Before I met Maria Elena Rodríguez, I was already familiar with the feeling that she gives people.  This Renaissance woman works hard for her community and inspires everybody with whom she makes contact.  Rodríguez has devoted much of her efforts to the progression of Mexicantown and the Hispanic community as a whole.

Her intense passion for her culture and community bloomed at the age of eight when she went to stay with family in Mexico.

I love Mexico.  I love everything about it.  Everything was so special that it has always stayed with me.  So, no matter what I do there is always that thread that runs through everything I do,” said Rodríguez.

One of her current projects that is getting a lot of buzz is Mexicantown Casting.  Rodríguez loved working in film and television, but always wanted to get things done her way and so Mexicantown Casting was born.  She wants to help the talented Latinos that are so abundant in this community get exposure.

“I have this experience,” she explained.  “I have my connections.  I wanted to put Mexicantown on the map in a positive way for the general public.  Sometimes, I was criticized and people would say, ‘Well, this is ours.   Yes, but the only way we’re going to have any understanding-any relationships with any other groups is by opening our doors.”

Rodríguez is realistic about the small demand right now for Mexican actors, but hopes that will change.  People of all age groups and with all sorts of “looks” are welcome.

“The point is, at least, they know.  We are Hispanic and we come in every shade.  When they need us, we’re here,” she said

One success story of Rodríguez’ talent management is her own son, Carlos Guadarrama, a the rapper and actor known professionally as Sol.  Rodríguez is his manager and was able to land him a spot in the Clint Eastwood film Gran Torino. He just began a national tour opening for rap group, Insane Clown Posse, through the fall.

Through all the good she does, sometimes things just don’t work out.  One of the hardest things for Rodríguez so far was the painful ending for both her and her staff of The Mexicantown International Welcome Center and The Mexicantown Mercado.  Due to nothing more than miscommunication and misunderstandings, The Mercado didn’t turn out the way it should have.  Rodríguez knows the project’s importance and still holds out hope for it.

“I hope it stays with the community.  I hope it doesn’t get sold off to someone who has no interest in our vision.  I hope it falls into the right hands.”

Rodríguez still works hard for the community.  She currently sits on the boards of Cristo Rey High School, the Michigan Commission on Spanish Speaking Affairs and The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

“I sit on all of these boards not for the recognition or prestige, but because I feel that I am an agent of change,” she told me.  “This is a way of changing things—others’ perceptions of us, showing them that we’re present here in Detroit.  That’s the reason I do it.”

Rodríguez is currently writing a book about the history and development of Mexicantown and its people.  People assume, with all the media coverage today that we’ve just arrived and that we’re all illegal.  I want people to see who we were.  These are the things that people need to know.  The book is tentatively scheduled for next year.

Rodríguez has a real vision for the future of the community.  “I want people to see us as a can-do community and that we are here to stay.  I want the general public to understand we are as much a part of a solution to the economy—maybe more so than anyone can imagine.”

Her hopes don’t just stop at this community.  Rodríguez wants more for the Latino community.

“We want to have the same respect as any other person that comes to this country.  Coming across the Rio Grande to this country is not less compelling than coming through Ellis Island.  People have to let that political stuff go and understand that we’re no different.  It’s not going to happen overnight, but I have hope.  If you don’t know your culture, find out about it.”

Author: Crissy Zamarron
Photo: Courtesy of Maria Elena Rodríguez

Originally published 10/24/09

Update [12/22/11]: Maria Elena Rodríguez has recently published a book, Detroit’s Mexicantown-part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series.

It is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Arcadia Publishing.

Throughout the Fall season, all over the country, Memory walks are being held to call attention to and raise funds for Alzheimer’s. Anyone can sign up to join, donate, or volunteer for the walk on the Alzheimer’s Association website www.alz.org . Katie Amann, Special Events Coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Southfield branch, says, “Throughout the 10 Michigan chapters alone, we’ve had a record breaking 47,000 sign up to volunteer and participate.” She explains that, “All the funds [raised] stay in Michigan to fund education and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.” Money also goes to providing services for families of Alzheimer’s sufferers, such as day care, training for caregivers, and support groups. “In these economic times funds and grants that our communities and services rely on are lost,” says Amann, “that is why it’s so important to get involved.”

Alzheimer’s is a disease consisting of the slow deterioration of the brain leading to loss of memory and the inability to care for one’s self. Patients may experience personality and behavior changes and may fail to recognize things and people once familiar to them. While there are treatments for the symptoms and to potentially slow down the progress of the disease, there is no known cure yet and it is still unclear what causes it.

Alzheimer’s disease is an illness that affects millions yet is consistently overshadowed by other just as relevant sicknesses. Many may not know that it is the 6^th leading cause of death. That number will only grow in the coming years as the population of the elderly, it’s leading victims, increases.

Amann feels that Alzheimer’s is an important cause because, “…every 71 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in this country; and it doesn’t just affect the elderly.” While it is widely thought of in this way, Alzheimer’s is not just a health risk for the elderly. Early-onset Alzheimer’s can strike people in as young as their thirties and accounts for around 200,000 of Alzheimer’s sufferers. Early-onset Alzheimer’s is said to be 100 percent genetic.

What are your risks? First of all, the disease affects both men and women though women have a higher risk. According to the Alzheimer’s Association website, Latinos, “have higher rates of vascular disease, so they may also be at greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s.” Only 5% of Alzheimer’s cases can be attributed to genetics the rest are still a mystery.

For more information on anything you’ve read, visit alz.org.

Author: Crissy Zamarron

Throughout the Fall season, all over the country, Memory walks are being held to call attention to and raise funds for Alzheimer’s. Anyone can sign up to join, donate, or volunteer for the walk on the Alzheimer’s Association website www.alz.org . Katie Amann, Special Events Coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Southfield branch, says, “Throughout the 10 Michigan chapters alone, we’ve had a record breaking 47,000 sign up to volunteer and participate.” She explains that, “All the funds [raised] stay in Michigan to fund education and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.” Money also goes to providing services for families of Alzheimer’s sufferers, such as day care, training for caregivers, and support groups. “In these economic times funds and grants that our communities and services rely on are lost,” says Amann, “that is why it’s so important to get involved.”

Alzheimer’s is a disease consisting of the slow deterioration of the brain leading to loss of memory and the inability to care for one’s self. Patients may experience personality and behavior changes and may fail to recognize things and people once familiar to them. While there are treatments for the symptoms and to potentially slow down the progress of the disease, there is no known cure yet and it is still unclear what causes it.

Alzheimer’s disease is an illness that affects millions yet is consistently overshadowed by other just as relevant sicknesses. Many may not know that it is the 6^th leading cause of death. That number will only grow in the coming years as the population of the elderly, it’s leading victims, increases.

Amann feels that Alzheimer’s is an important cause because, “…every 71 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in this country; and it doesn’t just affect the elderly.” While it is widely thought of in this way, Alzheimer’s is not just a health risk for the elderly. Early-onset Alzheimer’s can strike people in as young as their thirties and accounts for around 200,000 of Alzheimer’s sufferers. Early-onset Alzheimer’s is said to be 100 percent genetic.

What are your risks? First of all, the disease affects both men and women though women have a higher risk. According to the Alzheimer’s Association website, Latinos, “have higher rates of vascular disease, so they may also be at greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s.” Only 5% of Alzheimer’s cases can be attributed to genetics the rest are still a mystery.

For more information on anything you’ve read, visit alz.org.

Author: Crissy Zamarron

I have done a lot of traveling, but have never been to a place quite like Cabo.  You have the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other. Located at the tip of Baja California, it is a place where the desert literally meets the ocean.  Think of Arizona and put it near the ocean.  Only there you can see cacti all the way up to the edges of cliffs overlooking the ocean.

Let me take you back. I used to be one of those girls that would lay out all summer long trying to achieve a rich, dark tan. I would normally start out with a couple burns that would slowly turn tan. You know, I had to work on my base color. There was also a period when I would use tanning beds in the winter and spring to try and maintain my tan. Yes, I am Hispanic but I am fair-skinned without the dark complexion. I had always longed for the darker skin that so many of my family members had.

I had finally reached a point in the last few years where I grew comfortable with my fair skin. I became more cautious and wore sunscreen when outside. I was more careful about how long I stayed in the sun. I guess that it was the combination of finally being comfortable with my skin and the statistics on skin cancer that really hit me.

So, this brings me back to the doctor’s office. I was 30 years old. Wasn’t that too young to get skin cancer? I always thought of skin cancer occurring in older individuals. You know, the ones you see while on vacation in Florida or Arizona that have leathery skin and look like lizards. I didn’t have leathery, lizard skin. How come I was the one who could possibly have skin cancer? My name was called and I went into the office. The doctor told me that I did not have skin cancer and I breathed a sigh of relief. He told me to be careful in the sun and to always wear sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15. Why am I sharing all of this with you if I ended up not having skin cancer? I am sharing this with you because next time I might not be so lucky. Next time, you might know somebody with a similar story who does end up walking out with a skin cancer diagnosis.

It does not matter how light or dark your skin is. Everyone is at risk of getting skin cancer. Latinos are at special risk since many of us do have dark skin. We think….”I don’t need sunscreen. I will be fine.” My boyfriend says that all of the time. Unfortunately, when Latinos are diagnosed with the disease, it is often in the deadliest form: melanoma. This is because it goes untreated for so long.

The moral of this story is to protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 or 50 if you are fair like me. Be sure to re-apply it throughout the day. Wear sunglasses and a hat for extra protection. Parents-be sure to instill these early habits in your children. This way when they get older proper skin care will be part of the routine.

For more information on skin cancer, visit: www.cancer.org

Lastly, to all of my fair skinned Latinos out there…….be happy with your light skin! Embrace it! Love it!

Author: Gabriella Muñoz

Photo: Renée Gonyeau

He has been doing comedy for the last 14 years and has appeared in places as diverse as Iraq, Japan and in Europe.  Frank has also been on Showtime At The Apollo.  He is also an actor.  Oddly enough, it was around the time that Frank started studying theater that he became a comedian.

“I studied theater in college.  I was going to get into acting.  I was always cracking my friends up and they were like, ‘You need to try comedy.’  You find out making your friends laugh is different than stepping up on stage and making a crowd laugh.  I bombed hard.  I don’t think that I had three minutes worth of material.  If you have your worst night and come back, it’s when you know you have it,” said Frank.

The whole sense of “craft” and constant improvement  is something that permeates everything that he does.  Hard work and persistence are inseparable.  Never one to rest on his laurels, Frank admits that there is still plenty of room to keep developing further as an artist.

“Stand up is the hardest art form because you have to make someone laugh. If somebody doesn’t like a song, they won’t boo but still move to the music.  Comedians need to have something that everybody can relate to.  As a comic, you need something for everybody. We say that we’re the same but we’re different.  Different people relate to different things,” he expressed.

One of the most important challenges is for his material to have broad appeal.  Rather than appealing just to African-Americans or Latinos, his themes appeal to everybody and deal with everyday experiences.  On occasion, Frank’s jokes do involve “insider information,” where certain cultural knowledge is useful to completely understand the joke.  Nonetheless, his jokes are not pidgeon-holed.

“Here’s the thing.  I can play any kind of audience.  You need them all to be a true artist.” He also added, “Every Mexican family has a guacamole bowl.  Puerto Ricans don’t eat tortillas.  People who don’t know the culture might laugh, but they won’t get it because they can’t relate and know what’s going on.”

When looking at Frank, some people think that he’s African-American, while others aren’t so sure.  While other multi-racial individuals might acknowledge just one side, Frank acknowledges both of his.  Growing up in Southwest Detroit, he lived in an relatively integrated neighborhood, where various ethnicities were represented.  The concept of “color” wasn’t really something registered on his radar.

“My mom’s Mexican and my dad’s black, so to say that I’m black is to deny my mom,” he commented.  “I grew up in a Hispanic neighborhood.  My friends—we had everything in the neighborhood.  When you’re poor, people don’t look at color.  Everybody’s in the same situation.”

As a comedian and as an actor, Frank is an artist that shatters labels.  Not being stuck in one pursuit, pursuing many provides many paths toward artistic self-expression.  In addition, he recognizes that as far as he has come, he still has further to go and room to improve.  Frank still has one ambition that he has yet to realize.

“My thing is to be on a soap opera.  I really want to be on General Hospital, but I’ll take All My Children or One Life to Live.”

Author: Jose A. Rodriguez

Having just spoken about prejudice, this is an important concern for Mi Estilo.  As we look at Latinos, they encompass all sorts of backgrounds and shades.  I look at me and my family.  I look like the “stereotypical” Mexican: black hair, brown eyes and have brown skin.  Nonetheless, I have family—aunts and cousins—that have lighter features.  Who looks “more Mexican?” Admittedly, this is something that not just mainstream American society thinks about but we, Latinos, buy into as well.  Each Latino is unique and not with some formula that can be duplicated.

There is also the issue of language.  The Spanish that I speak is probably a bit outdated, as I learned it from my parents and they’ve lived here for over 30 years.  Up until I started studying it at the university, my vocabulary was limited.  My grammar and writing were horrible.  My r’s became harder to roll.  However as my studies progressed, so did my ability to read, write and speak Spanish.  Nonetheless, as I began to speak it with other Latinos, I felt less and less insecure because my Spanish was still a bit rough around the edges.

The realization came to me last night as I was reading a chapter of Mario Bosquez’ The Chalupa Rules: A Latino Guide to Gringolandia.  In Chalupa Rule 6 (Swim In Your Culture), he talked about being proud of whatever Spanish that you might speak.  Whether it’s Tex-Mex, Mexican or Guatemalan Spanish, any is valid because it is your expression. Your Spanish is the summary of your family’s cultural history.  I realized that my Spanish is as good and as valid as anybody else’s.

Language is one of the elements of culture and identity.  It’s also something that for many Latinos is fluid and constantly changing.  As immigrant Latinos continue to live in the United States, they will find that more English words start sneaking into their daily conversation.  The home culture mixes with the American one and becomes some strange combination that somehow works.  The thing to remember whether you’re an immigrant or a generational latino is that your culture is a unique expression of who you are and from where you came.  This is something to hold up as a source of pride.  Your culture is part of your style—tu estilo.  Live it.  Own it.  It is yours.

Author: Jose A. Rodriguez