The Newport Beach Film Festival is holding the 13th Annual Latino Showcase on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012. The Showcase will include three highly-acclaimed Spotlight Films from Brazil, Chile and Mexico. You are invited to engage in the post-screening filmmakers discussion and experience the posh after-party featuring top entertainment and hors d’oeuvres prepared by award-winning restaurants. Hosted bar by Stella Artois and Absolut.
Heleno – Brazil
BIG NEWPORT 4
NEWPORT BEACH AT 7:45 PM
Born into a wealthy family, handsome and intelligent, Heleno de Freitas had one boyhood dream: to play football. However, his chances of playing for his home country of Brazil in the World Cup soon faded, as the cups of 1942 and 1946 were cancelled during the War. When the next World Cup was held in 1950, his career was already waning and increasingly compromised by his overall health. Similar to the decreasing prosperity of Brazil and Rio during the 40s, Heleno saw the weight of real life crush great promise and dreams.
Blue Bay (Bahia Azul) – Chile
BIG NEWPORT 5
NEWPORT BEACH 8:00 PM
Shuffled from one family member to another, an emotionally numb teenager visits his reclusive mother, who lives with an old friend on a windswept plot of land overlooking the South American Pacific. Their time together is fraught with misunderstanding and dysfunction, and the family is driven further and further apart. Will the cycle of disconnection end or is their past destined to dominate their future?
Here Between Us – (Aqui Entre Nos) – Mexico
TRIANGLE SQUARE CINEMAS
COSTA MESA AT 8:15 PM
Rodolfo Guerra is tired of being taken for granted by his wife and three daughters. They need the money he brings home, the safety he provides and the odd jobs he does around the house. One morning, Rodolfo wakes up and decides not to go to work. It just takes that one day to break the family routine and open Rodolfo’s eyes and see he has become a stranger in his own home. Knowing that he is risking his job, Rodolfo takes action to address the deceit and lies with which he has been living, digging deeper and deeper into his family’s secrets to discover the truth in this incisive and heartfelt drama.
Rosie Santana is organizing a Red Carpet Event “The Welcome Home Jimmy Comedy Jam” on Friday April 13, 2012 at the newly remodeled Hotel Huntington Beach in honor of Jimmy Pequeno. Cocktails and appetizers begin from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Comedy show 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and then there will be a DJ and dancing 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. to round out the night. Featuring comedian Edwin San Juan, Master of ceremonies Dr. Rocky John Hewitt and hosted by George Perez.
Jimmy Pequeno, son of Angela and Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Pequeno was involved in a serious car accident in the Summer of 2011. He was rushed to the hospital with a severe traumatic brain injury with multiple skull fractures, a collapsed lung and multiple broken bones.
He was in a medically induced coma that was followed up by multiple injuries and procedures. Proceeds are being raised to benefit the cost Jimmy’s hospital equipment and rehabilitation room at his home in Orange County.
Rosie knows firsthand that dealing with a sick or injured child is stressful enough but having to deal with the financial challenges that follow is even harder for the family. Rosie is hosting the comedy jam and watching the community support a great cause.
She also wants to thank her sponsors The Hotel Huntington Beach, JC 316 Events, Stars Above Balloon Decor, INTERMXRadio.com, AQV Photography, Need4tees.com, Red Eye Entertainment, ESJ Comedy, La Habana Cigar Co., George Perez, Last Call a band from Fullerton and MDR Photography.
General Admission is $25
For ticket information email: santanarose@att.blackberry.net
Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) will promote the power of giving and connecting at the GameChangers Conference, which will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28, at The California Endowment, in Los Angeles.
The conference will consist of two days of panels, multimedia presentations, revealing conversations with prominent “GameChangers” in philanthropy, and interactive caucuses on the issues that matter most to Latino communities.
Featured speakers include: ≈ Maria Blanco, vice president of civic engagement, California Community Foundation ≈ Dr. Diana Bontá, president and chief executive officer, The California Wellness Foundation ≈ María Hinojosa, anchor and managing editor of NPR’s “Latino USA” ≈ Monica Lozano, chief executive officer, Impremedia LLC, and chief executive officer and publisher, Los Angeles-based La Opinión ≈ Manuel Pastor, USC professor of American Studies & Ethnicity at USC author of “Uncommon Ground” ≈ Chris Peña, executive editor, NBC Latino ≈ Dr. Robert K. Ross, president and chief executive officer, The California Endowment ≈ Bradford K. Smith, president, Foundation Center ≈ Sterling Speirn, president and chief executive officer, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation ≈ Sandra L. Vargas, president and chief executive officer, The Minneapolis Foundation ≈ Luz Vega-Marquis, president and chief executive officer, Marguerite Casey Foundation ≈ Cynthia Rivera Weissblum, president and chief executive officer, the Edwin Gould Foundation
Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) was founded in 1983 to promote stronger partnerships between organized philanthropy and Latino communities. HIP has developed into a transnational network of grant-makers committed to strengthening Latino communities across the Americas. To date, through the Funders’ Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities, HIP has raised nearly $40 million and has made grants to more than 500 Latino-led nonprofits.
Don’t wait! The early-bird registration deadline is this Tuesday, March 27.
Tony Acevedo and his band, Song & Stereo, have released their first CD, “Get Set, Love,” which is now available for download at iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. For those who still like to hold onto their CDs, copies are available at their live shows. The band has been touring for a while and gaining followers throughout the Southern California Area.
Featuring 13 songs that were written between 2008 and 2010, “Get Set, Love” is the result of Tony’s vision and passion. While in his early 20s Tony went to college and later continued on to graduate school to study history. He put his music on hold while in school and resumed his passion after earning a master’s degree.
Tony’s inspiration for the album comes from many places, including San Diego where he lives. He is inspired by musicians with something to say, especially the likes of U2 and Bob Dylan. Tony likes the classic and alternative artists from across the spectrum, including Jim Croce, Morissey, Coldplay, and David Bazan. As a musician, to him it is just about being able to capture the way he feels and place his perspective of the world into melodies, rhythm and a rock ‘n’ roll setting.
Tony is also community-oriented and supports a great cause, Jeans 4 Justice (jeans4justice.org). The organization’s vision is to create a visible impact by aligning with designers, artists, innovators, survivors, advocates and brands, using fashion as a vehicle for empowerment while raising funds to implement educational programs for sexual assault prevention, at both high school and collegiate levels.
Tony says, “I believe sexual violence is a problem more prevalent and underreported in our communities than we might imagine, but I believe it’s in our power to stop it, especially through education.”
In January 2012, he ran in the Justice in Motion Tri City Medical Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon to help raise awareness of this cause.
Song & Stereo has been playing at clubs throughout downtown San Diego. They hope to play more in the Los Angeles and the Orange County areas in the near future. Their fan base is happy to keep them near home, which led them to perform at places like The Soda Bar in San Diego. Tony likes to shake things up a bit during a show and will play both acoustically and with a full band. Check out their Facebook page because they play every few weeks.
While Tony was out here in Orange County, he was kind enough to let me make a video and a quick interview of his acoustic session. The video features Tony performing a single, “Las Vegas,” which is from the CD. The song captures the essence and feelings that we take with us on a trip to Las Vegas. The lyrics and music strum out playing under the sun, catching shows, seeing lions and the hope of a chance at redemption, because it is the only place where we can really win tonight. If you get a chance check out Tony and his band.
It was a pleasure to catch up with Orange County’s Sara Guerrero and all of the activities she moving forward with this year. She is continuing to champion Latina playwrights as the artistic director of Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble. As an actress, she will be in the Luis Alfaro play “Electricidad,” beginning March 2, and she will be coordinating “Dia Del Niño” in association with the Arts OC’s Imagination Celebration on April 29.
Sara grew up in Santa Ana and went on to the California Institute of the Arts. After graduating, she was introduced to a Theater Arts program at the Plaza De La Raza in East Los Angeles. After seeing the impact that working on theater projects made on the lives of the program’s young participants, she decided to bring similar theater projects home to Santa Ana.
In 2003 the Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble began creating opportunities and leadership roles for Latinas in the visual and performing arts. The platform of the ensemble initiated work that reflects, impacts and empowers the Latino community. Those who have been involved in the many projects know the power of theater and its ability to entertain, challenge, raise awareness of critical issues, foster cross-cultural understanding and be a catalyst for personal healing and social justice. Currently the ensemble is on a working hiatus, but more can be found at breathoffire.org.
Next month, Sara will be acting under the direction of Sylvia Blush in the Project 2012 production (projecttwenty12.com) of playwright Luis Alfaro’s “Electricidad” at The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts (bfatheatre.org). Using the East L.A. barrios as the backdrop in this adaptation of “Electra” will take a modern twist on the Greek tragedy. While the play is grounded in comedy, there will be moments of great sorrow as the characters navigate their way through this production of revenge, survival and redemption. Sara plays a grandmother who has had to deal with all the positives and negatives of the neighborhood.
As if she is not busy enough, Sara is also ArtsOC’s project coordinator for the “Dia del Niño” with the Imagination Celebration. Arts Orange County has been awarded a grant from The James Irvine Foundation to support “Dia del Niño” a traditional Latin-American holiday that celebrates children each April.
ArtsOC’s “Dia del Niño” will be presented in partnership with El Centro Cultural de Mexico, an all-volunteer organization that engages the community in cultural, educational, and artistic activities strengthening the identities of young people and developing their sense of leadership (el-centro.org).
The day’s activities will include traditional indigenous and contemporary Latino arts and cultural activities. “Dia del Niño” is scheduled to take place in downtown Santa Ana on Sunday, April 29. For more information on the ArtsOC’s “Dia del Niño,” visit artsoc.org/imagination-celebration.
In between all of these projects, Sara was kind enough to appear at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine and share her take and all of these happenings in a video interview. Though Sara may have many projects and interests, there is another role that she takes home with her: a mom. May 2012 bring her many successes from all that energy she has to share.
The work of Rafael Lopez is a fusion of strong graphic style and magical symbolism. Growing up in Mexico City, he was immersed in the rich cultural heritage and native color of street life. Influenced by Mexican surrealism, dichos and myths, he developed a style with roots in these traditions.
Recent works of Mr. Lopez include the Pat Mora book titled “Book Fiesta,” which celebrates Children’s Book Week. In 2009 he was invited to create three paintings for Oprah Winfrey’s school in South Africa. His artwork on the U.S. Postal Service stamp celebrates the Orange County legal case in education equality, “Mendez vs. Westminster.” This nearly forgotten bit of history was the subject of Sandra Robbie’s Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary. OC METRO honored Sylvia Mendez of Fullerton as one of the Hottest 25 people in Orange County for her civil rights activism.
In 2011, Lopez was the artist behind the Postal Service-issued “Latin Music Legends” commemorative stamps, which feature the late Texas recording artist Selena, 1930′s singer Carlos Gardel, Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer Carmen Miranda, Latin Jazz and Salsa music musician Tito Puente, and the “Queen of Salsa,” Celia Cruz.
Lopez’s semi-realistic portraits of the musical artists evoke their personality, vitality and even their sound. He used a warm palette of colors — from brilliant yellows, pinks and lime green to rich shades of purple and blue — to suggest the flavor and energy that these artists brought to their work. Each musician is depicted in mid-performance. Art Director Ethel Kessler who collaborated with López on the stamps said of his artwork, “My goal was that when you see the stamp, you hear the music.”
His international clients includes Amnesty International, Apple, the Los Angeles Times, the Grammy Awards and the World Wildlife Fund to name a few. His work has been selected into multiple juried shows, and his children’s books have won two America Awards, which are sponsored by the Consortium of the Latin American Studies Program (CLASP) at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, in cooperation with the Library’s Hispanic Division and the Center for the Book and presented by the Library of Congress.
Lopez has received the Pura Belpre Award, which was established to honor Latino writers and illustrators whose work best embodies the Latino cultural experience in a work of children’s literature. The award is named after Pura Belpre, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. Belpre is known for her work in preserving and disseminating Puerto Rican folklore. First presented in 1996, the Pura Belpre Award is given biennially by the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) and the National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking (REFORMA).
Lopez envisioned and led the Urban Art Trail Project, which transformed San Diego’s blighted East Village with colorful murals, sculptures and art installations, and serves as a model of urban renewal that has been implemented in cities around the nation.
Lopez divides his time between his studios in the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and his home in San Diego, where he works and lives with his family. www.rafaellopez.com
The first chance I had to taste Soho Tacos was at the catered event during this past Summer’s Newport Beach Film Festival Latino Showcase at Fashion Island. It is easy to see why the owners of the Soho Gourmet Catering and Food Truck have decided to join the food truck frenzy at the request of regular customers. They are a critically acclaimed gourmet taco catering company providing a unique fast casual taco experience in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
Chef Gabriel Zambrano chooses the highest grade meats and produce, adding a gourmet edge to the traditional Mexican tacos that he grew up watching his parents and grandparents make. Their tortillas are fresh to order with a traditional masa ( dough to make corn tortillas ) made right there on the spot.
While the truck is receiving all the attention on Twitter and Facebook these days, I must mention that they still do catering. So if you can’t make it out to them, have them come to your next social event, family gathering, or corporate event. They are certain to calm the appetites of your guests with carne asada, chicken, slow-simmered carnitas, shrimp, or Mahi Mahi tacos topped with incredible salsas.
They also offer a vegetarian, meat-free selection that is delicious. Eating tacos had always been a meat-and-tortilla or fish-and-tortilla experience for me until this opportunity came up. In the hands of the Soho Taco truck, a vegetarian taco has sauteed portobello mushrooms with bell peppers, onions, garlic butter served on a bed of pepper jack cheese with chipotle sour sauce, and jalapeño salsa. Yes, they taste better than I could have imagined.
Although I was sold on the vegetarian taco, my favorite turned out to be the Mahi Mahi taco with some jalapeño salsa. I ate two and devoured them like a really fast magic trick.
Chef Zambrano also uses the truck to travel to cultural events throughout Southern California to raise awareness of Mexican culture and varieties of food.
During my visit the chance came up to do a video interview with Chef Zambrano and after a couple of takes he explained his passion for making great tacos, admits to a favorite taco and shares the Soho Food Truck’s commitment to the community.
Maria Dolores Hernandez’s family fled the Mexican Revolution and arrived in Fullerton during the year 1913 when she was 6. Fifteen years later, she entered Orange County General Hospital’s Nursing School and became a registered nurse in 1930. Within a few years, she became Orange County Hospital’s supervisor of communicable diseases.
In 1940, during World War II, she became the first Red Cross nurse from Orange County to be called into active duty as a second lieutenant. After the war, she transferred to the Air Force and was stationed at bases throughout the United States, the Far East and Europe. She acquired small properties wherever she was stationed, while rising in the rank to major, and retiring after 20 years of service.
Returning to live in Fullerton, she joined Cal State Fullerton’s Continuing Learning Experience (now Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), and upon her death in 1997, she gave nearly $ 1 million to the university’s Nursing Department to establish an endowment for scholarships.
I learned about this incredible story from a volunteer at the Santa Ana Senior Center, Alice Rodriguez, who was wearing her staff shirt while standing in line at a local department store. I mentioned that I had worked there for a program called Project P.R.I.D.E., a premiere at-risk teen program in the 1990′s.
Before we walked out the door, we were conversing as though we were old friends and she told me about an event in Fullerton called the 15th Annual Veterans Day Celebration, hosted by the Latino Advocates for Education based out of the City of Orange.
The November Veteran’s Day event honored World War II veterans, including actor-producer-musician and Army veteran Desi Arnaz; civil rights activist and Navy veteran César E. Chávez, founder of the United Farm Workers Union; Guy Gabaldon, the Marine who was credited for capturing — or persuading to surrender — about 1,500 Japanese soldiers and civilians during the Battle of Saipan in 1944; José Limón, Army veteran and founder of the José Limón Dance Group and Institute; Marine aviator and Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams; Boxing Hall of Famer and Army veteran Manuel Ortiz; and military nurse Maria Dolores Hernandez, who left Cal State Fullerton’s nursing program an endowment for scholarships for nurses committed to working with impoverished populations.
“This year is the 70th anniversary of World War II, and we must recognize ‘the Greatest Generation,’ our World War II veterans and their families, and highlight the patriotic contributions of Latinos to our country’s defense through these seven famous Americans,” said Orange County Superior Court Judge Frederick P. Aguirre, president of Latino Advocates for Education.
We remember and honor all the brave men and women who served and sacrificed in World War II, and recognize the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
Just letting you know Cathleen Chase, Externship Coordinator of Girls Incorporated of Orange County,will be ON THE RADIO Tuesday December 6, 2011 on 100.3 The Sound! She will be a guest DJ from 12-1 PM – and promises to mention Girls Inc. every chance she gets!
On being selected Cathleen said “If you’re wondering “how” or “why??” I’m doing this, it’s kinda random & fun! The station invited listeners to send in their playlist if they were to be a DJ. All day Tuesday listeners will be guest DJ’s for a hour. In total there are 16 of us who were chosen out of over 3,000 submitted lists! Keep in mind it’s a classic rock station, so you might not recognize all (or any) of the songs!”
Here’s my playlist:
1 – Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith
2 – Cecilia by Simon & Garfunkel
3 – Don’t Come Around Here No More by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
4 – Under My Thumb by The Rolling Stones
5 – Rich Girl by Hall & Oates
6 – Money by Pink Floyd
7 – You Can Leave Your Hat On by Joe Cocker
8 – Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder
9 – Let’s Dance by David Bowie
10 – Don’t Stop (Live version) by Fleetwood Mac
With just hours to go Cathleen was anxious but still in high spirits saying “So if you want to hear me (fumble my way through) playing these songs, you can listen to 100.3 or stream it through your computer on www.thesoundla.com from 12-1PM tomorrow. I’m super excited and to be honest, a bit nervous! Wish me luck!”
Girls Incorporated of Orange County is an affiliate of the Girls Incorporated national organization, the nation’s leading research and evaluation organization on issues pertaining to girls and young women. They work with girls ages 4½ to 18 with proven “girl-focused” after-school programs and summer programs. Headquartered out of Costa Mesa with over 50 outreach sites established at schools and community centers throughout Orange County they were able to serving nearly 5,000 girls in Orange County.
I recently jumped at the chance to participate in a very small role as a volunteer server at Costa Mesa’s Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, the organization that knows the faces and souls of Orange County’s hungry and homeless. It was on the day they launched their 2011 Holiday Campaign.
Taking on such a service was intimidating on my part since this might well be the only chance some of these individuals get to eat in a 24 hour period. I didn’t want to be the new guy holding up the line for those experienced servers that do this regularly, if not every day.
A line had formed around the building because it was the last day of the month and more than the usual 450 people needed to eat.
Thankfully, it only took a minute to realize that I was in good hands with Soup Kitchen’s professional staff led by Executive Director Shannon Santos. I was greeted like an old friend hurried into the line to serve bread and tortillas side by side with a retiree and volunteer named Jack. I slipped on my gloves and started passing out food to the elderly adults that are always served first.
Merle Hatleberg founded the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in 1986. Drawing from her own meager funds, she bought a large pot and made her first “pot of soup” on June 15, 1986. That first day Merle served about 30 people and the soup kitchen was born.
In 1997, with the help of many local business fundraisers, the Soup Kitchen was able to purchase a building that used to be a Chinese restaurant. Since then the dedicated staff and over 150 active volunteers have given their guests a place where they know they are always welcome.
The official launch of the 2011 Holiday Campaign is taking place now and will go a long way in feeding Orange County’s less fortunate. The campaign is seeking not only financial donations but also contributions such as socks, warm coats and toys. Every year the Soup Kitchen assembles 450 backpacks for adults and seniors who find themselves on difficult times during the holiday season.
One highlight toward reaching their goals will include the Holiday Campaign happy hour fundraiser event. Posch Restaurant and Nightclub in Irvine is hosting the program on Wednesday, December 14th from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. featuring special guest performances by Australian celebrity artist “Gilli Moon,” spoken word lyricist J.Walker, and Peggy Tanous from the OC Housewives.
As my session of the volunteer service ended, I was able to interview Corey Donaldson who filled me in on some more details of the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen and their ability to provide a hot nutritious meal for people in need.
In 2011, Lopez was the artist behind the Postal Service-issued “Latin Music Legends” commemorative stamps, which feature the late Texas recording artist Selena, 1930′s singer Carlos Gardel, Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer Carmen Miranda, Latin Jazz and Salsa music musician Tito Puente, and the “Queen of Salsa,” Celia Cruz.
His international clients includes Amnesty International, Apple, the Los Angeles Times, the Grammy Awards and the World Wildlife Fund to name a few. His work has been selected into multiple juried shows, and his children’s books have won two America Awards, which are sponsored by the Consortium of the Latin American Studies Program (CLASP) at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, in cooperation with the Library’s Hispanic Division and the Center for the Book and presented by the Library of Congress.
In 1940, during World War II, she became the first Red Cross nurse from Orange County to be called into active duty as a second lieutenant. After the war, she transferred to the Air Force and was stationed at bases throughout the United States, the Far East and Europe. She acquired small properties wherever she was stationed, while rising in the rank to major, and retiring after 20 years of service.
Just letting you know Cathleen Chase, Externship Coordinator of Girls Incorporated of Orange County,will be ON THE RADIO Tuesday December 6, 2011 on 100.3 The Sound! She will be a guest DJ from 12-1 PM – and promises to mention Girls Inc. every chance she gets!