escalona
Alejandro Escalona biography
Alejandro Escalona is the former editor of Hoy Chicago, the Tribune Company's Spanish- language daily, as well as ¡Exito!, a weekly publication of the Chicago …Read More
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English-speaking Latinos in spotlight
As a member of the Spanish-language media for years, I am familiar with the occasional demand to “speak English.” Well, in fact, the fastest-growing segment of the Latino population is doing precisely that. Media businesses are deploying the all-American strategy of reaching out to an …Read More
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A great museum grows in Pilsen
I still remember the flier announcing the creation of a museum dedicated to Mexican art in Chicago 30 years ago. But I never imagined that the museum promoted in the leaflet, with a P.O. box instead of an actual address, would become the prestigious National …Read More
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Little girl’s death inspires action
Last Saturday morning, Lilia Barrera and her three young daughters faced a challenging task, but they seemed to enjoy themselves as they repainted a fence at Gary Elementary School in Little Village. Barrera, a 14-year resident of Little Village, told me she took her kids …Read More
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After son’s murder, poet fighting back
His eyes reveal a deep pain every time Mexican poet Javier Sicilia talks about his 24-year-old son Juan Francisco, a health administration student, who was murdered by drug traffickers over a year ago in Cuernavaca, Mexico. “My son could have contributed immensely to his country,” …
What Oz doesn’t see about Castro
Ozzie Guillen has talked more about Cuba and Venezuela than President Barack Obama and the Republicans candidates combined so far during this presidential campaign. And it has been painful to watch. On Tuesday, in a surreal, more than hourlong news conference, mostly in Spanish, Guillen …
Stop gang violence that killed Aliyah
Like Trayvon Martin, Aliyah Shell should be embraced as a symbol in the struggle against street violence. The public outcry over the murder of little Aliyah, the 6-year-old shot to death while sitting on her porch last month has yet to translate into wide public …
Pilsen artist lives on in his murals
A photograph of Chicago painter and art teacher Francisco Mendoza, who died recently, reveals a remarkable resemblance to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. In the picture, Mendoza is working on one of the murals he painted in the Pilsen neighborhood. Photographed from the side, he is …
Pride in 26th Street marred by reality of Little Village violence
Last week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel met with a group of Latino politicians and business people at a Little Village restaurant. Emanuel suggested changing the name of 26th Street, the bustling commercial corridor in Little Village, to “Second Magnificent Mile” and to market it that way, …
Lozano-Tabares state House race showcases new generation of Latino candidates
The new 21st State House District is the battleground of one of the hottest races in Tuesday’s primary elections. Both Democratic candidates are young, smart, professional, up-and-coming Latinos with no previous experience in public office. Their enthusiasm, hard work and potential have gained them impressive …
After Pilsen, Little Village plants close, will lofty ambitions mesh?
Leila Mendez, a Pilsen resident turned environmental activist, was stunned by the announcement last week that Mayor Rahm Emanuel had reached an agreement with the energy provider Midwest Generation to close two polluting coal-fired power plants in Pilsen and Little Village. “I didn’t know if …
I heard the Andes in the subway
Here’s someone you might have seen on your way to work. Perhaps you’ve even stopped to listen to his music, as I had on more than one occasion. But this time I took the time to talk, and found an inspiring story in this street …
City needs to reassure it’s not cooperating with ICE in violation of Safe Sanctuary
Mayor Rahm Emanuel promised to make Chicago the most immigrant-friendly city in the world, and I’d agree he has taken steps in the right direction. I appreciated Emanuel’s support for the Illinois Dream Act in times when the national debate on immigration could not be …
Tweeting hate across the border
Twitter deservedly gained a worldwide reputation as an effective communication tool during the social upheaval that transformed the Arab world. The social media giant has also proved to be a formidable tool for organizing large and small demonstrations — from students in Chile seeking education …
17-year-old knows: ‘Being able to speak Mandarin looks great on my resume’
Last I checked, the high school dropout rate among Latinos continued unabated and there were few reasons for optimism. Then I met Nuri Navarro, a bright and assertive high school student whose story reassured me that getting a college education is possible and the opportunities …
Obama and Romney should visit grocery stores to know the pain
I’d love to go grocery shopping with Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. The nearby Jewel, though, would have to do instead of the pricier Whole Foods. As we in the 99 percent already know, they might find shopping for food to be a terrific learning …
Teen who found job at T.J. Maxx knows too many others who can’t find work
Jason Banderas, a 17-year old student at Antonia Pantoja High School, considers himself lucky. Last summer, after applying at six other places, he landed a job at a T.J. Maxx store. Jason got the five-week summer job through a placement program at his school. He …
Mexican ‘invasion’ slowed to a trickle
Even as the Republican presidential candidates vie to show who’s toughest on illegal immigration, the United States is no longer attracting undocumented workers the way it once did. Few are talking about this, but the flow of undocumented immigrants — mostly from Mexico — has …
Library is heart of a neighborhood
Last Tuesday, a sign in the Rudy Lozano Public Library in Pilsen posted new hours for student tutoring. There no longer would be tutoring on Mondays. Why? Because, for the first time in recent memory, the Chicago Public Libraries will be closed on Mondays. And …
Mayan doomsday offers no tax break
The end is not near. Rather than heed the warnings of those predicting the apocalypse in 2012, prepare to pay more in city, state and county taxes and fees. And don’t blame the Mayas when you pay more for parking, tolls, vehicle stickers, Metra tickets, …
Call from Mexico pierces a holiday peace
Bad news still comes by phone. No email, text message or tweet can replace the human voice to communicate a devastating event. Bad news also has a way to find you when you least expect it — like the last days before Christmas. Last Friday …
