Category Archives: Uncategorized

I was feeding my eight-week old twin daughters on Sunday and as I flipped through TV channels, I landed on “The Salinas Project” This was a pleasant surprise because I’m proud to say that I was born and raised in Salinas and it’s not everyday that I hear or see anything on television about Salinas out hereContinue reading “The Salinas Project”

The current riots and protests throughout Baltimore, Maryland were sparked by the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year old that died days after suffering a spinal cord injury while in police custody. Protests in Baltimore took a destructive turn in recent days, as cars were set on fire, stores were looted and many were injured. ThousandsContinue reading “The Root of the Problem in Baltimore”

We are on a perpetual quest for the elusive real Latino student and the most authentic Hispanic, the Latino who best captures what a successful Latino student is and should be. There are many opinions about the keys for Latino success in higher education and what the best practice truly is. It’s a convenient fantasy.Continue reading “Latino Retention in Higher Education: Moving Beyond Ideas and Implementing Change”

We need to hear a human cry from the community, and we need it to be translated into English and Spanish. When a black person is murdered, we need to hear a human voice. The problem is one of black-brown unity: rather than allowing the majority group (Latinos) to dominate the minority (blacks), both must comeContinue reading “My Two Centavos on Black and Brown”

When people discuss reverse racism or going through situations where they were mistreated because they were the minority – even if they are white and the majority is black, this is not considered racism, this is considered prejudice. People are constantly treated unfairly and with prejudice, but are not experiencing racism. Racism (see Black historyContinue reading “Thoughts on Reverse Racism”

The following poem is one of my favorite ways to describe the many César E. Chávez celebrations I see throughout the year. There are many community leaders, politicians, and school administrators that use César’s name to further pat themselves on the back. These individuals use César’s name to give each other awards yet forget to mentionContinue reading “César E. Chávez: How Much Has Changed?”

I recently attended an event called Community Reading Project Contextual Conversation. The event was organized at Grand Valley State University and it focused on the topic of immigration and how West Michigan can be a more welcoming community. There was a short presentation, two short videos, and a panel discussion. The panel discussion featured SusanContinue reading “Let’s Eat Together.”

Brent Campbell, a senior at UNC Wilmington, was verbally assaulted with threats and racial epithets by a group of whites in a pickup truck  while working out at the University’s track and field. Campbell wrote a letter to the school’s chancellor, Gary Williams, after the verbal assault. In the letter, he explained the incident: “While trainingContinue reading “Admirable and Worthy Response to Racism”

A legal immigration reform has gained much attention in the United States within the past five years and it is often the topic of all the national television channels and radio broadcasts. I often listen to newscasts on NPR, and CNN and can’t help but have my own opinion on the matter. I am theContinue reading “Mexigander’s Two Cents on Immigration”

Founded in 1999 by a group of Latino producers, educators and media activists, NALIP is a national organization of industry, independent and community media makers – directors and producers, writers, performers and advocates — dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of images by, for and about Latinos in the media. Hispanic Business recently releasedContinue reading “Latino Spending Power Outlined in Hispanic Business Article”

On Monday, March 25, I received the award and honor of Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards Banquet  for my efforts working with El Centro Translations, a part of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan. It was an incredible honor to be recognized by my peers,Continue reading “Salvador Lopez Awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year”

I live at the intersection of my two cultures, I take from each what I choose. A few years ago, I wrote a poem about identity and my struggle to balance two cultures. My roots are those that come from a Mexican household but I also have all the experiences of any other American growingContinue reading “¿Tú, qué eres?”

Mexigander seeks to explore identity and the way we view ourselves and others. Are we viewed as Hispanics? Latinos? Mexicans? Americans? Latinos that are Puerto Rican, Dominican or from parts of Latin America or the Caribbean often have to explain their race or ethnicity. The video above does a great job of explaining the topicContinue reading “Black or Latino”

I was recently asked a series of questions as I applied to the Tedxgr event. These questions prompted me to not only respond but to also think about the answer on a deeper level. I have never been to a Tedxgr event but I am looking forward to being a part of the event thisContinue reading “What Motivates You to Succeed?”

“Mexigander seeks to inform and educate about the importance of cultural diversity and identity from the point of view of an individual that was Mexican raised and Michigan made.” At the age of fifteen, I was often asked where I was from. I responded by saying; “I’m from California.” When I was 21 years oldContinue reading “Welcome to Mexigander”