LatinaLista — Last year, Dr. Viviana Hurtado and Monica “Mommy Maestra” Olivera of Latinas for Latino Lit (L4LL) broke ground by launching the first-ever online Latino children’s summer reading program. Concerned about the poor literacy rates among Latino children and the fact that many Latino parents want their children to connect with their cultural roots,…
New study finds low-income Latino parents encourage obesity behaviors in their children beginning in infancy
LatinaLista — One of the main reasons most often cited as to why school-age children huff and puff their way across the playground is because they’re not getting enough exercise. Experts and healthcare providers agree that this kind of behavior, if not corrected, can only lead to a fat adulthood. Yet, a new study by the…
Video: Foster care reform includes looking at the facts and acting — not reacting
LatinaLista — With 50 different child welfare organizations in the country, not one of the 50 is reported to be working well, according to Molly McGrath Tierney, director for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services. It is a crisis that McGrath Tierney has tried to address for the past several years in her efforts…
Video: Understanding the special needs of siblings of special-needs children
LatinaLista — In 2010, a little over 5 percent of school-aged children were identified as having special needs, usually referring to mental or physical disabilities. Yet, in reality, special needs children can embody any child that requires more than the average amount of parenting. Whether that child has Downs Syndrome or is a drug addict,…
Book Review: Young girl learns the value of civic involvement — to a salsa beat
By Alma Ramos-McDermott LatinaLista “Let’s Salsa, Bailemos Salsa” Lupe Ruiz-Flores; Illustrated by Robert Casilla 2013. Pinata Books (Arte Publico Press). This bilingual picture book tells the story of young Estela who didn’t get to spend much time with her mother because of her busy work schedule. After convincing her to try local salsa dance…
Viernes Video: Filmmaker creates mini-film about the plight of migrant farmworker children
LatinaLista — The plight of migrant farm workers has never gotten the full attention it deserves. No matter that the only reason the nation is able to enjoy the convenience of having fruits and vegetables at our neighborhood markets is because of the backbreaking work of these men, women — and children hunched over in…