75 New Citizens Take Oath in Special Fourth of July Ceremony

Story published in WNYC. Newly naturalized citizens representing more than two dozen countries recited the pledge of allegiance in a special ceremony at the main branch of the New York Public Library. Seventy-five people hailing from 27 countries became American citizens. It was part of a series of events timed for the July Fourth weekend. Elvis […]

Thousands in Public Money Spent on Personal Expenses by Former Queens Library Staff

Published in WNYC. Employees at the Queens Public Library spent over $300,000 in library funds on items like concert tickets, Apple TVs and extravagant meals, all while claiming the library was running a deficit, according to the city Comptroller’s Office. City Comptroller Scott Stringer released a report today saying that former Queens Borough Public Library President […]

Two Narcotics Organizations Nabbed for Street-level Dealing

Published in WNYC. Two major drug trafficking organizations have been busted for selling drugs on the street and running a 24-hour cocaine delivery service in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan over the past 14 months, law enforcement officials said. District Attorney Cyrus Vance said on Thursday the groups worked between on the blocks bordered […]

Pope Francis to Visit UN, East Harlem School During NYC Swing

Published in WNYC. Pope Francis will give an address to the United Nations and tour a Catholic school in East Harlem when he visits in September, Cardinal Timothy Dolan announced Tuesday. The Pope’s schedule was released at a news conference where Dolan said he is eager for the visit. “He wants to see a lot of people,” Dolan said. […]

Mexicans Struggle to Preserve Indigenous Language Miles from Home

Story published for the Knight-CUNYJ fellowship program. Last winter, Ñani Migrante, a Mexican-American organization in Staten Island, held several workshops to teach Mixtec, the fourth largest indigenous community in Mexico. The goal was to preserve the language for native speakers and their children. There are over 300 indigenous language variants in Mexico, and Mixtec is […]

Powerful Latina journalists reflect on the past & future of Hispanics in media

Published in All Digitocracy. There are over 54 million Hispanics in the U.S. today according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Attitudes toward this community have improved over the past three decades but four of the most powerful Latina journalists say there’s still work to be done. Here are three things learned from veteran journalists Maria […]

From Reporters to Business Owners: Hispanic Entrepreneurs On Joining the Startup Culture

Published in All Digitocracy. Tania Luviano had been a TV news anchor for 10 years until she was laid off during the 2008 economic crisis. She sent resumes to several media companies but nobody was hiring. Luviano found herself vlogging about her life as a mother and founded Latina Mom TV. “You have to stick […]

GoBaller Founder Chris Dell: More Hispanic startups and investors are needed today

Published in All Digitocracy. In the United States, less than one percent of Latino owned startups are backed by venture capitalists, according to a study by CB Insights. Hispanics’ buying power totaled $1.3 trillion in 2014, according to a report from Selig Center for Economic Growth, and spent 13 percent more than the overall population […]

Religion and Immigration: Mayan-Guatemalan Center

The Mayan Guatemalan Center helps immigrants in Palm Beach County with legal, educational and personal problems they may face. Most of the people looking for help are undocumented immigrants from Guatemala, where there’s a large Mayan population. Listen to the story: Listen: Interview with Simy Cuervo from Miami’s United States Conference of Catholic Bishops department.

Mexicans in Miami Show Solidarity With Protests in Mexico

Published in WLRN and Cancunissimo. From Mexico City to Miami, protesters gathered in front of Mexican government offices and consulates Thursday, voicing their frustration in the case of the missing students. Protesters in Miami were wearing black and holding candles and signs with messages against their country’s government. Ramon Hernandez has been in Miami for […]