Lupe Bañuelos teme por la seguridad de su abuela. Ella también teme por sus otros vecinos en el Westside, debido a

lo que ella dijo, habían sido una serie de recientes tiroteos en el barrio.

Bañuelos es dueña de Ricos Tacos Lupe, ubicados en el número

Lupe Banuelos fears for her grandmother’s safety. She also fears for her other Westside neighbors because of what she

said had been a series of recent shootings in the neighborhood.

Banuelos owns Ricos Tacos Lupe at 802 Southwest Blvd. She said

El Salón de la Fama Mujeres Starr, de la Universidad de Kansas City Missouri (UMKC por sus siglas en inglés), está dedicado a honrar los logros de las mujeres, pasadas y presentes,

cuyas contribuciones dejan un impacto duradero en Kansas City y más allá. El Salón de la Fama está dedicado a reconocer a las mujeres de Kansas City y a

El concejal titular Jim Glover, del 4to. Distrito General, está compitiendo para su quinto mandato en el cargo, en la elección primaria de Kansas City, Missouri, a llevarse a cabo el

martes 7 de abril.Compitiendo en su contra se encuentran la ex

Concejal del Ayuntamiento y Ejecutiva del Condado de Jackson, Katheryn Shields; el recién llegado a la escena política, Bryan Stalder; y Jared Campbell, un agente de seguros y un activista cívico, respectivamente.

Glover tiene una larga historia en el Concejo, después de haber ganado su primer escaño en 1991. Él sirvió en el puesto hasta 1999, dejando el puesto debido a limitaciones del término. Él regresó y se desempeñó

Incumbent Councilman Jim Glover, 4th District at-Large, is running in the Kansas City, Missouri Primary election on Tuesday, April 7 for his 5th term in office.

Running against him is former City Council woman and Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields, new comer on the political scene Bryan Stalder and Jared Campbell, an insurance agent and civic activist respectively.

Glover has a long history on the Council having won his first seat in 1991. He served through 1999 vacating the seat because of term limitations. He returned and served from 2003 until 2007. He was elected for his fourth term in 2011.

The Starr Women’s Hall of Fame at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) is dedicated to honoring the accomplishments of women, past and present, whose contributions leave a lasting

impact on Kansas City and beyond. The Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing Kansas City women and preserving the history of their accomplishments.

Voters will choose between longtime Hispanic activist and former parks board president John Fierro and

former Missouri Senator Jolie Justus for the 4th District seat on the Kansas City Council in the April 7 primary election.

Fierro is a lifelong 4th District resident and president/CEO of the Mattie Rhodes Center. Justus grew up in Kansas City and Branson, Mo. She is a lawyer and director of pro

Los votantes elegirán entre John Fierro, un activista hispano de toda la vida y ex presidente de la junta de parques; y la ex

senadora de Missouri, Jolie Justus, para el puesto del cuarto distrito en el Consejo de Kansas City, en la elección primaria del 7 de abril.

Fierro es un residente por mucho tiempo del Distrito 4 y, el presidente y director general del Centro Mattie Rhodes. Justus creció en Kansas City y Branson, Missouri. Ella es

19 de Marzo, 2015 * Periódico Bilingüe Kansas CityYour latino connection since 1996 Tú conexión latina desde 1996

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Seven women inducted into Starr Women’s Hall of FameSiete mujeres son aceptadas en el Salón de la Fama Mujeres Starr

The Starr Women’s Hall of Fame held their first inaugural inductees luncheon honoring seven Kansas City women for their vision and fortitude to change the landscape of Kansas City and make it a better place for women of all walks of life. The inductees were Marjorie Powell Allen, Kay Barnes, Myra Christopher, Adele Hall, Shirley Bush Helzberg, Dorothy Johnson and Martha Jane Phillips Starr.El Salón de la Fama, Mujeres Starr, celebró su primer homenaje a sus inaugurales intregrantes, con un almuerzo en honor a siete mujeres de Kansas City por su visión y la fortaleza para cambiar el panorama de la ciudad de Kansas, convertiendola en un lugar mejor para las mujeres de todas las clases sociales. Las homenajeadas fueron Marjorie Powell Allen, Kay Barnes, Myra Christopher, Adele Hall, Shirley Bush Helzberg, Dorothy Johnson y Martha Jane Phillips Starr.

NEWSROOM: (816)472.5246 | FAX: (816) 931.6397 | KCHISPANICNEWS.com | E-MAIL: JoeArce@KCHispanicNews.com | 2918 Southwest Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64108

WOMEN RECOGNIZED ... / PAGE 7 MUJERES SON CONDECORADAS ... / PÁGINA 7

“THIS ELECTION SHOULD ... / PAGE 3 “ESTA ELECCION DEBE SER ... / PÁGINA 3

Fierro & Justus square off in 4th District race

“PEOPLE AREA GOING ... / PAGE 2 “LA GENTE VA A ... / PÁGINA 2

Westside concerns linger after Southwest Boulevard shootingPersisten las preocupaciones en el Westside después de tiroteo en Southwest Boulevard

A bartender at Rhythm & Booze, 423 Southwest Blvd., told Hispanic News she was working when the shots rang out.Una camarera en Rhythm & Booze, 423 Southwest Blvd., dijo a Hispanic News que estaba trabajando cuando sonaron los disparos.

Councilman Glover faces challengers for his seatEl Concejal Glover, se enfrenta a sus oponentes por su actual puesto

FOUR CONTEND ... / PAGE 6 SON CUATRO ... / PÁGINA 6

by Jerry LaMartina traduce Gemma Tornero

traduce Gemma Torneroby Debra DeCoster

traduce Gemma Torneroby Joe Arce and Debra DeCoster

Jim Glover BrYAN STAlDer JAreD CAmPBell KATHerYN SHielDS

Fierro y Justus se ponen en guardia para la cont ienda del Dist r i to 4

by Jerry LaMartina traduce Gemma Tornero

Local mexican artist Mauricio Zuniga’s exhibits his artwork at TMCSee page 8.Mauricio Zúñiga, artista mexicano local expone su obra en TMCVer página 8.

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“I’ve had a history of working in the community and trying to create jobs and improve public safety and overall quality of life,” said John Fierro. “I found I had skills and a leadership style that were really effective… now I want to put it to use at City Hall,” said Jolie Justus

“He tenido un historial de trabajo en la comunidad, he tratado de crear puestos de trabajo y mejorar la seguridad pública y la calidad de vida en general”, dijo John Fierro.

“Descubrí que tenía habilidades y un estilo de liderazgo que eran realmente eficaces”, añadió... Ahora quiero ponerlos a trabajar en el ayuntamiento,” dijo Jolie Justus.

TU CONEXIÓN LATINA DESDE 1996 YOUR LATINO CONNECTION SINCE 1996

MARZO 19 DEL 2015 I KCHispanicNews.com

802 de Southwest Blvd. Ella dijo que había notado el aumento de los problemas en el vecindario desde que un club nocturno ubicado en el 700 de Southwest Blvd., llamado Club Encore KC, abrió recientemente. Las llamadas al centro nocturno no fueron devueltas hasta la hora de cierre de Kansas City Hispanic News.

“Mis abuelos viven justo detrás de allí, y mi hermana también”, dijo ella. “Estoy preocupada por mi abuela. Ella tiene su tienda (La Posada Market, 722 de Southwest Blvd). Está asustada porque ella escucha los disparos por la noche. Ella tiene que usar un audífono para escuchar, y si ella puede escucharlos sin su audífono, eso le dice que es muy cerca”.

“Mi preocupación es, que han sido dos semanas seguidas en las que ha habido disparos”, dijo Bañuelos. “Puede ser que un día reciba una llamada telefónica de que mi abuela fue alcanzada por una bala, porque ella vive justo detrás del establecimiento - ni siquiera son 100 pies (de distancia); ella puede caminar afuera, y está justo ahí. No sólo ella, sino los vecinos del lado derecho que tienen niños. Y sobre todo ahora, con los First Fridays (en el distrito de Crossroads), simplemente otras personas

caminando por ahí, gente inocente”.

La portavoz del Departa-mento de Policía de Kansas City (KCPD por sus siglas en inglés), la Sgt. Kari Thompson, confirmó que alrededor de las 2:40 am, el 7 de marzo, la policía recibió un informe de un tiroteo cerca de la intersección de Southwest Boulevard y la calle Washington. Tres personas resultaron heridas en el incidente realizado desde un automóvil en movimiento, y que involucró a tres vehículos.

Según el informe policial del incidente, una víctima dijo a la policía, que él y otros iban en el mismo vehículo y se habían retirado del Club Encore KC poco tiempo antes del tiroteo.

Una bartender en Rhythm & Booze, ubicado en Southwest Blvd. 423, dijo a Hispanic News que había estado trabajando cuando sonaron los disparos. Cerca de 40 personas se encontraban en el bar en el momento, y una bala entró en un cuarto trasero, pero nadie resultó herido.

Sin embargo, el incidente no parece haber afectado al negocio de bar, dijo.

“Nos asusto mucho a nosotros, porque tuvimos un día muy ocupado después de eso”, dijo la mujer, que prefirió no dar su nombre. “Pero, ya sabes, la gente

habla”.Según el informe policial,

un testigo dijo que estaba en el bar cuando ocurrió el tiroteo, después salió y vio una “suburban blanca con un decorado negro grande, un pasajero masculino que llevaba una gorra de media oscura y disparando una pistola semi automática” en un vehículo. También fueron despedidos disparos de “un pequeño sedán oscuro, posiblemente un Honda”.

El propietario de Rhythm & Booze, quien se hace llamar Rhythm, también estuvo presente durante el tiroteo. Él le dijo a Hispanic News que había sido un incidente aislado. Él ha sido dueño del bar por alrededor de cinco años y medio.

“El último tiroteo del que supe cerca de nuestro bar, fue en el puente I-35, hace unos cuatro meses”, dijo.

El incidente más reciente en el área inmediata al que respondió la policía antes del incidente del 7 de marzo, fue choque con fuga, el 11 de enero cerca de Rhythm & Booze, dijo Thompson. Un vehículo en movimiento golpeó a un vehículo estacionado, y luego el conductor huyó.

El informe policial en relación al tiroteo del 7 de marzo también declaró que uno de los vehículos se había estrellado contra un edificio

ubicado en el número 405 de Southwest Blvd., mismo que alberga a Escapist Skateboarding, y que la puerta principal de El Conejo Bus Lines, en Southwest Blvd. 501, tenía un agujero de bala.

Bañuelos dijo que también estaba preocupada porque el barrio ha mejorado con los desarrollos residenciales y otros, y “todo esto va hacernos quedar mal”.

“La gente va a empezar a pensar que el Westside es un lugar feo, que ya no es seguro”, dijo. “Yo no abro en la noche, pero otros restaurantes están abiertos en la noche, y puede afectarles a ellos”.

“No habíamos tenido esto por un tiempo”, dijo. “Comenzó ahora que (el Club Encore KC) está abierto de nuevo. Sé que la semana anterior hubo un tiroteo. Mi abuelo encontró casquillos vacíos. Una de sus canaletas tiene un agujero de bala. Mi hermana llamó a la policía porque ha visto donde las personas se estacionan en Summit, a señoras peleándose en la noche, y son personas que vienen de esta discoteca. Se estacionan en Summit, en Southwest Boulevard y en César Chávez o por debajo del puente”.

Bañuelos dijo que había visto patrullas del departamento del sheriff “estacionados afuera, pero obviamente no les preocupa lo que está pasando, porque mi hermana llamó a la policía, y dijeron ‘OK. Ya hemos recibido una llamada telefónica’. Y eso es todo. No necesitamos, Dios no lo quiera, que suceda algo como en Ferguson (MO)”, dijo. “Si la policía los detiene y dispara a alguien - no nos va ayudar, esta negatividad, porque las personas que viven en Olathe y Overland Park van a pensar que el Westside es una zona de peligro, cuando no lo somos”.

Chato Villalobos, un oficial de policía de la comunidad con el Departamento de Policía de Kansas City, y quien está asignado al Westside, dijo que su oficina recibió llamadas de residentes el día después del tiroteo del 7 de marzo y que había estado hablando con la gente mientras caminaba su ronda.

“Es molesto porque la gente que va a ese club no son del barrio”, Villalobos dijo a Hispanic News. “Ha habido una gran cantidad de apertura de negocios, escuelas, la gente se ha mudado (al Westside) durante los últimos tres años, más o menos. Ha estado muy tranquilo últimamente. Esa comunidad está prosperando ahora, y ellos no quieren que el Westside sea percibido por tener mucha delincuencia. El Westside es una de las comunidades más exitosas, ya que las personas tienen una buena relación con el departamento de policía, la denuncia de delitos y la participación en los programas de reducción de la delincuencia”.

La mejor manera para que las personas se protejan, dijo,

es involucrarse con esfuerzos más amplios para reducir el crimen.

“Estamos hablando sobre el elemento de los seres humanos”, dijo Villalobos. “No hay forma de garantizar que nada va a pasar. Lo que podemos hacer es mostrar a la fuerza colectiva que no vamos a tolerar ese comportamiento. Los tiroteos son inaceptables”.

Villalobos quiere que los residentes y dueños de negocios le digan a la policía si se enteran de algo que lastime la calidad de vida del Westside.

“Para las empresas, consigan más seguridad”, dijo. “Yo doy la responsabilidad a los propietarios, para mantener a la gente trabajando y yendo allí de manera segura. Si alguien - un residente o un negocio o una escuela - no está monitoreando el comportamiento de las personas que atienden, que llegan allí, entonces estamos haciéndolos responsables. La policía tiene que hacer su parte, pero no podemos hacerlo solos. Tiene que ser un esfuerzo de colaboración”.

“People are going to start thinking it’s not safe anymore”

Southwest Blvd., is a fun place to enjoy. On St. Patrick Day’s, hundreds gathered at La Fonda Mexican Restaurant, while others hit the bars and restaurants. Area businesses and homeowners want their community to remain safe.Southwest Blvd., es un lugar divertido para disfrutar. El día de San Patricio, cientos se reunieron en ‘La Fonda Mexican Restaurant’, mientras otros disfrutaron los bares y restaurantes. Empresas de la zona y propietarios de viviendas quieren que su comunidad permanezca segura

that she’d noticed increasing problems in the neighborhood since a nightclub at 700 Southwest Blvd., called Club Encore KC, opened recently. Calls to the nightclub weren’t returned by press time for Kansas City Hispanic News.

“My grandparents live right behind there, and my sister lives there, too,” she said. “I’m worried for my grandma. … She has her store (La Posada Market, at 722 Southwest Blvd). (She’s scared) because she hears it at night. She has to wear a hearing aid, and if she can hear it without her hearing aid, that tells you it’s really close. …

“My concern is, it’s two weeks in a row there’s been gunshots,” Banuelos said. “Either I get a phone call one day that my grandma got hit by a bullet because she lives right behind it – it’s not even 100 feet (away); she can walk outside, and it’s right there. Not just her, but the neighbors right next door that have kids. And especially now, with First Fridays (in the Crossroads district), just other people walking around, innocent people.”

Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) spokeswoman Sgt. Kari Thompson confirmed that around 2:40 a.m. on March 7, police received a report of a shooting near the intersection of Southwest Boulevard and Washington Street. Three people were injured in the drive-by incident, which involved three vehicles.

According to the incident’s police report, one victim told police he and others in the same vehicle had left Club Encore KC a short time before the shooting.

A bartender at Rhythm & Booze, at 423 Southwest Blvd., told Hispanic News she’d been working when the shots rang out. About 40 people were in the bar at the time, and one bullet entered a back room, but no one was injured.

The incident didn’t seem to have affected the bar’s business, though, she said.

“It shocked the hell out of us, because we had a really busy day right afterwards,” said the woman, who preferred not to give her name. “But, you know, people talk.”

According to the police report, a witness who said she was in the bar when the shooting occurred, went

outside afterward and saw a “white suburban like vehicle with a black, heavy set, male passenger wearing a dark stocking cap shooting a semi automatic handgun” at one vehicle. Shots also were fired from “a small dark sedan, possibly a Honda.”

Rhythm & Booze’s owner, who calls himself Rhythm, also was present during the shooting. He told Hispanic News it was an isolated incident. He has owned the bar for about five and a half years.

“The last shooting I know of anywhere near our bar was on the I-35 bridge about four months ago,” he said.

The most recent incident in the immediate area that police responded to prior to the March 7 incident was a hit and run on Jan. 11 near Rhythm & Booze, Thompson said. A moving vehicle struck a parked vehicle, and then the driver fled.

The police report on the March 7 shooting also stated that one of the vehicles had crashed into a building at 405 Southwest Blvd., which houses Escapist Skateboarding, and that the front door of El Conejo Bus Lines, at 501 Southwest Blvd., had a bullet hole in it.

Banuelos said she also was concerned because the neighborhood has improved with residential and other developments, and “all of this is going to make us look bad.”

“People are going to start thinking the Westside is an ugly place (that’s) not safe anymore,” she said. “I’m not open at night, but other restaurants are open at night, and it can affect them.

“We haven’t had this for awhile,” she said. “It started now that (Club Encore KC) is open again. I do know the week before there was shooting. My grandfather found empty shells. One of his gutters has a bullet hole. My sister called the police because she’s seen where people park on Summit, ladies fighting at night, and they’re people that are coming from this nightclub. They park on Summit, they park on Southwest Boulevard and they park on Cesar Chavez or underneath the bridge.”

Banuelos said she’d seen sheriff’s department patrol cars “sitting outside, … but obviously they must not care what’s going on, because my sister’s called the police, and they’ll say ‘OK. We’ve

already gotten a phone call.’ And that’s about it. We don’t need, Lord forbid, something happens like Ferguson (Mo.),” she said. “If the police stop them and shoot somebody – it’s not going to help us, this negativity, because people who live in Olathe and Overland Park are going to think the Westside is a danger zone, when we’re not.”

Chato Villalobos, a community police officer with the Kansas City Police Department who is assigned to the Westside, said that his office received calls from residents the day after the March 7 shooting and that he’d been talking to people while walking his beat.

“It’s upsetting because the people who go to that club aren’t from the neighborhood,” Villalobos told Hispanic News. “There have been a lot of businesses opening up, schools opening up, people moving in (on the Westside) during the past three years or so. It’s been very quiet lately. That community is thriving now, and they don’t want the Westside perceived as having a lot of crime. The Westside is one of the more successful communities as far as people having a good relationship with the police department, reporting crime and taking part in crime-reduction programs.”

The best way for people to protect themselves, he said, is to get involved with broader efforts to reduce crime.

“You’re talking about the element of human beings,” Villalobos said. “There’s no way to guarantee that nothing’s going to happen. What we can do is show by collective force that we won’t tolerate that behavior. Drive-by shootings are unacceptable.”

Villalobos wants residents and business owners to tell police if they learn of anything that hurts the Westside’s quality of life.

“For businesses, get more security,” he said. “I put the responsibility on the owner to keep the people working and coming there safe. If anybody – a resident or a business or a school – is not monitoring the behavior of the people they serve who come there, then we’re holding them accountable. The police have to do their part, but we can’t do it alone. It has to be a collaborative effort.”

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CONT./PÁGINA 1

“La gente va a empezar a pensar que ya no es seguro”

TU CONEXIÓN LATINA DESDE 1996 YOUR LATINO CONNECTION SINCE 1996

KCHispanicNews.com I MARZO 19 DEL 2015

abogada y directora de servicios pro bono para el bufete de abogados Shook, Hardy & Bacon.

Fierro y Justus, son los únicos candidatos para el puesto en la boleta electoral del 7 de abril. Ambos pasarán a las elecciones generales del 23 de junio.

Los candidatos hablaron con Kansas City Hispanic News acerca de los problemas del distrito y sus fortalezas, de su experiencia, cómo abordarían el trabajo y cuales son sus prioridades.

“He tenido un historial de trabajo en la comunidad, he tratado de crear puestos de trabajo y mejorar la seguridad pública y la calidad de vida en general”, dijo Fierro. “En general, hay una gran desconexión entre las comunidades y el Ayuntamiento. Tenemos que encontrar maneras de involucrar a los latinos, afroamericanos, y todos los demás. No les hemos dado la oportunidad de tener una voz. Quiero ser un convocante, para reunirlos y preguntarles cuáles son sus preocupaciones. Me voy a asegurar de que seamos transparentes, abiertos e incluyentes con las decisiones importantes que afectan a nuestro distrito”.

Cuando Justus decidió postularse para el Senado de Missouri, hace ocho años, “fue porque yo había visto varios problemas en los que pensé podría ayudar estando en Jefferson City; temas de justicia social y de economía”.

“Descubrí que tenía ha-bilidades y un estilo de liderazgo que eran realmente eficaces”, añadió. “Ahora quiero ponerlos a trabajar en el Ayuntamiento. Creo que es muy difícil hacer frente a los problemas distrito por distrito, y eso es uno de los problemas que el consejo tiene en éste momento. Tiendo a mirar a la ciudad como un todo”.

Sus principales prioridades, Justus dijo, serían la infraestructura y los servicios

básicos de la ciudad; un enfoque sostenible para el desarrollo económico, con énfasis en el desarrollo de los barrios, y ser “inteligente en la lucha contra el crimen”.

“Pasé un proyecto de ley (en el Senado de Missouri), llamada Ley de Reinversión de Justicia, para la reforma de sentencia criminal”, dijo ella. “El siguiente año, reescribimos por completo nuestro código penal. La última vez que habíamos trabajado en ese código fue en la década de 1970. Estábamos metiendo a gente en la cárcel que no debería haber estado en la cárcel, y dejando libre a la gente que debería haber estado en la cárcel. Debemos poner a las personas peligrosas tras las rejas, pero si tiene más sentido meter a la gente que ha cometido delitos de drogas, pero no delitos violentos, en un sistema de corte para drogas con el tratamiento de drogadicción, eso es lo que debemos hacer. Simplemente encerrar a la gente y dejarlos salir cinco años más tarde ha sido una cosa muy mala para nuestra ciudad”.

Ambos candidatos se han reunido con los residentes del distrito y con líderes comunitarios para conocer sus inquietudes.

“Yo estaba comiendo en un restaurante en el Boulevard, y un caballero, que es dueño y opera un camión de comida, dijo que quería rentar una tienda en Westport y tenía problemas para conseguir esa oportunidad. Él habla principalmente español”, dijo Fierro, “y yo vivo en el barrio. Hablo español y puedo moverme mucho más rápido y hacer que las cosas sucedan. Todos sabemos que muchos de nuestros pequeños negocios son muy emprendedores. Creo que a veces la ciudad y algunos de nuestros distritos de negocios no hacen lo suficiente para ayudarles a desarrollar sus negocios”.

“Cuando estoy hablando con líderes latinos y afro-americanos y con otros

barrios marginados, estoy hablando del deterioro y la necesidad de limpiar las propiedades”, dijo Justus. “Creo que podemos crear un puesto en la ciudad, financiado por la ciudad o el estado, para abogar por los barrios”.

Fierro citó la diversidad cultural y económica del distrito como sus mayores fortalezas. Entre sus puntos fuertes está que él es “un líder comunitario establecido”.

“Tengo la educación formal para poder gestionar los recursos de una manera eficaz”, dijo él. “Soy muy modesto; yo vengo de orígenes humildes. Yo crecí en una vivienda pública. Fui un padre adolescente a los 19 años, vengo de donde hay que trabajar duro. Las personas me han abierto las puertas, y es mi responsabilidad el retribuir el favor. Creo que una de mis debilidades, es que no importa lo que haga cada día, trato de lanzar una red muy amplia para una gran cantidad de personas. Esto puede limitar la cantidad de tiempo que puedo pasar con cada persona, y yo soy humano, así que puede cansarme. Es también uno de mis puntos fuertes: estoy más veces con el bate de beisbol y puedo batear una vez, pero conseguiré tres imparables”.

Justus dijo que los barrios del Distrito 4 son su mayor fortaleza. “He estado sirviendo esta área, en el Distrito 4, al sur del río, desde hace ocho años. En lo que a mí respecta, tenemos los barrios más activos y dedicados que en cualquier parte del Estado”.

Sus puntos fuertes, dijo, incluyen su “habilidad de llevarse bien con cualquiera”.

“Yo era conocida un poco en Jefferson City debido al cruce de líneas de partido para hacer las cosas, además de las habilidades y la experiencia que he desarrollado, y mi trabajo duro”, dijo. “Una de las cosas que la gente ha dicho que

aprecian sobre mí, es que mi puerta siempre está abierta y yo les digo la verdad. A veces pienso, que mi familia y amigos me deben decir que necesito tomar algún tiempo para mí de vez en cuando, para que pueda servir a los demás”.

Fierro dijo, que su servicio en la Junta de Comisionados de Parques y Recreación de Kansas City se tomaría bien en el ayuntamiento.

“Como comisionado a bordo, fijamos la política, adoptamos ordenanzas y resoluciones, y realizamos audiencias”, dijo. “Yo tenía una interconexión con la comunidad todos los días. Estoy aquí, soy visible y soy accesible. Si alguien tenía un problema, bueno o malo, podrían confrontarme con bastante rapidez. Y cuando estaba como presidente de la junta de parques, durante cuatro años, mi papel era expandirlo. Y nombré a algunos de mis compañeros comisionados a los comités y presidí nuestras reuniones. Más del 98% del tiempo, tuvimos la unanimidad”.

Fierro dice que las Escuelas Públicas de Kansas City (KCPS por sus siglas en inglés) son “fundamentales para el futuro desarrollo económico de nuestra ciudad”. Los estudiantes del distrito “tiene que tener las habilidades adecuadas para competir a nivel internacional y contribuir a nuestra base de impuestos locales”.

“Creo que (KCPS) está haciendo grandes progresos”, dijo. “Me siento muy positivo acerca de la dirección en que van. El papel de la ciudad es ser un socio, para aprovechar los recursos en nombre del distrito, con el sector privado invirtiendo y con voluntarios como tutores”.

Justus dijo que el distrito ha mostrado “mejoras, pero no las suficientes. A menudo me siento cautelosamente optimista. Las familias tienen una mezcla de opciones”.

Ella apoya que el estado esté acreditando a escuelas

individuales, en comparación con el distrito en su totalidad.

En cuanto a los incentivos fiscales que la ciudad proporciona a los desarrolladores, Fierro dijo que estaba a favor del crecimiento y apoya los incentivos, “Pero creo que tenemos que evaluar la configuración actual de los incentivos y asegurarse de que no estamos penalizando a la biblioteca (por ejemplo) al proporcionarle (financiamiento fiscal de incremento). Tenemos que tener un retorno en la creación de empleo. Y ¿cómo podemos ayudar a fomentar a las pequeñas empresas? Nos repartieron una enorme cantidad de incentivos para Cerner (por ejemplo), y mi pregunta sería ¿qué nivel de negocios están haciendo con las pequeñas empresas, negocios propiedad de minorías y de mujeres?”

Justus piensa que “hay espacio” para los incentivos fiscales para desarrollos, “pero no creo que usted debe regalar el banco sólo porque alguien tiene una buena idea”.

“Si no tuviéramos incentivos, no tendríamos el increíble crecimiento que hemos tenido en los últimos 10 años”, dijo. “Parece que los incentivos se basan en la construcción de nuevas cosas. Creo que podemos hacer cosas más creativas. Creo que se puede ser muy equilibrado en su enfoque; usted no tiene que decir que no a todo o sí a todo. Hay espacio para incentivos, para ayudar a la gente a crear empresas, no necesariamente sólo para nuevas construcciones”.

Cuando se trata de KCI, Fierro apoya el derribar las tres terminales existentes y construir un aeropuerto de una sola terminal, creando empleos como un beneficio.

Justus quiere “un aeropuerto seguro, eficaz, moderno, y conveniente”.

“Tenemos que hacerle algo al aeropuerto”, dijo. “No me

importa si se trata de una sola terminal o conectar las tres terminales. Más allá de eso, me gustaría saber cómo vamos a pagar por ello. No creo que deberíamos ir a una deuda pública. Creo que el sector privado puede hacer gran parte del proyecto”.

Cuando se trata de transporte terrestre en Kansas City, “el sistema de transporte público es un gran problema en este momento”, dijo Justus.

“Una de nuestros más grandes barreras, cuando se trata de la reagrupación familiar en el sistema de cuidado temporal (foster care), y el empleo”, dijo ella. “Antes de decidir sobre la expansión del tranvía, quiero mirar más de cerca la ampliación del servicio de autobuses. Para la expansión del tranvía, ¿cuánto costará y a dónde habría que ir?”

Cada candidato expresó elogios para el otro.

“Creo que ambos estamos comprometidos a hacer lo que es mejor para la ciudad”, Fierro dijo, “y sin importar el resultado, espero con interés trabajar con ella”.

Justus, a su vez, dijo que ella y Fierro, “han tenido una gran relación de trabajo a través de los años”.

Justus ha recaudado cerca de tres veces más dinero que Fierro, de acuerdo con los más recientes documentos presentados ante la Comisión de Ética de Missouri. Fierro dijo que no estaba preocupado por la discrepancia.

“Estoy compitiendo en una campaña de base junto con la familia, amigos y voluntarios”, dijo. “Estoy más centrado en escuchar a la gente y en la comprensión de los problemas. Mi enfoque no es sobre reunir grandes cantidades de dinero o en la comparación cuanto puedo recaudar o lo mucho que ella recauda. Esta elección debe ser acerca de la pasión, el compromiso y el propósito”.

CONT./PAGE 1

CONT./PÁGINA 1

“This election should be about passion, commitment and purpose”

“Esta elección debe ser acerca de la pasión, el compromiso y el propósito”

bono services for the Shook, Hardy & Bacon law firm.

Fierro and Justus are the only candidates for the seat on the April 7 ballot. Both will advance to the general election on June 23.

The candidates spoke with Kansas City Hispanic News about the district’s problems and strengths, their experience, how they would approach the job and their priorities.

“I’ve had a history of working in the community and trying to create jobs and improve public safety and overall quality of life,” Fierro said. “Overall, there’s a huge disconnect between communities and City Hall. We have to find ways to engage Latinos, African-Americans and everyone else. We haven’t provided them an opportunity to have a voice. I want to be a convener, to bring them together and ask them what their concerns are. I’m going to make sure we’re transparent, open and inclusive with major decisions affecting our district.”

When Justus decided to run for the Missouri Senate eight years ago, “it was because I had seen several problems I thought I could help within Jefferson City; social and economic justice issues.”

“I found I had skills and a leadership style that were really effective,” she added. “Now I want to put it to use at City Hall. I think it’s really hard to address issues district by district, and that’s one of the problems the council has right now. I tend to look at the city as a whole.”

Her top priorities Justus said, would be infrastructure and basic city services; a

sustainable approach to economic development, with an emphasis on neighborhood development, and getting “smart on crime.”

“I passed a bill (in the Missouri Senate) called the Justice Reinvestment Act, for criminal-sentencing reform,” she said. “The next year, we completely rewrote our criminal code. The last time we’d worked on that code was in the 1970s. We were putting people in prison who shouldn’t have been in prison, and letting people go free who should’ve been in prison. … We should put the dangerous people behind bars, but if it makes more sense to put people who’ve committed drug crimes but no violent crimes in a drug court system with drug treatment, that’s what we should do. Just locking people up and letting them out five years later has been a very bad thing for our city.”

Both candidates have been meeting with district residents and community leaders to gauge their concerns.

“I was eating at a restaurant on the Boulevard, and one gentleman, who owns and operates a food truck, said he wanted to rent a storefront in Westport and had trouble getting the opportunity. He’s primarily Spanish-speaking,” said Fierro, “and I live in the neighborhood. I speak Spanish and I can connect the dots a lot faster and make things happen. We all know a lot of our small businesses are very entrepreneurial. … I think at times the city and some of our business districts don’t do enough to help them develop their businesses.”

“When I’m talking to Latino and African-American leaders and other underserved

neighborhoods, I’m talking about blight and the need to clean up properties,” Justus said. “I think we can create a position in the city funded by the city or the state to advocate for neighborhoods.”

Fierro cited the district’s cultural and economic diversity as its biggest strengths. His strengths include that he’s “an established community leader.”

“I have formal education to be able to manage resources in an effective way,” he said. “I’m very humble; I come from humble beginnings. I grew up in public housing. I was a teenage father at age 19. I came from a background where you have to work hard. People have opened up doors for me, and it’s my responsibility to pay it forward. I think one of my weaknesses is whatever I do each day, I try to cast a very wide net for a great deal of individuals. That may limit the amount of time I can spend with each person, and I‘m human so I can get tired. It’s also one of my strengths: I get more times at bat and I may strike out once but I’ll get three hits.”

Justus said the 4th District’s neighborhoods are its greatest strength. “I have been serving this area in the 4th District, south of the river, for eight years now. We have the most active, engaged neighborhoods anywhere in the state, as far as I’m concerned.”

Her strengths, she said, include her “ability to get along with anybody.”

“I was kind of known in Jefferson City for crossing party lines to get things done, plus the skills and experience that I’ve developed, and my hard work,” she said. “One of the things people have told

me they appreciate about me is that my door’s always open and I tell them the truth. Sometimes I think my family and friends would say I need to take some time for myself every now and again so I can serve others.”

Fierro said that his service on the Kansas City Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners would translate well to the city council.

“As a board commissioner, we set policy, adopted ordinances and resolutions, and conducted hearings,” he said. “I was interfacing with the community every day. I’m here, I’m visible and I’m accessible. If somebody had an issue, good or bad, they could confront me pretty quickly. And when I was parks board president for four years, my role was to expand it. And I appointed some of my fellow commissioners to committees and presided over our meetings. Over 98 percent of the time, we had unanimity.”

Fierro called the Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) “critical to the future economic development of our city.” The district’s students “have to have the proper skills to compete internationally and contribute to our local tax base.”

“I think (KCPS) is making strides,” he said. “I feel very positive about the direction they’re going. The city’s role is to be a partner, to leverage resources on behalf of the district, with the private sector to invest dollars and volunteers for tutoring.”

Justus said the district has shown “improvement, but not enough improvement. … I’m often cautiously optimistic. Families do have a mix of options.”

She supports having the state accredit individual

schools, as opposed to the district as a whole.

Regarding city-provided tax incentives to developers, Fierro said he was pro-growth and supports the incentives, “But I think we need to assess the current configuration of incentives and to make sure we’re not penalizing the library (for example) by giving out (tax-increment financing). We have to have a return in job creation. And how do we help foster small businesses? We allocated tremendous amounts of incentives to Cerner (for example), and my question would be what level of business are they doing with small businesses, minority and women-owned business?”

Justus thinks “there’s room” for tax incentives for developments, “but I don’t think you should give away the bank just because someone has one good idea.”

“If we did not have incentives, we wouldn’t have the amazing growth we’ve had in the past 10 years,” she said. “It seems like incentives are all based on building new things. I think we can do more creative things. I think you can be very balanced in your approach; you don’t have to say no to everything or yes to everything. There’s room for incentives to help people start businesses, not necessarily only for new construction.”

When it comes to KCI, Fierro supports tearing down the existing three terminals and building a single-terminal airport citing job creation as a benefit.

Justus wants “a modern, safe, efficient (and) convenient airport.”

“We have to do something to it,” she said. “I don’t care if it’s a single terminal

or connecting the three terminals. Beyond that, I want to know how we’re going to pay for it. I don’t think we should go into public debt. I think the private sector can do a lot of it.”

When it comes to ground transportation in Kansas City, “the public transportation system is a huge problem right now,” Justus said.

“It’s one of our biggest barriers when it comes to family reunification in the foster care system, and for jobs,” she said. “Before we decide about streetcar expansion, I want to look closer at expanding bus service. For streetcar expansion, how much would it cost and where would it go?”

Each candidate expressed praise for the other.

“I think we’re both committed to do what’s best for the city,” Fierro said, “and regardless of the outcome, I look forward to working with her.”

Justus, in turn, said that she and Fierro “have had a great working relationship over the years.”

Justus has raised about three times as much money as Fierro, according to the most recent filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Fierro said he wasn’t concerned about the discrepancy.

“I’m running a grassroots campaign with family, friends and volunteers,” he said. “I’m more focused on listening to people and understanding the issues. My focus isn’t about raising large amounts of money or comparing how much I raise to how much she raises. This election should be about passion, commitment and purpose.”

TU CONEXIÓN LATINA DESDE 1996 YOUR LATINO CONNECTION SINCE 1996

MARZO 19 DEL 2015 I KCHispanicNews.com

On the morning of March 11, 2015, Sistos (“Sis”) Reyes at the age of 93, was called into the arms of our Lord while in the comfort of

his home, in the presence of loved ones, and under the constant care of his devoted and selfless wife Catalina. Sistos was born in Moline, KS, and at age 8, he moved to Coffeyville, Kansas, where he graduated from Field Kindley High School in 1939. He was an avid athlete throughout high school. He lettered in track and football. Sistos was inducted into the United States Army in 1942 and received his basic training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX. After basic training he was assigned to the 514th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. The Battalion left the United States for Oran, Algiers where it took part in operation “Torch.” In September 1943, his battalion joined the 36th Division (a.k.a. Texas Division) of the 5th Army to fight in the Italian Campaign. The assault began on Salerno then they proceeded up the Italian Peninsula to the engagements at Anzio, Mt Cassino, and into Rome. In August 1944, the battalion joined the 7th Army under General Patch in the invasion of Southern France which took them through the Rhineland Campaign. At the war’s end, the battalion was in Austria. TEC Corporal Reyes was a rifle marksman and earned the following ribbons: The Good Conduct, The European, African and Middle East Ribbon, five bronze stars and two arrowheads designating operation in two invasions and the World War II Victory Ribbon. He was honorably discharged in 1945. Following the war, he joined his family in Kansas City, Missouri,

where he eventually worked for Darby Steel Company as a welder and X-ray machinist for 31 years. He retired from Darby Corp at the age of 62. He belonged to the Boilermakers Union Local #83. He married Catalina Padilla in 1949 in Armourdale, Kansas at Mount Carmel Catholic Church. They were married 65 years and had 8 children. When asked which was more difficult, fighting in WWII or raising 8 children, he said, “I don’t know, both were pretty tough. “ Affectionately called “Papo Sis”, he was a wonderful man, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a very special man. He was quiet, humble, stern, proud, and very family oriented. He was a hard worker, loved to house paint, and fix things around the house. He seemed to have a tool for every job. He loved watching TV, especially old westerns, black and white movies, sports, the sci-fi channel and nightly news casts. He also read the newspaper every morning. He loved music and was a great dancer. He enjoyed listening to big band and Mexican ranchero music on his front porch. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Juan Reyes; his brother, Lupe Reyes, and his sisters: Rebecca Reyes, Jessie Arciga, Antonia Gonzalez, and Alvina Aguilera. Sistos is survived by: Wife, Catalina (Catherine) Reyes of Kansas City; Sisters, Juanita Leyva, Virginia Parra; Brother, Jim Reyes, Sr., all of Kansas City; Children: John Reyes (wife Mary Angela) of Kansas City, MO, Laura Reyes Schneider (and spouse Cary) of Plano, TX, Daniel Reyes of KCMO, Michael Reyes of KCMO, Anthony Reyes (wife Alesia) of Independence, MO, Phillip Reyes (wife Tami) of Columbia, IL, Mario Reyes (wife Johanna) of Independence, MO, Alicia Reyes Satre (husband Tim) of Sour Lake, TX, 16 Grand Children, 16 Great Grandchildren, and 1 Great Great Grandchild. Sistos will always be deeply missed and never forgotten. Visitation was held on Sunday, March 15, 2015. Family and friends came together to pray the rosary that evening at McGilley Midtown Chapel, 20 W. Linwood Blvd, KCMO. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, March 16, 2015 at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 1310 Westport Road, KCMO 64111. He was laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, KCK. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to the charity of your choice or to Guardian Angels Food Pantry.

Jackson County officially “StormReady”Severe weather can

strike anywhere anytime. So much time has passed since

a tornado last struck Jackson County, however, that the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Kansas City/Pleasant Hill office, Andy Bailey, is concerned “people might let their guard down.”

But he and the KC/Pleasant Hill office’s Meteorologist-In-Charge, Julie Adolphson, credit county officials for continually keeping their guard up. Jackson County is now one of only 27 counties in Missouri (out of 114) to earn the National Weather Service’s StormReady designation. The Weather Service defines a StormReady community as being “better prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through advanced planning, education and awareness.”

“No community can be made storm proof,” Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders said, “but we have an obligation to make ours as storm-ready as possible. “We don’t want our citizens being complacent. Any day of the year can bring severe weather to our area. Remember eastern Missouri getting hit by tornadoes on New Year’s Eve 2010?”

Sanders accepted the StormReady certification from Adolphson during a news conference at the I n d e p e n d e n c e / E a s t e r n Jackson County Emergency Operations Center on March 2nd–the first day of Severe Weather Awareness Week in Missouri.

In a letter designating Jackson County StormReady, the National Weather Service cited the county’s “program of severe weather readiness and preparation that is a model for others to follow.” Citizens can receive text and/or email alerts about severe weather through the Jackson County’s emergency system by signing up at jacksongov.org/alerts.

Adolphson credited the county for “working in partnership” with local law enforcement agencies, firefighting departments, hospitals and schools to “make sure all are ready for the inevitable.” She stressed, “We get hit by severe weather every year. It’s never a matter of if, but when.”

The county having multiple systems in place to warn citizens about approaching severe weather was one crucial factor to Jackson County being named StormReady. Adolphson also noted the county’s extensive efforts to educate the public, with an emphasis on sponsoring storm spotter training. Bailey often conducts that training.

“We focus on situational awareness,” he said, “and how to identify severe weather as it is developing. Spotting is really safe if you’ve been trained and really dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.”

Bailey added the Weather Service was also impressed with the plans the county has in place to not only adequately warn citizens about threatening weather conditions, but to then

respond after a storm strikes.“Jackson County has a

lot of redundancies built into its systems,” he said. “Emergency Preparedness has made the county as resilient as it possibly could be in the event of disastrous weather.”

The devastating tornado that killed 158 people in Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011 “wasn’t that far from home,” County Executive Sanders said. (Six of the 25 deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history had been in Missouri.)

“We want people to have a plan in place to be ready,” Sanders said. “Only 17 other counties in Missouri have been hit by more tornadoes than Jackson County over the last 64 years.”

According to the National Weather Service, 31 tornadoes were reported in Jackson County between 1950 and 2014.

“The odds of being in the direct path of a tornado are slim, but the odds of surviving one if you are not ready, don’t know how best to seek shelter, can be pretty slim,” Adolphson said. “The Joplin tornado wasn’t all that long ago and not all that far away. A tornado like that could happen here. It could happen anywhere.”

Jackson County Emergency Preparedness Director Mike Curry agreed. While Bailey said it has been “awhile” since a tornado was last spotted in Jackson County – he couldn’t recall one in his eight years in the Kansas City/Pleasant Hill office – Curry pointed out, “You

never know when you’re due for a tornado. Severe weather has no schedule and goes beyond tornadoes. Severe thunderstorms can produce high winds, hail, and lightning. Flash flooding is fairly common.

“The main thing is to be aware and then know what to do to keep yourself as safe as you possibly can in a dangerous situation.”

There are a lot of myths surrounding tornadoes. The “Tonganoxie Split” is a local one.

“I’m not sure where that one comes from, but I’ve heard it,” said Julie Adolphson, the Meteorologist-In-Charge at the National Weather Service’s Kansas City/Pleasant Hill office. “Supposedly, storms will reach Tonganoxie

in Leavenworth County [Kansas] and split in two, then go around Kansas City or be severely weakened. It’s nonsense.”

And the Missouri River won’t stop a tornado either. “That’s another one you hear,” Adolphson added, “that tornadoes can’t cross rivers.” That myth was one Adolphson had to work doubly hard to debunk when working in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where three rivers converge.

Another myth is that tornadoes never attack a major metropolitan area.

“They can happen anytime anywhere,” Adolphson said.

About 1,000 tornadoes are spawned each year in the United States, more than in other country. And that’s a

fact. The Gulf of Mexico acts as an “engine,” Adolphson said, to disburse the warm air that clashes with the cold fronts that trigger the severe thunderstorms which can evolve into tornadoes.

“We want everyone, whether they live in downtown Kansas City or out in unincorporated Jackson County to have a plan,” said Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders. “Don’t wait for the storm sirens to go off and then try to figure out where to find shelter.

“It’s great the Weather Service has officially declared the county to be StormReady. We want every citizen to be ready.”

Source Public Information OfficerJackson County, Missouri

Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders (left) declared the county ready for severe weather as he and County Emergency Preparedness Director Mike Curry (right) received the official StormReady designation from Julie Adolphson, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service’s Kansas City/Pleasant Hill office. Jackson County is one of only 27 counties in Missouri to earn the Weather Service’s StormReady designation.

In Loving MemorySISTOS “SIS” REYES

KC Hispanic News featured Sistos Reyes on May 26, 2011 as the lead story.

Sistos “Sis” Reyes and his wife of 65 years Catalina shared a joyful moment

in 2011 in their Westport home. Part of that festive mood came from thank you notes they received from young people in the metropolitan area following Sistos’ trip to Washington DC to visit the World war II memorial in 2011.

On April 20, 2011 he was part of a group of veterans that traveled to Washington DC sponsored by Honor Flight. The organization provides a free airplane trip to Washington DC for veterans. The idea was the brainchild of Earl Morse, a physician and retired Air Force captain.

“I had wanted to go before but I could not afford it. It takes a lot of money. I had a chance to go and I took the opportunity to do it,” Reyes told Hispanic News in 2011. He traveled with 22 other area veterans. He saw the memorial and the inscriptions and remembered places. “I recognized the names of Salerno and Sicily because that is where we made the landing.” He was in an anti aircraft unit. “We were always in the front you know. We lost our equipment and they just moved us over to the infantry. We were trained in the infantry anyways.”

He was in the 36th division and recalls that there were many Mexicans and most of them were from Texas. “We were in the front lines. … We went in the first wave and I am glad we went in the first wave. It was still rough you know but it was dark. By the time the fifth wave came on, the day was breaking and they [Germans] just started raking the beach. The Germans just had

them zeroed in. It has been a long time since the war and there are still things I can’t recall but I will always remember Salerno and all that.”

He remembered it enough that he shared some of the details with his son Mario who accompanied him on the trip.

“One thing I found out that he told me,” marveled Mario, “when they were in Salerno they got only so far because the boat was grounded but they did not want to lower the gate. So the commander asked for volunteers and then he went you, you, you and you and my father was one of them. They went over the side and went to the beach to see what kind of fire they would take and then they had to come back and report before they would open the door.”

Mario sat in silence absorbing what his father had told him. “I said, ‘man I don’t see how you went through all that.’ It is overwhelming to me when I think about it. He told me that on this trip. And there were more experiences like that. I just don’t see how he got out after all those times he was in danger. … He has let us in a little here and there and I have so much respect for him.”

That respect extends to all the military. Though Mario never served, his son Christopher is in the Marines and will be shipping out soon to Afghanistan. “He made two tours of Iraq already but this is his first time in Afghanistan. When you are a parent and your son is over there, every day it is nerve wrecking,” explained Mario. “He is getting ready to go again and here we go again. The thing is that I have the utmost respect for the soldiers that are over there fighting for our freedom.”

“Sistos Reyes rewarded with trip to Washington DC Memorial Site”

TU CONEXIÓN LATINA DESDE 1996 YOUR LATINO CONNECTION SINCE 1996

KCHispanicNews.com I MARZO 19 DEL 2015CLASSIFIEDS & PUBLIC NOTICES | Clasificados & Anuncios Publicos

Kansas State University Communications and Marketing seeks a full-time Marketing Assistant.

Bachelor’s in advertising, marketing, communications or a related field required.

Application review begins March 25, 2015. Visit www.k-state.edu/vpcm/jobs for description and to apply.

Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

SOLICITING BIDSRau Construction Company is soliciting bids for the renovation of the historic building located @ 1915 Main, Kansas City, MO. MBE/WBE participation is requested and KCMO certified firms are strongly encouraged to submit proposals for the project. We are requesting design/build proposals for HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical. Design/build subcontractors should request a qualification packet from Rau Construction before submitting proposals. Preliminary floorplans available at Rau Construction office & online. Call Rau Construction for electronic plans. All bids must be submitted to Rau Construction Company by March 24, 2015 before 2:00 PM.

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Summer Youth Employment Career CounselorThe Full Employment Council, Inc. is seeking to fill the contract position of Summer Youth Employment Career Counselor. The position will be on contract to provide career counseling, employment case management, and follow up services for youth between the ages of 16-24 to be serviced through the summer youth employment program. The position will pay $15.00 per hour and will be required to work at least 40 hours per week minimum to provide intake and support services for youth. Bachelor’s Degree preferred, but not required. Experience with youth programs preferred.

Career Readiness InstructorThe Full Employment Council, Inc. is seeking to fill the position of a contract Career Readiness Instructor. This contract position will provide instruction to youth prior to them going into an internship. This position will teach job keeping and job seeking skills. The position will pay $15.00 per hour and will be required to work at least 40 hours per week minimum to provide intake and support services for youth. Experience with youth programs preferred.

Eligibility SpecialistThe Full Employment Council, Inc. is seeking to fill the position of a contract Eligibility Specialist. Persons must determine eligibility to qualify individuals for participation in the summer youth employment program. Must be good in mathematical calculations and have good computer skills. High school diploma required. Experience in eligibility determination preferred. Position will pay $13.00 per hour.

All applicants must be able to pass a background check. Candidates must have reliable transportation, driver’s license, and auto insurance. Apply in person at the Full Employment Council/Missouri Career Center location at: Central City, 1740 Paseo, KCMO 64108 (M-F 8-5).Applications accepted until positions are filled.

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TU CONEXIÓN LATINA DESDE 1996 YOUR LATINO CONNECTION SINCE 1996

MARZO 19 DEL 2015 I KCHispanicNews.com

PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT (Editor/Presidente) Jose “Joe” Arce

VICE PRESIDENT (Vicepresidente) Ramona Arce

EDITOR (Editor)Jose Faus

REPORTERS/WRITERS (Reporteros/Periodistas)Debra DeCoster, Jose Faus, Jerry LaMartina

DESIGN/LAYOUT(Diseño Editorial/Diagramación) Janneth-B RodríguezGemma Tornero

SPANISH TRANSLATION(Traducción a español) Gemma Tornero

STUDENT INTERN(Becario)Jose MuñizArmando Noel Baquedano

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“My reason for running has always been to solve the problems of the city. During this term I have brought some new ideas to old problems. We have been working on economic development, job development and infrastructure,” said Glover.

Glover’s interest in the urban core led to the voters approval of what was referred to as the “Glover Plan” a revitalization of Midtown that saw Costco, Home Depot and Marsh’s Sunfresh open in the urban core. The new stores brought in hundreds of new jobs and eliminated blight in the community.

“Redeveloping the urban core is a passion of mine. I have a lot of experience working in the urban core of the city,” he said.

As a neighborhood president, he put his focus on restoring neighborhoods. “I spent six years as an appointee on the Governor’s House and Development Commission. We put a lot of money into Kansas City neighborhoods,” he said.

“I want to rebuild neighborhoods, focus on budget reform to bring more money into basic city services. In the 90’s when the economy turned and revenue started coming in it was hard to keep it in the basic neighborhood services. It went to other things and we need to make

sure we retain revenue for basic city services,” said Glover.

As chair of the Neighborhood Development Committee, he developed resolutions affecting the city’s policy for neighborhoods.

“These resolutions allowed the city to use our tax incentive programs to help develop our neighborhoods. I believe that development tools ought to be used to aid our neighborhoods not just developers,” he said.

Glover hopes to decrease the crime rate by making jobs available to people in the urban core.

“Jobs for Neighborhoods is a critical component in having an impact on crime,” he said.

Shields served on the council during one of Glover’s terms from 1987 through 1994. Today she focuses on neighborhood preservation.

“When I was there before, we had a focus plan. We wanted a plan in place that would restore our historic neighborhoods and that emphasis is not there anymore. I am very concerned about that,” said Shields.

Shields believes that Kansas City on a scale of 1 to 10 is at an 8 when it comes to housing, leadership and economic development.

“We hit a home run with

Google Fiber but we need to look at the basics — preserving infrastructure and protecting our historic properties. We are a city of planners and we had a strong city planning department, but the city has turned its back on it,” she said.

She credits her two years as executive director of Westside Housing for giving her a greater appreciation and understanding of the Hispanic community.

“Serving in that role has given me a better understanding of their wants and needs. That is a real strength that I would bring to the City Council,” she said.

On her previous council stint she championed the one percent for Art Program and an ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Under her leadership as Jackson County Executive, the county launched a $20 million renovation of county buildings including the Jackson County Courthouse, construction of a visitor center at Fort Osage and negotiated an extension that kept the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs at a renovated Truman Sports Complex.

Shields and Glover both tried their hand at running for the Mayor’s office but were unsuccessful. In 2007 just before she was going to file for mayor, Shields and her

husband were indicted on federal charges of wire fraud in connection with the sale of their Sunset Hills house. Shields and her husband Phil Cardarella were found not guilty of all charges.

When Hispanic News asked her to address constituents’ concerns about her past, she replied, “I have had the most thorough background check than anyone running,” she explained. “If you are talking about the investigation by the Justice Department that took place under President Bush’s administration, they looked at every contract I signed and they talked to every contractor and they could not find anything I did illegal because I didn’t do anything illegal.”

She hopes constituents will look at her 20 years in political office and see the programs that she has brought into the city. She hopes to address the current crime rate in the metropolitan community. While crime numbers are dropping, she feels that one homicide is one too many.

Shields told Hispanic News that one of her greatest strengths is being an advocate for the people.

“When I am on the council I am not just one vote, I can bring other votes with me. I am open to others’ ideas and help them come to fruition,” she said.

Jared Campbell is running for the at-Large seat and hopes to bring a new and different perspective to City Hall. He

and his wife liked being in the downtown community and they purchased their first home, a condo, in the Library District.

“Living through the rebirth of our downtown has only deepened our love and passion for this great city,” said Campbell.

He has been active in neighborhood issues, having been appointed by Mayor Sly James to the Board of Trustees for the City Trust. He has also served on the Neighborhood Advisory Council and was a graduate of the Greater Kansas City Chamber’s Centurions program.

In his campaign he has focused on early childhood education, KC2030, a long-term vision plan for the city. He is an advocate for improved public transportation.

“I want to retain and attract residents by being a resource to help individuals realize there are good quality education options in Kansas City. I want people to know there are clean and safe neighborhoods here to raise their families in,” he said.

If elected he plans to continue the city’s downtown revitalization.

“Building vibrant, safe neighborhoods will allow us to sustain and grow our population base, which in turn will greatly help with our budgetary issues. I want a public transportation that all people of socioeconomic levels can efficiently travel for work or pleasure through Kansas City and the metro

region,” said Campbell.Bryan Stalder is the youngest

candidate in the race. He lives in the Northeast sector of the city and is educating his four children in the Kansas City Public schools.

“I have a plan to make Kansas City EPIC, which stands for Education, Parks and Inter-Connectivity. Every neighborhood should have access to quality public schools and safe clean parks. We can shift our focus toward creating communities that families are excited to make long term investments,” said Stalder.

As president of the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association, he believes that if the city would improve the quality of the neighborhoods, they would be able to attract residents and businesses into Kansas City from surrounding municipalities.

He would like to see the city put repairing streets, sidewalks, efficient bus service and clean, safe parks on their list of priorities. As president of his neighborhood association, he has tried to engage the Latino families that live in the community.

He has reached out to Mattie Rhodes Center, LINC, and local ministries.

“Our neighborhood is over 52 percent Latino but we have very little participation from those communities. I promise that I will work for the needs of all Kansas City residents, not just those who vote,” he said.

desde 2003 hasta 2007. Fue elegido para su cuarto mandato en 2011.

“Mi razón para participar siempre ha sido resolver los problemas de la ciudad. Durante este plazo, he traído algunas ideas nuevas para viejos problemas. Hemos estado trabajando en el desarrollo económico, desarrollo de empleo e infraestructura”, dijo Glover.

El interés de Glover en el núcleo urbano, le llevó a la aprobación de los votantes, lo que se denominó como el “Plan Glover”, una revitalización de Midtown donde se construyó un Costco, un Home Depot y se abrió un Marsh’s Sunfresh. Las nuevas tiendas trajeron cientos de nuevos puestos de trabajo y se eliminó el deterioro urbano.

“El reurbanización del núcleo urbano es una de mis pasiones. Tengo un montón de experiencia trabajando en el núcleo urbano de la ciudad”, dijo.

Como presidente de barrio, se enfoco en la restauración de los barrios. “Pasé seis años como persona designada en la Casa del Gobernador y en la Comisión de Desarrollo. Invertimos un montón de dinero en los barrios de Kansas City”, dijo.

“Quiero reconstruir barrios, concentrarme en la reforma presupuestaria para traer más dinero a los servicios básicos de la ciudad. En los años 90, cuando la economía cambió y los ingresos empezaron a llegar, era difícil mantenerlos en los servicios básicos de barrio. Los ingresos se fueron

a otras cosas y tenemos que asegurarnos de mantenerlos para los servicios básicos de la ciudad”, dijo Glover.

Como presidente del Comité de Desarrollo de Barrio, desarrolló resoluciones que afectan a la política del gobierno respecto a los barrios.

“Éstas resoluciones le permitieron a la ciudad utilizar nuestros programas de incentivos fiscales para ayudar a desarrollar nuestros barrios. Yo creo que las herramientas de desarrollo deben ser utilizaas para ayudar a nuestros barrios y no sólo a los desarrolladores”, dijo.

Glover espera disminuir el índice de criminalidad por medio de la disponibilidad de trabajos para personas en el núcleo urbano.

“El empleo para los barrios es un componente crítico para tener un impacto en el crimen”, dijo.

Shields sirvió en el consejo durante uno de los términos de Glover, de 1987 hasta 1994. Hoy ella se centra en la preservación de los barrios.

“Cuando yo estaba allí antes, teníamos un plan de enfoque. Queríamos tener un plan funcionando, que restaurara a nuestros barrios históricos y ese énfasis ya no está allí. Estoy muy preocupada por eso”, dijo Shields.

Shields cree, que Kansas City, en una escala de 1 a 10 está en su punto 8 cuando se trata de vivienda, liderazgo y desarrollo económico.

“Bateamos un jonrón con

Google Fiber pero tenemos que mirar a lo básico - la conservación y protección de la infraestructura de nuestras propiedades históricas. Somos una ciudad de planificadores y tuvimos un fuerte departamento de planificación de la ciudad, pero la ciudad le ha dado la espalda a ello”, dijo.

Ella reconoce que sus dos años como directora ejecutiva de Westside Housing le dio una mayor apreciación y comprensión de la comunidad hispana.

“Servir en ese rol me ha dado una mejor comprensión de sus deseos y necesidades. Esa es una verdadera fortaleza que traería al Ayuntamiento”, dijo.

En su anterior paso por el consejo, ella defendió el 1% para el Programa de Arte y una ordenanza para prohibir la discriminación basada en la orientación sexual.

Bajo su liderazgo como Ejecutiva del Condado de Jackson, el condado inició una renovación de edificios por $20 millones de dólares, incluyendo el Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Jackson, la construcción de un centro de visitantes en Fort Osage y negoció una extensión que mantuvo a los Reales de Kansas City y a los Jefes de Kansas City en el renovado Complejo Deportivo Truman.

Shields y Glover, ambos, intentaron dar su mano compitiendo para la oficina del alcalde, pero no tuvieron éxito. En 2007, justo antes de que ella se fuera a presentar a la alcaldía, Shields y su esposo fueron acusados por cargos federales de fraude

electrónico en relación con la venta de su casa en Sunset Hills. Shields y su esposo Phil Cardarella fueron encontrados no culpables de todos los cargos.

Cuando Hispanic News le preguntó responder a las preocupaciones de los votantes sobre su pasado, ella respondió: “He tenido la más completa revisión de antecedentes que nadie más ha tenido”, explicó. “Si usted está hablando de la investigación por parte del Departamento de Justicia, que tuvo lugar bajo el gobierno del presidente Bush, revisaron cada contrato que firmé y hablaron con cada contratista y no pudieron encontrar que hice algo ilegal porque no hice nada ilegal”.

Ella espera que los electores verán a sus 20 años en el cargo político y a los programas que ha traído a la ciudad. Ella espera hacer frente a la actual tasa de criminalidad en la comunidad metropolitana. Si bien las cifras de criminalidad están bajando, siente que un homicidio es demasiado.

Shields dijo a Hispanic News que una de sus mayores fortalezas es ser una defensora de la ciudadanía.

“Cuando estoy en el consejo, yo no soy simplemente un voto, puedo aportar otros votos junto conmigo. Estoy abierta a las ideas de los demás y ayudarles a llegar a buen puerto”, dijo.

Jared Campbell está compitiendo para el puesto General y espera aportar una perspectiva nueva y diferente a la Alcaldía. A él y

su esposa les gusta estar en el centro de la comunidad y se compraron su primera casa, un condominio, en el Distrito de la Biblioteca.

“El vivir el renacimiento del centro de nuestra ciudad sólo ha profundizado nuestro amor y pasión por ésta gran ciudad”, dijo Campbell.

Él ha participado activamente en cuestiones de vecindarios, habiendo sido designado por el alcalde Sly James a la Junta de Síndicos del Fideicomiso de la Ciudad. También se ha desempeñado en el Consejo Asesor de Barrios y es un graduado del programa de los Centuriones de la Cámara de Kansas City.

En su campaña, se ha centrado en la educación de la primera infancia, KC2030, un plan de visión a largo plazo para la ciudad. Él es un defensor de la mejora del transporte público.

“Quiero retener y atraer a los residentes, ser un recurso para ayudar a las personas a que se den cuenta de que hay buenas opciones de educación de calidad en Kansas City. Quiero que la gente sepa que hay barrios limpios y seguros para criar a sus familias, aquí “, dijo.

Si es elegido, él planea continuar con la revitalización del centro de la ciudad.

“La construcción de vecindarios vibrantes, seguros, nos permitirá mantener y hacer crecer nuestra base de población, lo que a su vez ayudará enormemente con nuestros problemas presupuestarios. Quiero un transporte público para las personas de todos los niveles socioeconómicos, donde puedan viajar de manera eficiente para el trabajo o placer a través

de Kansas City y la región metropolitana”, dijo Campbell.

Bryan Stalder, es el candidato más joven en la competencia. Él vive en el sector Northeast de la ciudad y está educando a sus cuatro hijos en las Escuelas Públicas de Kansas City.

“Tengo un plan para hacer Kansas City EPIC, que significa por sus siglas Educación, Parques e Interconectividad. Cada barrio debe tener acceso a escuelas públicas de calidad y parques seguros y limpios. Podemos cambiar nuestro enfoque hacia la creación de comunidades sobre las cuales las familias estén muy contentas de hacer inversiones a largo plazo”, dijo Stalder.

Como presidente de la Asociación de Vecinos de Indian Mound, él cree que si la ciudad pudiera mejorar la calidad de los barrios, serían capaces de atraer a residentes y negocios de los municipios circundantes a Kansas City.

A él le gustaría ver que el gobierno de la ciudad tenga en su lista de prioridades el reparar las calles, aceras, un eficiente servicio de autobuses, parques seguros y limpios. Como presidente de la asociación de vecinos, ha tratado de involucrar a las familias latinas que viven en la comunidad.

Él se ha acercado a Mattie Rhodes Center, LINC, y a los ministerios locales.

“Nuestro barrio, es más del 52% latino, pero tenemos muy poca participación de esas comunidades. Prometo que voy a trabajar para las necesidades de todos los residentes de Kansas City, no sólo los que votan”, dijo.

CONT./PAGE 1

CONT./PÁGINA 1

Four contend for seat

Son cuatro los contendientes para el puesto

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KCHispanicNews.com I MARZO 19 DEL 2015

la preservación de la historia de sus logros.

La semana pasada, siete mujeres fueron condecoradas como las nuevas integrantes inaugurales al Salón de la Fama de las Mujeres Starr, esto por sus incansables esfuerzos para abrir camino a otras mujeres en Kansas City. Las mujeres fueron reconocidas por sus esfuerzos de dar un paso al frente y tomar roles de liderazgo en la comunidad, y por sus esfuerzos por acercarse a otras mujeres y brindarles una mano.

Las nuevas integrantes son: Marjorie Powell Allen, Kay Barnes, Myra J. Christopher, Adele Hall, Shirley Bush Helzberg, Dorothy H. Johnson y Martha Jane Phillips Starr.

Las mujeres fueron condecoradas por su servicio a la comunidad, su filantropía y su trabajo, que impulsa a las mujeres a roles de liderazgo en puestos empresariales y gubernamentales. Las anteriores y actuales mujeres líderes han dejado sus huellas en Kansas City, Missouri a través de sus esfuerzos para desarrollar las artes, promover la educación, la atención de salud y su trabajo con organizaciones de caridad.

Durante un breve vídeo, el comité del Salón de la Fama, explicó cómo se eligió a cada mujer para ser parte de la primera clase postulante. La ex alcalde Kay Barnes fue aclamada por su esfuerzo para revitalizar la zona del centro y el núcleo urbano.

“Creo que es realmente importante, para un número cada vez mayor de mujeres, el reconocer que tienen la responsabilidad de participar en su comunidad. Si tienen familias, para ser una buena madre, ser una buena abuela y al mismo tiempo participar en la vida pública. Ya sea que opten hacerlo como voluntarias, en cargos de elección popular, en carreras con agencias

sin fines de lucro, lo que sea que cada mujer pueda realizar para estar bien con ella misma respecto a quién es y qué le apasiona. Esa es la combinación ganadora y entre más mujeres hagan eso, estaremos mejor”, dijo Barnes.

La postulante Shirley Bush Helzberg, fue clave en la revitalización del Distrito de Arte Crossroads. Ella se dedica a las artes y en 2011 el Centro Kauffman para las Artes Escénicas y su impresionante Salón Helzberg abrió sus puertas a la comunidad.

“Tengo un sentimiento muy fuerte sobre la cultura de las artes. Realmente el arte mejora a una comunidad. Con 18 años al frente de la Sinfónica de Kansas City pude ver realmente la tremenda transición de los músicos que están trabajando para llegar al más grande de su potencial. Al ver Starlight cambiar dramáticamente en los últimos años y creer lo que ha hecho por nuestra comunidad. Estoy disfrutando de trabajar con el Museo Nelson Atkins, ver la diversidad ahí ha sido maravilloso. Tenemos la responsabilidad de mejorar lo que alguna vez tocamos y es nuestra responsabilidad participar en nuestra comunidad”, dijo Helzberg.

El almuerzo, que se celebró en el campus de UMKC, se vendió con una asistencia de 1100 personas. El Alcalde Sly James dijo a un auditorio repleto, “cada una de estas mujeres asombrosas y destacadas líderes han hecho sus propias contribuciones, únicas, a la región de Kansas City, y han servido de inspiración a otros en el camino”.

La copresidenta del Salón de la Fama Starr, Amy McAnarney, dijo a la multitud: “Todos hemos sido inspirados por mujeres para sobresalir y ser lo mejor que podemos ser”.

Es la esperanza, del comité del Salón de la Fama, que al

contar las historias de mujeres extraordinarias en Kansas City, inspire a la próxima generación de líderes a soñar en grande y no temer a lo imposible.

Antes de la presentación de Robin Roberts, copresentadora del programa Good Morning América como la oradora principal, McAnarney dijo, “Robin Roberts ha inspirado a las niñas y mujeres jóvenes a soñar lo imposible. Ella quiere que las chicas jóvenes no vean su entorno como una limitación, sino como un punto de partida para la excelencia”.

Roberts dijo a la audiencia que su madre fue la inspiración en su vida.

“Mi madre vino de comienzos muy humildes en Akron, Ohio. Ella fue la primera en su familia en asistir a la universidad. Fue una educadora y luego puso sus sueños en espera mientras criaba a cuatro hijos. Cuando fui a la universidad, ella siguió con sus sueños y fue muy poderoso para mí verla alcanzar sus metas. Ella era un líder y con conciencia cívica”, dijo.

Roberts animó a las mujeres a ayudarse unas a otras en la comunidad y en el lugar de trabajo. Cuando ella consiguió el trabajo de sus sueños, como co-presentadora en Good Morning América, dijo, Diane Sawyer la abrazó.

“Fue tan poderoso, el tener a una mujer que sabía había un montón de espacio para todas nosotras. Ella me enseñó acerca de las mujeres que ayudan a otras mujeres en los buenos tiempos y también estar al lado de la otra en los malos momentos”, dijo Roberts.

Roberts elogió el trabajo que el comité del Salón de la Fama Starr está haciendo para preservar las historias de mujeres de la comunidad, las que han luchado por sus sueños y por los derechos de las mujeres.

Sus palabras de despedida para la próxima generación de mujeres líderes fueron “céntrense en la lucha y no en el miedo. Concéntrese en lo

que ustedes están luchando, ya sea acerca de su vida o un empleo. Ponga su energía en la lucha y no el miedo. Sean muy agradecidas del ejemplo

de las mujeres que han facilitado el camino delante de nosotras”, dijo.

CONT./PAGE 1

Women recognized for their civic effortsSeven women were

honored as the inaugural inductees into the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame last week for their tireless efforts to blaze a trail for other women in Kansas City. The women were recognized for their efforts in stepping up and taking leadership roles in the community and for their efforts to reach out and give a helping hand to other women.

The inductees are Marjorie Powell Allen, Kay Barnes, Myra J. Christopher, Adele Hall, Shirley Bush Helzberg, Dorothy H. Johnson and Martha Jane Phillips Starr.

The women were honored for their community service, their philanthropy and their work that thrust women into leadership roles in business and government positions. The former and present women leaders have left their fingerprints in Kansas City, Missouri through their efforts to develop the arts, promote education and health care and their work with charitable organizations.

During a short video, the Hall of Fame committee explained how each woman was picked into the first inductee class. Former Mayor Kay Barnes was applauded for her effort to revitalize the downtown area and the urban core.

“I think it is really important for a growing number of

women to recognize that they have a responsibility to be involved in their community. If they have families to be a good mother, be a good grandmother and at the same time be involved in public life. Whether they chose to do that as a volunteer, elected office, non-profit career, whatever each woman can do to match for herself who she is and what she is passionate about. That is the winning combination and the more women out there doing that, the better off we will be,” said Barnes.

Inductee Shirley Bush Helzberg was instrumental in revitalizing the Crossroads Art District. She is dedicated to the arts and in 2011 the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and its breathtaking Helzberg Hall opened its doors to the community.

“I feel very strongly about the arts culture. It really enhances a community. 18 years at the helm of the Kansas City Symphony and really seeing the tremendous transition of musicians that are working to the greatest of their potential. Seeing Starlight change dramatically over the years and you think what it has done for our community. I am enjoying working with the Nelson Atkins Museum and seeing the diversity there has been wonderful. We have a responsibility to improve what ever we touch and it is our

responsibility to be involved in our community,” said Helzberg.

The luncheon, held on the UMKC campus, was sold out with 1,100 individuals attending. Mayor Sly James told the packed auditorium, “each of these astounding and outstanding women leaders have made their own unique contributions to the Kansas City region and they have served as an inspiration to others along the way.”

Starr Hall of Fame Co-chair Amy McAnarney told the crowd, “We have all been touched by women that have inspired us to excel and be the best we can be.”

It is the Hall of Fame committee’s hope that in telling the stories of extraordinary women in Kansas City, it will inspire the next generation of leaders to dream big and not fear the impossible.

Before introducing Robin Roberts, co-anchor of Good Morning America as the keynote speaker, McAnarney said, “Robin Roberts has inspired young girls and women to dream the impossible. She wants the young girls to not see their surroundings as limiting but rather as a starting point for greatness.”

Roberts told the audience that her mother was her inspiration in her life.

“My mother came from very humble beginnings in Akron,

Ohio. She was the first one in her family to attend college. She was an educator and then she put her dreams on hold while she raised four children. When I went off to college, she pursued her dreams and it was powerful for me to see her reach her goals. She was a leader and civic minded,” she said.

Roberts encouraged women to help one another in the community and in the workplace. When she landed her dream job of co-anchoring on Good Morning America, she said Diane Sawyer embraced her.

“It was so powerful to have a woman there that knew there is plenty of room for all of us. She taught me about women helping women in the good times and also to stand beside each other in the bad times as well,” said Roberts.

Roberts praised the work that the Starr Hall of Fame committee is doing to preserve the stories of women in the community who have fought for their dreams and for women’s rights.

Her parting words for the next generation of women leaders were “focus on the fight and not the fright. Focus on what you are fighting for whether it be your life or a job. Put your energy towards the fight and not the fright. Be extremely thankful for the examples from those who have paved the way before us,” she said.

CONT./PÁGINA 1

Mujeres son condecoradas por sus esfuerzos cívicos

Robin Roberts, co-anchor of Good Morning America, attended the Inaugural Class Induction for the University of Missouri Kansas City Starr Women’s Hall of Fame.“We have to be willing to help women along the way. When I came to Good Morning America, Diane Sawyer embraced me and was encouraging to me. It was powerful to have this woman there who knew there is plenty of room for all of us.”Robin Roberts, co-presentadora del programa, Good Morning America, asistió a la inducción inaugural para el Salón de la Fama, Mujeres Starr de la Universidad de Kansas City Missouri.“Tenemos que estar dispuestos a ayudar a las mujeres a lo largo del camino. Cuando llegue a Good Morning America, Diane Sawyer me abrazó y me animo. Fue poderoso tener a esta mujer alli, quien sabía que habia mucho espacio para todos nosotros“.

TU CONEXIÓN LATINA DESDE 1996 YOUR LATINO CONNECTION SINCE 1996

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Mauricio Zúñiga es un fotógrafo de profesión y pintor por pasión.

Los Centros Médicos Truman (TMC por sus siglas en inglés), están exhibiendo pinturas de Zúñiga durante la primavera, como parte de su colaboración con el Consulado de México en Kansas City. Zúñiga es nativo de Poncitlán, México. Él creció en Chicago, tiene una licenciatura en fotografía en la Universidad de Illinois y ha vivido en Kansas City durante 15 años.

“Veo el mundo a través del visor”, dijo a Kansas City Hispanic News, “y he estado tratando de poner todo junto (en sus pinturas) en este pequeño cuadro, traer el mundo al pequeño cuadro, y tiene sentido para mí. Es por eso que hago este tipo de imágenes”.

Zúñiga incluye imágenes dispares en algunos de sus cuadros. Él describe una serie de tres imágenes que incluye “edificios, pájaros y personas, sentimientos, geometría (y) astronomía”.

En una de las imágenes, dijo, “Traté de crear una especie de escenario en el que dos mujeres están teniendo una conversación, y todo esto movimiento que hay alrededor de ellas, formas de estos pequeños cuadros, pequeños marcos de diferentes imágenes y diferentes cuentos”.

El consulado mexicano y TMC comenzaron su colaboración para traer la obra de artistas mexicanos al público desde hace unos dos años, dijo Alicia Kerber, cónsul de México en Kansas City. El esfuerzo es una ampliación de un acuerdo previo entre el consulado y TMC, para el intercambio de médicos, investigadores y estudiantes de medicina mexicanos y estadounidenses.

“Los Centros Médicos Truman se preocupan por ofrecer a sus pacientes un ambiente diferente, no sólo como hospital”, dijo Kerber a Hispanic News. “Tenemos una larga relación (con TMC), porque tenemos una enorme población de la comunidad mexicana en esta área”.

TMC ofreció una recepción, el 12 de marzo, para presentar a Zúñiga y sus obras de arte, cerca de 60 personas asistieron, dijo.

El hospital comenzó a mostrar el trabajo de artistas desde hace unos ocho años, dijo James Martin, asesora curatorial del Centro para las Artes Sanadoras del hospital. La colaboración técnica es importante, dijo Kerber, “porque a través de la cultura podemos abrir las puertas a muchas cosas”, y agregó que la cultura mexicana es uno de los aspectos más predominantes de la influencia mexicana en los Estados Unidos, que “va más allá del tema de la inmigración”.

Zúñiga habló de la noción de que el arte está en el ojo del que mira.

“En muchas de mis imágenes, voy a tener gente que viene y dice (por ejemplo), ‘quiero comprar el que tiene el bote’ Y para mí, no era un bote. Pero lo que me gusta de esto y lo que me gusta cuando hago mis imágenes, es que quiero que la gente cree sus propias imágenes (de su trabajo)”.

Zúñiga trabaja en el cubismo y el realismo, “y los pongo juntos”, dijo.

“Yo particularmente no tengo un estilo”, dijo. “Puedo decir que yo los pongo juntos, y ese es mi estilo”.

Él comenzó a pintar hace unos 15 años.

“Siempre quise pintar, pero siempre tenía miedo de la tela, del espacio vacío”, dijo. “Lo que me animó a hacer esto es, cuando me mudé a Kansas City hace

15 años, intenté mostrar mi portafolio de fotografía en algunas de las galerías. Uno de los hombres dijo que no necesitaba otro fotógrafo. Sin embargo, dijo, “Si puedes pintar, regresa y vamos a hablar de ello’. Así que eso más o menos me empujó hacia la pintura”.

Zúñiga dijo, que otra de sus pinturas representa “pequeñas historias que un anciano en México solía decirnos para asustarnos cuando éramos niños”.

“Todos esos recuerdos regresan cuando estoy haciendo el trabajo”, dijo. “Todos ellos vuelven y me persiguen. Esto es a través de todo el día - Estoy caminando alrededor y cuando no estoy haciendo algo en lo que me tengo que enfocar, estoy pensando acerca de las imágenes y la forma de colocarlos en el lienzo o en papel. Siempre estoy con un cuaderno de dibujo. Es una gratificación cuando realmente terminas la pieza que has pensado cuando estás caminando por la calle. (El lienzo) para mí es el visor”.

Zúñiga es claro en relación al mensaje que espera que la gente reciba de sus obras de arte.

“No quiero que la gente simplemente vea a simple vista el trabajo”, dijo. “Quiero que se detengan, lo miren, lo estudien y que lo hagan suyo. Ahí es cuando tiene una mayor satisfacción para mí. Es por eso que mis precios son de 700 a 800 dólares. No estoy haciendo esto por negocio; estoy haciendo esto porque me encanta hacerlo. La mayor satisfacción para mí, es que yo sé que esta pieza va a estar en su sala de estar para el resto de su vida. Eso es lo que me motiva a hacer más de esto, y simplemente para crear ideas. Es un proceso; para mí, es un proceso que disfruto cada día”.

traduce Gemma Tornero

El trabajo del artista mexicano Zúñiga en exhibición en Centros Médicos Truman

Mauricio Zuniga is a photographer by profession and a painter by

passion.Truman Medical Centers

(TMC) is showcasing Zuniga’s paintings throughout the spring as part of its collaboration with the Mexican Consulate of Kansas City. Zuniga is a native of Poncitlan, Mexico. He grew up in Chicago, has a bachelor’s degree in photography from the University of Illinois and has lived in Kansas City for 15 years.

“I view the world through the viewfinder,” he told Kansas City Hispanic News, “and I’ve been trying to put everything together (in his paintings) in this little square, bring the world into the little square, and it makes sense to me. That’s why I do this kind of images.”

Zuniga includes disparate images in some of his paintings. He described a series of three images that includes “buildings, birds and people, feelings, geometry (and) astronomy.”

In one of the images, he said, “I tried to create some sort of a stage where two women are … having a conversation, and all this motion there is around them … forms these little squares, little frames of different pictures and different tales.”

The Mexican consulate and TMC started their collaboration to bring the work of Mexican artists to the public about two years ago, said Alicia Kerber, consul of Mexico in Kansas City. The effort is an expansion of a prior agreement between the consulate and TMC to

exchange Mexican and U.S. physicians, researchers and medical students.

“Truman Medical Centers is concerned about giving its patients a different environment, not only as a hospital,” Kerber told Hispanic News. “We have a long relation with (TMC) because we have a huge population of the Mexican community in this area.”

TMC held a reception introducing Zuniga and his artworks on March 12. About 60 people attended, she said.

The hospital started showing artists’ work about eight years ago, said James Martin, curatorial consultant for the hospital’s Center for the Healing Arts. The art collaboration is important, Kerber said, “because through culture we can open the doors to many things,” adding that Mexican culture is one of the most prevalent aspects of Mexican influence in the United States, which “goes beyond the immigration issue.”

Zuniga spoke to the notion that art is in the eye of the beholder.

“In a lot of my images, I will have people come up and say (for example), ‘I want to buy the one with the boat.’ And to me, it was not a boat. But what I love about this and what I love when I make my images is that I want people to create their own images (from his work).”

Zuniga works in cubism and realism, “and I put them all together, he said.

“I don’t particularly have a style,” he said. “I can say that I put them all together, and that’s my style.”

He started painting about 15 years ago.

“I always wanted to paint, but I was always afraid of

the canvas, of the empty space,” he said. “What encouraged me to do this is, when I moved to Kansas City 15 years ago, I tried to show my photography portfolio in some of the galleries. One of the guys said he didn’t need another photographer. But he said, ‘If you can paint, come back and we’ll talk about it.’ So that kind of pushed me into painting.”

Zuniga said that another of his paintings depicted “little stories that an old man in Mexico used to tell us to scare us when were kids.”

“All those memories are coming back when I’m doing work,” he said. “They all come back and haunt me. … This is through the whole day – I’m walking around and when I’m not doing something I have to focus on, I’m thinking about images and how to place them on the canvas or on paper. I’m always with a sketch book. … It’s gratification when you actually finish the piece that you thought about when you’re walking down the street. … (The canvas) to me is the viewfinder.”

Zuniga is clear about the message he hopes people will receive from his artworks.

“I don’t want people just to glance at the work,” he said. “I want them to stop, look at it, study it and make it your own. That’s when it has the most satisfaction for me. That’s why my prices are 700, 800 dollars. I’m not doing this for business; I’m doing this because I love doing it. … The most satisfaction for me is that I know that this piece is going to be in your living room for the rest of your life. That’s what motivates me to do more of this, and just to create ideas. It’s a process; for me, it’s a process that I enjoy every single day.”

Mexican artist Zuniga’s work on display at Truman Medical Centersby Joe Arce and Jerry LaMartina

por Joe Arce y Jerry LaMartina

Having art exhibits at Truman Medical Centers is important because it reinforces “our healing arts culture that we promote here,” says Leo Prieto, the hospital’s director of community outreach. “As you can see, throughout the hospital we have art everywhere. That’s one of the things that we kind of pride ourselves on is to make people feel at home. … It goes a long way.”Tener exposiciones de arte en los Centros Médicos de Truman es importante porque refuerza “nuestra cultura de las artes curativas que promovemos aquí”, dice Leo Prieto, director de extensión a la comunidad del hospital. “Como se puede ver, en todo el hospital tenemos arte por todas partes. Esa es una de las cosas que nos enorgullece, es hacer que la gente se sienta como en casa. ... Es un un pasillo largo“.