North County Informador 3.26

AN EMPOWERING LATINO FUTURES PUBLICATION SERVING NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY

JUNE 2023

PUENTE EMPOWERS STUDENTS CAMBIOS A MEDI-CAL PLUS EDUCACIÓN, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, SERVICIOS ¡Y MÁS!

TALK TO AUTHOR

REYNA GRANDE

JOIN US!

LATINO BOOK & FAMILY FESTIVAL JUNE 10TH MIRACOSTA COLLEGE

MEET

JIMMY FIGUEROA

EN ESTE NÚMERO

IN THIS ISSUE Latino Book & Family Festival Program

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Latino Book & Family Festival Program

Civic Engagement

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Civismo

Humanitarian Border Relief Education

Ayuda humanitarian en la frontera

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Free Books & Classes Feature

Libros y clases gratis

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Reyna Grande Highlights the Immigrant Experience through her Writing Feature

Educación

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From F Student to Community Leader:

Artículo

Empowering Latino Futures presents The North County Informador Team www.NorthCountyInformador.com

Artículo

- Editor in Chief: Melanie Slone, PhD, editor@NorthCountyInformador.com - Art Director: María Fernanda Álvarez - Webmaster: Ximena Esquivel - Education Begins in the Home: Edward Becerra - Community Engagement Coordinator: Martha Zamora - Sacramento Coordinator: Rene Aguilera - ISLA Programs Coordinator: Yenni Patiño - Publisher: Kirk Whisler

La vida de Jimmy Figueroa

Festival Program

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Programa del Festival

Festival Map & Key

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Mapa y clave del Festival

Health

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Salud

Medi-Cal, Nutrition Benefits

Scan to subscribe to NCI and see past issues: North County Informador is a digital weekly and monthly ePub or print issue.

Reyna Grande resalta la experiencia migrante en sus libros De alumno reprobado a líder comunitario:

Jimmy Figueroa’s Story

Volume 3, Issue 26 On the Cover: Reyna Grande and Jimmy Figueroa are keynote speakers at the 71st Latino Book & Family Festival. Photos: Reyna Grande / Andres Jimenez

Medi-Cal, Nutrición

To advertise: Melissa Lopez, melissaL1632@gmail.com, 760-458-7568 Ellen Fusco, ellenfusco2020@outlook.com, 760-970-6661

Financial Empowerment

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Empoderamiento financiero

North County Informador Advisory Board Kathy Diaz, Co-Chair; Raoul Lowery Contreras, Monica Martinez, Alejandro Tamayo, Dr. Rafe Edward Trickey, Jr.

PUENTE: Empowers Students for Success

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PUENTE: empodera a los alumnos para el éxito

Please email editor@NorthCountyInformador.com if you are interested in being a part of this effort.

Services

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Servicios

ELF’s Latino Book & Family Festival Welcome to North County Informador’s Latino Book & Family Festival issue.

We proudly present this issue that lists all of our sponsors, exhibitors, and authors. We have detailed the times and locations for every event so that you can easily choose where to be and when. Our volunteers, ELF Board, and team have worked hard to provide you information about resources available in North County San Diego. Spend the day with us, pick up information from each of our 120+ exhibitors in our 7 villages, enjoy the entertainment, and select from the delicious food options.

Nonprofts, publish content through us.

We accept English, Spanish, or both.

Civic Engagement, Community Services, Cultural Events, Education, Financial Literacy, Food Security, Government Services, Health Services, Immigration Services, Information on access to Essential Services, Virtual or in-person Events Send material to: editor@northcountyinformador.com All materials are copyrighted by Empowering Latino Futures, a 501c3 nonprofit and the parent organization of North County Informador.

Empowering Latino Futures Board Edward James Olmos, Chair Kirk Whisler, President Katharine A. Díaz, Author VP Andres Tobar, Education VP Lisa Montes, Secretary Dennis Garcia, Treasurer

Edward Becerra, Education Begins in the Home Founder, Empowering Latino Futures Board Member

- Write the editor: editor@NorthCountyInformador.com

BOARD MEMBERS: Julia Abrantes, Edward Becerra, Victoria Chavez, Norma Jasso, Esther Reyes Jones, Leticia Ordaz

El Festival Latino del Libro y de la Familia de ELF Bienvenidos a la edición de North County Informador sobre el Festival Latino del Libro y de la Familia. Nos enorgullece ofrecerles esta lista de patrocinadores, expositores y autores. Hemos detallado el horario y el lugar de cada evento durante el día, para que puedan elegir con facilidad dónde estar y a qué hora. Nuestros voluntarios, el consejo de ELF y el equipo han trabajado duro para proporcionarles los recursos disponibles en el Norte del Condado de San Diego. Pasen el día con nosotros, consigan información de cada uno de nuestros 120+ puestos, disfruten el entretenimiento y seleccionen algo rico para comer.

ELF Emeritus Board Members Nora de Hoyos Comstock, PhD; Dennis Hernandez; Zeke Montes, Ambassador Julian Nava; Jesus Nieto, PhD; Martin Valdez

Edward Becerra, fundador, Educación Comienza en el Hogar, miembro del consejo de Empowering Latino Futures

- Escriban al editor: editor@NorthCountyInformador.com Fe de errata:

Our May issue stated that Beatriz Palmer was a farmworker. It was only her parents who were farmworkers. She also doesn’t design Ethnic Studies but is on a committee that steers the curriculum for Ethnic Studies. We regret these errors. / Bea Palmer nunca fue campesina, sino que sus padres lo eran. Participa en un comité que considera los cursos de Estudios Étnicos, pero no los diseña.

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Scan to visit ELF

JUNE 2023

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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CIVISMO

ead more about the new law: R https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugeesand-asylum/asylum

onate to assist refugees: D https://www.immigrantsandiego.org/sdirc_ immigrant_relief_fund

Humanitarian Border Relief Empowering Latino Futures’ partner Universidad Popular has been providing 24-hour emergency assistance to refugees from around the world at the border.

With the ending of Title 42, which meant refugees were blocked from asking for asylum in the United States due to the Covid-19 health crisis, many migrants are confused about their options. Hundreds are stranded at border crossings, unable to use the new online system required to request asylum in the United States.

Some 400 refugees have been camped out in the restricted zone between the two border fences along the Tijuana–San Diego border.

They have no food or water, they have been cold at night, and there is only one portable toilet, which nobody is cleaning.

Asistencia humanitaria en la frontera Universidad Popular, un socio de Empowering Latino Futures, ha estado proporcionado asistencia las 24 horas a refugiados internacionales en la frontera.

Con el fin del Título 42, el cual significaba que los refugiados no podían pedir asilo en Estados Unidos debido a la crisis sanitaria por Covid-19, muchos migrantes están confundidos respecto a sus opciones. Hay cientos varados en los cruces fronterizos que no pueden usar el nuevo sistema en línea requerido para pedir asilo en Estados Unidos.

Unos 400 refugiados están en campamentos en la zona restringida entre las dos vallas fronterizas a lo largo de la frontera entre Tijuana y San Diego. No tienen alimentos ni agua, tienen frío en las noches y solo cuentan con un baño portable, el cual nadie limpia.

Lean más sobre la nueva ley: https://www.uscis.gov/ humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum Para donar y ayudar a los refugiados: https://www. immigrantsandiego.org/sdirc_immigrant_relief_fund

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JUNE 2023

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EDUCATION EDUCACIÓN

Free Books / Libros Gratis

Through ELF’s Education Begins in the Home Program aturday, June 3, S Crown Heights Resource Faire, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Oceanside Senior Center, 455 Country Club Ln, Oceanside 92054 Sunday, June 4, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., HHSA, w/Universidad Popular 649 W. Mission Ave, Escondido 92025 *Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Latino Book & Family Festival, MiraCosta College,1 Barnard Dr., Oceanside 92054 *Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Oceanside Juneteenth Event, 330 No. Coast Highway, Oceanside 92054 Sunday, June 18, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Mission San Luis Rey Fiesta Event, 4050 Mission Ave, Oceanside 92057 Tuesday, June 20, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., Pauma Community Center, 16650 Highway 76, Pauma 92061 Thursday, June 22, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Fallbrook Food Pantry, 140 N. Brandon Rd. 92028 Sunday, June 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., HHSA, w/Universidad Popular, 649 W. Mission Ave, Escondido 92025 * Volunteers would be appreciated / Se buscan voluntarios

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JUNE 2023

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FEATURE ARTÍCULO

Reyna Grande Highlights the Immigrant Experience through her Writing

“I

hadn’t really been exposed to literature written by people that looked like me,” Reyna Grande told North County Informador.

But at Pasadena City College in 1994, “Diana Savas was the first teacher who ever encouraged me to pursue a career as a professional writer,” she said, and she listened.

Reyna is excited to meet her readers at the Latino Book & Family Festival, where she is a keynote speaker. “I’m looking forward to sharing my work, and especially coming together to celebrate literature and the power of storytelling and how it’s so important, because literature can serve as a bridge and keep us connected,” she told us.

Immigration Stories In her memoirs, Reyna, who migrated from Mexico to California in fifth grade, explores the immigrant experience. “The irony of my family story is that my parents came here because they wanted to build us a house, and in building us the house, they destroyed our home,” she said.

She wants immigrants “to feel empowered by reading these stories of immigration and to feel connected as a community, to feel celebrated, to feel seen.”

She also wants to reach people outside of the immigrant community. “I want them to think about their own immigrant history…Reconnect with where they come from and to start thinking about how can they be more understanding and more compassionate toward immigrants and celebrate immigrants.”

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JUNE 2023

History as a Novel

Reyna Grande is the multiaward-winning author of the bestselling memoir The Distance Between Us, and the sequel, A Dream Called Home; as well as novels focusing on the immigrant experience.

In “The Distance Between Us, one of the main themes I was writing about was distance, all kinds of distance, physical distance, emotional distance, the distance created by assimilation, the distance created by language or education,” she said.

For “A Dream Called Home, I knew that the theme was going to be home, the search for home, wanting to belong, creating a home that’s not a physical place but more of a place that I could take with me.”

Reyna wrote her first historical novel, “A Ballad of Love and Glory,” to talk about the Mexican–American War without writing a history book. “My purpose for writing a novel was to educate the reader in terms of this history that we have not really learned in school…how does this violent history of the border continue to impact us to this day? And why is the relationship between Mexico and the US so complicated?”

She added, “As a Mexican living in California, it empowered me because for many, many years, I have been made to feel that I was the outsider… the novel shows you who were the invaders, and it was not the Mexicans … I felt that this war has been ignored so much and skipped over in US History classes that I didn’t want to use it as a mere backdrop to my love story.”

Language and culture Reyna talked about the Spanish title of “A Ballad of Love and Glory. “I decided to use corrido instead of balada, because Mexicans love their corridos. We know corridos as something that has a lot of history, violence, and politics,” she explained. “Half of Mexico was devoured,” in that war she said.

She is very careful about the translations of her books into Spanish.

“I work very, very closely with the translators because I want to make sure that the book sounds like me,” she said.

Besides the history of the war, Reyna studied Irish language and speech

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Photos courtesy of Reyna Grande

patterns to create the character of John Riley, who falls in love with the Mexican Ximena Salomé Benítez, even as he falls in love with Mexico.

An Irish historian helped her with speech and ideas from the time. “We would talk a lot about commonalities between Ireland and Mexico,” she told us.

Tips for writers Reyna encourages new writers. “Everybody has a unique perspective of how they see the world, so by you sharing your perspective … your work is going to be in conversation with other works.”

She tells writers to work on their craft, to polish their drafts, and to have high expectations for themselves. She also recommends that they learn about the business side. “Even though we’re artists and we’re creating art, we’re also creating a product that’s going to be sold in stores with a price tag on it,” she said. “Make sure you educate yourself about the business and how it works, how you can promote yourself, how you promote your books.”

Reyna holds her Latino Spirit Award 2021, from the California Latino Caucus, for Achievement in Literature & Advocacy.

Reyna Grande

resalta la experiencia migrante en sus libros

novela nos muestra quiénes eran los que invadieron y no eran los mexicanos … siento que han ignorado tanto esta guerra y que la han relegado tanto en las clases de historia estadounidense que no quería usarla como simple fondo para mi historia de amor”.

Lenguaje y cultura

“E

n realidad no había visto literatura escrita por personas que se parecían a mí”, dijo Reyna Grande a North County Informador.

Pero en Pasadena City College en 1994, “Diana Savas fue la primera profesora que me alentó a buscar una carrera como escritora”, dijo, y ella hizo caso.

Reyna está emocionada por conocer a sus lectores en el Festival Latino del Libro y de la Familia, donde es una presentadora principal.

“Anticipo compartir mi obra, sobre todo reunirnos para celebrar la literatura y el poder de contar historias y cómo es tan importante, porque la literatura puede servir como puente y mantenernos conectados” nos dijo.

Historias de migración En sus memorias, Reyna, quien emigró de México a California en el quinto grado, explora la experiencia del inmigrante. “La ironía de la historia de mi familia es que mis padres vinieron aquí porque querían construirnos una casa, y al construirnos la casa, destruyeron nuestro hogar”, dijo.

Ella quiere que los migrantes, “se sientan empoderados al leer estas historias de la migración y que se sientan conectados como comunidad, celebrados, vistos”.

También quiere llegar a la gente fuera de la comunidad migrante.

“Quiero que piensen en su propia historia de migración…reconectarse

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JUNE 2023

Reyna Grande es la autora multipremiada de las memorias bestsellers “La distancia entre nosotros” y la segunda parte, “La búsqueda de un sueño”; así como de novelas que abordan la experiencia migrante. con el lugar de dónde vinieron y empezar a pensar en cómo pueden ser más comprensivos y más compasivos con los migrantes y a celebrar a los inmigrantes”.

En el libro “La distancia entre nosotros, uno de mis temas destacados fue la distancia, todo tipo de distancia, la física, la emocional, la distancia creada por la asimilación, la que es creada por el idioma o la educación”, dijo.

En “La búsqueda de un sueño, sabía que el tema sería el hogar, la búsqueda del hogar, querer pertenecer, crear un hogar que no es un lugar físico, sino más bien un lugar que podría llevar conmigo”.

La historia hecha novela Reyna escribió su primera novela histórica, “Corrido de amor y gloria”, para abordar la guerra entre México y Estados Unidos sin hacer un libro de texto de historia. “Escribí una novela para educar al lector respecto a la historia que en realidad no hemos aprendido en la escuela … ¿cómo nos sigue impactando hoy esta historia violenta de la frontera? ¿Y por qué es tan complicada la relación entre México y Estados Unidos?”.

Agregó, “Como una mexicana que vive en California, me empoderó porque durante muchísimos años, me hacían sentir que yo era la extranjera … la

Reyna habló del título en español “Corrido de amor y gloria”. “Decidí usar corrido en vez de balada porque los mexicanos aman los corridos. Para nosotros, los corridos tienen mucha historia, violencia y política”, explicó. “La mitad de México fue devorado” en esa guerra, dijo.

Ella cuida mucho las traducciones de sus libros al español. “Trabajo muy, muy de cerca con los traductores porque quiero asegurarme de que el libro tenga mi voz” dijo.

Además de la historia de la guerra, Reyna estudió el lenguaje y las formas de hablar irlandeses para crear el personaje de John Riley, quien se va enamorando de la mexicana Ximena Salomé Benítez a la vez que se enamora de México.

Un historiador irlandés la ayudó con el lenguaje y las ideas de la época.

“Hablamos mucho sobre lo que Irlanda y México tenían en común”, nos dijo.

Consejos para los escritores Reyna alienta a los escritores nuevos.

“Todos tenemos una perspectiva única para ver al mundo, y al compartir tu perspectiva …. tu obra va a estar en conversaciones con otras obras”.

Ella sugiere a los escritores dedicarse a su oficio, perfeccionar sus borradores y tener altas expectativas. También recomienda que aprendan sobre el negocio del escritor. “A pesar de que somos artistas y estamos creando arte, también estamos creando un producto que va a venderse en las tiendas con una etiqueta con su precio”, dijo. “Asegúrense de estar educados sobre el negocio y cómo funciona, cómo promoverse, cómo promover sus libros”.

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FEATURE ARTÍCULO

FROM FAILING STUDENT TO COMMUNITY LEADER:

J

immy Figueroa was never part of a gang, but “a large portion of my friends were,” he told North County Informador. “I was 16, 17, watching some of my friends go to prison, or someone get shot. That was enough for me to say, I need to make some changes,” he said.

Today, Jimmy is the executive director of Operation HOPE-North County, a homeless shelter for single women and families with children. But the road there was far from smooth.

Back to School “I didn’t invest a lot of time toward my K–12 education,” Jimmy said. From 7th to 12th grade, he had all Fs, missed a lot of school, and got into a lot of trouble. “I didn’t see the value in education at that time.”

But then, “After making some changes in my life and having some traumatic events, … I went to the MiraCosta Community Learning Center to get my GED.” He also got his high school diploma, and when he was 20, he enrolled at the main MiraCosta campus.

Despite having to catch up in school, Jimmy said he was driven. “I had a lot of friends in prison. At that time, there wasn’t anyone in my family that had gone to college. … I saw it as one of my very few options in life.”

At MiraCosta, he learned about different concepts such as cultural empowerment that showed him a pathway to “not only help myself, but my family, and my community… especially those that were in prison.”

Jimmy realized, “I knew that I was going to commit my life to helping our underserved communities.”

He began coaching at Lincoln Middle School, became a teacher’s assistant at New Venture Christian Fellowship, and

volunteered at Encuentros Leadership, eventually becoming a board member.

Then, he went to UC Berkeley, where he ended up studying political science.

“I was extremely homesick,” he said.

“I felt extremely out of place.” But, he says, “I grew more from that experience than I would have if a had just stayed in Southern California.”

Working with the Community After Jimmy returned to Oceanside, he became the program supervisor for Project Reach Libby Lake with the Vista Community Clinic.

He ran the afterschool program, where he continued to work when he enrolled in law school. Then, he was appointed to the North County Gang Commission by the Board of Supervisors.

Later, he worked as a consultant with the County of Probation and eventually with VCC, in a pilot program that would turn former gang members who had been incarcerated into mentors.

When Jimmy couldn’t find anyone to run the program, he decided to run it “because it had to work.”

That was how the program Resilience, now in its fifth year, was born. It mentored youth and young adults from Oceanside on juvenile probation with serious or violent offenses.

“We were contracted to reduce recidivism by 5% amongst our group, and the program has reduced recidivism among the kids that have been enrolled in Resilience by 80%.”

He says the mentors are his lifelong friends, “former gang members from Oceanside. Most of them are two strikers.

So, they’ve spent a lot of time in prison.”

During Covid, the program expanded to cover all North County.

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Photo by Andres Jimenez

Jimmy Figueroa’s Story

Operation HOPE Last year, Jimmy took on his current position with Operation HOPE. His formula works. “I have the lived experiences, and I’ve remained very proximate to those in need. I just listen to what the gaps are, and I try to fill those gaps … I listen to the community,” he said.

At Operation HOPE, Jimmy has created a culture of staff empowerment and development following a plunge in morale during the pandemic, when they lost all their volunteers. Most of the staff are first in their family to graduate from college, “is a staff of color or have the lived experience of being formerly homeless.”

He is also working to move the program, which has a 20-year history, into the future. The shelter was just completely remodeled thanks to a donation by North Coast Church. After-care was created, focusing on keeping people away from homelessness in the long term. It includes a food pantry and a boutique.

Tips from Jimmy Figueroa “One thing that I share with the younger generation is, everyone has their individual process. And not to look at someone else’s journey and compare yours to theirs.”

He believes everyone has a different process because everyone has a purpose.

“Keep dreaming, but also make sure that you’re investing in your dreams with effort and time. … It’s never too late,” he said.

JUNE 2023

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FEATURE ARTÍCULO

DE ALUMNO REPROBADO A LÍDER COMUNITARIO:

La vida de Jimmy Figueroa

J

immy Figueroa nunca era pandillero, pero “gran parte de mis amigos sí lo eran” dijo a North County Informador. “Yo tenía 16, 17 años y veía como algunos amigos iban a la cárcel, o disparaban a alguien. Fue suficiente para que yo dijera, tengo que hacer algunos cambios”, dijo.

Hoy, Jimmy es el director ejecutivo de Operation HOPE-North County, un albergue para las mujeres y las familias sin hogar. Pero su camino hacia este puesto no fue nada fácil.

De regreso a la escuela “No invertí mucho tiempo en mi educación del kínder hasta la high school”, dijo Jimmy. Del grado 7 al 12, reprobó todas sus materias, faltaba a clases y se metía en líos. “No veía el valor de la educación en aquel entonces”.

Pero un día, “Después de hacer cambios a mi vida y sufrir unos episodios traumáticos, … fui al Centro Comunitario de Aprendizaje de MiraCosta para sacar mi GED”. También sacó su diploma de la high school y, cuando tenía 20 años, se inscribió en el plantel de MiraCosta College.

A pesar de tener que ponerse al día en sus estudios, Jimmy dijo que estaba dedicado. “Tenía muchos amigos en la cárcel. En ese momento, nadie en mi familia había ido a la universidad. … Lo vi como una de muy pocas opciones en mi vida”.

En MiraCosta, aprendió sobre diferentes conceptos como el empoderamiento cultural que le mostraron un camino para “no solo ayudarme a mí mismo, sino a mi familia y a mi comunidad … sobre todo a los que estaban en la cárcel”.

Jimmy se dio cuenta de que, “iba a entregar mi vida a la asistencia para 10 JUNE 2023

nuestras comunidades marginadas”.

Empezó como coach in Lincoln Middle School, se convirtió en asistente de profesores en New Venture Christian Fellowship y fue voluntario en Encuentros Leadership, donde llegaría a ser miembro del consejo. Después, fue a UC Berkeley, donde terminó estudiando ciencias políticas.

“Extrañaba muchísimo mi hogar”, dijo. “Me sentía muy fuera de lugar”. Pero, “Crecí más con esta experiencia de lo que habría crecido si me hubiera quedado en el Sur de California”.

Trabajo con la comunidad Después de que Jimmy regresara a Oceanside, se convirtió en el supervisor de programa en Proyecto Libby Lake, con Vista Community Clinic.

Dirigía el programa después de clases y siguió laborando cuando se inscribió en la escuela de leyes. Más tarde, el gobierno del Norte del Condado lo asignó a la Comisión Antipandillas.

Más tarde, trabajó como consultor con el programa de libertad condicional en el condado y con VCC, en un programa piloto que convertiría a los expandilleros una vez encarcelados en mentores.

Cuando Jimmy no encontró a nadie que dirigiera el programa, él decidió hacerlo “porque tenía que funcionar”.

Así nació Resilience, que ahora va en su quinto año. Daba mentoría a jóvenes de Oceanside que estaban en libertad condicional por delitos serios o violentos.

“Nos contrataron para reducir la reincidencia en 5 % en nuestro grupo, y el programa ha reducido la reincidencia entre los jóvenes inscritos en Resilience en 80 %”.

Dijo que los mentores son sus amigos de toda la vida, “expandilleros de Oceanside. La mayoría tienen dos

incidencias de delito, así que han pasado mucho tiempo en la cárcel”.

Durante la contingencia por Covid, el programa se expandió a todo el Norte del condado.

Operation HOPE El año pasado, Jimmy asumió su puesto actual con Operation HOPE. Su fórmula funciona. “Tengo la experiencia real y me he mantenido en contacto cercano con los necesitados.

Solo me fijo dónde están las brechas y trato de cerrarlas … hago caso a la comunidad”, dijo.

En Operation HOPE, Jimmy ha creado una cultura de empoderamiento y desarrollo del personal después del desanimo durante la pandemia, cuando se perdieron todos los voluntarios. La mayor parte del personal es la primera persona en su familia en recibirse de la universidad, “son personas de color o han experimentado el estar sin hogar”.

También trabaja para llevar el programa con un historial de 20 años hacia el futuro. Recién, el albergue fue completamente remodelado gracias a un donativo de North Coast Church. Se creó el programa After Care, el cual se enfoca a largo plazo en asegurar que la gente no esté sin hogar. Incluye una despensa de alimentos y una boutique.

Consejos de Jimmy Figueroa “Algo que comparto con los jóvenes es que todos tienen su proceso individual. Y a no mirar la trayectoria de alguien más y compararla con la tuya”. Él cree que todo mundo tiene un proceso distinto porque todo mundo tiene un propósito. “Sigan soñando, pero también asegúrense de invertir en sus sueños con esfuerzo y tiempo. … Nunca es tarde”, dijo.

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NORT H C OU N T Y SA N DI EGO

LATINO & FAMILY FESTIVAL BOOK& BOOK & FESTIVAL L ATINO DE LIBROS Y FAMILIA

Empowering Latino Futures extends a huge thank you to our GREAT Partners Muchas gracias a todos nuestros patrocinadores

Our Host

Major Partners

Padrino Partners

Compadre Partners

Amigo Partners

National Partners

Community Partners

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JUNE 2023 11

Free Bilingual Cultural and Community Event Saturday, June 10, 2023 10 am–4 pm MiraCosta College 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA

About Our Host

WWW.LBFF.US

Welcome to the 71st Latino Book & Family Festival

Bienvenidos al Festival Latino del Libro y de la Familia #71

7 ACTIVITIES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

7 ACTIVIDADES PARA USTED Y SU FAMILIA

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Listen to the award-winning author Reyna Grande talk about her experiences and give tips to new writers; to Jimmy Figueroa talk about “Finding Hope, Stepping into Empowerment”; to Victor Villarreal share his story as an award-winning Latino author; and to Sabrosas Latin Orchestra serenade you with salsa and Afro-Cuban rhythms.

Visit the Author, Children’s Community, Education, and Health Villages, packed with over 125 exhibitor booths, where you can talk to authors or check out some great community organizations and services.

Go to the bilingual workshops and learn about Health, Financial Empowerment, and Education.

Watch the youth cultural dance and musical performances from Ballet Folklorico Cultural de San Bernardino, Rancho Buena Vista High School Mariachi, Rose Elementary Ignite Dance Group, and Tierra Caliente Ballet Folklorico. Plus, enjoy Kainga Music.

Listen to Congressman Mike Levin read a children’s book, and join 25 awardwinning authors as they read from their own books.

Go to FREE CORNER to get a free Aguas Frescas and grab a free book or two.

Enjoy some tasty treats and refreshing drinks.

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12 JUNE 2023

Escuchar a la autora premiada Reyna Grande compartir sus experiencias y dar consejos para escritores nuevos; a Jimmy Figueroa hablar de “Encontrar la esperanza, lograr el empoderamiento”; a Victor Villarreal contar su historia como autor latino multipremiado; y a Sabrosas Latin Orchestra dar una serenada con música salsa y afrocubana.

Visitar más de 125 puestos de Autores, Niños, Comunidad, Educación y Salud, donde pueden platicar con los autores o aprender sobre organizaciones y servicios comunitarios.

Asistir a los talleres bilingües y aprender sobre la Salud, el Empoderamiento Financiero y la Educación.

Ver las presentaciones culturales de música y danza con jóvenes en el Ballet Folklórico Cultural de San Bernardino, Rancho Buena Vista High School Mariachi, el Grupo de baile Ignite de Rose Elementary y Ballet Folklórico Tierra Caliente. Además, disfruten Kainga Music.

Escuchar al congresista Mike Levin leer un libro para niños, y participar en la lectura de 25 autores que presentan sus libros.

Ir a la ESQUINA GRATIS y llevarse Aguas Frescas y libros sin costo.

Disfrutar de unas ricas botanas y bebidas refrescantes.

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

MiraCosta College has been honored to host the North San Diego Latino Book & Family Festival for the past several years.

The MiraCosta Community College District has served the coastal North San Diego County for over 89 years. Our mission is to provide superior educational opportunities and student support services to a diverse population of learners, with a focus on their success.

As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), veteran and military supportive institution, and Achieving the Dream Leader College, MiraCosta fosters the academic life and success of its diverse learners within a caring and equitable environment to strengthen the educational, economic, cultural, and social well-being of the communities we serve.

MiraCosta holds a special place for the Latino community, offering the PUENTE project and the Office of Advancement, with several scholarships and grants to support students and help them overcome financial barriers to higher education. MiraCosta College is also currently one of 15 community colleges in California that offers a bachelor’s degree to help students get jobs in highdemand fields.

The friendly campus offers a spectacular coastal view.

Students, staff, and visitors come together here to help each other succeed.

Keynote Speakers / Presentadores principales REYNA GRANDE,

JIMMY FIGUEROA,

STUDENT CENTER STAGE, 12 PM

STUDENT CENTER STAGE, 1:30 PM

Reyna Grande is the multi-awardwinning author of the bestselling memoir The Distance Between Us, and the sequel, A Dream Called Home. Her other works include the novels Across a Hundred Mountains, Dancing with Butterflies, and A Ballad of Love and Glory. Her newest book is her young reader’s adaptation of Spare Parts: The True Story of Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and an Impossible Dream, by Joshua Davis.

Jaime (Jimmy) Figueroa is the Executive Director of Operation HOPE-North County, a homeless shelter for families with children and single women. From 2018–2022, Jimmy helped develop and implement the juvenile reentry program Resilience Community Mentoring, created in partnership with the San Diego County Probation Department and the Vista Community Clinic. Prior to that, he worked with Oceanside Promise creating a Pilot Initiative for Latinx youth and as Program Supervisor for Project REACH Libby Lake.

Reyna Grande es la autora multipremiada de la memoria bestseller La distancia entre nosotros, y la segunda parte, La búsqueda de un sueño. Sus otras obras incluyen las novelas A través de cien montañas, Dancing with Butterflies y Corrido de amor y gloria.

Su libro más reciente es su adaptación para lectores jóvenes de Spare Parts: The True Story of Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and an Impossible Dream, por Joshua Davis.

VICTOR VILLASEÑOR,

Jaime (Jimmy) Figueroa es el director ejecutivo de Operation HOPE-North County, un albergue para las familias con niños y las mujeres sin hogar. De 2018 a 2022, Jimmy ayudó a desarrollar e implementar el programa para jóvenes en reintegración llamado Resilience Community Mentoring, creado en conjunto con el Departamento de Libertad Condicional del Condado de San Diego y Vista Community Clinic. Antes, trabajaba con Oceanside Promise, donde creó una iniciativa piloto para jóvenes latinx como director del programa Project REACH Libby Lake.

SABROSAS LATIN ORCHESTRA,

LITTLE THEATER (ROOM 3601), 1 PM

EAST STAGE, 12:30 PM

Victor Villaseñor is the author of four national bestsellers and has been nominated for the Pulitzer Price three times. He was also the Founding Chair of the Steinbeck Institute in Salinas.

He has written several screenplays, including the award-winning The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, as well as beautifully illustrated bilingual children’s books.

Victor is an advocate for literacy, especially among the Latino community.

Victor Villaseñor es el autor de cuatro bestsellers a nivel nacional y ha sido nominado por el Premio Pulitzer en tres ocasiones. También fue el presidente del consejo del Instituto Steinbeck en Salinas. Ha escrito varios guiones, entre estos el galardonado trabajo The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, así como libros bilingües para niños, con ilustraciones hermosas. Victor lucha a favor de la lectura, sobre todo entre la comunidad latina.

Established in 2019, Sabrosas Latin Orchestra, a 501(c)(3) organization, is proud to be the first all-female salsa band in San Diego. The orchestra brings together a diverse group of talented musicians to play salsa and Afro-Cuban-influenced music. Sabrosas Latin Orchestra seeks to bring the joy of music and dance to people of all ages and backgrounds and to encourage women to grow their talents in music for generations to come.

Fundada en 2019, Sabrosas Latin Orchestra, una organización 501(c)(3) sin fines de lucro, se enorgullece en ser la primera banda de salsa de puras mujeres en San Diego. La orquesta reúne un grupo diverso de artistas talentosas que tocan música con influencia salsa y afrocubana. Sabrosas Latin Orchestra busca acercar la alegría de la música y del baile a gente de toda edad y origen y alentar a las mujeres a fomentar su talento en las generaciones por venir.

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

JUNE 2023 13

Key Festival Activities – Something For Everyone Student Center Stage

Little Theater

East Stage

In 3601

in the Author Tent

Festival Opening Ballet Folklorico Cultural de San Bernardino

10:00 Kainga Music

10:30

Rancho Buena Vista High School Mariachi

11:00

Author readings

Congressman Mike Levin

11:30

Reyna Grande

12:00

Sabrosas Latin Orchestra

12:30

Victor Villaseñor

1:00 1:30

Author Stage Readings

Author readings of children’s, fiction, nonfiction and poetry books

Jimmy Figueroa

Finding Hope, Stepping into Empowerment

2:00

Rose Elementary Ignite Dance Group

3:00

Tierra Caliente Ballet Folklorico Academy of Arts & LuMaya

2023 Latino Book & FamiLy FestivaL viLLaGe LayoUt

Author readings of children’s, fiction, nonfiction and poetry books

Special Services Offered in The Festival Health Village / Servicios Especiales dentro del Área de Salud

Booths 534-536

st

Ea tagE s tin

Opsam Health

Sea

g

Festival Legend

Booths 520 to 524

Information Booth Author Village Children’s Village Community Village Education Village Food Village Health Village Restrooms Inclusive Restrooms

Mir aCo sta Coll ege 409 to 4 10

EDUCATION VILLAGE 413 -14

215 to 218

MAAC

Room Room Room

3515 3516 3517

Library Van

302 SDGE

UP

320

310 to

Boo ths 307 to 3 09 Boo ths 314 to 3 19

Aguas Frecas

CCC U

Free Books

CHILDREN VILLAGE

Free Corner

323 -32 4

Boo ths 531 -53 3

129-130

Author V illAge tent 127-128

330 to 332 MFCU

NBC7

Student Center Stage

NH

Blue S

FHC SD

FCE

Festival Info

HEALTH VILLAGE

Molina Health

Little Theater Room 3601

COMMUNITY VILLAGE

313

PC

SDC L

513-15

322

VCC

502

True Care

500-1 AARP

Lived Experiences

Seating FOOD VILLAGE

14 JUNE 2023

Blood Pressure checks / revisión de presión arterial: TrueCare Blood Sugar checks / revisión de azúcar en la sangre: TrueCare Covered California information / Información de Covered California: Molina Healthcare LIBRARY Dental services / Servicios dentales: Vista Community Clinics Immigration information / Información sobre migración: Molina Healthcare Medi-Cal enrollment / inscripciones Medi-Cal: TrueCare MediCare enrollment / inscripciones MediCare: TrueCare Nutritionist / Nutriólogo: San Diego PACE, San Ysidro Health Vaccines / Vacunas: Opsam Health

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

To participate in the raffle, go to the Festival Information Booth near the Student Center Stage.

Book Workshops Room 3517

A Sincere THANK YOU To Everyone Who Made This Festival Possible

Topical Workshops Room 3516

10:00 10:30

9 Things to Know About Preventative Health Care

11:00 11:30

How to get Published

12:00 12:30

Children’s Book Panel

College Funding Options

1:00 1:30 2:00

Latino Fiction Panel

How to Succeed in College

3:00

A salute to the team headed by Martha Zamora, Edward Becerra, Jonathan Gomez, Gaby Beas, and Esther Reyes Jones. Thank you all for your enourmous efforts, Kirk Whisler Paola Alegria Ebely Hernandez M’Linda Rosol María Fernanda Maritza Melanie Slone Alvarez Hernandez Rita Soza Elisa Ayala Norma Jasso Alejandro Tamayo Jacqueline Ayala Lisette Ordorica Javier Tirado Gaby Beas Lasater Alan Tornel Adriana Brunner Sinar Lomeli Mayra Turchiano Monica ChapaRaoul Lowery Rafe Edward Domercq Contreras Trickey, Jr Victoria Chavez Leticia Maldonado Cipriano Vargas Dr. Sunny Cooke Sabrina Medellin Victoria Vazquez Catalina Duarte Sylvia Melena Itza Vilaboy Ximena Esquivel Lisa Montes Richard Villasana Jaquelin Fematt César Mora Beatrice Zamora Dutson Oscarin Ortega Tiffany Zhang Marisol Edrozo Yenni Patiño And everyone else Juan Estrada Raquel Perez who helped in the Dennis Garcia Marissa Preston effort.

Sonia Gonzales Jessica Ramirez

Exhibitors by Latino Book & Family Festival Villages AUTHOR VILLAGE

Adobe House Press Bellelune Books Carlos F. Tarrac AWA Ertll Publishers Esther Reyes Jones, AWA Fondo de Cultura Económica Frank Cruz & Rita Soza AWAs Gloria Arjona Gracefully Global Group LLC Janet Breceda Wright AWA Karla Cordero AWA Los Comex/Ninth Circle Studios Maritere Rodríguez Bellas AWA My Mother is a Superhero North Fourth Publications Oyuki Aguilar Patricia Siciliano Poli Flores Jr. Sierra Blanca Books Sonia Gutiérrez AWA Sylvia Melena AWA Thomas Prezelski AWA Vibiana Aparicio Chamberlin AWA Victor Ledesma Victor Villaseñor

CHILDREN’S VILLAGE Carlsbad City Library Children’s Paradise

Education Begins in the Home MAAC Mexicons Art Oceanside Public Library San Diego County Library Studio ACE

COMMUNITY VILLAGE

AARP California Arte de Alma Bahai Assembly of Oceanside Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego California Center for the Arts California Coast Credit Union HomeSmart Realty West Ideas Cabrera KNSD NBC7 Las Valientes / God’s Heart Ministry Latino Book & Family Festival Info Lived Experiences Minute Maid Aguas Frecas MiraCosta College Transitions Mission Federal Credit Union New York Life Insurance Company Of Many Outreach Program Services of America Red Eagle Medicine Wheel Representative Mike Levin San Diego Union-Tribune San Diego County Credit Union

SDG&E Sicaa Shirts Universidad Popular

EDUCATION VILLAGE

Kainga Music MiraCosta College Community Learning Center MiraCosta College Puente Program MiraCosta College Student Ambassadors MiraCosta College Student Equity MiraCosta College Technical Career Institute MiraCosta College Undocumented/ Mixed Status Ally MiraCosta College UPRISE Oceanside Unified School District FACL Palomar College San Diego Council on Literacy San Diego County Office of Education, Migrant Education

FOOD VILLAGE

Fruity Fruits MiraCosta College Puente Club Tacos for Scholarships MiraCosta College Toro Churros & Doughnuts

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

HEALTH VILLAGE

Blue Shield of California Champions for Health Children’s Physicians Medical Group Family Health Centers of San Diego PACE Molina Healthcare Neighborhood Healthcare OPSAM Health San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency San Diego PACE; San Ysidro Health Southern Caregiver Resource Center TrueCare TURN Behavioral Health Services Vista Community Clinic

OTHER ELF NORTH COUNTY PARTNERS

Miracosta College MiraCosta College Foundation MyPoint Credit Union North San Diego County Promise Tina Zucker Watkins Wellness NOTE: Names in bold are Empowering Latino Futures Partners.

JUNE 2023 15

Book Workshops TALLERES DE LIBROS

Performances PRESENTACIONES

Room 3517 11:30–12:00 Getting Your Book Published / Cómo publicar un libro Moderator: Sylvia Melena Panelists: José Chavez, Poli Flores 12:30–1 pm A Discussion with Children’s Book Authors / Plática con autores de libros para niños Moderator: Maritere R. Bellas Panelists: Cecilia Caballero, Paul Meyer, Teresa Verduzco, Graciela Tiscareño-Sato, Tom Prezelski

STUDENT CENTER STAGE Kainga Music 10:30–11:15

EAST STAGE Ballet Folklorico Cultural de San Bernardino 10–10:45

2:00–2: 30 pm Writing Latino Fiction / Escritura de ficción latina Moderator: Gloria Arjona Panelists: Poli Flores, Patricia Siciliano, Randy Ertll

Other Bilingual Workshops OTROS TALLERES BILINGÜES Room 3516 11 am–noon 9 Things to Know about Preventative Health Care / 9 Consejos en salud preventiva TrueCare: Two of their compassionate specialists share their expertise on the state of mental health.

Neighborhood Healthcare: Offers information on preventative screenings such as Pap smears, mammograms, and more.

PACE: A nutritionist offers advice for a healthier life.

EAST STAGE Rancho Buena Vista High School Mariachi 11:15–11:45

EAST STAGE Sabrosas Latin Orchestra 12:30–1:30

1–2 pm College Funding Options / Opciones de pago en la educación superior Veronica D. Vasquez-Rivera & Carlos Lara, New York Life Financial Services Professionals Learn how to navigate college funding solutions.

2–3 pm Succeeding In College / El éxito en la educación superior Expert advice from current students on how to navigate college life as first-generation college students.

Presented by MiraCosta Ambassador Students

EAST STAGE Rose Elementary Ignite Dance Group 2:00–2:40

16 JUNE 2023

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

EAST STAGE Tierra Caliente Ballet Folklorico Academy of Arts & LuMaya, 3:00–3:40

Authors AUTORES

AUTHOR STAGE IN THE AUTHOR TENT

S Congressman Mike Levin U will read a children’s book from 11:30 to 11:45.

Author Readings, 11:15–11:30; 12:30–1:30; 2:00–3:00 ita Soza R Gloria Arjona Javier Hernandez CJ Charles Oyuki Aguilar Sonia Gutiérrez Victor Ledesma Fondo de Cultura Económica

The Audacious Little Princesses

by Janet Breceda Wright, A.E. Wright, Nataly Michelle Wright Illustrated by Dano Marr

Thomas Prezelski Californio Lancers

Vibiana AparicioChamberlin Chicana on Fire

Cecilia Caballero Lavender Little Girl Rouge the Enchanted Dragon Little Blue Guitar Potty Quest

Esther Reyes Jones La Señora with the Blue Lipstick Señora Felice Returns Home

Sylvia Melena Supportive Accountability: How to Inspire People and Improve Performance

Karla Cordero How To Pull Apart The Earth

Poli Flores, Jr. In the Shadow of the Sun

Carlos F. Tarrac Ángel Tarrac Escultor de dos patrias 1898–1979

José Chavez Dancing Fruit Singing Rivers, Baila la Fruta, Cantan los Ríos Little Stars and Cactus, Estrellitas y Nopales

Patricia Siciliano Panda, Promesa ¿De qué lado está la frontera?

Corazon de Madre My Angel, Mi Ángel

Graciela Tiscareño-Sato Bilingual Captain Mama children’s aviation book series

Maritere R. Bellas I have a secret Tengo un secreto

Randy Jurado Ertll The Adventures of El Cipitio Super Siguanaba

Teresa Verduzco Sundays with Abuelita Domingos con Abuelita

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

JUNE 2023 17

HEALTH SALUD

Don’t Lose Medi-Cal and Nutrition Benefits 60-736-6734 7 TrueCare.org WIC SDWIC.com 888-477-6333 WIC Provides - Nutrition - Education and support.

- Healthy food packages with fresh fruits and vegetables.

- Referrals to health care and other social services.

MEDI-CAL During the pandemic, nobody was required to renew MediCal. But now, you must renew or you could lose your benefits, says Leticia Vera, an enrollment officer at TrueCare.

Make sure your contact

No pierdan sus beneficios de Medi-Cal y Nutrición WIC PROPORCIONA - Nutrición - Educación y apoyo - Paquetes de alimentos sanos.

- Referencias a servicios de salud y otros MEDI-CAL Durante la pandemia, nadie tenía que renovar Medi-Cal. Pero ahora, tienen que renovar o correr el riesgo de perder los beneficios, dice Leticia Vera, quien trabaja solicitudes en TrueCare. Asegúrense de que sus datos de contacto estén al día con el condado y revisen cuándo les toca renovar, dice Leticia.

Les debe llegar por correo un paquete del Condado en un sobre grande y amarillo. Deben completarlo y devolverlo de inmediato.

Si necesitan ayuda para contactar al Condado, para llenar el formulario de renovación o para averiguar si califican, contacten a TrueCare.

18 JUNE 2023

NUTRICIÓN CalFresh, que proporciona asistencia monetaria para alimentos, ahora regresa a las cantidades prepandemia.

Mary Sammer, con Servicios de Nutrición en TrueCare, explica lo que hay que hacer si pierden algunos beneficios de CalFresh.

“WIC es la red social para las mujeres y niños,” dice Mary. “Si tiene CalFresh, y es una madre que amamanta, está embarazada, recién dio a luz o si es alguien que tiene tutela legal de un niño menor a 5 años, califica para WIC.” Los especialistas de TrueCare pueden llevarlos de la mano en el proceso de inscripción y asegurarse de que consigan el monto mayor de CalFresh o WIC que les corresponde, dice Mary.

No preguntan el estatus migratorio, pero hay que ser residente de California (mostrar una cuenta de luz, por ejemplo). La ayuda se da por teléfono.

TrueCare es un sistema de salud, así que tiene recursos médicos.

Los servicios de TrueCare son gratuitos y bilingües.

information is updated with the County and find out when you are due for a renewal, says Leticia.

You should check for a packet in a large, yellow envelope from the County. When you receive it, you must complete and return it immediately. If you need help contacting the County, filling out the renewal form, or finding out if you are eligible, contact TrueCare.

They can also help you avoid scammers out there trying to steal your personal information.

NUTRITION CalFresh, which provides monetary aid to help people put healthy and nutritious food on the table, is returning to prepandemic amounts.

Mary Sammer, of TrueCare’s Nutrition Services, explains what you can do if you lose some CalFresh benefits.

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

“Women, infants, and children (WIC) is the safety net for women and children in our communities,” Mary says. “If you are on CalFresh, and you are a breastfeeding/pregnant/ postpartum mom or legally care for a child under 5 years, you qualify for WIC.” TrueCare’s specialists can walk you through the enrollment process and make sure you are getting the biggest CalFresh or WIC benefit you are entitled to.

They do not ask about immigration status, but you must be a resident of California (show an electric bill, for example). You can get help over the phone.

TrueCare is also a health care system, so they can help you get access to medical resources.

All services free, bilingual.

FINANCIAL

FINANZAS

Help Paying Water Bill

Asistencia para pagar el agua

The Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) is the designated administering agency for LIHWAP in Ca​​lifornia.

Through LIHWAP, CSD works with a network of community-based local service providers to help low-income households pay down their residential w ​ ater and wastewater utility bills.​ Customers must qualify and apply to the LIHWAP through the designated county service provider.

For ZIP codes: 91901, 91902, 91903, 91905, 91906, 91910, 91911, 91912, 91913, 91914, 91915, 91916, 91917, 91931, 91932, 91934, 91935, 91947, 91948, 91950, 91962, 91963, 91977, 91978, 91979, 91980, 92014, 92019, 92020, 92021, 92022, 92040, 92066, 92071, 92113, 92114, 92135, 92136, 92139, 92153, 92154, 92173 Agency: MAAC Project Visit: https://maacproject.org/lihwap/ 619-349-0123

LIHWAP es un programa de emergencia federal para ayudar a las familias de bajos ingresos a pagar sus facturas de agua y aguas residuales atrasadas. Puede recibir asistencia financiera para su factura de agua y/o aguas residuales vencida hasta $ 15,000 por hogar (monto aumentado de $ 2,000 a $ 15,000 en 2023). Dado que los fondos provienen de una subvención federal, no hay que devolverlos.

Los clientes deben calificar y solicitar el programa LIHWAP a través del proveedor de servicios designado del condado.

Para códigos postales: 91901, 91902, 91903, 91905, 91906, 91910, 91911, 91912, 91913, 91914, 91915, 91916, 91917, 91931, 91932, 91934, 91935, 91947, 91948, 91950, 91962, 91963, 91977, 91978, 91979, 91980, 92014, 92019, 92020, 92021, 92022, 92040, 92066, 92071, 92113, 92114, 92135, 92136, 92139, 92153, 92154, 92173 Agencia: Proyecto MAAC Visite https://maacproject.org/lihwap/ 619-349-0123

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

JUNE 2023 19

EDUCATION EDUCACIÓN

Opportunities

PUENTE Empowers Students for Success https://www.thepuenteproject.org/community-college-programs https://www.miracosta.edu/student-services/student-equity/puente-project/index.html PUENTE covers “a lot of things that we feel as Latines…because you’re the only person in your family that’s doing college, you’re a first-generation college student,” says student Lou Pineda.

PUENTE is a transfer academic learning community based at UC Berkeley focused on helping community college students transfer to a UC. It includes the student-led and student-run PUENTE Club, which allows the students to practice leadership and give back to the community through service learning, volunteerism, and activism.

Six MiraCosta students tell us about their PUENTE experience in their own words.

ALONDRA HERRERA

CLARISSA TREVIÑO

I am a first-generation, fulltime, queer college student.

My goal is to transfer to a fouryear institution where I can major in urban or community studies to come back and help my community.

My career includes the revival of the MEChA Club, where I became president; participation as a student ambassador; my first internship at the Library of Congress; and participation as the first Puentista from MiraCosta to be a speaker at the HACU National Conference [and the first one selected for the HACU National Internship Program].

In PUENTE, I learned to excel. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the beginning of my freshman year, but with the right resources and support, anything is possible to overcome. My advice is, do not self-exclude; do whatever you can no matter the obstacles.

I am a second-year student at MiraCosta. At the HACU 2022 conference I had the opportunity to network, and I learned that I wanted to major in mechanical engineering, in renewable energy to provide a cleaner and safer environment for my community.

I was elected by my peers for the secretary position in the PUENTE Club. We learned that the Latinx population is not reflected in colleges and universities, yet we make up the majority of the population in primary schools and cities, so we organized Adopt-a-Classroom.

Another opportunity was the Undergraduate Summer Research Program at the University of San Diego. Only six community college students are accepted each year.

PUENTE has made me realize how important it is to give back to my community. I created strong friendships with the instructors and classmates. Once a Puentista, always a Puentista.

20 JUNE 2023

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

The PUENTE students, with Vista Unified School District, led the Adopt-a-Classroom initiative, where they taught elementary students the importance of higher education.

Also, the students represented PUENTE and MiraCosta at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 2022 conference.

The PUENTE students Clarissa, Alex, and Lou will be participating this summer in the research program of the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) at the University of San Diego. They will be provided with free on-campus housing and will receive a stipend of $6000.

MERILYN NAVARRO

ALEX BELTRAN

I am a first-generation student who hasn’t had a lot of guidance on how to handle college. With PUENTE, I’ve just got a mountain of support… that I normally don’t receive at home.

I had the great opportunity to be the vice president of my cohort and to intern with the USDA. PUENTE has helped me strive academically, helping me choose the classes I should take to better my chances at my dream universities.

Being in PUENTE helped me create my own LinkedIn profile and resume. I also networked to the MiraCosta Honors Department, where I currently work.

PUENTE has helped me guide what steps I should be taking when it comes to college, making sure I’m not making any errors to the point where it could affect my transfer goals.

Joining PUENTE was one of the best decisions I made in my educational journey. Not only did I learn about what it takes to succeed academically, but I also had many opportunities to get involved in giving back to the local community.

I’m currently a psychology major in my second year on my way to transfer this fall, in hopes of becoming a doctor. Because of PUENTE, I received over $5000 worth of scholarships and was even pushed to apply to the prestigious NSF-REU research program at University of San Diego.

I’m one of the recipients for the Medal of Academic Merit, along with my peer, Lou. Being part of PUENTE means developing an in-depth, well-thought-out plan in regard to what I wanted to major in, where I wanted to transfer to, and what future plans I have after college, all while building a sense of community with peers and giving back to the community that has uplifted us.

WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM

JUNE 2023 21

Counselor Sinar Lomeli

The students thank their PUENTE counselor, Sinar Lomeli. Lou says, “I feel greatly indebted to Professor Sinar Lomeli for always pushing me to do better, achieve, and see how can I make my dreams come true.”

For Merilyn, one memory stands out; when she won an internship. “When I told [Lomeli] the news, she started screaming out of happiness for me.”

SERGIO MENDOZA I am a first-generation Latino college student planning to transfer to a UC school, double majoring in mathematics and economics. I joined the PUENTE program because it sounded like a safe, uplifting community of Latino students. The students were self-driven and desired success for their families and community.

I am now in my third semester as a research assistant with the USDA, in the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) agency, researching funding and developing a spreadsheet full of data. My work has expanded to various other tasks, and I was able to become very flexible within the department and shoot for endless opportunities.

I have applied everything that PUENTE taught me to reach my full potential to compete in the real world.

LOU PINEDA I am Karen Louise “Lou” Pineda, a soon-to-transfer college student majoring in cognitive science. I moved to the United States about 6 years ago.

PUENTE taught me everything there is to know about going to college. Through its curriculum based on cultural awareness and Latine empowerment, PUENTE made me picture myself not only as a professional but also in a leadership role, as the PUENTE club president.

I received the Medal of Academic Merit, and I have been accepted to the University of San Diego’s REU program. Our club held a self-defense workshop for female PUENTistas, with awareness of the Latine feelings toward the police.

I also attended the first PUENTE STEM Academy.

I was able to see my future in professionals that resembled me. College and STEM is not about doing everything on my own but also finding my community within it … seeing that community empowered.

PUENTE empodera a los alumnos para el éxito www.miracosta.edu/student-services/student-equity/puente-project/ PUENTE aborda “muchas cosas que sentimos como latines…porque eres la única persona en tu familia que está en la universidad, eres universitario de primera generación”, dice la estudiante Lou Pineda.

PUENTE es una comunidad académica para la transferencia basada en UC Berkeley, enfocada en ayudar a los alumnos de los community colleges a transferir a una UC. Incluye el Club Puente, el cual es dirigida por los mismos estudiantes y que permite al alumnado ejercer el liderazgo y servir a la comunidad mediante el aprendizaje en el servicio, el voluntariado y el activismo.

Seis estudiantes de MiraCosta nos cuentan sobre su experiencia con PUENTE en sus propias palabras.

22 JUNE 2023

Oportunidades

Estos puentistas, junto con el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Vista, dirigieron la iniciativa ‘Adopte un salón’, donde enseñaron a alumnos de primaria la importancia de la educación superior.

Además, representaron PUENTE y MiraCosta en la conferencia de la Asociación Hispana de Colleges y Universidades (HACU) en 2022.

Los alumnos de PUENTE Clarissa, Alex y Lou van a participar este verano en el programa de investigaciones de la Fundación Nacional de Ciencia, Experiencias en Investigación para Alumnos de Grado (NSF-REU) en la Universidad de San Diego. Se les proporcionará vivienda gratuita en el plantel y recibirán un estipendio de $6000.

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La consejera Sinar Lomeli

Los estudiantes agradecen a su consejera en PUENTE, Sinar Lomeli. Lou comenta, “Me siento muy en deuda con la profesora Sinar Lomeli por siempre empujarme a mejorar, tener logros y ver cómo y dónde puedo realizar mis sueños”. Para Merilyn, hay un recuerdo que destaca; cuando ganó un ‘internship’ (pasantía).

“Cuando le di [a Lomeli] la noticia, ella empezó a gritar de alegría por mí”.

CLARISSA TREVIÑO Soy alumna de segundo año en MiraCosta. En la conferencia HACU en 2022, tuve la oportunidad de hacer networking y aprendí que quería hacer la carrera en ingeniería mecánica, en energía renovable para proporcionar un ambiente más limpio y seguro para mi comunidad.

Mis compañeros me eligieron como secretaria del Club Puente. Aprendimos que la población latina no se ve reflejada en los colleges y las universidades; sin embargo, somos la mayoría de la población en escuelas primarias y en las ciudades, así que organizamos el programa Adopte un salón.

Otra oportunidad fue el Programa de Investigación para Estudiantes de Grado el verano en la Universidad de San Diego. Solo se aceptan a seis estudiantes de community colleges cada año.

PUENTE me ha mostrado lo importante que es servir a mi comunidad que me ha apoyado. Formé amistades fuertes con los instructores y pares. Una vez puentista, siempre puentista.

ALONDRA HERRERA Soy estudiante de primera generación, de tiempo completo y queer. Mi meta es transferir a una institución de cuatro años donde pueda hacer la carrera en estudios urbanos o comunitarios para regresar y ayudar a mi comunidad.

Mi trayectoria incluye el reinicio del Club MEChA, donde llegué a ser presidente; participación como embajadore estudiantil; mi primera experiencia como becarie en la Biblioteca del Congreso; y participación como primer Puentista de MiraCosta College en ser presentadore en la Conferencia Nacional de HACU [y primer seleccionade para el Programa Nacional de Becarios de HACU].

En Puente, aprendí a sobresalir. Se me diagnosticó con epilepsia al principio de mi primer año, pero con los recursos y el apoyo adecuados, todo puede superarse. Mi consejo es no excluirse ustedes mismos; hagan todo lo que puedan a pesar de los obstáculos.

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ALEX BELTRAN MERILYN NAVARRO

LOU PINEDA Soy Karen Louise “Lou” Pineda, estudiante pronto a transferir, en la carrera de ciencia cognitiva. Llegué a Estados Unidos hace unos seis años.

PUENTE me enseñó todo lo que hay que saber respecto a la vida universitaria. Mediante su plan de estudios basado en la conciencia cultural y el empoderamiento latine, PUENTE me llevó a verme no solo como profesionista, sino en un papel de liderazgo, como presidente del Club PUENTE. Me otorgaron la Medalla de Mérito Académico y me han aceptado en el programa REU de la Universidad de San Diego. Nuestro club realizó un taller de defensa propia para las Puentistas mujeres, con conocimiento de la forma en que les latines ven a la policía.

También asistí a la primera Academia PUENTE STEM. Pude ver mi futuro en los profesionistas que se parecían a mí. La universidad y STEM no se tratan de hacer todo por mí misma, sino de encontrar a mi comunidad adentro…ver a esta comunidad empoderada.

24 JUNE 2023

Soy estudiante de primera generación sin mucha guía respecto a cómo llevar los estudios universitarios. Con PUENTE, he tenido un montón de apoyo…que por lo general no tengo en casa.

Tuve la oportunidad de ser vicepresidente de mi generación y de ser becaria con la USDA. PUENTE me ha ayudado a esforzarme en lo académico, al ayudarme a elegir las clases que debo cursar para mejorar mis oportunidades de asistir a las universidades de mis sueños. Estar en PUENTE me ayudó a crear mi propio perfil en LinkedIn y mi CV. También hice networking con el Departamento de Honores de MiraCosta, donde trabajo hoy.

PUENTE me ha guiado en los pasos a seguir respecto a mis estudios universitarios, para así no cometer errores que pudieran afectar mis metas para transferir.

Formar parte de PUENTE fue una de las mejores decisiones en mi trayecto educativo. No solo aprendí lo que se requiere para tener éxito en lo académico, sino que tuve muchas oportunidades para involucrarme en asistencia para mi comunidad.

Estoy estudiando mi segundo año de psicología en mi camino para transferir este otoño, con planes de convertirme en doctor. Gracias a PUENTE, recibí más de $5000 en becas y se me empujó a solicitar ser parte del programa prestigioso de NSF-REU en Universidad de San Diego.

Soy uno de los recipientes de la Medalla de Mérito Académico, junto con mi compañera Lou. Formar parte de PUENTE significa desarrollar un plan profundo y bien pensado sobre lo que quiero estudiar, a dónde quiero transferir y qué planes tengo para después de la universidad, mientras construyo una sensación de comunidad con mis compañeros y sirvo a la comunidad que nos ha empoderado.

SERGIO MENDOZA Soy estudiante universitario de primera generación y pienso transferir a una UC, con una doble carrera en matemáticas y economía. Formé parte del programa PUENTE porque me parecía una comunidad segura y empoderadora de estudiantes latinos. Los alumnos tenían impulso propio y buscaban el éxito para sus familias y sus comunidades.

Voy en mi tercer semestre como asistente de investigaciones con la USDA, la agencia del Instituto Nacional de Alimentos y Agricultura (NIFA), donde investigo sobre fondos y desarrollo una hoja llena de datos. Mi trabajo se ha expandido a otras tareas y pude volverme muy flexible dentro del departamento y luchar por oportunidades infinitas.

He aplicado todo lo que PUENTE me enseñó para lograr mi potencial y competir en el mundo real.

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SERVICES SERVICIOS

Food Distribution

DISTRIBUCIÓN DE ALIMENTOS TrueCare / Feeding San Diego Rise Church 1915 Twin Oaks Valley Rd. San Marcos 1 and 3 Wednesday of month, 11am–12:30 pm Melba Bishop Community Recreation Center 5306 N River Rd.Oceanside 2 and 4 Tuesday of month, 11 am–12 pm TrueCare San Marcos WIC 150 Valpreda Rd, #102 San Marcos, CA 92069 Tel: 888-477-6333 OTHER SERVICES / OTROS SERVICIOS - Lived Experiences - Mentoring through Lived Experiences/ Consiga un mentor - Laundry help through Lived Experiences/ Lave su ropa

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SERVICES SERVICIOS San Diego Food Bank 3030 Enterprise Court, Suite A Vista, CA, 92081 Monday–Friday, 9am–2pm (858) www.calendly.com/NCPantry 2020 Chestnut Avenue Carlsbad, CA, 92008 - 3rd Tuesday of the month, 1pm–2 pm - Tercer martes del mes 885 Vista Way Vista, CA, 92084 - Wednesdays from 6 – 8 am 1609 Capalina Road San Marcos, CA, 92069 - 3rd Monday of the month, 2–3:30 pm - Tercer lunes del mes 1305 Deodar Road Escondido, CA, 92026 (760) 707-6681 sdchristiancenter2@gmail.com 933 Farr Avenue Escondido, CA, 92026 - 4th Thursday of the month from 3 pm until food is gone - Cuarto jueves del mes, a partir de las 3 pm 650 Second Street Encinitas, CA, 92024 - Monday – Friday, 8:30 am–12:30 pm - Lunes a viernes

26 JUNE 2023

31020 Cole Grade Road Valley Center, CA, 92082 - 4th Saturday of the month, 10 am– 12 pm - Cuarto sábado del mes 292 E Barham Drive (rear parking lot) San Marcos, CA, 92078 - Tuesdays,10:30 am–2 pm - Thursdays, 2:30–6 pm - Every 1st & 2nd Saturday of the month, 10 am – 12 pm St Andrew’s Episcopal Church 890 Balour Drive Encinitas, CA, 92024 - 1st Thursday of month, 2–4 p.m.

One Safe Place 1050 Los Vallecitos Boulevard San Marcos CA 92069 (760) 290-3690

Community Resource Center 650 Second Street Encinitas, CA, 92024 Monday – Friday, 8:30 am–12:30 pm

Services: - Trauma Treatment / Tratamiento de trauma - Restraining Orders / Órdenes de restricción - Children’s Area / Espacio para niños - Safe Housing Assistance / Ayuda con vivienda - Legal Assistance / Asistencia legal - Pet Assistance / Ayuda con mascotas

Summit Church 292 E Barham Drive (Rear Parking Lot) - San Marcos, CA, 92078 - Tuesdays, 10:30 am–2 pm, Thursdays, 2:30–6 pm More locations / Más lugares:

MAAC Offers: - Affordable Housing - DUI Education - EV Access Program - Energy Assistance - Head Start, Early Head Start & State Preschool - Low Income Household Water Assistance Program - MAAC Community Charter School - Next Level, Parent Workforce - Next Level, Youth Workforce - Recovery Homes - STEP Centers - Supportive Immigration Services - Unidos in Finance - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance - Weatherization Services

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