NEWS AND PROFILES CONNECTING THE LATINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN

February 2015 / Issue 336

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2 February 2015 LATINO AMERICAN TODAY WWW.LATINOAMERICANTODAY.COM Louis Garcia Enters Race for Ward 2 Saint Paul City Council

By Julián Aguirre

isiting El Burrito Mercado on Cesar Chavez VStreet in St. Paul, Louis Garcia candidate for Ward 2 Saint Paul City Council, reminisced about his experiences with his father in the neighborhood. “My father was one of the first Latin music disc jockeys in Minnesota. We pro- moted his business by placing posters on poles and walls along Concord Street and we would visit with the local business owners,” Garcia commented.

Garcia is seeking to become the first Latino elected to the Saint Paul City Council. Born in On The Cover the Mexican state of Veracruz, he immigrated to Telemundo Launches in Minnesota America as a child in 1984. Garcia grew up in article on page 11 Candidate Louis Garcia at the West Side’s Wellstone Center the Merriam Park neighborhood of Saint Paul and the city has been his home for over 20 years. He lives in the West Side neighborhood with his wife, Nicole, and his two young children, Mick and Natalia.

Garcia has worked in Information Technology for the past decade and started a website development business in 2011. He has concerns about equity within the industry, “Latinos are tragically underrepresented within the Information Technology in- dustry. I want to change that. I want to see more opportunities open for all unrepresented communities to develop the skills Founded 2013 needed and break in to this high-demand industry.” Member of Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium National Foundation of Hispanic Owned Newspapers The Garcia for Saint Paul campaign platform consists Minnesota Newspaper Association of making Saint Paul more competitive in the 21st Published by century, developing stronger communities, and in- Aguilar Productions Inc. creasing government transparency. Garcia’s priority Richard Aguilar, President is to invest on city infrastructure and roll out high- Contributors speed broadband, fiber optic. Garcia explains, “Fiber Amalia Moreno-Damgaard, optic will fuel economic growth by attracting more Award-winning Author, Chef, & Entrepreneur Michael Gonzalez Wallace, businesses and residents to the city and leveling the Author and Health & Fitness Guru playing field for home-based businesses and entrepre- Jose Villa, Advertising Executive, Entrepreneur, Cross-Cultural & Digital Marketing Strategist neurs looking to open their doors. Saint Paul can’t fall Scott Foreman, Photographer further behind to , other regional cities, www.roadworkphotography.com and within the global economy.” Online Gisela Aguilar Design Garcia acknowledges that while Minnesota is a great Gisela Aguilar place to live for many, there are still profound dispari- ties that still exist today for minority communities in education, housing, and poverty. Garcia believes Latino American Today 204 Emerson Avenue E. that being born into an immigrant family and owning St. Paul, MN 55118 a small business gives him a unique perspective on Phone 651-665-0633 city politics. He made an appeal to a gathering at El Louis Garcia at the W. 7th street Downtowner restaurant Burrito Mercado, “I will bring a fresh perspective to Fax 651-665-0129 city hall. I will develop innovative solutions to the challenges and opportunities our city faces. I will work to empower and Email protect all communities so that Saint Paul is a place where people thrive.” [email protected] Web View more about the Garcia for Saint Paul campaign at http://www.g4sp.com www.latinoamericantoday.com

Nota: Editoriales, articulos y anuncios que aparecen en este periódico representan el punto de vista de el (ellos) autor (es) y no necesariamente reflejan la opinión, punto de vista o modo de pensar de LATINO AMERICAN TODAY o de su personal.

Latino American Today distributes 15,000 copies on a monthy basis. Community News Health & Lifestyle WWW.LATINOAMERICANTODAY.COM LATINO AMERICAN TODAY February 2015 3 COMFORT FOODS

By Award-Winning Author and Chef Amalia Moreno-Damgaard

hat is comfort food? It depends who you ask. It is subjective and cultural. It is an emotional connection to Wfood by age and gender. It can link people to their home or culture. Typical American comfort foods are chicken soup, beef stew, mashed potatoes, and others. However, comfort food for men is not necessarily the same comfort food preferred by other groups. Men prefer heartier foods such as steak and potatoes, while women prefer lighter meals that remind them of their childhood or special life experience.

Latin Americans are nostalgic about their culture and especially about their food. They yearn for traditional meals from their countries of origin that remind them of happy memories. Celebrations often tend to include home-style meals with recipes that pass from aunts, moms, daughters and sisters, to cousins. They cherish recipes through time and these eventually become comfort foods. It is a way to reconnect to the homeland.

Comfort food is not always healthy, but there is always a way to modify it to make it healthier paying special attention to fat and salt. Leaner cuts of meat have fewer calories. Roasting in the oven instead of frying can mimic the taste of fried foods. Chicken and fries can be made this way without sacrificing flavor and quality. Sautéing vegetables and other foods in canola or olive oil instead of deep-frying them is a healthier choice. When we cook at home, we can control how much salt goes into the food too. Chef Amalia in the kitchen Some of my favorite recipes for wintertime are soups and stews. They are not only easy and delicious, but often they are hearty one-pot-meals. These dishes often allow us to consume more vegetables in one sitting than when we eat a regular meal. The real bonus here is that we have the option of using a variety of lean and healthy ingredients. We can skim any visible fat that floats to the surface and add as many vegetables and starches as we wish. Also, we can complement soups with avocado, radishes, and fresh herbs.

Below is a classic recipe that I make often for my family. ¡Buen Provecho!

CALDO DE POLLO 1/2 acorn squash, scrubbed, peeled, with the lime juice, and garnish it with Chicken and Vegetable Soup cut into 2-inch cubes chopped cilantro and avocado slices. 1 small russet potato, peeled, sliced into pieces 1/2 inch thick 1 very small yuca, peeled, sliced into 4 Amalia’s Notes to 5 pieces 1 inch thick 1/4 cabbage cut into 2-inch chunks Many Latino stores carry sliced, bagged, mixed vegetables for making 1 pound boneless, skinless, chicken beef soup. You can use these for thighs, visible fat removed, sliced chicken soup as well. Maggi sauce is thinly and cut into 2-inch pieces available at most Latino stores and the ethnic section of many grocery Garnish stores in the United States. 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice Chopped cilantro Avocado slices Amalia’s Upcoming Events 1. Purée the first 10 ingredients in a February 24; 7-9pm blender or food processor. Nordic Ware Factory Store, 4925 Minnesota 7, Minneapolis, MN Serves 4 to 6 people parsley stems 2. Add the oil to a hot, medium-size, 55416 1 ½ tablespoons roughly chopped heavy pot. Add the purée and bay leaf 1/3 cup roughly chopped onion mint and fry until aromatic, about 2 minutes. SOUL WARMERS 1/3 cup roughly chopped leek Add the Maggi sauce and cook 1 minute. 1/3 cup roughly chopped celery 1 tablespoon canola oil Season with salt and pepper. Winter is the ideal time to enjoy 1 teaspoon roughly chopped garlic 1 fresh bay leaf comforting foods. Learn easy tech- 1/3 cup roughly choppped green bell 2 teaspoons Maggi sauce 3. Add the stock to the purée, niques for soulful and spicy soups and pepper 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt stir well, and cook until very hot. stews, such as Sopa de Pollo-chicken 2 bird’s eye (Thai) chiles, stems Freshly ground black pepper Gradually add the vegetables in the soup with cilantro and avocado with removed order listed. Cook each vegetable freshly made corn tortillas; Carne 1/3 cup roughly chopped Roma 3 cups fat-free, low-sodium beef stock for 2 to 3 minutes or until al dente Guisada-sirloin tips in hearty mole tomato before adding the next one. sauce; Pure de Papa-potato puree 1 1/2 tablespoons roughly chopped 1 carrot, peeled, sliced on the diagonal with olive oil and parsley; Café cilantro stems into pieces 1/2 inch thick 4. Add the chicken and cook until de Olla-spiced coffee with canela. 1 1/2 tablespoons roughly chopped 1 ear of corn, sliced into pieces 1/2 cooked, about 8 minutes. Transfer Register: AmaliaLLC.com. inch thick the soup to a serving bowl, season Business 4 February 2015 LATINO AMERICAN TODAY WWW.LATINOAMERICANTODAY.COM Successful Negotiation Tips for Latina Women Leaders

By Marci Malzahn

here are many things that are required of Latina women leaders, one of them is to be a good negotiator. We are women. We are leaders. And we are Latinas. Wow! TThat’s a powerful combination and we can become a very influential team. We need to always continue to hone our negotiation skills and I would like to share some successful negotiation tips I’ve learned through the years. Be strategic about your approach to negotiating. Your goal should be to arrive to a mutual agreement where both parties feel they won and have no regrets about the transaction or discussion that took place. As working women leaders there are a lot of things we need to negotiate for. Here is a list of things and some tips on how to approach each: • Money/Salary and Bonus opportunities: Research the pay scale for your job; find out what the potential future pay is as well; and plan for the ap- propriate time to ask. Pay is based on experience, education, skills, expertise, industry, market, results, and demand/supply of workers. • Title: Ask for the title that is fair based on your job responsibilities and authority. • Responsibility/Authority: Sometimes you may want to negotiate for more responsibilities to help you get to the next level. Other times, you may need to negotiate for less responsibilities but staying at the same pay to soften your workload. • Promotion/New Job: Research the new job, communicate with your manager, and network with other employees in that department prior to applying for the new job. • Support/Staff: Be clear and specific as to what type of support you need and why. Present numbers and potential efficiencies the company will gain from the new additions. • Flexibility: State your case as to why you need flexibility and define what type of flexibility you need. • Benefits, Retirement/Pension and Vacation: These are harder items to negotiate for be- cause they are driven by each company’s policy; however, there are ways you can still negotiate. Usually it’s better to negotiate when you first get the job. • Training/Education Opportunities: State your case as to why you need the additional training and the benefits for the organization. So what do you do when you have several things you want to negotiate? How do you know which one to ne- gotiate first? How do you approach your boss to get what you want? Below are some strategies I’ve used that worked for me in the past: • Prioritize your requests in order of importance to you and focus on one or two only. • Always research before presenting your case. • Be decisive and confident of what you want and why. It will help you be more influential. Marci Malzahn, President, Malzahn Strategic • Have a backup plan. What if they say no to any or all of your requests?

At one of my previous organizations, I used most of these strategies to obtain the Chief Operating Officer (COO) title. I wanted that title because I was doing the functions and held the responsibilities and authority that go with it. So I conducted a thorough research of the position at other institutions of similar size within this region. I included company name, asset size, number of employees managed, areas of oversight, contact name and title. My research showed that I was the one with the largest number of areas of oversight and the only one who didn’t hold the correct title. I got the new title of COO! There were other things I could have asked for (more flexibility, more vacation, or more employees) but at that time, getting the title that was fair for my job responsibilities was my priority. I wish you much success in using your negotiation skills going forward. Be open to learn new ways to negotiate and don’t forget to mentor others so they can improve too. Only then we will become an influential team as Latina women leaders.

Call Us to Advertise! 651-665-0633 Community News WWW.LATINOAMERICANTODAY.COM LATINO AMERICAN TODAY February 2015 5 Multiculturalism in the United States By Roberto Fonts, Founder and CEO of Dialog One n 1908, the English humorist Israel Zangwill wrote one of his best novels The Melting Pot. President Roosevelt Iwas quite impressed by it. So much so that he, and other politicians, started using the term so frequently, that it quickly became embalmed as the most widely used metonym for the American condition. But do we really live in a melting pot? Do we really all blend in a unifying mass of indistinct personalities? Would it perhaps be more fit- ting to think of us as discrete individuals who do not “melt” with each other, but rather learn to live side by side despite our differences? It is sometimes refreshing to glance back over our shoulder and get a glimpse of the long and dire path of preju- dice, sectarianism, xenophobia, and discrimination that we have left behind. We have trudged the vilest social trails, and yet we are so quick to take what we have for granted. “But we still have a lot of that, just watch the news!” some will say. Of course we do, but what we see on the news it’s on the news precisely because it is so rare. It is but a lingering residue of grime that we get to witness today. Nothing compared to the bucket loads of filth so common in bygone times. It is apposite, at this point, to wonder what went right. What elements of our culture and politics have made it possible for a demographic as heterogeneous as our own, to achieve the stability and balance that is the norm today? Surely globalization, commerce, tolerance for other cultures, and a secular constitution have helped made of the United States a most auspicious ecosystem of cultural diversity and global migration. Globalization and commerce have made us dependent on one another, and therefore less willing to fight and more willing to forge Roberto Fonts lasting relations. Cultural tolerance has made us more accepting, less inclined to cast judgment, and better able to cohabit in close proximity with each other. But, above all, a secular constitution grounded on Enlightenment values like humanism and reason has placed a great divide between religion and government. A much needed separation that allows individuals to observe the tenets of their creeds without infringing upon the rights of others. From the Editor: This topic will be continued in our March Issue.

Community News WWW.LATINOAMERICANTODAY.COM LATINO AMERICAN TODAY February 2015 7 Community News 8 February 2015 LATINO AMERICAN TODAY WWW.LATINOAMERICANTODAY.COM Construction Work Is Getting More Deadly, But Only For Latinos

By David Noriega, BuzzFeed News dropped by more than 5%. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), between 2010 and 2013, the number of deaths among Latinos in the con- Data analyzed by BuzzFeed News shows the construction indus- struction industry rose from 181 to 231. The number of deaths also rose in the try is a different and more dangerous world if you’re a Latino industry overall, from 774 to 796. But Latinos account for this rise entirely: During worker. the same period, deaths for non-Latino construction workers fell from 593 to 565. (The numbers for 2013 are preliminary, and are likely to go up across the board ore likely to be undocumented and work for smaller, less regulated employ- when BLS revises them in the spring.) Mers, Latinos are dying in ever-larger numbers even as the industry grows safer for everyone else. Over the last decade, construction work has gotten safer. The industry’s overall fa- tality rate dropped from 11.5 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2004 to 8.6 in 2013. A BuzzFeed News analysis has found that, in recent years, the risk of dying on the Although Latinos die at higher rates than non-Latinos, they have also benefitted job has been growing for Latino construction workers at rates that far outstrip from this increase in safety: In the same period, their fatality rate dropped from the rest of the industry. Fueled by the economic recovery and a nationwide con- 13.5 deaths per 100,000 workers to 9.8. struction boom, Latinos are dying in greater numbers and at increasingly dispro- portionate rates. But that trend has begun to reverse in recent years — for Latinos only. As more workers have joined the construction workforce in the ongoing boom, Latinos After the housing bust bottomed out in 2010, the fatality rate among Latino have crowded into the more dangerous segments of the industry, with increasingly construction workers rose by nearly 20%. For non-Latinos, the fatality rate has fatal results.

Hispanic Contractor Association Provides Safety Training

By Pedro Lopez, HCAMN

he Hispanic Contractors Association of Minnesota is a 501 (C) (6) non- Tprofit membership organization established in 2011 to provide valuable education safety training services for the Hispanic Construction Community in Minnesota. The HCAMN promotes cultural pride, safe working conditions, integrity, and professionalism with its members. The Hispanic Contractors Association of Minnesota sees the need to help prepare the growing Hispanic Construction Community in Minnesota with the tools necessary to seize and succeed at new business opportunities. The HCAMN believes that, like any other group, Hispanics and minorities must understand and practice the nec- essary current safety requirements in order to work safely in the construction industry. As a result, we have established our safety training programs in both Spanish and English. Below are the February, March, and April meeting dates.

For more information or to RSVP call 612-619-1361, email [email protected], or visit www. hcamn.net “It is our passion to Training is free for HCA-MN members, in Spanish and tailored to Hispanic/Latino contractors, sub-contractors and con- reach out and educate structions workers. Hispanic contractors Saturday, February 7 from 10am to 12pm, Topics: Stairs & Ladders, Fire Protection and workers,” stated Saturday, February 21 from 10am to 12pm, Tools hand & power, Volunteer respirator program Pedro Lopez (right).

Saturday, March, 7 from 10am to 12pm, Topics: Introduction to OSHA Pedro Lopez is the founder and President Saturday, March 21 from 10am to 12pm, Topics: Fall Protection of the Hispanic Contractors Association Saturday, April 11 from 10am to 12pm, Topics: Electrical, Struck by, and of Minnesota (HCAMN). Mr. Lopez is Caught in between a Federal OSHA authorized Spanish Saturday, April 25 from 10am to 12pm, Topics Personal Protective Equipment outreach trainer. Sports WWW.LATINOAMERICANTODAY.COM LATINO AMERICAN TODAY February 2015 9 Minnesota Twins Host Media Luncheon

he Minnesota Twins hosted their annual Media TLuncheon on Friday, January 23 at the Target Field/ Thompson Reuters Champions Club. Speakers included, Twins CEO, Jim Poland; Twins President, Dave St. Peter; Executive Vice President/General Manager, Terry Ryan; Manager Paul Molitor; and guest Twins players, Ervin Santana, Kennys Vargas, and Trevor Plouffe.

Twins new pitcher, Ervin Santana and Rick Aguilar

Twins Manager, Paul Molitor and Rick Aguilar

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Twins Kennys Vargas with Miguel Ramos, Director of Diversity Marketing for the Twins Education 10 February 2015 LATINO AMERICAN TODAY WWW.LATINOAMERICANTODAY.COM College and Student Loans: Opportunities and Obstacles

By Jay Wendell, Student Loan Debt Relief Specialist Loan Services is a Twin Cities company that is registered with and certified by the Asso- hen most people enter college, they will incur a fair amount of student loan debt. ciation For Student Loan Relief ­www.AFSLR. WAlthough it isn’t necessary for most students, it’s what usually ends up happening for org. Beacon Student Loan Services can provide one reason or another. It is a problem that will plague most graduates for many many an independent analysis of your Student Loan years after they graduate. Repayment Options and help you review the many programs that are available to Student A recent study by the Center for American Progress found that two­thirds of students who Borrowers to help with their monthly Student earn undergraduate degrees have more than $25,000 in Student Loan Debt and 1 in 10 Loan Payments. owe more than $54,000. Even though many Student Loan Servicers will Many students with larger Student Loan Debt choose the term extension option to make promote that these options can be obtained the monthly payments more manageable. Though these payments become more manage- through them by yourselves; there has been able with choosing the longer term; studies show that the larger the Student Loan Debt numerous studies by the Consumer Finance and the longer the term is, the more likely it will be for borrowers to fall behind on these Protection Bureau that have shown that these payments and ultimately default on their Student Loans. Servicers are more concerned about their own Analysis of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data shows higher student bottom­line financials than they are about the loan default rates for Hispanic students, students who leave college with a heavy debt Student Borrowers’ most beneficial repayment Jay Wendell burden and college graduates who take lowpaying­ jobs. options. In 2011, NCES data also showed that only 13.2% of all US Latinos over the age of 25 had With their proprietary software and Department of Education (DOE) interface, Beacon bachelor’s degrees, compared to 31.8% of their white peers. Latinos, who continue to face Student Loan Services can help you decide the most beneficial repayment option, de- an achievement gap, state that the most common reason for this gap was pressure to sup- termine your eligibility for Student Loan Forgiveness and complete all of the necessary port their families financially as reported in a 2009 Pew Hispanic Center Survey. This pres- paperwork to finalize your Student Loan Consolidation and Enrollment through the expe- sure forces many Latinos to choose between attending college or caring for their families. rienced, professional help of their Underwriters and Processors that have a combined 47+ years of working with Student Loans and the DOE. The financial impact of heavy Undergraduate Student Loan Debt combined with the pressure to to care for their families may dissuade many future Hispanic generations from Beacon Student Loan Services also provides Rehabilitation and Reconciliation Services choosing college or any other postsecondary­ option; thus, the Latino Achievement Gap to help with Defaulted Student Loans which will stop any Wage or Tax Garnishment and continues. ultimately regain your DOE eligibility to request additional Student Loans to finalize your schooling or degree. For all Student Borrowers, there are many recommendations to help with managing your Student Loans; i.e. track your balances, know your deferment and forbearance options, re- Beacon Student Loan Services is fully compliant with the DoddFrank­ Act and the Consumer view your consolidation options, start a separate account and start “paying” your Student Finance Protection Bureau. Loans while you’re still in college, etc. Call Beacon Student Loan Services today toll­free at 1­.855.­777.6555 or email them at Another option which every borrower should consider is consulting with a Student [email protected] for a free, no­obligation, confidential consultation to help with man- Loan Specialist about the options to manage your Student Loan Debt. Beacon Student aging your Student Loan Debt.

ALMAS, Latino Student Group Has a Mission Achievement Gap Pilot Project Report By Robert Hanson

n December 11, 2014 a group of high school students from West St. Paul, Minn. presented a ban- Oner to their local CVS Pharmacy in recognition of the company’s national stand against tobacco to protect youth and build healthier communities. CVS Pharmacy stores nationwide have taken tobacco products off of their shelves and have committed to not selling tobacco products in the future. Putting a spotlight on the dangers of tobacco is nothing new for these teens who are part of an organization at Henry Sibley High School called ALMAS (Anglos Latinos Motivados a Superarse). AL- MAS is a Latino student group that has a mission of improving graduation rates and post secondary participation through active community service, the strengthening of family and academic support. In 2006, with the help of local Latina leader Carmen Robles, ALMAS began to fight “Big Tobacco”. That work has continued and recently, with the help of Alicia Leizinger, a leader from the Associa- tion for Non Smokers-MN (ANSR), ALMAS students have been active in helping to pass local anti- tobacco ordinances in their community, as well as sharing anti-tobacco messages within their school district and at a national level.

“It is important for students, like the ALMAS group, to be involved in combating the influence of to- At the presentation were (front left to right): Montez Morález Dial (kneeling), bacco. Teens are the target of a large portion of the industry’s marketing and promotion,” said Alicia Guadalupe Rivas, Andrea Galván, ANSR’s Alicia Leizinger, Fredy López, Crystal Leizinger, a program and policy specialist at ANSR. “To see a company like CVS Pharmacy make the Espinoza, CVS store manager Germain Bartholomew, Jony Gálvez, Jolicia bold move of banning tobacco products is proof that the work of the students in ALMAS and many Vásquez, ALMAS leader Robert Hanson, Virginia Franco, Joel Moncado, and other groups across the country is making a difference. We’re so proud of them!” School District 197 Superintendent Nancy Allen-Mastro Entertainment WWW.LATINOAMERICANTODAY.COM LATINO AMERICAN TODAY February 2015 11 KJNK Telemundo Minnesota Channel 25 Launches in Minnesota

n Friday, 30th of January, Hispanic Television Broadcasting presented the Grand Opening Oof Comcast coverage for the newest and hottest Spanish Television Station, Telemundo Minnesota. The event was held in the beautiful 27 Event Center Ballroom in El Nuevo Rodeo in Minneapolis.

“KJNK Telemundo Minnesota Channel 25, along with La Raza Radio Stations, are proud to be the primary connection to the Hispanic Market in the Minneapolis area. “We are very excited to be on the Comcast lineup and to partner with Comcast to provide even more value to the advertising community,” stated Maya Santamaria, CEO of Santamaria Broadcasting and Hispanic Television Broadcasting. Telemundo was recently acquired by NBC Universal and is the top-rated Television Network for Latinos in the country.

One of the future benefits to the local community with the creation of a local Telemundo Affiliate will be the introduction of new and exciting local programming geared to the Hispanic viewer. Plans are underway to develop programs with a local flavor that will present The Telemundo/La Raza staff celebrates at the launch event news, sports, entertainment and coverage of local events that will be of interest to the Hispanic community.

Telemundo MN, in conjunction with La Raza 1400 and 1470 radio stations, will bring the community together en mass with its Special Events, showing the power of the stations within the community. KJNK Telemundo Minnesota will be Producing major Latino local community Maya Santamaria events in 2015 like Cinco de Mayo, Big-name Latin concerts, and Mexican Rodeos. In the summer of 2015, the station will bring to Min- neapolis La Banda Ms, one of the most exciting and popular bands from Mexico for an outdoor Rodeo that promises to be one the Largest Events of the year. Telemundo Minnesota also sponsors ongoing Regional Mexican and Tropical Music concerts at El Nuevo Rodeo.

Telemundo Minnesota channel 25 can now be seen on Comcast channel 100 and Digital Channel 624. To contact Telemundo Minnesota, call (612) 728-0101 or Sales Manager Nick Lopez at (612)594-6300.

From St. Paul to Valley of the Dolls: Maria Isa @ The Bedlam Theatre Lowertown with Muja Messiah, Lydia Liza, and Dj Tony Trouble

By Jordan Strowder

aint Paul, Minnesota: Maria Isa’s music has received much critical acclaim using her talent to create social change Sand labeling her as a woman proud of her Latina heritage. Isa’s recent solo project Valley of the Dolls includes production led by Andrew Bergen (Latinization), Bobby Raps (The Stand4rd) and featured herself on percussion with allstar­ musicians Camilo Molina (Eddie Palmieri Orchestra and LP21) Trevor Peterson (Tickle Torture), Truthmaze (Micronots), Doug Louiselle (WHALE/S), and Twin Cities AfroPuerto­ Rican ensemble Bomba Umoya.

On Friday February 6th, 2015 in her hometown of St. Paul at the BEDLAM THEATRE LOWERTOWN, Isa will pres- ent a live performance expressing a mature sound of Latin Soul twisting R&B, Pop, heavy percussion and hiphop­ lyricism. The night will also feature Minneapolis rapper Muja Messiah who most recently received City Pages Best Rap Albums of 2014 for his latest work God Kissed It The Devil Missed It and has been hitting up international blogs for his recent video Pocket Full of Slave Owners featuring (Rhymesayers Ent.) and the legendary Boots Riley (The Coup). The diverse setting will also present St. Paul native and Bomba De Luz vocalist Lydia Liza who is known for her folk and jazzy vocal blessings on several Twin Cities’ projects including Toki Wright and Big Cats’ ’s 2014 “Album of the Year” Pangaea. DJ Tony Trouble will be in charge of mixing an amazing dance party on the 1s & 2s. Doors open at 9pm/Tickets $10.

Isa has been nominated for and received multiple awards and recognitions as a performer and activist; most recently for Best Breakthrough Performance at the TC Film Festival for her film debut as Angie Garcia in the Latino Indepen- dent Film Strike One (2014), starring alongside Danny Trejo. Strike One with a concert by Maria Isa will be opening up the VIVA LATINO FILM FESTIVAL in New York City next month.

For more information about the event contact Maria Isa Bookings and visit: https://www.facebook.com/ events/715105248609985/?ref=br_tf