MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO,
VERONICA COOL
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Queridos amigos y colegas,
As the season of spring renewal continues, fresh opportunities are blooming and we are grateful to have much to celebrate within the Latino community. Both locally here in Maryland and at a national level, this month brought encouraging strides forward for political representation. The Honorable Joseline Peña-Melnyk has become the first Latina committee chair in Maryland General Assembly’s history with her appointment to the House Health and Government Operations Committee, and Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed as the first black woman to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. We are elated to commend the hard work of these two inspirational women who have both advocated for the Latino community and shown their commitments to advancing social and racial equality. What an honor to cheer on these powerful women of color as they make history!
The month of May is marked to raise awareness around several health issues, including mental health, Lupus, and Hepatitis, all of which are concerns that directly impact the Hispanic community. Latinos have higher rates of untreated mental health concerns compared to the rest of the U.S. population--according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness only 34% of Hispanic adults with mental illnesses receive treatment annually. Historically, health disparities relating to negative social determinants of health such as access and quality of care, cultural and language barriers, education, and immigration status have disproportionately affected Latinos in the U.S. In order to address these concerns and improve the overall wellbeing of our Latino community, we must start at the root of the problem and address low health literacy rates by improving physician-patient communication, increasing health resources, and addressing some core issues in our health care system. Read more about these important issues affecting Latino health on our blog. While there is plenty of work needed to reform healthcare for Latinos, we are celebrating a local win here in Maryland, with the approval of the Healthy Babies Equity Act, which will provide Medicaid coverage to prenatal and postpartum care to pregnant women regardless of their immigration status.
May is also a special time to commemorate the contributions of those in service to our country, as it is Military Appreciation Month and Memorial Day is approaching. According to the Congressional Research Service, Hispanics are the fastest growing population in the military. We are deeply appreciative of the sacrifices of both present and past service members.
This is also an important moment to recognize and honor two other groups of selfless individuals who act in service to our country and families—mothers and teachers. The first week of May is Teacher Appreciation week, a reminder of the incredible work that our educators do to shape and inspire future generations. We hope that all moms and mother figures have a restful holiday spent with their loved ones.
With encouraging change happening every day, and plenty of work ahead, we look forward to continuing to work with our colleagues and partners in service of the Latino community.
Wishing you a wonderful spring season,
Saludos,
Veronica Cool
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Highlights & Announcements |
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Healthy Babies Equity Act Becomes Law in Maryland
The Healthy Babies Equity Act, which extends Medicaid coverage to include prenatal and postpartum care to pregnant women regardless of their immigration status, has recently passed in Maryland! Everyone, regardless of their socio-economic or migratory status, deserves equitable access to vital healthcare services. The law, which was championed by Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Senator Clarence Lam, officially goes into effect on July 1st, 2022.
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Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed as U.S. Supreme Court Justice!
On April 7th, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed as the first Black woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. This is undoubtedly a historic moment for our entire nation, and her addition to one of the most powerful institutions in our country is a tremendous win for the Latino and other minority communities. Her commitments to advancing social and racial equality were evident in her hearings.
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SUMA Wealth launches first NFT-Enabled Financial Education Certificate Program
The new initiative is part of SUMA Academy’s Dinero Bootcamp, an effort to eradicate the Latino wealth gap by giving Millennial and Gen Z Latinos the financial knowledge needed to save, invest, and grow wealth for themselves, their families, and their communities. SUMA wealth launched this first of its kind program in partnership with Arizona State University.
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Call for Presenters: The Maryland Nonprofits 30th Anniversary Conference
The Maryland Nonprofits 30th Anniversary Conference, presented with the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth (MARFY) and Maryland Latinos Unidos (MLU) will be held October 19-21, 2022. The event is a hybrid, 3-day convening--one day will be fully virtual, and the entire conference will include virtual components. Through May 8, 2022, nonprofit leaders, service providers, and other experts are invited to submit a proposal to present at #MANOAC22. Proposals are being accepted for in-person and virtual presentations, workshops, panels, and facilitated discussions.
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Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk Makes Maryland History!
The Honorable Joseline Peña-Melnyk of District 21 is now the first Latina committee chair in Maryland General Assembly’s history. Her appointment as chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee is a celebratory occasion for Latinos in Maryland, as Madam Chair Peña-Melnyk has been a tireless advocate for the Latino community on a variety of issues, from healthcare to education to housing.
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2022 Latin American Music Awards
The Latin American Music Awards took place on April 21st featuring the theme “La Música Nos Une” (Music Unites Us), and an in-person audience for the first time since 2019. Karol G dominated the event, coming away with six awards—some of which in categories typically monopolized by men.
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Jorge Zamanillo Appointed as Inaugural Director of Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino
Jorge Zamanillo, a trained archaeologist who previously worked as a curator at HistoryMiami Museum, will assume his role as the inaugural director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino on May 2nd. The National Museum of the American Latino “will showcase Latino history, art, culture, and scientific achievements to tell a deeper, more nuanced, and complete story about who we are as a nation,” according to the Smithsonian Institute’s secretary.
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Mental Health in Latino Communities: Insights & Best Practices
Mental illness vulnerability rates among Hispanics are similar to those of the U.S. population as a whole, however Latinos have higher rates of untreated mental health concerns. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only 34% of Hispanic adults with mental illnesses receive treatment annually. There are a host of reasons for this, including barriers to care such as cultural stigma and distrust in the healthcare system. Why are Latinos suffering in silence and what can we do to ensure the health and wellbeing of our Latino community members?
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Latinos and Health Literacy
One of the overarching goals of Healthy People 2030 is to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity for everyone. In order to do so, it is essential to understand the role health literacy plays in the overall wellbeing of individuals and communities, particularly among populations that are at high risk for poor health. According to an assessment by the National Center for Education Statistics, Hispanic adults have the lowest average health literacy scores of all racial/ethnic groups, which ultimately results in negative health outcomes. Why are Latinos particularly affected by low health literacy rates, how does this impact their overall health, and what can we do to address this issue and improve health outcomes among Latino communities?
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Join Veronica Cool at the NCHCFA Annual Convention & Expo
From May 23-26, 2022, the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association will be holding their annual convention and expo in Greensboro, North Carolina. This year’s theme is Stronger Together, featuring educational programs led by renowned speakers, as well as opportunities to reconnect with old friends and network with new faces. Our own Veronica Cool will be presenting the session “Attracting, Retaining, and Engaging the Hispanic Workforce,” so don’t miss it!
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Your Future in Pharmacy Event Inspires
Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy carried out an inspiring and informative virtual event hosted by our own Veronica Cool! The panel featured Dean Dr. Anne Lin and three Latinas at different points in their careers: alumna and Pfizer Vaccine Account Specialist Dr. Anacely Olivera, and current students Loreal del Valle and Laura Calderon Lugo. The discussion covered important issues such as why representation matters in the industry, the vital role of bilingual pharmacists in our communities and their impact during the pandemic, and how pharmacists can contribute to improving equitable access to healthcare to underserved populations.
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May is Latino Books Month!
Latino Books Month celebrates Latino authors and illustrators, books that highlight Latino culture and Latin American identity, and promotes literacy amongst Latinos. In commemoration, we are sharing The Mujerista’s curated list of 22 books by Latina authors to read in 2022! From fantasy to novels to entrepreneurship, there’s something for everyone! So pick one and get reading!
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Latino-Owned Businesses Strengthened Despite Pandemic
Research by the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative finds that many Latino business owners have adapted to the pandemic crisis and have even strengthened their enterprises as a result, proving to be particularly resilient. Latinos are also starting businesses at a faster rate than other groups, with 44% growth over the last decade—compared to a pace of 4% among non-Latinos. The report also found that Latinos are participating in tech startups at a higher rate than Whites, and also tend to provide more benefits to their employees.
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¡Viva Baltimore 2022! Wrapped: Making Home Ownership a Reality for Latinos in Baltimore City
In partnership with the Southeast Community Development Corporation, we have successfully wrapped up the four-part informational series ¡Viva Baltimore 2022! During each of the sessions over the last four months, we provided critical information to the Baltimore Latino community about the attainable path to homeownership for those without a SSN. The series featured financial experts, testimonials, tools and tangible steps to making homeownership a dream come true, including information about resources offered by Southeast CDC year-round. Thank you to all who participated!
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Eva Longoria Launches Multiple Podcast Series
Eva Longoria has recently announced the launch of three new podcast series in collaboration with iHeartMedia’s My Cultura Podcast Network, each one presenting a unique approach to celebrating Latinidad. The first, Connections with Eva Longoria, will feature discussions with other notable figures on a range of topics. The second, Sisters of the Underground, is a scripted series about the Dominican revolutionaries, the Mirabal sisters, and will premiere this summer. In October, Hungry for History will dive into Mexican food history.
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MHBE Working to Close the Healthcare Access Gap
The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange has seen a 14% increase in the number of Hispanics enrolling to access affordable healthcare. ACCESS is one of the first steps to achieving equity. We are proud to collaborate with Maryland Health Connection to provide additional resources to our Latino community!
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First Latino Actor to Headline Live-Action Marvel Movie
Sony Pictures has recently cast Puerto Rican rapper Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known by his stage name Bad Bunny, as the newest Marvel superhero “El Muerto.” Set to hit theaters in January 2024, the film is based on a comic book featuring a wrestler whose powers of superhuman strength are handed down by ancestry in the form of a mask.
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May: Mental Health Awareness Month, Latino Books Month, Military Appreciation Month, Lupus Awareness Month, Hepatitis Awareness Month
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May 1: International Workers’ Day
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May 1-7: National Small Business Week
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May 1-7: Public Service Recognition Week
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May 2-6: Teacher Appreciation Week
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May 3: POWERUP DC Small Business Summit (Washington D.C.)
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May 4: 2022 Social Determinants of Health Symposium hosted by Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute
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May 5: Minority-Hispanic Business Breakfast (Annapolis, MD)
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May 5: Women of ALPFA Happy Hour (Baltimore, MD)
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May 5: Meet & Greet with Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County Council President Gabe Albornoz
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May 6: Inc. Female Founder 100 Application Deadline
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May 7: Tianquiztli – Mother's Day Latin American Artisan Market and Festival hosted by Creative Alliance (Baltimore, MD)
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May 7: ¿Qué Pasa? Festival hosted by Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Richmond, VA)
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May 7: Multicultural Fest (Capitol Heights, MD)
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May 8-14: National Women’s Health Week
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May 6-12: National Nurses Week
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May 8: Mother’s Day
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May 10: Mother’s Day (observed in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador)
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May 11: Expanda su Negocio Exportando Sus Productos y Servicios (Webinar hosted by the Small Business Administration)
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May 12: Standing with Immigrants: Champions of Change fundraising event hosted by Ayuda (Washington, D.C.)
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May 14: World Fair Trade Day
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May 15: Women Palante’s fundraising Dance-A-Thon supporting Hispanic mother entrepreneurs (Bethesda, MD)
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May 15: Latin American Artisans & Entrepreneurs Expo (Manassas, VA)
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May 15: Festival del Niño hosted by Consulate General of Peru in Washington D.C. (Annandale, VA)
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May 16: Founders of Color Showcase (Atlantic City, NJ and virtual)
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May 16 & 19: Latino Mental Health Conference and Symposium hosted by Centro Sol (Baltimore, MD and virtual)
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May 17-18: Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Issue Summit: Education, Economic Empowerment and Health (Washington, D.C.)
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May 19: 2022 Latina Style 50 Awards & Diversity Leaders Conference (Arlington, VA)
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May 19: DC Latino Professionals Spring Happy Hour (Washington, D.C.)
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May 20: 14th Annual Golfers for Charity benefitting Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Program (White Hall, MD)
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May 21: Festival Argentino (Arlington, VA)
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May 30: Memorial Day
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The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
USHCC actively promotes the economic growth, development, and interests of more than 4.7 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that combined, contribute over $800 billion to the American economy every year. It advocates on behalf of its network of more than 250 local chambers and business associations nationwide, and also partners with more than 260 major American corporations.
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League of United Latin American Citizens
LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 1,000 LULAC councils nationwide. The organization involves and serves all Hispanic nationality groups.
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HSF empowers students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing support services and scholarships to as many exceptional students, HSF Scholars and Alumni as possible.
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Hispanic Access Foundation
HAF improves the lives of Hispanics in the United States and promotes civic engagement by educating, motivating and helping them access trustworthy support systems.
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LEDC is a nonprofit organization empowering members of the Latino community and other underserved groups to build long-term financial security through programs focused on small business development, homeownership, counseling, and tenant organizing in the D.C. metro area.
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Yo Quiero Trabajo FB Group
YQT is a resource for Spanish-speaking individuals focused on workforce opportunities and development. Become a member today!
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