La Liga: Weekly Newsletter
June 3, 2020

Issue No. 15
LULAC.org

Hello,

Before anything else, this needs to be said. We stand with our Black brothers, sisters and non-conforming/non-binary siblings against police brutality, injustice and racism. #BlackLivesMatter

In case you missed it, take a look at our #SaludTwitter Chat on Latinos and workplace safety, plus our national virtual conversation on Puerto Rico. Don’t forget to celebrate our community’s diversity this LGBTQ+ Pride Month!

Here’s what to check out in this issue:

1. DACA and Our Community: Visit “LULAC in Action”
2. What is InformaGente: See “LULAC in Action”
3. Apply for a Ford Driving Dreams COVID-19 Response Grant: Go to “Empower Through Access"

By Diego Tum-Monge

JUMP AHEAD

• LULAC In Action
• Empower Through Access
• In Latino News
• Highlights At Hand

We Stand With Our Black Community

Let's address systemic and cultural anti-blackness

Our Black community is hurting. Our Black brothers, sisters and siblings have been living a reality that we cannot claim to understand. Our goal is not to replace their voices, but rather to uplift them. We acknowledge their pain and must act in solidarity.

We see you. We hear you. And we stand with you. We stand against racism, hate, and bigotry. Our collective fight is for equality.

Together, we are confronted with the reality of a history of racial discrimination and oppression in this country. This has been the narrative that has dominated our generations as an organization and as a people.

We mourn for the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Anthony Baez, Jessica Hernandez, and all who cannot be named or who were not seen. Fear and anger do not come close to describing the deeply rooted emotions that ravage our country today.

We must take action to claim our existence. We must build stronger alliances in our lives and support those on the front lines. It is our duty to speak up against injustice, challenge and change the systems of institutional oppression. As importantly, remember to vote in primaries and this November 3rd and urge everyone else you know to do the same.

Anti-blackness is real. For too long we have failed to acknowledge our own African and indigenous roots. We must do what we can to intentionally live with that awareness and guide others to discover it. Only by acknowledging the injustices can we begin to believe that change is possible.

In the coming weeks, LULAC will be working to uplift the voices of Black leaders and the efforts of racial-justice partner organizations. Our aim is to share our platforms to also highlight the needs of our Black community. We have had conversations with leaders of organizations such as the National Urban League to lend our support, but we need your help.

Email us and share local/national efforts that we can help amplify. This can include: bail funds, calls to action, donation links, and more. While we may not be able to achieve it all at once, this movement is something we can build upon together.

#BlackLivesMatter

Together With Puerto Rico

A LIVE town hall with community and elected leaders.

This virtual Town Hall focused on how the island of Puerto Rico is being impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and why it is important to prioritize the needs of the island in the next stimulus package. You can view the conversation at LULAC.org/covid19/live, or you can join the conversation by sharing your thoughts via our Facebook stream.

Moderator:

• David Cruz, LULAC Communications Director

Panelists:

• Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President
• Sindy Benavides, LULAC National CEO
• Tim Kaine, U.S. Senator (D-VA)
• María "Mayita" Meléndez, Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Denise L. Santos, President, Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico
• Michelle M. Hernández De Fraley, PH.D., Colonel (Retired)

Follow LULAC on social media and never miss our notifications for live events!

#SaludTues Tweetchat

Latinos and Workplace Safety Amid COVID-19

It’s National Safety Awareness Month! For this #SaludTues, hosted every Tuesday, LULAC will join Salud America to discuss ways to provide support and promote a healthy environment for Latino workers and their loved ones amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Event Details:

• WHERE: Look back on Twitter with #SaludTues
• HOST: @SaludAmerica
• CO-HOSTS: Public Health Maps founded by epidemiologist Edward Vallejo (@PublicHealthMap), Momsrising (@MomsRising), Momsrising’s Spanish Account Mamas Con Poder (@MamasConPoder),

Continue the conversation by adding your comments, tips, and stories as we explore:

• How the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Latino workers and the economy
• How we can promote good mental health and safety among Latino workers
• Policies and ways to promote workplace safety for Latinos and other frontline workers

Visit Salud-America.org for more information.

About #SaludTues:

#SaludTues is a health equity tweetchat especially focused on the Latino population at 12p CT/1p ET every Tuesday hosted by the @SaludAmerica program at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.

DACA and our Community

A decision is right around the corner in the Supreme Court. This decision may well determine the future of almost 650,000 Dreamers across the country. It will decide whether deserving people who call America home will be allowed to “continue to receive temporary protection from deportation and work permits.”

Our goal is to make sure our DACA community is supported, no matter the decision. That’s why we want to hear from you if you are a DACA recipient. Send us an email to connect with us and share your story!

A North Texas Regional Meeting on COVID-19

A conversation on the impact of COVID-19 in the area.

Take a moment and view this virtual conversation between Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President, and Dr. Roberto De La Cruz, Executive VP and Chief Medical Officer at Parkland Health & Hospital System.

In this meeting we:

• Shared what is happening based on local statistics.
• Expanded on what’s been seen in the media and the hospitals.
• Explained what local community members can do to protect themselves.

See it here!

New Latino-Focused Series “InformaGente”

Leveraging the Power of Celebrity Voices to Foster COVID-19 Awareness and Emergency Preparedness

LULAC is proud to partner with Listos California, a statewide disaster preparedness campaign anchored in the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), and the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA), to bring this new online conversation series to foster a culture of emergency readiness among Latino communities.

The first InformaGente conversation has already been released!

• Watch and share it in English
• Watch and share it in Spanish

This episode features actor Nicholas Gonzalez, star of ABC’s The Good Doctor, and Dr. Gil Chavez, Senior Advisor to the Director of the California Department of Public Health. Dr. Chavez and Nicholas discuss issues related to COVID-19 from hand washing and physical distancing, to concerns about visiting a doctor due to immigration status.

Next week, Listos California shared that the second InformaGente conversation will present actress Melissa Barrera, star of the upcoming film In the Heights--the film adaptation of the Tony-award winning musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda--and Monica Vargas from Cal OES. Their chat will focus on California’s upcoming wildfire season and the 5 steps to prepare for major disasters.

Submit your local event or stay up-to-date with our LULAC Calendar.

Ford Driving Dreams COVID-19 Response Grants

Apply for a $2,000 grant to support your community

In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, Ford Motor Company Fund and LULAC are working together to provide (50) $2,000 grants to LULAC councils in the Ford Driving Dreams Network. Council initiatives will include providing relief for individuals and families in the following areas: food insecurity, mobility and transportation needs, technology resources, mental health, mentoring, and online educational resources.

To apply, visit LULAC.org/covid19/relief.

For questions, contact [email protected].

#GrowWithGoogle: Desarrollando Resiliencia Empresarial

Cómo Mantener Su Negocio Funcionando

On June 23, 2020 at 3:00 PM EST we will be having the workshop “Desarrollando Resiliencia Empresarial: Cómo Mantener Su Negocio Funcionando”. This workshop will talk about creating a plan that prepares your small business for any type of difficulty, whether you face a pandemic or natural disaster. We will be explaining some of the tools and guides necessary to make sure you effectively protect your small business.

This workshop will be hosted in Spanish. RSVP today!

LULAC has the great pleasure of introducing our partnership with America’s Small Business Development Center and the Grow with Google Team to co-host this major Spanish virtual workshop for our Latino small-business community. Help us spread the word!

Para más información, haga clic aquí.

Support these programs and others by donating today!

Upcoming Elections

Many states have taken measures to protect citizens from exposure during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, we encourages you to do your civic duty and safely vote. Here are the latest updates and related information about elections:

Tuesday, June 9

Georgia’s state and presidential primaries were originally scheduled for March 24 and May 19. West Virginia was originally scheduled for May 12. Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, and West Virginia will hold their state primaries as planned.

Up Next… June 23: Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia; June 30: Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah.

News and Updates

3 Potential Outcomes SCOTUS Might Reach on DACA

Wednesday, June 3—Opinion by Cesar Vargas on Gotham Gazette

Latino homes report serious COVID-19 symptoms nearly twice as often, survey of 1.6 million shows

Monday, June 1—USA TODAY

The DACA recipients protecting all Americans

Sunday, May 31—Opinion by Representative Veronica Escobar

DACA, abortion, Trump tax cases still undecided as Supreme Court term nears end

Saturday, May 30—CNN

Deadly Choice for Migrant Parents: Leave Kids or Risk COVID Infection

Friday, May 29—The Crime Report

Trust Barriers Pose Challenge for Coronavirus Testing, Tracing Among Black and Latino Californians

Thursday, May 28—Opinion by Ana B. Ibarra of CALmatters

First Latina U.S. Senator Withdraws Name From Biden's Running Mate List

Thursday, May 28—Ruters

Local Council and National Partner Spotlights

'We need action': Salinas residents kneel at George Floyd protests Monday

Tuesday, June 2—The Californian

Texas LULAC, Amarillo NAACP issue statements over Amarillo restaurant’s name

Tuesday, June 2—MyHighPlains.com

Univision health lead pushes pharma on the value and needs of Hispanic audiences

Monday, June 1—MM&M

Some say name of soon to open restaurant has racist undertones; owner vehemently disagrees

Friday, May 29—ABC 7

President of Denison LULAC Discusses Voter Engagement

Friday, May 29—Carroll Times Herald

LULAC in the News

‘It could have a chilling effect’: why Trump is ramping up attacks on mail-in voting

Monday, June 1—The Guardian

Latino leaders demanding more protections for workers at meat packing plants

Friday, May 29—WFAA

Our Press Releases

*Selected highlights from the week

LULAC Demands Stop To “Open Season” On Men Of Color By Bad Police Officers

Friday, May 29

LULAC Taking Action So Latinos Are Taken Into Account In U.S.

Wednesday, May 27

Read our latest press releases published at LULAC.org.

Do you have a special story? Connect with us via email!

Latino Discovery Hub
Look here to find new authors, stories, artists, podcasts, and social influencers who helped shape the identities, cultures, and thoughts of your fellow readers.

This week is about: LATINA LEADERS

Lina Hidalgo, the Young Latina Leader Who Fights Against All Odds to Get Things Done in Texas

“Faced with a lack of resources and responses from the federal government, she decided to take matters into her own hands and enact more radical public measures, which have cost her attacks on all fronts."

Do you know about Nathalie Rayes?

She’s a Venezuelan-Lebanese woman who was appointed as the President and CEO of Latino Victory. She “arrived in the United States at the age of 10, not speaking a word of English and having to face the early death of her father.”

Next week is about NEW PODCAST EPISODES. Share your ideas via email!

Engage with us online.

Use @LULAC and #LULAC for a chance to be in the next issue of La Liga!

That's all for now. We'll see you again next week.

WHAT’S NEXT?

• Go to LULAC.org/covid19 for ways you can get involved in our relief efforts.
• Look ahead: See our Facebook Event for the LULAC Virtual Summit happening mid-August.

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What do you think of the newsletter? What would you like to see? Email us with your suggestions or questions at [email protected].