Nationally syndicated court television Judge Glenda Hatchett is joining Sisters Network Inc. (SNI), the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization in the fight against breast cancer. Judge Hatchett will serve as the National Honorary Celebrity Chair for the organizations Stop the Silence Walk, 1st National African American Breast Cancer 5k walk/run on Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Houston, Texas. The walk kicks off at Houston’s historic Emancipation Park, 3018 Dowling @ Elgin from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Judge Hatchett presides over the two-time Emmy nominated nationally syndicated court television program, Judge Hatchett’s show is currently in its 9th season. She is also author of the national best- seller, “Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say.”

Thousands of people from around the country are expected to participate in the historic walk to increase African American breast health and breast cancer awareness and promote the critical importance of early detection. The event is being held in conjunction with Sisters Network Inc. 11th Annual National African American Breast Cancer conference at the Intercontinental hotel, April 9-11, 2010 in Houston, Texas.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women. The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in black women than in white women. African American women have a 77% survival rate after diagnosis as compared to 90% for white women according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), Facts & Figures 2009-2010.

“Sisters Network Inc., is honored and pleased to have Judge Glenda Hatchett join our organizations effort to increase the national spotlight on breast health awareness among African American women. We appreciate that Judge Hatchett recognizes the importance and devastating impact breast cancer continues to have in our community and encourage Judge Hatchett’s loyal viewers to register now and walk side by side with her in this historic event,” said Karen E. Jackson, Founder/CEO, Sisters Network Inc.

“This cause is so important to me. There are so many women affected by breast cancer and many of us know of one personally. I count it as a special privilege to be involved in Sisters Network Inc., movement, and if participating saves one woman’s life then it was worth every second,” said Judge Glenda Hatchett.

Participants can register individually for $25.00 per person or $250.00 for team of ten. To register, please visit www.sistersnetworkinc.org or call 1- 866- 781-1808 or email infonet@sistersnetworkinc.org for more information.

Stop the Silence® Walk will benefit Sisters Network Breast Cancer Assistance Program (BCAP) provides assistance to women facing financial challenges after diagnosis. This program provides free mammograms and financial assistance for: medical related lodging, co-pay, office visits, prescriptions, and transportation.

The National sponsor is sanofi-aventis. Local sponsors are Aetna. Media/Community partners include Majic102.1; Praise 92.1; KBXX 97.9; KPRC-TV; Houston Style Magazine, Houston Sun Newspaper, Rolling Out Magazine, Texas Business Alliance; Friends of Emancipation Park and the City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department.

About Sisters Network Inc.

Sisters Network® Inc. ,(SNI) is a leading voice and the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization in the United States. The organization’s purpose is to save lives through breast health awareness and provide a broader scope of knowledge that addresses the breast cancer survivorship crisis affecting African American women around the country. Currently, Sisters Network has 43 affiliate chapters in 22 cities nationwide. The national headquarters is located in Houston, Texas. As a nationally recognized organization among leading medical establishments and breast cancer physicians, Sisters Network is also recognized as a critical information resource for African American women.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in conjunction with the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS), the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts will present 25 masterworks of the Venetian Renaissance—12 paintings and 13 drawings—that will include two of the greatest paintings of the Italian Renaissance: Titian’s Diana and Actaeon and Diana and Callisto (1556–1559). The two paintings have never before traveled to the United States. The exhibition will also include paintings by Tintoretto, Veronese and Lotto from the collection of the National Galleries. The MFAH’s presentation of Titian and the Golden Age of Venetian Painting: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland culminates the American tour of this exhibition, which debuts at the High in October 2010. To commemorate the landmark exhibition, the MFAH will produce a comprehensive publication to place the Diana paintings in the context of both Titian’s life’s work and of their extraordinary history.

By Steve Malutich

Colleges and universities are bracing themselves for a surge of education-hungry students. One-in-eight adults (12%) plans to head back to school within the next few years, a recent CareerBuilder survey found. What’s behind this rush, and how can adult students make the most of their higher education opportunities?

The survey indicates that most of the prospective collegians want to make themselves more marketable for their career advancement. Indeed, 20 percent say they plan to change jobs in 2010, with many expressing unhappiness with their current post. While 61 percent say they were satisfied with their job last year, that percentage fell substantially from 70 percent in 2008.

For many of them, a career-focused education can provide a clear option. Such an education centers on real-world knowledge and skills, focusing on both general education and professional skills. American InterContinental University’s (AIU) Houston ground campus serves as one of many schools that offer industry-current degree programs to career-focused professionals.

Career-focused programs provide especially strong opportunities for adults seeking further education in or a degree in information technology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of computer network, systems, and database administrators will climb by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, “much faster than the average for all occupations.”

The criminal justice field also is anticipated to grow by 10 percent through 2018, the Labor Department agency projects. With a rising population and concerns about public safety, demand continues strong for qualified law enforcement professionals.

For those exploring further education in business, a Master of Business Administration degree has become a popular option. A lot of schools, including AIU, even offer accelerated programs, allowing students to obtain their MBA in only 12 months.

Regardless of why you want to pursue additional education, career-focused fields can offer an ideal option in that quest to find true job satisfaction.

Steve Malutich is the president of American InterContinental University (AIU) Houston, a regionally accredited degree-granting university, offering a wide range of associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. AIU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Additional information is available at (312) 263-0456 or www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org. AIU does not guarantee employment or salary.

By Dr. Dayton Hall

In today’s security-conscious society, and since 9/11, in particular, criminal justice has quickly become a fast-growing career sectors in the United States. The current state of affairs in the U.S. and abroad has brought to the forefront new issues relating to law enforcement, immigration, public safety and security. In addition, many criminal justice professionals are approaching retirement age and there are not enough individuals entering the profession every year to replace them, further fueling public and private sector opportunities.

As a result, the need for trained criminal justice professionals continues to grow. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of criminal justice professionals, such as police officers, detectives and probation officers, is only expected to grow at the national level over the next decade. In Houston, which has the highest rate of violent crime in Texas, there is an ongoing need for qualified law enforcement officials.

As a result of the growing popularity of the profession, qualified criminal justice professionals may be in high demand – in Houston and surrounding areas – in the near future and beyond. Candidates with a college degree in criminal justice, relevant professional experience or both will likely be in the best position to pursue career opportunities in this sought-after field.

Recognizing the need for local criminal justice education resources, American InterContinental University (AIU) Houston earlier[a1] this year began offering a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) degree designed to help students acquire a deeper understanding of criminal and juvenile justice processes, criminology, law enforcement, the courts system and corrections.

I believe employment prospects are bright for those seeking a criminal justice degree, as the City of Houston has an ongoing need for dedicated police officers. AIU’s curriculum offers a real-world approach to helping students pursue their desired professional goals in many of today’s areas of criminal justice and security.

AIU’s criminal justice program began at other campus locations in 2004 and offers a convenient blend of online and on-campus courses. Today, criminal justice courses are taught at all AIU U.S.-based campuses, where students are learning from faculty who have worked in the field, including leading criminal justice professionals such as Michael Sheetz, a former police officer and prolific author who teaches criminal justice courses at the South Florida campus.

In the face of the widening gap between a local and national need for criminal justice professionals and the supply of skilled practitioners, AIU is proud to offer courses that help students pursue meaningful careers in the criminal justice field.

Dr. Dayton Hall is the criminal justice department chair at American InterContinental University (AIU) Houston, a regionally accredited degree-granting university, offering a wide range of associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. AIU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Additional information is available at (312) 263-0456 or www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org. AIU does not guarantee employment or salary.

By Lorraine Lyman

Previous blog commenters mentioned that having the U.S. government involved in the green movement gives it a push and stamp of approval that no other organization in this great country can give it. This September as it did forty years ago with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Senate will review revolutionary environmental legislation, that could change the way we live and do business. The current Act will be negotiated, poked, prodded, and harangued; going green has indeed gone governmental!

Two significant questions are: Will individual voices from communities all over the U.S. make Senators aware of how they feel about this bill? Will people tell their hometown politicians what they need from this legislation?

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 sponsored by Henry Waxman (D-CA) and co-sponsored by Ed Markey (D-MA) was passed by the narrow margin of 219-212 in the House of Representatives on July 24, 2009. This might signal a governmental tipping point for reforming how we do “green” business in America.

This bill is a serious issue. Some of its different subsections will affect various industries that we come into contact with daily. The banking, automotive, and energy sectors are all headliners in this piece of sustainability legislation. Every politician will need to hear from their constituents to stay clear on what is important to the people. For this, there are several organizations around the country dedicated to the green movement and to ensuring that individual voices are supported and heard throughout these processes.

Greenpeace is one of those organizations. Under the “Take Action” section of their website (www.greenpeace.org), people can submit a story of how they are involved in the environmental movement. Greenpeace will forward the story along with a photo of the story’s author and a quick blurb from the organization to one of the writer’s Congressional Representatives.

We can all work to make monumental strides towards a sustainable planet. Let the people in tandem with the U.S. Senate guide America on this important part of our journey towards going green!

Lorraine Lyman, MS, is the founder of Savvy Success Unlimited, (http://www.savvysuccessunlimited.com), and the author of several papers on global sustainability, consciousness, and community. A business and life coaching company, Savvy Success Unlimited, specializes in the organizational embodiment of the green movement’s values and practices as well as utilizing our inner strength to transform the world around us.

By Stephen Malutich

As we prepare to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11, more and more military veterans are making plans to trade in their uniforms for books and school supplies. For these brave men and women, attending class, studying for tests and focusing on grades will be a new adjustment from living in war zones and fulfilling their military duties.

The increase in veterans making the transition from combat to college can largely be attributed to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program. Since being introduced earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has projected a 20 to 25 percent increase in the total number of participants in its education programs.

Private sector success, like military advancement, often requires additional training and the determination to stick with it. Though military veterans inherently have a competitive advantage – they’re wired for success and have the discipline to succeed – they often face many challenges, from funding their education to meeting family obligations, as they work toward a degree and make the transition from military service to the classroom. The Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program are making the transition a little easier, allowing for U.S. institutions of higher learning, such as American InterContinental University (AIU), to help students fund tuition expenses, fees and housing allowance benefits for many veterans.

Marty Negron, a veteran who served in the Navy for 24 years before becoming vice president of student affairs at AIU Houston, knows firsthand the importance of a college education. “Obtaining a college degree requires hard work and dedication – all qualities for which veterans are known,” says Negron. “Assistance in earning a college degree is crucial to ensuring a seamless transition to civilian life. AIU is pleased to participate in a program that will support those who have worked to protect our freedoms.”

Military veterans who choose to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree at AIU Houston may be eligible to have all or a portion of their tuition and fees paid for based on the amount of time they served and the state in which they reside. Veterans who served an aggregate of three years of active duty or 30 continuous days for those who were honorably discharged for a service-connected disability after September 10, 2001 are eligible for the maximum basic benefit and may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students are also eligible for a monthly housing allowance.

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the VA will pay tuition costs per credit hour and fees up to each state’s most expensive undergraduate tuition per credit hour and fees per term. Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, the VA and AIU will provide matching contributions for tuition and fees should a degree program exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill cap for that state.

At AIU, we are proud of the men and women who have served our country, and believe they deserve our support in their quest for a higher education. As we prepare to honor our military veterans this Veterans Day, we encourage them to take advantage of the resources available to them so they can experience success beyond the military.

For more information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, visit www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Tuition_and_fees.htm.

For more information about AIU Houston, visit www.houston.aiuniv.edu.

Stephen Malutich is the president of American InterContinental University (AIU) Houston, a regionally accredited degree-granting university, offering a wide range of associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. AIU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Additional information is available at (312) 263-0456 or www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org. AIU does not guarantee employment or salary. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Houston, TX October, 2009:  Talento Bilingüe de Houston (TBH) will be having a reception for participating families and schools in the ArtEcolÓgiko EcoPoÉtiko Poetry and Drawing Contest Saturday, October 17th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. All participating children will be recognized and Pachamama awards will be given to winners of the contest.

Participants were asked to create a healing poem and an image in response to our ecological allegory:

*The King of the castle has been wounded. He suffers from an atrocious stomach ache that is eating him up from within. His wounds are so severe that he cannot live; yet he is incapable of dying, so he groans all the time. The entire kingdom is in desolation—the cattle produce poisoned milk, the crops are barren, knights are killed, children become seriously ill and maidens wither. Thereʼs mourning everywhere…all because the King is wounded. According to the prophesy, only the voice of an innocent heart, that of a young poet who comes from a place where is least expected, shall be found to restore the Kingdom.

Young poets! Save the Kingdom!
Shine light into our darkest spaces
Use your keen senses
Craft words and pictures
Crush the fiction of our hopeless perception.

Several one of a kind artworks were turned in from many Houston area schools that took action in this cause. All artworks were divided into three categories where our talented group of judges Sarah Cortez, Tony Diaz, Maria R. Palacios, Jesus Arturo Avila, Edward Santos Garza, Rose Mary Salum and Evangelina Vigil-Piñon choose three winners in each category to be receiving Pachamama prizes.  Guests will be able to meet the Healthy King and Queen and be entertained by José Antonio Simón singing from his eclectic repertoire of songs. Simón has performed in Houston and Europe with the Houston Symphony Chorus under the direction of Dr. Charles Hausman. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

ArtEcolÓgiko EcoPoÉtiko Poetry and Drawing winners will also be announced October 18th, 2009 at 6:30pm in the ¿Donde Jugaran los Niños? Concert with Pablo Montero at the Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Visit  http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetaverdenow/ for a preview of the artworks.

For information call 713.222.1213 or visit us at 333 S. Jensen Dr. Houston, TX 77003
For interviews please contact Mary Vaughan at 713.222.1213 or mary@tbhcenter.org
For more information on this event or any other events visit www.TBHcenter.org, call us at 713.222.1213.
This organization Talento Bilingüe de Houston is funded in part by a grant from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

Who is Adrian Garcia?
I consider myself a dedicated native Houstonian and first generation American, being the only U.S.-born of my family.  I’m the youngest of six children. I grew up instilled with the firm values taught by my mother Maria and my late father Ignacio. Those values were to work hard, work honestly and help others. It was through these guiding principles that I chose public service as a profession and became an officer with the Houston Police Department in 1980.

How did you get started in your career?
Recognizing that young people in my community were getting lost to crime, I decided I wanted to do something to help make a difference, so I began my career as a peace officer in 1980 with the Houston Police Department.

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
Hispanic Heritage Month is a great opportunity to celebrate, not only our history, but the great diversity that makes Houston and Harris County one of the most culturally-rich metropolitan areas in the country.  In addition, it also allows for us to recognize the many positive contributions that Hispanics are making throughout the area, many coming from very humble beginnings and many overcoming great obstacles.

As the highest ranking elected Hispanic in Houston, you have a chance to work with an extraordinary number of Houstonians. Which ones have had the greatest effect on you?

There have been many great Houstonians that I have had the honor and privilege to have worked with, many have never held public office.  However, during my 5 years as a City Councilmember, Houston Mayor Bill White became a great mentor and teacher. I also credit County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia for encouraging me in my first run for public office.  But the most extraordinary Houstonians that have had the greatest effect on me have obviously been my parents and my immediate family.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for the Sheriff’s department over the next five years?
There are many challenges we, as the third-largest sheriff’s office in the nation, face.
One of them is to restore the public’s confidence and trust in the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, I want the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to be known as a “Public Trust Oriented Agency”  meaning that we will work diligently to keep the community safe from dangerous people, but we will also be defenders and protectors of the Bill of Rights.

It’s also no secret that the Harris County Jail currently has more inmates than what it was built to house, so that is a challenge that we deal with on a daily basis given the limited resources we have. Our goal is the safety of the citizens of Harris County and the best way to ensure that is by putting more deputies on the street. However, the size and diversity of our community presents constant challenges to our men and women of law enforcement, who are committed to creating and maintaining a secure community. That is why a partnership between our organization and the residents of Harris County, is critical in the fight against crime.

What do you consider to be the greatest achievements of the Sheriff’s Department during your tenure?
Only time will tell. My tenure has just begun and we’re working hard to keep Harris County safe and there’s a lot of work to do.  However, establishing the most diverse Command Staff that the the Harris County Sheriff’s Office has ever had,  that includes 4 Hispanics, 2 African Americans and an Asian American, has been one of the things I am very proud to have done thus far.

Your position as Sheriff requires tremendous leadership and management skills, what classes or courses did you take that helped you?
My experiences as a police officer, then as Director of the City’s Anti-Gang Office and then as a city councilmember have been the best preparation I could have had for my job as Sheriff. That and the mentoring of great leaders and friends.

Currently, there is no race/ethnicity in Houston above 50% of the total population. According to the latest Census as well as the Kleinberg Report, the Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino Community accounts for 66.7% of Houston’s overall population, representing 1.36 million people. How do you think that will affect/influence the future of Houston?
Our region’s cultural diversity is what makes Harris County a great place to live and work, and as we grow together we will learn to build on the value that we each bring to the table.

What is the future of Adrian Garcia?
My focus is how to make the best out of today. More than 4 million citizens of Harris County count on me and our deputies and detention officers.  As has been my nature, I will work hard each day to make our community the safest and to have my employees recognized locally, nationally and even internationally as the most professional and effective public servants.

By Wayne M. Zamora

September is Hispanic Heritage Month and for the past few years I’ve written a short history on how September got to be Hispanic Heritage Month. Many cities across the U.S.A. will be having some type of Latin Festival going on. Here in South Carolina it will be a blend of different Latin cultures while in some states it will have a large focus on just one of several Latin cultures. It all depends on the population of Latinos in that area for example in Miami it’ll possibly be focused on the Cuban culture. For this issue I’ve decided to focus on Latinos in the U.S. and am starting with the history on the Tejano culture. Hopefully some people will get some useful knowledge out of it.

Latin Connection Magazine is progressing very well. I have in the past talked about what the magazine is all about but now that are a great number of new readers so I need to re-tell the story. Latin Connection Magazine is family owned I am the editor in Chief, photographer, writer some times, sales, etc…. my daughter is the Asst. Editor, Graphic designer of the magazine, my proof reader, my researcher, etc… The photos that you see wouldn’t be possible without the help from our Correspondent Madeline Lozano, who also does some sales. She is the one that you see out there taking photos for me, taking my place at functions, etc..in San Antonio. Along with her you usually see my good friend and big help Sandra Valadez. Sandra is the producer for her own web TV program called Always Viewed “con sabor latino” web TV. Just one of the many projects that Sandy is working on. The magazine started out a few years ago as a Hispanic Outreach newsletter to what it has developed today. Topics covered in the magazine: Migas, history on the food, In Uniform which is Hispanics in the military, Inspirations our role model section. Los Tunes pages, upcoming and present music artists, cultural events, festivals, Latinos in action – Latinos in other fields like country music, jazz, hip-hop, etc… Latin Entertainment, sports (coming soon), health articles (coming soon). Latin Entertainment is how Latin Connection Magazine managed to get Brandy Lopez to be the speaker for the Hispanic Heritage Committee at Shaw AFB for Hispanic Heritage month. Brandy brought along with her Rick Balderrama, David Marez, and Javier Galvan. They performed at Shaw AFB. Latin Connection Magazine also had the opportunity of having Megan Leyva perform at the Iris Festival in Sumter, SC. In attendance was two time Latin Grammy winner Rebecca Valadez. The magazine is about sharing our culture, music, food, family traditions, and connecting with other people and Latin cultures. By bringing the music artists and speakers to SC I am sharing my culture with everyone. We have had a family from Charleston SC share their photos of their daughter’s Quinceanera, Diana Salazar. I drove all the way to an island off Charleston, SC to take the photos. I have never in my life been connected to so many wonderful people. It amazes me what has come out from this magazine.

As time goes on we will be adding or making changes to the magazine. Our newest addition is our sports section. See the photos of Boxer Oscar Diaz and information on his upcoming benefit match. For all of you Long Horn Fans we are now partnering up with “Long Horn Gene” Williams and the LongHornLive Radio Show. We will be bringing you your Long Horn Football updates plus photos.

Latin Connection Magazine is locate on our website.
To view our website please visit
www.LatinConnectionTexas.com
Check out the music videos!!

¡Saludos!/Salutations!

Editor’s note:

You may have noticed that I’ve had to skip sending out my e-newsletter for the past couple of months.  It’s been due to work and family commitments. I appreciate all the e-mails I’ve received from many of my faithful readers who have missed receiving the latest edition and wanted to make sure I was ok.

Lots of exciting news has happened!  Hopefully you’ve not missed knowing that TWO Hispanic astronauts flew on the Shuttle Discovery (STS-128) to ISS - Jose Hernandez and Danny Olivas!

And we’re in the middle of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept-Oct)!  Feel free to share the stories of the wonderful Hispanics who are featured in “Who’s Who in our Latin Community/History” section with our younger generation. Special thanks to Rafael Ojeda who helps to keep me inform with these great sites. If you’re in Virginia this weekend, don’t miss “The ¿Qué Pasa? Festival of VA which kicks off on Sept. 26th, 12 - 8 PM at Science Museum of VA in Richmond.

Have a great Month!

Latina Women Of NASA of The Month - Lixa Rodriquez-Ramon

Ms. Lixa Rodriquez-Ramon is an Environmental Engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).  NASA GSFC is located in Greenbelt, Maryland and is home to the Nation’s largest organization of combined scientists and engineers dedicated to learning and sharing their knowledge of the Earth, solar system, and Universe.

To read more about Ms. Lixa Rodriquez-Ramon, visit http://oeop.larc.nasa.gov/hep/lwon/LWONbios/gsfc-LRodriguezRamos.html

NASA Civil Servant Latinas who are interested in participating on the LWON web site should contact Debbie.Martinez@NASA.gov   

CELEBRATED HISPANIC HOLIDAYS

Oct 10 - Grito de Yara (Cuba)
Oct 12 - Día de la Hispanidad (Spain)
Oct 18 - Señor de los Milagros (Peru)
Sept. 8 - Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, patron of Cuba
Sep 15 - Independence Day for Central American nations (El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua)
Sep 16  - Mexican Independence Day
Sep 18 - Independence Day for Chile. Also known as Fiestas Patrias and El Dieciocho

Sept 23 - Grito de Lares (Puerto Rico)
Aug 1-6 - El Salvador del Mundo, patron saint of El Salvador
Aug 6 - Independence Day for Bolivia
Aug 7 - Battle of Boyacá (Colombia)
Aug 10 - Independence Day for Ecuador
Aug 15 - Feast of the Assumption
Aug 17 - San Martín Day
Aug 25 - Independence Day for Uruguay

Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM)

HHM is the period to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States  and to celebrate Hispanic heritage  and culture. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15th and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988 on the approval of Public Law 100-402. 

“September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. They all declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18 and September 21, respectively. ” Public Law 100-402 authorizes and requests the President to issue an annual proclamation designating September 15 through October 15, as “Hispanic Heritage Month. (source-Wikipidia)

2009 NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH OBSERVANCE AT NASA GLENN

Glenn’s 2009 Hispanic Heritage Month Observance will take place on October 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Administration Building Auditorium. This year theme is “Embracing the Fierce Urgency of Now.” Our keynote speaker will be Astronaut Joseph M. Acaba. We will also have cultural performances by Justo Saborit with “Saborit Latin-Soul.” POC: Marisabel Lebron at 3-2292.

Expanding our Hispanic network…

On behalf of NASA HEP, I like to extend a warm welcome to our HEP Hispanic network to:
 - Luis Rosario, El Rincon Tropical Restaurante, www.elrincontropical.com
 - Digna M. Carballosa, Deputy Director Office of Human Capital - NASA MSFC
 - Nora Normandy - NASA HQ
 - Wayne M. Zamora - www.LatinConnectionTexas.com
 - Richard-Sebastian Alexander - www.TheBlueZero.com
 - Glen Motto, www.wbtk.com

¡Bienvenidos!

Who’s Who in our Latin Community/History

* Laura Contreras Rowe overcame poverty and discrimination through education and sports (Va Beach). She was featured on   Role Model for Hispanic Girls - http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=011008&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=7159148&referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referrer=staf

* Hispanics in the United States Marine Corps - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanics_in_the_United_States_Marine_Corps
* Puerto Rican Military History - http://www.elboricua.com/MilitaryHistory.html
* U.S. LATINO PATRIOTS - http://www.jsri.msu.edu/RandS/Ebooks/MilLatinos.pdf
* The Contributions of Hispanic Servicewomen - http://www.womensmemorial.org/Education/HisHistory.html

Do you know of any other distinguish Latin American? Send in their link to Debbie.Martinez@NASA.gov to be shared here with others.

NASA Science News & Educational Outreach

09.26.09 - Meteorite Impacts Expose Ice on Mars. Fresh meteorite impacts are exposing underground ice on Mars. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is beaming back must-see photos of the process at work.
FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/26sep_martianice.htm?list59823

09.24.09. - Water Molecules Found on the Moon. Using instruments on three separate spacecraft, scientists have discovered water molecules in the polar regions of the Moon.
FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/24sep_moonwater.htm?list59823

09.21.09 - School Kids Track LCROSS. Using a colossal radio telescope in the Mojave Desert, school kids around the world are helping NASA track the LCROSS spacecraft as it heads for a crash landing on the Moon.
FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/21sep_gavrt.htm?list59823

09.15.09. In Search of Dark Asteroids. NASA is set to launch a sensitive new infrared telescope to seek out sneaky things in the night sky — among them, dark asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.
FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/15sep_ninjaastronomy.htm?list59823

09.11.09. NASA Selects Target Crater for Lunar Impact. In search of water, NASA’s Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) is on a collision course with the Moon. Today NASA announced exactly where the impact will take place.
FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/11sep_lcrosstarget.htm?list59823

09.09.09. NASA Releases Spectacular First Images. astronomers declared the Hubble Space telescope a fully rejuvenated observatory with the release of spectacular new images and data from four of its six operating science instruments.
FULL STORY AND IMAGES at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/09sep_hubbleimages.htm?list59823

08.14.09. In Search of Antimatter Galaxies. A powerful cosmic ray detector to be installed on the International Space Station will search for antimatter galaxies and other exotic phenomena in the Universe.
FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/14aug_ams.htm?list59823   

07.17.09. Apollo Landing Sites Photographed. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has returned its first imagery of Apollo landing sites. The pictures show lunar module descent stages, scientific instruments and even 40-year-old foot trails made by astronauts walking across the dusty lunar surface.
FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/17jul_lroc.htm?list59823  

APPLICATION DEADLINES ***STUDENTS****
1. Department of Defense Student Internship - Deadline September 30th - http://veterans.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=450
2. HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) - Deadline October 1st - http://www.hnip.net  
3. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - October 15, 2009 - www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/training/inro

UPCOMING HAMPTON ROADS’ &/or Neighboring Cities HISPANIC EVENTS

Before going to any of these events, please contact THEM to confirm date & time.
1. Roberto’s Event Schedule -  http://www.geocities.com/robertoinc/
POC: ROBERTOINC@aol.com

2.The ¿Qué Pasa? Festival of Virginia - kicks off on Sept. 26th, 12 - 8 PM
WHERE: Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W Broad St. Richmond, VA 23220
WEB SITE: http://quepasafestival.com/

3. Latino Festival - Fiestia DC
WHEN: September 27, 2009.
WHERE: Downtown Washington, DC includes a parade, a children’s festival, a science fair, arts & crafts, international cuisine and much more.
WEB SITE: http://www.fiestadc.org/

4. The Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce First Annual Golf Tournament
WHEN: Wednesday, October 7th at Birkdale Golf Club
WEB SITE: http://vahcc.com/newsletters/2009/week_071609.html

5.Twelfth International Festival of Hispanic Theater
WHO: Troupes from Argentina (Buenos Aires & Cordoba), Colombia, Dominican Republic, U.S.A., Uruguay, and Venezuela.
WHEN: October 13 – November 21, 2009
WHERE: Gunston Arts Center – Theater Two, 2700 S. Lang Street, Arlington, VA 22206
TICKETS: Regular $30; Students & Seniors Citizens, $25 / ‘3-Ticket Pass’ for $80/$65 AND ‘Full Festival Pass’ for $150/$125
INFORMATION: 703-548-3092 or 202-882-6227; www.teatrodelaluna.org

6. Smithsonian Latino Center Lecture: Production and Propaganda
Colonial Art from the Spanish Caribbean, Panama, and Peru
WHEN: September 26, 2009 - 3pm – 4pm
WHERE: Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium/ Smithsonian American Art Museum 8th St. and G St. NW, Washington, D.C.

7. GALA Hispanic Theatre Benefit Event, DC
WHEN: October 14 @ 7 PM
WEB SITE: Visit us at galatheatre.org for more information or call 202 234 7174 to reserve.

8. National Latina Institute’s Quinceañera!
WHEN: October 7, 2009
WHERE: National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC
WEB SITE:  http://latinainstitute.org/quince.html

HEP - WEB SITES OF THE MONTH

Latina Women Of NASA - http://latinawomen.nasa.gov/hep/lwon/
NASA Hispanic Astronauts - http://oeop.larc.nasa.gov/hep/hep-astronauts.html
Páginas del Web de NASA Dryden en Español - http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/espanol/index.html
Spanish Language NASA Sites - http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/En_Espanol.html
NASAimages - great resource - www.NASAimages.org
NASA Reduced Gravity Opportunity - http://www.hispanicfund.org/email/aug2009/eight-a.php
NASA Jobs Homepage - http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov
HEPM - http://www.hepm.org/Index.htm
NASA JOB OPPORTUNITIES - USAJobs Resume Builder at www.usajobs.gov to submit an electronic resume
NASA ii Webcast Of the Week (WOW) - http://ii.larc.nasa.gov/view/WebcastOfTheWeek
NASA spinofffs - http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index.htm
NASA and Internet Archive - http://www.nasaimages.org  
NASA Demographic information (diversity) - http://nasapeople.nasa.gov/workforce/default.htm
NASA Careers - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/career/index.htm l
Find ISS Flybys- http://spaceweather.com/flybys
Ares I-X build-up - http://bit.ly/BygEQ

INTERESTING ONLINE ARTICLES/WEB SITES:

Society of Hispanic Historical & Ancestral Research  - http://shhar.net/
Southern Poverty Law Center -  Under Siege: Life for Low-Income Latinos in the South, available at http://www.splcenter.org/legal/undersiege/UnderSiege.pdf
Hispanic Employment Statistical report - US OPM - http://www.opm.gov/Diversity/Hispanic/index.asp
Hispanics in High-Level Governmental Positions - http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2009/9/2/president_obama_appoints_record_number_of.htm  
In-State Tuition News - http://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-Library/MHF/252863.html
The Americano: A New Site for American Hispanics with a New Take on News and Opinion - http://www.TheAmericano.com
New Report Highlights Latina Students Face Greater Challenges Than Counterparts - http://maldef.org/news/releases/new_report_highlights_latina_08262009/
Top Schools for Hispanics - http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/education/
Hispanic Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program (HUMADAOP) - http://hispanicumadaop.com/
2009 Pepsi HHM program’s main feature, is a bilingual website - http://www.buildurdestiny.com or http://www.construyetudestino.com
Smithsonian Latino Center [DC] not only during our Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations, but all year around for researchers and historians of our Latino History and contributions. - http://latino.si.edu/

TODAY looks at Hispanic America

In a week-long series, TODAY examines a wide range of issues facing the Hispanic community. From population growth and immigration to trailblazing Hispanic women and the Latin influence on entertainment, we will feature the diverse ways Hispanic people have impacted the country.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31127624/

“Muestra Tu Herencia” (Show Your Heritage) - Yahoo! En Español (www.yahooenespanol.com) have partnered to celebrate HHM and give back to the community through “Muestra Tu Herencia” (Show Your Heritage), a unique interactive online photo-sharing program where users can submit digital photos on www.yahooenespanol.com/kodak to showcase their unique culture and traditions.

Debbie Martinez
FTA Deputy Project Manager
Orion Abort Flight Test (AFT) / Flight Test Article (FTA) Project
www.NASA.gov/Orion

LaRC Hispanic Advisory Group, Chair
http://oeop.larc.nasa.gov/hep

NASA Langley Research Center
Bldg. 1232A, Room 214/ Mail Stop 303
Hampton, VA 23681
http://latinawomen.nasa.gov/hep/dmart/

Explore. Discover. Understand.