The Committee for the 201st Fighter Squadron Monument Project and El Mercado De Los Angeles will be announcing the construction and unveiling of their monument depicting the history of Mexico’s Escuadron 201. To that end the 201st Fighter Squadron Monument Committee will be performing a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the Escuadron 201 Monument.

The ceremony will take place at the El Mercado De Los Angeles on Friday June 1, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at El Mercado De Los Angeles 3455 E 1st Street Los Angeles. Invited dignitaries will be Mexican Consul General David Figueroa Ortega, Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Councilman Jose Huizar, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano and Supervisor Gloria Molina.

The monument will depict the history of the 30 Mexican fighter pilots who arrived in Loredo, Texas on July 25, 1944 from Mexico to train and fly American P-47s and joined their American counter parts fighting the Japanese in World War II. Their aircrafts were the only planes to have the colors of both nations, Mexico’s and the United States.

Known as the “Aztec Eagles”, El Escuadrón 201 was a Mexican fighter squadron, part of the Fuerza Aérea Expedicionaria Mexicana (FAEM – “Mexican Expeditionary Air Force”) that aided the Allied war effort during World War II. Escuadrón Aéreo de Pelea 201 (201st Air Fighter Squadron) was composed of more than 300 volunteers; 30 were experienced pilots and the rest were ground crewmen. The ground crewmen were electricians, mechanics, and radiomen. Its formation was prompted by the attack by German submarines against Mexican oil tankers Potrero del Llano and Faja de Oro, which were transporting crude oil to the United States. These attacks prompted President Manuel Avila Camacho to declare war on the Axis powers.

“These courageous pilots are rarely mentioned or acknowledged in war movies, documentaries and in history books. We are proud of all of our veterans, especially proud of the contributions of this small and significant squadron of daring and gallant Mexican airmen. This monument will bring to light their willingness to participate in the war to help make a difference.” said Alfred Lugo the founder of the monument.

For Sponsorship Opportunities contact:
Alfred.lugo@verizon.net

Coming Soon
www.elmercadodelosangeles.com

The Free Rocket Launch event at The Boeing Company in Huntington Beach is taking place at 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

In association with the Discovery Science Center this annual Rocket Launch is a family event full of engaging, hands-on activities highlighted by building and launching your own rocket made from a 2-liter plastic soda bottle.

You can arrive whenever you like, there will be continuous building and launching of rockets until 1:30pm.

• Build your rocket at home, or use our supplies to construct a rocket with the help of real engineers. The payload with the longest “hang time” in the air wins!

• Meet Astronaut Chris Ferguson!

• The grand prize winner will receive an opportunity to watch an actual rocket launch courtesy of The Boeing Company and United Launch Alliance.

• Bring your own chairs, umbrellas, and sunscreen.

• Indulge in Southern California’s top gourmet food trucks: Pogi Boy Truck, Dos Chinos, Dogzilla, Barcelona on the Go, Garlicscape, The Viking Truck and Mustache Mike’s Italian Ice.

• Bring your own 2-liter plastic soda bottle.

For more information:

http://www.discoverycube.org/exhibits/event/rocket-launch/

To Register:

http://www.discoverycube.org/rocket-launch-2012-registration/

Samantha R. Vamos is the author of “The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred” (Charlesbridge, 2011) the winner of a Pura Belpré Award for the 2012 Illustrator Honor Books. The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred begins when a farm girl starts cooking and all the animals want to help. The cow contributes milk, the hen offers eggs, and even the duck makes a special trip to the market. The book serves up a spicy tribute to the classic nursery rhyme “The House That Jack Built” in this bilingual celebration of community and food. The final pages of the book includes a glossary of Spanish words and a recipe for arroz con leche. Samantha says “The story popped into my head while I was cooking. I laughed, envisioning a cow contributing her milk and a hen offering her eggs. My plot began evolving and I started writing.”

The Pura Belpré Award (Established in 1996) is named after the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The award is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate. The following link lists other Pura Belpré winners (http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal)

Samantha hails from Madison, Wisconsin and now lives in the Pacific Northwest, It was the Twitterverse brought her to the attention of OCGente through a post featuring Rafael López her illustrator on “The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred.” Samantha says that writing has always been her passion “I’ve been writing stories for years and publishing my writing was my greatest dream. I was most influenced to write by my mother.”

Samantha loves writing stories for children. In 2009 there was Before You Were Here, Mi Amor (Viking) inspired by the birth of her sister’s first child. Then there is the rhyming alphabet story, Alphabet Trucks (Coming in 2013) her first all English book. Ironically, two years before writing Alphabet Trucks, her children’s agent told her about a dream in which Samantha had written a book about trucks. Originally, she laughed at the time, then a few years later the inspiration came after attending a writing conference.

Keep an eye out for illustrator Rafael López who is scheduled to be at ALA Anaheim (Twitter #ALA2012) from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2012. López has illustrations featured in Book Fiesta! (Rayo, 2009) for which he is the recipient of the 2010 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award. He has also illustrated My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia (Cooper Square Publishing LLC, 2004), Yum! MmMm! Que Rico! (Lee & Low, 2007), and Our California (Charlesbridge, 2008). Rafael divides his time between Mexico and San Diego, California.

Para más información:

http://www.samanthavamos.com/

http://www.facebook.com/samanthavamos

http://ala12.scheduler.ala.org/node/2432

http://www.rafaellopez.com/

PODCAST
CLICK HERE – PODCAST of Before You Were Here, Mi Amor – A wonderful reading of the 2010 Washington State Book Award Winner.

VIDEOS

Komen Orange County would like to wish all moms a very special Mother’s Day. During the Week of Mom they hope you will encourage the mom in your life to take care of her breast health and join some of these great events:

SUNDAY, MAY 13
NEED A MEANINGFUL MOTHER’S DAY GIFT?
REGISTER MOM FOR THE KOMEN ORANGE COUNTY RACE FOR THE CURE

SUNDAY, SEPT. 23, 2012 FASHION ISLAND, NEWPORT BEACH
Over the past twenty years, the Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has raised money to support the Best Science, united volunteers, survivors and supporters to form the Boldest Community of breast health advocates and made the Biggest Impact on the lives of women and their families, here in Orange County. And we continue on in our work, serving women and saving lives!

Register today at the early bird discount rate of $30! Visit www.komenoc.org/race to register now.

MONDAY, MAY 14
SUSAN G. KOMEN DAY AT ANGELS STADIUM
Major League Baseball and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have teamed up to raise breast cancer awareness. Join the Angels and Komen in the fight against cancer on Monday, May 14th. Click here to purchase discount tickets to the game. Enjoy Angels Baseball at 50% off ticket window prices on select seating!

TUESDAY, MAY 15
ORANGE COUNTY WOMEN’S POLICY SUMMIT
University of California, Irvine
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16
ONSITE MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY
Northgate Gonzalez Market
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
720 W. La Palma Ave. Anaheim, CA 92801

THURSDAY, MAY 17
LUNCH & LEARN SEMINAR
Breast Cancer Around the World
Komen Partnership in Zambia
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Lunch provided)
Komen Orange County Affiliate Office
3191-A Airport Loop Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Call 714-957-9157 to RSVP

FRIDAY, MAY 18
WOMEN’S WELLNESS DAY
SUSAN SAMUELI CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
Newport Beach Marriott Hotel
900 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
For event information e-mail sscim@uci.edu or call (949) 824-5763
Keynote Speaker: Lindsay Wagner – actress, advocate, humanitarian and author will share ways to “Quiet the Mind and Open the Heart,” offering tools to help us overcome personal challenges while accessing the peace and joy naturally within us.
Workshops led by UCI Physicians and Integrative Practitioners

SATURDAY, MAY 19
DONATE TO KOMEN
Make a donation to the Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in honor of a survivor of breast cancer or in memorial of someone you have lost to breast cancer. End the week knowing you are supporting breast health services for local women and furthering research for all women.

EVERY DAY ENCOURAGE MOM TO GET A MAMMOGRAM
Ask the Mom in your life if she is aware of good breast health practices.
Early detection is your best protection. Get a mammogram today.

The Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure recommends:

Know Your Risk Get Screened
Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40
Have a clinical breast exam at least every three years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40
Know what is normal for you
Talk with your healthcare provider right away if you notice any changes in your breasts
Make healthy lifestyle choices

For more information:

www.komenoc.org

Round It Up America® is administered by the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), a non-profit organization with a mission to encourage, support and facilitate philanthropy. OCCF serves donors and nonprofit agencies working towards a common goal: to improve the quality of life for our communities.

Three non-profits from Orange County including Operation Homefront, Mercy House and Families Forward are on the supported organizations list. Participating restaurants include Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ, Hof’s Hut, The Prado at Balboa Park, 333 Pacific, Famous Dave’s, Rusty Bucket, Maria’s Italian Kitchen and the Yard House.

Originally, the Yard House made the decision to partner with OCCF because of their experience and proven track record of similar partnerships with other philanthropic-minded businesses — including Disneyland and Cox Communications. The team brings the professional resources and flexibility required to establish, launch and maintain the Round It Up America® program on a national basis.

OCCF will gladly partner with any local, regional or national organizations. The only requirement for new organizations applying to administer Round It Up America® funds for a participating restaurant is that they must meet the same contractual requirements set forth by the founding trustees.

Round It Up America® is a simple program that gives everyday Americans the opportunity to donate pocket change by rounding up their purchases to the nearest dollar. While the individual donations may be nominal, their collective sum is powerful.

For more information:

http://rounditupamerica.org/supported-orgs/california.php?loc=oc

http://www.oc-cf.org/

http://www.operationhomefront.net/

http://www.mercyhouse.net/

http://families-forward.org/

The Relámpago del Cielo (RDC) Sponsor a Student Program enables community supporters to assist students by reducing the cost needed to participate in the upcoming 39th annual Asociación Nacional de Grupos Folklóricos (ANGF – Association of National Folkloric Groups) conference in Corpus Christi, Texas on June 30 – July 7, 2012.

The ANGF conference consists of folkloric movement classes by experienced maestros. Each maestro specializes in history and dance from their native regions of Mexico.

Your support could aid the amazing talents of the RDC students and provide them with the opportunity to participate in cultural dance art training programs. Your contribution can benefit the student(s) of your choice or you can choose to donate to a student(s) who is most in need.

Relámpago del Cielo, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural arts organization which supports the study and preservation of traditional Mexican performing arts through our music, folklore and dance. RDC serves as a cultural enrichment service to the community through outreach presentations and educational activities.

Relámpago’s program serves over 180 students annually, ages 4 through adult, and offers dance classes that range from beginning to advanced levels.

Para más información:

http://www.rdcgf.org/sponsor-a-student

Last year Louie Pérez and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos were in the process of taking some of their music and turning it into a play. Turns out that Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe was that play which is having a limited 4-Week engagement at The Bootleg Theater May 3-27, 2012.

The About Productions world premiere multimedia theatrical event will be performed live on stage. The story finds a young Chicana’s neighborhood roots and make-believe world colliding unstoppably disrupting her life and the lives of the supporting characters as well. Whether, she experiences the music and art of the Sunset Strip, Laurel Canyon, or La Cienega Boulevard her journey to self-discovery is just beginning. The play is set in 1968 East L.A. as her neighborhood explodes with student walkouts and the fight for equal education and civil rights.

Written in collaboration by Theresa Chavez, Louie Pérez and Rose Portillo all of whom are involved with About Productions. The performances will be directed by Theresa Chavez and Rose Portillo. Other talented posts are held by Musical Director Scott Rodarte from the East L.A. band Ollin and Video Design by award-winning cinematographer Claudio Rocha.

For the past 23 years, About Productions has been creating original and critically acclaimed theaterworks both locally and nationally. About Productions’ support includes National Endowment for the Arts and the L.A. County Arts Commission, along with a prestigious grant from the National Association of Latino Arts & Culture.

About Productions is dedicated to generating new work through collaboration in order to create artistic and community dialogue. It’s innovative Young Theaterworks literacy program serves at-greatest-risk youth, and celebrates the lives of seniors.

Here are the scheduled performances:
Previews: May 3-11
Performances: May 12 – May 27
Thursdays @ 7 pm*: May 3, 10 (previews), 17, 24
Fridays @ 7 pm*: May 4, 11 (previews), 18, 25
Saturdays @ 7 pm*: May 5 (preview), 12 (opening night), 19, 26
Sundays @ 2 pm: May 6 (preview), 13, 20, 27
(*Please note early 7 pm curtain time)

TICKETS:
General Admission (except May 20): $32
Previews: $22
Benefit Performance (May 20): $75

Para más información:

http://www.aboutpd.org/

http://www.facebook.com/aboutpd

https://twitter.com/aboutpd (please use #EQMB for latest updates)

The Summer Arts at Dos Lagos Art Show offers $5,000 in prizes and gives artists a gift card for their full paid entry fee value to spend at any store or restaurant at The Shops at Dos Lagos. Jury selected entries will be displayed and available for sale at the Summer Arts at Dos Lagos Gallery in June.

Submit entries for the Juried Art Show this Friday, May 11 or Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Bring art entries to the Summer Arts at Dos Lagos Gallery, near Anthropologie and Z Gallerie at The Shops at Dos Lagos, located on Temescal Canyon Road between Weirick Road and Cajalco Road, just off the I-15 in Corona.

For more information:

http://www.shopdoslagos.com

The Youth Violence Prevention Conference is open to all Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) high school students. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. (breakfast) and the conference will be from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Century High School in Santa Ana on May 12, 2012.

There will be a series of interactive workshops where participants will receive information and resources to combat youth violence (dating violence, bullying, stalking, etc.). The Youth Violence Prevention Conference will include survivors who will share their experiences and participate in an open mic session. There will also be a Peace Concert and art mural for Peace for the students to participate in. Breakfast snacks and lunch will be provided for those in attendance.

Workshops will include:
1. Bullying & Student Rights – The Center OC – Jose Gaspar
2. Cyber Bullying & Cyber Dangers – OC Dept of Ed/Safe Schools by Tina Rocha
3. Teen Voices/Teen Choices – Bright Future 4 Kids by Susan Jaeckel
4. Teen Dating Violence (skit) – OC Opportunity
5. Juvenile System Workshop – Kidworks by Pablo Avila, Caleb Torres & Sandibel Ramirez
6. Teen Trafficking – Human Trafficking Survivors Foundation
7. Jason’s Story – Human Options by Robert Diaz
8. Teen Dating Violence (experiences) – Casa Youth Shelter
9. Safe from the Start – OC Dept of Ed/Human Options by Ericka Sanchez
10. Vision Circle: A Day Without Violence – The Center OC by Kaeti Humphrey

SELF DEFENSE WORKSHOP
-Z Ultimate Studios by Christopher Diaz & Parker Weinthal

Casa de la Familia’s mission is to address and serve the emotional needs of children, teens, adults and the elderly who have suffered a psychological trauma; in a compassionate, ethical and professional manner. The primary focus for the services provided are to underserved and underrepresented minority populations, with a special emphasis on providing bicultural and bilingual psychological treatment, education and outreach to the Latino community.

Para más información:

https://youth4peace.registertoattend.com/

http://www.casadelafamilia.org/

The 2012 Project is a national, non-partisan campaign to increase the number of women in Congress and state legislatures by leveraging the unique opportunities of 2012 – will host a Webinar Wednesday, May 9, 2012 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST. In collaboration with the National Hispaña Leadership Institute, The 2012 Project will explain why it is essential for women to throw their hats in the ring in 2012.

Women make up more than half the population yet hold only 17% of the U.S. Congressional seats, less than a quarter of state legislative seats and only six governorships. As under-represented as women are in public office, the numbers for Latinas are even more dismal. There are just seven Latinas in Congress, 66 in state legislatures, and four in statewide elective executive office – that’s only 1.3% of Congress and not even 1% of all state legislators. This under-representation has a profound impact on policy making.

The webinar will highlight the experiences and insights of Polly Baca, Former Colorado State Legislator and Kansas State House Representative Delia Garcia – who will share what it takes to be a candidate, the difference women make in government, and why it is important for more Latinas to run. Filing deadlines have not yet passed in many states, so it’s not too late to make a difference!

NHLI’s Webinar:
The 2012 Project:
A Year of Opportunity for Latinas
Don’t get mad, Get elected.
Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Time: 1:00pm–2:00 PM EST

Presented by: Former Colorado State Senator Polly Baca
& former Kansas State House Representative Delia Garcia

This webinar seeks to ensure that women are at the table at every level of government. Learn more about this exciting free opportunity and register today!

Para más información:

http://www.nhli.org/webinars/index.htm

http://www.the2012Project.us

The 2012 Project – Gina Torres – YOU TUBE