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    Rosario Dawson Portrays Dolores Huerta in ‘Chavez’

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    (Image: Slackerwood.com)

    Rosario Dawson and America Ferrera attended the premiere of their latest film Chavez during 2014 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival held at the Paramount Theatre on Monday. Dawson portrays activist Dolores Huerta in the biopic about the late civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez, which opens on March 28.

    The New York Daily News reports:

    Directed by Mexican actor Diego Luna, the film follows Chavez (played by Michael Peña) as he organizes 50,000 farmworkers – many of whom were Mexican and Filipino immigrants – in California during the 1960s and ’70s for nonviolent campaigns demanding minimum wage pay and better working conditions.

    “Diego touched on a lot of different aspects of the movement, and the reality and the temperature of the time, as well as the day-to-day sacrifices that everyone had to take on,” Dawson said to the Daily News.

    This is the first feature-length movies focused on Chavez’s organizing efforts to date.

    Take a look at the trailer below:

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    Do you plan to go see ‘Chavez’? 

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    Lupita Nyong’o Puts End to Fight Over Nationality

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    (Image: Good Morning America)

    Actress Lupita Nyong’o made history when she received the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave last night. The 31-year old is Hollywood’s “It” girl and made her mark at the Oscars, becoming the sixth black actress to receive the award for Best Supporting Actress. Past winners include Hattie McDaniel in Gone with the Wind, Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost, Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls, Mo’Nique in Precious and Octavia Spencer in The Help.

    Viewers across the world cheered as she received her award, including her native countries of Kenya & Mexico. At the rise of her success, entertainment articles in both Mexico and Kenya have feuded over which country gets to claim her. Articles featured in the Mexican-based paper Milenio, states her as a Mexican actress; while Kenya’s Standard Digital news released a video describing the debate over her nationality.

    According to El Mañana, Lupita claims both countries equally: “I am Mexican and Kenyan at the same time. I’ve seen quarrels over my nationality but I’m Kenyan and Mexican at the same time. So again, I am Mexican-Kenyan and I am fascinated by carne asada tacos.”  What a great example she sets to the world! Congratulations to Lupita!

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    Soledad O’Brien and CoverGirl Partner Up for Female Empowerment

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    (Image: MediaBistro)

    Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien has teamed up with CoverGirl for a new web series that will feature inspirational stories of young women.

    The series, “Girls Can”, will cover the lives of young women helped by the media maven’s Soledad O’Brien and Brad Raymond Starfish Foundation, which is committed to female advocacy and empowering women through scholarship and individualized mentoring.

    O’Brien said of the web series, according to TheGloss.com:

    “There are thousands of inspirational stories waiting to be told about young women who yearn for a great education. They are stories of struggle and stories of success, and they will inspire others to take action and work to change lives. Cover Girl’s ‘Girls Can’ movement is perfectly aligned with my passion for helping young women overcome life’s challenges, and my commitment to highlighting girls’ successes.”

    O’Brien is known for her highly impactful docu-series Black in America and Latino in America, produced by her multimedia production and distribution company, Starfish Media Group. Through the “Girls Can” series, she hopes to inspire viewers to get involved in supporting young women in their own communities.

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    P&G’s Orgullosa Celebrates the Modern Latina

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    (Image: Orgullosa)

    What does it mean to be a modern Latina?

    It’s a question Procter & Gamble has embarked on answering with its latest campaign, Nueva Latina. The NYC launch of Orgullosa Nueva Latina campaign on Wednesday, which took place at the Hellen Mills Theater, drew a who’s-who crowd of Latinas, including reality-TV star and author La La Anthony, Orange is the New Black’s Dascha Polanco and Devious Maids star Roselyn Sanchez, among others. They all came out to show their support for the one-of-a-kind initiative and the Nueva Latina Monologues, written and directed by Linda Nieves-Powell.

    Nieves-Powell tapped into the various experiences the modern Latina goes through (balancing two cultures, breaking free of stereotypes and keeping traditions alive) when developing Nueva Latina Monologues.

    “I was excited to partner with Orgullosa to give a voice to the bicultural Latina,” said Nieves-Powell in a press statement. “I wanted to capture the evolution and journey of this woman, from her cultures colliding while growing up, to her triumphs in successfully balancing the two worlds. Ultimately, it portrays that today’s Latina is proud of who she is and is fully embracing her dual lifestyles,” she added.

    Attendees were treated to an exclusive experience including entertainment, unlimited access to a beauty bar, and special beauty care sampling of Olay, Venus, Clairol, Pantene products, and a bevy of other gifts.

    Through its Nueva Latina campaign, Orgullosa aims to showcase the diversity of the Latina experience by collecting real-life testimonials from its online community.

    What does it mean to be a modern Latina to you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section, below, or on Twitter (@aintilatina) or Facebook.

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    What I Learned from Participating in Social Media Week NYC

    Social Media Week NYC_smwGET_eventLast Friday, Innov8tiv.com and Ibom LLC hosted “Advances in Global Entertainment Technology,” in partnership with Black Enterprise, during Social Media Week NYC. I was extremely excited and honored to participate in the panel discussion alongside special guest Jason Njoku, CEO and co-founder of iROKOtv, and fellow panelists Oldine Jean-Charles, CEO of LJCL and co-founder of Interactive Life Social TV project, and Jacqueline Nwobu, co-founder of Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

    This was the first time I spoke in front of a large crowd about launching ‘Ain’t I Latina?’ and how AIL engages with our audience on social media (can you say, P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E?!) but it was a great experience. What a blessing to sit beside each of the panelists, and I learned soo much from each of them—escuela was truly in session! Here were the main takeaways that hit home for me:

    Jason Njoku—He dished gem after gem after gem, but the main lesson from this Internet billionaire was to believe in your idea wholeheartedly and stick with it. Yes, people will think you’re crazy and won’t really care what it is your working on, but don’t ever let that deter you. Check into his story, he started what is now a billion-dollar venture from his mamá’s basement.

    Oldine Jean-Charles—I had a great conversation with Oldine right before the panel started and admire her courage. She moved to NYC from Atlanta, relocating her business here without knowing anyone. Be fearless! (I remind myself that that’s the only way to grow as a person.) Another takeaway, your team needs to be just as passionate and invested in this as you are.

    Jacqueline Nwobu—Similar to AIL, Jacqueline saw a void in her respective industry—the wedding business—and decided to do something about it. She and her husband teamed up to create the now leading nationally distributed wedding magazine catered to women of color. Manaluchi Bridal Magazine launched during the recession in 2009 and was still able to sustain itself, picking up several partnerships with bigger brands. The BIG Takeaway: You might not have the budget, but get creative.

    Take a look at the event through tweets (via Storify) on the next page…

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    Singer Kelis Gives Glimpse Into Her Palate on Cooking Channel Show

    If you’ve been wondering what’s on “Milkshake” singer Kelis Rogers’ plate these days, she’s unveiling it all in her latest venture. The 34-year-old songstress is giving us a taste of her culinary skills with “Saucy and Sweet,” a new show premiering on the Cooking Channel, Consequence of Sound reports.

    Debuting on Feb. 26 at 8:30 pm ET, the show promises to deliver “food with attitude,” the channel’s teaser mentions. Here’s a snippet of what to expect:

    Kelis graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in November 2013, and soon after announced her line of signature sauces, “Feast.” As an ode to her food obsession, the part-Puerto Rican artist will drop her sixth album, “FOOD,” in April.

    ‘The Consortium of Afro-Latino Communities’ Celebrates Afro-Latino Heritage During Black History Month

    The Consortium of Afro-Latino Communities cultural event promoted and exposed attendees to the African roots and heritage among Latinos last Friday.  The free cultural event, which was held at Baltimore City Community College—Liberty Campus, drew an intimate crowd of educators, activists and those simply eager to learn more about the rich history of Latinos across the globe.The gathering was powered by the Universal Negro Improvement Association in association with the Baltimore City Community College History Club.

    (Image: Kevin Sabio)

    (Image: Kevin Sabio)

    Author and activist Kevin Sabio spearheaded the Feb. 7 event, which he hopes will help bridge the gap between African-American and Latino communities, and foster dialog among those of the Diaspora.

    “It is important for us to understand and accept our African roots because it is a serious part of who we are, and it is not at all widely accepted,” said event organizer Sabio, the author of Raise Your Brown Black Fist. “Very little homage is paid to our African roots, if at all.  Our African roots are just as integral, if not more, to our history, heritage, and culture than given credit for.”

    The highlight of the event was the insightful lecture presented by Christopher Rodriguez, author of Latino Manifesto.

    Sabio notes that this is just the beginning for The Consortium and the group ultimately plans to become a Pan-Africanist organization.

    The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities was founded in 2012.  Since it’s start, it has taken place bi-annually—once in the winter during Black History Month, and again in the fall for Latino Heritage Month.

    WATCH: Mun2 Doc ‘Black and Latino’ Explores Race and Ethnicity

    Released in 2012, mun2’s original documentary Black and Latino discusses the challenges in identifying as Afro-Latino. Tapping well-known Afro-Latinas such as actresses Gina Torres and Tatyana Ali, singer/actress-turned-entrepreneur Christina Milian, and media maven Soledad O’Brien, the web doc takes a closer look at what it means to be both Black and Latino in America—and told by some of America’s most prominent Afro-Latino celebs.

    “When I became an actress, I quickly realized that the world liked their Latinas to look Italian, not like me,” said Torres, who is best known for her role on Fox’s sci-fi cult fave, Firefly. “And so I wasn’t going up for Latina parts, I was going up for African-American parts.”

    Take a look at “Black and Latino” below:

    Let us know what you think about the clip in the comments section below, or on Twitter or Facebook. Wouldn’t it be great if MTV or mun2 continued to explore this topic? 

    La La Anthony Pens ‘The Love Playbook,’ A No-Nonsense Advice Book On Dating, Relationships and Marriage

    La La Anthony is celebrating the release of her new book, The Love Playbook: Rules for Love, Sex and Happiness, which hit shelves Tuesday. The mompreneur, also known as La La Vasquez, is the go-to person for relationship advice among her friends and familia, so she used those experiences along with her own as inspiration for the book.

    The reality TV star and former MTV VJ dropped by Good Morning America Tuesday to chat with host Lara Spencer about her latest venture. See what Mrs. Anthony had to say about the mistakes she’s made, the reaction her husband, Carmelo Anthony, had to The Love Playbook and why the ball is always in a woman’s court:

    Related Article:

    Carmelo Anthony and La La Anthony Grace Cover of Ebony Magazine

    Have you snagged a copy? Let us know what you think about ‘The Love Playbook’ in the comments section, or on  Twitter or Facebook

     

    Francis Carrero, Young Professional Helps Next Gen Become Tomorrow’s Media Leaders

    Francis_CarreroIf left up to the small or large screen, your favorite glossy or newspaper, or even big budget advertising campaigns, you wouldn’t know an Afro-Latina if she tapped you on the shoulder. But we are out there, and we’re letting our voice be heard. Ain’t I Latina?’s Everyday Chica series highlights millennial Latinas that are blazing a trail in their respective industries, leading by example for future generations of Latinas. This week, we’re featuring a rising marketing and advertising professional who’s invested in tomorrow’s leaders.

    You know that one person that has a blossoming career, full social calendar, and can hold her familia down at any point (and still has time to help you sort through your daily dilemma (s)), doing it all with a perfect smile?

    Meet Francis Carrero, a modern day Renaissance Dominican woman ready to take on the advertising and marketing industries. Carrero, a Washington Heights resident, spends her days overseeing programming and alumni relations at Together Our Resources Can Help (TORCH), a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of underserved NYC public high school students by providing career preparation and opportunities in communications and the arts. A former TORCH participant herself, Carrero landed a full-time position with TORCH after graduating from Syracuse University, and works tirelessly to make sure the students get the best experience possible. If that means she’s conferenced in on a meeting with sponsors all while getting her students to an ad agency to finish an assignment, Carrero will do it.

    “It’s funny because sometimes I feel like I’m their mentor, their big sister, their parent,” said la dominicana. “I’m like a lot to them, even their drill sergeant when they don’t get to meetings on time.”

    Her hard work and passion for advertising has led to the addition of ADCOLOR FUTURES to Carrero’s resume. The program, which is in partnership with the ADCOLOR Diversity Summit (ADS), introduced the cohort to diversity leaders in advertising, as well as invaluable career development and mentorship opportunities.

    In addition to flexing her advertising and marketing skills during the week, Carrero works on independent brand management projects off the clock, recently adding hip-hop artist Clifford Cartel to her roster. We caught up with the busy Afro-Latina to discuss race and ethnicity, how she identifies and her advice to her younger self.

    First memories of race/ethnicity…

    When I was younger, I had one black Barbie doll—and I loved that black Barbie doll.

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