The Latinx Collective 🙋🏽👨🏻👱🏾👩🏾👱🏻‍♀️ the "L is for Latino edition"

THIS WEEK'S SIX:

This month, "Sesame Street" celebrates its 50th anniversary. It's being celebrated for many things — including pioneering diversity and the representation of Latino characters on TV. Over the years, "Sesame Street" has reflected the changes in society, dealing with issues like homelessness, autism, Afro-Latino identity and grief. But diversity has always been part of the show’s mission. "Sesame Street" has featured many Latinx or Spanish-speaking characters, providing work and exposure for Latino actors including Raul Julia, who appeared in the 1971 season; Carlo Alban, who in 2011 revealed he was undocumented while on the show; and Ismael Cruz Cordova, cast in 2013 after the show held an open call for a new Latino neighbor.

Jennifer Lopez is having a triumphant 2019. From her Motown tribute at the Grammys to the success of “Hustlers” to the announcement that she’ll be performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, she seems to be enjoying the fruits of her labor from about three decades in show business. The Still Processing podcast discusses whether Jennifer Lopez is finally getting her due! Excellent episode and worth a listen!

An article featuring three entrepreneurial Latinas that have been inspired to help others eat better, and are at the forefront of a heritage food movement taking place across the country: a desire to improve traditional foods that are cultural staples in Latino kitchens.

In case you missed it earlier this month, Walter Mercado, one of the most well-known Puerto Rican celebrities, has passed away. Mercado became known throughout Latin America and the U.S. through his television show, with his signature, flamboyant style and his colorful capes. His famous catch phrase to his audience was "Sobre todo, mucho, mucho amor," which translates to “Above all, lots and lots of love.”

It’s a problem that plagues even the priciest of lenses, manufactured to the most exacting specifications: the center of the frame might be razor-sharp, but the corners and edges always look a little soft. Rafael G. González-Acuña, a doctoral student at Mexico’s Tecnológico de Monterrey, has managed to come up with a mind-melting equation that provides an analytical solution for counteracting spherical aberration, which had been previously formulated back in 1949 as the Wasserman-Wolf problem which stumped scientists for decades.

Dominicans began leaving the D.R. in large numbers in the 1960s, seeking political and economic stability after the death of dictator Rafael Trujillo, and settling in Washington Heights because of its large but inexpensive apartments and its access to subway lines that brought them to jobs in the Garment District. The large influx of Dominicans helped to turn around Washington Heights. And in the process, the Dominican community became a major force in the city, both culturally and politically. In fact, Washington Heights is now represented in Washington by the first Dominican-American in Congress, Adriano Espaillat. 🇩🇴De Lo Mio!!!!!!🇩🇴

BONUS ARTICLES:

• Remezcla: Hispanic, Latino or Latinx: New poll looks at how our community prefers to identify

• Inside Abstract blog: Examining the role that remote work plays in preserving Latinx culture across the U.S. by Edgardo Perez

• KRCW.com: Blending cultures and honoring immigrants through Tex-Mex cuisine (and a carne guisada recipe!)

Appreciate you checking out this week’s issue. Forward this to friends or family so they can join you in celebrating the every day contributions the Latinx community is making. Some other actions you can take:

• Check out our directory of Latinx business owners. Follow the instructions to submit your info if you’d like to be added. If you want to support the household economy of Latinx business owners and services, check it out. It’s free.

• Post this tweet and share any of the articles above and tag us on social media-- we’re on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

• Keep an eye on our events page. If you’d like to co-host an event with us or become a sponsor, email thelatinxcollective@gmail.com