Mayor
Muriel Bowser

Jackie Reyes-Yanes,
Executive Director

Camilo Manjarres,
Director ofOperations

Marjhorys Ibarguen,
Public Information Officer

Dian Lammy,
Staff Assistant

Eduardo Perdomo,
Grants Management Specialist

Nathan Gomez,
Grants Monitor

Ingrid Gutierrez,
Community Outreach Specialist

Ronal Avila,
Language Access Coordinator

Angela Gonzalez,
Language Access Monitor

In This Issue

• Letter from the Mayor
• A message from the Executive Director
• Agency Updates
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events

A message from the Executive Director

I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather and the recently opened pools for the Summer! Our Mayor is committed to creating pathways to the middle class, providing a fair shot to all Washingtonians, and, most importantly, reducing violent crime in the city. At the beginning of the month, Mayor Bowser launched the 2019 Safer Stronger DC Summer Crime Prevention Initiative (SCI), a coordinated effort to reduce and prevent violent crime before it happens in  specific areas in the District.  "We know that to continue reducing violent crime; we must continue addressing the root causes of crime and violence. With the Summer Crime Prevention Initiative, we are laser-focused on preventing violent crime," said Mayor Bowser. "We know the police cannot do it alone. It takes their partners in government putting more resources into neighborhoods that need it most. It takes all of us in government letting residents and business owners know that we are here to help. Today kicks off a sustained effort to do all that it takes to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods." Mayor Muriel Bowser. Additionally, this month, our Mayor engaged with the Latino community directly through two major galas. We attended the 51st Anniversary of the Latin American Youth Center to celebrate and support all the work they do for Latino youth in the District. We also joined the Noche de las Estrellas Gala Benefit organized by The Gala Theater. Mayor Bowser attended the event in support of Gala Theater's efforts to uplift young people in our community through the performing arts. This month is also an exciting time for many of our constituents who are graduating from a variety of programs offered through many of our partner organizations. Many of the graduates are the first generation in their families to graduate from high school or a college program. I want to congratulate them and encourage them to keep working on their dreams and continue making their families and communities proud. As you may know, Mayor Muriel Bowser officially kicked-off outdoor pools and spray parks season on Memorial Day weekend! Visit summer.dc.gov to find hours and locations of pools that are near your community. Thanks to the Office of the Chief of Technology, visitors will have access to free DC WiFi at these locations! Moreover, our Mayor launched our 2020 Census #CountDC campaign to ensure every Washingtonian receives their fair share of federal resources. I encourage all my friends and members of the Latino community to participate in the census. Everyone, from newborn babies to the oldest senior in your home needs to be counted. Lastly, it is an honor for our Mayor Muriel Bowser and myself to be included in the list of the 100 most influential people for the Nation's Capital Metro-Area Latinos by El Tiempo Latino, who annually recognize through the Powermeter 100 testimony to the influence that individuals have had in the Hispanic community and the community at large, if you want to see the list complete visit: http://eltiempolatino.com/powermeter-2019/ Thank you for keeping DC thriving and let's keep moving forward Latinos! Me despido con esto hoy, nos vemos el próximo mes. ¡Mil gracias!   Jackie Reyes-Yanes Executive Director Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)

Happy Cinco de Mayo Day!

The Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs along with the Office of Nightlife and Culture celebrated Cinco de Mayo at El Tamarindo Restaurant. It was a fun and safe celebration. The activity started with a brunch of delicious traditional food and music by the Mariachi band Alegres Cuscatelecos. In the afternoon, Lyft Company offered a promo code to get discounted rides to move safely around DC. The discount was possible thanks to a partnership between Mayor Muriel Bowser and Lyft DC.

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Latin American Youth Center celebrated its 51st Anniversary

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Executive Director Jackie Reyes-Yanes attended the 51st Anniversary Gala of the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC). Each year, sponsors from different sectors such as business, research, policy, philanthropic and civic organizations as well as private individuals come together to celebrate the dreams and future of youth in the District. This year, Mayor Bowser addressed young people and reminded them during the gala, that when we work with organizations like LAYC, we build progress, and provide more opportunities to every Washingtonian in the city.

#SisterCity agreement keeps thriving!

Earlier this month, the Sister City agreement #WashingtonDC and #SanSalvador Committee met to explore opportunities on how DC can share its services and goods with the city of San Salvador. Delegates, public servants, business, and social leaders from both cities were present at the meeting.

Café con Tamales with Director Jackie Reyes-Yanes!

Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes sat down and chatted with adult students benefiting from the services offered by the Family Place, an organization which is funded by Mayor Muriel Bowser through her Office on Latino Affairs. During this session - which is part of MOLA's Café con Tamales series- , Director Reyes took the opportunity to have an honest conversation with participants and recipients of MOLA-funded programs in partnership with the Latino community and nonprofit-organizations.

Food Bank distribution continues moving on!

Every month, the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs keeps doing an excellent job in delivering food to the community with the help from our outstanding volunteer team. MOLA team and volunteers are always happy and willing to serve our constituents fresh produce and foods during the free monthly Mobile Market at Ward 4 and 5.

Bilingual Hiring Fair

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) together with the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs hosted a bilingual job fair in our facilities. DDOT conducted onsite interviews and pre-screenings to applicants who would be eligible to be hired as Safety Technicians.

30 youth graduated from Mary's Center teen program

Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes participated in the graduation ceremony of 30 youth participants of Mary's Center Teen Program. The program, which is funded by Mayor Muriel Bowser through her Office on Latino Affairs, provides a safe haven for Latino youth, particularly those whose parents migrated from Central America. Many participants are the first generation in their families to complete high school or college degrees. This is a great opportunity for them to develop a better pathway for their lives as they transition into adulthood.

MOLA participated in Sacred Heart Church Dinner Program

The Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) and Washington DC English Center joined the effort led by The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to support the Sacred Heart Church Dinner Program which distributes meals to the community. Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes attended and promoted Mayor Muriel Bowser's DC values and commitment to support the community. Director Reyes took the opportunity to talk to youth attendees about the importance of helping each other, going to school, and also provided information about Mayor Bowser's initiatives.  

Jornaleros: Invisibles Hands exhibit outside MOLA

Through a partnership with Workers United of Washington DC and American University's DC Humanities Truck, the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) hosted an exhibit featuring day laborers as photographers of their own daily lives. The gallery was exhibited outside the Frank D. Reeves Center and was open to the general public.

Consul of Ecuador commemorated the Battle of Pichincha

Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes joined to the honorable Consul of Ecuador, Eduardo Calderon during the commemoration of the Battle of Pichincha on May 24th. The event was a tribute to all the heroes who gave their lives for freedom 197 years ago and it included artists from Ecuador, who performed and sang to honor their country. 

MOLA did a walk thru at CHEC DC

Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes held a meeting with Columbia Heights Educational Campus Principal, Maria Tukeva, Cynthia Turcios, Ward 1 MOCRS, Jackson Carnes representing Council Member Brandon Todd, and the Parents Association to talk about how changes in the budget would impact Latino students at the school. In addition, Director Reyes did a walk thru the Gym in support of the improvements that the Department of General Services is doing in the facility.

MOLA team celebrated the Afro Latinx culture at the Afro Latino Festival

The Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) attended the Afro Latino Festival in the District in celebration of Passport DC and DC International Cultural Awareness Month. The festival involved live music, food, dance, and many fun activities with performances by La Marvela, Proyecto Piquete, and so on.