The Vecinos Podcast

The Vecinos Podcast Episode #09: A Puppet Festival Comes Back to Life

In this episode, we interview Dr. Manuel Antonio Moran, the Founder and General Producer of the International Puppet Fringe Festival in New York City aka Puppet Fringe NYC. Dr. Moran is also the founder and CEO Of Teatro Sea, The Premiere Bilingual Arts-in-Education Organization and Latino Children’s Theatre In The United States. We discuss Dr. Moran’s career path, what motivated him to pursue theater and his journey to creating Puppet Fringe NYC. The Festival had its first run in 2018 and was very well received in the community. It was set to return in 2020 until the pandemic and the lockdowns hit. We discuss how this affected the festival organizers, producers, and the community of artists who perform in the fest and how it was ultimately able to bounce back. As theaters begin to reopen, the festival is now set to return with a unique slate of programming onsite August 11th - 15th and virtual and onsite programming August 16th - 31st. Check out the festival website for more information: http://puppetfringenyc.com/ [http://puppetfringenyc.com/]

The Vecinos Podcast Episode #08: Addressing Mental Health During Difficult Times

Addressing Mental Health During Difficult Times: A Look At The Challenges and Solutions For Latinx Communities The Covid 19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Hispanic/Latinx communities and is leading to an increase in mental health issues. Many have lost their jobs and are facing severe financial struggles. Many have also had to deal with the death of a family member. Latinos are 3 times more likely to be infected with Covid-19 and 5 times more likely to be hospitalized. According to data from the CDC and the Census Bureau, more than 40 percent of Latinos have frequently experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression in January of 2021. In this episode, we look at some of the reasons why mental health is such a difficult issue for Latinx communities and the disparities they face in getting access to good quality health care and treatment. We’ll discuss how the pandemic and the economic fallout have led to a surge in mental health issues stemming from unemployment, businesses shutting down, childcare issues, food shortages, and how these issues have also compounded already existing difficulties within communities struggling with substance and domestic abuse, immigration issues, and even political strife. We’ll examine solutions and approaches health care providers can take to help address some of the barriers Hispanic/Latinx communities face in getting access to good care and discuss tips and resources families can use to help cope with ongoing mental health issues. MODERATOR: Erica Sandoval (President - National Association of Social Workers - NYC Chapter) PANELIST #1: Dr. Claire Green-Forde (Executive Director - National Association of Social Workers- NYC Chapter) PANELIST #2: Luisa Lopez (President - Latino Social Work Coalition and Scholarship Fund, Inc.) PANELIST #3: Gisselle Pardo (Co-Executive Director - Nido De Esperanza)

Episode #7 "The Tipping Scale Pt. 2 The Historic Role Of Latinos In The 2020 Election

We kick off our second season of the VECINOS podcast with part 2 of "The Tipping Scale: The Latinx Impact of the 2020 U.S. Election."   With President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration now behind us, Vecinos explores how the historic Latino voter turnout impacted the outcome of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.   In 2020, Americans learned something we as Latinos already know: We are not a monolith. We cannot be simplified because we hail from more than a dozen different countries with different cultures and political traditions, which have shaped the way we think politically and the causes we care about. Yet this past November, many were stunned to see how in places like Texas and Florida, Donald Trump made significant gains amongst Latinos. Yet in Arizona, Latinos helped deliver the state for Biden and helped flip a Senate seat from red to blue.  Tune in to learn how Latinos helped deliver Biden's historic victory and we'll look at why Democrats came up short in Florida.  We'll also explore how grassroots organizations mobilized the Latino vote, the role Latinos played in Georgia's hugely consequential runoff elections, and what all of this means for the future of Latino politics. MODERATOR: Yahaira Jacquez (Report & Producer @ Thomson Reuters) PANELIST #1: Brianna Carmen (Director of Organizing & Partnerships @ Voto Latino Foundation) PANELIST #2: Nicole Acevedo (Reporter @ NBC News) PANELIST #3: Ramon Chavez (Community Organizer @ Aqui Se Vota)

The Vecinos Podcast Episode #06 "Targeting the Latinx Audience"

In our sixth and final episode of season 1, we discuss the best ways to target a Latinx audience. When working with companies internationally, there’s an expectation that you will always make an effort to understand the language and cultural differences among various countries and cultures, but the U.S. that is not always the case especially with the Latinx market. Our panel will give you some best practices as understanding the difference between Hispanic and Latino, being aware of regional differences, considering generational/cultural gaps while tailoring marketing tactics, using Hispanic talent, including Hispanic culture in ads and being consistent with your message. Adrian Arredondo (Creative Producer, Spotify) David Puente (Communications Specialist, Clarity Media Group) Jonatan Zinger (SVP of Insights, M8) Jessica Diaz-Hurtado (Podcast Editor, Spotify)

The Vecinos Podcast Episode #05 (Part 2) "Black Lives Matter & Latinx Communities"

In our fifth episode, we continue the discussion on the Black experience in Latin America. We will provide important historical background and transition into contemporary issues impacting us today including addressing racial discrimination, mestizaje and colorism. We will review their genesis and effects, as well as the current Black Lives Movement. Our goal is to help our audience begin the work of unpacking and confronting these realities and experiences and also to provide tools to engage these conversations within our homes and communities. These panels will also serve as an opportunity to address these issues in our respective industries and business environments.