Black and Latino residents are three to four times more likely to be financially vulnerable than their white counterparts, according to a study by the Financial Health Network earlier this year. For many, that means they are unable to pay all of their bills on time, and about 4 in 10 reported that they experienced food insecurity because of it, in the last year. Government at all levels looks to improve food access, advancing racial justice and equity for low-income, underserved communities. Still, barriers like immigration status, language, and transportation prevent Latinos from tapping into resources. Adding to the dismay, pandemic-era benefit programs have lapsed. Many of the food pantry pop-ups that sprang up for a couple of months, stopped when government funding ran out. But they had already become a food source community members below the poverty level relied upon. In response to the need, the Gage Park [...]

SKOKIE - "Bravo!" "Brava!" "Ole!" Enthusiastic cheers filled the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts Friday night. The energetic applause from the audience's standing ovation reflected the hand clapping and percussive footwork on the stage by the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater. The performances (6/16-18) feature a diverse program showcasing Flamenco, Classical and Folkloric Spanish dance styles in both traditional and contemporary genres. “The thrilling program features the full array of Spanish dance, including the ever-popular Flamenco in classic and contemporary styles plus stunning costumes and dazzling lighting design guaranteed to quicken the pulse, touch the heart and renew the soul,” said Jorge Perez, Executive & Associate Artistic, Ensemble Español. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asbec3GfVwo A standout in a performance filled with standouts was by guest artist Irene “La Chiqui” Lozano. “Donde Todo Comienza”, choreographed and performed by Lozano in Act 2 punctuated an evening of intricate hand, arm, and body movements that was often accompanied [...]

Connecticut’s extensive Puerto Rican community represents 45 percent of the state’s Hispanic/Latino population—making them the largest Hispanic community across the state. As many of these residents remain closely connected to the Caribbean island, issues like access to high-quality community services similarly impact these extended communities. CT Latino News covers the five social determinants of health and highlights how community organizations and services are integral to public health. This story was supported by the journalism non-profit the Economic Hardship Reporting Project and co-published with The Real News Network/ 9 Millones.  In front of a mural that reads "Only the people save the people," Marisel Robles Gutiérrez stood before a group of elderly adults, to make an announcement: the non-profit organization Comedores Sociales had gained ownership of the abandoned property that they occupied in 2017 by negotiating with a real estate investment company. With a slightly cracked voice and smiling, she [...]

HARTFORD—A tribute to the power and influence of preserved art, THE REMBRANDT, premieres Friday, April 21, at TheaterWorks Hartford in partnership with the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.  “When I was putting together the 22/23 season, this play presented an exciting opportunity to tell an unexpected and moving story – it also created space to partner again with our friends at the Wadsworth,” shared Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero. “Together, we’ve collaborated on some terrific programming that not only brings our audiences together but celebrates a powerful theme: connecting through art.” THE REMBRANDT—written by award-winning playwright Jessica Dickey— is set in a modern-day art museum, following a journey that explores centuries of human experience when a museum guard decides to touch a famous Rembrandt painting.  “At its core, I’m looking at this play through the lens of an art maker. A theater maker. And so the idea that one can [...]

Brushes and papel amate (which she uses as a canvas) are what Mexican visual-artist, Esperanza Gama, uses to transport her dreams into reality. Gama was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco and to pay homage to her hometown, in the cover of herbook, Raíces, fibras magicas – the Catedral de Guadalajara is seen in the iris of the eye. Having grown up in Mexico, Gama remembers that she did not have much as a child, material-wise but a lot of love, from her father who raised her. Her last series, Niñas de las jacarandas, derives from her childhood imagination and a dream she had in Mexico City. Not only is it dedicated to the jacaranda flowers but it has two other major components, immigration and her inner child. These flowers were brought to Mexico City by an imperial Japanese gardener. “I mixed the healing of the little girl, misunderstood and hurt [...]

Fiesta de Hockey gathered more than 120 participants at Fifth Third Arena — the Chicago Blackhawks’ practice facility — last weekend. Children, teenagers and adults enjoyed sixty-two hours of programming, including training sessions and exhibition matches, of this debut event that will be held again in New York in June. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVE1x4l5JpM&feature=youtu.be Gisselle de Rojas traveled to Chicago from Miami with her 16-year-old son. While he played, she got to know other parents who traveled here to support their children from the stands. “I already met a lot of people from different areas, so it’s really nice because the community feeling is really good,” de Rojas said.   Players from across the country traveled to Chicago to enjoy the games or try out to join the Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Association (PRIHA). The coaches evaluated the performance of each participant and classified them into different teams depending on their age and [...]