Community

At 94, She’s the Hot New Thing in Painting

December 21, 2009 | Posted in Community |

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Under a skylight in her tin-ceilinged loft near Union Square in Manhattan, the abstract painter Carmen Herrera, 94, nursed a flute of Champagne last week, sitting regally in the wheelchair she resents.

After six decades of very private painting, Ms. Herrera sold her first artwork five years ago, at 89. Now, at a small ceremony in her honor, she was basking in the realization that her career had finally, undeniably, taken off. As cameras flashed, she extended long, Giacomettiesque fingers to accept an art foundation’s lifetime achievement award from the director of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

America’s economic pain brings hunger pangs

November 17, 2009 | Posted in Community |

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The nation’s economic crisis has catapulted the number of Americans who lack enough food to the highest level since the government has been keeping track, according to a new federal report, which shows that nearly 50 million people — including almost one child in four — struggled last year to get enough to eat.

At a time when rising poverty, widespread unemployment and other effects of the recession have been well documented, the report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides the government’s first detailed portrait of the toll that the faltering economy has taken on Americans’ access to food.

Owner tells Hispanic workers to change names

October 26, 2009 | Posted in Community |

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By MELANIE DABOVICH,

TAOS, N.M. – Larry Whitten marched into this northern New Mexico town in late July on a mission: resurrect a failing hotel.

The tough-talking former Marine immediately laid down some new rules. Among them, he forbade the Hispanic workers at the run-down, Southwestern adobe-style hotel from speaking Spanish in his presence (he thought they’d be talking about him), and ordered some to Anglicize their names.

October 21, 2009 | Posted in Community |

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Reviews | ‘Latino in America’: Stereotypes mar often engaging documentary

• Lock ‘N Load, 8-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Showtime

• Latino in America, 9-11 p.m. Wednesday, CNN

Bill and Betty Garcia moved from New York City to Charlotte, N.C., so their sons could grow up away from the grind and grime of urban life. Now they think they made a mistake: “The boys might have lost a vital connection to their Latino roots.” So the Garcias take the kids back to New York once a year to reestablish their ethnicity, which, according to their parents, they do by playing basketball (which was invented in Kansas) and listening to hip-hop music (which was invented by Jamaican immigrants in New York City).

September 29, 2009 | Posted in Activism, Community, Education |

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Gilbert Viveros at the Latin Alternative Music Conference in NYC. Congrats Gilbert!

September 9, 2009 | Posted in Art, Community, Obama |

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By SARAH KARUSH, Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Dave Brubeck just wishes his mom could see him now: On Dec. 6, the same day the jazz composer and pianist turns 89, he’ll be among the leading artists feted at the 32nd Kennedy Center Honors Gala.

Dignitaries from President Barack Obama on down will celebrate Brubeck’s career, along with those of Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro, Mel Brooks and opera singer Grace Bumbry, the Kennedy Center announced Wednesday. Read more »

United we Serve

July 14, 2009 | Posted in Community, Youth | Comments

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This summer, the President is calling on all Americans to particiapte in our nation’s recovery and renewal by serving in our communities. There are many ways to get involved. America’s new foundation will be built one community at a time – and it starts with you.