Maria Hinojosa is a Mexican American broadcast journalist. She was (2005–2010) Senior Correspondent for the PBS news magazine, NOW on PBS.

She is currently also the host of her own show on PBS, Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One, an interview talk show that features one-on-one interviews with a diverse group of guests, including actors, writers, activists, and politicians.

Hinojosa’s first journalism experience was as host of a Latino radio show while she was a student at Barnard College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Latin American studies.

In 1995, she began hosting the National Public Radio show Latino USA; she also hosted the WNBC-TV public affairs show, Visiones. From 1997 to 2005, she worked for CNN’s New York City bureau, where she gained recognition for her reporting on urban issues.

She can currently be seen on PBS, where she hosts Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One, and on V-me, the Spanish-language TV network, where she hosts La Plaza: Conversaciones con María Hinojosa.

Hinojosa has won many honors and awards, including the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Radio Award, the New York Society of Professional Journalists Deadline Award, the National Council of La Raza’s Rubén Salazar Communications Award (named for Mexican American journalist Rubén Salazar), and an Associated Press award. In addition, she was named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business magazine for her work as a reporter for CBS, NPR, and CNN.

Raising Raul: Adventures Raising Myself and My Son.
Crews: Gang Members Talk with Maria Hinojosa.

One on one site
Maria hinojosa on Twitter
Maria hinojosa on Facebook

]]> http://www.americanlatino.tv/artists/maria-hinojosa-2594.html/feed 0 http://www.americanlatino.tv/artists/gracie-family-2589.html http://www.americanlatino.tv/artists/gracie-family-2589.html#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:42:19 +0000 nalbertini@sapocom.com http://www.americanlatino.tv/?p=2589

Gracie Family

The Gracie family is a prominent sporting family from Brazil known for their founding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). They have been successful in combat sport competitions including mixed martial arts, vale tudo and submission wrestling events. As a family, they uphold the Gracie challenge, which promotes their style of BJJ.

Gastão Gracie from Rio de Janeiro, the grandson of George Gracie through his son Pedro married Cesarina Pessoa Vasconcellos, the daughter of a wealthy Ceará family, in 1901 and decided to settle in Belém do Pará. Gastão Gracie became a business partner of the American Circus in Belém. In 1916, Italian Argentine circus Queirolo Brothers staged shows there and presented Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese Judoka and prize fighter. In 1917, Carlos Gracie, the eldest son of Gastão Gracie, watched a demonstration by Maeda at the Da Paz Theatre and decided to learn judo. Maeda accepted to teach Carlos. In 1921, following his financial dire straits and his father Pedro’s demise serving as a pretext, Gastão Gracie returned to his native Rio with his family.

Carlos passed Maeda’s teachings on to his brothers Oswaldo, Gastão Jr., and George. Hélio was too young and sick at that time to learn the art, and due to medical imposition was prohibited to take part in the training sessions. Despite that, Hélio learned from watching his brothers. He eventually overcame his health problems and is now considered by many as the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (though others, such as Carlson Gracie, have pointed to Carlos as the founder of the art).

Rolls Gracie is sometimes considered in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community and within the Gracie family as the true creator of the modern form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He did so by training and competing in Judo, Sambo, and Wrestling. He was the lead instructor of the most promising Gracies in the famliy, namely, Rickson Gracie, Royler Gracie, Rillion Gracie, and Carlos Gracie Jr.

The most recent family champion is Roger Gracie, who holds the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu World Super Heavyweight and Pan-American Open Weight titles and the ADCC heavyweight and openweight championships. The most famous member of the Gracie family may be Royce Gracie, winner of three UFC tournaments.

TheGracieAcademy.com
Gracie brothers on Twitter

Francisco Javier Bautista, Jr. (born December 7, 1975), better known by his stage name Frankie J, is a Mexican singer and former member of the musical group Kumbia Kings.

Bautista was born in Tijuana, Mexico and raised in San Diego, California from the age of 2, after his uncle brought him and his siblings to the United States. He grew up listening to both traditional Latin music as well as American urban music. He attended Southwest Senior High School in San Diego. He later began to develop more interest in singing, with the encouragement of his family. At high school age, he began participating in talent shows and performing at school functions.

In 1999 he became a member of the Kumbia Kings created by A.B. Quintanilla III, brother of Selena. He performed under the name Cisco. Members included A.B. Quintanilla (bass, background vocals), DJ Kane (born Jason Cano; lead vocals), Frankie J/Cisko (born Francisco Javier Bautista, Jr; vocals), Baby Drew (born Andrew Maes; vocals), Cruz Martínez (keyboards), Alex Ramírez (keyboards), Roy “Slim” Ramírez (percussion, background vocals), Frankie Aranda (percussion), Jorge Peña (percussion), Jesse “O’Jay” Martínez (drums), and Robert Del Moral (drums). They released their debut album Amor, Familia Y Respeto in 1999. The album included hit singles like “Azúcar”, “Fuiste Mala”, “Reggae Kumbia”, “Te Quiero A Ti” and “Se Fue Mi Amor”. In 2001 they released their second album Shhh! which included the singles “Shhh!”, “Boom Boom” and “Desde Que No Estás Aquí”. In 2002 the group released their third album called All Mixed Up: Los Remixes which included the single “La Cucaracha”. Cisko then started perform under the name Frankie J. In 2003 they released their fourth album called 4 which included the hit singles “No Tengo Dinero”, “Insomnio” and “Mi Gente”. They also released the albums Presents Kumbia Kings repackaged English-language highlights from the group’s back catalog and La Historia repackaged Spanish-language ones. Later in 2003, Frankie J was one of the original Kumbia Kings members to leave the band along with lead singer DJ Kane and other members of the band. Andrew “Baby Drew” Maes, Alex Ramírez, Roy “Slim” Ramírez, and Frankie Aranda formed their own band called K1 while DJ Kane and Frankie J went on to become solo singers.

As Frankie J, Bautista signed as a solo artist with Columbia Records and released his first album What’s A Man To Do on May 23, 2003. His self-titled first Spanish-language album Frankie J was also released later in the same year. The album’s lead single “Don’t Wanna Try” peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, while “Ya No Es Igual” went Top 10 on the World Latin charts. Later that year, he was featured in the Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Suga Suga” by rapper Baby Bash.

His second album The One was released on March 22, 2005. It was led by the #3 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Obsession (No Es Amor)” featuring rapper Baby Bash, and followed by the Top40 singles “How To Deal” and “More Than Words”. To coincide with the release of “More Than Words”, the album was re-released on the DualDisc format in October. By January 2006, The One was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipping over a million copies. His second Spanish-language album Un Nuevo Dia was released on June 13, 2006 and featured the single “Pensado En Ti.”

Frankie’s third English-language CD, Priceless, was released on October 17, 2006. It debuted at #30 on the Billboard 200. The lead single “That Girl” featured Chamillionaire and Mannie Fresh and peaked at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100. A second single “Daddy’s Little Girl” charted at #23 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

Following his departure from Columbia Records, Frankie J released a few singles (“Pictures” “If You Were My Girlfriend” “Crush” “That’s Wussup” w/Baby Bash) between 2008 and 2011, as well as started his own label Soulsick Records.

He released his fourth English-language studio album Courage on December 7, 2011. The lead single “How Beautiful You Are” was released to digital retailers on October 24, 2011. The music video was directed by Mike Ho and premiered on YouTube on September 11, 2011.The video for the album’s second single “And I Had You There” premiered on Frankie’s YouTube channel on November 26, 2011. Frankie J and Baby Bash shot a video for the album’s third single “That’s Wussup” in December 2011 in San Diego, California. The video premiered on January 8, 2012.

Frankie appeared as a celebrity guest at the 16th birthday party of Marissa Mishelle on MTV’s My Super Sweet 16.

In 2011, he joined the mun2 television series RPM Miami as mechanic Ramon. The series was quickly renewed for a second season.

FrankieJ.com
Frankie J on Twitter

Andrea Duran (born 12 April 1984) is an American softball player from Selma, California. She won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She played college softball at the University of California, Los Angeles and graduated in 2006. On the Olympic team she played third base and outfield, and she bats and throws right-handed.Her international competition debut was with the United States women’s national softball team in 2006 where the y went on to win a gold medal at the 2006 ISF World Championship. For 2010 she will return to UCLA to assume a position as director of operations with the coaching staff for the UCLA Softball Team.

AndreaDuran28.com

Andrea Duran Twitter

Jaime Luis Gómez (born July 14, 1975), better known by his stage name Taboo, is a Mexican American singer, actor, and rapper best known as a member of the group The Black Eyed Peas.

The Black Eyed Peas date back to 1988, when eighth-graders William Adams (will.i.am) and Allan Pineda (apl.de.ap) met and began rapping and performing together around Los Angeles. The pair signed to Ruthless Records (run by Eazy-E) in 1992, catching the attention of Eazy-E manager, Jerry Heller’s, nephew. Along with another friend of theirs, Dante Santiago, they called their trio Atban Klann (ATBAN: A Tribe Beyond a Nation). Will 1X (aka will.i.am)apl.de.ap, Mookie Mook, DJ Motiv8 (aka Monroe Walker) and Dante Santiago formed Atban Klann. Their debut album, Grass Roots, was never released because Ruthless founder Eazy-E had died.
The Black Eyed Peas signing autographs before a concert at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania.

After Eazy-E died in 1995, Atban Klann reformed and changed their name to Black Eyed Pods, and then Black Eyed Peas. Dante Santiago was replaced with Jaime Gomez (Taboo), and Kim Hill became a steady background singer. Unlike many hip-hop acts, they chose to perform with a live band and adopted a musical and clothing style that differed wildly from the “Gangsta Rap” sounds of Los Angeles-based hip-hop acts at the time. After being signed to Interscope Records and releasing their debut, Behind the Front (1998) the group (and their accompanying live band) earned critical acclaim. One of the singles from the album was “Joints & Jam”, and was featured on the Bulworth soundtrack. Their second album was Bridging the Gap (2000), which had the single “Request + Line” featuring Macy Gray.

In 2003 Fergie became the fourth member of the group and the group gained international fame being the today 6 time Grammy Awarded hip hop group with an estimated of 60 million records sold worldwide.They released their third album “Elephunk”, with the hit singles “Where Is the Love?” and “Shut Up”.Their next album Monkey Business, was a worldwide success, certified 4× Platinum in the U.S., and spawning two singles, “My Humps” and “Don’t Phunk with My Heart”.

In 2009, the group became one of only 11 artists to have simultaneously held the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on the Billboard Hot 100, with their singles “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling”, with the next single “Meet Me Halfway” achieving similar success, from the album The E.N.D.. These three singles topped the chart for an unprecedented 30 consecutive weeks in 2009. The album later produced a third Hot 100 number-one placement with “Imma Be”, making the group one of few to ever place three number one singles on the chart from the same album before being followed with “Rock That Body” which managed to peak in the Top 10 of Hot 100. “I Gotta Feeling” became the first single to sell more than 1 million downloads in the United Kingdom.

The Black Eyed Peas were ranked 12th on the Billboard’s Decade-End Chart Artist of the Decade, and 7th in the Hot 100 Artists of the Decade.In November 2010, they released the album The Beginning. The first single of the album was “The Time (Dirty Bit)” and topped the charts in many countries. In February 2011, the group performed at the Super Bowl XLV halftime show. The album’s second single was “Just Can’t Get Enough” and was released in February 2011. The music video was filmed in Japan one week before the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The third single “Don’t Stop the Party” was released in May 2011.

In 2008, Taboo was in the process of creating a solo album,[11] but in a 2011 interview Taboo said it would be some time before he would begin a solo album.[12] Taboo has said that he hopes to collaborate with artists such as Frankie J, E-40, Pitbull, Transit Venus and Kumbia Kings. Shakira, Blu Cantrell, and Juanes have been rumored to be featured artists on his solo effort, even though it may be a small effort. “Revolution Ni Hao” can be heard on his official website.

Music he has co-written and performed has been featured on many movie soundtracks, including Coach Carter, Legally Blonde, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and Barbershop 2.

Taboo performing with The Black Eyed Peas at Outside Lands 2009

Taboo collaborated in the past with Ryan Key of Yellowcard on the song “Gotta Get It Now”. He also collaborated with race rapper David Rolas for the song “Morena”, and rapper Fudge Dog on the song “Get It”. In late 2007, Taboo also collaborated with merengue star Juan Luis Guerra on a remix of his hit song “La Llave de Mi Corazón”. In addition, he created a remix to the song “La Paga” by Juanes.Taboo worked with George Pajon Jr. and Andy Vargas to perform the Obama song “Yes We Can” (Si Se Puede).[14] He performed together with Juanes, in the kick-off concert of South Africa Worldcup 2010, singing La Paga. He is on Paulina Rubio’s Brava album adding vocals for the song “Hoy Me Toca A Mi”, which he also co-wrote.

Taboo’s first acting role was in the film Dirty with Wyclef Jean, playing the part of Ramírez. He then appeared in the 2007 independent film Cosmic Radio, which also stars Michael Madsen, Wes Studi, Irene Bedard, Daryl Hanna, Ricardo Chavira, and other well-known actors. He played the character Vega in the 2009 film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. Taboo has also appeared as a judge on the reality show MTV’s Top Pop Group.

Black Eyes Peas Site
Taboo Profile on IMDB

Born in Nicaragua, Lopez’s parents moved to New York City in 1972. father Julio, worked for the government of the then-President Anastasio Somoza, who was overthrown in 1979 after the Sandinista Revolution. He took odd jobs to support his family but later relocated to Texas. López brothers first learned the sport of Taekwondo in ther garage.

López’s siblings, Mark, Diana and Jean Lopez (coach) are all USA National Team Members in Taekwondo. His younger siblings, Mark and Diana, also represented the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, marking the first time since 1904 that three siblings have been on the same Olympic team. Both López and siblings, Mark (men’s featherweight) and Diana (women’s featherweight), made sports history in April 2005 when they all claimed a world championship title at the same event (2005 World Taekwondo Championships) with their oldest brother, Jean, participating in the feat as their coach.

Lopez Taekwondo Academy

Castro was born in San Antonio on September 16, 1974. He is the twin brother of Joaquín Castro, both graduates from Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio, TX). He graduated in 1996 from Stanford University, majoring in political science and communications. He said he began thinking about entering politics while at Stanford. He later graduated from Harvard Law School. His brother graduated from both schools with him.

Ge served on the San Antonio City Council from 2001 to 2005, representing District 7. He sought to establish himself as a leader on issues of economic development, education, and environmental protection. Castro ran for Mayor of San Antonio in 2005 and was widely viewed as the front runner in a field that also included retired judge Phil Hardberger and conservative city councilman Carroll Schubert. While Castro received a plurality of the vote in the May 2005 election, he was narrowly defeated by Hardberger in the June 2005 runoff.

Castro ran for Mayor of San Antonio again in 2009, announcing his candidacy on November 5, 2008. Castro won the May 9th election with 56.23% of the vote, his closest opponent being Trish DeBerry-Mejia Castro is the fifth Hispanic mayor in the history of San Antonio.

Castro was re elected in 2011 running against four candidates.

Mayor Julián Castro on Facebook
Mayor Julián Castro on Twitter
SanAntonio.Gov

sabella Wall is an Actress, Spokesperson, Author and Producer. Her career began in television as an iconic character in the Dominican Republic named “Olimpia” and quickly moved to NYC to start a stellar modeling career for top designers line Gianni Versace among others. She was an on-air personality for Top 40 radio station Z-100 in New York and has appeared in numerous TV commercials like Payless Shoes, Budweiser, McDonalds, Burger King, AT&T, Ford, American Express brand and the “got milk” campaign among others. Isabella has been featured in the media for her work with cultural topics with Disney, MTV, KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX, Telemundo, Univision, LA Times, Teen Magazine and more. Her television and film work include co-starring on Award Winning shows such as ER, Nip/Tuck, Days Of Our Lives, The Hard Way and Mo’ Better Blues.

Isabella is the author of Chasing Rubi – The truth about Profirio Rubirosa, the last Playboy (Literary Press – 2005) and the Spanish version Persiguiendo a Rubirosa (Impresora Corripio – 2009) about the prolific Dominican Diplomat-Playboy who is said to have inspired the James Bond character. The acclaimed biography was the first one published in English about Porfirio Rubirosa. Her production company Encanto Vision, has various television and feature film currently in production about these topics.

Voted one of Revlon’s Unforgettable Women, with credits ranging from International Beauty, Style-trend Setter, Quince Expert and Luxury-Tourism Industry Special Representative at events such as, Nuestra Belleza, The Great Bridal Expo, International Women Society, International Immigrants Foundation in NYC and others. She is the Creator/Executive Producer of the International Women Ambassa-dress Pageant, a parade of costumes at the United Nations. Isabella is currently the Directing Officer of the Ministry of Tourism for the Dominican Republic in California.

IsabellaWall.com
Isabella Wall profile on IMDB

Martha Ivelisse Pesante, also known as Ivy Queen was born in Añasco, Puerto Rico. When she was young, Ivy Queen’s parents moved to New York City where she was raised. Her parents returned to their hometown of Añasco when Ivy was in her teens. There she spent her time perfecting her craft while hanging out with barber/rapper chu chu tren. When she was 18, Ivy Queen moved to San Juan where she met rapper and producer, DJ Negro, who introduced her to a group called “The Noise,” with whom she wrote and performed her first song “Somos Raperos Pero No Delincuentes” (We’re Rappers, But Not Delinquents). She became tired with the violent and sexual themes often used in reggaeton, and wished to write about a variety of subjects. In 2008, she resumed her studies, intending to conclude her high school education. She stated that the reason behind this decision was to “deliver a message to young people.

Soon, DJ Negro convinced Ivy Queen to go solo and in 1997, she made her debut with the recording of the album En Mi Imperio (In My Empire) for the Sony International Records ’97″ award, naming her “The Peoples Favorite Rap Singer”, by Artista magazine.

In 1999 Ivy Queen recorded her second album, for the Sony Label, titled Original Rude Girl which carried the following hit songs “Interlude in the Zone”, “Que Sabes Tu” (“What Do You Know?”) and “The King and the Queen”. It sold more than her first album and was highly acclaimed. Ivy’s third album Diva, was released in 2003. The songs were originally written by her and performed with the participation of various artists. Diva was so successful that an enhanced edition entitled Diva (Platinum Edition) waS released in 2004. The update to the CD added several remixes of her most popular songs from the Diva album. Ivy Queen’s fourth album Real followed quickly and was also released in 2004. The album had guest artists such as Hector “El Father”, Mikey Perfecto, Fat Joe, and La India.

Ivy’s fifth album was a compilation of her best work and added 4 previously unreleased songs. The album, called Flashback, was released in 2005. The Best of Ivy Queen was released in 2005 which also was a compilation of her best work. It is still unknown whether or not The Best of Ivy Queen was an official release. In March 2007, Ivy Queen released a new album titled Sentimiento. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Latin charts, making it her highest debut ever on the chart. The lead single of the album “Que Lloren” became a Top 10 hit, and the remix by Manny and Gil also became a top hit in many countries. Ivy Queen then released her eighth studio album, “Drama Queen” on July 13, 2010. Since 2010, Ivy Queen has been working on her next studio album “Musa” set to be released in June 2012.

1997: En Mi Imperio
1998: The Original Rude Girl
1999: “In the Zone”
2003: Diva
2004: Real
2005: Flashback
2007: Sentimiento
2008: “Ivy Queen World Tour”
2010: Drama Queen
2012: Musa

Premios Juventud 2006

Diva Award/WINNER – Special Award for Meteoric Career
Furia Musical Awards 2006

Best Reggaeton Singer Of The Year/WINNER
Latin Grammy Awards 2007

Urban Album Of The Year
Premio Lo Nuestro 2008

Urban Album Of The Year/WINNER
Billboard Latin Music Awards 2009

Hot Latin Song Of The Year, Female/WINNER
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Female/WINNER
Latin Rhythm Airplay Of The Year
Billboard Latin Music Awards 2011

Hot Latin Song Of The Year, Female
Top Latin Album Of The Year, Female
Latin Grammy Awards 2011

Urban Album Of The Year

DivaIvyQueen.com
Ivy Queen Facebook fan page

Victor “Vicious” Ortiz was born and raised in Garden City, Kansas, the second of three children of Mexican immigrant parents. When he was seven years old, Ortiz’s mother abandoned his family for a relationship with another man. Shortly thereafter, Ortiz began boxing at the Garden City Boxing Club at the insistence of his father, an alcoholic who often beat his children following his wife’s departure.

When Ortiz was 13 years old, his father also abandoned the family, and Ortiz and his two siblings were turned over to the Kansas foster care system. However, he continued to box and won a Kansas Golden Gloves championship. After a brief foray into drug dealing as a teenager, Ortiz found his true calling.

After Ortiz’s older sister became a legal adult and moved to Denver, Colorado, Ortiz and his younger brother moved in with her. While training at a Salvation Army boxing center, he was noticed by former heavyweight boxing contender Ron Lyle, who had become a supervisor at the center. In 2003, Lyle guided Ortiz to a Junior Olympics tournament, where, at the age of sixteen, he won the 132-pound weight division with a perfect 5-0 record. This time, he was noticed by another former boxer, Roberto Garcia, who had held the IBF super featherweight title during the 1990s and whose father was the trainer of Fernando Vargas.

Though Garcia was based in Oxnard, California, he offered to train Ortiz, who accepted and moved from Colorado to California, where he began training at Oxnard’s famous La Colonia Gym. Garcia later became Ortiz’s legal guardian, and Ortiz graduated from Pacifica High School. At age seventeen, Ortiz reached the United States Olympic boxing trials in the 132-pound weight class, where he was eliminated in the final stages. (The weight class was instead won by Vicente Escobedo.)

Ortiz turned professional later in 2004 while still only seventeen years of age. When he reached the age of eighteen in 2005 and became a legal adult, he gained custody of his younger brother.

He was trained by five trainers who all worked together to get him ahead in his boxing career. His original trainers included Ignacio “Buck” Avilia, Antonio Orozco Sr., Juan M. Aldana Jr., and Alfred Ritz. He won the Ringside National Title in 2001,and 2002 and the National Jr. Olympics in 2002. Additionally, Oritz won the PAL.

Regional & Minor Titles
USBA Light Welterweight Title (2009)
WBO NABO Light Welterweight Title (2008 – 2009)

World Titles

WBC Welterweight Title

Victor Ortiz Facebook Fan Page
Victor Ortiz Profile on Golden Boy Promotions

Moctesuma Esparza (born March 12, 1949) is an award-winning producer, entertainment executive, entrepreneur and community activist. Moctesuma Esparza is well known for his contributions to the movie industry and commitment to creating opportunities for Latinos everywhere. As an American film producer and the CEO of Maya Cinemas, a theater chain catering to the United States Latino audience. He is also a partner of Robert Katz in the company Esparza/Katz Productions. Moctesuma founded Maya Entertainment in 2007, a vertically integrated media content company providing full service motion picture distribution and production.

He is “an outspoken promoter of Latino films” and many of his films focus on Chicano themes. He has produced over twenty films, several of them for television, and has won over 200 awards.

A participant in the 1960s-era movement for the civil rights and equality of Mexican-Americans, Esparza remains committed to public service, donating his time to educational, cultural, and professional organizations, especially those that aim to educate Latinos in the business of media production.

Esparza was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. His father, a refugee of the Mexican Revolution, migrated to the United States in 1918. His father’s awareness of the motivations behind the Revolution imbued him with a strong sense of social justice.[4] As a child, he viewed Spanish-language films in the many Los Angeles theaters that offered such fare. Moctesuma was a theatre major in high school. He acted, played the saxophone, and loved movies.

During his sophomore year at UCLA, Moctesuma created an ethno-communications program at the film school at UCLA. He wrote a proposal, made the curriculum, and successfully created the first multicultural film program in the United States. He later became a student in it also.

During the 1960s, he participated in the Chicano Movement, agitating for the civil rights of Mexican Americans. He was one of the organizers of the 1968 Chicano Blowouts, a series of youth-led protests inspired by educator Sal Castro in which Mexican-Americans demanded equal educational opportunities. His role in the walkouts as “liaison to the press,” which led to his interest in the media. The movement is memorialized in his 2006 HBO film Walkout.

He studied theatre arts, motion pictures, and television at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received his B.A. in 1971 and M.F.A. in the same field in 1973.

He has served on: the Corporate Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Television Fund, the Board of Directors of the Museum of Latin American Art, a Trustee of the California State University System. a commissioner to the Los Angeles City Retirement System.

Currently serves on: the National Hispanic Cultural Center Advisory Board, the Latino Coalition Against Aids Advisory Board, the National Hispanic Media Coalition Advisory Board, the Toigo Advisory Board, the Minority Media Telecommunications Council Board of Advisors, the American Film Institute Board of Trustees, the UCLA School of Theater, the Film and Television Dean’s Executive Board the Claremont University Consortium Board of Overseers. the New America Alliance, he is a Board Member and former Chair the Marathon Club, co-chair Chairman of the Board of the Latino Theater Company in Los Angeles.

Moctesuma has won over 200 awards in his lifetime. These awards and honors consist of an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, an Emmy Award, a Clio award, an ALMA award, a Cine Golden Eagle award. Moctesuma was also selected as one of the 50 “Most Powerful and Influential Latinos” of 2008 by The Imagen Foundation.

- Founding member, César Chávez Foundation (2002-Present)
- Member, Board of Commissioners, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (2009-Present)
- Corporate Board of Directors, Motion Picture Television Fund
- Advisory Board, National Hispanic Media Coalition
- Board of Directors, Museum of Latin American Art
- Member, Board of Trustees, California State University (2004-2007)
- Chair of the Board, New America Alliance (2000-03)
- Co-Founder/Board member, National Association of Latino Producers
- Founder and Board of Directors member, Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise Charter School
- Board of Advisors, Minority Media Telecommunications Council

Moctesuma Esparza on IMDBm

Bruno García (a.k.a. Sergent García) got started in 1997, by pure coincidence, on the eighth anniversary of the radio show “Salsamania.” Its director was asking listeners to join the party with letters, postcards, and messages in any format. García couldn’t think of any better homage other than recording the “Salsamama” tune. It is an explosive mix of Cuban rhythms, salsa and reggae. The response on the radio was such that it led its creator to compose another fifteen tunes. These were soon recorded, at home, without a band and produced a flaming debut album titled, ¡Que viva el sargento! on the indie label Crash. Bruno, a true one-man band, promoted his own album by handing out flyers at concerts.

Sergent García has a powerful mixture in his ancestry: French mother, African cousins (Algerian), and particularly Hispanic roots. His grandfather was from Granada (Spain), and his father from Bilbao (Spain). It turns out that out of TV watching habits and the cruelty of fellow children, he was nicknamed after the bad guy in “Zorro.”, later the artist became Sergeant García.

Sergent has several musical influences, especially three different genres (Rap, Reggae and Cuban Son and Timba). the list includes Busta Rhymes, KRS One, Mexakinds, Bob Marley, Anthony B, S-izzia, Gladiators, Irakere, NG La Banda, Charanga Habanera, Paul-i-to FG and Rubén Blades as his main sources of inspiration. The Sergeant says” Mixing is the largest part of my music. I like to break barriers, mix influences, mix cultures and also cultures from other countries.”

Sergent Garcia’s first three albums Viva El Sargento (1997), Un Poquito Quema’o (1999, the salsamuffin rule book), and Sin Fronteras (2001, a nomadic manifesto that branches off to explore Mali and the Gypsy world) were dreamt up in Paris, using exotic ingredients as inspiration.

Sergent Garcia’s U.S. debut, Un Poquito Quema’o, launched a new music style coined “salsamuffin”; spontaneously melding the common roots of Jamaican, Cuban, and African music into salsified hip-hop. La Semilla Escondida went back to the origins of this exhilarating musical style. When I first started the new album, my goal was to combine the two sounds I love most: Jamaican and Cuban music. This blend of cultures contains all that I seek and uphold.? La Semilla Escondida (Shakti Records, March 9, 2004) refers to a ‘hidden seed or bean’ as the cover visually displays in a Juan Valdez coffee fashion.

The album was recorded in Jamaica and Cuba. The first phase took place in Kingston, Jamaica, in April of 2003. Tyrone Downie ? Bob Marley’s former keyboard player who has worked with such artists as Jimmy Cliff, Steel Pulse, Khaled, Tonton David, and Stomy Bugsy ? was in charge of all the reggae, ska, and ragga-inspired pieces. Seven other Jamaican artists joined in and lay the foundations of the beats, heavy bass, and reggae guitar riffs.

It was during his 2005 tour of South America that Bruno had a chance to discover the wealth of Colombia’s music scene first-hand. “Colombia is incredible. There were very good bands playing every day in the streets, in the bars, every place; a lot of different styles, a lot of people making music, making art, it was all very, very interesting,” says Bruno, “And the people, the vibration of the people is incredible.”

¡Viva El Sargento! (Traffic of Sound, 1996)
Un Poquito Quema’o (Traffic of Sound, 1999 )
Sin Fronteras (Traffic of Sound, 2001)
La Semilla Escondida (Shakti Records, 2004)
Una y Otra Vez (Cumbancha, 2011)

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Gian Marco is a singer/songwriter from Peru whose recording career spans multiple decades. Though he experienced some solo success with the albums A Tiempo (2002) and Resucitar (2004), both of which were produced by Emilio Estefan, Jr., he was most successful as a songwriter. Among the more notable Latin pop stars who have performed his songs are Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Alejandro Fernández, Obie Bermúdez, Jon Secada, and Cristian Castro. Born Gian Marco Javier Zignago Alcóver in Lima, Peru, on August 17, 1970, he is the son of actress Regina Alcóver and singer/songwriter Joe Danova. He made his recording debut with the independently released full-length album Gian Marco (1990). A series of albums followed throughout the remainder of the decade, including Personal (1992), Entre la Arena y la Luna (1994), Señora, Cuénteme (1994), and Al Quinto Día (1997), before Marco moved from South America to the United States in hopes of furthering his career.

Based in Miami, FL, the singer/songwriter began a fruitful association with producer Emilio Estefan, Jr. The resulting albums, A Tiempo (2002) and Resucitar (2004), were Marco’s most successful releases to date, spawning a series of hit singles (“Se Me Olvidó,” “Lamento,” “Resucitar”) and earning him three Latin Grammy nominations in 2003, along with a Latin Grammy Award in 2005 for Best Singer/Songwriter Album. Around this same time period, Marco penned a variety of songs for Estefan-associated Latin pop stars, including hit singles by Gloria Estefan (“Hoy,” “Tu Fotografía”), Marc Anthony (“Hasta Que Vuelvas Conmigo”), Alejandro Fernández (“Canta Corazón”), Obie Bermúdez (“Me Cansé de Ti,” “Todo el Año”), and Jon Secada (“Si No Fuera Por Ti”). In 2006 Marco took his solo career in a new direction, switching major labels from Sony to EMI for the release of 8 (2006), produced by Kiko Cibrian rather than Estefan. The follow-up album, Desde Adentro (2008), produced by Aureo Baqueiro, was more successful, earning Marco a pair of Latin Grammy nominations.

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Captivating Laguna Beach beauty Fernanda Rocha is best known for her scene stealing, history making role as the first lesbian cast member on the Bravo network reality show “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” This driven, independent Brazilian immigrant and business mogul is turning heads and blazing trails all over America!

At the age of 23, armed with a Bachelors degree in Kinesiology, Rocha left the comfort and familiarity of family, friends and her native Brazil. Having not yet learned to speak English, Rocha stepped off the plane and onto American soil with nothing but the clothes in her suitcase and “living la vida American Dream” on her mind. Resilience was a necessity for Rocha to survive.

Becoming a United States Citizen 2010, Fernanda has not merely survived, she has thrived. Rocha has made a name for herself by taking a stand for Gay Rights and building a successful business empire. Along with her active apparel line, JIINGABRASIL™, her Brazilian Booty Workout DVD™, as well as a new DVD series launching at the end of 2011, she has continually set her sights high. Rocha is also co-owner of a Laguna
Beach CA gym, The Art of Fitness. She has been a supporter of the NOH8 Campaign, It Gets Better Organization Project, and Let’s Move project.

Only one thing remains on Rocha’s agenda, finding the perfect love with the perfect woman. Rocha’s life vision will be complete when she finally marries and starts her own family. “ I want a beautiful partner to share my success with and to have a home filled with love and bambinos!

No, no, no- “Immigrant” isn’t the first thing you think of the first time you lay eyes on this striking beauty with sultry eyes and a sinfully fit body. Both on and off camera, Rocha sets her sights on anything from Human Right’s advocacy to becoming one of the country’s leading Fitness Experts- Heaven help anyone who stands in her way…

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Chris Lozano “The Cleveland Assassin” born and bread in Cleveland Ohio grew up knowing his athletic talents may one day be used to his highest advantage. With many thanks to his brother for making him tough as nails he has had many people as such to look up to while growing up. A natural born leader, friend to many and a current icon in the MMA World is taking his talents to the next level.

Chris’s passion for fighting is a lot deeper then many would think… he is a talented man, but not only that… his motivation is not only to better his career for himself but for his family! With so much support and love around the world “The Cleveland Assassin” keeps proving his strong skills and motivation for the fight is all a part of who he really is and for that is how much more we love to root him on!

Chris got his professional fighting name from an amazing role model of his, the late and great Eddie “The Assassin” Johnson. Eddie was a linebacker for the Browns in the 80′s and early 90′s, most importantly Eddie was his best friend’s father. Eddie was the greatest role model, mentor, teacher and male example Chris mentioned he has ever had. Chris states “Much of the man I am today is because of Eddie. My name is to honor the greatest man I ever had the pleasure of knowing as a child, Eddie Johnson.” He also claims a lot of his success and what he has learned is from his coach and friend Marcus Marinelli. Marcus, a man based and grounded in principles has shown Chris the true meaning of being a better fighter. However that’s not all Marcus has taught Chris… he learned meaningful life values about being a better man.

The Cleveland Assassins intense training at Strong Style Martial Arts and dedicated commitment to the sport have proved to not only him but to everyone watching that his Passion for the Fight will have a successful history behind his name; to which his name will continue to grow into
a legacy in its own…

Clevelandasesin.com

Latina is an American monthly lifestyle, entertainment, beauty and fashion magazine for bilingual, bicultural Hispanic women published in English by Latina Media Ventures. It has a combined audience of nearly 3 million.

In May 2010, Latina Media Ventures named editorial director Galina Espinoza and publisher Lauren Michaels co-presidents of the company. Latina was named to Adweek’s “Hot List” in 2000 & 2001 and named Best Magazine by Advertising Age in 2000.

Latina was founded in 1996 by Christy Haubegger under Latina Publications, LLC. Haubegger, then a 28-year-old Stanford Law School graduate. In 2000, the company changed its name to Latina Media Ventures, LLC. Haubegger now works at Creative Artists Agency and remains a member of the board for Latina Media Ventures.

The covers of Latina consistently feature prominent Latinas like Jennifer Lopez, Paulina Rubio, Shakira, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Eva Mendes, Christina Aguilera and America Ferrera, as well as newsmakers like Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

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Los Americans is an eight-part series that focuses on a multi-generational, middle-income Latino family living in Los Angeles. The Valenzuela family deals with many issues facing American families today, including: unemployment, cultural identity and alcoholism. The series features Latino-Americans in a realistic and complex manner seldom seen on television or the Internet.

While the series portrays some of the experiences unique to the Latino community, such as the challenges of straddling two cultures, the series also shows that much of the family’s struggles can be identified with families from various socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. Following each episode of Los Americans, viewers will be directed to online resources and information offering solutions and help for the issues portrayed in the program.

The series is written and directed by Dennis Leoni, who is best known for having created and produced the award-winning, television series Resurrection Blvd. for Showtime. Los Americans feature Esai Morales (Caprica, Jericho, La Mamba), Lupe Ontiveros (Southland, Family Guy) Raymond Cruz (The Closer, Breaking Bad) and Tony Plana (Ugly Betty, 24).

Los Americans is an original production of One Economy Corporation and its video production company, V-Studios. V-Studios is managed by award-winning director, Robert Townsend.

The web series is funded through a grant of the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to promote broadband and technology use to help people improve their lives.

Los Americans.com
Los Americans on Twitter

Dr. John Diaz was born in New York City. He received a four year scholarship to Regis High School located in Manhattan. He then attended the Ivy League school of Cornell University. Dr. Diaz subsequently received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Dr. Diaz graduated medical school with the highest honors and for this he received the Alpha Omega Alpha Award, which is given to only the top 10% of medical students in the United States. He completed
his training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in N.Y.C. where he had the privilege of working alongside some of the most famous plastic surgeons in the world.

He serves as a member of the Executive Board of the Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgeons and has presented lectures on plastic surgery throughout the United States. He has appeared in numerous national and international television programs and magazines. He serves as an expert on plastic surgery for various television programs including “Montel Williams” series of “Living Well” shows.

Dr. Diaz is a published author of articles on plastic surgery. He received a degree with Distinction in Plastic Surgery Research for his work. He has received awards from the New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Diaz is a medical staff member of the renowned Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA and has a private practice in Beverly Hills.

Dr. John Díaz.com
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The E Family – Dynasty of Love & Artistry

Native Californian, Pete Escovedo, discovered and cultivated a love and passion for music, which soon led him to embrace Latin jazz and pass it on to his sons and daughters—just as his father did for him. With his signature sound on the timbales, Pete has performed and toured with such respected (renowned?) artists as Mongo Santamaria, Bobby McFerrin, Cal Tjader, Woody Herman, Billy Cobham, Boz Scaggs, Arturo Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, and Chick Corea, to name a few. Not to mention, Pete and his brother, Coke, were the founders of the history-making band, Azteca, and Pete was one of the original members of Santana.

Today, Pete leads one of the top orchestras in the country, performing their own unique brand of Latin jazz. The collaboration with daughter, Sheila E., whose roster is a who’s-who of the industry–performing with artists such as Ringo Starr, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, George Duke, Placido Domingo,π and countless others– keeps the rhythm solid on drums & vocals. First born son, Juan Escovedo, on congas & vocals brings his flavor of Pop and R&B to the table–with his roster of noted artists such as Patti Labelle, Lou Bega, En Vogue, Herbie Hancock and many more—captivates the audiences with his versatility. Electrifying the crowd on bongos, drums and vocals is youngest son, Peter Michael, who received an Emmy nomination for his work as Music Director & Producer for The Wayne Brady show and was MD for The Martin Short Show. He also assists Pete in leading the band, and has a roster of artists including Mariah Carey, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Nicks, George Michael, MD for Martin Short Show.

The E-family is a force to be reckoned with. Their memorable performance with the late Tito Puente was beautifully featured in the Latina Familia project. In addition, this family can be seen in the Latin pop culture movie, Chasing Papi performing their original track, “Escondia” with the title track “Favorite Fantasy” co- written by Sheila E. Collectively they are the latest evolution of one of the most amazing musical family dynasties that continues to deliver a colorful and powerful concoction of music to soothe the soul.

The forthcoming E-family Project., NOW & FOREVER, features such artists a Gloria Estefan, Earth Wind & Fire, Joss Stone, George Duke, Raphael Sadik and Israel Houghton, is sure to be must-have. It is scheduled to be released in early 2011.

The E-family’s contribution to the philanthropic community is exemplary as they give back by assisting families and children in need by introducing the power of healing through music.

The E-Family.com
Sheila E.com
Pete Escovedo.com

Eva Mendes was born in Miami, Florida but raised in Los Angeles of Cuban-American heritage. In college she began acting, studying underneath acting coach Ivana Chubbuck. This led to her desire to appear in feature films. Though taking many smaller roles in movies, she was little known until playing the girlfriend of Denzel Washington’s character in Training Day (2001). Since then she has been featured in a wider range of roles, from comedic to dramatic. These gave her the ability to work with many highly regarded directors, such as Robert Rodriguez (Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)), Carl Franklin (Out of Time (2003/I)), John Singleton (2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)), Antoine Fuqua (Training Day (2001)) and the Farrelly Bros. (Stuck on You (2003)).

Eva has co-starred in an independent film, The Wendell Baker Story (2005) with Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson and Will Ferrell, with Luke Wilson directing. Before that, her biggest movie was Hitch (2005/I), a romantic comedy that had her playing opposite Will Smith.

Along with acting, Eva is employed by Revlon Cosmetics as an international spokeswoman. She joins such elite actresses and models as Julianne Moore, Halle Berry and Cindy Crawford, who appear in Revlon’s television and print ads. She is also a passionate supporter and active participant in Revlon’s fight against breast cancer.

Eva’s goals are to improve her acting skills by working with such contemporary directors/filmmakers as Steven Soderbergh, Spike Jonze and Pedro Almodóvar, and learning from such renowned directors as Federico Fellini and Michelangelo Antonioni.

EvaMendes.com

Eva Mendes on Twitter

García was born Andrés Arturo García Menéndez in Havana, Cuba. His mother, Amelie Menéndez, was an English teacher, and his father, René García Núñez, was an avocado farmer and attorney in Cuba, and later owned a fragrance business in the United States. García has an older brother, René. When García was five years old, the family moved to Miami, Florida after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion.

Over a period of several years, they built up a million-dollar perfume company. García was raised as a Roman Catholic[4] and attended Miami Beach Senior High School, where he played on the basketball team. During his last year in high school, he became ill with mononucleosis,which convinced him to pursue a career in acting. He began his acting career taking a drama class with Jay W. Jensen in his senior year at Miami Beach Senior High School. He graduated from Florida International University in Miami.

García began acting at Florida International University, but soon went to Hollywood. He started to perform in very short roles, working part-time as waiter and in a warehouse. He had a short role in the first episode of “Murder, She Wrote” as “1st white tough” in 1984. His chance arose when he was offered a role as a gang member in the first episode of the popular TV series Hill Street Blues.

His supporting role in 1985′s The Mean Season alongside Kurt Russell brought García wider visibility, although the film fared poorly at the box office. Director Brian De Palma liked his performance in the 1986 movie 8 Million Ways to Die and engaged him the following year for The Untouchables, which made García a popular Hollywood actor.

In 1989, Garcia did the Ridley Scott film Black Rain, with Micheal Douglas. Also in 1989, Francis Ford Coppola was casting The Godfather Part III. The character of Vincent Mancini, the illegitimate son of Sonny Corleone, was an exceptional part in a highly anticipated film. García was one of many actors who wanted to be cast, but he also bore a resemblance to the young Al Pacino. He won the part, earned an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his performance and became an internationally acclaimed star.

Garcia followed that with films such as 1990s Internal Affairs, in which he engages in a battle of wits with a corrupt fellow police officer, played by Richard Gere. Subsequently, he performed in a wide variety of theatrical and TV films.

He played a conflicted good samaritan in Hero (1992), the enabling husband of an alcoholic in When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), a doomed criminal in Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995), a crusading lawyer in the drama Night Falls on Manhattan (1997), and a cop trying to save his gravely ill son in the action thriller Desperate Measures (1998).

One of his most well-known performances was as the ruthless Las Vegas casino owner Terry Benedict in 2001′s Ocean’s Eleven, a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack caper movie. García reprised the role for the 2004 sequel, although the part was significantly smaller than the one in the first film. He also appeared briefly in Ocean’s Thirteen (2007).

In 2005, he released The Lost City, which he co-wrote, directed, and starred in, alongside Dustin Hoffman and Bill Murray. Upon its release, The Lost City sparked controversy among many in Latin America due to its negative portrayal of the Cuban Revolution, and in particular Che Guevara, who continues to have substantial popularity there. He was also present at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in this movie. In 2006, he appeared in the last episode of the Turkish TV series Kurtlar Vadisi (Valley of the Wolves) along with Sharon Stone.

In 2010, he appeared on the BBC’s Top Gear Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment, recording a time of 1:46.1 in the Kia Cee’d.

Andy Garcia FB Fanpage

Ferrera, the youngest of six children, was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents, América Griselda Ayes and Carlos Gregorio Ferrera, were originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and immigrated to the United States in the mid-1970s. Her mother worked as the director of the housecleaning staff for Hilton Hotels, and stressed the importance of higher education.

When she was 7, her parents divorced and her father returned to Honduras.Ferrera’s father passed away in 2010.Ferrera was raised in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles, where she attended Calabash Street Elementary School, George Ellery Hale Middle School and El Camino Real High School.

From the time she was seven years old, when she landed a small role in a school production of Hamlet and then at age 10, the role as the Artful Dodger in Oliver!, Ferrera knew that she wanted to be a performer. Her first play was Romeo and Juliet, and although only in the third grade, she went to the junior high school and auditioned and got the role of the Apothecary.She acted in school plays and community theater in Los Angeles throughout her youth, though with little help from her mother, who insisted that she pursue other interests because she was concerned her daughter would not be treated fairly.

Ferrera was forced to take the bus to auditions, though eventually her mother saw her daughter’s dedication and began to drive her. Ferrera disliked her first name as a child and went by her middle name, “Georgina”, until she began acting professionally.

While at El Camino High School, she took acting lessons at the age of 15 and was able to pay for them by waiting tables and babysitting. She graduated with a 4.3 GPA and was named class valedictorian.

She entered the University of Southern California on a presidential scholarship, with a double major in theater and international relations. She dropped out of school one semester short of graduating due to her wanting to focus on Ugly Betty.

In July 2002, Ferrera made her first TV movie, Gotta Kick It Up! for The Disney Channel. While at drama camp at Northwestern University that same year, she made her feature film debut in the indie sleeper hit Real Women Have Curves. Ferrera followed this with roles in both television (Touched by an Angel) and film (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Lords of Dogtown).

Ferrera received a 2005 Movieline Breakthrough Award. She was also in the movie Plainsong, based on the novel by Kent Haruf which starred Aidan Quinn and Rachel Griffith. Ferrera plays a pregnant teenager, Victoria Roubideaux, who has been kicked out of her mother’s house, and she is taken in by two kindly brothers who live alone on a farm. How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer came out in 2005, and she starred as the third generation of a Mexican-American family.

She played Bianca, a 17 year old who while on the verge on womanhood is fed up with the boys in her neighborhood but finds romance with another boy from a neighboring town. In 2006, she appeared in the short film 3:52 which won the Audience Award at the San Diego Women Film Festival. Later that year she starred in Steel City which received nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards and the Sundance Film Festival.

In December 2005, she appeared in the off-Broadway play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, directed by Trip Cullman.

She landed the lead role of Betty in Ugly Betty in 2006. Ugly Betty is an adaptation of the Colombian hit telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea, in which Ferrera portrays a girl whom her peers find extremely unattractive, thus the series title. As Betty Suarez, Ferrera wears braces, has bushy eyebrows and a disheveled wig, and make-up and clothing intended to downplay her own looks, in contrast to most of the “glammed up” characters; Ferrera herself coined the term “Bettification” to describe the process of creating her onscreen persona. The first run of Ugly Betty was completed with the series finale on ABC-TV on Wednesday, April 14, 2010.

For her role in Ugly Betty, Ferrera won the 2007 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical. As a result of the award, she was congratulated by the U.S. House of Representatives as being a role model for young Hispanics.On January 28, 2007, Ferrera won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series. She also starred in and was the executive producer for the poignant short film Muertas.

In 2007, TIME chose Ferrera as one of the top artists and entertainers in their “Time 100: The Most Influential People In The World” issue. In July 2007, Ferrera won Imagen Foundation’s Creative Achievement Award.

On September 16, 2007, Ferrera won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Comedy Series for her Ugly Betty role, the first Latina to win in that category.[citation needed] In the summer of 2007, she wrapped filming on The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, the sequel to the 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, as Carmen.

Among other film work, she supplied the voice of Astrid in the hit animated film How to Train Your Dragon (2010). She appears in The Dry Land which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival[20] and ran at the Dallas International Film Festival where it won the top prize in the Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative Feature.

As a presenter at the 2007 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards, she said the United States won’t be free again until President Bush leaves office in 2008. The Bush administration ended in 2009.

Beginning November 7, 2011, Ferrera makes her London stage debut playing Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago in London’s West End.

America Ferrera Blog

Before joining American Latino, Vivacious beauty Valery Ortiz turned up the heat and heads as popular cheerleader Madison Duarte on the groundbreaking N network series SOUTH OF NOWHERE. She has also guest starred on numerous TV shows including TWO AND A HALF MEN, MELISSA & JOEY, GIGANTIC, and COLD CASE.

On the big screen, Valery hilariously spoofed Jennifer Lopez as “Jell-O” in the box office blockbuster comedy DATE MOVIE.

Currently, Valery plays the award nominated role of Lupe Ramirez on Robert Townsend’s award-winning Web series DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM, now in its third season.

Valery also hosts ABC FAMILY LOUNGE – interstitials that play during the ABC Family network’s flagship series PRETTY LITTLE LIARS.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Valery grew up in Orlando, Florida. An early love of dancing led to major roles in local theater productions. Her passion and talent eventually brought her to Los Angeles, where she immediately found success hosting a local television program. Other acting and hosting opportunities quickly followed. Along the way, Valery was named one of Maxim Espanol’s 50 Most Beautiful People and has garnered respect in the industry as a dedicated professional whose exquisite exterior is rivaled only by her inner beauty.

When not working, Valery lends her time to organizations that include Los Angeles Mission, Special Needs Network, Inc. for Autistic Kids, and Eva Longoria’s Padres Contra El Cancer. She also serves as a Celebrity Ambassador for the Best Friends Animal Society Organization.

Valery Ortiz.com
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Lori Argumedo makes it on the first Women’s Boxing Olympic team.

Weight Class: Lightweight/125 lbs
Hometown: West Covina, California
Birthdate: 4/5/1982
Height: 5-6
Coach’s name: Robert Long
Club name: Commerce Boxing Club
School: University of Phoenix
Began boxing: 1999
Occupation: Industrial Security Professional
Children: One
Career highlight: Returning to the ring after having a baby and winning the US Championships

Lori Argumedo Fanpage

Marcy Guevara is the vivacious and charming woman that lights up a room and can captivate any audience in moments.

Marcy has been reporting, hosting, and performing for any willing audience, since the fourth grade.  She has been recognized as a leader  and counselor in her communities, social circles and professional networks.

With a passion for people and storytelling, Marcy’s wit makes her extremely likable and relatable, and it is these qualities that draw people to her for her hosting, consulting and lifestyle coaching.Most recently, Marcy was seen on VH1′s second season of “You’re Cut Off” as the resident plus-sized princess. She quickly became a central character who ruled the house, spoke her mind, and entertained the audience with her clever and sharp commentary.

As a rising star in the world of plus-size clothing and a contributor for SKORCH Magazine (the premiere e-zine for women sized 12-28 which translates skinny fashion to plus-size) it is Marcy’s mission is to vibrantly represent women of all shapes and sized and inspires women to dress the skin they’re in.

While in high school and pursuing her Broadcast Journalism degree Marcy fascinated her school’s daily newscast audience.  She currently runs various web shows including, The Marcy Minute. The Marcy Minute is a video blog that captures the essence of who Marcy is and catalogs her life, travels, opinions and all things Marcy, Marcy, Marcy.

Because of her passion to mentor young women, Marcy is determined to reach them.  Marcy has developed a show specifically for this demographic and is passionate about helping them dress well for the next stage of their life as confident, educated women.

Marcy Guevara.com

Rodriguez was born in College Station, Texas, the son of Diane and Roy Rodriguez, who own a business. Similar to his character in Modern Family, he is an uncle to five nieces. Rodriguez had not considered becoming an actor until around 2006, when his sister began acting. Previously he had not concentrated on any one career ambition. “I thought I’d be a NASCAR chef going to the moon”, he said regarding this in an interview in 2010.
Rodriguez was nominated for the Screen Actor’s Guild Award for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series along with the rest of the show’s cast.

Rico Rodriguez Fanpage

Juan ‘Juanito’ Barrantes. Born and raised in Costa Rica and a product of a working class family, Juan epitomizes hard work and all that comes from it. Beginning his training with Karate at age 13 leading to BJJ at age 14, Juan is now a Brown Belt under a Ryan Gracie student in Costa Rica.

Thanks to the close knit Gracie family, Juan trains with Team Renzo Gracie in New York under Daniel Gracie. Juan’s professional MMA career began in 2005 in Costa Rica. Since that time, Juan has fought in the United States, Canada and Panama.

His record of 8 – 5 shows many hard fought and won battles. Juan is not one to refuse any opponent, he adheres to a time honored code to fight against anybody. Wins by submission and KO show that Juan is a warrior with a strong will who will always put on a great show for the fans. With a long career ahead of him, Juan will be the next great Featherweight Champion.

In addition to being a professional MMA fighter, Juan is about to graduate from the Hispanic American University of Costa Rica with a degree in Psychology. Dedicated to helping at-risk youth, Juan has given his time and knowledge to this under-served community. Developing programs in which Juan teaches BJJ to homeless teenagers, Juan has committed himself to helping these kids. Juan believes that everyone has a champion inside of them and with a little encouragement and support, everyone can realize their dreams.

Juan Barrantes.com

For years, award-winning actor Esai Morales has exhibited his outstanding acting talents on television, in theater and in films. Since his feature film debut in BAD BOYS opposite Sean Penn, the actor has continuously offered performances that strongly resonate in the hearts and minds of his audience.

Morales’ latest film “Gun Hill Road”, directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green will premier Aug 5th in LA and NYC. “Gun Hill Road”, is a drama based on a true story, which explores the dynamic in a Puerto Rican family in the Bronx when its father, played by Esai, returns home from prison after a 3-year absence and tries to reestablish his role as father and husband.

Esai will star in his first dramatic web series “Los Americans” online @ Pic.tv (Public Internet Channel), produced by Robert Townsend and Dennis Leoni. The series will revolve around a middle class family in Los Angeles, headed by Leandro Valenzuela (Morales), a marketing director for a software company, as they tackle difficult issues, such as the economy; cultural identity and every day real-life obstacles.

Throughout his career, Morales has played a myriad of characters; including ordinary Latino men struggling under extraordinary circumstances and conflicts. He received critical acclaim for his roles in RAPA NUI, produced by Kevin Costner; the Award-winning HBO film THE BURNING SEASON-THE CHICO MENDES STORY; the Gregory Nava film MI FAMILIA opposite Jimmy Smits and Edward James Olmos; and THE DISAPPEARANCE OF GARCIA LORCA. His other film credits include FAST FOOD NATION, THE VIRGIN OF JUAREZ with Minnie Driver; AMERCIAN FUSION, CHERRY and LA BAMBA, which remains the most commercially successful Latino-themed motion picture to date.

EsaiMorales.com

Esai Morales on Twitter

Lupe Ontiveros (born September 17, 1942) is an American film and television actress. Ontiveros has acted in numerous films and television shows, most often playing a maid or, more recently, an all-knowing grandmother; she estimates she has played a maid between 150 and 300 times on screen.

Ontiveros was born Guadalupe Moreno in El Paso, Texas, the daughter of Luz “Lucita” Castanon and Juan Moreno, middle-class Mexican immigrants who overcame a lack of formal education and were owners of a tortilla factory and two restaurants in El Paso. She graduated from El Paso High School and went on to study at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas, where she received a bachelor’s degree in social work. Ontiveros was raised Roman Catholic. After her marriage, she and her husband moved to California to realize his dream of starting an automotive business. During a period of professional dissatisfaction with her social service career, Ontiveros was trying to decide whether to go back to school for a nursing degree when she saw an article about a need for local film “extras”. With her husband’s encouragement, she began with that simple job and parlayed it into a long stage and screen career.

Prior to acting, Ontiveros worked for 18 years as a social worker, and she continues as an activist with many of the same causes with which she worked in that profession, such as domestic violence prevention and AIDS awareness and prevention, among other health issues.
Ontiveros has said that although she wants to see a more diverse set of roles made available to Latina actors, she is proud of the work she has done each time she has played a maid or other working-class character: “I’m proud to represent those hands that labor in this country. I’ve given every maid I’ve ever portrayed soul and heart.” In part because of her history in this role, she was chosen as the narrator for the documentary Maid in America.

One of Ontiveros’ most prominent early movie roles was in the 1983 Gregory Nava film El Norte, in which she played a seamstress and maid who acts as mentor to a newly arrived immigrant girl from Guatemala. In a 2004 interview with the Dominican newspaper Listin Diario, she called El Norte “the film that always will remain in me… [it] tells the immigrants’ story” when asked to name her favorite film from her long career. She played the housekeeper Rosalita, a Hispanic maid hired to assist in the packing and moving of the Walsh family in the hit adventure film The Goonies (1985) and a housekeeper in Dolly Dearest (1992).

Ontiveros worked with Nava in subsequent films, including My Family/Mi Familia (1995) and Selena (1997). In the latter film, she portrayed Yolanda Saldívar, the convicted murderer of Tejano singer Selena. She also appeared in the Academy Award winning film As Good as It Gets.

In 2000, she was featured in the film Chuck & Buck, in which she played Beverly, a tough theater director who puts on a play written by one of the film’s main characters. She has said in multiple interviews she accepted the role even before seeing the script, solely on the basis of being asked to play a character who was not defined by Hispanic ethnicity. For that role, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 2000 Independent Spirit Awards.

Ontiveros had a recurring role in the 2004-05 season of American prime time soap opera series Desperate Housewives as Juanita Solis, Gabrielle’s suspicious mother-in-law. She received an Emmy nomination as Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for this role. In 2004 she also began a role as Abuela Elena, the grandmother of the title characters in the animated PBS children’s series Maya & Miguel. The multicultural and bilingual series later introduced a deaf character, Marco, after a sign language-themed episode was suggested by the actress, who has two hearing impaired adult sons.

The actress was one of the stars of the WB’s Greetings from Tucson, playing the grandmother in an upwardly mobile family of mixed Irish and Mexican heritage. She previously had recurring guest roles on the series Veronica’s Closet, for which she won an ALMA Award in 1998, and on the short-lived soap opera Pasadena. She also has been a guest star on Hill Street Blues, Red Shoe Diaries, Resurrection Blvd., Cory in the House, and King of the Hill, among many other series.

After deciding she wanted an acting career, Ontiveros began in earnest, following up full-day sessions at her first career with evening work at Nosotros, a community theater in Los Angeles.[10] In 1978, she was cast as Dolores in Luis Valdez’s historic play Zoot Suit in her first major theatrical role. She went on to reprise the role on Broadway — the first Mexican American theatrical production ever to play there — and in the 1982 film version. She was a founding member of the Latino Theater Compan.

Lupe Ontiveros on IMDB

George Lopez is a multi-talented entertainer whose career encompasses television, film, standup comedy and now late-night television. LOPEZ TONIGHT represents Lopez’s return to series television after co-creating, writing, producing and starring in Warner Bros. Television’s groundbreaking hit sitcom George Lopez, which ran for six seasons on ABC. George Lopez remains a hit with viewers in syndication on both broadcast stations and cable’s Nick at Nite, ranking as one of the top-rated shows on the network and among the top five comedies and top 20 weekly programs in syndication. George Lopez is one of only four off-net comedies to post weekly ratings gains among households from the 2007-08 to 2008-09 season.

Lopez has risen to become one of the premier comedic talents in the entertainment industry. He has been praised by audiences and critics alike for his work in television, film and standup, as well as his extensive charity work with various foundations.

Lopez recently voiced the character Rafael in the animated blockbuster, Rio, along with Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, and Jesse Eisenberg, and up next he will voice “Grouchy Smurf” in The Smurfs. His other most recent film credits include the box-office hit Valentine’s Day, directed by Garry Marshall; Beverly Hills Chihuahua; Swing Vote; Henry Poole Is Here; and Balls of Fury.

In August 2009, Lopez filmed his second HBO Comedy Special, Tall, Dark and Chicano. He headlined his first HBO Comedy Special, America’s Mexican, in 2007. Lopez has also performed as part of HBO and TBS’s Comic Relief 2006. His acclaimed comedy concert, Why You Crying?, debuted on Showtime in 2004. Lopez released his third standup CD, El Mas Chingon, in 2006, earning a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Comedy Album. Prior to that, in 2004, he was nominated for a Grammy in the same category for his CD Team Leader. In May 2004, his autobiography, Why You Crying?, entered The New York Times Bestsellers Top 20. The book was co-written by Emmy®-winning writer and sportscaster Armen Keteyian. Lopez also was the focus of the award-winning documentary Brown is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream.

In 2006, Lopez received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition, Time magazine named him one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America, and the Harris Poll named him one of the Top Ten Favorite Television Personalities. Lopez has made more than 200 television comedy, talk show and hosting appearances, including co-hosting the Emmy Awards and twice hosting the Latin Grammys. In 2001, Lopez hosted a major morning radio show in Los Angeles, becoming the first Latino to headline the key morning slot on an English-language station in one of the nation’s top radio markets.

Lopez has received the Manny Mota Foundation Community Spirit Award and was named Honorary Mayor of Los Angeles for his extensive fundraising efforts benefiting earthquake victims in El Salvador and Guatemala. Other honors include an Imagen Vision Award, the Latino Spirit Award and the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award.

The Lopez Foundation, founded by George, was established to create positive, permanent change for underprivileged children and adults confronting challenges in education and health, as well as increasing community awareness about kidney disease, organ donation, and the military.

Oscar De La Hoya (born February 4, 1973 in East Los Angeles, California) is a retired Mexican American boxer. Nicknamed “The Golden Boy”, De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother Joel Jr. were all boxers. De La Hoya was The Ring’s “Fighter of the Year” in 1995 and Ring Magazine’s top-rated Pound for Pound fighter in the world in 1997 & 1998. De La Hoya officially announced his retirement from the sport at a press conference held in Los Angeles on April 14, 2009.

De La Hoya has defeated 17 world champions and has won 6 world titles in six different weight classes.[3][4] He has also generated more money than any other boxer in the history of the sport,[5] an estimated $696 million pay-per-view income.

De La Hoya founded Golden Boy Promotions, a combat sport promotional firm. He is the first American of Hispanic descent to own a national boxing promotional firm and one of the few boxers to take on promotional responsibilities while still active.

Golden Boy Promotions.com