Contributors&Publisher’s Letter
founder & publisher fernando de haro
december • january 2021
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Design & Production copy editor elizabeth cortÉs
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lead designer gabriela lozano photographer ferch
This edition has been one of the hardest to create due to the pandemic's effects worldwide. In Cream, we realized that there are much more important things than pictures, ink, and papers. These events made it easy to decide to take a break and focus on what is most important: achieving health, peace, and wellness.
production + video assistant katya nevarez fonseca
Writers joe arciniega víctor hugo garcía elyssa canales villarreal nayeli nava leonor rodriguez estefania flores
t is an honor for me to share this special edition with you, as we celebrate our 10th anniversary. We feel more than proud to have reached this important milestone with you, our readers and friends, by our side.
For us, it has been 10 years together, an entire decade that cannot go unnoticed. There will be time for celebrating, but today it is time to be grateful for what we have and value every moment, every person we have by our side because it can all change at any moment. Thank you for allowing us to reach your hearts! We loaded this issue with lots of love, good vibes, and the great feeling of highlighting local personalities and companies who have shared their inspiring stories with us. I hope you enjoy every page, every interview, every question and answer, every picture, color, and design; it was all made in Texas, and it was well done! Thank you to all of my team for sharing my vision and inspiration! And thanks to all our readers, clients, friends, and family members for being by our side during these 10 years! Stay healthy, focused, and cherish your loved ones! Fernando de Haro
SALES & ADVERTISING sales@creamcitymag.com 956.220.5440 info@creamcitymag.com
Cream Team No. 60
cream city magazine creamcitymagazine
gaby
katya
citlali
Copyright © 2021 Cream City Magazine. All rights reserved. Points of view expressed do not necessarily represent those of Cream City Magazine. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement we believe is incompatible with our mission. We also reserve the right to refuse any advertisement we deem competitive or contrary to the best interests of the magazine. Advertisers are legally responsible for the content, accuracy, and images of their ads. Printed in Mexico.
elizabeth
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20 NataliaTéllez ¡Netas y pecas! CREAM Fashion Editorial
Contents 8 10 10
Better Again Arciniega Eyes
Quarantine, Cheaper than Therapy? Mommin’ Made Chic
Cream Presents
Icons
30
Tradiciones y Nochebuena
37
Jade Fraser Energía al natural
42
Justin Garcia The Gallery
CreamBiz | Cream City Magazine
Volkmer Real Estate Group
A Rising Real Estate Powerhouse
Since the Volkmer Real Estate Group was founded in 2016, Enrique and his brother Federico have become a powerful selling duo. In this interview, he reveals how their familyowned real estate team came about and what is the driving force behind his success.
Tell us about Volkmer Real Estate Group! How did your business begin? Volkmer Real Estate Group started around 2016. When the need to grow came into the picture, I hired my brother as my assistant, and when he became a realtor, we expanded to Laredo. As we got bigger, we needed a name, and it felt obvious to use our last name as a family-owned real estate team. What type of Real Estate services does your company offer? Is this only in Laredo? We do it all, from residential, commercial, multifamily, property management to industrial. We take great pride and feel blessed to assist our clients in selling or buying their homes, and as complicated as building one of the largest candy factories in Texas. As our team grows, we become more efficient and show great value in what we do. Where are the majority of your clients from? Why do they connect with you? We are privileged to be able to help our clients in two cities, San Antonio and Laredo. My brother now leads our team in San Antonio, and I take care of Laredo, although we travel a lot between both cities. Many of our clients in San Antonio come from Mexico and Laredo (fun fact Laredo is the second city with the most season ticket holders to the Spurs).
We make the transition easy and seamless into a country that is unknown to many when they own property in the US. I believe our clients refer us to more business because they trust that we will always look out for their best interests. We pride ourselves in going that extra mile, even if it means to take care of something in the middle of the night on a property of a client who lives in Mexico. We know what our clients need and we take care of them, and they take care of us. This has led us to be in the top 100 agents in the city out of over 10,000 agents. In Laredo, we feel that we have improved our work quality, showing real value, and getting people top dollar for their homes. In Laredo, we are the team that sold the greatest number of residential units, and we keep on growing, thus showing great value to our clients. We have also really thrived in Laredo in the luxury market. Our team has represented 30% of the sales over $500,000 putting us on the top in the luxury market.
Federico Volkmer and Enrique Volkmer
Gerardo Fragoso, Jorge Ramos, Andres Gonzalez, Enrique Volkmer, Federico Volkmer, Brisa Hernandez, James Villareal.
What 5 words best describe Volkmer Real Estate Group? Our clients come first always!! What is the best part of being a real estate agent? We help people with one of the largest investments of their entire lives. There is a great deal of responsibility with this, so we have to look out for our clients and look at it as an investment, even though we want it to be beautiful, perfect, and fitting all of our needs. Please give us a sneak peek into your process! How do you help people find their perfect home or commercial property? We start by figuring out their needs, wants, and dream items, and we follow that to check as many boxes as we can. Always looking out for purchase price and, most importantly, resale value. Even though they are buying, we want the client to feel comfortable that their home sells the day he wants to sell. Choosing a home to live in is no easy feat! Any tips for future home buyers interested in purchasing property? I don’t believe there is a set of rules, but usually, we handle it as a team, and we as agents can feel when a buyer walks into the right home. Never rush or try to make a home fit. If you miss out on a home, be patient, another will come along, and usually, a better opportunity will come. BE PATIENT. We are in a low inventory market at the moment, and don’t rush into something that you might regret because of a lack of options. When is the best time to buy or sell? It’s always a good time to buy and sell, depending on the need of the customer. Sometimes it’s driven by needs. They might need a large home or make a move to a different city, or downsizing. We have very low inventory at the current market, which makes it a SELLER market, although interest rates are extremely low, the lowest we have seen in my 16-year career, which makes it a great time to buy. You can’t always wait for the perfect moment to buy or sell. You go with what the market is paying or offering.
There must be so many success stories you have to share! Can you tell us about one of the most satisfying moments in your career? The smile on my clients’ faces is always very satisfying when they buy or sell their homes. Helping people has become a reward in my passion for selling Real Estate. All my clients, no matter how big or small, the feeling my clients transmit, I can’t put words on it or identify one moment because there have been so many. And I am really grateful for all of our clients, they have put their trust in us. Besides your business, what is something you’re passionate about? Besides my family, who are the drive behind everything I do, IRONMAN Triathlon has become a part of my life. I am looking forward to 2021 and have Half IRONMAN Boulder 70.3 and IRONMAN Arizona 140.6 that are my goal races. I turn 40 in 2021 and will be the fittest I have ever been in my life. I’m sure there are many things and people that inspire you all! To what do you attribute your success? The support from my wife on my crazy schedule and hard work. I am always there for my clients. No matter the time of day, we are always available and go the extra mile for our clients.
Volkmer Real Estate Group www.volkmergroup.kw.com 210.889.6430 @volkmerrealestategroup
Arciniega Eyes Editorial
Better Again I
t is done. Again. A presidential election. The 59th quadrennial American presidential election. Every four years, the United States of America braces for the Super Bowl, the World Series, Monster Truck Races, and the Oscars bundled together (times a thousand) to vote for the leader of our country, frequently called “the leader of the free world.” I have been voting for presidents since 1976; forty-four years of promises, predictions, and threats, most of which never come about to undiluted effect. Nevertheless, every four years, the hopeful, the fearful, and the cynical renew their fervor. Like many, I am a combination of all three, remembering the ending of a book I’ve read often enough, while wondering and worrying if this time it might end differently. In some ways, the predictability of it is reassuring. It could be worse. And in most other countries, it is. In 2014, Adam Przeworski, professor of political science at New York University, and one of the most important theorists and analysts of democratic societies, theory of democracy and political economy, published his study on the peaceful transition of power in government. In it, he examined over 3,000 elections which had taken place across the world from 1788 to 2008. He wrote, “…the practice of peacefully changing governments via the ballot box has been a relatively rare occurrence in modern history.” Przeworski further noted, “As of 2008, sixty-eight countries, including the two elephants, China and Russia, have never experienced a peaceful transfer of power between parties as a result of an election…while it is difficult to establish the first peaceful transition of power in a state, once the principle has been implemented it often becomes entrenched over time.” In other words, if not perfect, practice makes better. I am not making light of it; I understand the importance of this process. Furthermore, I respect it, holding great pride in the fact that for 220 years, from the first one to the last, the United States of America has managed transitions of political power better than anywhere else in the world. With a few exceptions, they have become a good habit. There have been aberrations, however. As fans of the Broadway musical “Hamilton” were entertainingly schooled, Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams for president in what was called the “Revolution of 1800.” The fourth presidential election in the United States at the dawn of the 19th century was a defining partisan election between two candidates that actively loathed each other by then. In the immediately previous election in 1796 Jefferson and Adams were vice president and president, respectively. And twenty years before that, in 1776, they were friendly partners in solidifying “the great experiment” of independence. But by 1800, they were enemies, birthing the concept of negative campaigning in the U.S., with Jefferson’s camp calling Adams, “a hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the
BY JOE ARCINIEGA | arciniegajoe@gmail.com
force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.” Adams and company volleyed that Jefferson was “a mean-spirited, lowlived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father.” And that was before Alexander Hamilton got involved and was eventually killed in a duel by Jefferson’s Vice President, Aaron Burr. Later, former presidential rivals Jefferson and Adams died within hours of each other on the same day, July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of their most significant achievement together, the Declaration of Independence. There have been other controversial presidential elections in our nation’s history, Lincoln-Douglas, Dewey-Truman, and Hayes-Tilden, an electoral stalemate and precursor to Gore-Bush taking weeks to resolve. But arguably there had been none as operatic (or at least musical theater worthy) as that one in 1800. That is, until TrumpClinton in 2016. And as rancorous as that was, it only proved to be the warm up to Trump-Biden in 2020. As of this writing, the results from a record shattering number of highly polarized voters have yet to be fully tabulated; but even now, right or wrong, fair or unfair, for better or worse, few expect this to end in anyone other than Joe Biden elected as president, holding Donald J. Trump to a single term. By the time you are reading this, likely a full month before inauguration, all should have been settled enough to lead us into the process of another peaceful transition of power. That is how this book has ended for the years of my life, my father’s, my grandfather’s, and through four greats. For the country’s sake, it is as it should be. I am still wondering and worrying, however. And after such division and rancor, after traditional and social media fueled hysteria and outright deception, after partisan politicians manipulated us into partisan people that turned family, friend, and neighbor against family, friend, and neighbor, I’m also praying. If we won’t or can’t be best, we’ll at least be better. Again.
Laredo College prepares future entrepreneurs, artists, technicians and healthcare professionals. Are you ready? Enroll today at Laredo College and Take It to the Next Level!
www.laredo.edu • Ft. McIntosh 956-721-5109 • South 956-794-4110
Mommin’ Made Chic Editorial
Quarantine, Cheaper than Therapy? I
t’s been a minute but back! Quarantine began some months ago, however, we’re still very much on this roller coaster of pandemic emotions. Intentionally or not, there has never been a better time to get to know yourself. Personally, I’m choosing to see the bright side; spend time with my family, work on projects, and fully take this opportunity of self-discovery. I’ve also chosen to take a back seat to the mental anguish, tap out of all the scary news feeds and assume that I know enough. In this era of information, my theory is to slide on my rose-colored glasses and focus on what makes me freakin happy! Quarantine has allowed me to miss and take back what makes me sane. For starters, you and this magazine…my creative outlet and my public af diary. I guess this is my space to go a little Kanye minus the shock factor. With nothing else on the mind but quarantine, isolation, and social distancing; it allowed me the opportunity to shed light on the things that I missed and also wanted most. Specifically, the things that bring self-fulfillment, and less of the “me time” casually enjoying a spa day. More like, the hard truth of realizing that I had given up on a lot of the things that make me, well “me!” Stripped of all distractions and drowning in time, subsequently, I felt being forced to stay indoors actually forced me out of hiding. It was a great reset on a writer’s block that blocked out more than just the written word. Over the past few months, I’ve loved seeing passion projects come to life all over my social media feeds. For a minute there, it seemed tiedye was the official/unofficial color of quarantine. People all over were tapping into their right brains’ crevasses, introducing us to newfound abilities and talents. As a creative, I was living for it! My IG scroll addiction was at an all-time high, flicking my index finger on that iPhone as I vibed off all these new products, projects, and ideas. I was impressed. If this was us coping…I don’t want to go back!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people express their anticipation for life to return “back to normal.” Honestly, in my best attempt to not sound like Miss Congeniality; I want our lives to be even better than they once were. How can we not? We’ve been through the wringer, learned a lot about ourselves when life came to a sudden halt. Now, as we press play on the rest of 2020, my hope is that we continue to make time for those we love, what we love, and those things that gave us purpose. BY ELYSSA CANALES VILLARREAL
Editorial | Cream City Magazine
Meet Davenport Dental Group’s New Dentist
Dr. Homero Vela-Gomez Committed to Dentistry Excellence
The Davenport Dental Group family keeps growing! This young and talented doctor just recently returned to his hometown and joined Davenport’s top-notch line up of dental professionals. We had a chance to meet him, and here is what he thoughtfully shared with us.
After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Texas A&M International University and completing his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Dr. VelaGomez returned to Laredo and is grateful for the opportunity to practice in his beloved city.
He realized he wanted to pursue dentistry from a young age when he understood the physical and emotional power dental work has over a patient, incorporating medicine and hands-on skills. His bedside manners are on point since he listens to his patients with genuine interest and patience. No one knows your mouth better than you do and he truly believes that if you keep talking about how you feel, eventually you might give a keyword that can piece everything together. When he is working on his patients, he pays special attention to their facial expressions. The slightest hesitation shows him there is still work to do, and he strives to get it as close to perfect as possible.
One of his dentistry core beliefs is that dental health and overall health are one and the same. He promotes the importance of dental health during this pandemic as research shows that it can cause heart disease and lead to a certain degree to Covid-19 severity. He has also noticed an increase in fractured teeth and jaw pain as manifestations of stress due to Covid-19.
When he isn’t helping patients, keeping the right mix of treatments and exams, researching new literature during breaks, or helping around the office, you might find him driving around town with his wife checking out all the latest music releases.
Get those pearly whites looking perfect, and meet Dr. Vela-Gomez at Davenport Dental Group’s Winfield office. You will not be disappointed! Dr. Homero Vela-Gomez
Cream City Magazine is proud to present to you a new section:
Icons Real change comes from those who dare to dream big. Meet the visionary icons who against all odds, challenged and pushed boundaries, creating a powerful impact on our community.
Icons | Cream City Magazine
Sincerely Lula An empowered mother of three boys in the 70’s, Lula Morales, embarked on a profession that would soon take her to new and unbelievable heights, becoming a real estate icon and forever changing its landscape—inspiring women to accomplish their dreams.
Tell us a little about your life prior to becoming a real estate agent. I was born and raised in San Luis Potosí, México. I come from a family of 12 siblings. When I was 16, I came to study at Incarnate Word High School, where I met my husband, Richard, who was attending Saint Mary’s Law School at the time. We got married in 1969, and I started a new stage in my life, in a new country, with a new family, and that is how I ended up in this beautiful, unique, and hospitable city that I love. How did your career in real estate begin? I started in real estate because being the mother of 3 very active boys, I thought it would allow me the time I needed to spend with them, and at the same time, schedule my appointments while they were in school.
What has inspired you in your business career? My business career has been incredibly fulfilling and a never-ending learning process. It has been a fascinating experience to serve the people in Laredo in their real estate needs while being extremely rewarding, both emotionally and intellectually. My passion is to help developers with the conceptual planning and marketing of residential subdivisions, industrial parks, shopping centers, and condominium developments.
Icons | Cream City Magazine
Your professional trajectory is fascinating, but we know there is more to you than meets the eye! Besides your entrepreneurial achievements, what defines you? My professional career was an accident of fate, being in the right place at the right time. I owe my success to the team of professionals behind Lula Morales Realty, but what truly defines me is my family. Richard and I have 3 wonderful sons; each of them has been able to carve his own path and their own success in their chosen careers of medicine and law. They have married three wonderful and intelligent women and have formed beautiful families. My 7 grandchildren make me proud every day and never cease to amaze me with their creativity, intelligence, dedication, humor, and love. You are a real estate icon in this city! What do you love about Laredo? What do you think makes it such a special place to live in? I am a Laredoan by destiny, I was 21 when I arrived, and its people’s warm hospitality immediately embraced me. This city is unique in its binational culture. I am proud that my boys grew up in such a diversified and culturally unique place. For many of us, having a daily routine helps us thrive and achieve our goals! What does a day in the life of Lula Morales look like? My life is full, and the secret of my happiness is to get up every morning with a purpose. I am an early riser, and I am at the office early in the morning. When I get home, I usually unwind by reading, playing the piano, or my guitar.
2014 The LULAC Council honored her with a Tejano Achievement Award.
Whenever you encounter challenging moments in your life, who or what cheers you up the most? I have come to realize that faith keeps you going. I have had my share of unfortunate moments in my life. Losing my mother at an early age was one of them, but faith made me overcome this difficult period in my life. I also realized that I have an innate happy spirit. I can grieve, I can cry, but I do my best to bounce back to my happy nature. When you are not busy helping people find the properties they need, what are some of your favorite things to do? I love my family gatherings at the ranch and the convivial luncheons at my home with my friends. I also love to travel, attend the theater, and enjoy fishing and hunting with my family.
What are 3 books you think we should read, and why? My favorite book is “The Source” by Mitchener. It is an epic history of the Jewish people and the constant search and need for the existence of a supreme God in the human mind.
“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson. A biography of a genius, although by no means perfect, his perseverance, tenacity, intelligence, determination, and stubbornness, drove him to achieve perfection in its creation. Everyone can learn from this book. “Exodus” by Leon Uris. A beautiful and poignant story that shares the painful struggle in Jewish history and one of the most dramatic geopolitical events, the birth of the State of Israel. It teaches us to be kind and compassionate to other cultures and less fortunate people.
2006 The Laredo Chamber of Commerce name Lula as the 2006 Distinguished Businessperson of the Year. The only Mexican American woman to have hold this honor.
You inspire a lot of our magazine’s audience! What is the best advice you could give to our readers? Use your time wisely; every minute counts, and enjoy every moment to the fullest. Find beauty in simple things; a glorious sunrise, an aromatic rose, the sunset’s tranquility, the rhythm, and force of the sea. Live a life with purpose and balance. But most of all, realize that it is not about “ME”. We came to this life with one purpose only: “to serve and make a better life for everyone around us to the best we can.”
Icons | Cream City Magazine
Success without Borders Innovating is for doers, like young and hard-working Mario Palos Garza, who was captivated by the world of logistics when he landed his first job at a warehouse. Since then, Palos Garza realized you don’t need to wait for success; you can build it yourself with hard work and dedication, thus becoming a logistics icon in both Laredos.
Icons | Cream City Magazine
How did your career begin? At first, I didn’t know what to study. But when I started my business administration degree, I knew that it would be my future. When I was younger, I worked at a warehouse, loading and unloading lumps of coffee and tires. It was very hard, but step by step, I climbed my way up. I understood that it doesn’t matter at what level you are in the service chain; you’ve got to do your best. If you make a mistake, it’s everyone’s mistake, so you have to give your best all the time. The logistics world captivated me, and I started my own company 32 years ago with my family’s support. I have developed more than 55 companies; most of them focused on international logistics, and I also ventured into the commercial sector with gas stations and restaurants. Did you ever consider that it would be part of your life? When you are passionate about your job and are responsible for more than 1500 employees and their families, this business becomes part of your life.
A look at Palos Garza through the years: from their very first three trailers to their most recent warehouses in Laredo—these images tell the remarkable story of how successful companies are made.
What inspires you? Since we specialize in “Door to Door,” services that involve the transportation of refrigerated products, I always keep in mind that we have the responsibility to ensure that all families in the world receive food on their table in excellent conditions on time. What is the most impressive thing about your personality? Consistency and innovation. Never think it’s over. If you don’t innovate, you are lost. I am addicted to training and studying. What kind of satisfaction has your career given you? We have received a lot of recognition for our services’ quality from the most prominent international companies globally: Walmart, Dow Química, Cargill, McDonald’s, and Expeditors. I’m very proud and thankful for my team. Thanks to them, we can accomplish all of this. Do you admire anyone in particular? I admire businessmen like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and historians like Lincoln and Napoleon. However, my greatest idol is Michael Jordan. Do you have any advice for anyone about to embark on a career like yours?
It’s worth making a mistake, but it’s not worth giving up on your dreams. Be passionate.
¡Netas y pecas!
Natalia Téllez Sin filtros, ni retoques Natalia Téllez se ha destacado en el medio artístico por poseer un estilo llamativo e irreverente. Una mujer rompedora de moldes en tiempos de filtros de Instagram y posers, Natalia transgrede las normas con sus pecas divinas y su alma drag en constante transformación para esta edición celebrando la primera década de Cream.
Total Look Ary Villa @aryvilladesigner JoyerĂa Vibras Jewellery @vibrasjewellery Botas Ant @ant.offcialbrand
Fotografía Ferch @helloferch
Actríz
Natalia Téllez @natalia_tellez
Stylist Emanuel Catrina @ecatrinaa
Maquillaje y peinado Gio Rangel @giorangel
Manuel Delgado @manueldelgado.moda
Coordinador de moda
Locación The Booker management
Producción Miguel Angel Reyes
Vestido Anthony Rivera @its_anthonyrivera Botas Ant @ant.offcialbrand Aretes ICONIQUE @iconique.jewels
Falda y top Valadez @valadezofficial Jacket Balankä @balankaleather Pulseras Happy Mode @happymodemx Aretes ICONIQUE @iconique.jewels
Natalia participó en telenovelas como Rebelde y Palabra de Mujer. Sin embargo, su talento como conductora ha sido imparable y floreció desde sus inicios en el programa Telehit Music Band. Entre las conducciones que ha realizado se destacan el reality show La Voz…México, el programa matutino Hoy, ¿Quién es la máscara? y su emblemático programa Netas Divinas. Su película Veinteañera, divorciada y fantástica está en cartelera ahora mismo. Próximamente la podremos ver en Instrucciones para Su, así como también incursionando en el doblaje de la película animada Escuela de Miedo.
Jacket Giselle Aboudib Brand @giselleaboudibbrand Joyería Happy Mode @happymodemx
Jumpsuit German Ruiz @germanruizmx Jacket Intervención México @intervencion_mexico Calzado Instein @insteinbrain Joyería Happy Mode @happymodemx (Cover picture)
CreamBiz | Cream City Magazine
Caring for the People you Love! We had the opportunity to speak to Right At Home’s founders, Steve and Thelma Byfield. Read on to learn more about their locally owned and operated in-home services, and how their main priority is to take care of our loved ones. Tell us about Right At Home and your team. How did it begin? What are your core values? Right At Home began in December 2018. Our dedicated team’s core values are our number one priority and they go above and beyond to make sure our clients receive the best service in Laredo and surrounding areas. You offer an extensive amount of quality care services. Can you explain some of them to our readers? Right At Home Primary Home specializes in providing the following services to our community: respite care, home keeping and 24-hour live-in care. We also provide help to children from newborn age to 20 years old; these services include anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive disorder, phobias disorder, depression disorder, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders, eating disorder, personality disorder, autism, ADD, ADHD, post-traumatic stress, and psychotic disorder including schizophrenia and down syndrome. Older adults are a special population. What is something you love about working with them? We love not just having them as clients but getting to know them and building a friendship, gaining their trust and seeing they are happy with our services.
founders Steve and Thelma Byfield
What sets Right At Home apart from other home care businesses? We never lose focus of our task at hand and our goals while giving 100% in quality care. Besides older adults, what other patients do you serve? We serve newborns to 20-year-old young adults. Your home care agency will surely be of great interest to our readers, especially those with loved ones looking for a companion! How does a potential client apply for a caregiver? What is the process like? For someone looking for basic companionship, a very simple application is filled out, and the patient will have services that same day. You can also visit us online and submit an application. Our office staff will happily help you with any questions you may have. At the heart of Right At Home, is a passion for helping others. What is the most rewarding part of your vocation? It makes us happy seeing that the clients we have are happy and loyal to our agency.
Because there is only one place to be—Right at Home! Anything you want to tell the Laredo community? Our personal care attendants provide hands-on support to help you or your loved one enjoy a great quality of life.
1605 E Del Mar Blvd. Suite 105 Laredo, Texas 70841 • (956) 338-0993 • www.rightathomeprimaryhomecare.com
Editorial | Cream City Magazine
Tradiciones y
Nochebuena
Este 2020 fue un año diferente. Aunque en retrospectiva lo recordaremos como un año lleno de incertidumbre, también lo recordaremos como un tiempo en el que alentamos el paso y aprendimos a apreciar la vida y a nuestros seres queridos. Durante estos diez años, en Cream los hemos llevado en nuestros corazones en las buenas, en las malas y también durante esta temporada de distanciamiento social. ¡Muchas gracias a ustedes, nuestros lectores, por todo lo que hemos compartido! Y seguimos con nuestra tradición e invitamos a estas tres mujeres maravillosas que nos inspiraron con su espíritu navideño. ¡En esta Navidad, Cream les desea amor y prosperidad, pero sobre todo salud y la dicha de estar con sus seres queridos en este año que viene!
Editorial | Cream City Magazine
Siempre me ha encantado la Navidad. Pero este 2020 será especial para toda la humanidad, será una Navidad llena de esperanza, de seguir adelante y sentiremos la verdadera alegría de estar juntos. El mejor regalo será tener salud y a nuestra familia unida.
Roxanna Servin
Editorial | Cream City Magazine
Cristina Campero
La Navidad es magia, es ver la cara de felicidad de nuestros niños en casa y sentir esa emoción cuando ven tantos regalos y los abren. Pero el verdadero significado de la Navidad es la oportunidad de acercarnos más a Dios y recordar en familia la llegada del Niño Dios. Sin duda, esta Navidad será diferente. En este tiempo de pandemia hemos descubierto el valor de la familia. ¡Qué esta Navidad un abrazo sea tu regalo! Sin dejar de recordar a nuestros seres queridos que ya no están con nosotros.
Editorial | Cream City Magazine
La Navidad es un día muy especial porque celebramos el nacimiento de Jesús y es por eso que ese día los sentimientos de amor, bondad, humildad y paz se avivan en nuestro corazón. Es un día para agradecer en familia todas las bendiciones recibidas.
Tete López
Editorial | Cream City Magazine
Laredo College A vision for innovation
S
ince its inception in 1947, Laredo College has been a cornerstone of our community as the pioneering higher education institution in Laredo. The college is also the largest and most affordable option for students pursuing a college education. With the perfect mix of classic and contemporary, Laredo College offers the best of both worlds. As you walk through the historic Ft. McIntosh Campus in downtown Laredo, you are transported to its past as a military fort. On the other hand, you can admire the sleek and modern buildings and structures at the LC South Campus and look into the future of state-of-the-art technology and academic innovation.
Looking forward to the next ten years, describe your vision for the college. We envision Laredo College staying true to its legacy as a place that is relevant to the economic and workforce needs of the community. A college that meets the demands of industry and is able to fulfill the dreams of the students for themselves, their families and their community.
Cream is excited to bring you an exclusive conversation with the architect behind the significant transformation the college has undergone in the past several years, Dr. Ricardo J. Solis. Upon being selected as the seventh college president in 2016, Dr. Solis took over the reins of the two-campus college district and set it on the path to unparalleled success.
What does having the #1 community college in the state right here at home mean for local students and for our community? Being ranked as the #1 community college in Texas is a phenomenal achievement. It provides reassurance to our students that they belong to an institution that is recognized and ranked highly among many other great institutions. Most importantly, it reaffirms that they are obtaining a quality education. It also means that local students don’t have to move to a different city or spend exorbitant amounts of money to receive a high-quality education.
With a distinguished background in global economic development and academia for more than 15 years, it is no surprise that throughout Dr. Solis’ tenure, the college has experienced a complete rebranding and garnered an impressive number of accolades. Its most recent honor came this year with the stellar designation as the #1 community college in Texas from online ranking website BestColleges.com.
As for the community-at-large, Laredo College’s designation as the top community college in Texas has many benefits for the City of Laredo and Webb County. It’s an honor that our community has the top ranked community college in the state. It’s also an incredibly powerful tool that can be utilized to attract, retain and expand our booming workforce, trade, commerce and tourism industries.
Editorial | Cream City Magazine
The pandemic has been a game-changer in terms of online learning and teaching delivery methods. How is Laredo College adapting to this and what does this mean in terms of future course offerings? Laredo College was among the first institutions to announce its decision to move to an online teaching platform to safeguard students and the community by mitigating the spread of COVID-19. We are proud to continuously innovate and reinvent ourselves. Having the most dedicated employees has been our biggest attribute. We will continue to change and adapt to the evolving needs of students and offer more digital courses as necessary. Online education has always been at the core of our curriculum plan. Our institution is certified in Quality Matters, a nationally recognized, faculty-centered peer review process designed to certify the quality of online courses and online components. As a matter of fact, our ranking as the #1 community college by BestColleges.com was in great part due to our extensive online course curriculum competency.
Dr. Ricardo J. Solis
Are there any misconceptions or myths about a community college education that you would like to dispel? Definitely. Some people have the misconception that the junior college of the past was one that was just there to provide remedial or basic education. But that was many decades ago. Especially in the past few years, Laredo College, like many other institutions throughout the nation, have demonstrated that community college is the key for success. Community colleges improve the lives of the students and the community. My focus is always on continuous innovation, which I believe is our ultimate sustainable advantage. Laredo College and its administrators, faculty, staff and students have shown to be multifaceted and perseverant. What are some other characteristics that you believe set the Palomino community apart from other institutions? Laredo College is made up of a diverse group of people with different areas of expertise, backgrounds and talents. At our institution, undeniably, the component that really sets us apart is the employees. Our employees are the ones that move us forward. They are our number one asset. We are fortunate that all our employees are driven by purpose and performance. Through those two attributes, they have been able to fulfill our college mission and meet the needs of all our students.
Does the college have any big projects currently in the works? The college has numerous projects in progress at both campuses. We are specializing more in the fields of health and technology. We will continue providing new innovative programs and short-term careers that are necessary for our workforce. Most importantly, we are going to continuously expand our efforts to train and retrain workers. We are able to do this through our Laredo College Economic Development Center and Continuing Education Department as well as through our strategic partnerships with private and public entities in our region. Being designated as the #1 community college in the state is no small feat. From your perspective, what makes Laredo College the #1 community college in Texas? What makes us #1 is our performance and our people. They are constantly driven by our purpose to improve people’s lives and making sure our students’ dreams become a reality. Our employees are inspired by the thousands of students who come to Laredo College with the hopes and dreams of a bright future for themselves and their families. And they achieve those dreams in the face of incredible challenges. All Laredo College employees are leaders who transform this institution into versions of their better selves. They are the true heroes. Not only must leaders have a clear vision of what the college can and should become, they must be able to see it within the confines of what already exists. They must be able to look beyond the obvious. Beyond what is known. Beyond the reality of the present to the potential of the future. If you are a leader, helping others feel a sense of purpose can be a powerful tool. At Laredo College, it’s all about helping people see the impact of others and helping them develop a story about why they love what they do. At Laredo College, we are purpose-driven and we are performance-driven for the workforce of the future.
Actualmente uno de los rostros más reconocidos en el medio artístico es el de Jade Fraser, una actriz que brilla con luz propia y que en esta entrevista exclusiva para Cream nos comparte sus proyectos actuales y a futuro. Debutó en la telenovela Niña de mi Corazón y su larga lista de éxitos incluye Abismo de Pasión y Mi Marido tiene Familia. Jade, una de las Hijas de la Luna, deslumbra con su belleza tapatía en Yago y nos demuestra que no solamente es una cara bonita, incursionando en el ámbito de la producción de obras teatrales. Definitivamente, Jade es una estrella a seguir en el 2021.
Jade Fraser
Energía al natural
Total look Sรณcrates Cruz @socratescruz.mx Zapatos Diego Torreblanca @diegotorreblanca
Jade Fraser @jadefrasermx
Actríz
Davo Sthebané para Givenchy
Ferch @helloferch
Peinado Olvido Herrerrias @herrerias_olvido__
@davosthebane | @givenchybeauty
Maquillaje
Fotografía
Manuel Delgado @manueldelgado.moda
Coordinador de moda
Locación The Booker management
Producción Miguel Angel Reyes
¿Quién es Jade Fraser? Es una chica trabajadora, cariñosa, alegre, camaleónica, deportista que le gusta sacarle sonrisas a las personas, leer, actuar y el fútbol. Es una persona que cuando tú estés en un mal momento, siempre va a estar presente y cuidándote. Cuéntanos Jade, ¿qué te mueve? ¿Qué te hace levantarte a las 6 am? Me encanta interpretar, osea me despierto y digo, ¿qué aventura voy a vivir el día de hoy? Y eso es algo que me emociona. Digo, ¿cómo irán a quedar las escenas del día de hoy? O si no estoy en ningún proyecto, pienso ¿qué me gustaría hacer? Porque creo que también es muy importante tomar en cuenta esta parte de que te gustaría hacer a ti, ¿no? ¿Qué proyectos te gustaría interpretar? ¿Qué sentimientos, emociones y personajes? Y eso me vuelve loca. Y también lograr uno hacer su propio trabajo. Osea si yo tengo ganas de hacer un monólogo o un cortometraje; saber que tengo la capacidad para poder hacerlo, y si no, pues aprendo para poder lograr autotrabajo para mí y para muchos compañeros. Dinos, ¿cuáles han sido algunos de los retos más grandes que has tenido últimamente? ¡Ay, pues yo creo que todos los días es un reto en mi vida! En mi último personaje era nadadora profesional y tuve que entrenar muchísimo antes de empezar el proyecto. La verdad es que era bastante cansado, pero me encantó. Y creo que dentro de mi carrera un gran reto fue el día que produje una obra. Fue algo que no tenía ni idea de como se hacía. Me puse a averiguar y a preguntarle a mis amigos. Oigan, ¿cómo se hace eso? ¿Qué se necesita? ¿Cómo puedo poner la escenografía? Aunque haya sido una obra chiquita o grande, creo que es muy valorable el resultado que logré con mis compañeros. Y sobre todo que en algún momento yo dije me gustaría hacer esto en mi carrera y que lo cumplí, creo que eso es lo más valioso.
Traje Pêche Designs @peche_designs Blusa La Panchita Vintage @lapanchitavintaje Joyerìa Okoxal @okoxal Zapatos Rob Castillo @robcastillomx
Traje La Panchita Vintage @lapanchitavintage Joyeria Caro Castelan @carocastelanmx Calzado Instein @insteinbrain Clutch Sweet Matitos @sweetmatitos
Hablando de retos, ¿qué proyectos tienes en los próximos meses o en el 2021? Hay muchas propuestas de proyectos, pero con la pandemia por más que la gente quiera iniciar sus proyectos este año, se está complicando demasiado. Por ejemplo, una película que tengo desde hace como 3 o 4 años y seguimos sin poder hacerla. Pero en algún momento la vamos a hacer y ya les diré cuál es. Por ahí tengo un proyecto de ciencia ficción, que me encantará por fin confirmarles cuando firme el contrato. Esperemos que me puedan ver en cosas totalmente diferentes de todo lo que me han visto en mi carrera hasta ahora. Todos en el equipo de Cream estamos muy emocionados de colaborar en esta sesión contigo, ¡eres una persona con mucha energía y buena vibra! ¿cómo te sentiste durante esta photosesh? ¡Me sentí increíble! Creo que algo súper importante de una sesión de fotos, es tú como modelo sentirte libre y cómodo y que tengas una conexión super padre. Que el fotógrafo no tenga pena y que sienta la libertad de poder acercarse al modelo y decirle, “Oye hagámoslo un poquito más así, muévete de esta manera, espérame tantito con la luz “. Ahorita que estamos viendo el resultado de las fotos que tomamos me parece muy artístico y elegante. A todo el staff que estuvo detrás de, ¡gracias! Me encantó el maquillaje, el peinado y la ropa. Muchísimas gracias y yo creo que a ustedes les va a gustar tanto cómo me gustó a mí y cómo nos gustó a todos. Estamos celebrando el décimo aniversario de Cream City Magazine, ¿te gustaría dedicarle algunas palabras a nuestros lectores? Cream City Magazine, ¡les deseo otros 10 años, que tengan muchísimo éxito! Que sigan haciendo esas fotografías y esas portadas tan bonitas, tan artísticas, tan elegantes con todo el amor, con toda la pasión y toda la buena vibra que le meten. ¡Les deseo muchísimo éxito, que triunfen mucho y nunca dejen de sonreír!
Twitter / Instagram @JadeFraserMx TikTok @jadefraser22.
The Gallery | Cream City Magazine
featured artist
Justin Garcia "I build, strip down and then rebuild architectural structures as aging walls through layering and staining the surface, revealing the nuances that give us insight to moments that become memories in time. Each subtle mark is a story that lies before the viewer and brings them to stillness with their inner curiosity." -Justin Garcia
justingarciaart.com
About the artist: Justin Garcia is an architectural artist and author born in Houston, Texas. His artwork challenges the human perspective of time through aging walls. The artist's vision of his 'Walls of Time" series has an aging and time travel influence. Garcia mixes oils, acrylics, and charcoals on canvas in an impasto technique that mimics architectural wall structures and utilizes a unique magnetic mounting system that he designed.
Editorial | Cream City Magazine
Re-Imagining the Future How about making an omelet without breaking some eggs? Now it’s possible to enjoy your sunny side-ups in a new way thanks to Clara Foods, a company co-founded by Arturo Elizondo—a city’s high flier who is achieving remarkable things in the food industry. Read on to learn why he is flying way up on Cream’s radar! Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? I was born and raised on both sides of the border. I grew up in Laredo and I am proud of my roots. I’m a product of Laredo and its school system; I went to Matias, Trautmann, and United. I’m one of six kids, all of whom inspire me to do and be my best.
I graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Government and Comparative Politics and went on to study International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy in Geneva, Switzerland. I always knew my goal in life was to leave the world a little better than I found it. I wanted to make a difference in some shape or form, and initially that meant a life in public service. Before founding Clara Foods, I interned for Congressman Henry Cuellar, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the White House under President Barack Obama, before ultimately making my way to the United States Supreme Court to serve under the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor. And all throughout, whether it was at the USDA learning about the 1 million animals the US slaughters every single hour, or in Geneva learning that it takes over 600 gallons of water to make one dozen eggs, I realized I needed to give everything I had to help fight for a better food system. So I left Washington, D.C. and booked a one-way ticket to San Francisco with no job and no place to stay with the dream of transforming the way we make protein. That’s when I co-founded Clara Foods.
After five years since then, we’ve raised over $50M from the world’s largest food companies and top Silicon Valley investors who had also invested in companies like Facebook, Uber, and Airbnb. Clara Foods has been named one of the 50 Hottest Tech companies in the world by Crunchbase, as one of the 50 NEXT Companies to Disrupt the World, and our work has been featured in two best-selling books. I’ve been named to Forbes 30 Under 30, National Hispanic Institute’s Person of the Year, 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders by GreenBiz, One of 10 Latinos who Inspire the United States by BBC News, and inducted to the League of Legends by my alma mater, United. How did Clara Foods come about? The concept was an idea from my cofounder, Dave, to recreate a chicken egg without using the chicken. We wanted to eliminate the need for industrial factory farms to make animal protein because of how destructive it is to produce it today. Animal agriculture currently emits more greenhouse gases than the entire transportation sector (including all the cars, ships, planes, and trucks in the world combined). Today, it is the number one cause of deforestation, species extinction, and biodiversity loss. It is responsible for guzzling up over 1/3 of the world’s freshwater, requiring over 75% of the land used for agriculture, and renders over 50 billion animals every single year to a life of immeasurable suffering. We knew there had to be a better way to make protein.
What impact do you believe Clara Foods is going to have in the world? Clara Foods will be instrumental in transitioning the world to a future free of factory farms. I have no doubt that we as a society, will look back in 40 years in astonishment of how we enslaved and almost destroyed our planet so that we could satisfy our taste buds.
How did it feel to be named National Hispanic Institute’s Person of the Year? Being named as the NHI’s Person of the Year was the honor of a lifetime. I am incredibly proud of my Hispanic roots, our culture, and I love my community. There’s so much potential, and I hope many more young Latinos pursue lives in the service of others. My hope is that this award shows others––especially middle and high schoolers––all the talent, passion, and diversity in our community. I want others to see that you can be successful while also fighting for a better world, that they are not mutually exclusive. What do you recommend doing in San Francisco? Walking through all the city’s different neighborhoods, whether it’s Japantown, Chinatown, North Beach with its Italian cuisine, the Mission with its Latino roots and stunning murals, or the Castro with its history on the vanguard of the LGBT rights movement. I love the diversity of the city. I also highly recommend going to Muir Woods and seeing the tallest trees in the world: the Redwoods. Favorite place to travel? Laredo: it’s a place where I reconnect with my roots and get to eat the best homemade vegan Mexican food from the best chef (my mom). Favorite artist at the moment? Sara Bareillis.
Favorite T.V. show at the moment? The Handmaid’s Tale. The show is not only masterfully filmed, but it is such a powerful reminder of never taking our rights and privileges for granted.
Biggest fear? Dying without giving everything I could to stem climate change. What do you like about cream City Magazine? I love its eclectic style and brand; it feels like both a magazine and a real work of art.
People | Cream City Magazine
Editorial | Cream City Magazine
Let’s Meet...
MariaChapa 29, photographer,
Instagram: mariachapaphotography
How do you combine what you love with what you do? I have a passion for seeing people happy, and photography allows me to capture beautiful moments that people will remember forever. With just a simple click, I get to hold treasures in my camera. I don’t consider taking photos as a job because I love what I do, and I would not change that for anything. What are your recent projects and/or accomplishments? One of my recent projects is that I want to expand my business to capture large-scale events. I am working on a 4-hour event package for my customers in 2021 that best fits their needs. Also, I hope to provide photography workshops to anyone interested in this amazing career in the future. What are two words that best describe you? Hardworking and strong woman.
What is your ultimate goal? My ultimate goal is to always reach for the stars. Photography is always evolving, and I want to provide my clients with the latest innovations and the best quality. I hope to put a smile on people’s faces when they see their photos and continue to capture more beautiful moments.
Raising the Bar
Virtually Connecting People
Even with restrictions to bars amid coronavirus outbreaks, people are coming together remotely thanks to Vicente Peña. Meet the host of VP’s Virtual Bar, a piano livestream on Facebook that has virtually united Laredoans, helped them blow off some steam and healed them through the power of music. Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from, and what do you do? I was born in Laredo, Texas, and I am self-employed. I am a music and video producer, amateur pianist, and VP’s Virtual Bar founder.
Your virtual bar on Facebook brings so many people together during a tough time. What inspired you to bring this vision of yours to life? It all began in the first lockdown. I was practicing piano and checking Facebook posts; my boredom ignited my curiosity as I saw the live button. And the rest is history. It quickly caught on fire, and I had thousands of viewers. What are some of the challenges you faced in getting this project started, and how did you overcome them? I have faced many challenges, but one of the most significant has been to keep everyone happy. Eight months without missing a day have proven my dedication and eagerness, and I am getting better as a music performer.
It can be daunting to put out an original idea and share it with the world. Was the response you received from your viewers what you expected or hoped it would be? Yes, an idea as unique as this one was extremely overwhelming to put out at first. It is not easy to improvise with absolutely no script while the world is watching your every move and listening to every word. I realized how big this was when I started getting messages in many different languages.
For our readers who may not know, how does the virtual bar work? When and how can viewers tune in? VP’s Virtual Bar is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am. Soon it will be called VP’s Virtual Life, which will involve other live shows. Just tune in to our Facebook page and find our promotions on Vicente Peña’s personal Facebook page, and we will continuously be notifying our followers. Music is a huge part of your live event. What is your favorite type of music to listen to, and why? My favorite music is music. It is my lifeline and it sets the tone for my everyday life.
Please tell us about some of the most memorable moments you have experienced during your livestream! I have had too many memorable moments. Like when we had our first person contract Covid-19, people watching from hospital beds, or people listening to fall asleep. People with serious health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders were recovering in front of my eyes. The music and show helped them heal in some magical way through God’s faith, the power of positive thinking, and believing in the power of music healing.
