The OC Film Fiesta will run  in Santa Ana and kicks off on Saturday Sept. 4 at 5pm continuing until the 19th. Opening with a free screening of the 1933 Busby Berkeley classic “42nd Street” at the Old OC Court House, which is located at 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd. The film stars silent movie legend Bebe Daniels, who was famously jailed at the OC Courthouse during Prohibition. The screening will also include a rare display of vintage cars dating from 1921-1933.

Films will highlight Santa Ana’s history and Latino heritage, including “Viva Zapata” which stars Santa Ana High School alum Marlon Brando alongside Anthony Quinn, and “The Three Amigos” which stars former Mater Dei and Santa Ana College student Steve Martin. Special guests include Anthony Quinn’s son, Francesco, who will introduce “Viva Zapata.”

Several important documentaries, including Sandra Robbie’s “Mendez v. Westminster” which chronicles the historic 1946 OC school desegregation case that paved the way for Brown v. Board of Education.

The Mexican Consulate is celebrating “Mexico 2010” featuring films about the Mexican Revolution from a variety of international perspectives, including Russian cinema master Sergei Eisenstein’s  “Que Viva Mexico”, the Mexican epic “Arrancame La Vida” starring Ana Claudia Talancon, Louis Malle’s French comedy “Viva Maria!” starring Bridgette Bardot and the Orange County premiere of “The Storm That Swept Mexico,” Ray Telles’ stunning new feature-length PBS documentary about the Mexican Revolution.

Other screenings will include the Disney animated feature “The Three Caballeros” and “Walt & El Grupo,” a documentary chronicling Walt Disney and his animators’ historic 1941 trip to Latin America. Ted Thomas, the documentary’s director and son of legendary Disney animator Frank Thomas will be on hand for a Q & A.

Filmmaker Sylvia Morales with the OC Premier of her newest “A Crushing Love” featuring playwright Cherrie Moraga, and artist Eloy Torrez who will discuss “Eloy Take Two.”

All events, except our Bicentennial Sponsor & Press Gala, are FREE and open to the public.

Para más información

http://www.ocfilmfiesta.org/

The Walmart Foundation’s California State Giving Program announced a $50,000 grant to Girls Incorporated of Orange County. The grant will ensure approximately 625 girls and young women in Orange County can participate in academic enrichment and life skills programs to help them be the successful both in and out of the classroom.

Girls Incorporated of Orange County programs are designed to motivate and empower girls to pursue high academic achievement, become self sufficient and contribute to the society

“Girls Inc. of Orange County is a unique organization committed to improving the lives of girls and young women throughout Orange County, providing them the tools and support systems that allow them to be successful in school and in life, ” said Kimberly Sentovich, Senior Vice President of the Pacific Division for Walmart.“The Walmart Foundation’s California State Giving Program is proud to support non-profit organizations like Girls Inc. of Orange County because of their dedication of creating opportunities and providing essential services that benefit our entire community.”

To date, in 2010, the Walmart Foundation’s California State Giving Program has given a total of $615,000 in grants to California non-profits including: The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County; Atascadero Loaves & Fishes; California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom; Boys & Girls Club of Redlands; San Diego Food Bank; North County Health Project; and Mama’s Kitchen.

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

www.walmartfoundation.org

It’s time… to accelerate the advancement of Hispanic Leadership.   The 2010 Center for Hispanic Leadership Summit will be held on 7:00 am to 5:30 pm on September 19, 2010.

Featuring 30+ speakers representing the world’s top global corporations and thought-leaders to address the importance of “embracing innovation through diversity” in today’s brave new workplace.

These leaders intend to promote their vision and goal through a new enlightened form of leadership.  Be a part of the dialogue and the future.

Today’s recession is making it difficult for corporations and individuals to attend off-site activities.   Because of the importance and time sensitivity of this Summit, the Center for Hispanic Leadership will be offering a limited time offer to assure your voice is heard.

By using the following code to attend for the discounted rate of only $195(a $300 savings):  Hispanic Leader. This code is only good through September 3rd or before tickets are sold out.

The Center for Hispanic Leadership looks to empower the professional growth and talent development of Hispanic Employees through the use of culturally-tailored curriculum that helps accelerate the awareness and potential of their unique skill-sets and capabilities in the workplace.

The Core Initiatives & Desires are to contribute to the growing demand for professional training and the leadership acceleration for Hispanic professionals. Look to create a positive imagery and relevancy for Hispanic professionals utilizing the six natural characteristics that define Hispanic Talent.  And finally to provide the most strategic approach that effectively serves the needs of corporate diversity / inclusion programs and their Hispanic Talent Development initiatives.

Para más información

http://www.centerforhispanicleadership.com/summitinvitation/index.html

A cultural celebration that weaves classic and contemporary songs of Mexico and Latin America into a vibrant musical tapestry, Eugenia León opens the Carpenter Center’s 2010/11 season on Thursday, September 2 at 8pm. Guest starring La Camorra Tango Quintet, the evening’s repertoire will be an extravaganza of jazz, cabaret, Mexican classics, and tango.

“As 2010 marks the bicentennial of Mexico’s Independence and the centennial of its Revolution, I am delighted to open our season with one of Mexico’s musical legends,” states Carpenter Center’s Executive Director Michele Roberge.

The concert is co-presented by Cultura UDG, a program of the University of Guadalajara, with support from UDGLA, the University’s satellite program in Los Angeles, and Fundación Universidad de Guadalajara.

Born in Mexico, Eugenia León is considered the best voice of Mexican popular song. She began her career in the 1970s as part of the New Song Movement, Latin America’s equivalent to the rise of Bob Dylan and company in North America. In 1982, she began to appear solo, performing selections written by popular songwriters of her generation such as Marcia Alejandro, Pepe Elorza, and Jaíme Lopez. As her popularity grew, so did her discography. She recorded nearly a record a year from her 1983 debut until the year 2000. Her status as a Latin American musical icon has led to sold out performances all over the globe—sharing the stage with artists like Lola Beltrán, Willie Colón, José José, Mercedes Sosa, and others.

Eugenia León’s latest and 22nd release, Pasional, shows her to be a woman without borders, as the purely Mexican album reveals influences from Brazilian rhythms, Spanish guitar, and Argentine tango. Pasional enjoyed months on México’s top 40 charts and also marked her first official U.S. release.

The evening will open with Buenos Aires-based La Camorra Tango Quintet. Comprised of five classically trained musicians and composers, La Camorra came together out of a shared desire to advance the style of tango nuevo—a genre created by Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player Ástor Piazzolla—which blends traditional tango with elements of classical music and jazz. Shortly after their 1993 debut, La Camorra made headlines by winning first prize at the Astor Piazzola Center’s competition, and was invited to play at the renowned Centro Cultural San Martín in Buenos Aires. La Camorra is widely recognized for its contributions to tango nuevo, as the group continues to produce groundbreaking original arrangements.

The Carpenter Center is proud to present this performance in association with Cultura UDG.

Eugenia León with La Camorra Tango Quintet

Thursday, September 2, 8:00pm

Carpenter Performing Arts Center

6200 Atherton Street

Long Beach, CA 90815

$25

www.CarpenterArts.org

On Saturday, August 28, at the Honda Center, the inaugural OC Foodie Fest took place with more than 8,500 foodies venturing to their favorite picks of 49 gourmet food trucks from Orange County and Los Angeles. The sold-out event, on top of the delicious cuisine, offered attendees shopping from Patchwork vendors, art and live painting from eVocal, live local music and entertainment, and a kids area hosted by Pretend City. OC Foodie Fest believes in giving back to the community and that’s exactly what a percentage of the proceeds did, including three local charities – Child SHARE, St. Vincent’s Meals on Wheels and Pretend City. The attendance was proof enough of the great amount of funds raised for these nonprofits.

Orange County showed immense support for the gourmet food truck movement yesterday. OC Foodie Fest was meant to bring exposure to the growing market in OC as well as give the opportunity for LA trucks to branch out into a new area.

At the end of the fest, three trucks were chosen for Yelp’s “Best of the Fest” Food Truck Award. Patrons were able to vote for their favorite truck. OC’s The Lime Truck took first place, Chunk-n-Chip took second place and Great Balls On Tires took third place.

All the Trucks featured in Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” seemed to have the longest lines. Especially, Crepes Bonaparte, Nana Queens and Nom Nom Truck. Hour long wait for our food but thank goodness for popchips.com (www.popchips.com) handing out all those chips….

www.ocfoodiefest.com

Starting on August 27th for a limited time only The Maya Indie Films Series which is presented by Blockbuster™ is coming to California. It will be kicking off in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose. Some of the films include Jimmy Smits in Backyard – Juarez: Gritos en Silencio, Michelle Rodriguez in Tropico de Sangre, and Martin Sheen in The Kid: Chamaco.

Maya Entertainment aims to provide a unique platform for independent film, with a particular focus on culturally diverse cinema. Featuring an international roster of emerging indie visionaries, the series will premiere seven diverse movies throughout an eight-city theatrical tour. This cinema showcase will afford film enthusiasts, and newcomers alike, an opportunity to experience true independent cinema in a groundbreaking setting.

Three major theaters are contributing to the series:

Mann Theaters Hollywood

6925 Hollywood Boulevard

Hollywood, CA 90028

Click here for tickets

Camera 7

1875 S. Bascom Ave

Campbell, CA 95008

Click here for tickets

Gaslamp Stadium

701 Fifth Ave

San Diego, CA 92101

Click here for tickets

Para más información

http://mayaindieseries.com/

http://mayaindieseries.com/blog/

The OC Foodie Fest is Orange County’s first major gourmet food truck event taking place Saturday, August 28th at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The one-day event will be the ultimate foodie destination, featuring the best in popular mobile eats combined with a unique forum to showcase local entertainment & shopping to help support local charities.

The participating food trucks will include local favorites Taco Dawg, Calbi BBQ, Oh For Sweet’s Sake, Piaggio on Wheels, Seabirds, Tropical Shave Ice. The event will also feature gourmet eats from well-known chefs including the LudoTruck from Chef Ludo Lefebvre best known for his appearances on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters & the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and recently named Chef of the Future by Time Magazine.

A portion of the event’s proceeds will go back to local nonprofits Child S.H.A.R.E, finding homes for foster children in Orange County, and Pretend City Children’s Museum, the first educational facility of its kind and largest children’s museum in Orange County. Cart for a Cause will also be in attendance with a custom event menu, featuring a guest chef from a well-known local OC eatery, with sale proceeds benefiting St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, delivering daily life-saving meals and warm greetings to homebound and hungry seniors and disabled or seriously ill adults.

The event takes place on Saturday, August 28th from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for children 12 & under, and free for children 3 and under. A limited quantity of tickets will be available the day of the event for $15 per person. V.I.P pre-sale tickets are $50, and include early event entry, free parking, free samples from participating food truck sponsors, an exclusive event gift bag and a private seating area with preferred entertainment seating.

For more information about the festival

http://www.ocfoodiefest.com

www.twitter.com/ocfoodiefest

Thanks Ash

The nation has lost a great leader in the passing of Dr. Mario G. Obledo, who died on August 18, 2010 in Sacramento, California, with his wife, Keda Alcala-Obledo, by his side.

Respectfully known as the “Godfather of the Latino Movement”, Dr. Mario G. Obledo, founder and President of the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations, was a leader in Hispanic affairs for more than fifty years.

Dr. Obledo applied science, law, business, and public service to advance the broad cause of civil rights and humanitarian causes, specifically concerns of Hispanics in our Nation. His accomplishments in law, advocacy and civil rights were recognized in 1998 when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, this country’s highest civilian award, from then  President William J. Clinton.

As co-founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and the Hispanic National Bar Association, he was responsible in gaining national attention to civil rights issues affecting the Hispanic and other communities. He held local, district, state and national offices in the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

Dr. Obledo served on the board of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday Commission, and several legal and pharmaceutical organizations, and was a faculty member of the Harvard School of Law.

As California Secretary of Health and Welfare, Dr. Obledo was instrumental in bringing thousands of Hispanics into state government, and declaring it “my greatest accomplishment in life.”

With quiet dignity and uncommon wisdom, Dr. Obledo opened the doors of employment, freedom, challenge, and opportunity for all Americans and at each point Dr. Obledo worked toward a stronger and more perfect union. As National President of LULAC, he extended the influence of the organization into the international arena.

As past Chairman of the National Rainbow Coalition, he sought to unify the various ethnic, racial and religious groups into a progressive political force in order to change the character and condition of America.

Dr. Obledo is the recipient of the OHTLI award, the highest award bestowed by Mexico on a foreigner. He held a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Doctorate of Law degree (J.D.) from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. Dr. Obledo received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the California State University, Sacramento in May 2010.

Dr. Mario G. Obledo was married to Keda Alcala-Obledo and resided in Sacramento, California.

by Melinda Guzman

www.LULACSantaAna.com
www.LULAC.org (National LULAC)

Gracias Zeke

Only 2 weekends left for the Santa Ana’s Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble & See-what Productions World Premiere “Digging Up the Dirt” by Cherrie Moraga and Adelina Anthony. 8pm – Friday Aug 20 & Saturday Aug 21 and Sunday Aug 22 6pm then next week 8pm – Friday Aug 27 & Saturday Aug 28 and closing Sunday Aug 29 6pm.

Cherrie Moraga plays the playwright using the imagined landscape of the Southwest to explore censored questions that continue to impact Chicana lives.  As depictions are drawn out they give all of us pause –regardless of race or gender or sexuality.

The play interweaves two murder stories. One is the tale of “Sirena Cantante’s” murderer where Zanzibar is serving a life sentence, while engaging in lesbian romances and being mercilessly visited by the probing “Poet”. The second is an intimate account of the murder of  “Amada,” a Chicana lesbian killed by the hand of her own son.  Through the telling of both stories, alternately satirical and tragic, audience members are held accountable for their own “crimes of passion” the experience draws the audience in to conclude their own unacknowledged “murderous” deeds of the heart.

Cherríe Moraga is recipient of the NFA/JPMorgan Chase Master Artist Grant, which is funded by the NALAC Fund for the Arts and JPMorgan Chase Foundation with support from the Ford Foundation and Southwest Airlines.  Other NFA funders include: MetLife Foundation, Nescafe Clasico, Heineken USA and The City of San Antonio Cultural Collaborative.

Adelina Anthony is a long-time artistic collaborator and mentee of Moraga.  Critically praised as an actor, consistently garnering Best-Actor nominations for her theater work in Texas and California.

Scheduled  Esteemed  Moderators include…

Saturday, August 21 -

Juilette Carrillo

Saturday, August 21 -

Sharon Bridgforth

Sunday, August 22 -

Felicia Montes with Celia Herrera Rodriguez

Friday, August 27 – Laurie Woolery

www.breathoffire.org

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

www.brownpapertickets.com

www.adelinaanthony.com

www.cherriemoraga.com

Photo: Digging Up the Dirt Cast L to R: C. Umana* and A. Anthony*

Play is intended for mature audiences and may not be suitable for children. Contains: strong language, partial nudity, and adult situations. There is no intermission and the show runs under 90 mins.

Need a reason to celebrate the end of Summer? Well, Barrio Writers, Barrio Actors Guild & SolArt Radio are giving you one. A special benefit at Zócalo for dinner including local music Trio Barrio Writer Joana on accordian, David & Barrio Writer Germayn, DJ Michelle Reyes and special guest musicians the band Ollin.

The benefit is in honor of the Barrio Writers & Barrio Actors Guild: free summer programs that empower teens & strengthen our communities through creative writing, higher education & cultural arts! Having the pleasure to meet some of the writers at the Santa Ana Artist Village these talented, bright and up and coming writers make the future brighter.

As for Ollin, blazing out of East LA to take on the mantle of the great LA rock and roll bands they are bringing the energy and vibrancy of Chicano music to a growing number of devotees. They began with the inspiration of traditional Mexican music. From there, the brothers expanded their musical curiosity and brought other types of folk music into the mix. Irish melodies, Klezmer riffs, German beer polkas, and African syncopations all were introduced and have become a part of the eclectic Ollin sound. Live performances are theatrical, energetic, and with the mixture of many different styles, still well balanced. Their recordings are solid three dimensional stories with lyrical prose that puts you knee deep in their musical barrio.”

**$10 donation request (dinner not included)**

August 22 – 5:00pm – 10:00pm

Zócalo 301 N. Tustin Avenue

Santa Ana, CA

Para más información

http://barriowriters.blogspot.com/

www.myspace.com/eastlosollin