LatinEQUIS

Hola, yo soy Andrea Marquez and this is my last episode as your host of LatinEQUIS. On today's episode Ariel and I will talk about some of the things I learned through the journey of hosting and producing LatinEQUIS and I get to say goodbye. Even though I will be moving on to other opportunities, I'm forever grateful for everything LatinEQUIS has taught me, and to you, our listeners, for being with us through every step of the journey. LatinEQUIS will always be my first love and I'm honored to have given a voice to many different stories. LatinEQUIS was a love letter to my Latinidad, a great part of who I am and who I will always will be... my superpower. I'm excited for you to meet our new host! So stay tuned... and as always... thank you for listening.

David is the CEO and Founder of NGL Collective a pioneer of new media and entertainment co-founded by John Leguizamo. NGL connects advertisers and New Generation Latinx (NGL) through video across platform in-language, in-culture, and in-context. They're also the people who bring Hispanicize to life every year, an event that brings together Latinx from all over in a large summit and celebrates our Latinidad. You might remember hearing about NGL on episodes 9 and 10 of LatinEQUIS with Joe Bernard, NGL's CRO. On today's episode David and I will talk about his journey to regaining his Spanish citizenship, how following his passion was the best thing he could have done in life, trusting vision over visibility and more. Check out NGL Collective: https://nglcollective.com/  Hispanicize: https://hispanicize.com/ 

On today's episode I speak to Ashley Solis as well as filmmaker Emily Cohen Ibañez about their new documentary Fruits of Labor. As the director of the coming of age documentary, Emily chronicles the day-to-day life of Ashley, an 18-year-old high school senior in Watsonville, CA, who like other girls her age, fantasizes about her perfect prom dress, steals away with her boyfriend, and dreams of what she'll do when she graduates college. Though graduating at all for Ashley is a reach because despite the fact that she's intelligent and motivated, she's oftentimes too tired from work or busy taking care of her younger siblings to actually attend school half the time. The film is an official selection of South by Southwest and you can watch the full-length documentary on https://www.pbs.org/pov/watch/fruitsoflabor/video-fruits-of-labor/ or on their website at fruitsoflaborfilm.com.  Support the film and learn more on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @fruitsoflaborfilm.

Today I have the honor of speaking to Sonia Manzano known by many as Maria on Sesame Street, who she's played for 44 years. Sonia introduces Alma's Way, a new show on PBS Kids about a young 6-year-old proud, confident, Puerto Rican girl living a fast paced life in the Bronx alongside her family, friends, and neighbors. Sonia, a Puerto Rican just like Alma, has been nominated for an Emmy twice for Best Performer in a Childhood Series and has won 15 Emmys for her television writing. In 2016, Sonia was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, recognizing her as a pioneer in representation of Latinos on television and for portraying Maria. You can watch Alma's Way now on PBS Kids.

On this episode I speak to Yvette Bodden, Founder and Author of Awakened-Woman, a digital platform designed to inspire and invigorate females. Her writing seeks to empower and encourage women searching for personal definitions of success to build strong communities through powerful storytelling. In just two years, Awakened Woman has amassed tens of thousands of followers, thanks to a combined 500+ articles centered around celebrity profiles, relationships, love, abuse, motherhood, and Latino culture, infused with a signature blend of Yvette's pragmatism and compassion. Yvette is also a motivational speaker, channeling her own growth experiences to empower others. Her debut book, A Journey to Becoming the Best Self (Black Rose Writing)—part memoir and part prescriptive fiction, inspired by Yvette's own post-divorce path from devastation to joy—was published in 2019, and received praise from The U.S. Review of Books. In 2021, she was also named one of the “Bella Bosses We Admire” by Bella Magazine. Visit Awakened-Woman.com and read her book A Journey to Becoming the Best Self available on Amazon. You can also follow Yvette @womanawakened on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

On today's episode, I speak to Juan Gil a young Colombian/Ecuadorian-American film writer and director who already has a lot of projects under his belt. More recently he wrote and directed Super Ma, a short film about a struggling single mother who is caught in a moment of peril, and unleashes her inner hero to get home safely to her son. Watch the film on VIMEO here: https://vimeo.com/393176209 the PASSWORD is: totherescue.  Juan and I will talk about the making of Super Ma, his creative process, the current landscape of the film industry, and more. Learn more about Juan on Instagram @juangilproductions

On today's episode, Harry and I speak about the power of feedback, following our truth, the role that emotional intelligence plays in understanding ourselves, getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, and more. Make sure to listen to part one first!  Learn more at harrylouislopez.com or launchlatinx.co. You can follow Harry @theharrylopez on Instagram.  Books mentioned: Loving What Is: Four questions that can change your life by Byron Katie and Untamed by Glennon Doyle.

On today's episode, Harry and I speak about his journey to becoming a Transformation Coach, the things that hold us back from our truest potential, creating heart-centered leaders, letting ourselves be guided by our inner knowing, understanding the ways in which we can go beyond our limitations, and more. Remember to listen to part two where Harry and I will continue to talk about these things, the power of feedback, following our truth, the role that emotional intelligence plays in understanding ourselves, getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, and more. Learn more at harrylouislopez.com or launchlatinx.co. You can follow Harry @theharrylopez on Instagram. Books mentioned: Loving What Is: Four questions that can change your life by Byron Katie and Untamed by Glennon Doyle.

Today, we lift the curtain of La Condesa, a thriller that has plenty of thrills behind the scenes as it does on screen. Produced and directed by Honduran director Mario Ramos, the film holds one mystery after the other as two couples decide to stay in a family home that has a dark past. With me is Peruvian actor Sebastian Stimman, who plays Eduardo Hikar in La Condesa. We'll talk about filming during the pandemic, mysterious happenings in their set location, which comes with its own past, supporting Central American productions, Sebastian's hidden and not so hidden talents, and more. La Condesa is now available on demand in the U.S. and Canada. Learn more at lacondesamovie on IG and FB or at lacondesamovie.com. You can follow Sebastian @Sebastianstimman on FB, IG, and TW.

On today's episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Latina actress turned life coach Angel Aviles. Angel is the author of a new self-help book,  “Too Happy to Be Sad Girl," and recently she was recognized by Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez for her book—  the first woman and only woman of color to hold this position in the City of Angels. Angel's experience in the spotlight, is what inspired her to help others and write about surviving sadness, ditching anxiety, and learning to thrive. On this episode Angel and I talk about all those things and what it means to put yourself first. Learn more at https://www.angelawakened.com Twitter: @angelawakended and @2Happy2BsadGirl On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Aviles/e/B08LGG2VJZ On Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8142353.Angel_Aviles

Lili is the co-founder and CEO of the cultural intelligence market research tech-firm CulturIntel and the cultural marketing agency CIEN+. She's also a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, TV commentator and an award-winning entrepreneur. On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Lili about her sources of inspiration, successes, failures, having it all, prioritizing what we care about the most, the balance between feeding our mind and soul, and much more. Learn more about Lili at lilianagil.com or on IG: @liligilUSA and TW: @liligil  You can find her on YouTube @Cultural Intelligence with Lili Gil.

On today's episode of LatinEQUIS I speak about anxiety with Lisa Valtierra, a cross-cultural marketing and advocacy expert in the pharmaceutical and healthcare fields. Lisa, along with a team of experts, is developing a new product called Audaz, a virtual self-help for your anxious reality. Audaz provides people the skills to better manage anxiety using Virtual Reality (VR) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles which we'll also talk about on this episode.  If you're someone who has anxiety and you're interested in being a beta tester for Audaz make sure to email info@audaz.me and let them know you're interested. It's a great opportunity for you to be part of something at its inception and it will also help the Audaz team develop an even better product.

Language plays a huge role in our lives. It's not only a way of communication. Language represents the history of our cultures.  On today's episode, I speak with Maritere Bellas, an award-winning author, bilingual parenting expert, speaker, writer, podcast host, and social media influencer who combined her passion for writing and her devotion to motherhood to create a diverse platform of resources for parents looking to raise bilingual, multilingual, and multicultural children. Maritere is the author of four award winning parenting books, is a conversant speaker serving on panels and moderating for major books festivals, and women’s conferences, among other great things that we'll also talk about today. Learn more at http://maritererodriguezbellas.com/ and on IG: @latinaboomermom

It’s been one year of LatinEQUIS! On today's episode, Andrea and Ariel take a look back at how far LatinEQUIS has come and lessons learned.

On today's episode, I speak with Enrique Acevedo, the first Latino correspondent in the history of 60 minutes. Enrique has covered news around the world like Fidel Castro's funeral, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa, the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and the drug wars in Mexico and Latin America. He co-moderated Univision's Democratic Presidential Debate in 2016 and led the network's electoral coverage along Maria Elena Salinas and Jorge Ramos. He has interviewed President Barack Obama, Melinda Gates, various Nobel Peace Prize winners, and more. On this episode, Enrique talks about his journey to 60 minutes, his passion for storytelling, why knowing when to listen and being empathetic are some of our greatest tools, and why Latinx representation in the media matters. Follow Enrique on social media @Enrique_Acevedo or watch him on 60 Minutes on Paramount+. Learn more here. Source for Journalists mentioned in episode: https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/

For Women's History Month, we want to celebrate all the women who have been on the show. Here are some our favorite moments full of insightful advice from some of the episodes featuring badass women. Thank you for being part of the LatinEQUIS family! Here are the names of all the badass women guests (in order of appearance): Andrea Molina, Yafi Shpirer, Mary Albertoli, Maureen Isern, Nadia Sarmova, Stephanie del Valle, Cristina Nava, Ada Luz Pla, Tatiana Hazel, Alejandra Valdez, Daniella Schwartz, Brenda Banda, Yeniffer Behrens, Lorena Gonzalez, Cindy-Fernandez Nixon, Catalina Lauf, Chelsea Rendon, Paula Torres, Sara Abou Rashed, Dr. Maria Elena Botazzi, Monique Guerrero, Ibet Herrera, Lissette Telumbre, Laura Veláquez, Tinisch Hollins, Sabrina Van Tassel, Arianna Davis, Niki Lopez, Olivia Peña, Emily Cuarenta, Sandra Garcia Cavazos, Thais Lopez Vogel, Brenda Hernandez, Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Vanessa Santos, Rebecca, and Bettina Mercado.

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak to Bettina Mercado from Bettina Cosmetics about her journey to becoming President of her family's company, her mark on the beauty industry, the future of cosmetics and skin care and what the growing success of Bettina Cosmetics represents for Latinx. Since it's Women's History month, I'm especially excited to speak to Bettina, who is a perfect example of what it means to celebrate and support women. You can learn more about Bettina Cosmetics on their website at BettinaCosmetics.com or on their social media @bettinacosmetics or @bettinacosmeticsUSA

The word "transgender" is a term used to identify people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned at birth. Today, I speak to Rebecca, a transgender woman who relocated to Texas from Mexico to escape transphobia there, and who suffered having to be detained in the male quarters at ICE in Texas. She is part of the voices featured in a new docu-series that will be coming out February 25th, Trans in Trumpland. The docu-series examines the struggles and resiliency of the transgender community under the Trump administration and features intersectional issues such as race, immigration, and poverty. The series was created by trans-owned production company TransWave Films and is directed by Tony Zosherafatain and produced by Jamie DiNicola. All Four Episodes of Trans in Trumpland will be available February 25th on Topic Find Rebecca @tsrebecca1388

Vanessa Santos (@lavidaglamour) is an award-winning brand strategist, business, and product executive with success in driving innovation forward, currently holding a leadership role at Mastercard. She's a catalyst and thought leader for gender equality, brand amplification, product development, culture shift, and small business growth. On this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with her about all the things you should hear if you're in your 20s (but also if you're not). If you are feeling a bit lost, discouraged, unsure of what your next step should be, or like you're behind on that timeline you had created in your mind ... this is a conversation you'll definitely want to hear. You can also check out Vanessa's website at: lavidaglamour.com

We're back for our third season! Our first guest is Doctor Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman to go to space and the first Hispanic director and second female director of the Johnson Space Center. On this episode, Dr. Ochoa will talk about why it's important to follow your passion but also pay attention to what you're good at, not give up easily and learn to reframe your approach after rejection, the importance of finding your team of cheerleaders, and dreaming big, but also preparing to work hard. Keep up with Doctor Ochoa on Twitter @astro_ellen or on her website ellenochoa.space

Hopefully you can look back and recognize the pivotal moments in your life and be grateful because they brought you here. With the New Year approaching, I wanted to talk about that so, for today's episode, I reached out to my lovely friend Brenda Hernández, Creator, Producer, and Host of Ellas the podcast. We talk about the pivotal moments that lead us to today and other stuff like, being Latina, relationships, podcasting, and more. I was also a guest on Ellas the podcast so you should definitely check it out! Brenda and I talk about everything from career troubles, to staying motivated, mentorships, relationships, and looking back. Listen to Ellas on Apple and Spotify and learn more on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

Plain and simple. Climate change impacts our health, the economy, immigration, agriculture... you name it. We know climate change is something that we have to worry about, but maybe, if you're like me, sometimes it feels like the little things don't add up. How can someone like me, actually make an impact? Where do we start? On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak to Thais Lopez Vogel, Co-Founder and trustee of VOLO foundation, a non-profit with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, enhancing education, and improving health. Thais is a native of Caracas, Venezuela and was named one of the 100 Most Influential Latinos Committed to Climate Action in 2019 and 2020. Make sure to check out the VOLO Foundation website and their Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube @VoloFoundation. Check out other climate education organizations like: the CLEO Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Environmental Defense Fund, and The Nature Conservancy.

On this episode I speak to my mother, Sandra, and Emily Cuarenta, two women who have one thing in common. Like all of us, they have to navigate life in this pandemic except they also have to learn how to live with cancer and multiple sclerosis. This episode is half in Spanish and half in English. ESPAÑOL: En este episodio platico con mi mamá Sandra y con Emily Cuarenta, dos mujeres que tienen una cosa en común. Como todos nosotros, ellas tienen que aprender a navegar la vida en esta pandemia, excepto que ellas también tienen que aprender a vivir con cáncer y esclerosis múltiple. Este episodio es la mitad en inglés y la mitad en español.

We just celebrated Thanksgiving weekend and Black Friday, and today is Cyber Monday. Hopefully, you have a lot of reasons to be thankful and if you had the chance to get some deals from Black Friday and Cyber Monday good for you! There's something else to celebrate tomorrow, it's called Giving Tuesday. And for those of you who want to show your gratitude by giving back to your community, and impact the lives of many many people in the easiest way, this is your chance. On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I'll let Olivia Peña, Deputy Program Director of the Young Center, talk to you more about Giving Tuesday, how you can help, and the impact you can have by donating. To learn more about how you can help, visit TheYoungCenter.org and click on "donate now." You can also subscribe to their email list to stay up to date on ways in which you can get involved and even become a child advocate.

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Niki López, Creator and Co-executive producer of Santiago of the Seas, nickelodeon's brand new animated series which premiered on October 9. The show is infused with Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture, and the 20-episode series follows Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, as he embarks on daring rescues, searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe in a fantastical Caribbean world. Niki and I talk about Santiago of the Seas, her journey to animation and creation, children's education and the importance of diverse representation in the media. Learn more about Niki on Instagram @bru.ha.ha.ha and Twitter @niki_lopez or her website: heynikiniki.com

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Merced Elizondo, a filmmaker with a fairly young career but who is already a powerful artist. Once you watch his short film, Manos de Oro, you'll understand what I mean. The film stars Julio Cesar Cedillo, who you might have seen on Netflix's Narcos, Sicario, Cowboys and Aliens and more. Most recently, Manos de Oro was selected to compete as part of HBO's Latinx Short Film competition where it will compete for one of three spots for a distribution deal to stream on all HBO platforms. Merced and I talk about Manos de Oro, mental health, the film industry, and more. You can't watch Manos de Oro yet BUT in the meantime, you can follow Manos de Oro on social media @manosdeorofilm or you can follow the talented Merced @mercedelizondo. You can also watch the behind the scenes featurette on their social media.

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with former Democratic Congressman Luis Gutiérrez. You may have already heard about him on LatinEQUIS Debate, our limited political series gearing up toward elections. Now that elections are somewhat, over, I wanted to get to know more about Luis outside of the debate. We talk about his journey from his cab driving days all the way to the White House, as well as his advice for young aspiring politicians. App mentioned in episode: Calm

As Latinx, it's a name and face that we come to recognize very young: Frida Kahlo. On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Arianna Davis, Digital Director for O, The Oprah Magazine, and author of 'What Would Frida Do? A Guide to living boldly.' In her book Arianna invites us to explore Frida's legacy through today's lens. Yes, because as crazy as everything is right now, there's always the Frida way to "Viva la vida!" Buy 'What Would Frida Do' on Amazon, Barnes & Noble... more on Seal Press. Follow more of Arianna on Instagram @ariannagab Other book recommendation in episode: Can't Even by Anne Helen Petersen.

There are currently 211 people on death row in Texas, 6 of which are women. Melissa Lucio is one of those women, and the first Hispanic woman to be sentenced to death in Texas. For over 10 years, she has been awaiting her fate and is now on her last appeal. On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with one of the only people who has unique insight to this case, Sabrina Van Tassel, a French American film director and journalist who has directed more than 45 documentaries and who followed Melissa's life for 3 years, leading to her documentary THE STATE OF TEXAS VS. MELISSA, which is out now. This episode contains information that may be sensitive to some. This podcast is not intended to constitute an endorsement by Latinequis and your host for either candidate with respect to the upcoming presidential elections. THE STATE OF TEXAS VS MELISSA is out now on Apple iTunes, Amazon, on demand and digital. You can also learn more on facebook @texasvsmelissa and follow Sabrina on facebook & instagram @sabrinavantassel or twitter @sabvantassel. If you'd like to support the cause, and make some noise, watch the documentary and if you post anything on your social media, make sure to use the hashtag #freemelissalucio.

Did you know that California spends $50 billion a year on the criminal justice system? What would happen if we redirected just one percent of that budget toward communities? On this episode of LatinEQUIS, Tinisch Hollins and David Guizar answer that question. Tinisch is the State Director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a program of Californians for safety and justice. David is the California Regional Manager and one of the founding members of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ). You can learn more about them at cssj.org and progressnotprisons.com.

For months, we've gotten to know Daniel on LatinEQUIS Debate, and now we get to know him beyond the debate. On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Daniel Garza about his journey to working at the White House, second chances, being the President of the Libre Initiative, a nonprofit focused on informing Hispanics on the benefits of limited government, and the most important thing the world needs right now. 

On this episode I speak with, Adonias Arevalo, a DACA recipient from El Salvador who grew up in Houston, TX. As State Director for Poder Latinx, he is working on mobilizing voters and getting them out to the polls this November 3rd. Among many things, Adonias has worked with United We Dream as a national organizer and campaign coordinator, the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, United Way, and was selected as one of the 10 community leaders by Arizona University to contribute to the improvement of community engagement in the university and among its students. He has represented Arizona in Miss Gay America 2020 and uses the art of drag to organize his community to go out and vote. Keep up with Adionias on Twitter @sicaryaseville and Poder Latinx @poderlatinx.

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, Gerard and I speak about his new single, Lonely, his first time voting in the U.S. as an immigrant, and how being bullied when he was younger influenced his music growing up. Make sure to go out and vote! Learn more about Gerard at his website GerardFlores.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook @gerardfloresofficial and on Youtube as Gerard Flores.

Last Friday, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away. This is significant for many reasons, regardless of political opinions, RBG was a trailblazer for women and one of the most influential people in modern U.S. history. RBG passed at a time of polarized politics in America and as the leader of the liberal bloc of the United States Supreme Court, her death is significant because it creates an opportunity to establish a conservative court for years to come. One of the primary responsibilities of the president is to nominate a member of the supreme court to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Should President Trump nominate a Supreme court justice before elections, or should he wait until the next term and let whoever is elected president decide?

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Mariachi Sirenas, an all female mariachi band, about how they got started, being women in an industry that is predominantly male, and being Latinx and feeling as if they're not from here nor there... ni de aquí ni de allá. Sound familiar? Follow las Sirenas on facebook and instagram @MariachiSirenas Present in the interview: Monique Guerrero, Ibet Herrera, Lissette Telumbre, Laura Veláquez. Not present in the interview: Eréndira Izguerra, Jeanette Nevárez

On this episode Daniel Garza and Luis Gutiérrez talk about President Trump's response to COVID-19, Republican Latinos, and the politicization of COVID-19. Our special guest is Mercedes Schlapp, the Hispanic spokesperson for the Trump campaign.

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Dylan Garcia, a Surf Rocker who has worked with big names in the music industry and used his platform to speak about mental health. Dylan and I get personal about his journey to overcoming setbacks and deciding to go into music even though it wasn't the path his parents had laid out for him. Follow Dylan's story on Spotify and Instagram @DylanGarciamusic or at dylangarciamusic.com

A weekly political segment where we discuss issues that matter to us. Representing the left is former Congressman and outspoken progressive Luis Gutiérrez. Representing the right is former Univision TV host and President of the Libre Initiative, Daniel Garza. As they lock heads around the hottest topics of the week, they give viewers concrete reasons to WANT to vote. In honor of Labor Day we talked about the job market after the National unemployment rate dropped to 8.4 percent. 13.6 million Americans are still unemployed while 30 million are receiving some form of unemployment benefits. Should undocumented essential workers receive the same help as others? You can also watch the full episode on YouTube @latinequis

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Dr. Maria Elena Botazzi, a Honduran-trained scientist in tropical medicine and microbiology and an advocate for global health. We talk about being a Latina in STEM, the pandemic, and her endeavor to make vaccines accessible for all, especially underserved populations. I also invited Fernanda, one of our interns, a pre-med student at Baylor University from Honduras and a fan of Dr. Botazzi's work. Resources mentioned in the episode: The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals

A weekly political segment where we discuss issues that matter to us. Representing the left is former Congressman and outspoken progressive Luis Gutiérrez. Representing the right is former Univision TV host and President of the Libre Initiative, Daniel Garza. As they lock heads around the hottest topics of the week, they give viewers concrete reasons to WANT to vote. This week we talk about the Republican National Convention and racial injustice! You can also watch the full episode on YouTube @latinequis

Gustavo Mercado Muñiz is a Puerto Rican, non-binary, queer, and the Transgender Program Coordinator at the Pride Center of Vermont. On Part 2 of this episode, Gustavo and I talk about the intersection between the LGBTQ+ community and the Latinx culture. Follow Gustavo on Facebook @Gustavo A Mercado Muñiz Three organizations you can donate to or support are: 1. Trans Justice Funding Project, 2. Sylvia Rivera Law Project, 3. GLITS!

A weekly political segment where we discuss issues that matter to us. Representing the left is former Congressman and outspoken progressive Luis Gutiérrez. Representing the right is former Univision TV host and President of the Koch Brothers’ Libre Initiative, Daniel Garza. As they lock heads around the hottest topics of the week, they give viewers concrete reasons to WANT to vote. This week we talk about the Democratic National Convention! You can also watch the full episode on YouTube, Instagram or Facebook @latinequis

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Jeff Torres about the importance of supporting and being involved in our own communities, as well as his movie House of Demons and other projects that are coming soon. If you follow Jeff on instagram @iamjefftorres, you will see that he has a link to a bio that leads to a google doc. That google doc includes resources for people who are seeking pro bono legal services, resources for people who can't donate or protest, tips for protestors and general social media tips for those who want to help, as well as resources for parents and teachers who want to talk about race. As a person in entertainment who could put anything else on that link in his bio, he has chosen to put resources to teach, to be involved, even if it's in the smallest way. And so can you, so can all of us. What's one small way you can help today?

Gustavo Mercado Muñiz is a Puerto Rican, non-binary, queer, and the Transgender Program Coordinator at the Pride Center of Vermont. On this episode of LatinEQUIS, Gustavo and I talk about the intersection between the LGBTQ+ community and the Latinx culture. Make sure to check out Part 2 of this episode! Follow Gustavo on Facebook @Gustavo A Mercado Muñiz Three organizations you can donate to or support are: 1. Human Rights Campaign, 2. National Center for Transgender Equality, and 3. Somos Familia Valle.

Alejandro de Hoyos is an actor and entrepreneur originally from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Apart from owning 9 companies, Alejandro stars in El Contratista directed by Jose Angel Henrickson which is out now on Amazon Prime, and he has acted in over 200 commercials. On this episode of LatinEQUIS, Alejandro and I talk about his secrets to doing it all, taking control of your own life, and creating your own opportunities. You can check out and support El Contratista on Amazon Prime and you can follow more of Alejandro @alejandrodehoy on Instagram.

Sara is a Palestinian-American poet, speaker, and storyteller. She describes herself as Palestinian by blood, Syrian by memory, American by citizenship, eastern in upbringing, and western in residence. Sara refers to this medley of identities as "constantly mapping home." For this episode on LatinEQUIS, I asked Paula, one of the awesome interns of LatinEQUIS, to lead the interview with Sara who is her TA at Denison University. We talk about the similarities between the Arab and Latinx cultures, misconceptions, as well as the feeling of having many identities that this increasingly diverse generation has. For more on Sara: http://www.mapofmyself.com/ and https://saraabourashed.wordpress.com/about-me/

On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Chelsea Rendon about supporting Latinx content as well as the upcoming movie, The Tax Collector in which she plays Lupe, a badass Latina directed by David Ayer known for directing Fury, Suicide Squad, and Birds of Prey. The Tax Collector stars Shia LaBeouf, Bobby Soto, George Lopez, and Cinthya Carmona.

Catalina Lauf is a 27-year-old Latina who ran for Congress in the 2020 Republican Primary for Illinois' 14th Congressional District. She ran as an anti-establishment candidate and was branded as the Republican version of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Catalina about her journey to running for Congress, being a Latina, assumptions about the Republican party, the need for newer and younger voices in US politics, and identity. Learn more about Catalina at catalinaforcongress.com and @catalinalauf on social media. 

"In life, there's only really two things that matter, it's the chances you get and the choices you make." On this episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Chuck Rocha, a political consultant, author and former Senior Campaign Advisor to the Bernie Sanders campaign about making tough decisions, going into politics, second chances, and the Latino vote. You can pre-order Chuck Rocha's book, "Tio Bernie: The Inside Story of How Bernie Sanders Brought Latinos Into the Political Revolution" on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Or find it on tioberniebook.com. You can also find a link to it on our website wearelatinequis.com.

On this snapshot episode of LatinEQUIS, I speak with Cindy Fernandez-Nixon about the benefits of being a Latina and about her journey from studying engineering to becoming an actress, producer and host of the podcast "Now That I Had My Coffee." Learn more about Cindy at cindyfernandeznixon.com and follow her on instagram and twitter @cindyfernix and on facebook @cindyfernandeznixon.

In the last 9 months, 21,301 unaccompanied alien children have crossed the US-Mexico border. Many fail to consider what happens to these children. On this special episode of LatinEQUIS I speak with Lorena Gonzalez, the development manager at the Young Center for immigrant children's rights about how to get involved and become a "waymaker" for the most vulnerable. Register for the "Be a Waymaker" benefit (July 23 at 6pm EST) at theyoungcenter.org, volunteer at theyoungcenter.org/volunteer and show your support on social media @theyoungcenter.