MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO, VERONICA COOL
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Colegas,
We officially welcome November! During September and October, we proudly celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month. As we reflect, we acknowledge there's much work to be done around language and access but are exceedingly grateful for the many strides made.
At Cool, we are delighted to have collaborated with multiples partners, on important initiatives and events. Everything from census data to public health information to help our communities stay healthy and engaged.
On October 6th, we joined Maryland Physicians Care for The State of Health of the Hispanic Community in Maryland, where we hosted a panel of experts that included Dr. Paola Fernan-Zegarra, Manager of the Latino Health Initiative (LHI) at the Montgomery County Department of Health; Dr. Ligia Peralta, Pediatrician, Clinical Investigator and President of Casa Rubén; Laura Gutierrez, Hispanic Community Services Specialist at the Office of the Mayor of Annapolis and Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Latino Vaccine Coalition (MALVEC), and Gabriel Albornoz, Montgomery County Council Member.
On October 13th, we also participated in Notre Dame of Maryland University's School of Pharmacy Fall Fireside Chat: Vaccines, Hesitancy & Resources, where Dr. Anne Lin, Dr. Mariangeliz Rivera and Dr. Gabriela Lemus debunked vaccine myths, discussed the importance of vaccination, and shared insight on the many available community resources.
Finally, we wrapped up our Hispanic Heritage Series with Latinos and The Future: Workforce, Education & Empowerment, where Gustavo Torres from CASA and Lupi Quinteros Grady from the Latin American Youth Center gave us insight into how we can create an inclusive environment to attract and engage Latinos into the workforce, especially during a time when we are facing tremendous labor shortages.
Our work is now more relevant than ever, with an ever-growing Latino and Hispanic population that will be your next customer, employer, employee, student, donor, volunteer or neighbor. Per the Bureau of Labor's recent statistics, Latinos represent over 18% of the U.S. workforce today and more importantly, 78% of all workforce growth, from now to 2030, is projected to be attributed to Latinos.
These are significant stats as you consider your 2022 plans... but the year is not over! November begins with the rich Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Mexican tradition (check out the gorgeous photographs from the Annapolis Dia de Los Muertos Festival). The month ends with our annual Thanksgiving celebrations, a moment to pause and be grateful.
During the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned more than ever the importance of taking care of ourselves, our loved ones and appreciating what we have so we may build our communities from a place of gratitude. I am grateful for our dedicated team at Cool, my silly & loving family, and for you, who walk alongside us in our journey to build the bridge that connects our communities in the United States.
¡Gracias!
Veronica Cool
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Highlights & Announcements |
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“Algún día llegará la noche. En eso pensábamos. Llegará la noche y nos pondremos a descansar. Ahora se trata de cruzar el día, de atravesarlo como sea para correr del calor y del sol. Después nos detendremos. Después.”
"Someday, the night will come. We thought about that. The night will come, and we will rest. Now it's just a question of crossing the day, of crossing it as it is to run from the heat and the sun. Then we will stop. After."
-Juan Rulfo, Mexican writer, A Passage in Talpa
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Día de los Muertos: Remembering and Blending
First a national holiday, and now a worldwide commemoration, Día de los Muertos is a legacy of Mexican tradition that shows the world the importance of remembering our ancestors and our past. Read more about this wonderful tradition here: Día de los Muertos - Remembering and Blending.
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From Puerto Rico to Baltimore, A Student Journey Becoming a Pharmacist
On November 10th, Notre Dame School of Pharmacy will host a Facebook Live event co-moderated by Veronica Cool and NDMU Director of Admissions Larry Shattuck.
The event focuses on exploring the journey of students from Puerto Rico to Baltimore to become Doctors in Pharmacy!
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Fight COVID-19 Misinformation with Facts
Fight Misinformation with facts. On November 6, Maryland Public Television (MPT) will air Vaccination from the Misinformation Virus. This documentary debunks the long lists of hoaxes that keep some people away from vaccine centers that will feature our very own Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Anne Lin. You can also watch the documentary here.
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45th Annual Gala and Hispanic Business Hall Of Fame
On November 13, the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 45th anniversary with their Gala & Hispanic Business Hall of Fame. This institution empowers the Latino business community through a plethora of programs and initiatives.
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Did you miss out on our last Hispanic Heritage Month Series Event? Watch Latinos and The Future: Workforce, Education & Empowerment
Lupi Quinteros-Grady from the Latin American Youth Center and Gustavo Torres from CASA shared valuable insights and facts about the Latino workforce, resources and tools for employers and partners. And just as importantly, how to harness the power of the growing Latino student-body! You can re-watch the full video here.
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Honoring My Papi, Juan Namnun on National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month:
My father was a hero in his town in the Dominican Republic and in his home, where we miss him dearly. In 2018, I danced to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s in hopes of educating as many Latinos as possible that this is a serious issue with our aging population, and it is so much more than “they’re getting old.” To raise funds to increase medical research and identify why certain populations are predisposed to suffer at higher rates. Read more on our story here.
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Giving Tuesday: Need some ideas?
This is a gentle reminder to share of your treasures on Giving Tuesday, November 30th. With so many wonderful organizations, we always showcase a few of our own for your consideration. Remember, every dollar counts!
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Cool stands with our brothers and sisters in Haiti, Afghanistan, Cuba, and Colombia as they fight
for human rights and equity!
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National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
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November 1 & 2: Día de los Muertos
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Nov 6: Nachos Day (We could have a different Nacho recipe EVERY DAY!)
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Nov 7: Daylight Saving Time
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Nov 10: From Puerto Rico to Baltimore, A Student Journey
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Nov 11: Veteran's Day
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Nov 13: World Kindness Day
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Nov 14: National Pupusa Day
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Nov 19: International Men's Day
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Nov 20: Black Consciousness Day (Brazil)
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Nov 25: Thanksgiving
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Nov 26 to Monday, Dec 6: Hanukkah
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Nov 27: Small Business Saturday
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Nov 30: Giving Tuesday
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Latino Mental Health materials and resources- in English and Spanish.
Please consider sharing on your social media platforms and also leveraging with your team and network. #SelfCare matters.
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Shop Latinx is a bold new marketplace created to help Hispanic-owned brands look for new and better ways to showcase their products while creating a vibrant network of Latinx entrepreneurs. Find out more about Shop Latinx here.
Remember, the holiday season is here and to drive real economic equity we need to walk the talk and invest our dollars into our Small Business.
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Small Business Grants!
Team Friday and Support Latino Business launch the #SupportSmallBiz Grants honoring and celebrating diverse small businesses across the nation providing financial support.
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