated by NAHCC bylaws. At this meeting our members will be presented with a report about our work during 2007 and upcoming events for 2008 and programs for members of our growing business community. Start the year with new business ideas while supporting Nashville's leading Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Your input if very important, please join us!
We will reply to your RSVP with additional details including location, parking information and agenda.
$60k/year Hispanic Liaison job among January Que Pasa listings
The Hispanic Nashville Notebook hosts a job site called the Workbook, but it is not the only Hispanic or bilingual employment listing in Middle Tennessee.
Franklin's Latin Market Communications circulates a monthly job listing in the bilingual paper Que Pasa and also makes the list available by e-mail. Many (but not all) of the Que Pasa jobs require bilingual language skills or are otherwise more attractive to the Hispanic job-seeker than opportunities in the general job market. For more information on the Que Pasa job listings, contact Eva Melo at eva@latinmarketcommunications.com
The January 2008 Que Pasa jobs are below, including a $60k/year Hispanic Liaison position in Smyrna:
HISPANIC LIAISON: Location-Smyrna, TN. Salary-$60K/year plus bonus and benefits. Requirements- Must be bilingual (Spanish). College degree and some experience preferred. Job description- The position will act as a liason between a mutil-billion dollar OEM and a provider of premium transportation logistics. The liason will work on sight at the OEM and coordinate expedited global transportation activity with a heavy emphasis in the Mexican market. Respond to- David Quin at dsquin@gmail.com
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Nashville, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) Manage current grants and coordinate efforts to diversify the organization' s funding base. Writing proposals, preparing reports to grantors, developing the membership, and identifying new sources of funding. Work with the Events Specialist to plan fundraising events, with the Operations Director to provide budgets and financial reports to grantors, and with the State Director and Board to develop an annual fundraising strategy and long-term fundraising plan. Occasional evening and weekend hours. Immigrants and refugees are strongly encouraged to apply. Bachelor's degree required. Salary plus benefits. To apply send a cover letter, résumé and writing sample to Sara Jane Saliba at sara@tnimmigrant.org.
NURSING SUPERVISOR Siloam Family Health Center, a faith-based, Christ-centered health clinic. Work with the Medical Director to manage the day-to-day coordination of patient care including intake, triage, patient education, patient flow, onsite diagnostics, offsite referrals, and coordinating clinical programs and compliance with federal regulations. This position will supervise staff and volunteer nurses, medical assistants, and other clinicians. Must have strong computer skills and able to work flexible hours and have a current state of Tennessee RN License, and CPR Certification. Three to five years of supervisory or management experience and a four year college degree in nursing is preferred. Please submit a copy of your resume and a cover letter to: Attention: Human Resources, Siloam Family Health Center , 820 Gale Lane, Nashville, TN 37204, Fax: 615-577-4010. Website: www.siloamhealth.org
BILINGUAL RN CARE COORDINATOR Healthways. Franklin. Requires current RN license in the state the CEC resides and a minimum 2-3 years recent clinical experience. Case management, health plan, home health and/or telephonic nursing experience are a plus; diabetes, cardiac, ESRD, COPD and/or asthma clinical experience desired. Computer competency within a Windows environment is necessary; Bilingual Spanish/English skills highly desired! (615) 885-4500
MEMBER SERVICES COORDINATOR The Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) is seeking qualified applicants for a Member Services Coordinator. The Center for Nonprofit Management is a nonprofit organization with a mission to create and sustain nonprofit excellence. Applicants need a Bachelor's degree, one year's experience preferably in an administrative role, strong administrative and organizational skills with a high attention to detail and exceptional customer service skills. Salary Range: $25,000 to $30,000, Contact Information and Procedure: Please submit resume and cover letter indicating position applied for by email, fax, or mail; Marissa Benchea, CNM 44 Vantage Way, Suite 230, Nashville, TN 37228, marissa@cnm.org, fax: 615-259-0400 No phone calls please
GOLD STAR COMMUNICATIONS- Cellular Phone Sales & Phone Cards is looking for a bilingual customer service rep. Locaated at 904 Murfreesboro Pike, Candidates call George Hanna (615) 481-4865.
DOMINGUES INSURANCE (an Allstate Insurance Agency) is looking for a bilingual candidates. Please call 615-834-8420 and ask for Valmar.
CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS. If you enjoy selling and providing outstanding customer service, Cricket Communications is the place for you. We are accepting applications for Retail Service Representatives for our retail stores in this city. We offer competitive pay; performance-based bonuses; free mobile phone and service; paid time off; and advancement opportunities. High school diploma or GED required. Strong interpersonal skills. Proficient use of PC computer programs and keyboard skills. Looking for bilingual skills in Spanish. Tuition Assistance Flexible Spending Accounts. We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. TO APPLY FOR THIS JOB? Go to www.mycricket.com for more information.
BILINGUAL RECEPTIONIST Needed for Dental Office. Must be dedicated, honest, good attitude and work ethic, punctual, and able to multi- task. Competitive pay in a great work environment. Please send resume to carlos226@comcast.net or call (615) 419-9960. Alternate phone: (615) 642-0623"
MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST Provide a point of contact for patients through appointment scheduling and act as a focal point of communication between patients, doctors, nurses, other clinic staff and community partners. Must have a high school diploma, and one or more years experience working in medical office setting or clinical environment. This individual must be fluent in Spanish and expected to work one Saturday a month. Please submit a copy of your resume and a cover letter to: Attention: Human Resources, Siloam Family Health Center , 820 Gale Lane, Nashville, TN 37204, Fax: 615-577-4010. Website: www.siloamhealth.org
HOUSE CLEANER Experienced housecleaning employees, must have a vehicle, must speak some English, start right away, part time to full time, Kristine Donahue 615-440-2083
BANQUETS Coffee Break Server 1 FT (flexible schedule) Able to lift 20 lbs. ABC card needed. Must be able to be a server as well as coffee breaks. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.
ENGINEERING (Maintenance Engineer I 1 FT (3 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.) General knowledge of all maintenance tasks and previous customer service skills are required. Must be able to read, write, and speak English fluently. Mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing skills required. Previous hotel experience preferred. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.
STEWARDING Crosswinds Cafeteria Attendant 1 PT (9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.) Must be able to lift 30 lbs. Must have some knowledge of the Health department sanitation procedure. Must have some cooking experience, and be able to take directions from a supervisor. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.
ROOM SERVICE Room Service Server 1 FT 2 p.m. - 12 a.m. Good customer service, communication, and organizational skills required. Must be able to stand for a long period of time and lift up to 50lbs. Some room service experience helpful. ABC card. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.
HOUSEKEEPING Executive Housekeeper 1 FT (flexible schedule) Thorough knowledge of all matters relating to the proper administration and operation of Hospitality Housekeeping operations. Five to seven years of progressive management experience in large, fast paced, hotel housekeeping environment with at least three years as Executive Housekeeper. Ability to develop and maintain effective operating and control processes designed to attain maximum operating efficiency while ensuring adherence to established guest satisfaction criteria. Effective management, leadership, organizational, communication skills, and the ability to develop a strong and positive work environment. Experienced in Microsoft Office Programs Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.
ROOM ATTENDANT 6 FT (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) 1 FT (2:30 p.m. -11 p.m.) Must be able to stand, walk, and bend for long periods of time, and lift up to 25lbs. Great customer service skills required. Room cleaning experience preferred. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.
TURNDOWN ATTENDANT 3 PT (5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.) Must be able to stand, walk, and bend for long periods of time, and lift up to 25 lbs. Great customer service skills required. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.
ACCOUNTING Night Audit, 1 FT (11 p.m. - 7 a.m.). Previous Front Desk or Audit experience required. Must have excellent communication, computer, and customer service skills. An ability to pay close attention to detail is also required. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT TIRRC is seeking a Director of Development to manage its current grants and coordinate efforts to diversify the organization' s funding base. The Director of Development will be responsible for writing proposals, preparing reports to grantors, developing the membership, and identifying new sources of funding, particularly among individual and corporate donors. In addition, he/she will work with the Events Specialist to plan fundraising events, with the Operations Director to provide budgets and financial reports to grantors, and with the State Director and Board to develop an annual fundraising strategy and long-term fundraising plan. This position will be based in Nashville and will require occasional evening and weekend hours. Immigrants and refugees are strongly encouraged to apply. Bachelor's degree required. Salary Negotiable, plus health benefits. send a cover letter, résumé and writing sample to Sara Jane Saliba at sara@tnimmigrant. org
EXPERIENCED HOUSEKEEPING EMPLOYEES Must have a vehicle. Must speak some English. Start right away. Part time to full-time. Kristine 615-440-2083.
CENSUS TAKERS (TEMPORARY) The City of Franklin has approximately 30 vacancies for Census Takers to assist with the 2008 Franklin Special Census by going door-to-door to survey Franklin residents who have not returned their census cards. Census questions are limited to name, age & race. 18 years of age, availability of car, with proof of insurance, ability to communicate with the public, ability to record data accurately & available for work in all parts of the city. $14.00/hr. Work in March & last approximately 4 weeks. Monday through Thursday from approximately 4:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.; Weekend hours will vary, depending on the progress of the census, most shifts will be on Saturday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Obtain application online at www.franklin- gov.com or from HR Dept, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Ave S, Franklin, TN 37065, phone 615/791-3216, fax 615/791-3297, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER Nashville-based company; extensive international travel, will require at least a bilingual candidate (if not more than two languages); high priority on candidates who can communicate in South America as well as Asia. Requires experience in supply chain and importation; four-year degree; Six Sigma certification. Contact Harriet, 615-591-6511, hsawyer@sawyersearch.com
LIVE IN NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER on 65 acre property in Nashville area. May bring a family member to live with you. Call Kristy at 210- 2303. Must speak some English
ARBORIST The City of Franklin Parks Department has a vacancy for Arborist. This position is responsible for the long-term care & management of City trees. Duties, generally, include developing, administering & monitoring programs & policies to insure industry compliance with City's tree & landscape ordinance; planning, etc. applying for grants; & supervising public tree plantings. Degree in arboriculture, horticulture, forestry, or landscaping architecture with certification as an Arborist or Horticulturist preferred; supplemented by five (5) year previous experience in tree planting & maintenance and/or training involving supervision. Valid DL required. Obtain application online at www.franklin- gov.com or from HR Dept, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Ave S, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com. EOE/ Drug-free Workplace
METER READER The City of Franklin Water Department has a vacancy for a Meter Reader. Responsibilities generally include reading water meters to determine water usage; rechecking readings to ensure usage recorded is accurate; turning on water for newly established accounts; terminating water service to closed accounts; interrupting water service to overdue accounts. HS diploma (or GED equivalent) required with 1-2 years general maintenance experience (or related). $13.50/hr, plus excellent benefits. Obtain application online at www.franklin-gov.com or from HR Department, City of Franklin, P.O. Box 305, 109 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, fax 615-791-3297, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.
ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY The City of Franklin Engineering Department has a vacancy for Administrative Secretary. Responsibilities, generally, include answering multi- line telephone, dealing with public and responding to routine questions, complaints or requests for service; performing numerous secretarial duties in support of the department staff; performing general word processing assignments; etc. May be required to attend an occasional night meeting to assist with minute-taking. HS diploma or GED supplemented by vocational/technical training in PC operations (MS Word, Excel, Access) with minimum 3 yrs previous experience or training involving secretarial/clerical work (or related). $14.13 hr, plus excellent benefits. Obtain application online at www.franklin-gov.com or from HR Department, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.
FINANCIAL ANALYST The City of Franklin has a vacancy for Financial Analyst. Major responsibilities are performing budget and financial analysis and reviews to enhance completeness and accuracy of performance measures; performing a variety of accounting tasks, which may include posting financial data, balancing accounts, tracking fund activity, and maintaining financial ledgers;, etc. Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration with minimum of one year previous accounting and/or financial experience or HS Diploma with minimum five years accounting and/ or financial experience (government experience preferred). Must be experienced with Microsoft Office software applications, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook. Obtain application online at www.franklin- gov.com or from HR Department, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.
PUBLIC SAFETY APPLICATIONS MANAGER The City of Franklin MIT Department has a vacancy for Public Safety Applications manager. Duties, generally, include having knowledge of and sharing expertise with designated departments on Public Safety applications: Minimum 3-5 years of systems experience in MS Applications. A.S./B.S. in Computer Science or Professional Certification, MS training (MCSE) and GIS also preferred. Technical knowledge/skills should include Crystal Reports, MS Office Suite, MS Project, MS SQL Report Writer, Database and SQL familiarity. Communication, analytical and problem-solving skills required. Valid TN DL required. Obtain application online at ww.franklin-gov.com or from HR Department, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.
RN, ALIVE HOSPICE Current TN nursing license, BSN preferred. 2 yrs exp. required. EOE. Apply online at www.alivehospice.org.
LPN, ALIVE HOSPICE Current TN LPN license required. Minimum two years direct patient care nursing experience in Hospice, Oncology or Home Health. EOE. Apply online at www.alivehospice.org.
CNT , ALIVE HOSPICE High school diploma or GED, minimum of one year direct patient care or related experience. TN CNT certificate, current CPR certificate. EOE. Apply online at www.alivehospice.org.
CLAIM TRAINEE Nashville,TN. Allstate. Full time. Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply. Our ideal candidate has a four year college degree, excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as strong computer skills. Candidates should possess the ability to manage relationships in a fast paced environment, while demonstrating persistence and problem solving skills. http://www.allstate.com/careers.aspx
BILINGUAL FINANCIAL We are in need of Bilingual applicants to fill Customer service and branch Managers positions. Great place to work, above average pay, great benefits, great room for advancement. Must pass a Drug test and submit to a background check. Positions opens throughout Nashville and surrounding areas. Those interested may apply directly at any of our seventeen locations or online. To obtain a directory of store locations and or apply on line please visit our web site at www.advancefinancialinc.com.
Bilingual CSR I, General Care Full-Time Employee | Pay: $11.55 - $13.80/hour, T- mobile, Six months to one year Customer Service experience, Fluent in both Spanish and English, Call center and wireless experience a plus, High School Diploma or GED, Demonstrated competency in Windows, Keyboarding proficiency and use of automated systems, Stellar verbal and written communication skills, Strong problem solving skills, Ability to thrive in a lively working environment and multi-task, The flexibility to work weekends and other varied shifts as assigned. 615) 255-2798
PROBATION OFFICER Supervising English and Spanish speaking probationers. Legal knowledge preferred: Computer experience required. Must pass criminal background check. Full time with benefits. Application available at 1320 W. Main St. Room 109, Franklin, TN.
BILINGUAL MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, LPNS AND MEDICAL OFFICE SPECIALISTS Centennial Pediatrics for all locations. www.centpeds.com. Fax 615-620-5140 or jobinfo@centpeds.com.
BILINGUAL PRESCHOOL TEACHER Active Learning Center is now hiring bilingual preschool teachers. Looking for someone with experience in early childhood. Call Chris 615-944-2350 or e-mail activelcnt@bellsouth.net
BILINGUAL COUNSELORS Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee. Needed for the Tennessee Helpline, which serves domestic violence victims and parents. Part Time and Volunteer Daytime and PRN shifts available. Bachelor's degree in social services, education, nursing, early childhood or related field required, or equivalent experience. MUST be fluent in both English and Spanish. PCAT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Fax resume to 615-383-6089 or email to Melissa.Sanchez@pcat.org
Information about ESOL classes, Vol State degrees and programs, local community groups
Refreshments, movies, entertainment for childrenFrom Volunteer State Community College:
Hispanic Family Night at Vol State puts the spotlight on education
Education is a lifelong pursuit that can benefit everyone in the family. Volunteer State Community College is holding an evening especially designed for Hispanic families. The Hispanic Family Education Night will help answer questions about everything from college degree programs to English classes. It will be held on Tuesday, February 19 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the Vol State campus in Gallatin.
“There are high school students who are ready for college, and perhaps adults who want to go back to school or improve their English skills,” said Eric Melcher, Communications Coordinator at Vol State. “We’ll have several of the college offices on hand, including Admissions and Advising. We’ll have bilingual staff available for advising and translating in Spanish.”
“We’re seeing a growing need for information about the college in Spanish and English,” said Volunteer State Advisor-Counselor Terry Bubb. “We know that many Hispanic families have members who have different English skill levels. This event will have something for everyone. We’ll have information about our ESOL classes, for people who want to improve their English skills, and also information about our degrees and programs for those whose English is already at the college level.”
ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages. The classes provide a stepping stone for Spanish speaking people to build their skills in conversation, writing and reading.
Families will be able to see the support services Volunteer State has for students, including the award-winning NewSkills Center, which provides help with developmental needs in areas, such as math, reading and writing. The Language Center, with resources for people who speak foreign languages, will be part of the campus tour. The TRIO Student Support Services program will also be represented. It provides a wide array of help for first-generation college students, those with low family incomes, or those with certain disabilities.
The Sumner Hispanic Alliance will have information about events and opportunities for the Hispanic community. Local community groups, who provide educational support in a number of different areas, will also be on hand at the event.
“It’s not just for people who want to go to Vol State,” said Melcher. “We’re trying to provide resources to help families get more information about higher education. It can get complicated and it helps to talk to someone, one-on-one and in a relaxed atmosphere.”
Refreshments will be served and there will be movies and fun to keep the kids entertained, so parents can have time to ask questions. Everyone is invited to attend. The Hispanic Family Education Night will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and people can stop by whenever it’s convenient. It will be held on Tuesday, February 19 at the Thigpen Library on the Vol State campus at 1480 Nashville Pike in Gallatin. For more information call 615-230-3570 or in Spanish 615-230-4846.
Photo: Vol State instructors (left to right) Ruth McKinzie, Karen Hutson and Cindy Chanin answer questions at the 2007 Vol State Hispanic Family Night. Source: Volunteer State Community College. Used with permission.
Bilingual in the Boonies: a Cuban-American Nashville diary
Carrie Ferguson-Weir, an entrepreneur, mother, and former newspaper reporter, writes the Nashville-based online diary Bilingual in the Boonies. Channeling her Cuban heritage, Ferguson-Weir writes about topics as diverse as her approach to speaking Spanish with her little girl (see "How we do the Spanish thing") and running her Los Pollitos Dicen clothing line (see "Hen House").
I am a former newspaper reporter who now hangs with her bilingual-in-the-making chiquitica, when I am not selling my line of Spanish children's T-shirts. I live in Tennessee, far from the Cuban-American homeland that is Miami, so for Spanish comfort I stalk Latina moms at the park, grocery store and gym. I often dream of pastelitos and old men in crisp guayaberas. Me llamo Carrie.
There are other Hispanic bloggers in Nashville; one who immediately comes to mind is Mack of Coyote Chronicles, who is coincidentally rumored to have some big news out today (keep an eye out at MusicCityBloggers.com to see if the rumors are true). If you know of any Latin-blooded locals with an online presence, let us know in the comments below or contact the editor.
Both Bilingual in the Boonies and Coyote Chronicles are written in English.
Photo: Carrie Ferguson-Weir, used with permission.
Charlemos Spanish tonight, bilingual health volunteer Scarlett Martin to speak
Spanish conversation group meets across from Belcourt Theatre in Palette Gallery
Twice-monthly Spanish conversation group Charlemos Spanish announced tonight's meeting with speaker Scarlett Martin:
Volunteer interpreter of Spanish, Scarlett Martin, will talk about her work with Siloam Family Health Center at the Thursday 10 January meeting of Charlemos Spanish.
Sister Cities of Nashville’s Spanish conversation group, Charlemos Spanish, meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Palette Gallery and Cafe at 2119 Belcourt Avenue in Hillsboro Village. All levels of Spanish-speakers, from beginner to native, are invited. The event is free and open to the public.
Scarlett Martin is a bilingual mom and volunteer interpreter at Siloam Family Health Center (www.siloamhealth.org). In addition to having studied Spanish, Mrs. Martin and her family have spent one month per year in a Spanish-speaking country for the past ten years. Mrs. Martin became interpreting at Siloam in January 2006.
Siloam is a clinic for the uninsured whose purpose is to provide affordable, high-quality health care to those who slip through the cracks in the health care system because of time, money and language barriers. More than 79% of Siloam’s patients are refugees and immigrants representing 100 different homelands, and over 50% of the patients speak Spanish as their first language. All of the interpreters at Siloam, like Scarlett, are volunteers that donate their time and ability to serve the underserved of our community. Siloam’s mission is to share the love of Christ by serving those in need through health care. (See related stories here and here.)
“As many of the Spanish interpreters are students there is a constant turnover; volunteer coordinator, Beth Eichelberger, is always looking for volunteers”, said Elizabeth Worrell Braswell, president of Charlemos Spanish.
Charlemos Spanish was 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.
Sister Cities of Nashville has selected two Spanish-speaking sister cities: Mendoza, Argentina, in the wine country of Argentina, and Girona, Spain, thirty minutes north of Barcelona. Nashville has developed successful student exchanges with both cities. Sister Cities is currently exploring a relationship with Chihuahua, Mexico.
Mayor Karl Dean 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.
The founder and president of Charlemos Spanish is Elizabeth Worrell Braswell. Ms. Braswell is an online Spanish instructor for Austin Peay State University and a board member of Sister Cities of Nashville.
Tatia Cummings, former assistant vice president/emerging market coordinator for SunTrust Bank, has accepted a new role as business development officer for Brentwood-based Reliant Bank.
Cummings was hired to generate business for a 4,000-square-foot branch Reliant plans to open on Nolensville Road in the third quarter of next year.
Cummings is credited with leading an effort that attracted more than $15 million in business from Hispanic customers to SunTrust.
At Reliant, Cummings will not work exclusively with Hispanics. Her role is to work with the many different small business owners from diverse backgrounds in the Nolensville Road area.
One of Cummings' strength is her knowledge of the Spanish language. Cummings was born in Colombia, in South America.
The Nashville Business Journal article quotes Reliant President and CEO DeVan Ard as saying the Nolensville Road area "is not well served because of the language barrier." According to Cummings, the new branch will be located in the Lenox Village neighborhood on Nolensville Road.
See more stories about Nashville banks reaching out to Hispanic customers here. See more stories about Tatia Cummings here.
Also notable about the article is that it includes quotes from the two Hispanic chambers of commerce in Nashville. Most news reports cite only one chamber.
January 10 advance screening passes available to Hispanic Nashville Notebook readers
Opens at Belcourt January 11The Orphanage, a Spanish film by Juan Antonio Bayona and presented by Guillermo del Toro, opens at the Belcourt Theatre on January 11, 2008. Free tickets are available for an advance screening on January 10.
For your tickets, e-mailthe editor of the Hispanic Nashville Notebook.
The official synopsis of the film:
A woman discovers dark secrets hidden within her cherished childhood home in the supernatural drama THE ORPHANAGE, the feature film debut of acclaimed young Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona. A superbly atmospheric and emotionally powerful tale of love, loss and guilt, The Orphanage is the first film ever to be presented by Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who also produced. Bayona and the gifted first-time screenwriter Sergio Sánchez deliver an elegant, shivery ghost story in the tradition of such classics as The Innocents, The Haunting and The Others as they explore the shadowy places where human longing meets the unknown and unknowable. Anchoring the film is the fearless performance by its star, award-winning Spanish actress Belén Rueda (The Sea Inside), portraying a mother desperate to rescue her family from the nightmare into which she has unwittingly led them. The Orphanage is a film about the fragility of life, the agony of loss and the depth of a mother's love.
For the first time in over three years, Músico a Músico is again presenting a conference for worship musicians and artists in Nashville.
We will be presenting over sixty classes in two days. Classes on all worship instruments, voice, music theory, theology of worship, and worshiping arts including: mime, dance, drama and visual arts.
In the last several years Músico a Músico has presented over 18 international Congresos in six countries. Our conferences are always open to musicians from all churches. This event is endorsed by pastor’s organizations like The Operation Andrew Group and Uno en Cristo (Hispanic Pastor's Association) and Compañerismo Bautista Hispano de TN. (Hispanic Baptist Group)
Please see that your worship leaders, musicians and artists are encouraged to attend this conference, you’ll be glad you did!!
Dates: 24th to the 26 of April, 2008 Place: Iglesia Una Esperanza Viva 2417 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211 map
COST: $25-before (payment must be received by 4 / 21. $35-after the 21st and at the door.
G E N E R A L P R O G R A M :
Thursday 24, Opening Celebration, 7pm
Friday 25, Classes from 9am to 5pm Celebration Concert 7pm (open to the public)
Saturday 26, Classes from 9am to 5pm & Breakfast for pastors at 8:00am & Closing Concert and impartation time 7pm
Músico’s Statement of Purpose: “Our purpose is to train and inspire Latino worship musicians and artists to excel at their craft and to aid them to achieve a lifestyle of worship.”
For More Information: Phone: 615.207.8800 Email: info@musicoamusico.org or "Músico a Músico" P.O. Box 158026 Nashville, TN 37215
Sumner County emergency responders get translation line but don't use it
Translators on call for "just about every language imaginable"
Not used in 2 of first 3 months
The Tennessean reports here that Sumner County emergency responders were given a translation line about three months ago, but use is minimal:
Although Sumner County's Emergency 911 Board is paying $100 a month to provide for language translation services for emergency responders, director Buddy Shaffer says the service is going largely unused.
"On my bills for the last two months, it hasn't shown where they made a call on it," Shaffer said.
The program, implemented about three months ago, makes it possible for dispatchers, police officers or other emergency responders dealing with a non-English speaking person to call translators fluent in just about every language imaginable, Shaffer said. ... Shaffer said he wants to make the translation service easier to use. ... With an influx of immigrants in the county, the service is becoming even more important every day to provide timely emergency response, Shaffer said.
Pedro Garcia, Nashville's Spanish-speaking director of public schools, may be looking at San Diego job
The Tennessean reports here that Metro Public Schools director Pedro Garcia may be under consideration for the top job at the San Diego Unified School District. His Spanish-speaking skills are considered to be a plus for the job.
From the Tennessean:
A source who has spoken to Garcia on the subject confirmed Tuesday he was in the running to become the next school superintendent of the 133,000-student San Diego Unified School District. Garcia has refused to comment, offering only, "I intend to be here until June 30, 2010." ... Garcia ... has the power to walk away with 120 days' written notice.
School board members in San Diego aren't confirming that Garcia, who taught in San Diego in the 1970s, is a finalist for the job....
The most officials will say is that they're looking for a new superintendent, and, according to the district's Web site, someone who can speak Spanish and is a risk taker is a plus. Garcia meets both criteria.
Programs promoting home ownership, business development and bilingual skills within the Middle Tennessee Hispanic community will be recognized Dec. 10 during Conexión Américas’ “Celebration of Achievements” at Vanderbilt University. The Center for the Americas at Vanderbilt will sponsor and host the event, which will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the university’s Buttrick Hall.
The Center for the Americas and Conexión Américas, a Nashville nonprofit organization that promotes the integration of Hispanic families into the community, will recognize families who have bought houses through its Puertas Abiertas/Open Doors home ownership program as well as individuals enrolled in Conversemos – a Spanish/English language exchange program.
“Hispanic families value home ownership because it represents a solid commitment to their integration into the community,” said Renata Soto, executive director of Conexión Américas. “Participants in the program are required to save toward their down payment and attend a home-buying class that gives them the tools to build their credit and become savvy about their future investments,” Soto said.
The Spanish/English Language Exchange Program pairs two individuals – one who speaks Spanish and the other English – so that they can help each other improve their foreign language skills. The program also fosters intercultural exchange between Tennesseans and Hispanic immigrants. “There is a myth going around that Hispanics coming to our city don’t want to learn English. This is absolutely not true,” Soto said.
“In working with the Latino immigrant community every day, we witness that one of its top priorities is to learn the language. They understand that this is of great importance to their success in building a life in this country.” Soto also said that a growing number of Tennesseans who realize the competitive advantage of bilingual skills and the importance of becoming familiar with Hispanic American cultures are interested in learning Spanish. This helps build bridges between the non-Hispanic local communities and their Hispanic neighbors.
“The Language Exchange Program, in particular, has forged close links between Nashville’s growing Hispanic-American community and Vanderbilt’s students and faculty,” said Vera M. Kutzinski, the Martha Rivers Ingram Professor of English and Comparative Literature and director of the Center for the Americas. This program is possible thanks to Vanderbilt student and Nashville professional volunteers who are interested in improving their ability to speak Spanish and are committed to helping newcomers improve their language skills.
Soto emphasized that speaking the language is a crucial step in the integration of Hispanic families into Tennessee, while starting a business and owning a home are crucial to fulfilling their goals. “We are thankful to have recipients of numerous grants and awards, including the 2007 Bank of America Community Award, and sponsorship of our programs and events,” she said. “The Nashville community and corporations that support us have been very generous with us, and this event is recognition of where their support is going – helping these families take one more step toward their integration and building their American dream.”
The Center for the Americas is an institute devoted to collaborative, interdisciplinary research for the benefit of the Americas. It brings together a variety of scholars and innovators to investigate the cultural, economic and political interactions among the countries and territories of the Western Hemisphere and between the region and other parts of the world. Using its research, the center develops and helps sustain lasting partnerships that solve problems of importance to the Americas. In the process, the center reshapes ways in which the academy conducts research, evaluates research results and trains future generations of scholars. For more information on the Center for the Americas, visit www.Vanderbilt.edu/americas or call 615-343-2818.
Editor’s note: The “Celebration of Achievements” is by invitation only, but media are welcome to attend. Please email maitane@conamericas.com to RSVP
Language barrier leads to unlicensed advice when interpreters act as lay lawyers
Constitutional question raised
In its November 22 issue, the Nashville Scene reported here that certain court interpreters are giving more than just translations to non-English-speaking defendants in Davidson County Sessions Court. According to the Scene, in some cases they are practicing law without a license and in the process giving harmful legal advice. Local attorney Sean Lewis filed a case raising Constitutional concerns, in which it was alleged that the interpreter told a defendant to plead guilty.
Attorney Jerry Gonzalez wrote this letter to the editor in the next issue citing other examples of the behavior, the Supreme Court rule against it, and what response he has been given when bringing it to judges' attention.
Deputy public defender Laura Dykes is quoted by the Scene as saying, "We do have some translators who like to tell people what the law is":
According to the filing, Quinteros arrived in court the next day and was appointed a public defender and interpreter. Unfortunately, when it came time for Quinteros to register his plea, his lawyer “sat on a bench in the courtroom while [Quinteros] was advised by the interpreter to plead guilty.”
Also, Quinteros was not informed that he “had the option of pleading ‘not guilty’ ” and that he “would not have pleaded guilty had he known he had such an option.”
In another strange twist, the filing says the courtroom was closed to the English-speaking public. Immigration attorneys say closing a courtroom to English speakers is highly irregular.
Quinteros’ new, privately hired attorney, Sean Lewis, filed the petition last month claiming his client had been denied his constitutional rights during the hearing. Lewis refused comment on the matter, which is in the process of being scheduled for a hearing before a judge.
...
[Deputy public defender] Dykes was generally complimentary of the work that courthouse translators do. “They really are just trying to help the lawyers move cases,” she says. She also points out that translators sometimes overstep their bounds. “We do have some translators who like to tell people what the law is,” Dykes says. “They think that they’re helping.”
The lack of professionalism is still far too prevalent in my experience, which includes watching interpreters render legal advice in the hallway, speak with parties aside from their interpreter duties, and act more like courtroom deputies than interpreters (see also the ethical rule prohibiting even the appearance of bias). I wrote a General Sessions judge once about a person presenting himself as a “certified” interpreter when, in fact, he had failed even the English language exam repeatedly and was not certified by the Administrative Office of the Courts. I never received a response, and although that interpreter no longer interprets in General Sessions courts as far as I am aware, he apparently was promoted and now works at the Criminal Court level as a staff member.
Related stories: 10.10.06: City Paper praises court interpreter role 12.23.03: Courts may worsen interpreter shortage with new pay ceiling 09.13.07: Ceja Enterprises enjoined from offering legal services 03.01.07: Legal bureaucracies and lawyer impersonators trap ordinary expatriates 06.13.05: Lawyer impersonators prey on Hispanic consumers 03.29.05: Notario abuse law unenforced 07.15.04: Nashville Scene profiles Jerry Gonzalez
1776 Spanish coin found in old Nashville City Cemetery
"Very good possibility it could be the real thing"
Piece of eight was legal tender in the U.S. until the 1850sThe Tennessean reports here that a 1776 Spanish coin may have been found in the old Nashville City Cemetery:
Famously known as the "piece of eight" and later the "peso," a 1776 Spanish coin called the "8 reales" was found as workers were doing restoration recently on the old Nashville City Cemetery.
The coin was found in the northeastern quadrant of the cemetery by Pat Cummins, staff archaeologist for the Murfreesboro-based Cumberland Research Group, which specializes in mortuary archaeology.
The article goes on to quote a Madison coin shop owner on the "very good possibility it could be the real thing" even in light of the "huge business" of coin counterfeiting. According to the Tennessean, no appraisal has been conducted of this particular coin, and it is unknown where the coin's owner (or the coin itself) was at the time it was minted in 1776, if it is genuine. Nashville was founded in 1779 and incorporated in 1806.
History of Spanish coins in British colonies, U.S.
According to Wikipedia, the "piece of eight" coin was frequently used in Britain's pre-Revolution American colonies, their manufacture having been outsourced here from Spain:
Prior to the American Revolution there was, due to British mercantilist policies, a chronic shortage of British currency in its colonies. Trade was often conducted using Spanish dollars. Spanish coinage was legal tender in the United States until an Act of Congress discontinued the practice in 1857. The pricing of equities on U.S. stock exchanges in 1/8 dollar denominations persisted until the New York Stock Exchange converted to pricing in sixteenths of a dollar on June 24, 1997, to be followed shortly after by decimal pricing.
Long tied to the lore of piracy, "pieces of eight" were manufactured in the Americas and transported in bulk back to Spain (to pay for wars and various other things), making them a very tempting target for seagoing pirates.
What you see on the coin
The images on the typical pieces of eight/8 reales coin are of the profile of Charles III (obverse) and the Spanish coat of arms (reverse).
The letters around Charles III read "CAROLUS III DEI GRATIA 1776" or "Charles III by the Grace of God, 1776" in English.
The letters around the Spanish coat of arms read "HISPAN[IARUM] ET IND[IARUM] REX M[EXICANUS] 8 R[EALES] F M" which in English means "King of the Spains and the Indies, Mexico [City Mint], 8 reales."
The Spanish coat of arms includes the Pillars of Hercules and the motto "Plus Ultra," which means "further beyond" in Latin. The message was that the Pillars of Hercules at the Straits of Gibraltar did not so much constitute an entrance to the Mediterranean but Spain's gate to the rest of the world. Source: Wikipedia (Spanish Dollar, Pillars of Hercules)
The Nashville City Paper reports here that a free bilingual magazine called "eSpanglish" will appear soon in Middle Tennessee businesses like Kroger supermarkets. The City Paper does not mention Que Pasa, another bilingual magazine that was to be distributed in Kroger stores (story here).
Excerpts from the City Paper article:
A new magazine eSpanglish will be launched this month by recently formed company eSpanglish Magazine LLC.
The partners include Gloria Bishop and Lynne Caples, who will serve the magazine as editor and co-editor, respectively, as well as Elisa Hinger and Huey Newberry. Investments from two silent partners contributed to initial funding. All articles will be printed in English and in Spanish.
eSpanglish will start out as a free publication, Bishop said, with the printing of 15,000 issues to be distributed at outlets including Kroger grocery stores and public libraries. It will initially be printed every other month, though Bishop said intentions are to scale up to a monthly.
...
In addition to local stalwart La Noticia — that is edited and published by Hispanic Area Chamber of Commerce head Yuri Cunza and distributes 7,000 to 10,000 issues bi-weekly — at least six newspapers currently exist in Middle Tennessee. At least one more paper and one magazine are in development, according to Bishop, though the eSpanglish team says their publication is the area’s only bilingual magazine.
Spanish to join German on list of languages used by Tennessee tourism department
The Columbia Daily Herald published this AP story about the Tennessee Department of Tourism's decision to advertise in Spanish-language newspapers and translate its web site into Spanish. A German version of the site already exists. An incomplete draft of the Spanish version is here.
According to the story:
“The idea is to be all inclusive,” said Phyllis Qualls-Brooks, a spokeswoman for the department. “We have multiple cultures — the census tells us that — and we know (Hispanic) culture is part of our potential market.” ...
The department is advertising in four Spanish-language newspapers that have a combined circulation of about 85,500 in Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville.
But the ads, which feature a Hispanic family on an outing to an aquarium, will also run in rotation with other ads in national magazines that are not part of the ethnic press, Qualls-Brooks said.
Kingston Springs-based baby and toddler clothing retailer Los Pollitos Dicen has had a good run of initial sales of its Hispanic heritage clothing items on the Web site of Target, the huge national retailer.
Target sells clothes printed with endearing phrases in Spanish made by the local company. There are T-shirts with "Pio, Pio, Pio" — the sound of baby chicks chirping in Spanish — printed on the front. Or sleepers with terms of endearment for mother and child such as "gordito," which means chubby, usually spoken as the mother kisses a baby's cheeks.
Co-owners Carrie Ferguson Weir and Oscar Alonso are Cuban-Americans who knew each other through their work for the Tennessean - Ferguson Weir as a reporter, and Alonso as a graphic designer.
Award-winning authors Lorraine Lopez and Judith Ortiz Cofer to speak at Southern Festival of Books
Lopez is assistant professor at Vanderbilt, author of Soy la Avon Lady and Other Stories
Ortiz Cofer teaches at Georgia, most recently authored A Love Story Beginning in Spanish: Poems
This weekend's Southern Festival of Books will feature Vanderbilt assistant professor Lorraine Lopez on Sunday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Senate Chambers of the Tennessee State Capitol; and also Judith Ortiz Cofer, professor at the University of Georgia, from 4:30-5:30pm on Saturday in the Old Supreme Court Room.
According to her bio, "Latina poet and fiction writer Lorraine López is the winner of the first Miguel Mármol Prize (2002). Her stories have appeared in numerous publications, including New Letters, The Crab Orchard Review, The U.S. Latino Review, and The Watershed Anthology. She is Co-Founder and Education Programs Director for the Institute for Violence Prevention in Athens, Georgia, and she is Professor of English at Vanderbilt University. She is author of the critically received Soy la Avon Lady And Other Stories, a stunning debut collection of 11 short stories that articulates the spectrum of the Latino community. She completed her undergraduate degree at California State University, Northridge, and earned her M.A. and PhD at the University of Georgia."
As for Ortiz Cofer, the Scene has an extensive interview with her in this week's cover story (here).
Judith Ortiz Cofer is the author of A Love Story Beginning in Spanish: Poems; Call Me Maria, a young adult novel; The Meaning of Consuelo, a novel; Woman in Front of the Sun: On Becoming a Writer, a collection of essays; The Line of the Sun, a novel; Silent Dancing, a collection of essays and poetry; two books of poetry, Terms of Survival and Reaching for the Mainland; and The Latin Deli: Prose and Poetry. Her work has appeared in The Georgia Review, Kenyon Review, Southern Review, Glamour and other journals. Her work has been included in numerous textbooks and anthologies including: Best American Essays 1991, The Norton Book of Women's Lives, The Norton Introduction to Literature, The Norton Introduction to Poetry, The Heath Anthology of American Literature, The Pushcart Prize, and the O. Henry Prize Stories.
Professor Cofer has received numerous awards and honors for her writing. Most recently, The Latin Deli was selected for the 2005 Georgia Top 25 Reading List, a project of the Georgia Center for the Book made up of books set in Georgia or written by a resident or former resident of the state. Also in 2005, Call Me Maria was selected as one of two texts to receive Honorable Mention for the Americas Award, sponsored by the National Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs, for U.S. published titles that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. The Meaning of Consuelo was selected as one of two winners of the 2003 Americas Award. The novel was also included on the New York Public Library's "Books for the Teen Age 2004 List." In addition, Professor Cofer has received over 30 fellowships and grants, including awards from the University of Georgia Research Foundation, the University of Georgia Center for the Humanities and Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
State Water Heaters launches Hispanic marketing campaign
Ashland City, Tennessee-based State Water Heaters recently announced plans to launch an integrated marketing effort aimed at Spanish-speaking contractors in key U.S. markets. Campaign initiatives include new Hispanic-themed print advertisements, Web enhancements, and a television sponsorship, all designed to raise State brand awareness among Hispanic communities.
“There are a growing number of plumbing and HVAC contractors in the U.S. who are Spanish speaking,” said Jeff Storie, State Water Heaters brand manager. “We are increasing our Hispanic marketing in order to partner with these professionals and to have a larger presence in the southwestern United States.”
A dedicated section on State’s Web site, www.statewaterheaters.com, provides an opportunity to view the new Spanish print advertisement and a link to the Web site of "De Casa a Hogar," a new home improvement show on Spanish language television.
The new print advertisements will help engage Hispanic viewers by featuring Spanish messaging, and are expected to grow advertising recall and State brand visibility among this rapidly growing audience. The ads will also appear in English versions to attract English dominant Hispanics.
State’s broadcast efforts include a Latino home show sponsorship with “De Casa a Hogar,” scheduled to air on a major Latino network in early fall. The show will provide viewers with home improvement segments, technology tips, and a peak into Hispanic celebrity homes. State’s sponsorship includes opportunity for product demonstration in addition to Web site, print, and broadcast sponsor recognition.
“The show will have tremendous impact among Latino communities, as there is currently no programming specifically speaking to Latinos about home improvement brands and services," said the show’s executive producer Juan Escano. “By nature, many Latinos have these building and construction skills, and want to expand their knowledge base. The show offers “how to” advice, empowering Latinos to improve their homes, their neighborhoods, and their communities.”
About State Water Heaters
For more than 60 years, State Water Heaters has built dependable, long-lasting water heaters for commercial and residential applications. State remains focused on manufacturing durable products that last longer. For more information, visit www.statewaterheaters.com and www.stateracing.com.
Grave of Andrew Jackson's Spanish translator found
Edward Augustus Rutledge had family ties to Nashville, Declaration of Independence
Florida was Spanish colony from 1783 until 1821, when Jackson was appointed military governor of the U.S. territoryThe Saratogian reports that the grave of Edward Augustus Rutledge, a Spanish-language interpreter for Andrew Jackson in Florida, has been found by family members. Rutledge's family had ties to Nashville and to the Declaration of Independence:
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Edward Augustus Rutledge had it all in the summer of 1826.
A grandson of two signers of the Declaration of Independence - Edward Rutledge and Arthur Middleton, both of South Carolina - his family had been granted 73,000 acres near what's now Nashville, Tenn. Only 24 years old, he had already served as a Spanish translator for family friend Andrew Jackson during Jackson's tenure as colonial governor of Florida.
Jackson, who would become president two years later, recommended Rutledge to be his successor in Florida.
But on July 16, 1826, Rutledge took his own life...
Nashville Univision affiliate Equity Broadcasting says local programming for Nashville will come from Little Rock
Equity Broadcasting Corporation ("EBC") has plans to broadcast local Nashville news from Little Rock, Arkansas, as it does for other cities, according to this article. Equity announced 13 months ago (here) that it planned on moving into the Nashville TV market as an affiliate of national Spanish-language network Univision.
As reported here, Nashville has only one local news anchor in Spanish, and that is on Telefutura/Channel 42, in partnership with WTVF/Channel 5.
Miss Tennessee Latina and affiliated teen version seek contestants for 2007 crown
Miss America Latina, LLC is looking for contestants to compete in the Miss Tennessee Latina pageant on August 11, 2007 at Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro from 6PM - 10PM. Contestants do not need to speak Spanish. Winners of the pageant will receive scholarship funds and other prizes. This pageant is for both Miss Teen Tennessee Latina (14-17 years old) and Miss Tennessee Latina (17-27 years old). Miss Teen TN Latina contestants must be at least 14 years of age and not over 17 years of age by September 1, 2007. Miss TN Latina contestants must be at least 18 years of age and not over 27 years of age by December 31st, 2008. Contestants must be of Latin American or Iberian origin by birth or ancestry and a legal resident of the United States. Contestants must continuously reside in Tennessee for a minimum of six (6) months. Contestants must live, study or have been born in Tennessee. Contestants must be single women, who have never been married, given birth to a child, nor been a parent. Contestants must have a good reputation. To apply to enter the pageant or if your company is interested in a sponsorship opportunity contact Marjorie Weller.
Miss America Latina, LLC Marjorie Weller misstnuslatina@hotmail.com 615-506-1279
Connect to Argentina this weekend: events in Nashville include Luis Palau, Tango Milonga, Fabian Bedne fundraiser
Bedne, Palau and tango all have roots in the South American nation
Other weekend events include dinner over Spanish, Charlemos party, CoverKinds Hispanic health care event, and El Trio de Hoy concert
Tango 'Milonga'
Thursday(Argentine Tango Social/Dance Gathering) Thursday, May 17, 2007 7:00 to 9:00 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***
Photo by Geoff Stearns. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Photo by Seven Morris. Licensed under Creative Commons.
vanderbilt.edu
Photo by Rafael Alvez. Licensed under Creative Commons.
On February 27, NewsChannel5 reported here that the Metro Nashville Police Department has won national recognition for its El Protector program, which engages the Hispanic/Latino community with communications in both English and Spanish. The Vera Institute of Justice recently recognized the Nashville program in this report of "best practices" by law enforcement officers addressing language-related challenges.
Nashville has also addressed race, reconciliation, and religion in the locally written and produced film The Second Chance, a 2006 movie starring Michael W. Smith and jeff obafemi carr, with a supporting role performed by Yuri Cunza, current president of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Hispanic Nashville Notebook story here).
Update 2/15/09: The Tennessean reported here from this event
The Knoxville News Sentinel conducted a roundtable interview with local Hispanic business leaders in that city - the article is worth a read.
From Alignment Nashville:
Carrie was interviewed here on the Voices en Español podcast. Here are a few excerpts, translated from the original Spanish interview:
Carrie also wrote this recent post on her blog Bilingual in the Boonies. An excerpt:
From David, who self-describes as having been disenchanted, broken, redeemed, restored, and reformed in Nashville, this post on his blog Next Gener.Asian Church:
Former 
A Hispanic-American Family Festival and Voter Education and Registration Drive will take place this Saturday:
I'd like to know what's being done to advance the proactive immigration plank of 
Vol State sent out this press release for its Hispanic fiesta, just one of many local events that will take place during Hispanic Heritage Month September 15-October 15:
Charlemos Spanish, one of Nashville's Spanish chat groups, sent out this press release announcing its upcoming speakers:
The Chattanooga Times Free Press notes in 
Cuban-American Nashville blogger Carrie Ferguson Weir of 
Bilingual facilitators are needed for a Hispanic educational program to be conducted by 
The Hispanic Nashville Notebook hosts a job site called the 
Carrie Ferguson-Weir, an entrepreneur, mother, and former newspaper reporter, writes the Nashville-based online diary 
Nashville-based 
The Nashville City Paper reports 
Ashland City, Tennessee-based State Water Heaters recently announced plans to launch an integrated marketing effort aimed at Spanish-speaking contractors in key U.S. markets. Campaign initiatives include new Hispanic-themed print advertisements, Web enhancements, and a television sponsorship, all designed to raise State brand awareness among Hispanic communities.
Equity Broadcasting Corporation ("EBC") has plans to broadcast local Nashville news from Little Rock, Arkansas, as it does for other cities, according to 
