“Some people love me,” says the Guatemalan rap artist Rebeca Lane. “And a lot of people hate me. A lot.” Listen to her music, and it’s not hard to see why. The feminist activist-turned hip-hop sensation is uncompromising in her lyrical critique of her homeland. A homeland plagued by war, government repression and gender-based violence. […]
Posted inVoices
Daring to give and to take criticism
It was many and many a year ago, in a barrio by the sea. Actually, it was around 1983. I had been asked to be a critic in a Latino theater festival. I accepted, considering that the invitation was an honor. I was eager to engage in a positive exchange among collegial artists. I also […]
Posted inNews
Vaccine rollout for children underway
With school back up and running, the FDA has approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11, as of November 2021. While there has initially been some hesitation, many Latinx parents have felt that overall the safety of their child is their top priority in the fight against the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. […]
Posted inPodcasts
Our Cultura Podcast: Honoring A Mission Legend with Carlos Santana
We are privileged to have a Bay Area legend on our show today, Carlos Santana. Editor-in-Chief of El Tecolote, Alexis Terrazas, caught up with the musical legend during the presentation of a mural in honor of Santana and his family. The two talk about Santana’s development in music, his beliefs, and how important his family […]
Posted inObituaries
Remembering Mike Ruiz, Multi-talented artist with ties to AcciĂłn Latina
Mike Ruiz, the renowned painter, sculptor, illustrator, and designer who was instrumental in the creation of AcciĂłn Latina’s Juan R. Fuentes Gallery, died on Nov. 24, 2021 from complications from pneumonia. He was 89. Born Michael Leopold Ruiz on March 14, 1932 in Redwood City, Ruiz grew up in San Francisco’s Mission District, and taught […]
Posted inNews
Study reveals police use of force disproportionately affects Black, Latino residents
In times when cases of police brutality and even deaths go unreported in the United States, The Leadership Conference Education Fund has launched Accountable Now, an online resource that collects, tracks and shares “use-of-force” data available to everyone, in hopes of transparency and accountability from law enforcement agencies throughout the country. The Leadership Conference has […]
Posted inMultimedia
Photo Essay: Celebrating indigenous resistance
Several hundred indigenous people from all over the world gathered at dawn on Alcatraz for a Sunrise Ceremony on Nov. 25, 2021. Commemorating the 52nd anniversary of the Alcatraz occupation, which was organized by a group of students and young people calling themselves “Indians of all Tribes,” lasted from 1969 to 1971. The ceremony acknowledged […]
Posted inMultimedia
Photo Essay: Transgender Day of Remembrance
On Saturday, Nov. 20, El/La Para TransLatinas joined with our dear partners from Parivar Bay Area, Openhouse SF, and The LGBT Asylum Project at Manny’s in the Mission for Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR). Together, we honored the memory of our trans, intersex, and gender-diverse siblings whose lives were lost in acts of violence. As […]
Posted inNews
Mauricio Avilés: He Always Found a Way to Serve the Community He So Loved
The passing of a friend is always a bitter moment that’s hard to accept. Such is the case of Mauricio Rene AvilĂ©s Gonzalez, 74, who dedicated himself to help others. Mauricio never strayed from his willingness to contribute in some way to the cultural and political life of the Mission District that he dearly loved. […]
Posted inVoices
Learn About SFUSD’s Budget Plan
Every year, SFUSD receives money from the federal, state and county government. Some of the funds are earmarked for specific purposes, such as building maintenance or professional training for teachers, and other funds can be applied to any educational purpose such as classroom teacher salaries and benefits. Even before the pandemic the district’s expenditures exceeded […]