Critica.NYC: The Podcast

Iran Ortiz, owner of Le Suite and Aniusha Ortiz, owner of The Brazi Shops sat with Raquel Batista to discuss the current uprisings and its impact in the Bronx. We discuss how in the midst of a pandemic, they are dealing with the fight for racial justice, the survival of their businesses and the impact the current climate has had on them. Iran and Aniusha Ortiz are afro-dominican sisters, life-long Bronxites and entreprenuers. For more info on their businesses go to: https://www.thebrazishop.com/ https://lesuiteboutique.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/critica/support

In memory of our mentor and friend, Angelo Falcon, founder of the Institute of Puerto Rican Policy which then became the National Institute of Latino Policy, Lucia and I will be discussing the current impact of the Coronvirus on Latinx communities in New York City and the Northeast region re: the Census, the undercount, redistricting and upcoming elections in 2020 and 2021. We also discussed the vital impact that Hector Figureoa, President of 32BJ, who also passed in the last year. His leadership deeply impacted the face of politics and policy in New York City, Puerto Rico and beyond. ***** Lucia Gómez is the Political Director of the NYC Central Labor Council – AFL-CIO. Prior to joining the NYC CLC, Lucia was the Director of Organizing and Strategic Partnerships for LiUNA Local 78. In different capacities, her life's work has been around empowering Latinos, immigrants and their communities to take action through grassroots organizing, leadership development and civic engagement. Lucia has held high responsibility positions in government and non-government sectors. She has extensive knowledge of voting and enfranchisement laws, as well as extensive experience in election administration, geographic information systems, Census operations and community organizing. Ms. Gómez has a BA from Rutgers University-New Brunswick and studied anthropology at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, México. Lucia is a graduate of the Cornell University/NYS AFL-CIO Union Leadership Institute, the Hispanic Federation/Baruch College – Leadership Institute, the Coro Immigrant Civic Leadership Program, a past Policy Fellow of the National Institute for Latino Policy, Board member for the NYS Immigrant Action Fund, Make the Road Action and the Vice-President of Latinas United for Political Empowerment Political Action Committee (LUPE PAC). She currently resides with her daughter, Victoria Jimenez Gomez, where she works daily towards developing and modeling the values of community empowerment, respect for diversity and strategic trouble making. ***** To learn more about the legacy of Angelo Falcon and the National Institute for Latino Policy check out: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/25/obituaries/angelo-falcon-advocate-for-latinos-in-new-york-dies-at-66.html https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/inside-city-hall/2018/05/25/remembering-angelo-falcon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_for_Latino_Policy ***** To lean more about the legacy of Hector Figueroa check out: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html https://www.seiu32bj.org/hector-figueroa/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/critica/support

We will be talking about the Coronavirus pandemic's impact on our lives, those around us and how to fight discrimination during the time of COVID-19. This conversation was recorded on May 6th, 2020. Angela Fernandez, Esq. is the New York State Commissioner for the Division of Human Rights. She formerly served as Executive Director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights (NMCIR). **** If you or someone you know has been discriminated against during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York State, you may file a complaint: https://dhr.ny.gov/complaint or call 1-888-392-3644 **** Since the recording of this episode, Angela Fernandez has decided to throw her hat in the ring and run for the New York City Council. Here is a clip of her annoucnement: https://www.facebook.com/angela.fernandez.1276/videos/10159760991573136/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/critica/support

Marisol Alcantara discusses the situation in NYS hospitals and the issues confronted by healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients alike. Ranging form the language access to the healthcare system structure, Marisol and I delve into how communities of color, latinx and black, are disporprotionately impacted by the pandemic. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/critica/support

A conversation with Dr. Sandy Placido and Raquel Batista, Esq. discussing the Coronavirus Pandemic's impact on their lives, those around them and how to learn from the experience of our ancestors in the Dominican Republic. This is a recording of the IG live conversation which occurred on April 1, 2020. ****************** Dr. Sandy Placido is an Assistant Professor of History at Queens College and a Researcher at the Dominican Studies Institute at City College. https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/dsi/dominican-studies-scholar https://qc-cuny.academia.edu/SandyPlacido Raquel Batista is an attorney and adjunct Assistant Professor at Manhattan College. https://www.raquelbatista.nyc/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/critica/support