A blog from Ben Ruiz

Hola! A Summer 2011 Update from Ben Ruiz

A lot of people know me here in Louisville because I am one of Louisville's leaders in the Hispanic Latino community. Together with great friends like Mara Maldonado, Rhonda Buchanan, Adam Ruiz, Saul Garcia, Edgardo Manzilla and Miguel Lagunas I joined them in helping to be a part of the emerging new organizations such as Adelante Hispanic Achievers, LULAC (League of Latin American Citizens), KMARI (Kentucky Mexican American Relations Institute), HLBC (Hispanic Latino Business Council) and now (starting as of January 2011) La Camara (the Chamber for people of all colors which meets every second Thursday of each month at Wesley House Community Services Center at 5114 S. Preston Hwy.). I am also continuing the work of the established organizations at Americana Community Center, the Hispanic Latino Coalition, and the Latin American Latino Studies at the University of Louisville (under the guidance of Dr. Rhonda Buchanan, Director of LALS).

Among the 2010 Leadership Louisville's Community Connectors (which number 126) I am the only Hispanic. Also, in 2010, I received the Jewish Family Center’s MOSAIC Community Award and am the first Hispanic chosen for this prestigious award. My good friend, Miguel Lagunas, received this same award in 2011. I mention these awards only to use myself as an example of how someone who spent the majority of his life as an undocumented Mexican can succeed in this great American country we are all part of. I intend to tell true stories about undocumented immigrants like myself in future blogs here…today, however, I thought I'd share a little information about the Annual Health Fair we held this year and also some important information about The Dream Act.


Here are the two items:

Hispanic Latino Health Fair on 6-11-2011

The Hispanic Latino Coalition of Louisville hosted its annual Health Fair on, Saturday, June 11, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Americana Community Center. The theme was “The Circle of Health”: focusing on the Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and Social holistic family.

Hundreds of latinos and their families enjoyed a full complement of health and wellness events, including: health screenings glucose and cholesterol; blood pressure; vision screenings; bone density; pre-cancer screenings; pulmonary function screening; dental; and HIV. They held four workshops and approximately 50 booth exhibits.

The Health Fair was free to all participants. Exhibitors registered via the HLC website: hlcoflouisville.org. One of the biggest events of the year, we hope you will look forward to next year’s health fair in June. For more information, contact Tom Gurucharri, Health Fair Chairperson, at (502) 499-0421 via email at tgurucharri@centropastoral.com or by accessing the HLC website at http://hlcoflouisville.org.



What is the Dream Act anyway?

In short, if passed the DREAM Act gives individuals who meet the requirements a path to citizenship through military service or college that they currently have no hope for.“Supporters of the DREAM Act believe it is vital not only to the people who would benefit from it, but also the United States as a whole. It would give an opportunity to undocumented immigrant students who have been living in the U.S. since they were young, a chance to contribute back to
the country that has given so much to them and a chance to utilize their hard earned education and talents.” (From www.dreamact.info)

What is the status of the bill?
The DREAM Act was introduced 3/26/09 and is currently under review in the judiciary committees of both the House and the Senate. Current predictions indicate the DREAM Act (S. 729 in the Senate or H.R. 1751 in the House) is short 8 votes in the Senate to reach the necessary 60 votes to pass.

What can we do? 3 easy things!
1. Educate yourself and others. Go to www. dreamact.info to learn about this important legislation and sign up for the mailing list to be notified of
upcoming events or legislative activity.
2. Contact your House Representative asking them to support HR 1751. Thank your senator for
supporting S 729! Ask your friends and family in unfriendly states to contact their representatives. Contact information is available atwww.dreamact.info.
3. Support the cause by signing a petition on www.change.org or making a donation at www.
dreamact.info

Hispanic/ Latino Coalition
Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the
Americana Community Center
4801 Southside Drive,
Louisville, KY 40214

Websites:
http://hlcoflouisville.org
http://www.greaterlouisville.com/hlbc
www.yosoylouisville.com