The Mission Neighborhood Center recognizes Rafael “Rafa” Moreno for the excellent work he has been doing with the Youth Program, Youth Program in the Hispanic community in San Francisco.
Rafa has been selected for a Senior Program Manager position with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and will be leaving MNC on Friday, Nov. 5.
On Nov. 8, Rafa will join the dozens of MNC alumni who today are leaders in the community and in the government. “My growth and role at MNC have prepared me for my next leadership journey, for which I will always be grateful,” said Rafa.
“MNC has taught me valuable foundational leadership skills that I will carry with me in the future. I want to thank Mission Neighborhood Centers for the valuable experience and opportunity to lead and create real impacts in our community, “Rafa said.
“I will really miss my personal relationships and the organization, as MNC has invested in our community and created positive impacts in the lives of girls, boys, youth, the elderly and their families,” he said.
He underscored that MNC is a great leadership organization, is an anchor in our Latino community, and that he looks forward to continuing to see the great work that MNC provides to the community. “I will always be a friend and I will always proudly support Mission Neighborhood Centers, with love and respect.”
MNC is extremely grateful to Rafa for his contributions in the area of defense of human rights, youth, education and on the campus of MNC Bayview Evans, said Richard Ybarra, CEO of Mission Neighborhood Centers.
“Thanks Rafa for everything you have done for and with MNC. On behalf of everyone at Mission Neighborhood Centers, we wish Rafa and his family the best of luck in the future as we say goodbye to him. We will always remember his leadership and his good sense of humor.”
40 local students from Northern and Central California will receive annual STEM “Better Together” scholarships
by PG and E corporate news
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced today that 40 students from cities in its service area will receive scholarships totaling $ 250,000 from the 2021 “Better Together” STEM Scholarship Program.
The PG&E Corporation Foundation funds the scholarships. This year the Foundation will fund 20 scholarships of $ 10,000 each and 20 scholarships of $ 2,500 each. The scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing a career in the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). STEM education encourages ingenuity, creativity, and experimentation, leading to new ideas, innovations, and technological advancements that can have a global impact.
José Ochoa, from Mendota, attends the University of California, Berkeley.
“I am extremely honored to have been selected as a recipient of the PG&E STEM scholarship. Receiving this award encourages me to persevere, to make my family proud, and to break boundaries. I greatly appreciate your inspiring generosity. I hope one day to be able to do the same for the youth of the next generation, ”said Ochoa.
Scholarship winner Amirlan “Amy” Erdenedalai of Alameda is a sophomore at the University of California, Irvine, studying environmental engineering. Erdenedalai hopes to work in the field of hydrology to universally improve water quality and promote sustainability.
“When I first saw the email stating that I was one of the scholarship recipients, I was very excited and very happy. I was practically dancing in line to receive my school ID. Thanks to the very generous scholarship from PG&E, I will be the first in my family to study and graduate from a university in the United States. This scholarship further motivates me to value my college education and has given me the power to make my dreams and goals come true, ”Erdenedalai said.
Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated participation, leadership in school and community activities, and financial need.
“Everyone at PG&E and The Foundation is focused on the future of California and supporting inclusive programs that serve the next generation of creators and innovators in STEM-based fields,” said Robert Kenney, PG & E’s senior vice president of regulatory and external affairs, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The PG&E Corporation Foundation.
Winners must plan to enroll in full-time college study for the entire 2021-2022 academic year and work toward their first college degree at an accredited four-year institution in California.
We support local students
Since 2012 the STEM “Better Together” Scholarship Program has awarded more than $ 6.5 million to accomplished students based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, personal success, financial need, and academic achievement. These charitable donations will come from PG&E shareholders, not PG&E customers.
In addition to the STEM “Better Together” Scholarship Program, PG & E’s 10 employee resource groups (ERGs) and two employee resource groups (ENGs) award scholarships to help to offset the cost of higher education. The funds are raised entirely through employee donations, employee fundraising events, and the Community Campaign, the company’s employee giving program. Since 1989, more than $ 5 million in ERG scholarships have been awarded to thousands of recipients.
The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) is requesting the submittal of Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified firms to provide CEQA Services for College of Alameda Science and Admin Project & Laney STEM Project (RFP No. 21 22/09). SOQs and Proposals are to be submitted electronically (via Vendor Registry), by 2:00 PM, on November 2, 2021.
The District is asking experienced and proven firms to submit their qualifications and proposals to provide CEQA Consulting services for the District’s College of Alameda Science and Admin project and the STEM building at Laney College.
A Non-mandatory Pre-Proposal conference will be held on October 19, 2021 at 10 AM via Zoom: Conference Meeting ID 952 5320 0064 pasword:831049.
Without the conquest, ‘you wouldn’t be here,’ José María Aznar said, mocking the president
by the El Reportero‘ wire services
The ruling Morena party has hit back at a former Spanish prime minister after he mocked President López Obrador for seeking an apology from the the king of Spain and Pope Francis for the conquest of Mexico.
Speaking at this week’s national convention of the People’s Party (PP), a conservative political party in Spain, José María Aznar ridiculed López Obrador for requesting the apology in 2019, pointing out that if the conquest hadn’t occurred the Mexican president would never have been born.
“What’s your name? Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Andrés from the Aztecs? Manuel from the Mayans? López! – is it a mix of Aztecs and Mayans? And Obrador – from [the Spanish city of] Santander,” gibed the former prime minister, who held office for the PP between 1996 and 2004.
“Man, if these things hadn’t happened you wouldn’t be here,” Aznar quipped. “Nor could you be called what you’re called, you couldn’t have been baptized, the evangelization of America couldn’t have occurred.”
Aznar’s belief that there is no need for Spain to apologize for events that occurred 500 years ago is shared by other conservative political figures in Spain, such as PP president Pablo Casado and the president of the Community of Madrid, who this week criticized Pope Francis for acknowledging that “very painful” errors were committed in the past in Mexico.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who governs the Spanish capital for the PP, described the promotion and protection of indigenous rights as “the new communism.”
The government of Spain, led by Pedro Sánchez of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party since 2018, “vigorously” rejected the need for an apology when López Obrador revealed in March 2019 that he had sought one from the Spanish king and the pope.
In response to Aznar’s remarks, Morena released a statement portraying the former prime minister as a warmongering denialist. (His government was a strong supporter of the Iraq War.)
Morena “categorically condemns” Aznar’s declarations, the party said, noting they were made at an event organized by the PP, a “political force linked to Francoism.”
The party founded by López Obrador said the former prime minister had openly offended “the history of our country and the dignity and memory of the indigenous people of Mexico and the world.”
The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) is requesting the submittal of Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified firms to provide CEQA Services for College of Alameda Science and Admin Project & Laney STEM Project (RFP No. 21 22/09). SOQs and Proposals are to be submitted electronically (via Vendor Registry), by 2:00 PM, on November 2, 2021.
The District is asking experienced and proven firms to submit their qualifications and proposals to provide CEQA Consulting services for the District’s College of Alameda Science and Admin project and the STEM building at Laney College.
Se llevará a cabo una conferencia de propuesta previa no obligatoria el 19 de octubre de 2021 a las 10 a.m. a través de Zoom:
A Non-mandatory Pre-Proposal conference will be held on October 19, 2021 at 10 AM via Zoom: Conference Meeting ID 952 5320 0064 pasword:831049.
Abel Sánchez and LRI is proud to announce the Premier of Song for Cesar at the Mill Valley Film Festival.
LRI is proud to have been a sponsor in the making of this incredible documentary which weaves a story of the legacy of César Chávez and the FarmWorker movement that he and Dolores Huerta led.
It tells a compelling story of how music and the arts played an extremely important role in supporting the movement. Many of the artists featured in the film are part of the LRI family and we are proud to be part of this story.
P.S. There will be a performance immediately following the screening at the Sweetwater Music Hall featuring some of the songs and artists featured in the film.
Friday, Oct 15, 6:30 p.m., CinéArts Sequoia; Saturday, Oct 16, 4:30 p.m., BAMPFA. Cover $14 Member | $16.50 General | $15 Senior | $8 Students & Youth (12 & Under)
Día de los Muertos in Oakland
The Oakland Día de Los Muertos Annual Festival is a free, outdoor festival that brings over 100,000 people to the vibrant, culturally-rich Fruitvale neighborhood to enjoy world-class live music, family-friendly games, rides and activities, traditional Latin American artisans, and the stunning altar artistic installations created by community members paying homage to Los Muertos. The Día de los Muertos Festival was inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress by Congresswoman Barbara Lee as a “Local Legacy.”
In honor of our 26th Anniversary, and to mark the tumult caused by the pandemic, we are guided by the festival theme of Curando Corazones (Healing Hearts) to create a physical space where people can safely gather and hone in art and culture as tools for community healing. For this reason, the festival will resume in-person activities at a smaller scale, highlighting the ofrendas, Danza Azteca, and low-riders which are all vital elements of the celebration.
The Fruitvale District in Oakland, a predominately Latin area, is one of the three zip codes hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in Alameda County. This year more than ever before, it’s critical to create a space for grieving Latin communities to practice indigenous rituals to heal from pandemic losses. In Oakland November 1, 2021.
11/23/2021 – Garlic is one of the most popular spices used in cuisines around the globe. It is also known for its impressive health benefits.
Here are 14 reasons to love garlic, including a few tips on how to incorporate it into your daily diet.
– Relieves cold symptoms – Garlic can relieve symptoms of the common cold pretty quickly. It can also lower your risk of catching a cold in the first place. One study found that people who took a garlic tablet every day for three months had fewer bouts of the cold than those who took a placebo.
– Lowers blood pressure – Garlic stimulates the natural production of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide helps relax blood vessels for better blood flow and lower blood pressure.
– May prevent dementia – Unstable molecules called free radicals can cause oxidative stress, which can play a huge role in dementia and diseases characterized by dementia. Dementia isn’t a specific disease but a broad term used to describe symptoms that affect memory and thinking. Fortunately, studies show that aged garlic extract has antioxidant properties that can help lower the risk of dementia.
– Aids in detoxification – Eating foods contaminated with heavy metals like lead can damage your liver, kidneys and other vital organs. Luckily, garlic has sulfur-containing compounds that can help reduce blood lead levels. They may also prevent signs of toxicity, such as headaches and high blood pressure.
– Heals wounds – Natural healers have long used garlic to treat wounds and prevent infections. For fast healing, apply a poultice made from crushed garlic cloves on your wound. Change it regularly and continue using it until your wound visibly improves.
– Maintains strong bones – Garlic helps increase estrogen, the major sex hormone in women. Estrogen plays a key role in the growth and maturation of bones.
– Improves digestion – Eating garlic every day as part of a balanced diet may help ease diarrhea, colitis, intestinal gas and other gastrointestinal issues. Garlic can also get rid of harmful bacteria in your gut.
– Regulates blood sugar – According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, eating raw garlic cloves may reduce blood sugar levels. As such, people with high blood sugar may greatly benefit from adding garlic to their diet.
– Boosts immunity – Garlic has antiviral properties and could block the entry of viruses into healthy cells as well as promote a strong immune response to fight off invaders.
– Maintains good vision – Garlic is rich in nutrients that support optimal eye health and good vision, such as selenium and vitamin C. Quercetin, a powerful antioxidant in garlic, also helps protect the eyes from inflammation and infection.
– May prevent acne – Garlic’s antibacterial properties come in handy for blocking the onset of acne. It is best used alongside other acne-fighting ingredients, such as raw honey and turmeric, for acne prevention. Additionally, garlic helps protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
– Aids in weight loss – According to some animal studies, garlic can stimulate the body to burn more fat and “turn off” some of the genes involved in the formation of fat cells. May prevent fatty liver – Garlic contains a sulfur-containing compound called S-allyl-mercaptocysteine (SAMC), which helps prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It may also lower the risk of injury or damage to the liver.
Cameron Richards, a probationary firefighter, leaves a fire truck in a morning training of the LAFD Station No9 team at Skid Row on April 12, 2020 in downtown Los Angeles, California. - One of the busiest fire station in the country , LA Fire Station 9 is on the front lines of California's homeless crisis e Coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Apu GOMES / AFP) (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images)
The notice (pdf), filed on Oct. 7, said that the 871 firefighters is seeking $2.5 million each in damages.
“The claims will be filed in Superior Court as an unlimited civil case pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure,” Kevin McBride, attorney for the firefighters, wrote in the notice.
The L.A. city council in August issued an ordinance (pdf) requiring all city employees to have had a second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, or a dose of the single-dose COVID19 vaccine by Oct. 5, unless they have a medical or religious exemption.
“The city’s goal is to have a vaccinated workforce. As such, employees will not have the option to ‘opt out’ of getting vaccinated and become subject to weekly testing,” the ordinance reads. The mayor’s office announced that exempt, unvaccinated employees would still be required to do regular testing for COVID-19.
McBride said in the notice of intent, citing orders given to the firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), that those not exempt or fully vaccinated by the “hard deadline” of Oct. 20 will be sent home for five days without pay, and if they still decide not to take the vaccine after another five days, their employment will be terminated.
The attorney wrote that the vaccination order is “blatantly wrongful conduct,” citing several reasons including: interference with employment rights; infliction of emotional distress; violation of constitutional privacy rights; and violation of protection of human subjects in the medical experimentation act.
The plaintiffs are members of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles (UFLAC). The union stated its position in an Oct. 4 bulletin, “[T]he city cannot impose any consequences relevant to the October 5 deadline” to be vaccinated for COVID-19, adding that the city’s ordinance “does not provide for any consequence, and any intended discipline must first be bargained with UFLAC.”
“Further, the city has not provided any notice to UFLAC that it intends to discipline employees for not meeting the October 5 deadline,” it added.
The city has 45 days to evaluate the document, after which the suit is going to be filed immediately, reported The New York Times.
L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement to KTLA, “The U.S. Supreme Court and courts across the country have upheld vaccine mandates … I’m confident we will prevail.”
Those who intend to sue the city comprise about one in four of the city’s firefighters. According to the website of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), it has 3,435 fire personnel.
A status regularization program has helped some foreigners stay in the country during COVID
by Rose Egelhoff
What would you do if you could not go home? That was the question many foreigners in Mexico faced during the pandemic, as some borders closed and others imposed expensive quarantine restrictions.
For incoming Americans and Canadians, getting a visitor’s permit to enter Mexico can be as easy as buying a flight or making a quick stop at the border. But when it comes to extending their stay, the same Americans, Canadians and others foreigners ordinarily have to leave the country, which can be difficult during a pandemic.
Luckily, in light of COVID-19, the Mexican government opened up a special status regularization program for foreigners. Under the standard process of applying for residency, the first of several steps occurs at a Mexican consulate in the applicant’s home country.
Under the special regularization program, travelers with expired visitor’s permits could obtain four-year temporary residency without leaving the country — a lifeline for many stranded expats. That together with a national-level effort at the National Immigration Institute (INM) to streamline and digitize the immigration process appears to have led to a vastly improved experience for many seeking to regularize their status.
One such stranded expat was Jen, a Canadian art dealer who fell in love with Mexico and now sells Mexican folk art online. She asked that her last name be withheld to speak openly about being in Mexico without proper documentation. Jen arrived in October of 2019, but had trouble leaving the country before her visitor’s permit expired.
“My visa originally expired in April but my flight was canceled and so my lawyer got me a one month visa extension and then because my flight was still canceled, she got me another extension till January. At that point in time they said not to really worry about it, just pay the fine when you leave the country,” she said.
Then she heard about a visa program available in Querétaro, which allowed certain foreigners to replace their expired Forma Migratoria Múltiple, the visitor’s permit also known as an FMM, with a four-year temporary residency card.
“When this whole program started, I was actually really sketched out … it sounded too good to be true,” Jen said.
She was particularly worried by rumors of deportations and increased immigration enforcement, since she had all her belongings with her in Mexico and hoped to stay in the country. To be safe, she waited three months, until April of this year, without hearing any reports of negative experiences with the visa program.
“So at that point I felt a little more safe going and doing this, but it was a risk,” she said. “I went to the bank that morning and paid [the National Immigration Institute] over 13,000 pesos, not knowing whether I actually going to get approved or not.”
Luckily for Jen, her application went smoothly. With limited travel options for returning to Canada, she was granted four-year temporary residency and later successfully applied for permission to work. She said her application was easy; she only had to wait half a day at the immigration office to get her residency card.
John, a Mazatlán-based Canadian, has been in Mexico for several years, and also struggled to return home as his FMM expired during the pandemic. Like Jen, John asked that his full name be withheld to openly discuss being in Mexico with an expired permit.
“It is definitely hard to get back to Canada right now. There are no direct flights. There is a lot of travel time to get back to my city,” he said, adding that Canada’s hotel quarantine policy for returning citizens could cost up to CAD $2,000, prohibitively expensive for many. The quarantine policy has been amended since John received residency, and travelers who have been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine are now exempt.
John heard about the immigration regularization program on Facebook.
“I love living here so I decided to check it out,” he said. “My experience with the immigration institute was great. The whole process took only 3.5 hours so I feel very lucky.”
Guy Courchesne, the director of Teachers Latin America, works on immigration issues as part of his business recruiting foreign teachers. He said he first heard about the pandemic regularization program in February, but that it was not the first time the Mexican government had instituted such a policy.
“This is something they do every five years …”Courchesne said. “It’s a way to put amnesty out for all the people who are here illegally. [It’s] usually aimed at Central Americans more than anything else, but this year was the COVID twist. We were seeing, for example, Americans, Canadians, a lot of Australians because they are stuck, Europeans coming in to make use of it. That’s what’s a little bit different about it.”
Availability of the program seems to vary between locations, with some immigration offices not offering the program to people whose home countries have open borders and flights available. In other places, applicants report being quickly approved.
Courchesne said the most common program applicants were Canadians and Australians. Canadians faced a required two-week hotel quarantine, on their own dollar, and Australia had implemented caps on the number of flights into the country, making it difficult for some of their citizens to return.
Courchesne and other immigration consultants said the greatest challenges for visitors seeking to access the pandemic regularization program were the language barrier and bureaucracy. Though the INM has begun to digitize many of its processes, leading to faster processing times, Mexican bureaucracy still functions differently than what many foreigners are used to in their home countries. And navigating such a system in a foreign language complicates an already byzantine process.
— Do you want to listen and dance with quality salsa and jazz music, come enjoy the music of Danilo y Grupo Universal. Every first Saturday of each month, from 6-9 p.m. at Bambino’s, 301 Georgia Street, #112, Vallejo, California.
Danilo will also play on Sunday, Oct. 3, from 3 to 6 p.m., at 5614 Bay Street, in Emeryville, CA. Free Salsa dance lesson! Live Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Reggaeton!
San Francisco City Administrator’s office launches inaugural small business summit on Oct 5-6
Help businesses learn how the City procures goods and services, where to find upcoming opportunities, and about compliance requirements for suppliers.
Securing opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco is a complex process that can be difficult for small businesses to navigate. That’s why City Administrator Carmen Chu is hosting the Small Business Summit, the first of its kind holistic review of doing business with the City for local small businesses and suppliers. The Summit will feature tailored technical assistance workshops, including responding effectively to solicitations and how to become a certified Local Business Enterprise (LBE).
Join SF Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton and City Administrator Carmen Chu to kick-off this inaugural two-day summit and encourage and support local businesses to do business with the City.
Live children’s storytimes are back and in the Parks
After more than a year on hiatus, live storytimes return to San Francisco in the safety of an outdoor setting. Tuesday marks the relaunch of SFPL’s highly popular Swing Into Stories, an outdoor program of storytimes and bookmobile service in the parks.
The storytime will feature picture book readalouds, song, fingerplays and a whole lot of fun. The vibrant YouthMobile, the City’s only kid-focused bookmobile, will be open for browsing. The return of Swing Into Stories will take place at Garfield and Hilltop playgrounds.
Storytimes are one of San Francisco Public Library’s most beloved offerings for families. Since the pause of in-person programs in March 2020, SFPL’s storytimes were launched virtually on Facebook and YouTube and gained thousands of views, signifying the need and desire for this service.
San Francisco Literary Festival — Litquake is back!! We are so thrilled this SF-rooted cultural experience is happening! The literary extravaganza will feature work from some of the Bay Area’s most talented writers and creators. YBG Festival is hosting the in-person events on Oct. 16 and 17! With Isabel Allende and Jaime Cortez.
Come join us for food, wine and live music. We will be serving One personal size pizza and two complimentary glasses of wine. Music by MVP aka Mission Varrio Project will debut after being in hiatus for five years.
Though MVP hasn’t been performing live they have been keeping busy in the studio, writting new original material for the world to hear. They will be performing a mix repertoire of songs from their older and newer releases, Soul Criollo, Urban Gentrification, 21 Reasons, and their two singles Menéalo and Escape From Havana.
At A Silvestri Co., 2629 Bayshore Blvd, SF, 4 – 7 p.m. on Oct. 15.
Want a little super flavor of progressive Jazz – Walter Earl Group has it!
More music:
Salsa By The Bay Rooftop Rumba Fleet Week Edition
We are very excited for this awesome space at the Westfield as we create an amazing experience on ton their rooftop!!
Some of the Best Views of our Famous San Francisco Skyline.
Dj Walt Digz, Dj Tony O, Dj Pablo
This is a limited capacity event! Buy your pre-sales now to assure entry.
Reserve a table for this amazing party!
We highly recommend parking in the huge lot behind the Westfield on Mission st. But if you find parking elsewhere go for it.
Westfield Mall Sky Terrace – Saturday Oct. 10 from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Blue Angels Air Show / 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
