December 2020
Volume 17 No.1
Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
FRONT PAGES FROM THE LAST 17 YEARS Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
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Editorial / Editorial
Celebremos las Navidades de Forma Responsable y Segura A nombre de los miembros de la familia de El Sol Latino, queremos desearles Muchas Felicidades en esta Navidad y un Próspero Año Nuevo. Son nuestros mejores deseos de que todos los hogares celebren esta temporada festiva de forma responsable y segura. A continuación les recordamos algunas de las recomendaciones emitidas por el Centers for Disease Control en caso de que planeen organizar o asistir a un evento de grupo. Tanto los invitados como los organizadores deben estar al tanto de estas consideraciones y preguntarse qué medidas de mitigación se van a poner en práctica durante la reunión. • Limite la cantidad de asistentes. • Los invitados deben evitar el contacto directo, incluyendo estrecharse las manos o abrazarse, con personas que no viven en su hogar. • Exigirle a los invitados que usen mascarilla. • Evitar organizar reuniones con personas que no viven en su hogar. Evitar reunirse en espacios atestados y/o mal ventilados.
• En la medida que sea posible, optar por reuniones al aire libre en lugar de en espacios interiores. Si la reunión es al aire libre, exigirle a los invitados que usen mascarilla cuando no están comiendo o bebiendo. • Si la reunión se va a realizar en una carpa al aire libre, es importante garantizar que los invitados estén sentados con distanciamiento social. • Recomendarle a los invitados que se laven las manos con frecuencia con agua y jabón por al menos 20 segundos. Si no hay agua y jabón disponibles, se puede usar un desinfectante de manos que contenga al menos un 60 % de alcohol. • Limpie y desinfecte las superficies que se toquen con frecuencia y cualquier objeto que se comparta. • Use guantes para retirar las bolsas de basura de los zafacones, y al tocar cualquier otro residuo de comida. Lávese las manos después de quitarse los guantes.
Cita del Mes/Quote of the Month
“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice, was born in Brooklyn, New York, March 15, 1933 and died on September 18, 2020. President Clinton nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and she took her seat August 10, 1993.
Foto del Mes/Photo of the Month
contents
2 Editorial / Editorial Celebremos las Navidades de Forma Responsable y Segura 3 Portada / Front Page El Sol Latino through the Years: Stories from 2006 4 Mayor Morse Announces Leadership Transition in the City’s Office of Planning & Economic Development 5 COVID-19 Risks and Impacts Among Health Care Workers by Race/Ethnicity 6 Systemic Racism, Access to Care, Poverty And Preexisting Conditions Help Fuel U.S. Maternal And Infant Health Crisis 7 Libros/ Books The News Media in Puerto Rico: Journalism in Colonial Settings and in Times of Crises
Hispanic Star Releases New Book, “Hispanic Stars Rising: The New Face of Power”
8 Professor’s book reframes the story of Latinos in the United States 9 Cultura / Culture Boricua Appointed as Senior Director of Belonging and Inclusion at MFA, Boston
Medios / Media Twenty-Five Year Milestone for New England Public Media President Martin Miller
10 Finanzas / Finances The 12 Tips to Avoid a Christmas Scam 11 Educación / Education A Tasty Return: In-Person Culinary Arts Classes Resume at HCC STCC’s Affordable Online ‘Winter Session’ Starts December 23 12 Primera Organización para Mujeres Estudiantes de Física en UPR- RUM 13 S alud / Health What Doctors Aren’t Always Taught: How to Spot Racism in Health Care 14 Dra. Sylvia E. Rosas es la Nueva Presidenta de la National Kidney Foundation 15 Ciencias / Science Just 3% of scientists and engineers are Black or Latina women. Here’s what teachers are doing about it.
Looking forward to January 20, 2021 Founded in 2004
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Volume 17, No. 1 n December 2020
Editor Manuel Frau Ramos manuelfrau@gmail.com 413-320-3826 Assistant Editor Ingrid Estrany-Frau Art Director Tennessee Media Design Business Address El Sol Latino P.O Box 572 Amherst, MA 01004-0572
Editorial Policy
El Sol Latino acepta colaboraciones tanto en español como en inglés. Nos comprometemos a examinarlas, pero no necesariamente a publicarlas. Nos reservamos el derecho de editar los textos y hacer correcciones por razones de espacio y/o estilo. Las colaboraciones pueden ser enviadas a nuestra dirección postal o a través de correo electrónico a: info@elsollatino.net.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President elect Kamala Harris at Renaissance High School, Detroit, MI, March 9, 2020 | Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for President
El Sol Latino welcomes submissions in either English or Spanish. We consider and review all submissions but reserve the right to not publish them. We reserve the right to edit texts and make corrections for reasons of space and/or style. Submissions may be sent to our postal address or via electronic mail to: info@elsollatino.net. El Sol Latino is published monthly by Coquí Media Group. El Sol Latino es publicado mensualmente por Coquí Media Group, P.O Box 572, Amherst, MA 01004-0572.
Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino December 2020
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El Sol Latino through the Years: Stories from 2006 ‘Transformation’ At Holyoke Community College June 2006 by Manuel Frau Ramos | June 2005
been included in the classification of “problem groups”, it was not necessary to study them further in order to prove that they needed “special attention.”
On May 10 the community in general, but especially the Puerto Rican community of Holyoke, witnessed the official unveiling of the long-awaited Latino mural at Holyoke Community College (HCC).
The Commission on Civil Rights documented the fact that the precarious situation of the Puerto Ricans continued to worsen due, in part, to the fact that the laws and programs designed to help them and other minority groups, the so-called “traditionally disadvantaged”, had failed to meet their goals.
‘Transformation’, the 40-foot long canvas mural of the Latino Mural Collaborative Project that depicts daily life in the city of Holyoke, is the product of 16 Latino youth, most of the Boricuas residing in Holyoke that worked under the direction of author and painter Deborah Savage.
At the 30th year of its publication, the reality is that many of the findings of this report continue to be relevant. Much has changed but in many areas is continues to be “more of the same.”
The mural’s images and message undergo a transformation, from the negative to the positive. To the left, the intense colors, and the dark, poorly defined images appear to represent and transmit a negative message about the experience of growing up in Holyoke. The colors and the figures become lighter and better defined as the transformation towards the positive unfolds. The transformation ends in a note of hope with an angelical figure, and Latino youth looking towards a better future. The inclusion the Puerto Rican flag in the positive section of the mural highlights the message of ‘transformation’ with more than one interpretation: a better future for the city of Holyoke, and a new phase of Holyoke Community College as an educational institution for all. It pleases us to see how the mural symbolically replaces what seemed to be an “invisible wall” that separated the college from the Puerto Rican community of Holyoke. The fact that the mural was placed in the Campus Student plaza, a highly visible place that represents the “common” or the “heart” of the building complex that makes up the college, reinforces the message of transformation and inclusion. The mural faces South Holyoke, where most of the Puerto Rican community resides; the “marginalized” are now part of the “center.” The image of the Puerto Rican flag on the right sends a clear message to the Puerto Rican community. Just as the cultural symbols of other ethnic groups are displayed, it was time for the Puerto Rican cultural symbols to be visible in the Holyoke “landscape.”
El Sol Latino will continue its commitment to bring you news relevant to our political, economic, and social reality. By bringing these topics to the forefront we hope to initiate and promote the exchange of ideas to find solutions to our most pressing issues. It is time for Puerto Ricans to face a future without uncertainty. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Puerto Rican Faculty Declines at CUNY by Manuel Frau-Ramos | December 2006
A recently study published by Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños confirmed what many Puerto Ricans have been taking about for years, that the Puerto Rican fulltime faculty at the City University of New York (CUNY) appears to have become an endanger specie. According to Felipe Pimentel, author of the report, this is a paradoxical situation since Puerto Rican fulltime faculty at CUNY has been steadily declining over the years while the number of Puerto Ricans earning doctorates has increased considerably since the early 1980s.
In the past, the political discourse of welcome and inclusiveness on the part of the administrators did not translate into realities. The lack of Latino students, faculty and administrators, especially Puerto Ricans, demonstrated this rhetorical abyss. As Heriberto “Herbie” Flores, HCC trustee, pointed out not too long ago, “As a Puerto Rican, I have to ask, where has the College been for years? This College at this point does not reflect the African American community or the Puerto Rican community.” We hope the Latino Mural Project marks the beginning of a real transformation at Holyoke Community College. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Puerto Ricans: “An Uncertain Future”? Editorial | February 2006
Next October will mark the 30th anniversary of the publication of an important report, Puerto Ricans in the Continental United Sates: An Uncertain Future. The report prepared and published by the United States Commission on Civil Rights in 1976, gathered data and documented the socio-economic and educational status of Puerto Ricans in the continental United States. At the time of its publication, the report brought the “issue of the Puerto Ricans” in the United States to the local, state, and national political debate. It highlighted the high rates of poverty, unemployment, and underemployment of a significant number of Puerto Ricans, concluding that they “are not only below the U. S average in key socioeconomic areas, but also below major Hispanic groups.” According to the report, Puerto Ricans had been studied “to death” by social scientists. It emphasized that due to the fact that they had already
The report states that this is not a new situation at all. “Historically, the situation of Puerto Rican faculty at CUNY has been marked by controversy and unfulfilled expectations. “ state the report. It points out that this situation has been a contentious issue since the early 1970s. The hiring of Puerto Rican faculty in a brief period of four years (19701974) was significant. Due to a proactive Affirmative Action policy, that favored the recruitment of more Puerto Rican faculty, this underrepresented group experienced a significant increase in its proportional representation among CUNY faculty. During this period, the number of African Americans faculty increased by nearly 60 percent, and the number of Puerto Ricans increased by approximately 70 percent. The report identified the declining of Puerto Rican academics begun at the fiscal crisis that CUNY encountered during the period of 1975-1976. This fiscal crisis affected disproportionably Puerto Rican faculty and minority students at this public institution. Puerto Rican fulltime faculty precarious situation accelerated after the massive lay-off of teaching staff at CUNY during the late 1970s. continued on next page
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Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino December 2020
Mayor Morse Announces Leadership Transition in the City’s Office of Planning & Economic Development HOLYOKE, MA | HOLYOKE MAYOR’S OFFICE | November 12, 2020 — On Thursday, Mayor Alex B. Morse announced the resignation of Marcos Marrero as Director of the City’s Office of Planning & Economic Development (OPED). Marcos’ departure comes after more than eight years at the helm of the City’s development strategies. His last day with the City will be Friday, January 22, 2021 to provide an orderly transition for the incoming Director. “My service to the City of Holyoke has been the most humbling honor entrusted to me during my entire career. Being appointed OPED Director in 2012 has been the joy and experience of a lifetime” said outgoing OPED Director Marcos Marrero. “However, at this time I am looking forward to a much needed break. I will use the coming months to center myself, spend more time with my wife and young kids, and explore my next career opportunities. I cannot do these things well while occupying my position with the City during this critical time for Holyoke.” Mr. Marrero was appointed in the spring of 2012 to the leadership role, propelling the strategies for Holyoke’s economic transformation since then. His tenure has been highlighted by the creation of Massachusetts’ largest and most ambitious urban renewal plan, the planning and execution of public and private projects in the hundreds of millions of dollars, the steepest decline in the City’s unemployment rate, the largest housing construction and rehab pipeline in Holyoke’s modern history, the creation of the City’s first entrepreneurship program and most recently the start of a cannabis business cluster that’s leading to an investment and hiring boom. He was also active in the Commonwealth’s economic development policy, working with state agencies in program formulation and implementation, and was appointed by Governor Baker to his Economic Development Planning Council twice. “I couldn’t have asked for a better partner over the last nine years,” said Mayor Alex Morse. “The unprecedented progress we have made in our city would not have been realized without Marcos’s expertise, vision, and leadership. Upon appointing Marcos in 2012, he quickly made Holyoke his home and has become an integral part of our community. I am so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together. Marcos leaves behind a legacy that will no doubt be remembered as a critical turning point in our city’s revitalization. I look forward to his friendship and counsel for years to come, and wish him nothing but happiness and success moving forward.” “I am enthusiastic for what may lie ahead for me, and equally energized by my incoming successor at the helm of Planning & Economic Development. Knowing that OPEDs mission and staff are in good hands makes it easy for me to be at peace with my decision to step aside” added Marcos Marrero. Mayor Morse also announced the appointment of OPEDs new Director, Holyoke’s outgoing State Representative Aaron Vega. Mr. Vega comes with deep experience in the City’s economic development trajectory and projects. He served as City Councilor for Holyoke from 2010-2014, where he Chaired the Redevelopment Committee as the legislative counterpart to OPED’s work. As state representative from 2013-2020, he worked hand-in-hand with the City Administration on legislative priorities that were included in two landmark Economic Development bills, land transactions and innovative programming such as the Holyoke-specific liquor license program, and was a member of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Cannabis. “I am excited for this opportunity to build on the work of the past several years along with the OPED team” said incoming Director Aaron Vega. “From ushering in Holyoke’s Urban Renewal Plan as a City Councilor at Large, to the work I have focused on as State Representative for the past 8 years, I believe I can bring valuable experience and knowledge to advance our city’s economic vision and potential. I am excited to work with our City Council, our City departments, the business community and all stakeholders to expand economic opportunity here in Holyoke.”
Born in South Holyoke, Aaron is a graduate of Keene State College. Prior to his work in the public sector Aaron has been an entrepreneur in the creative economy sector, as documentary film editor for nearly 15 years and as owner/operator of VegaYoga here in the city with his wife Debra. “I’m excited to welcome Aaron to City Hall in this new capacity. Aaron steps into this role at Marcos Marrero a critical time for our city, and I can’t think of anyone more prepared and ready to continue the work before us. Upon my taking office in January 2012, Aaron was key in advancing the city’s Urban Renewal Plan in his capacity as Chair of the City Council’s Development Committee. Since then, in his role as our city’s State Representative, Aaron has been a vital partner and voice at the state level to help advance our city’s development efforts. His experience at the local and state level, coupled with his relationships with key stakeholders will no doubt assist the city moving forward.” Aaron Vega’s first official day as Director will be Monday, January 25, 2021.
El Sol Latino through the Years: Stories from 2006 continued from page 3
The report points out that CUNY has made important progress diversifying its faculty by recruiting more women and minorities after 1970. However, the presence of Puerto Rican academics among the ranks of the fulltime faculty, after more than 30 years of proactive Affirmative Action policies defining recruitment practices, constitutes an uncertain situation. The data indicate that, though protected groups have experienced significant progress, the Puerto Rican faculty has remained marginal and, ironically, has gradually declined. In 2002, Puerto Ricans had the lowest percentage of representation among fulltime faculty university-wide and was practically nonexistent in several senior colleges, the study concluded. After the mid-1980s the educational attainment at the doctoral level of Puerto Ricans improved tremendously and the pool of qualified Puerto Rican candidates for academic jobs in many fields has increasingly expanded during the past two decades. Given the larger pool of Puerto Rican qualified candidates available for academic positions, why is the size of this underrepresented group among the professorate at CUNY notably smaller than in the mid-1970s?
Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino December 2020
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COVID-19 Risks and Impacts Among Health Care Workers by Race/Ethnicity by SAMANTHA ARTIGA, MATTHEW RAE, OLIVIA PHAM, LIZ HAMEL, and BRADLEY CORALLO KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION (KFF) - Racial Equity and Health Policy | November 11, 2020. Health care workers face potential COVID-19 exposure through their job. Data suggest that at least 200,000 health care workers have been infected with coronavirus as of November 2020, but this estimate likely vastly underestimates the number affected due to major gaps in data collection. Data further show that people of color account for the majority of COVID-19 cases and deaths known among health care workers, and that they are more likely to be in health care worker roles and settings that have particularly high risks of workplace exposure. This analysis provides greater insight into COVID-19 risks and impacts among health care workers and how they vary by race and ethnicity. It is based on a KFF analysis of 2019 American Community Survey and publicly available information on COVID-19 impacts among health care workers (see Methods for more details). It finds: In 2019, there were over 18.6 million people working in the health care industry across a range of occupations and settings. Overall, 60% of health care workers were White and 40% were people of color, including 16% who were Black, 13% who were Hispanic, and 7% who were Asian. However, the racial/ethnic composition of health care workers varied across occupations and settings. Black and Hispanic health care workers made up relatively larger shares of aides and personal care workers and direct contact support workers. Black and Hispanic workers also accounted for larger shares of health care workers in home health care, and Black workers made up a relatively larger share of workers in skilled nursing facility or other residential care settings. People of color account for the majority of COVID-19 cases and/or deaths known among health care workers for which race/ethnicity data are available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 200,000 cases and just over 790 deaths among health care personnel as of November 9, 2020. However, this estimate likely vastly underestimates the number of health care workers affected as health care personnel status was known for only a quarter (25%) of total cases. CDC further found that, as of July 2020, more than half (53%) of confirmed cases among health care personnel were among people of color, including 26% who were Black, 12% who were Hispanic, and 9% who were Asian. Data collected by states, the media, and other organizations similarly find that people of color account for the majority of COVID-19 cases and/or deaths known among health care workers.
to worry about being exposed to the virus through the workplace, to know someone who has died from the virus, to say it has negatively impacted family relationships, and to report someone in their household lost a job or experienced a cutback in hours or income due to the pandemic. Black health care workers and their families are particularly likely to report certain impacts, including knowing someone who has died from the virus and a negative impact on their ability to pay for basic needs. KFF/The Undefeated Survey data also show that, while health care workers are more likely than others to say they would definitely get a COVID-19 vaccine, substantial shares express vaccine hesitancy, particularly among Black health care workers and their families. Overall, 54% of health care workers say they would definitely get vaccinated if it was available for fee and determined safe and effective by scientists, compared to 33% of adults who do not have a health care worker in their household. However, among adults who are health care workers or who live in a household with a healthcare worker, Black adults are much less likely to say they would definitely get vaccinated compared to White adults (24% vs. 46%), mirroring greater vaccine hesitancy among Black adults more broadly. Together these findings highlight the importance of focusing on health care workers as part of response efforts to help protect against COVID-19 infection and spread. They can also help target response efforts and distribution of treatments and vaccines as they become available to prioritize health care workers who are facing the highest risks of exposure and infection. Targeting these efforts will also have important implications for health disparities given the disproportionate risks and impacts among health care workers who are people of color, which may compound broader increased health and economic risks that are contributing to the pandemic’s disproportionate toll on people of color overall. This analysis also shows that there remain significant gaps in data to understand COVID-19 impacts by industry and occupation. Increased data would allow for better understanding of work-related risks and outbreaks to help guide response efforts and resources going forward. The KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION is a non-profit organization focusing on national health issues, as well as the U.S. role in global health policy. Unlike grant-making foundations, KFF develops and runs its own policy analysis, journalism and communications programs, sometimes in partnership with major news organizations. KFF serves as a non-partisan source of facts, analysis and journalism for policymakers, the media, the health policy community and the public. Our product is information, always provided free of charge — from the most sophisticated policy research, to basic facts and numbers, to in depth health policy news coverage provided by our news
Research suggests that health care workers face increased risks of coronavirus exposure and infection, with certain health care workers facing particularly high risks that disproportionately affect people of color. Studies show that health care workers are at increased risk for exposure and infection relative to the general population, with particularly high risks for health care workers who provide direct patient care, work in inpatient hospital or residential or long-term care settings, are in nursing or direct support staff roles, or do not have adequate access to PPE.1 Research further suggests that, among health care workers, people of color are more likely to report reuse of or inadequate access to PPE and to work in clinical settings with greater exposure MANY people to patients with COVID-19. CDC analysis of antibody evidence of previous infection among health care personnel further found higher rates of seropositivity among people or color compared to their White counterparts (9.7% vs. 4.4%), suggesting higher rates of previous infection.
HELP YOUR COMMUNITY STOP COVID-19 in this community have tested positive.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SAVE A LIFE
A recent KFF/The Undefeated Survey suggests that the pandemic is taking a disproportionate toll on health care workers, especially Black health care workers and their families. It finds that health care workers are more likely than others
Wear a mask • Wash your hands • Keep your distance. Don’t share food, drinks or utensils • Feel sick? Stay home Get tested.
Learn more at Mass.gov/StopCOVID19
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Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino December 2020
Systemic Racism, Access to Care, Poverty And Preexisting Conditions Help Fuel U.S. Maternal And Infant Health Crisis ARLINGTON, VA | MARCH OF DIMES | November 16, 2020 - March of Dimes, the nation’s leader in the fight for the health of all moms and babies, has issued its new 2020 Report Card amid the coronavirus pandemic and calls for racial justice, shining a spotlight on factors that contribute to maternal and infant health. The U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth and it’s even more dire for women and babies of color. The Report Card shows that for the fifth year in a row, the U.S. preterm birth rate increased to 10.2% of births, earning the nation a “C-” grade compared to last year’s “C” grade. Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality, which has slowly declined over the past few years. Yet, still in the U.S. two babies die every hour and two women die from pregnancy complications every day. These statistics are worse for moms and babies of color – with the Report Card showing significant racial disparities that cut across maternal and infant health. Women of color are up to 50% more likely to give birth preterm and their children face up to a 130% higher infant death rate. Disparities in preterm birth have increased over the past several years in the U.S. The disparity ratio for preterm birth, a measure that tracks progress to eliminating racial/ethnic disparities shows that disparities have worsened in recent years by about 5%. Additionally, Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native women are up to three times more likely to die from pregnancy related complications compared to White women. While there is no single cause to this complex maternal and infant health crisis, contributing factors include maternal health and management of preexisting conditions. They also include social determinants of health such as being uninsured, living in poverty and having inadequate prenatal care – which again the Report Card shows most often affect women of color. Additionally, systemic challenges with health care systems and deeply entrenched structural racism are helping to fuel this health equity gap. March of Dimes supports and advocates for policies that concentrate on the health of all moms and babies and improve health outcomes especially for women of color. “Although there has been some incremental progress in advancing policies that will address better maternal and infant health care, this progress is not happening quick enough, and is tempered by increasing racial/ethnic health care disparities in preterm birth,” said Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO of March of Dimes. “At a time of racial awakening in our nation, we must amplify our efforts to decrease deaths and health challenges facing our nation’s moms and babies and enact new policies that support health equity.” The Report Card shows that almost 21,500 babies were lost in 2018 compared to 22,341 babies in 2017. Infant mortality rates have declined due to changes in maternal age – including a decline in teen births in the U.S. – decreases in adult smoking rates and decreases in death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The leading causes of infant death include birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight, maternal complications and sudden infant death syndrome. This year’s report also includes information on states’ efforts on Medicaid expansion, Medicaid postpartum coverage extension, Maternal Mortality Review Committees, Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, and other key factors including health insurance status, inadequate prenatal care, poverty level and race and ethnicity disparity ratios. “A priority for March of Dimes is to close the health equity gap across the country,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, Chief Medical and Health Officer, Senior Vice President, and Interim Chief Scientific Officer at March of Dimes. “Using the concrete, detailed evidence in the 2020 Report Card, we can identify commonsense steps to reverse the alarming trends. A part of this work, we recognize a lack of uniform reporting and inconsistent access to real-time maternal and infant health data is impeding progress. Particularly during a pandemic, we need access to robust, uniform data sharing to inform evidence-based strategies that can be implemented across public and private sectors to address the specific needs of this crisis.” Actions to Improve Maternal and Infant Health March of Dimes works every day with individuals and organizations across the country to combat the maternal and infant health crisis through research, education, advocacy and programs. For example, with support from the Humana Foundation, March of Dimes is mobilizing cross-sector partners to
address health equity at the national level through its Mom & Baby Action Network and in six communities: Atlanta, GA (Fulton County); San Antonio, TX (Bexar County); Miami, FL (Miami-Dade County); Chicago, IL (Cook County); Louisville, KY (Jefferson County and Hardin County); Broward County, Florida; Shreveport, LA (Caddo Parish); and New Orleans, LA (Orleans Parish). The partners will build a common agenda and deploy strategies to address the underlying causes and system challenges that negatively impact maternal and infant health within a community. The Mom & Baby Action Network will serve as the national backbone of support for these local communities and share best practices to drive systems change to eliminate the health equity gap. “The Humana Foundation decided to invest in March of Dimes to help address social determinants of health and systemic racial inequity, barriers that the COVID-19 health crisis amplified for the most vulnerable among us,” said Walter D. Woods, CEO of The Humana Foundation. “It is our hope to address those barriers and close the health equity gap for mothers and children across the country through the Mom & Baby Action Network.” Additionally, March of Dimes advocates for federal legislation that prioritizes the health of our nation’s moms and babies. The Helping MOMS Act of 2020, Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2020 and Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020 are examples of critically important policies that offer comprehensive solutions needed to address the health crisis head on. State and local legislation is also needed to fill the gaps associated with access to maternity care for women in rural and underserved communities. Just as important is education and implicit bias training to equip health care professionals with the tools they need to eliminate institutional racism in our health care system and provide more culturally competent care no matter where they practice. Through the #BlanketChange movement, March of Dimes is urging policymakers and political candidates to protect and improve maternal heath by taking immediate action on series of policies to address equity, access and prevention. To learn more about the #BlanketChange agenda, visit BlanketChange.org. 2020 March of Dimes Preterm Birth Grades The Report Card grades the nation, 50 states, the 100 largest cities and Puerto Rico on rates of preterm birth. Overall preterm birth rates worsened in 39 states and Washington D.C., with eight states—Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia—and Puerto Rico earning a failing grade compared to six last year. Between the 2019 and 2020 Report Cards, 25 states and Washington, D.C. had worse grades, 23 states and Puerto Rico had grades that stayed the same and only two states had grades that improved. • 8 states and Puerto Rico earned a “F” (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia) • 2 states earned a “D-” (Kentucky, Tennessee) • 2 states earned a “D” (Missouri, Texas) • 8 states and Washington, DC earned a “D+” (Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Ohio, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina) • 6 states earned a “C-” (Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Wisconsin) • 5 states earned a “C” (Alaska, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming) • 10 states earned a “C+” (Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota) • 4 states earned a “B-” (California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York) • 1 state earned a “B” (Idaho) • 4 states earned a “B+” (New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Washington) • 0 states earned an A/Acontinued on page 12
Libros/ Books
El Sol Latino December 2020
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The News Media in Puerto Rico: Journalism in Colonial Settings and in Times of Crises by FEDERICO A. SUBERVI-VÉLEZ, SANDRA RODRÍGUEZ-COTTO, JAIRO LUGO-OCANDO • ROUTLEDGEM PRESS | October 2020 | 226 pages Description: The News Media in Puerto Rico offers a synopsis as well as a critical analysis of the Island’s news media system, with emphasis on the political and economic factors that most influence how the media operate. The authors also document the impact of Hurricane Maria on the media structures and the changing media landscape given the political, economic and colonial strictures. Building on interviews with news media professionals, the book further presents detailed insights about journalism and journalism education in these times of crises. The final chapters include theoretical frameworks and methodological guidelines for the analysis of other colonial, post-colonial and neo-colonial media systems, with research recommendations valuable for future studies of the Island’s media as well as for cross-national comparisons. This book will be an essential read for students and scholars interested in learning not only about the Puerto Rican and Latin American mass media, but also the media systems of other colonial/neo-colonial countries. Table of Contents Part I 1. Introduction 2. The Main Factors Influencing the Mass Media System 3. The Media Outlets & Audiences Part II 4. Hurricane María’s Impact and the Media Landscapes 5. The Challenges & Future of Journalism 6. Improving Journalism Education in Puerto Rico
Part III 7. Theoretical Considerations 8. Summary & Recommendations About the Authors: Federico Subervi-Vélez is Honorary Associate/Fellow of the Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Co-Editor-in-Chief, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity and Communication. The research for this book was developed while he was Visiting Leverhulme Professor at the School of Media & Communication at the University of Leeds in 2018. Sandra Rodríguez-Cotto is an investigative journalist, licensed Public Relations professional, author, and publishes regularly in her blog En Blanco y Negro con Sandra, in which she often writes about the media in Puerto Rico Jairo Lugo-Ocando is a Professor in Residence and Director of Executive and Graduate Education at Northwestern University in Qatar. He is author of several books and publication focused on the media in Latin America and was a practicing journalist before going into the academia.
Hispanic Star Releases New Book, “Hispanic Stars Rising: The New Face of Power” NEW YORK | PRNewswire | November 9, 2020 -- Hispanic Star, an initiative focused on unifying the Hispanic community and showcasing Hispanic contributions to the United States, has officially released their new book, “Hispanic Stars Rising: The New Face of Power.” Curated by Claudia Romo Edelman, founder of New York-based diversity, inclusion and equity nonprofit, We Are All Human (WAAH) Foundation, the book features personally authored stories from over 90 Hispanics who are making an impact in their sectors and industries, from CEOs to small business owners. It also includes a preface from award-winning artist, producer and entrepreneur Fonseca and was made possible by award-winning entrepreneur and author Jacqueline S. Ruiz. “We have to be proud of ourselves and what we’ve done, because what we do generates positive effects in this beautiful country,” Fonseca wrote in the book’s preface. “That’s why we have to see ourselves as stars that shine together as one. I really celebrate this amazing book because our Hispanic community stories deserve to be seen, heard and valued.” With 2020 coming to an end, now is a time to reflect on and recognize the numerous contributions the Hispanic community has made to the United States. As part of this effort, “Hispanic Stars Rising” aims to share the experiences of the nation’s many strong and resilient Hispanic people, showcasing their diverse backgrounds, challenges and contributions. It shines a light on the beauty to be found in this fundamentally American community, which is often overlooked or negatively portrayed. Several famous Hispanics contributed to the book. Jesus Mantas, senior managing partner, IBM Services wrote “I have been blessed by many great mentors, the hard-working discipline instilled in my upbringing by my family, and my fair share of opportunities. I enjoy paying it forward and helping our Hispanic community thrive…” Al Riveron, the first-ever Hispanic NFL referee, also contributed to it, saying “I spent the majority of my college officiating career in the Big East and Conference USA, mostly as a referee. In 2002, I was approached to officiate for NFL Europe and then in 2004, I was hired as an NFL side judge. That’s when I
became the first Hispanic to officiate in the NFL. (...) The road throughout my life was never easy and sometimes it seemed extremely long. I found success in seizing opportunities…you should never let an opportunity pass you by. Always remind yourself if not now, when?” “The Hispanic community represents hard workers and difference-makers,” said author and curator Claudia Romo Edelman, who also wrote the book’s forward. “We are resilient, and our stories deserve to be told. ‘Hispanic Stars Rising: The New Face of Power’ is a platform that showcases these stories - the obstacles, the successes - from our diverse community. Throughout my journey, I’ve met the most amazing people, role models and leaders, from the youngest child to the most experienced executive. All are Hispanic Stars and all are ready to shine.” Hispanics contribute so much to America, and it is time for others to see just how beautiful and resilient they can be. This book aims to show that every Hispanic is a star in their own way, highlighting how the power of their heritage and background has given many successful Hispanics the strength and passion they needed to achieve their goals. “Our stories are the window to the world,”said Jacqueline S. Ruiz, Fig Factor Media Publishing CEO, award-winning entrepreneur, pilot and author of 24 books. “Storytelling is the greatest gift we can give, as it creates a legacy. It is an honor to be the publisher of this anthology and share the amazing stories of these 92 Hispanic stars.” About Claudia Romo Edelman is the founder of the We Are All Human Foundation, a New York-based non-profit foundation, dedicated to advancing the agenda of diversity, inclusion and equality. She is a social entrepreneur, advocate and a catalyst for change. As a captivating public speaker and media contributor, Claudia has become a leader for inclusion, focused on unifying the Hispanic community in the United States. The Hispanic Star represents an unparalleled collective effort to create a platform to showcase and amplify the contributions of the Hispanic community to the United States, not only as an integral part of the American culture but also as an undeniable force shaping its future. The Hispanic Star is based on both a unifying symbol and a nonpartisan, inclusive, inspirational, and unifying footing for U.S. Hispanics to both view themselves and help them act as a unified force for good. Together we shine.
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Libros/ Books
El Sol Latino December 2020
Professor’s book reframes the story of Latinos in the United States By JAMES KNUTILA • UCLA Newsroom | October 14, 2020
In her new book, “Inventing Latinos: A New Story of American Racism,” Laura Gómez, UCLA School of Law professor, wants to clear up some misconceptions about Latinos. For example, she said, many Americans assume Latinos are recent immigrants, despite the fact that seven out of 10 Latinos are Mexican Americans, and 80% of them were born in the United States. Also, many think of “Latino” as an ethnic group, not a racial one — the U.S. Census doesn’t include Latino as an option under “race” — but most Latinos view the term as their racial identity. Latinos have a long history in the United States, and they will play a large role in the country’s future — according to Census data, by 2060, more than 30% of all Americans will be Latino. Gómez asserts that to understand race, politics and power in the United States, one must understand Latino racial identity. In this interview, Gómez discusses how different groups are racialized, how Latinos view themselves and why now is the time for reparations. What do you mean by “inventing” Latinos? How is race invented? What I want to invoke with the word “inventing” is a dominant idea in the social sciences called the social construction of race. It’s a reminder that race doesn’t refer to some real biological fact, but instead it is something that humans have given meaning to. When the Europeans colonized other parts of the world — in Africa and Asia, in the Americas — they came up with an idea to justify the way that they were treating the people they found in those lands, to justify taking gold and silver and human life. Race became a glass that holds something. But what we put in the glass, that’s something that people choose to do. How we think about race changes over time and in different places. In the United States, what race meant in 1900 is not what it means in 2020. There are similarities, because once we have that history we can’t just throw everything out of the glass. It’s more like putting things on top. We create the sedimentation of these different layers — we don’t start over. You write, “to put it bluntly, race isn’t real, but racism is.” Can you explain what this means? There’s a conservative legal critique of this notion of race as socially constructed. The critique goes like this: if race is just made up, and race is not real, then we don’t need to worry about compensating people for racial injuries. We don’t need to worry about diversity in institutions because this race thing is not real. And my response is: well even though race is socially constructed and in a sense, invented, racism — the effect of that invention — is very powerful. Why is it important to understand Latinos as a racial group rather than an ethnic group? One of the overall takeaways of the book is how different groups in society are racialized. It varies from group to group. With African Americans, there has been a very strong emphasis on phenotype and how people look, specifically skin color. For Latinos, that hasn’t been the case, partly because Latinos look so many different ways. And why is it that Latinos look so many different ways? Well, it’s because of Spanish colonialism coming to the Americas. There was pretty much instantaneous mixture with indigenous women. So you have a mestizo population produced right from the beginning of Spanish contact because the Spanish didn’t bring women — they brought soldiers. Then the Spanish people all over the Americas decide that the indigenous population is not going to work out for labor, so they start importing African slaves to the Americas in huge numbers, and you get another mixture. So skin color doesn’t work as a way of identifying. So what other kinds of things are used? They tend to be things that sociologists would think of more as ethnicity. What language do you speak? Are you bilingual? Do you have an accent? Are you first or second generation? Ethnicity tends to be something that we think of with respect to white people. Your parents came from Italy or your parents were Eastern European Jews. What we’ve seen with those immigrant groups over time is that within a couple of
generations in the U.S., they assimilate. So the narrative for a long time about Latinos was, oh, they’re going to be just like those groups. They’re going to assimilate after a couple of generations. But lo and behold, that hasn’t happened, partly because there’s been a constant influx, unlike with Italians and other groups. For Latinos, it has continued continuously from 1848, when the U.S. took half of Mexico’s territory and people.
Laura Gómez / UCLA Newsroom
Even third- and fourth- and fifth-generation Mexican Americans experience discrimination. They tend to live in segregated neighborhoods and go to segregated schools. This looks more like racism and less like ethnic conflict. I’m not the first one to say this, but I’m trying to put forward the claim that Latinos are actually thought of by most of us as a racial group, so let’s solve problems based on that idea, rather than getting caught up in this notion of ethnicity, which doesn’t quite fit the group. It keeps us from doing the kinds of things we need to do, like improving educational attainment and decreasing inequity. The book outlines some policy ideas that constitute a program of reparations for Latinos. What are some of these ideas? Thankfully, we’re talking a lot more about reparations to African Americans. I think that’s a long overdue conversation. In the context of African American claims, we tend to focus on slavery. As we should. We should focus on slavery and all of the wealth that African Americans produced in this country, and that they should get some of that wealth. We had reparations for the Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II. What would that look like for Latinos? It’s tricky because Latinos are such a diverse group. So I ended up focusing on that word reparations. And the root of it is repair. How do we repair the damage that racism has done? What I focus on mostly is immigration. Because of the way that American military, government and corporations infiltrated Central America and destroyed the indigenous way of life, and slaughtered so many people. People in Central America should get asylum here, like we had asylum for the Vietnamese, for Cubans. We must allow those folks in. Another is amnesty, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented persons who are here, have not committed violent crimes and can prove that they’ve been here for a certain amount of time. Even though only 20% of Latinos are born outside the United States, most of us are embedded in immigrant communities in one way or another. I’m multi-generation U.S., but my son’s father is a Mexican immigrant. We are connected with immigrants, and having amnesty would say, “you are part of our community.” You’re going to be able to stop living in the shadows. That would help all Latinos. So it’s a very different way of thinking about reparations than for slavery. Again, we’re looking at a different story of anti-Latino racism. And so what does that suggest in terms of what we might do as a society to make amends, repair the relationship and bring people into the fold as full-fledged Americans. Who do you hope reads this book? There are two main audiences that I had in mind. One is Latinos themselves, because there’s such a hunger for just more information and more knowledge. Who are we? Where do we come from? How did things get this way? And it’s not only from college students. It’s people of all ages. I saw with my last book, “Manifest Destiny,” that there’s a real hunger. The other audience is people who don’t really have any knowledge about Latinos, or a very cursory understanding. This happens to include a lot of people in the media, in particular the East Coast and Midwest. And sometimes we don’t do a very good job in California either, in terms of our homework on these things. But in particular in the East Coast, I think where it’s very much a Black/white kind of framing, I would really like this book to reach those folks.
Cultura / Culture
Medios / Media
El Sol Latino December 2020
9
Boricua Appointed as Senior Director of Belonging and Inclusion at MFA, Boston
Twenty-Five Year Milestone for New England Public Media President Martin Miller
BOSTON, MA | Museum of Fine Arts | September 3, 2020 —The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), has announced that Rosa Rodriguez-Williams has been appointed as the MFA’s first-ever Senior Director of Belonging and Inclusion. The newly established position will play a critical role in delivering on the MFA’s promise to be a Museum for all of Boston. In her role, Rodriguez-Williams will empower others within the MFA to prioritize inclusion as a key practice in their own work, creating an internal culture that places a priority on visitor experience.
SPRINGFIELD, MA | NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA | November 24, 2020 - For New England Public Media President Martin Miller, this fall marks an important milestone — 25 years of service in public media in western New England. In 1995, having served in a number of capacities for almost 11 years for WGBH Radio, Miller moved to western Massachusetts to take the helm of WFCR 88.5, which was, at that time, a public radio station licensed to UMass, and affiliated with the Five College Consortium since the early 60’s. By the 90’s it was airing NPR news programs during drive times, classical music during the day, and jazz in the later evening hours.
Rosa Rodriguez-Williams
“Rosa’s deep experience and passion for equity and inclusion will be invaluable as we continue our important work in ensuring a true sense of belonging at the MFA,” said Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director. “She will be integral in reimagining how we welcome and engage historically underrepresented audiences, truly reflecting the communities we serve. This is one of the most important issues for museums in the 21st century, and I look forward to working alongside her to achieve our goal of becoming open and accessible.” Rodriguez-Williams will begin at the Museum on September 9 and will report to Makeeba McCreary, Patti and Jonathan Kraft Chief of Learning and Community Engagement (LCE). The Museum’s LCE Division is instrumental in making the MFA a center of cultural activity, understanding and connections. She will be a key voice in providing staff the tools needed to place the MFA on a path that leads to audience engagement, inclusion and belonging. “This moment in time in our country reinforces the powerful opportunity that the MFA has to heal, learn and celebrate the many stories within our collection,” said McCreary. “Visitors will know the MFA as a place where the critical conversations of the day can take place in the presence of, inspired by, and provoked by the world’s greatest art.” For more than a decade, Rodriguez-Williams served as the Director of the Latinx Student Cultural Center at Northeastern University, promoting recruitment, retention and development of Latinx and Latin American students. As a member of the University’s Cultural Life Team, RodriguezWilliams contributed to creating an inclusive community, in particular for individuals with marginalized identities, first generation, and undocumented/DACAmented students. She facilitated dialogues and workshops about power, privilege and implicit bias. “I am both honored and excited to be joining the MFA, and to be part of an institution that acknowledges its struggle with inclusion,” said Rodriguez-Williams. “The MFA is rising up to the present moment with a desire to reimagine and reinvent itself with the goal of achieving an inclusive experience that represents the beauty of the diversity represented in every neighborhood in this city. Places like the MFA belong to all of us. To those who haven’t believed this in the past, join me in believing it for today and the future.” Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Rodriguez-Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a master’s degree in social work from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work.
Some years later, when many public radio stations were pressured to move away from classical music programming in favor of 24-hour news and talk, Miller orchestrated a solution with the acquisition of WNNZ AM in 2007. The station could provide news programming on one channel while remaining faithful to its devoted music-loving audience on its flagship channel. With the eventual expansion to 13 frequencies, and a robust website, a new name was in order, and in 2011, New England Public Radio was born. The current chapter of expansion under Miller’s leadership is the most substantial yet. In April of 2019, New England Public Radio and WGBY Television announced that the two organizations would merge to create a new multi-media organization, which would be better positioned to serve the region — New England Public Media. As President, Miller is now leading the process to expand NEPM’s reach by investing in new people, new platforms, new infrastructure, and new services. NEPM is building on the strength of each organization to deliver the trusted educational content, cultural and news programs, and community engagement that characterizes public media. Jon Abbott, President and CEO of GBH, is grateful for Miller’s contributions, “Public media’s role in our communities is now more important than ever. Martin’s energy and ingenuity over these last 25 years have shaped public media in western New England. He’s been a tireless champion for the promise of public radio for years and has guided an impressive roster of important innovations.” Robert Feldman, Chair of the New England Public Media Board of Directors, concurs, “Martin Miller has been the visionary leader of public media in western New England for the past 25 years, serving the region with distinction and a deep commitment to the public good.” Miller is a trained mediator and has worked as a volunteer in small claims courts in the region. He currently serves on the board of the Springfield Central Cultural District, and is a former board member of Beit Ahavah, the Reform Jewish community based in Florence. He studied trombone at the State University of New York at Buffalo where he earned a BFA and MFA in Music Education.
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Finanzas / Finances
El Sol Latino December 2020
The 12 Tips to Avoid a Christmas Scam by MILAGROS S. JOHNSON As we prepare for the holiday season, fraudsters prepare for ways to steal our joy. While in the midst of the current pandemic, many of us are planning on doing our holiday shopping online over brick-and-mortar. Although it may seem the safest way, there are still risks involved, such as getting a virus on our computer or electronic device. Let’s not forget that cybercriminals are known to set up cloned businesses, and deceptively sell fake, counterfeit or knock-off products. Then there are the ones who take our order and form of payment, yet never ship the product.
Tip #7: Sign up for text or email alerts with your credit card company. This way, you will know instantly when someone makes a fraudulent purchase on your account. Tip #8: Before placing an order, verify the location of the business and carefully review its return policy and cancellation policy. In other words, “find (and read) the FINE print!”
Let’s outsmart cybercriminals and take at heart, “The 12 Tips to Avoid a Christmas Scam!”
Tip #9: Create an email account to use solely for your online shopping and to receive discount coupons, sale announcements, and track your packages.
Tip #1: Keep the software on your computers, and all of your electronic devices up-to-date, and keep virus protection on them. You want to set your devices for automatic updates.
Tip #10: Set high security settings on your electronic devices and turn off location! Remove cookies, caches and history when completing your shopping. For added protection and privacy, use a Virtual Protocol Network (VPN), if possible.
Tip #2: Type the business name on the URL address line, rather than using a search engine. This will avoid from being redirected to a fictitious website. Tip #3: Before making a purchase, do your due diligence and do online research of the business name followed by the word “complaints” or “reviews.”
Tip #11: Avoid using public Wi-Fi for your online shopping. While it may be safe for online browsing, such as reading news, never log into your accounts, or enter any personal or financial information.
Tip #4: Choose one credit card for your online purchases, not multiple ones. Avoid using a debit card so that you don’t compromise your checking or savings account if you have an issue with the business, your order, or the product.
Tip #12: I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it, “freeze your three credit reports!” It’s the best, and perhaps the only free gift you can give yourself or your loved ones that comes with 365 days of credit peace of mind.
Tip #5: Call your credit card company to ask if they offer a “virtual card” for your online purchases. The card is assigned a random number that is synced to your account, but your actual account number is not visible to others.
Enjoy the holiday season with your family. Be grateful for the blessings in your life. And, remember that every day is a day of celebration!
Tip #6: Even better, consider using a prepaid credit card to keep your credit card account number safe from hackers.
MILAGROS S. JOHNSON is the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information in Springfield, a Local Consumer Program funded by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
LA VIDA ESTÁ
CAMBIANDO
Stay safe, be well, and Feliz Navidad to all…
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Educación / Education
October 2020
11
A Tasty Return: In-Person Culinary Arts Classes Resume at HCC HOLYOKE, MA | HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | November 23, 2020 – Every good cook knows some recipes call for a slow simmer, others a rapid boil. Without stretching the metaphor too far, seven culinary arts students at Holyoke Community College (HCC) have in a way been on a slow simmer themselves since March, when their first-semester schedules were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They had just completed their seven-week introductory cooking course, Culinary Fundamentals I, and were supposed to start Culinary Fundamentals II after spring break. Instead, the campus shut down and the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute temporarily closed as the college transitioned to remote instruction.
They started their reconfigured second semester on Nov. 16 and are already halfway through their Pantry and Garde Manager course, which will be followed immediately by Stocks, Soups and Sauces. “Classes are very fast paced,” said Hernandez, who lives in Westfield. The pace will accelerate even more during HCC’s 10-day January Wintersession program. Students will be in the kitchen Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., completing two classes in two weeks, Baking and Pastry Arts, and Entrée Preparation and Presentation. All HCC classes that meet in person must be approved by the college’s Return to Campus Task Force. The majority of HCC classes are still being conducted remotely. “Just like in Health Sciences, everybody with labs – we’ve all had to rethink how we’re running our classes,” said chef and culinary arts professor Warren Leigh. “They said, think outside the box. Well, we did. As long as everything keeps going the way it is, we’re going to be done with semester two on January 15 and they’ll be ready to join some of the other students for semester three classes in the spring.” In addition to the fast-track schedule, other accommodations were made, such as reducing the number of students in each section. “We can really do six to seven, but we’re keeping it at six moving forward,” said Leigh. “The six stations are perfect for social distancing and whatnot. All the classes set up for winter and spring we’re capping at six, knowing that nothing is going to be normal for a while.” General precautions around health and safety have been elevated in and around the kitchen on account of COVID-19.
Mónica Hernández of Westfield pan sears a chicken breast during her Culinary Fundamentals II class at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute in early November.
But it’s tough to learn a proper sear or sample braised quail over Zoom, and, so, their first semesters were put on hold until the fall. And then, on Oct. 28, after a seven-month hiatus, the teaching kitchens at the Culinary Arts Institute reopened, and the students were back at their stations. Since then, they have been progressing, if you will, at a rapid boil through a series of accelerated, back-to-back classes designed to catch them up before the spring semester begins on Jan. 25, 2021. “It’s definitely exciting to get back in the kitchen into a somewhat normal routine, doing what I love and learning,” said student Monica Hernandez. Hernandez and her classmates recently completed what would typically be a seven-week course, Culinary Fundamentals II, in just 2½ weeks, thus concluding their long-delayed first semester in a two-year journey toward their associate of science degrees in culinary arts.
“We get our temperatures taken as we walk in the building,” said Hernandez. “Multiple stall restrooms are now single use only. We can only use the dish room one at a time. We have assigned stations. We use the same dishes for every class and we wash them ourselves so each of us has contact only with the dishes we use every day. We are a lot more mindful of personal space, contact and germs. We wash our hands frequently. I find myself washing my hands a lot more.” Of course, they all wear masks, but that does make it more difficult to be heard and understood in a busy commercial kitchen. “Wearing the mask has really proved that we need a kitchen voice to be able to talk to each other,” said Hernandez. “It’s really important to pay attention and listen closely.” HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE is the Commonwealth’s oldest community college, serving more than 9,500 students annually in credit and noncredit programs and courses. The college holds transfer agreements with more than 20 colleges and universities. Recognized for its Honors Program, distance learning curriculum, learning communities, and service to students, HCC also offers business development opportunities through the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development. Please visit us on the web at www.hcc.edu
STCC’s Affordable Online ‘Winter Session’ Starts December 23 SPRINGFIELD, MA | SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE | November 12, 2020 - Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will offer a four-week online winter session in December, an affordable opportunity for college students whether they’re enrolled at STCC or another school. The session runs Wednesday, Dec. 23, through Tuesday, Jan. 19. Registration for current students opens Nov. 18. Registration for new students begins Nov. 23. STCC offers the most affordable online classes in Springfield. Most winter classes are designed for easy transfer to both public and private campuses, saving students hundreds of dollars per course. Some winter classes also save students money with free textbooks. “Winter session classes are the perfect opportunity for college students to earn college credit at a reduced cost during the traditional winter break period,” STCC Dean of Academic Initiatives Matthew Gravel said. “The majority of classes available during winter session can be used as electives at both community colleges and four-year colleges and universities. Our winter classes are taught by faculty who are experts in their fields, and who have years of experience in delivering online instruction.”
The short duration of these classes will result in an intensive, fast-paced learning experience. Motivation, steady participation, and persistence will be key to students’ success in these classes, Gravel said. To help ensure success of students in the winter session, STCC allows students to register for no more than nine credits in winter. Courses include art, biology, college research, computer applications, English, first year experience, history, management, mathematics, medical assisting, medical lab tech, music, philosophy, psychology and sociology. Blackboard orientation sessions to prepare students for online classes will be offered prior to the start of the winter semester. Registration for winter session ends Dec. 23 and is available online at www.stcc. edu/winter or by phone. Call the Registrar’s Office at (413) 755-4321. Springfield Technical Community College, the Commonwealth’s only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC’s highly continued on next page
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Educación / Education
El Sol Latino December 2020
Primera Organización para Mujeres Estudiantes de Física en UPR- RUM RÍO PIEDRAS, PR | UNIVERSIDAD DE PUERTO RICO | 23 de octubre de 2020- Un grupo de estudiantes del Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez (RUM), de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR), fundó la primera organización en el país que agrupa a las mujeres que estudian la disciplina de la Física.
Mediante propuestas proactivas y radicales, la organización busca integrarse más con las estudiantes y ayudarles de cerca con el objetivo de incrementar sus niveles de retención y de graduación. Igualmente, les proveen a jóvenes modelos a seguir que las inspiren. “El tener, aunque sea una profesora dentro del departamento, es un ejemplo vivo de que más mujeres pueden llegar a ese nivel, que no es solamente una posición para hombres. Cuando ves una persona como tú ocupando ese rol, alguien con quien te puedes comparar, que tiene una historia similar a la tuya, obtienes no sólo una meta a la cual aspirar y la motivación para alcanzarla, sino también confirmación de que es posible y de que está a tu alcance”, señaló la presidenta. WiP-PR se ha mantenido activa, a pesar de todo lo que ha acontecido desde principios del año con la pandemia. Ha ofrecido varios talleres de desarrollo profesional a sus integrantes, e incluso han organizado actividades virtuales que fomentan el cuidado de los aspectos psicológicos y físicos de las estudiantes.
En esta foto, tomada a principios de 2020, previo a la pandemia, las fundadoras de Women in Physics Puerto Rico del Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez de la UPR. Desde la izquierda: Génesis Suárez González, Caryelis Bayona Figueroa, Arianna H. Colón Cesaní, Margarita Rodríguez Matos, Tamara González Acevedo y Nohely Miranda Colón.
Con el nombre de Women in Physics Puerto Rico (WiP-PR), este colectivo está dedicado al empoderamiento de las féminas que se preparan académicamente y laboran en esta rama de la ciencia. Además, aspira a establecer un precedente para abrirle el camino a otras mujeres interesadas en entrar al campo, y, de esa forma, incrementar la diversidad y la inclusión del género en la ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas (STEM, por sus siglas en inglés). Según explicó su fundadora y presidenta, Tamara González Acevedo, la entidad inició oficialmente a comienzos de este año, luego de que la American Physics Society (APS), les otorgó una subvención de $1,000 para concretar su gesta. “Esta idea surgió alrededor de octubre de 2019, cuando nos dimos cuenta del número tan pequeño de mujeres dentro de nuestro Departamento de Física, aspecto que vemos reflejado en otros campos de STEM. Surgió la oportunidad de solicitar la ayuda y decidimos redactar una propuesta, para decirles que queríamos formar el primer grupo de mujeres en Física en Puerto Rico, enfocadas en apoyar a las interesadas en todos los aspectos de su carrera estudiantil, ya sea profesional, emocional o personal, e incrementar el porcentaje de nuestra participación en la disciplina. Afortunadamente, obtuvimos la subvención en enero del 2020 y, desde entonces, comenzamos con los eventos, actividades y el reclutamiento de nuestras integrantes”, explicó la estudiante de bachillerato en Física Teórica del RUM. El grupo contó con el apoyo de los doctores Rafael A. Ramos, director del Departamento de Física, y Nohely Miranda Colón, consejera del grupo y, actualmente, la única mujer catedrática en esa dependencia académica.
STCC’s Affordable Online ‘Winter Session’ continued from page 11 regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequalled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates. For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics). Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
El presidente de la UPR, doctor Jorge Haddock, destacó la importancia de esta nueva organización para la academia, la ciencia y para la sociedad. “Como principal centro docente y de investigación en Puerto Rico, nos llena de orgullo la iniciativa de Tamara y su equipo de trabajo, la cual fomenta el desarrollo máximo de la mujer en un área tan competitiva como la Física. Le extendemos una felicitación, así como a sus mentores, entre ellos la catedrática Miranda Colón, por su liderazgo en promover la equidad y la inclusión de la mujer en las ciencias y la investigación. El trabajo que se gesta desde las organizaciones estudiantiles, hace valiosas aportaciones para el desarrollo de los estudiantes y las comunidades”, afirmó Haddock. Por su parte, el Rector del RUM, doctor Agustín Rullán Toro, felicitó a las emprendedoras alumnas por la gestión que enfatiza la brillante labor de las mujeres en los campos científicos a nivel universitario y en sus carreras profesionales alrededor del mundo. “Nos llena de orgullo que desde nuestro Recinto se lanzara esta oportuna y relevante entidad que reúne a nuestras representantes en la disciplina de la Física. Es preciso buscar plataformas como estas que promuevan oportunidades de equidad y representación en todos los campos del saber, no solo por las destacadas estudiantes que nos honran en nuestra institución, sino para forjar a las nuevas generaciones de niñas y jóvenes que aspiran también a ser científicas. Enhorabuena por esta inspiradora gesta”, puntualizó. La organización no se ha limitado a reclutar estudiantes en el RUM, también ha organizado eventos de outreach, mediante los cuales busca llevar su mensaje a otros recintos de la UPR, y propiciar en ellos la creación de capítulos locales. Más información, en sus redes como: Women in Physics Puerto Rico en Facebook; @WomenInPhysPR en Twitter y @wip.pr en Instagram.
Systemic Racism, Access to Care, Poverty And Preexisting Conditions continued from page 6 Additionally, the Report Card ranks the 100 largest U.S. cities based on their 2018 preterm birth rate. One hundred cities account for 24.7% of all births in the U.S. and 25.4% of all preterm births. Among the 100 cities, 1 in 4 (27%) received an F grade. The states with the most cities among the top 100 are California (12), Texas (18), New York (7), Florida (4). The states with most cities in the “F” category are Texas (4) and Ohio (4). Detroit, MI has the worst (highest) preterm birth rate at 15.2 percent. March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we empower every mom and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support.
Salud / Health
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What Doctors Aren’t Always Taught: How to Spot Racism in Health Care by ELIZABETH LAWRENCE | KAISER HEALTH NEWS | November 17, 2020 Betial Asmerom, a fourth-year medical student at the University of California-San Diego, didn’t have the slightest interest in becoming a doctor when she was growing up. As an adolescent, she helped her parents — immigrants from Eritrea who spoke little English — navigate the health care system in Oakland, California. She saw physicians who were disrespectful to her family and uncaring about treatment for her mother’s cirrhosis, hypertension and diabetes. “All of those experiences actually made me really dislike physicians,” Asmerom said. “Particularly in my community, the saying is, ‘You only go to the doctor if you’re about to die.’”
just considering me as a whole person but as somehow physically different than all other patients just because I have more melanin in my skin.” Nkinsi helped in a successful campaign to exclude race from the calculation of eGFR at UW Medicine, joining a small number of other health systems. She said the achievement — announced officially in late May — was largely due to Black students’ tireless efforts.
But that changed when she took a course in college about health disparities. It shocked her and made her realize that what her Eritrean family and friends saw was happening to other communities of color, too. Asmerom came to believe that as a doctor she could help turn things around.
Acknowledging Racism’s Adverse Effects on Health The Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the official accrediting body for medical schools in the U.S. and Canada, said faculty must teach students to recognize bias “in themselves, in others, and in the health care delivery process.” But the LCME does not explicitly require accredited institutions to teach about systemic racism in medicine.
Faculty members and student activists around the country have long called for medical schools to increase the number of students and instructors from underrepresented backgrounds to improve treatment and build inclusivity. But to identify racism’s roots and its effects in the health system, they say, fundamental changes must be made in medical school curriculums.
This is what students and some faculty want to change. Dr. David Acosta, the chief diversity and inclusion officer of the American Association of Medical Colleges, said about 80% of medical schools offer either a mandatory or elective course on health disparities. But little data exists on how many schools teach students how to recognize and fight racism, he said.
Asmerom is one of many crusaders seeking robust anti-racist education. They are demanding that the schools eliminate the use of race as a diagnostic tool, recognize how systemic racism harms patients and reckon with some of medicine’s racist history.
An anti-racist curriculum should explore ways to mitigate or eliminate racism’s harm, said Rachel Hardeman, a health policy professor at the University of Minnesota.
This activism has been ongoing — White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL), a studentrun organization fighting racism in medicine, grew out of the 2014 Black Lives Matter protests. But now, as with countless other U.S. institutions since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May, medical schools and national medical organizations are under even greater pressure to take concrete action. Debunking Race as a Diagnostic Tool For many years, medical students were taught that genetic differences among the races had an effect on health. But in recent years, studies have found race does not reliably reflect that. The National Human Genome Research Institute notes very little genetic variation among races, and more differences among people within each race. Because of this, more physicians are embracing the idea that race is not an intrinsic biological difference but instead a social construct. Dr. Brooke Cunningham, a physician and sociologist at the University of Minnesota Medical School, said the medical community is conflicted about abandoning the idea of race as biological. It’s baked into the way doctors diagnose and measure illness, she said. Some physicians claim it is useful to take race into account when treating patients; others argue it leads to bias and poor care. Those views have led to a variety of false beliefs, including that Black people have thicker skin, their blood coagulates more quickly than white people’s or they feel less pain. When race is factored into medical calculations, it can lead to less effective treatments and perpetuate race-based inequities. One such calculation estimates kidney function (eGFR, or the estimated glomerular filtration rate). The eGFR can limit Black patients’ access to care because the number used to denote Black race in the formula provides a result suggesting kidneys are functioning better than they are, researchers recently reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. Among another dozen examples they cite is a formula that obstetricians use to determine the probability of a successful vaginal birth after a cesarean section, which disadvantages Black and Hispanic patients, and an adjustment for measuring lung capacity using a spirometer, which can cause inaccurate estimates of lung function for patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the face of this research, medical students are urging schools to rethink curricula that treat race as a risk factor for disease. Briana Christophers, a second-year student at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, said it makes no sense that race would make someone more susceptible to disease, although economic and social factors play a significant role. Naomi Nkinsi, a third-year student at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, recalled sitting in a lecture — one of five Black students in the room — and hearing that Black people are inherently more prone to disease. “It was very personal,” Nkinsi said. “That’s my body, that’s my parents, that’s my siblings. Every time I go into a doctor’s office now, I’ll be reminded that they’re not
“It’s thinking about how do you infuse this across all of the learning in medical education, so that it’s not this sort of drop in the bucket, like, one-time thing,” she said. Above all, the courses that delve into systemic racism need to be required, Hardeman said. Edwin Lindo, a lecturer at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said medicine should embrace an interdisciplinary model, allowing sociologists or historians to lecture on how racism harms health. Acosta said the AAMC has organized a committee of experts to develop an antiracism curriculum for every step of medical education. They hope to share their work publicly this month and talk to the LCME about developing and implementing these standards. “Our next work is how do we persuade and influence the LCME to think about adding anti-racist training in there,” Acosta said. Recognizing Racism in Medical Education’s Past and Present Activists especially want to see their institutions recognize their own missteps, as well as the racism that has accompanied past medical achievements. Dereck Paul, a student at the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, said he wants every medical school to include lectures on people like Henrietta Lacks, the Black woman who was dying of cancer when cells were taken without her consent and used to develop cell lines that have been instrumental in medical research. Asmerom said she wants to see faculty acknowledge medicine’s racist past in lessons. She cited an introductory course on anatomy at her school that failed to note that in the past, as scientists sought to study the body, Blacks and other minorities were mistreated. “It’s like, OK, but you’re not going to talk about the fact that Black bodies were taken out of graves in order to have bodies to use for anatomy lab?” she said. While Asmerom is glad to see her medical school actively listening to students, she feels administrators need to own up to their mistakes in the recent past. “There needs to be an admission of how you perpetuated anti-Black racism at this institution,” Asmerom said. Asmerom, who is one of the leaders of the UCSD Anti-Racism Coalition, said the administration has responded favorably so far to the coalition’s demands to pour time and money into anti-racist initiatives. She’s cautiously hopeful. “But I’m not going to hold my breath until I see actual changes,” she said KAISER HEALTH NEWS (KHN), an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, produced this story. California Healthline is a free, daily publication featuring health care news, opinion and original reporting, designed to meet the information needs of busy health care professionals, decision makers, media organizations and consumers.
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Dra. Sylvia E. Rosas es la Nueva Presidenta de la National Kidney Foundation NUEVA YORK, NY | PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE | 20 de octubre de 2020 — La Junta Directiva nacional de la National Kidney Foundation (NKF) ha nombrado como presidenta electa a la nefróloga Sylvia E. Rosas del Joslin Diabetes Center de Boston, para un mandato que comenzará en octubre de 2022. “Me gustaría agradecer al liderazgo de la NKF por la oportunidad de abogar por los 37 millones de adultos en los EE. UU. que padecen enfermedades renales”, expresó la Dra. Rosas. “Espero con ansias trabajar junto al director ejecutivo [de NKF] Kevin Longino, el actual presidente [de NKF], el Dr. Paul Palevsky, y el personal en estos tiempos trascendentales para la defensa y la salud renal. La iniciativa Advancing American Kidney Health transformará la atención en el área de la nefrología en nuestra nación, y la NKF estará presente para defender a nuestros pacientes y profesionales nefrólogos”. La Dra. Rosas es nefróloga y epidemióloga en el Joslin Diabetes Center, directora de la Latino Kidney Clinic, profesora asociada de Medicina en la Escuela de Medicina de Harvard y nefróloga en el Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “Estoy muy contento de que la Dra. Sylvia Rosas forme parte de la Junta de la NKF como presidente electa”, señaló el Dr. Palevsky. “Conozco a la Dra. Rosas desde hace muchos años y he tenido el privilegio de colaborar con ella regularmente en investigaciones. Es una defensora apasionada de sus pacientes y de todos los pacientes con enfermedades renales. Es un gran aporte que se una al liderazgo nacional de la NKF para mejorar la vida de los pacientes con enfermedades renales y aumentar la conciencia sobre estas enfermedades entre un tercio de la población adulta que está en riesgo de desarrollarlas”, expresó el Dr. Palevsky, actual presidente de la NKF. La Dra. Rosas completó su formación en Medicina Interna en el Hospital Michael Reese/Universidad de Illinois, en Chicago. Obtuvo capacitación en nefrología clínica y una maestría en epidemiología clínica de la Universidad de Pensilvania. También completó el programa de gestión de Wharton. Es nefróloga desde hace 21 años. La Dra. Rosas investiga sobre la epidemiología de las complicaciones de las enfermedades metabólicas y cardiovasculares en pacientes con enfermedad renal, en particular con enfermedad renal diabética. También ha evaluado las diferencias en la salud de las personas con enfermedades renales, particularmente de aquellas de origen hispano o latino. Creció en Puerto Rico y vivió en Bogotá, Colombia, cuando era adolescente y estudiante de medicina. “Es un honor para la NKF que la Dra. Rosas se una a la Junta Directiva como presidenta electa”, expresó Anthony E. Tuggle, presidente de la Junta Directiva de la NKF y receptor de un trasplante de riñón. “Somos especialmente afortunados en este momento de intersección entre las enfermedades renales, la pandemia y la desigualdad racial en la atención médica al tener en nuestro liderazgo a una nefróloga que también es epidemióloga y defensora de la diversidad. Quiero agradecer a la Dra. Rosas por aportar su talento a la NKF en estos momentos tan críticos”. “Durante mi mandato como presidenta, me gustaría seguir centrándome en la conciencia pública sobre las enfermedades renales, en particular,
la enfermedad renal diabética, la causa más importante de enfermedad renal en todo el mundo”, dijo la Dra. Rosas. “He sido defensora de la eliminación de las barreras para las donaciones de riñón y de la reducción de los descartes de órganos. Además, existen desigualdades significativas tanto entre las personas que están en riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades renales como en la manera en que se aplican los tratamientos. “Planeo continuar avanzando en estas áreas a las que he dedicado toda mi carrera, para apoyar programas que aborden y encuentren soluciones para estas disparidades en la salud”, expresó. “Además, continuaré trabajando para aumentar la diversidad racial y de género en el ámbito de la salud”. La Dra. Rosas es líder de centros clínicos de la Red de Resultados de Trasplantes de Riñón a Largo Plazo APOL1 (APOLLO), financiada por el Instituto Nacional de Diabetes y Enfermedades Digestivas y Renales (NIDDK), que evalúa el papel del gen APOL1 en los resultados de los trasplantes de riñón. También es líder del sitio de reclutamiento de Enfermedades Renales Crónicas del Programa de Medicina de Precisión del Riñón (KPMP) en el Joslin Diabetes Center. El KPMP tiene por objetivo obtener y evaluar éticamente biopsias de riñón humano para crear un atlas de tejido renal, definir subgrupos de enfermedades e identificar células, vías y objetivos críticos para terapias novedosas. La Dra. Rosas se desempeñó como presidenta del Comité de Asuntos de Minorías de la Red de Adquisición y Trasplante de Órganos/Red Unida para el Intercambio de Órganos (UNOS). Además, ha sido secretaria de Mujeres en Nefrología y presidenta del Comité de Programas de la Red del NIDDK para Investigadores de Salud de Minorías. La Dra. Rosas y su familia viven en Newton, MA, en las afueras de Boston. Está casada y tiene dos hijos adolescentes. Información sobre las enfermedades renales - En los Estados Unidos, se estima que 37 millones de adultos padecen enfermedades renales crónicas, y aproximadamente el 90 por ciento no lo sabe. Uno de cada tres adultos en los EE. UU. tiene riesgo de padecer una enfermedad renal crónica. Algunos de los factores de riesgo para desarrollar una enfermedad renal son los siguientes: diabetes, presión arterial alta, enfermedades cardíacas, obesidad y antecedentes familiares. Las personas de ascendencia negra o afroamericana, hispana o latina, aborigen estadounidense o nativa de Alaska, asiático-estadounidense o nativa de Hawái o de otras islas del Pacífico tienen un mayor riesgo de desarrollar la enfermedad. Los negros o afroamericanos tienen casi cuatro veces más probabilidades de padecer insuficiencia renal que los estadounidenses de raza blanca. Los hispanos tienen 1.3 veces más probabilidades que los no hispanos de padecer insuficiencia renal. La National Kidney Foundation (NKF) es la organización centrada en los pacientes de mayor extensión, alcance y trayectoria dedicada a la concientización, la prevención y el tratamiento de las enfermedades renales en los EE. UU. Para obtener más información sobre la NKF, visite www.kidney.org.
Ciencias / Science Just 3% of scientists and engineers are Black or Latina women. Here’s what teachers are doing about it. by JAVERIA SALMA
This article was originally published in THE HECHINGER REPORT | November 19, 2020
In Maggie Waldner’s elementary school classroom in downtown Denver, math lessons rarely focus on rote memorization. She talks about problem solving and real-world issues, like homelessness. And she makes sure her racially diverse class of boys and girls learns about mathematicians and scientists who look like them. Especially the girls. This is what culturally responsive instruction looks like in STEM education. For a while now, schools across the country have used culturally responsive teaching practices in English and history classrooms, engaging learners in the material by incorporating their own experiences and cultures. In science and math, though, it’s a fairly new idea. But experts say finding better ways to teach STEM to students of color and girls is urgent. While women make up half of the college-educated workforce in the U.S., they hold less than one third of the jobs in science and engineering. Black and Latina women make up just 3 percent of that workforce. A new report by 100Kin10, an organization focused on ending the STEM teacher shortage, places part of the blame for this shortage on the lack of high-quality STEM courses in high schools, which in turn results in fewer students developing an interest in STEM subjects and discouraging them from pursuing STEM teaching careers. Too often the STEM classes that are offered are of poor quality and fail to recognize the experiences and contributions of women and people of color in these fields. High-quality STEM education, the report states, makes coursework “relevant to students’ lives and passions,” with a focus on applied learning, rather than holding tight to rote practices. After a summer of protests over racial justice, coupled with a pandemic that has exacerbated educational inequality, calls on educators across the country to better teach ethnically diverse groups of students have become more urgent. Waldner, who teaches at the Downtown Denver Expeditionary School, a public charter, is a member of 100Kin10’s Teacher Forum. She has long incorporated culturally responsive practices and strategies into her classroom. Her approach is twofold, she said. She provides students “windows and mirrors,” so they can see themselves and their community in the curriculum, and also shows them the lives and experiences of those who are different from them. By centering teaching around these practices, she said, teachers can ensure that what students learn isn’t irrelevant to what they experience outside of school. So, how can a teacher bring that focus on personal relevance into STEM education? First, because the rote teaching of mathematics may be particularly ineffective with African American students, doing little to prepare them for the STEM field, Waldner stays away from a mechanical approach. She encourages students to make educated guesses about how to solve a math problem, and asks them to try teaching each other using different strategies, a tactic that helps spark discussion on the variety of ways to reach a solution. She also uses what she calls a “conjecture wall,” where she writes down the guesses and questions students have about how to approach the problems in their own words, so they can notice the patterns in their work. “It’s less about getting a right answer or solving it a certain way. It’s really about being able to talk about what you’re doing,” Waldner said. This “helps kids see themselves as problem solvers and also it gives them power,” she said. Second, Waldner said it’s also important to provide hands-on learning that connects directly to children’s experiences in their communities. She does
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this by presenting math problems in the format of a story. But, before they try to solve the problem, students retell the story to each other, and answer a question to check their understanding of the problem it presents. “When we are learning a STEM subject, or going further into a topic from a STEM point of view, we often talk about how we need to identify the problem, make some sort of solution, try out our solution, and then think again,” Waldner said. “What worked? What didn’t? What do we notice about how we solved a problem in comparison to others? What will we change next time?” Sometimes, she’ll choose a societal issue to help her students understand larger problems. Every year, the students at the school learn about homelessness and then do a project to help homeless community members. When her students study the issue, they use the same approach they take with STEM problems and ask questions such as, “What is the problem? What could we do to help solve it? What are others doing to solve this problem? Did it work? What would we do differently next time?” she said. “When we are working to understand homelessness in Denver from a mathematical perspective, such as how many people are experiencing homelessness and whether this number has changed over time,” Waldner said, “this leads to discussions of why and what we can do.” Making STEM education more culturally responsive is also among the goals of the Million Girls Moonshot, a new initiative launched by the STEM Next Opportunity Fund, with support from other tech funders including the Intel Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The organization hopes to engage one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer STEM programs over the next five years. “We want the girls to feel empowered, so that they go through high school, taking the courses that they need to take to have a good shot at being successful in the sciences at the college level,” said Penny Noyce, the founding board chair of STEM Next Opportunity Fund. “We want to continue to sort of create this sisterhood that feels not lonely in pursuing excellence in math, computer, physics, science in general so that we can increase those numbers,” said Noyce, who grew up around technology as the daughter of Intel founder Robert Noyce. When girls and students of color don’t see themselves represented in STEM education and thus don’t pursue STEM careers, said Gabriela González, deputy director of the Intel Foundation, we miss out on their unique talent and perspective in helping to solve real-world problems like the ones that our country is facing now. “These are careers that can really help improve their quality of life, not just for themselves, but for their families and also, at the same time contribute to the larger community and lifting up of their communities through their contributions,” González said. Waldner agrees. “If kids, and people, are able to understand societal problems in a mathematical or scientific (way) … they’re able to solve those problems,” she said. THE HECHINGER REPORT is a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. JAVERIA SALMAN is the digital news producer. Prior to joining The Hechinger Report, she worked as an editor and reporter at The East Carolinian, an independent college newspaper in eastern North Carolina, where she was recognized by the North Carolina College Media Association for her reporting and opinion writing. Javeria spent a decade working on various media teams and youth leadership programs with non-profit Muslim American organizations. She graduated from East Carolina University with a B.S. in communication and a concentration in journalism
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El Sol Latino December 2020
UN REGALO DE SILVERIO PÉREZ
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18 de diciembre 7:00pm EST /culturalagora
con la participación de:
Fabiola Méndez, Zayra Pola, Andrea Cruz, Sol y Canto, José González, Aidita Encarnación, Charlie Berríos y más sorpresas
una producción de
