La Voz de MOLA Newsletter - October 31, 2019

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Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) Newsletter

October 31, 2019

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Letter from the Mayor

It's a wonderful week in Washington, DC: The Washington Nationals are World Series champions and the District's public schools are the fastest improving in the nation!

How'd we get here? In both cases, we got here because over a decade ago our community worked together to make this week possible. Together, we brought baseball back to the District; and, together, we made the choice to invest in and prioritize our public schools.

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A message from the Executive Director

executive director

Querida Comunidad,

I would like to start by congratulating the new World Series champions: the DC Nationals!  My heart is filled with joy and pride as I see that our beloved team finished the fight! I am especially proud to have witnessed that our Latino players persevered like real warriors and that they were an important driving force in this historic victory. Thank you Nats for bringing so much jubilation to the District! We hope that everyone can join us at the 2019 National Championship Parade to celebrate this amazing accomplishment on Saturday, November 2nd at 2pm on Constitution Ave. NW and 15th St. NW.   

On a different note, I would like to refer to the recent announcement issued by the federal government regarding the extension of work permits for Salvadorans who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) until January 4, 2021. Mayor Muriel Bowser has been a strong advocate for a comprehensive inmigration reform and for creating a pathway towards citizenship for our “tepesianos” and upon the release of the announcement she stated: 

“We cannot afford further temporary fixes to TPS; it is time for full citizenship for our Salvadoran neighbors, who are part of the fabric of our community and have called DC home for decades. I urge the Senate to take up House-passed legislation to permanently protect Salvadoran TPS holders and provide these aspiring Americans with a pathway to citizenship. With comprehensive immigration reform, together, we can continue to grow our economy and build safer, stronger neighborhoods in DC and across the nation.” Mayor Muriel Bowser. 

I want our community of TPS holders to know that Mayor Bowser and her Office on Latino Affairs are proud and grateful for all the contributions that you make every day to our city and our nation. We will continue to advocate for a long overdue and well-deserved sustainable solution. 

Changing topics, October is Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer Awareness month. During this time, we joined La Clinica del Pueblo, along with other agencies, which are part of the Latinx Coalition Against Domestic Violence in support of this cause by participating in the March and Vigil to End Domestic Violence against Latinas. We believe that Latina women deserve to have access to dignified and safe housing to get out of domestic violence. This is aligned with Mayor Muriel Bowser's goal to have 36,000 new housing units, including affordable homes for all Washingtonians in the District of Columbia. Also for those who need immediate help please  call 1-844-4HELPDC or visit the website: //bit.ly/purpleresources because you are not alone, we are here to help you!

The Bowser Administration attaches great value to equal access to education and the success of our Latinx students. With that in mind, this month MOLA partnered up with DC Public Schools to do a Facebook live broadcast addressed to parents and students where I had the opportunity to interview Cardozo’s High School Bilingual Counselor, Mr. Leonel Popol to go over the DCPS Student Guide to Graduation, College, and Career. This guide is the first of its kind in the country and was launched by Mayor Bowser and Chancellor Ferebee in April of this year with the purpose of providing students with an individualized footprint on what steps to take to progress towards high school graduation and beyond. 

By the same token, we also participated in the Paul Public Charter School assembly celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month where I had the honor to be the keynote speaker and was thrilled to  see so many faces full of hope in light of the future ahead of them. 

Last but not least, we had a successful Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. We thank everyone who made this celebration unique as we continue working for you and delivering Mayor Muriel Bowser’s message. I also want to thank the Ambassador of Colombia, His Excellency Francisco Santos for opening his home to celebrate Noche Cultural and Award Ceremony and the Reyes Family in El Tamarindo for hosting our senior breakfast. 

Thank you for being so faithful to La Voz de MOLA Newsletter. See you next month! 

Mil gracias and Happy Halloween!

 

Jackie Reyes-Yanes
Executive Director
Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) 

Agency Updates

bureau

 

MOLA* celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes was a guest speaker at the  Bureau of Labor Statistics' celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

During the occasion, Executive Director Reyes shared information about Mayor Bowser’s initiatives to serve the Latino community, promote DC values and cultural competency when serving  Latino constituents.

*Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)

carlos rosario

Celebrating HHM* with Carlos Rosario School

Carlos Rosario School celebrated the contributions that the Latino community brings to the District of Columbia in its annual Hispanic Heritage Month festival. The school’s talented students presented a series of music, theater, poetry, and dance performances representative of Latino culture, history, and traditions. During the festival, Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes gave special remarks which included topics such as Mayors Bowser’s pro-immigration policy in DC and the support  that MOLA has offered in education, arts and culture.

*Hispanic Heritage Month

thomson

 

Thomson Elementary School students learn about MOLA’s history and values

MOLA* welcomed third grade students from Thomson Elementary School to its facility, where students took a tour and learned about MOLA’s mural and the services offered by the Bowser Administration. During the visit students, also learned about the work that MOLA does to address the needs of Latino constituents and interacted with staff and Director Reyes-Yanes who motivated them to stay in school and be good future citizens.

*Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)

noche cultural

MOLA*: Noche Cultural and Award Ceremony

As expected, MOLA’s Noche Cultural was a successful event! This year the event took place at the residence of the Ambassador of Colombia, His Excellency Francisco Santos Calderón.

Distinguished members of the Latino community came together at this spectacular location to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Director Jackie Reyes-Yanes recognized 6 outstanding Latinos who received awards for making an impact in the District of Columbia and practicing DC Values as they remain committed to serving the Latino community. All awardees and guests enjoyed music, dance and food that reflected Latino culture.

See photos

*Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)

domestic

Purple, the color of the month at MOLA*

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and team MOLA participated in the 2019 March & Vigil to End Domestic Violence along with the Latina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Dilcia Molina who manages the "Entre Amigas" program at La Clínica del Pueblo. During the event Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes reiterated the importance of supporting Latina women to have access to dignified housing in order to prevent domestic violence. The efforts that Mayor Bowser is doing to bring more resources to victims of domestic violence and secure affordable housing for DC residents were also highlighted during the event.

*Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)

breast info

Breast health information session

With the support of Capital Breast Care Center (CBCC), MOLA hosted a breast health information session where CBCC’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Nathaly Gonzalez informed about breast cancer risk factors, and steps to follow in case of a cancer diagnosis. Ms. González also provided recommendations on how to maintain healthy daily habits in order to prevent breast cancer and shared stories of Latina women who have used CBCC’s services in the past. Ms. Jennifer L. Porter, Director of the Mayor's Office on Women’s Policy & Initiatives, and Director Jackie Reyes-Yanes who are constantly interested in providing helpful information to the Latino community were present and thanked attendees for their participation.

get-together

Language Access Coordinator Get Together

MOLA hosted a language access coordinator get-together to discuss strategies on how to conduct  meaningful outreach with the Latino community. Coordinators and partners from the Department of Employment Services (DOES), the Department on Disability Services (DDS), the Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC), the Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP), Mary’s Center, Carecen DC, and the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture (MONC) listened to best practices presentations from CARECEN’s representative, Ms. Anabell Martínez. Attendees also took the time to network and share information about their agencies and their own practices when serving the Latino community.

market

 

Monthly Mobile Market is now in  Ward 7

Every month team MOLA and a group of enthusiastic volunteers serve the community through the monthly mobile market sponsored by Capital Area Food Bank.

This month we kicked-off a mobile market in Ward 7 which will provide food for families who need it the most every second Thursday of the month. During the Mobile Market team MOLA also takes the opportunity to bring additional resources and information to the community such as the importance to get counted in the 2020 Census.

seniors

Latino Seniors enjoyed Hispanic Heritage Month 

MOLA held its traditional breakfast celebration for Latino seniors during Hispanic Heritage Month at El Tamarindo Restaurant. The event brought together seniors from Vida Center, Casa Iris and the National Hispanic Council on Aging NHCOA. Attendees had a good time, dancing and singing their favorite songs with a Mariachi and Venezuelan musician, Jonathan Acosta. Guests also participated in a prize wheel and received souvenirs courtesy of the DC Office of Lottery and Charitable Games (DCLB).

 

See photos

sacread

MOLA* visited Sacred Heart School

Vincent Spadoni, President of the Consortium of Catholic Academies made an invitation to Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes to visit Sacred Heart School. 

At the event, students were informed about  Mayor Bowser’s programs and the services that her Office on Latino Affairs brings to the community.

*Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)

alexis

MOLA* joined the United States Environmental Protection Agency

MOLA's Outreach Specialist, Alexis Valdovinos was at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlighting Hispanic leaders and Mayor Muriel Bowser's Immigrant Justice Legal Services program in Washington DC as part of the EPA’s celebration theme “Hispanic Americans - A History of Serving Our Nation.”

*Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)

camilo

MOLA* celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in Paul Public Charter School

MOLA Executive Director, Jackie Reyes-Yanes and Director of Operations, Camilo Manjarres participated at the Paul Public Charter School speaking to high and middle school students about the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mayor Muriel Bowser programs for the Latino community, and how to succeed as a Latino in the United States!

*Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)

Announcements

district minute

District Minute 10/31/19

This week’s District Minute features stories about the World Series, the 17th Street High Heel Race, and Dave Chappelle. 

Watch video   

 


What's the news in the barrio?

  1.  El Tiempo Latino-Herencia Hispana | Mario Gamboa asumió compromiso de alfabetizar a adultos inmigrantes (video)
  2.  Telemundo 44-Alcaldesa Bowser ofrece apoyo a trabajadores migrantes
  3. Washington Hispanic-Romanticismo en voces guatemaltecas
  4. El Tiempo Latino-Premian a colombiana en Washington por su labor social/
  5. Washington Hispanic-Seis galardonados en la Noche Cultural de MOLA
  6. Washington Hipanic-La Herencia Hispana celebrada por GWHCC con mucho sabor-Sección A-PAG.A8
  7. Telemundo-¿Celebración de Cristóbal Colón o de pueblos indígenas? Depende de dónde vives en Estados Unidos
  8. El Tiempo Latino-Alcaldesa Muriel Bowser solicita más viviendas de bajo costo en los vecindarios ricos de D.C.
  9. El Tiempo Latino-Una noche para agradecer el aporte hispano en DC
  10. Washington Hispanic -La mágica Noche Cultural de la Oficina de la Alcaldesa para Asuntos Latinos Muriel Bowser
  11. Washington Hispanic -Exposición “Transiciones” revela gran obra de arte de Héctor Julio Torres
  12.  El Tiempo Latino-Consejo de D.C. discutirá mejores protecciones para peatones y ciclistas
  13.  Telemundo 44-Calles cerradas por juegos de los Nationals
  14.  El Tiempo Latino-Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Washington DC llega a Ponce
  15. El Tiempo Latino-Vigilia contra la violencia doméstica

spotlight
ronal

Ronal Avila, Language Access Coordinator, Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs

This month we are very proud to highlight an afro-latino who calls DC his home and who works for DC government ensuring that Latinos who have limited or no proficiency in English have equal access to government services. Ronal Ávila was born and raised in beautiful Roatán, Honduras and  came to the US right after high school to pursue a college degree at Broome Community College (BCC) in Binghamton NY. Ronal has a bachelor’s degree in education administration and a masters degree in public administration. He was appointed by Mayor Bowser as the Language Access Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs almost 2 years ago. In this capacity he works in collaboration with 38 District Government agencies and the DC Office of Human Rights to ensure the implementation of the Language Access Act of 2004. Ronal is also responsible for creating MOLA’s bi-monthly job announcements newsletter to contribute and promote the hiring of bilingual employees in DC government.   

Ronal has also implemented monthly language access best practices meetings at MOLA and created -in collaboration with the DC Office on Human Rights- a series of cultural competence trainings for Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employees. Previous to his appointment as MOLA’s Language Access Coordinator, Ronal was a recruiter/counselor at the Admission Department at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. He is very passionate about education and about empowering Latinos to complete higher education and pursue professional development goals. We are really proud to have you in our team Ronal!  

*** If you would like to nominate a great Latinx working in the public sector, please submit your suggestions to ola.publicrelation@dc.gov

Grantees

La Clínica del Pueblo 

This month we want to recognize La Clínica del Pueblo for leading the March and Vigil to End Domestic Violence against Latina women in Washington, DC. We are also highlighting this non-profit organization for providing trauma-informed and cultural competent services in the areas of  health education and mental health through a partnership with our office. If you or someone in your family need assistance with nutrition, diabetes, hypertension, health screenings, or individual and group therapy, please go to La Clínica del Pueblo where committed and dedicated staff will be happy to assist you. 

Learn more about the work of La Clínica del Pueblo

la clinica del pueblo

Upcoming Events


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