Fronteras-A Changing America (Radio)

Latinitas is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young Latinas through media and technology. Latinitas Magazine is the first digital magazine made for and by Latina youth. Since 2002, they have offered media enrichment programs aimed at empowering girls to express themselves and gain confidence to succeed. Executive Director Alicia Rascon joins us  in the studio. 

Nora Barraza took the office of Mayor of Mesilla two years ago. Since then she says she has accomplished many goals and has more plans for the town’s future. She joins us in the studio now to talk about the failed vote on a much needed general obligation bond and what recently obtained state appropriations will be used for.   

Comedian Bill Santiago went from a career in journalism to the realm of comedy. Santiago uses his Puerto Rican background to relate to audiences across the country eliciting laughter by poking fun at Latino culture. He has appeared on Comedy Central as well as The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He is also the author of the book, “Pardon My Spanglish, Porque Because!” He joins us now in the studio.   

Comedian Bill Santiago went from a career in journalism to the realm of comedy. Santiago uses his Puerto Rican background to relate to audiences across the country eliciting laughter by poking fun at Latino culture. He has appeared on Comedy Central as well as The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He is also the author of the book, “Pardon My Spanglish, Porque Because!” He joins us now in the studio.   

A new local non-profit has formed in the border region with a mission to assist and support Political Asylum Seekers who come to the U.S in hopes of leaving behind threats and violence. The organization is the Alliance for Political Asylum Seekers and two of its members Veronica Carmona and Maury Castro join us in the studio now to talk about the Alliance and an upcoming fundraiser.  

This week we continue to focus on the Latino achievement gap in our region and explore how states are looking beyond federal guidelines and assistance to come up with some possible solutions to close the gap in the Southwest. More than one-third of Latino students are English Language Learners and, according to Department of Education data, they consistently perform poorly on state tests and have lower graduation rates than whites and Asians.  

Latinos are the largest ethnic minority group in the Southwest and the fastest-growing nationally.  More than one-third of Latino students are English Language Learners and, according to Department of Education data, they consistently perform poorly on state tests and have lower graduation rates than whites and Asians.  On today’s program we focus on the Latino achievement gap in our region and explore how states are looking beyond federal guidelines and assistance to come up with some possible solutions to close the gap in the Southwest.

A new documentary premiering in the border region focuses on the past year in the city of Juarez, Mexico. The film analyzes the city’s violent image as well as the upcoming 2012 election. In 2011, the murder rate in Juarez,  was down 33% from the previous year. While many might consider this is a small victory documentary filmmaker Charlie Minn says it’s not. Minn joins us in the studio to talk about his new film “Murder Capital of the World.”  

By Vanessa Dabovich