Cesar Chavez: An American Hero

Yesterday, Fandango released the trailer for the upcoming film Cesar Chavez:An American Hero.  When I first saw it, I literally got chills.

Cesar Chavez is known for his passion and service through the creation of the United Farm Workers, in collaboration with Dolores Huerta. Because of his nonviolent tactics during the movement of the UFW and its boycotts/strikes, Cesar Chavez is still seen as an activist who inspired hope; someone who gave those who thought they were voiceless a voice. He is definitely a known figure in the Latino community.

Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta have become icons in the Latino community for their life changing involvement in terms of Civil Rights and the creation of the National Farm Workers Association. A film like this is the perfect platform not only to showcase the extraordinary story of these icons, but also to shed light on the long standing fight for civil rights in this country.

This film is showcasing a story that is relevant to the Latino Community. While watching the trailer and looking up more information online I couldn't help but compare past events from the UFW movement to what is happening now with the push for Immigration Reform and it’s a great example of how change should come today; No violence, no insincerity, and no apathy. What is happening is real and there are thousands of people who are affected. 

Cesar Chavez: An American Hero is directed by Mexican actor Diego Luna. The cast includes Michael Pena, who plays Cesar Chavez, Rosario Dawson, and America Ferrera. This film definitely comes with  huge responsibility and expectations because of the magnitude of the story its portraying. But also important, is that this film deals with a huge part of Mexican American history.  

It's a Hard-Knock Life!

Being an adult is tough. (And I’m using the term “adult” loosely, as it relates to me).

It’s been a year since I graduated from university and received my BA. At 21, I had met probably the biggest goal I had set in my life. This has definitely been one of the biggest accomplishments and I still get this warm feeling every time I say that I am a college graduate.  

Being in college and moving on in the world is an exciting phase of any young adult’s life. The uncertainty and drive that you have in you as you enter college is so exhilarating! I’ll be the first to admit that I was thrilled to start my new life on my own. Up to this point of my life I thought I had it all figured out. Like every 18-21 year old I thought that the world was at my hands and I could do whatever my eager little heart wanted to do. Do I still believe this? Absolutely.  

I am now 23 and things are definitely different now.  I’m used to being in control and having a clear vision of what, where, who, when, and why I want to do it. Everyone says, life after college is the “real world” and it’s difficult to find your niche and I AGREE.

After I graduated I was living on cloud 9….that is until I received my first student loan payment and reality sank in. I was determined to go into Graduate School while I was still in student mode, but then post grad anxiety kicked in. What did I want to do with my life? What kind of job would I get with my current degree? Who did I want to be? Yes, I was having a mid-life crisis at such a tender age. 

The thing with the world is it keeps moving. Time keeps passing and it doesn’t stop. Rather than boring myself to death and depressing myself with my uncertainties I have decided to embrace them. At first, I thought to myself, I’ll “fake it til I make it”. I went to job interviews, got internships, and told my friends my life was filled with rainbows and butterflies after graduation. Now, I can honestly say that I don’t have to fake it til I make it, I just have to MAKE it. Where exactly? I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m going in the right direction. It’s okay to not know everything about where you’re headed. It’s okay to not be totally in control. I decided I needed to put my big girl pants on and start moving and so far, so good.

One thing I’ve learned, with all the great opportunities that have come my way, is that things come to you when you’re ready. Patience is not my forte but I’m learning to deal with life as I go. My life is about balance; work, life, grad school, family, fun. And I think that’s the key to having a happy life.

Life is tough y’all. We all deal with our own struggles. But having the life you want is not impossible. Trust your instincts, stay positive, WORK HARD, have faith, BREATHE, and you’ll be fine. 

Latism 2013 Recap!

Now that I am finally settled in to my daily routine I would like to share my experience from this past week at Latism 2013 in NYC! (To be honest, I’m still taking it all in!)

Latism 2013 was AMAZING! It was unlike any other conference I've experienced. From the moment I stepped foot into the Waldorf Astoria I knew I was about to be a part of something huge. The culture, tradition, music, and candela!, as many in attendance described it, definitely made me proud of my Latina roots and of being in attendance. Being in the same room as so many men and women who are truly dedicated to social good has definitely inspired me to continue to work toward social change.

It’s crazy to think that just a few months ago I started my internship with Bloggers of Health and now I was in New York City for one of the biggest Latino Conferences of the year!

The conference concentrated on issues like Literacy, Tech Innovation, Business, Health, Community Outreach, Culture, and Immigration reform. To be surrounded by men and women who are so passionate and full of life was immensely motivating. There is so much love, potential and ganas in the Latino Community and I am very lucky to have been exposed to that.

From left to right: Goldin Martinez, Jackie Gil, Danny Rivero, 

Lupita Riestra (me), Judith Barcelo, Karen Comas 

I feel extremely honored and privileged to have been part of the #FordMillennial panel along with five other individuals who are truly incredible. We were chosen to represent five major cities across the U.S. to share our stories not only as Millennials but as Latinos, who are making a difference in our communities through our work and involvement. I'm looking forward to continue working with my peers and the Ford Millennial movement. 

Gracias Ford en Español for allowing me to experience this amazing conference as a Ford Millennial Ambassador. And a BIG THANK YOU to @NataschaOS, @BlancaMejia, and Albert Collazo (Director of Hispanic Communications for Ford), for all the support and guidance! 

Amazing Team!

One thing that I have taken with me is that we all have been blessed with the power of choice; YOU are the one who decides what to do and that is something no one can ever take away from you. Whatever it may be, make sure that you do it with passion and consciousness.

Latism 2013!

Recently, I became an intern for Bloggers of Health. BOH aims to work and network with the use of social media to quickly and effectively disseminate useful information that will enable people to live healthier lives. Through this internship I will be able to expand my knowledge and get a feel for potential career choices. What is awesome about it is also the fact that this internship is built to fit me and not the other way around, so that's amazing!

Thanks to my internship, Latism, and Ford en Español, I will have the opportunity to travel to New York and attend Latism 2013!

Now that I'm entering a new phase, being informed on issues surrounding Business, Technology, Advocacy, Education and Health is very important to me because the more you know, the better you can help. Attending the Latism Conference will be the perfect opportunity to be exposed to these subjects and participate in making a change.

To be honest, I feel like this is a rite of passage for me. I’ve always believed that attaining an education will get me far in life, but it wasn’t until recently that I started to realize how important it is to be connected with people and issues that are significant in our community and I am SO EXCITED! 

Reasons I’m excited:

1)     I will be able to gather information about what are pressing issues in our society and how I can make a difference in my community.

2)     I get to meet professionals from so many different fields that are dedicated to promoting social good.

3)     I will have the opportunity to share what it means to be a part of Generation Y.

4)     IT’S IN NEW YORK! I mean, how amazing is that!

Just a little background for those of you who don’t know; Latinos in Tech Innovation & Social Media (LATISM) is the largest organization for Latino and Latina professionals engaged in social media, is a 501(c) 4 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing the social, civic and economic status of the Latino community. LATISM also serves corporate brands, NGOs and government entities, with a broad range of services including research, event sponsorships, and leadership training. A pioneering social media organization, LATISM has been hailed as the most influential online movement in the new multicultural Web.” You can find out more about their mission here: latism.org.

So what is the "Millennial" generation? Basically, people born between 1982-2000 are considered to be "Millennials”. There are about 75 million people in this category, myself included, and we are sometimes seen as a care-free, self-centered generation-given our love and exposure to social media and the good ol’ internet. This however is not the case and that is the point that #Millennials are trying to make.

I, along with four other Millennials from Texas, Florida and New York, will have the opportunity to represent our generation and show that we are more than a carefree group of individuals. Being a Millennial means being young and vibrant and ready to make a change, however big or small it may be.

The panel we will be a part of is “Millennials: Creative,Sociable and Largest Market since Baby Boomers” and the great thing about this is that my peers and I will be able to share our stories and journeys, while representing a larger group. Each and every one of us have the opportunity to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves. And the great thing about living in this generation is the fact that we can find and connect with people that have similar goals with the touch of a button.

Social Media has bridged a gap that Baby Boomers grew up with. It’s so important that we our generation is represented and acknowledged. Everything from our culture, education, technology, and use of social media have shaped how we’ve grown up and what we will be doing with our futures. This generation is full of hope, passion and action and that’s something worthy of sharing!

As a Latina and first generation college graduate, being a part of this conference means a lot. I think that it’s SO IMPORTANT to be surrounded by individuals who can inspire you to do well and do Good. I’m so excited to meet people and hear their stories/advice, and bring back all the information I gather to my community.

(To follow our time at the Latism Conference in NYC follow the hashtags #FordMillennials #Latism and #Latism13)

With only a few more days until the conference I should probably start packing!

Beauty and Success!

Something I live by (or at least I am beginning to) is the idea that you should “Dress for the job you want and not for the job you have”; It’s like making a statement to the universe. This is also true with life. You may not always be in control of what’s in store, but you can be prepared. To me, being comfortable and presentable is important because you never know who you’re going to meet! 

It’s important for me to feel and look confident. As a young adult, makeup tends to be part of my daily routine and whether I’m going to a job interview or social outing, I like to look my best. What I love about makeup is that you can keep it simple and enhance your natural beauty (because we’re all beautiful y’all!), it can give you that extra boost of confidence to carry on with your day and it can even transform your look for any occasion. 

I must admit that wearing makeup instantly makes me feel brighter. One thing I can’t live without is mascara. I feel like I look more fresh and bright, even on my off days. I recently tried COVERGIRL’s LashBlast Fusion Mascara and I loved it. It gives my eyelashes volume and length without clumping up or smearing. I also absolutely fell in love with their new Everlasting Immortalitè lipstick. I love anything that sparkles and the glitter in this lipstick did it for me! (If you’re a fan of lipstick, also try COVERGIRL’s new blendable lip duos. You can change your look from daytime beauty to night time fun in no time!)

As women we tend to fulfill many different roles. I, for instance, am a daughter, sister, college graduate, friend, life explorer, and young professional. Once I complete my educational cycle and obtain a career, I want to set a precedent for women to reassert that with hard work come great rewards. I want to present myself as a woman “con la frente en alto” (with my head held high). I also want to know as much as I can about the world and explore it! While I am on my way to make my dreams come true, I’m going to make sure to send out positive vibes to the universe; I know that if I put my best foot forward nothing can stop me, so why not look great doing it?

  Stay up to date with all things COVERGIRL on Facebook and Twitter ! (Disclaimer: These Cover Girl products were provided free of charge in collaboration with Bloggers of Health to facilitate this product review.)      

You Are Important.

“When nobody else celebrates you, learn to celebrate yourself. When nobody else compliments you, then compliment yourself. It’s not up to other people to keep you encouraged. It’s up to you. Encouragement should come from the inside.”