Join us on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 4PM for a discussion on:
Encara al Racismo:
A Dialogue on Overcoming Hate and Building Solidarity
Join us at our next Diálogo where experts will come together to tackle the pressing issue of hate within historically marginalized communities, with a special focus on the Latino experience. Dive deep into the tapestry of Latino identity in the United States, encompassing a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, countries of origin, and races.
This vital conversation will explore how various aspects of identity—such as country of origin, skin color, indigeneity and unique life experiences—shape attitudes toward racism. We'll discuss strategies for addressing racism, fostering meaningful community conversations and identifying the best facilitators for these crucial dialogues. Additionally, we'll examine the influential role media can play in this process.
Be a part of this critical dialogue and discover how we can build cross-racial and cross-cultural solidarity to create a more inclusive and just society.
Reception to follow 6-7pm.
Light refreshments will be served.
Panelists
Los Angeles City Councilmember Imelda Padilla
District 6
Councilmember Imelda Padilla is an experienced community leader and coalition builder who has dedicated her career to uplifting others through various non-profit work and her commitment to volunteering. Ms. Padilla was born in Van Nuys and grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Sun Valley where she was raised along with her 5 siblings. The proud daughter of a gardener and a manufacturing worker, Ms. Padilla was inspired by her parents’ spirit of service. She joined the Los Angeles Youth Council at the young age of 15, which taught her how City Hall works and sparked a lifelong passion for local advocacy. Since then, Imelda Padilla has been advocating for the residents of the San Fernando Valley to have adequate resources to thrive. Over the years, Ms.Padilla has brought together leaders from across sectors- including labor unions, business, faith-based organizations, along with elected officials to enhance prosperity for all Angelenos, and she has a proven record of producing outcomes in policy and programs.
Dr. Adrian Pantoja
Professor at Pitzer College, Political Studies & Chicano Studies
Adrian D. Pantoja is an expert pollster and data analyst of the Latino electorate. He designs polls for organizations and campaigns seeking to gain a better understanding of Latinos. Adrian has more than 25 years experience in Latino polling, starting as part of the team at the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute which led state and national large-sample Latino polls in the 1996, 1998, and 2000 elections. He is a professor of Political Studies and Chicano Studies at Pitzer College and a member of the Claremont Colleges in Southern California. He earned his B.A. from the University of San Francisco, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the Claremont Graduate University.
Andy Ruiz
St. John's Community Health, Stop the Hate Service Provider
Andy (Elle/They/Them) is a legal scholar and advocate here in Los Angeles. Andy has had years of experience working with marginalized communities at the K-12, University, Non-profit, and Private level. Andy was hired as St. John’s Community Health First Staff Attorney. Andy worked on the Stop the Hate Grant during the first cycle. Currently Andy has transitioned into a new role in the department not only servicing STH but supporting the program in its development and its outreach efforts. Andy spends their free time assisting at community legal clinics and outreach to aid in empowering the communities of Los Angeles.
Constanza Eliana Chinea
Journalist | Producer | Activist
Constanza Eliana Chinea (She/Her) is a Boricua bilingual journalist and inclusive producer. She has contributed to the L.A. Times, The Young Turks, and Remezcla among many others, and she co-hosted and produced a Spotify Original podcast. She is the founder of Malcriá Media, an independent media platform focusing on social justice, politics, and culture, centering marginalized perspectives. She is currently the host of the Political Pendejadas podcast and is completing a disinformation fellowship through the Digitial Democracy Institute of the Americas.
Michelle Zacarias
UC Berkeley Journalism Fellow
Michelle Zacarias is an award-winning journalist currently residing in Southern California. She is a Berkeley Local News Fellow and assigned to CALÓ News through the Latino Media Collaborative. Michelle is passionate about covering Latine/x issues and marginalized communities. She has previously written for Teen Vogue, The Triibe, Latina Mag, People’s World, and more. She is a 2024 SoCal Journalism Award finalist and was awarded the Saul Miller Excellence in Journalism Award in 2018. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and her Master in Studies of Law at USC Gould School of Law.
Speakers
Brenda Verano
CALÓ News Reporter
Brenda Fernanda Verano is a journalist born in Queretaro, Mexico and raised in South Central, LA. She was recently given a grant from the Los Angeles Press Club to report on systemic racism in the fall of 2024. Verano has worked with CALÒ News since 2022, covering health, education and social justice. In 2023, she began the CALÒ News anti-hate series, which reported on the state of hate in L.A. and California. Verano is a three-time award winner in the California College Media Association Awards. She is a 2023 USC Health Equity fellow and previously wrote for the EdSource California Student Journalism Corps. Outside of journalism, she enjoys gardening and poetry.
Esperanza Guevara
Managing Director, Latino Media Collaborative
Esperanza Guevara served as Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Coalition for Humane lmmigrant Rights (CHIRLA). She has also worked for the offices of U.S. Congressman Jimmy Gomez, Tony Cárdenas, and worked on various electoral campaigns.
This resource is supported by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate. Additional support for Color y Raíces: Encara al Racismo is provided by the Weingart Foundation and the California Wellness Foundation.
About the
Series
The Dialogo Series is a regular convening space launched by the Latino Media Collaborative and CALÓ News for open discussion, conversation and dialogue within our community on the most pressing issues. Open to the public, we envision a meeting of the minds, with panel discussions led by the leading thinkers and policy makers, one-on-one interviews with emerging and established leaders, as well as seminars to educate, enlighten and entertain.
We want to create discourse and a hotbed of new ideas within the Latino community of Greater Los Angeles. Our topics will range from the state of media in L.A. to healthcare issues to politics to wealth and prosperity. Discussions will be led by leading experts in their fields, as we seek robust audience participation, making sure that everyone has a voice in this conversation.