By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com They offer salsa classes to foster awareness of their culture and hold forums on immigration to help their members, but Latino student organizations at many of the state’s college and universities have also have embraced…
Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com When it comes to traditional Spanish-style cuisine, whether it be soup, beans, chicken, shrimp or anything else bolstered by a zesty sauce, it is very likely that what gives these dishes their distinctive flavor and aroma…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com A culture which prevailed in the mid-20th century America viewed breastfeeding as outside the norm, as “the special way,” became entrenched in Puerto Rico because of its close relationship with the United States. The prevalence…
Annika Darling CTLatinoNews.com The word “barrio” comes from the Spanish word which means “‘neighborhood” not ‘ghetto’ which is what many people think of today when they hear the word. However, some Latino communities are working to take back the meaning of “barrio” by…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com East Hartford’s Latinos make up over nearly one-third of the town’s population of 52,000 residents. This, many might expect, would lead to producing easily identifiable Latino leadership and institutions along with more commensurate political influence. …
By Annika Darling CTLatinoNews.com The origin of the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade is somewhat of a legend, passed down through parade organizers. As the story goes, when Hurricane Hugo struck Puerto Rico in 1989, nearly 28,000 people were left…
By Diane Alverio CTLatinoNews.com Donald Trump’s insulting remarks and actions regarding Univision’s network anchor Jorge Ramos at a press conference in Iowa (last) Tuesday predictably increased Latino disgust over his presidential campaign. It also gave Hispanics a new hero…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com Three Connecticut cities with large Latino populations, three primary races and three prominent Latino officeholders, all Democrats, challenging candidates who bear the local party machinery’s seal of approval that they were denied. That is the…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com The Puerto Rico debt crisis, if not resolved soon, is expected to have an impact far beyond the troubled commonwealth, with Connecticut, as the home to more than 250,000 Puerto Ricans, many with deep ties…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com When Republicans in Waterbury asked Jose Morales, a former Democrat, to be their candidate for mayor, he quickly seized the opportunity and became the first Hispanic to seek this post in the city’s history. ”…
By Lisa S. Lenkiewicz CTLatinoNews.com Across the state, Puerto Ricans are watching closely and some say with sadness and anger, at the state of financial peril in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Repayment of its outstanding debt –$72 billion…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com The future of the state’s economy and its global competitiveness will largely be determined by how well Connecticut schools prepare their English Language Learners, an area where much work remains to ensure that these students…
Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com As Connecticut is poised to rename a major street through a Latino neighborhood in Bridgeport to “Borinqueneers Memorial Highway’, nationally questions are raised about the lack of input they’ve had in the design of the Congressional…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com Stamford has bid a fond adios to Miriam Arzola, a Chilean immigrant who is returning to her homeland to care for her ill father after having been a “super volunteer” for many local organizations and…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com On Memorial Day, the remembrance of those who died while serving in this nation’s armed forces includes honoring the sacrifices made by Hispanics as members of segregated units. One of these units, Puerto Rico’s 65th…
Lisa S. Lenkiewicz CTLatinoNews.com Edward Santos is a Latino American warrior, having served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army Infantry. But he did not return home unscathed. He arrived as a wounded warrior. Injured during each tour,…
Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com After more than 60 years of migration from Puerto Rico and other Spanish-speaking countries, and an ongoing struggle to secure economic prosperity and to have its voice heard in local government, leaders within Meriden’s Hispanic population…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com Having its membership and program participation numbers better reflect the state’s changing demographics has become a major objective for AARP Connecticut. In a state where Hispanics comprise more than 14 percent of the general population,…
By Lisa S. Lenkiewicz CTLatinoNews.com Regardless of income, ethnicity or skin color, sports fans speak a universal language. So says Hugo Balta, senior director of multicultural content at ESPN. The wide world of sports is a unifying force, and…
Lisa S. Lenkiewicz CTLatinoNews.com Latino visual artist, textile designer and weaving instructor Ruben Marroquin is a big dreamer. For the past two years, he has operated an art and weaving studio out of a storefront at the Arcade Mall…
By Lisa S. Lenkiewicz CTLatinoNews HARTFORD, CT — Years ago, the name Maria Colon Sanchez was synonymous with leadership in Hartford’s Puerto Rican community. She was bestowed with the honorary title “La Madrina” (The Godmother) by her community. A…
Doug Maine CTLatinoNews Hispanic children from low-income families have the highest use rate for dental services – 76 percent – in the state’s HUSKY A (Medicaid) program in 2012. That was greater than the rates for African-American children (70…
By Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com Beginning with the new year, hundreds of undocumented immigrants, many of whom are Hispanic, will be reporting each week to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicle offices to begin the process of obtaining a new…
Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews.com As it enters its 45th year of treating substance abuse, Hartford-based Youth Challenge of Connecticut, a faith-based nonprofit treatment facility has a critical ongoing mission, which is embedded in the demographics of substance abuse in Connecticut….
Bill Sarno CTLatinoNews Thoughout his teen years, or practically half his life, Aundré Bumgardner has worked in political campaigns for Republican candidates in southeast Connecticut. This year, at age 20, Bumgardner, whose describes his roots as Hispanic and African-American,…
