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Luci Lampe's Countdown for Kickstarter and New Year

Story by Cindy McCain

As the world counts down days to Santa and the ball dropping in Times Square, Luci Lampe is counting down the last week of her Kickstarter campaign and a year filled with blessings.  She hopes to raise funds to produce new music from which her supporters can reap benefits.

The Peruvian-born pop singer/songwriter’s first video, “Save the World,” won the “Producer’s Choice Award” for Dance Music Video of the Year at the 21st Annual Los Angeles Music Awards. There she was also nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and has received nominations for the 2012 All Indie Music Awards for “Best Latin Artist” and “Best R&B/Soul Artist.”

Luci’s distinctive sound, a mix of Latin, R&B, and funk, is complemented by her signature style—from her creative couture to her inspirational lyrics.  The success of her EP “Live it Up” and her debut video is also due to her positive message.  For a fresh year, she challenges: “Look yourself in the eyes.  It’s time to choose.  Be the change you want to see.”   She admits:  “I am woman.  I am willing.  I am open.  I am empty of excuses.”  And, most of all, she believes:   “If we open up our hearts we can save the world.”

I met Luci last spring at the Nashville Film Festival VIP Reception honoring Hispanic filmmakers.  At year’s end I asked her to give me her top three highlights of 2011.  She replied:

My top three moments in 2011 professionally were: 1) Making it on the X Factor up until a couple rounds into Boot Camp, while on crutches with a badly sprained foot. Even though they hardly showed me on tv, it was more of a personal accomplishment of knowing I did my best even with what was a major challenge for me. I had no regrets. 2) Winning a Producer's Choice Award in the 21st Annual Los Angeles Music Awards. 3) Having my first fashion show in L.A. with the Miss Peru Corporation. It was incredible seeing the Peruvian (and Colombian) ladies modeling my designs! I'm looking forward to launching my line in the spring, even if just online for now.

I asked about her musical roots and influences.  She said:

I started singing as a little kid about 4 years old, just belting out my favorite Disney songs. I had several other creative outlets growing up, but my love for singing was unparalleled. As for dancing, I didn't really explore that seriously until college, particularly after returning from a trip to Puerto Rico my freshman summer.    My favorite artists vary greatly in style, some of which I admire more for their writing ability, vocal ability, live performance, or all three. A few of them are Alicia Keys, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Jessie J, and Christina Aguilera.

In her Kickstarter video she mentions her full plate as wife, mom, singer, songwriter, and clothing designer.  Not only did she study Music Production at Oral Roberts University but also Exercise Science.  In “Live it Up” she sings, “Let go.  Live the life you were meant to.”  I asked her secret to following a creative calling, staying fit, and raising a family.  She was honest about the paradox of having it all:

Ah, balancing career and family. The #1 question, and a good one! It's definitely a challenge, especially when you add a regular job into the mix. It comes down to family support, discipline and organization. While many girls in their 20s are going out for drinks at night, I'm often home either doing something with my kids and husband, or sewing or writing, for example. My 'going out' time right now is usually a performance, a meeting, or an event. The irony is that the music I write is intended for the fun, light moments in life, like parties or just having a good time!

And of her sustained energy,  she added:

Cliche as it may sound, God is my strength and Christ is my rock. There's absolute truth in that. I could not do all of this without Him, and  give Him all the glory because He's the one pulling this off-- not me.

Of her new project and invitation to fans to be part of the collaboration, she says:

My new recording project is primarily in English, although a few of the songs have some Spanish. I'll be co-producing some of the songs, and the length of the project depends on whether or not we reach the funding goal through my Kickstarter page by December 29th!

If you’d like to invest in creativity and buy yourself or someone the gift of new music for a new year, go here. Pledges are only collected if the project is funded in full.

As 2012 approaches, Luci’s line in “Save the World”—“I can’t do this alone”—speaks not only to what we can’t do, but also to what we can.  With unity, faith and love we can ring in a new year of hope and peace.

Story by cmccain published 12/21/2011 12:29:00 PM 0 comments Labels: arts, Cindy McCain, interviews, music


Free family photos at Christmas Festival in Antioch this Sunday Tomorrow, Sunday, December 4, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., The Church @ Antioch is hosting a Christmas Festival for families in the Antioch area.

There will be FREE family photos with an 8x11 framed photo gift, plus crafts, activities, snacks, cookie decorating, fun games for the kids and refreshments and free gifts for everyone.

The event will be held at the Antioch Community Center, 5023 Blue Hole Road.


H/T: Laisa Santiago

Story by John Lamb published 12/03/2011 07:56:00 AM Labels: events, faith


Guest writers wanted (and paid) at HispanicNashville.com

HispanicNashville.com has openings for guest writers.

If you want to write a story or opinion piece every once in a while (and get paid for it), send a sample submission to John Lamb; my contact information is under the "Edited by John Lamb" link on the right-hand side of the site.

Be sure to include a short bio of yourself.

Writers of all ages can apply, so teachers, let your students know about this chance to develop a critical skill and be a light to the city of Nashville at the same time.

Story by John Lamb published 12/01/2011 05:34:00 AM 
Mexican hands bring food to your table, says Tennessee farmer George Marks

"All your vegetables had a Mexican hand on it. All your fruit, and three quarters of your meat."

-Middle Tennessee farmer George Marks,
on the interaction between immigration politics and food
in a Tennessean report by Chas Sisk

George Marks' Clarksville-area farm has been in the family since 1899, when it produced tobacco, corn and wheat. George's father Arthur started the dairy production, one of few dairies still operating in Montgomery County. George and other family members still own the farm, but George runs its current crops, which include corn, wheat, soybeans, tobacco, beef and dairy.

The Marks farm has been recognized as a Tennessee Century Farm, and Marks credits the sustainability of many of its products to 19 farmhands from the Pacific coast state of Nayarit, Mexico. Most of these providers (for their families and for Tennessee families) have been returning to work for Marks year after year, on seasonal visas, for over a decade. Three employees were identified in the Tennessean story: Pedro Peña, Lupe Villegas, and Pedro Mateus. In addition to his farming duties, Marks is active in leadership and service for the Farm Bureau, the Montgomery County Cooperative, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission, and the Burley Stabilization Corporation.

According to Bread for the World, "[a]lmost three-fourths of all U.S. hired farm workers are immigrants, most of them unauthorized. The U.S. food system—particularly fruit and vegetable production—depends on immigrants more than any other sector of the U.S. economy."

Marks put it this way to the Tennessean: "All your vegetables had a Mexican hand on it. All your fruit, and three quarters of your meat."

Thank farmers and their teams for the food they provide your family - just fill out the form at the TN Farm Bureau web site tnfarmbureau.org/thankafarmer.  Here is what I submitted: Before each meal, my preschool son starts saying grace by putting his hands in the air and singing, "Open, shut them / Open, shut them / Give a little clap / Open, shut them / Open, shut them / Fold them in your lap," and then "God our Father, once again, we bow our heads to thank you, Amen." I thank God for abundance of the land, the animals, the farms and the farmers, and for all of their teams on those farms who put in the hard work that puts food on our family's table.

Story by John Lamb published 11/28/2011 03:20:00 AM Labels: food, immigrants, justice, mexico, statistics


Remembering the Mariposas: International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women By Rebecca Zanolini

Fifty-one years ago today in the Dominican Republic, sisters Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa Mirabal were brutally murdered by orders of their then-government leader, Rafael Trujillo, also known as el jefe.

The sisters were known by their supporters and revolutionary colleagues as las mariposas ---the butterflies. These brave sisters helped initiate a road to justice and equality in their small island country that had been under the rule of a vicious dictator for nearly 30 years.

During his reign of terror, it is estimated that Trujillo had tens of thousands of people murdered for opposing his government and his desire to eradicate neighboring dark-skinned Haitians from the island.   Because of the valiant effort and tragic death of the Mirabal sisters, many countries in Latin America recognize today, November 25, as the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Thus, on this post-Thanksgiving Day, I encourage us all to take a moment of silence - in remembrance of the Mirabal sisters who lost their lives on November 25, 1960, and in remembrance of the thousands of lives who have been both directly and indirectly impacted by violence towards women. To honor these women and the women in your life, wear a butterfly today and share this story or your own story with others.

Long live the butterflies!

About the author: My name is Rebecca Zanolini, and I am currently a full-time Spanish Instructor with Middle Tennessee State University. I hold a Master of Arts in Teaching and an Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Culture, Cognition, and the Learning Process. Currently I am pursuing doctoral studies in Curriculum and Instruction at Tennessee State University.  Beyond my passion for teaching the Spanish language, I am passionate about achieving social and educational equality for Tennesseans of minority and immigrant backgrounds and improving the quality of life for all people in our community. Most recently, I have served on the Equity Task Force Committee with Franklin Special School District, volunteered with FUTURO of MTSU, and helped to lead and moderate an equality forum at MTSU known as, “We are Created E.Q.U.A.L.”

Story by John Lamb published 11/25/2011 02:05:00 PM Labels: dominican republic, justice, Rebecca Zanolini


Clergy breakfast next Wednesday to feature Alabama bishop Willimon, Baptist ethicist Parham, and immigration bureaucracy update

Clergy for Tolerance is hosting a special breakfast in Nashville next Wednesday, November 30, 2011, featuring United Methodist Bishop William Willimon, head of the North Alabama Conference and leader in the faith community’s opposition and response to Alabama’s immigration law.

The breakfast is meant to update faith leaders on the constantly evolving immigration bureaucracy in the federal government and in states like Alabama, and to encourage them to continue serving as spokespersons of compassion and reason.

Bishop Willimon will specifically address the importance of clergy involvement in preventing similar legislation from passing in Tennessee and will provide examples of the challenges for faith communities in Alabama under this new law. Alabama's HB 56 went into effect on September 29, 2011 and is widely considered the toughest-in-the-nation legislation on the targeted workers.

Also speaking will be Robert Parham, Founder and Executive Director of the Baptist Center for Ethics. Reared in Nigeria as the child of missionaries, Parham has a doctorate from Baylor University, a master's of divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a bachelor's in foreign service from Georgetown University. In addition to appearing on Fox News, CNN Talk Back Live, MSNBC News Chat, ABC World News Tonight and NPR’s Morning Edition, he interfaces with reporters across the country. Parham will introduce the topic of faith and immigration within a framework of morality.

Organizers say that 180 Tennessee clergymembers and faith leaders are scheduled to attend, but space is still available for registration.

Online registration for clergy is free - here, or to register manually, clergy may send their name, email address, and organization to email@example.com

Kasar Abdulla, TIRRC
Rev. April Baker, Pastor, Glendale Baptist Church
Father Joseph Breen, St. Edward Catholic Church
Rev. Kristina Brown, Community Ministries and Communications, First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro
Bishop Ben Chamness, Interim Bishop, Tennessee Conference, United Methodist Church
A.R. Chao, Director of Education, Islamic Center of Tennessee
Rev. James Cole, Pastor, Hillcrest United Methodist Church
Rev. John Collett, Nashville District Superintendent, United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Judy Cummings, Senior Pastor, New Covenant Christian Church
Rev. Sonnye Dixon, Pastor, Hobson United Methodist Church
Dr. Donovan Drake, Senior Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Rev. Ken Edwards, Senior Pastor, Belmont United Methodist Church
Rev. Brian Fesler, Church of Scientology
Stephen Fotopulos, TIRRC
Rev. Kaki Friskics-Warren, TNJFON
Rev. Kaye Harvey, Pastor of Congregational Care, Brentwood United Methodist Church
Rev. Heidi Hudnut-Beumler, Pastor, Trinity Presbyterian Church
Nathan Kinser, Youth Director, Stones River Baptist Church and Director of World Relief Nashville
Rev Thomas Kleinert, Senior Pastor, Vine Street Christian Church
Dr. Todd Lake, VP for Spiritual Development, Belmont University and Interim Pastor at First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro
Dr. Frank Lewis, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Nashville
Rev. Ken Locke, Pastor, Downtown Presbyterian Church
Rev. James Milton McCarroll, Jr., First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro
Amelia Post, TIRRC
Avi Poster, CEI
Rev. Gail S. Seavey, Pastor, First Unitarian Universalist
Bill Sinclair, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Tennessee
Renata Soto, Conexión Américas
Chantho Sourinho, Wat Lao Buddharam (Lao Buddhist Temple)
Rev. Jay Vorhees, Pastor, Old Hickory United Methodist Church
Hedy Weinberg, ACLU

Baptist Center for Ethics
Belmont University Office of Spiritual Development
Coalition for Education about Immigration (CEI)
Conexión Américas
Islamic Center of Nashville (ICN)
Islamic Center of Tennessee
The Nashville Board of Rabbis
Nashville for All of Us
Tennessee for All of Us
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC)
Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (TNJFON)
Wat Lao Buddharam (Lao Buddhist Temple)

Story by John Lamb published 11/22/2011 05:14:00 AM 

Isis Abigail Martínez celebrates quinceañera

On October 22, the Martínez Vargas family celebrated the fifteenth birthday of Isis Abigail with a thanksgiving mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, where the quinceañera was accompanied by her escorts Brayan Martínez, Óscar Vivas, Edmundo Díaz y Caín Honorato. Afterward, guests attended a reception emceed by Kaimanes Musical at Premier Indoor Sports. Advance photos were taken at the Opryland Hotel.

See more quinceañera announcements at HolaTN.com.

Original story credit: Vallejo y Alcántara/HolaTN. English summary by HispanicNashville.com. Used with permission.

Story by John Lamb published 11/21/2011 03:23:00 AM 
Four free tickets to Kings of Salsa show Tuesday at Schermerhorn

The Kings of Salsa are playing at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center this Tuesday night, November 22, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $29-$69; to purchase, click here or call 615-687-6400.

Cindy McCain, Nashville Latin Dancing Examiner at Examiner.com and guest writer at HispanicNashville.com, has an interview with Kings of Salsa artist director and choreographer Roclan Gonzalez Chavez here. The non-interview, promo material version is here:

Choreographed by Roclan Gonzalez Chavez, this stunning new show pays homage to the great Cuban performers and the dance styles from this intoxicating island, with a cool contemporary modern twist showing young Cuba today.

Regarded as one of the best young choreographers in Cuba, Gonzalez Chavez has created this show to feature the unique talents of some of the island’s best dancers, picked from the cream of Cuba’s top dance companies. The electrifying mix of performers and choreographic styles makes this a show not to be missed.

Featuring the very best of Havana’s cool street salsa and hip hop scene, Kings of Salsa seamlessly mixes traditional Afro-Caribbean moves, world class contemporary dance and the Cuban classics: Mambo, Rumba, and Cha Cha Cha. Backed by the spectacular 9-piece band Cuba Ashire, who unleash Latin rhythms and stratospheric brass arrangements, Kings of Salsa showcases a slice of cool contemporary Cuba never seen before on stage.

If you loved Buena Vista Social Club, you do not want to miss this evening!

Four free tickets are available to HispanicNashville.com readers - to enter, just post a comment to this story below (or on Hispanic Nashville's Facebook page) and say how many tickets you need. Comments must be posted by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Monday, November 21.

Story by John Lamb published 11/20/2011 06:03:00 AM Labels: cuba, dance, events, music


Thank you for the food: a love letter to Nolensville Road and El Amigo

Nolensville Road and taco shop El Amigo get a love letter for their food, in this week's pre-Thanksgiving edition of the Nashville Scene. The piece by Sean L. Maloney is part of a cover story made entirely of open letters to "the city we love, the people we admire from afar and some other stuff we generally find tolerable about life, all in an open forum."

The writers said they aren't expecting a reply, but that they "wouldn’t mind a retweet." So, with the Scene's permission (confirmed by e-mail), here's a snippet of a food lover's thank-you letter to Nolensville Road and El Amigo:

An Open Letter to Nolensville Road
By Sean L. Maloney

First and foremost, I’d like to thank you for smelling like meat at almost all times. Specifically, meat cooked over low heat for hours on end. That could be my favorite scent in the whole olfactory spectrum, and nothing says “we’re home” to my wife and me after a long trip like the whiffs of barbacoa and al pastor that waft into the car once we get off the highway on the way back to nuestra casa.
[N]ow that we’ve traded in our 500-square-foot yuppie cage for five rooms on the South Side, we’re eating like champs for half the cost. And the options! Even if we’re being super-duper lazy and don’t want to go past the end of our street, we’ve still got a globe’s worth of options: Ghanian over at Musaake, the best chicharron de queso papusas in town at La Papuseria Salvodoreana, grocery stores featuring the fare of at least four continents!

It’s like we’ve died and gone to foodie heaven! Except we’re not dead, and there’s still money left in our bank account. But the best thing about living right next to Nolensville Road, at least for this record critic, food lover and full-time nightclub denizen, is that El Amigo — the convenience store-cum-taqueria on the corner of Elysian Fields — is open after the bars close....

Read the entire letter over at nashvillescene.com

Story by John Lamb published 11/18/2011 05:52:00 AM 

El Protector turns 7; officers' embedded approach receives local and national honors

By Cindy McCain

Nashville's nationally acclaimed El Protector Program turned seven this year, interacting in one way or another with the infants, youth, and adults across the Nashville community. Metro Nashville Police Department Commander Mike Alexander, who was recently awarded the “Building Neighborhoods Award” by the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, describes El Protector as "building trust and partnership between the police department and the Hispanic community."

In an interview with HispanicNashville.com, Alexander gave an overview of El Protector's seven years (and counting) in Nashville:

The El Protector Program began in 2004 and originated within the South Precinct as a means to provide outreach and partnership between the police department and the Hispanic community. The program now has two sworn officers dedicated to this effort who are Gilbert Ramirez (South Precinct) and Rafael Fernandez (Hermitage Precinct). We have three events that we consider the most crucial during the year, which are the Hispanic Community Festival, Hispanic Teen Academy and Soccer Tournament, and a Christmas event for disabled children in December.

The El Protector Program’s Board of Directors consists of approximately 15 members from various disciplines across the county who meet to discuss solutions and initiatives. Alexander stresses the importance of teamwork with other organizations in the community:

The El Protector Program is successful due to very committed partners and organizations within the community who are willing to work with us to make our city a safe and welcoming environment for all.  We have a great relationship with Cricket Communications as they provide approximately 40 cell phones to civilian translators who are on call to translate for the officers in the field.   We have recently added Hispanic clergy members to our Police Youth Response Team who are on call to assist with any serious events where Hispanic youth may be injured, in order to counsel family members.  Our officers are now on two radio stations each week and take calls from the community regarding a variety of issues in terms of laws, how the police department operates.

The radio program outreach offers free advice in Spanish on Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 on Radio Luz 900 AM and from 11:00-12:00 on La Nueva Activa 1240 AM. Legal experts and representatives of agencies such as 211, Conexion Americas, and Nashville Conflict Resolution Center provide information and answers to callers' questions. Topics range from issues related to Driver Licenses, International Driver Licenses, traffic stops, fraud, mental health and safety concerns.  The El Protector Program hopes to add a third radio station with a younger audience by the end of the year, to discuss issues faced by younger Hispanic Nashvillians. Commander Mike Alexander says of the radio programs:

The sessions are open to callers who call in to dialogue and/or ask questions related to a variety of topics. [The radio] is a great opportunity for interaction with the El Protector Officers, to educate and learn more about the department and existing laws.

El Protector also provides car seat safety inspections, according to Alexander:

The South Precinct has been designated as the first Hispanic Car Seat Safety Inspection Site in the state of Tennessee, and our El Protector Officers (through a partnership with Meharry Medical College) conduct car seat safety inspections for families to insure that children are as safe as possible in vehicles.

Alexander is obviously proud of the national acclaim these efforts are attracting:

The program has been recognized by the Vera Institute in New York as one of the six best practices in the country as it relates to bridging the language divide. Vera began with the assessment of over 200 police departments across the country and then made on site visits to approximately 25 agencies (of which we were one) and then selected who they believed were the six best. We are currently in contention again for this recognition.

Alexander's opinion on bridging potential divides between the police and the Hispanic community is that it requires a proactive, networked approach:

We must be proactive in terms of reaching out to the community in order to build trust and partnership as we work together for a safe and peaceful Nashville.

El Protector's accolades, track record, and interactions with Music City have been documented over the years in HispanicNashville.com. To see those stories, click on the "El Protector" link in the Index on the right-hand side of this site.

Story by cmccain published 11/17/2011 08:38:00 PM Labels: awards, Cindy McCain, El Protector, national spotlight


Rolando Rostro received Reagan amnesty in 1986; it's a story of English, education, integration, leadership, and productive life

Guest post by Ralph Noyes

I sit in the lobby waiting for Pastor Rolando Rostro to finish the last proclamation of the Quinceañera ceremony. “Felicidades a la princesa del dia…” The children too young to sit are playing in front of me, switching with ease between English and Spanish, running in circles around the rug. When Rolando finally emerges, he leads me down a long hallway to the heart of his Iglesia Nueva Vida, the pastor’s office.

Rostro, originally from Rio Verde, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, immigrated with his parents and 9 siblings to Brownsville at the insistence of his mother. He and his family grew up working as pickers in the fields of South Texas, dodging the authorities. “We always had a fear of being questioned and discovered. We were intimidated, mentally unsettled. That fear creates dangerous conditions. People are afraid of going to the police, checking into a hospital, or dealing with any kind of bureaucracy. These services are in place to help people, not scare them away.” As a result, domestic abuse was rampant and “most crime went un reported in the neighborhood” during his childhood.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act, commonly known as “amnesty" or “legalization”, was passed by Congress and signed by President Reagan on November 6, 1986. Rostro recounts an incident shortly after that, when his mother was pulled over with him and his siblings in the car. “The officer asked us for identification and my mother took out all 11 social security cards, handed them to him one by one. That was a big moment for us. It created confidence and a freedom to open up to the authorities.” Although the law changed his legal status, it did not change popular opinion. “Laws don’t change popular opinion, taking personal action by opening your mouth does,” says Rostro, whose mother forced him and his siblings to learn English early.

These verbal skills have served him well in the years since then. Rolando has become pastor of his own Memphis church, President of the Hispanic Pastor Network, and a leading provider of Spanish translators to the 911 emergency system. In 2001 he participated in La Coalición Memphis, a group of a dozen individuals who lobbied successfully for the passage of a Tennessee law that enabled undocumented aliens to obtain driver’s licenses. “These are good people, working people. Give them a way to be included, to participate and assimilate into the system, to generate revenue and pay their dues. You want to be able to ID them out in the open, not to have to search for them in hiding.” Rostro believes that including immigrants can benefit the economy in the form of taxes, administrative fees, and traffic fines. “Whatever they charge, they will pay,” he states flatly, citing the overnight appearance of long lines at driver’s license centers as soon as the licenses became available.

According to Rostro, the future for today’s Hispanic immigrants is unclear, but “there’s always a fear of immigrants and there will always be opposition.” This opposition is fighting a tide that grows stronger everyday, a growing community that he believes will throw considerable weight behind the next presidential candidate who favors pro immigrant legislation. “The first generation doesn’t speak English or vote, but their children and grand children do. The next candidate who proposes something similar will win the Hispanic vote. It will happen again. Not this term, maybe next, or the one after. Without that law, I wouldn’t be educated. I wouldn’t have been able to provide private education for my kids, or give them the confidence, opportunity, and peace of mind to do something productive”.

As our interview turns to casual conversation, my ears drift to the music still thumping inside the church sanctuary. I wonder what opportunities await tonight’s “princess,” whether the world outside Iglesia Nueva Vida will accept and embrace her burgeoning identity, or whether she will become what Rostro fears - another “bright mind being robbed of the country’s benefits.”

This is the fifth and last story in a HispanicNashville.com series on the Reagan amnesty bill signed 25 years ago. The first piece in the series was by Cindy McCain, titled "'Manuel' remembers November 1986;" the second was last Friday's story/opinion piece "25 years of my own spiritual amnesty;" the third was a Thanskgiving-themed PSA called "Founder of the Feast," featuring a picker in the field, like Rostro and his family; the fourth was a guest post of mine called "Reagan’s Amnesty Bill Impacted Families for the Better" that was published on the web site undocumented.tv; and this story by Ralph Noyes about Rolando Rostro is the fifth.

Story by John Lamb published 11/11/2011 05:25:00 AM Labels: 25 years of Reagan amnesty, History - Immigrants and Refugees, History - Law, immigrants, interviews, justice, Ralph Noyes


Fame: Manuel gets star, eat on TV this Friday with Yayo's O.M.G., and casting call for Quiero Mi Baby Manuel Cuevas ("Manuel" for short) was honored Sunday with a star in his name on the Music City Walk of Fame. Manuel is one of Nashville's music legends by way of fashioning many musicians' iconic outfits. See Manuel's official bio on the Walk of Fame site here, and photos of the ceremony and the actual star at the Tennessean or on Manuel's Facebook page. At lunchtime on Friday, you can be on TV - and eat well in the process - at a taping of Food Network Canada's "Eat Street", which will be featuring Nashville mobile food truck Yayo's O.M.G. ("Original Mexican Gourmet"). Filming will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. outside the offices of Conexion Americas, 800 18th Ave So. If you want a little more camera time and are expecting your first child between now and February, MTV Tr3s is looking for Nashville couples for a new documentary “Quiero Mi Baby.” From the producers of “Quiero Mis Quinces” and “Quiero Mi Boda,” Quiero Mi Baby will feature cross-cultural couples (for example Puerto Rican & Italian or Cuban & Venezuelan) who are expecting for the first time. A trailer for the show is here, and the casting link is here.

Story by John Lamb published 11/10/2011 05:44:00 AM Labels: fashion, food, national spotlight


The Founder of the Feast Here's my PSA or "house ad" for Thanksgiving 2011. It's a play on the country/Southern phrase "Dance with the one that brung ya," which is about loyalty to the people who got you where you are today.

May we be thankful for and with, and loyal to, every person who brings us our food.

Update 11/28/11: Thank a farmer (and their farmhands) at the TN Farm Bureau web site http://www.tnfarmbureau.org/thankafarmer

See the other ads I've created under "Ads" in the Index on the right-hand side of this site.

Story by John Lamb published 11/09/2011 06:16:00 AM Labels: ads, gratitude, immigrants


25th anniversary of Reagan amnesty

Story by John Lamb published 11/06/2011 02:33:00 AM 0 comments 
25 years of my own spiritual amnesty, of the Reagan amnesty, and a missing sense of fear and trembling

Twenty-five years ago, I received amnesty.

It was June. I was thirteen. I was with my youth group in Greenville, South Carolina, on a university campus - North Greenville University, I think - not Furman, and definitely not Bob Jones.

The campus had been rented out by a Southern Baptist youth camp program called Centrifuge, and we were there for the week.

For the previous six years or so, I had been aware of the concept of a making a lifelong spiritual commitment to God - to Jesus. In the Baptist world and elsewhere, making that commitment is alternately described as committing your life to Christ, going down the aisle, getting saved, or getting born again.

The idea is that you recognize your general pattern of doing things wrong in life, and your separation from God, and that you ask for an unearned (by you) reconciliation to God.


I was thirteen, and I really was aware of my shortcomings. I don't look back now and think that such an attitude at that age was silly. It's actually sillier that 25 years later I am less aware of and repentant of my shortcomings.

But getting back to 1986, there I was, ready to make that spiritual commitment, and I called my youth pastor Harry Rowland aside. I told him, although not in so many words, that I wanted to receive amnesty.  He thought that I had already done this, and I explained that I hadn't, and that was that.  We spoke with my parents.  We must have spoken with pastor Bill Sherman.  And then, days later, at Woodmont Baptist Church, we all marked this significant spiritual reboot with my baptism.

The wrong thing to do would be to forget that it happened.

In Psalm 2:11, David said

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

In Philippians 2:12, Paul said,

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling

These instructions to fear and tremble were directed at people of God - insiders, not outsiders.

Sometimes it feels like Americans, many of whom self-identify as Christians, have a sense of entitlement (even those who would otherwise complain about "entitlements"). We are the ones in the right, we think, and someone else is in the wrong. Funny how it almost always turns out that way.

As a result, we are more inclined - individually, collectively, politically, spiritually - to inflict fear and cause trembling. And we sure do resent it when someone inflicts it on us. But to choose to fear, to choose to tremble, with no outside enemy the object of our fear?

How rare is that?

Since it's the 25th year of my own amnesty and the 25th year following the immigration amnesty of Ronald Reagan, I think of how we have very little national fear and trembling about how our law treats immigrants.

We have little fear and trembling about how we as American Christians readily accept spiritual forgiveness and even legal forgiveness, but we deny legal forgiveness to the foreigner, especially those in poverty who make up the bulk of the population without papers. We have little fear and trembling about spiritual instructions to us to take extra precaution to give justice to the poor and to the foreigner.

In 2011, my own denomination - the Southern Baptist Convention, whose church in Nashville shepherded me to salvation 25 years ago - issued a statement on immigration. It was an attempt to be less harsh on the issue, but at the same time it contained this one key phrase that is antithetical to the denomination's treasured tenet of forgiveness:

RESOLVED, That this resolution is not to be construed as support for amnesty for any undocumented immigrant

That antipathy toward amnesty in immigration is delivered with little fear and trembling, despite the you'll-be-forgiven-only-if-you-forgive-others message of Matthew 6:14:

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

I mean, for crying out loud, that's the first thing out of Jesus' mouth after He sets out the model prayer to God.

To America's credit, Ronald Reagan signed one such forgiveness of trespasses. That was twenty-five years ago this Sunday - November 6, 1986.

But who is God going to hold accountable for America's national refusal to forgive immigrants since then? There are ways for America to grant measured, reasonable amnesty that make plenty of legal and Constitutional sense in the same way we provide amnesty to ourselves as Americans in other contexts. But the politicians don't want to do it.  And here we are, with millions in the lurch. When God calls America to the mat for denying justice to the foreigner, the politicians are going to be pointing fingers at us, and we're going to be pointing fingers at them.  You don't have to be a parent to know how badly that is going to end.

America needs amnesty, and not just for the so-called "them."

Some of the sins we could confess in the immigration context are below:

We have arrested pregnant mothers under claims of driving offenses that don't stick.
We have used vocabulary as a weapon.
We make our own conduct consequence-free.

We slander.


We are flirting with lynchings.
We are living in the modern version of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
We condone "amnesty" but we have no problem receiving it.
We overlook the lawbreaking of the powerful while we condemn the lawbreaking of the poor.
We receive without thanking.
We have "fresh starts" for ourselves but not for others.
We don't talk to people before we form opinions about them.
We ignore the voices echoing Martin Luther King's cry for moral, just laws.

As for me, I will try to remember my own missteps, acknowledge my new ones, and seek correction - all in fear and trembling, as I give thanks for and continue to ask for my own spiritual amnesty.

As we talk about, watch, and write (or withhold) laws on immigration, either in Congress or in statehouses and city halls across the country, may we remember our own missteps, acknowledge our new ones, and seek correction - all in fear and trembling, with our own need of forgiveness front and center in our hearts and on our minds.

Story by John Lamb published 11/04/2011 06:56:00 AM Labels: 25 years of Reagan amnesty, faith, History - Immigrants and Refugees, History - Law, immigrants, justice


Upcoming November events: immigration panel, YMCA Latino Achievers dinner, TIRRC convention, TLACC networking, Kings of Salsa

Panel Discussion: How Smarter Immigration Laws Would Boost the Economy and Create American Jobs
Panelists: Colin Reed, chairman and CEO of Gaylord Entertainment Farsheed Ferdowsi, president of Inova Payroll John Steele, SVP of human resources at HCA. National speaker - TBA Moderator: Ralph Schulz, president & CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.  Other speakers: Jeremy Robbins, policy advisor and special counsel, Office of the Chief Advisor to Mayor Bloomberg for policy and strategic planning
Sponsored by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and the Partnership for a New American Economy
Monday, Nov. 7
7:30-9:30 a.m.
Hilton Nashville Downtown
121 Fourth Avenue South
Schedule:  7:30 a.m. Registration and networking; continental breakfast 8-9:30 a.m.
Program Cost: There is no cost to attend, but advance registration is required.
Click here to indicate your attendance plans.

10th Annual Dinner Celebration for YMCA Latino Achievers
In the 2010-2011 school year, the YMCA Latino Achievers program served over 500 students. 93% of senior participants graduated, and we were able to grant 29 scholarships, with the help of generous community support. This school year marks the 10th anniversary of the program’s existence, and through these years we have inspired hope and fulfilled college dreams for numerous Hispanic students and families in Middle Tennessee.
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Lipscomb University's Allen Arena
Reserve tables for $500 or seats for $50
If paying by credit or debit card, please purchase your tickets online at: http://latinoachievers.eventbrite.com/
If paying by check, please make check payable to: YMCA of Middle Tennessee - Latino Achievers   Contact YMCA Latino Achievers to reserve your space by emailing email@example.com or 615.743.6206.

9th Annual TIRRC Membership Convention 2011
“Telling Our Story”
Join us for a diverse celebration to learn how to tell the story of your life and your community through art, poetry, media and more!  The convention is free and includes materials, participation in general sessions and choice of workshops, lunch, and entertainment throughout the day.   Childcare will be available for people that pre-register.  The convention will be in Antioch, TN. Once you have registered, you will receive details about the exact location via email in the upcoming weeks.
9:30 AM - 7 PM

Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce Holiday Networking Event
With live music by "Kaciques" and delicious appetizers.
Registration & Networking:  5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Program begins at 6:30 p.m.
Sheraton Downtown Hilton
623 Union Street
R.S.V.P. by November 12
This event is FREE to TLACC MEMBERS RSVP here: http://bit.ly/ujAHSm
$20 for Non members, RSVP here: http://bit.ly/vXSvoX

Kings of Salsa at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Tuesday November 22, 2011
$ 29.00 - $ 69.00
This stunning stage extravaganza pays homage to Cuba’s greatest performers and dance styles, with a cool, contemporary modern twist. Some of the island’s finest dancers will perform an intoxicating mix of salsa, hip-hop, mambo, rumba and other classic Cuban moves. Featuring the spectacular nine-piece band Cuba Ashire, Kings of Salsa showcases a slice of Cuba never seen before onstage.

Story by John Lamb published 11/03/2011 06:21:00 AM 

"Manuel" remembers November 1986: Reagan's Amnesty

Interview by Cindy McCain

I was at my job…a little restaurant where I worked while in school.  They’d been trying to pass the law for awhile.  They had a tv on and we heard President Reagan had signed the bill.  The Spanish people were very happy.  Some of them were crying.  It was very emotional.  Some were clapping.  Some were screaming very happy screams.

Manuel (name changed for privacy) recalls the reaction he witnessed on November 6, 1986 to the passing of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA).

It opened doors of opportunity.  You could buy a house, go back and see your family. It was the best news ever.  Back then I knew people who had been here (in the U.S.) twenty years that hadn’t been able to go home to visit family.  After ‘86 you could get a temporary green card to travel back and forth.  There was this guy who’d been here forever. When he heard the news, he applied to get his card and went to Mexico for a month.

IRCA gave amnesty/legalization to undocumented people in the U.S. who had entered the country before 1982 and had lived here continuously.  Manuel was here legally on a student visa, but when he graduated from college in 1989, he would be required to leave. He believes had it not been for the amnesty he would have returned to Mexico, something he didn’t want to do, and lived another life.  But that night -- almost 25 years ago -- gave him confidence to hire an attorney and seek permanent residency.

Manuel moved from Mexico City to Los Angeles to attend high school.  He explains:

Dad worked for Proctor and Gamble in Mexico City which sponsored a scholarship for me to study in the states based on good grades.  When I was 15 my father asked, 'Do you have the courage to leave home?' I said yes. I wanted to explore something different.

Manuel is grateful for his uncle who sponsored him.  He said moving here meant leaving eight brothers, a sister, and his parents behind.  That was hard.  So was the language.  He said though he missed his family, especially his mother, and the food from home, LA’s high Hispanic population made it easier: “Unlike Nashville, so many people spoke Spanish there.  But I decided I was going to do it, so I did.”

After high school he returned home, them came back to attend Ranalto Santiago College in Santa Ana, California.  From there he graduated with a degree in Culinary Arts.  He paid for college working in his uncle’s restaurant and for a time sold Oakley sunglasses.

When he had a family of his own he moved them to Nashville so his son’s mother could be near her family.  That was fourteen years ago.  Today Manuel is Assistant Food Manager in charge of catering for the President at a Middle Tennessee university. Monday-Friday he works 7-2:30, then heads to his second shift from 4:30 until closing where he’s on a sales marketing team for an award-winning restaurant in downtown Nashville. When asked about working until midnight, he smiles and says he feels thankful:  “They are a great company to work for.  I have two jobs, but some people don’t have that.”  He’d love to open his own catering business one day.

We traded stories about our families.  He started: “In Mexico everyone pitches in to take care of older relatives till they pass.” His aunts cared for his grandparents and his brothers currently give dialysis to his diabetic father.  Likewise,  my mom cared for my grandmother by moving in with her for six years before she died.  Manuel sighed:  “We just have to take it as it comes.  Every single day there are challenges.  We have to take it as it comes.”

We also discussed raising children in American culture and how we remind our teen-aged sons, both who have friends with affluent parents, that they are blessed to have their needs and even wants met.    Manuel said he tells his fourteen year old (who is just a year younger than Manuel was when he came to the US alone): "As you work for it, you appreciate it   You have a mom.  You have a dad.  You have a (family) car.  You have a tv, cell phone, and internet.  What do you need that you don’t already have?" We also discovered his fourteen-year-old and my eighteen-year-old would love nothing better than to design video games.  His son is also considering studying culinary arts. Manuel said:  “I try to teach him as much as I can.  I tell him that when he’s older and his wife comes home tired from working all day, he can make her dinner and make her happy.”

Of the possibility of a new amnesty, and the deportations in Alabama, Manuel said:

In my opinion, criminals and people who are trouble—send them back.  Let good people working already continue working. Alabama farmers are complaining that they don’t have enough people to work their fields which hurts the economy. A law that profiles people suspected of being illegal because of the color of their skin would be very sad.

I barely made it. I was pretty lucky. I came into the country in 1982, but because I did it legally, and because of the 1986 Act, it was easier for me to get permanent residency.  Since then, my hero has been President Reagan.  It’s [IRCA's] one of the remarkable things he did for Spanish people.

If I’d stayed in Mexico I’d probably be working for my brother’s business and have a whole bunch of kids. When I moved away I became so independent. It helped me a lot. I can make my own decisions. Opportunities are here.  I’m not under my parents’ wing. It makes me more mature and independent.   I love America. It’s my son’s country. Now I plan to apply for my American citizenship…so I can vote.

Story by cmccain published 11/02/2011 05:00:00 AM Labels: 25 years of Reagan amnesty, Cindy McCain, History - Immigrants and Refugees, History - Law, immigrants, interviews, justice, mexico


The Liberty Bell, Jubilee, and a 35th Amendment

Today is the 260th anniversary of the letter that sent the order for the Liberty Bell. The inscription on the Liberty Bell is from Leviticus 25:10, where Israel is instructed to forgive debts every 50 years, declaring jubilee - or Liberty.  (By the way, this Sunday is the 25th anniversary of Reagan's amnesty, so this is an interesting week for the theme of forgiveness.)

Because today is also the start of NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, my post today will be a humble attempt at creative writing - inspired by the Liberty Bell, its historic inspiration, and its promise for America.

This fictional piece is about the ratification of a theoretical 35th Amendment to the Constitution granting citizenship to anyone and everyone who has lived in the U.S. for twenty-one years. It represents jubilee, and liberty. Perhaps it is in our future, or perhaps not.

You can peek into that world (and into my very rough skill set of creative expression) in the rest of the post, below.

Story continues; click here...
Story by John Lamb published 11/01/2011 05:53:00 AM Labels: faith, history, History - Law, immigrants, justice


125th anniversary of Statue of Liberty unveiling; Chinese voice of protest echoes to 21st century

One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, on October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was unveiled to the public.

Emma Lazarus' sonnet "The New Colossus," a short poem about the Statue of Liberty that is now installed on its pedestal, was written in 1883 as a donation to one of the many private fundraisers for the construction of the Statue of Liberty.

Among those solicited for donations were Chinese-Americans.  It is quite a contradiction of history that the Statue of Liberty was brought to New York Harbor right after Congress passed a significant anti-immigrant law, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which pretty much closed the door on legal Chinese immigration, even after they contributed so much to the construction of the American West.

So you can imagine some Chinese-Americans' response at the time to the private fundraising efforts for the Statue of Liberty. The sentiment of the disenfranchised and now formally unwelcome Chinese was captured for history in a letter to the editor of the New York Sun, from a man named Saum Song Bo:

Liberty, we Chinese do love and adore thee; but let not those who deny thee to us, make of thee a graven image and invite us to bow down to it.

The poetic anthem of an American welcome in "Colossus", and the heartfelt letter of American resident Saum Song Bo who has been denied that welcome - echo forward to the modern day. In the 21st century, we have American residents living among us for years who are still denied integration and immigration status.

These two texts from over 125 years ago are as important today as they were then - they call us to be the America that really does live out its physical and spoken reverence for Liberty.  And for justice.  For all.

Both "The New Colossus" and Saum Song Bo's letter are reproduced in their entirety, below.

Saum Song Bo's letter, 1885:

SIR: A paper was presented to me yesterday for inspection, and I found it to be specially drawn up for subscription among my countrymen toward the Pedestal Fund of the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty. Seeing that the heading is an appeal to American citizens, to their love of country and liberty, I feel that my countrymen and myself are honored in being thus appealed to as citizens in the cause of liberty. But the word liberty makes me think of the fact that this country is the land of liberty for men of all nations except the Chinese. I consider it as an insult to us Chinese to call on us to contribute toward building in this land a pedestal for a statue of Liberty. That statue represents Liberty holding a torch which lights the passage of those of all nations who come Into this country. But are the Chinese allowed to come? As for the Chinese who are here, are they allowed to enjoy liberty as men of all other nationalities enjoy it? Are they allowed to go about everywhere free from the insults, abuse, assaults, wrongs and injuries from which men of other nationalities are free?

If there be a Chinaman who came to this country when a lad, who has passed through an American institution of learning of the highest grade, who has so fallen in love with American manners and ideas that he desires to make his home in this land, and who, seeing that his countrymen demand one of their own number to be their legal adviser, representative, advocate and protector, desires to study law, can he be a lawyer? By the law of this nation, he, being a Chinaman, cannot become a citizen, and consequently cannot be a lawyer.

And this statue of Liberty is a gift to a people from another people who do not love or value liberty for the Chinese. Are not the Annamese and Tonquinese Chinese, to whom liberty is as dear as to the French? What right have the French to deprive them of their liberty?

Whether this statute against the Chinese or the statue to Liberty will be the more lasting monument to tell future ages of the liberty and greatness of this country, will be known only to future generations.

"The New Colossus," Emma Lazarus, 1883:

Story by John Lamb published 10/28/2011 06:46:00 AM Labels: history, History - Immigrants and Refugees, History - Law, immigrants, justice


Cheekwood's 12th Dia de los Muertos this Saturday

Cheekwood’s 12th Annual
EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Fall Festival Saturday, October 29th 2011
11:00am – 5:00pm
Event parking available at The Temple, 5015 Harding Road
Shuttles will be available to transport you to Cheekwood


Free - Cheekwood Members
$12 - Adults
$10 -  Seniors (65 +)
$5 - College Students w/ ID
Free - 17 and Under
The festivals of Mexico and Latin America are world renowned for their colorful decorations, energetic music, and cultural significance. Los Dias de los Muertos, the Days of the Dead, are no exception! The holiday is one of the most important celebrations in Latin America and demonstrates the culture’s strong sense of love and respect for one’s ancestors while celebrating the continuance of life. Join in the festivities and learn more about this unique holiday as you tour the altars, shop in the Mexican marketplace, explore traditional arts and crafts, and enjoy live music and dance. ART & ACTIVITIES PAPEL PICADO: Take part in the Mexican art of paper cutting.

MONARCHS: Learn about the significance of the butterflies as you create your own colorful Monarch.

PAPER MARIGOLDS: Make a colorful marigold, the traditional flower of the holiday.

MEMORY TREE: Add your thoughts to the colorful tree of memories.

CALAVERAS MASK: Make a colorful skeleton mask to wear during the festival.

BARRILETES: Create a colorful kite like those flown in Guatemala on the Day of the Dead.

SUGAR SKULLS: A Día de los Muertos tradition! Decorate a sugar skull to honor your ancestors.

EVENT QUEST: The ‘Quest’ is a fun and interactive way to discover all aspects of the event while learning more about the holiday.

POSADA PRINTS: Be inspired by legendary Mexican printmaker Jose Posada. Draw and print your own design!

What is tapete? Tapete is the Spanish word for carpet. Usually made with colored sand, these “carpets” are a tradition for Día de los Muertos because, like life, they are temporary. At Cheekwood, participants will use a similar temporary medium, chalk, to create the large-scale colorful murals to honor the deceased. Experience the brilliance of these custom designs before they wash away!

Cane Ridge High School
Meigs Middle Magnet
Nashville School of the Arts
Station Camp High School
St. Bernard Academy
St. Cecilia Academy
University School of Nashville
Whites Creek High School

VENDORS Colorful open air markets line the streets of Mexico during the celebration. Local merchants sell food, flowers, art, and handmade items which people buy to decorate their altars and tombs. Visit the vendors at the festival to discover the talent of local artists, shop for unique gift items, and taste traditional foods!
Traditional Mexican Buffet

Original Mexican Gourmet

Tacos & More

Empanadas, Charros, & More

Catholic Charities | International Coffees

Café Rumba Roast Fair Trade Coffee

Gourmet Mexican Popsicles

Authentic Mexican Foods

Bread of the Dead | Pan de Muerto

Event T-Shirts and More

Local Artist | Handmade Arts & Crafts

Peruvian Gift Items

Local Artists | Handmade Arts & Crafts

Local Artist | Day of the Dead Themed Pieces

Local Artist | Mexican Arts and Crafts

Local Artist | Jewelry and More

Handcrafted Textiles and Crafts from

Handmade Bracelets from Jalapa

Traditional Apparel and Crafts from Peru

Local Artist |
Day of the Dead Inspired Jewelry

One of the most important aspects of the Days of the Dead is the creation of a memorial altar for the departed, known as an ofrenda. All across Mexico and beyond, families honor their ancestors by creating altars decorated with items that the deceased enjoyed in life. Learn more about this tradition as you tour the creative ofrendas designed by local groups and organizations!


Story by John Lamb published 10/27/2011 06:16:00 AM