youth

The school government in Fresno, CA, is hiring new chefs to oversee the quality of school meals, cook food with fresh ingredients, better respond to student tastes, and reduce food waste. Many families in Fresno report food insecurity and some say “without good nutrition there is no good education.” Last year, California became the first state in the nation to provide free school meals to all students. This program brings conversations with a local community leader and mothers who are in the frontlines, advocating for the new Universal Meals law in California and the changes to the school menu in...

The school government in Fresno, CA, is hiring new chefs to oversee the quality of school meals, cook food with fresh ingredients, better respond to student tastes, and reduce food waste. Many families in Fresno report food insecurity and some say “without good nutrition there is no good education.” Last year, California became the first state in the nation to provide free school meals to all students. This program brings conversations with a local community leader and mothers who are in the frontlines, advocating for the new Universal Meals law in California and the changes to the school menu in...

Advocates in New Mexico are working with legislators to bring back a bill to restore voting rights for people on probation or parole, after a similar package died in the Senate last year. The New Mexico Voting Rights Act would make it easier for people with felony convictions to participate in elections and extend some voting rights to 16-year-olds.

After heavy pressure from Florida Gov. DeSantis, the College Board revised an official curriculum for its new Advanced Placement course in African American Studies. Students in Florida threatened to sue the state and the Republican governor if the blocked course is not reinstated.

New Mexico lawmakers proposed last week a bill that would ban local governments and state agencies from beginning new contracts with ICE and private immigrant detention facilities. The bill would end contractual agreements at the Otero County Processing Center in southern New Mexico and watch others more closely.

The police killing of a young activist who was protesting the construction of a huge police training center in Atlanta has sparked violent demonstrations in the city. Authorities claim that the slain environmental activist, Manuel Esteban Páez, a Venezuelan immigrant fired a gun as police were clearing out the camp where they were protesting. His fellow activists are demanding an independent investigation. Gerardo Guzmán joins us with the details from Atlanta.

The Omnibus bill signed by President Biden includes new retirement savings provisions – known as Secure 2.0 – that could make it easier to accumulate retirement savings — and make it less costly to withdraw them. The provisions include requiring employers to automatically enroll employees in 401(k) plans, allowing employer contributions for student loan payments, increasing the age for required minimum distributions and raising catch-up contribution limits for older workers.

Academic researchers are launching a digital archive built by college students and volunteer fans to document the history of soccer in the San Joaquin Valley and how migration has shaped the culture of soccer in these farm working communities. The organizer of the archive comments on the current World Cup fever impacting Latino communities, and the way immigrant communities are transforming the kicking game. This and other news stories are discussed in this edition.

Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) are working on a immigration reform plan that would provide a permanent pathway to legalization for 2 million Dreamers, increase funding for border security, and extend Title 42. Immigrant advocates and legislators comment on this development and on a bill sponsored by Rep. Joaquin Castro that would help deported veterans and make it easier for noncitizen members of the Armed Forces to apply for naturalization. Finally, an academic report reveals how information collected by digital surveillance systems is shared with federal immigration and law enforcement agencies and advocates worry about the impact...

As we enter another holiday winter season, COVID-19 and other viruses are spreading widely and things are getting worse. Cases of coronavirus, flu and respiratory syncytial infections are rapidly rising in communities around the country. What to do in anticipation of the holiday gatherings? Who should worry most about this new surge? What to know about the updated vaccine? What to do if testing positive?

New Mexico voted last week to make pre-K a universal right. A ballot measure will make New Mexico the first state in the country to guarantee a constitutional right to early childhood education. The measure gives lawmakers the green light to provide a dedicated funding stream for universal preschool and child care. An advocate explains this plan and discusses the road ahead for citizens. How to watch political decisions and hold elected representatives accountable after having cast their ballots?

Sodas and sugary drinks are the leading contributors to the high prevalence of childhood and teen obesity and tooth decay, and type 2 diabetes. In a new report coinciding with National Diabetes Month, Los Angeles County public health authorities warn that Black and Latino children have the highest rates of sugary drinks consumption.How to help the most affected children and their families?

As Congress returns for the lame-duck session, many are descending on Washington urging Congress to pass permanent legislative protections for immigrant youth and DACA recipients before the end of the year. In another story, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot is declaring immigration from Mexico an “invasion” and he is ordering to take “unprecedented measures” to defend the state. Finally, a federal judge blocked border rule Title 42, a policy that allowed the US to expel more than one million migrants.

New Mexico voted last week to make pre-K a universal right. A ballot measure will make New Mexico the first state in the country to guarantee a constitutional right to early childhood education. The measure gives lawmakers the green light to provide a dedicated funding stream for universal preschool and child care. An advocate explains this plan and discusses the road ahead for citizens. How to watch political decisions and hold elected representatives accountable after having cast their ballots?

The voting power of young Latino voters continues to grow as every 30 seconds a young Latino turns 18. In 2018 and 2020, young voters ages 18-29 turned out in record numbers. How energized are they during this election season? What issues are inspiring them to head to the polls and what problems are dampening their enthusiasm?

President Biden kicked off the application process for the student debt cancellation program. He announced that 22 million borrowers had already applied only in the first week. While the plan has been temporarily halted by a court, the debt relief application is still open and applications continue. Who qualifies? How does it work?

Gun violence in the Latino community has increased exponentially compared to the rest of the nation. This is the leading cause of death among young Latinos. An expert discusses the costs of gun violence in the Latino community and the gun policies that are being crafted to bring safety to the ravaged communities.

Thousands of households in Colorado have benefitted from emergency rental assistance since the pandemic began but the funding is running out. Some local programs are already dry and evictions are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Where is money still available for tenants and how to benefit?

Proposition 308, allowing any Arizona student, including the undocumented, to be eligible for in-state tuition and state financial aid at state universities and community colleges, is in the Arizona ballot. In other news, the warden of a private prison and his brother, a county jail employee, are in custody charged with killing a migrant and wounding another one in a Texas border area. Were they hunting migrants? These and more stories are discussed in this edition.

After a court ruled against the DACA program, Biden’s Department of Justice vowed to appeal the decision. The court determined that DACA is illegal but let the protections continue in place for now. What does this ruling mean for DACA beneficiaries? In another story, in spite of Gov. DeSantis’ hostile rhetoric, migrants are showing up in Florida to help clean up and rebuild after Hurricane Ian’s disaster. Analysts discuss this and other news developments in this edition.

On National Hispanic Heritage Month, a group of Latino parents are coordinating community events around the nation to highlight the heavy impact air pollution and climate change are having on the health of Latino children. communities. A leading member of this effort discusses what the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act means for Latino families and their efforts to engage Latino voters in battleground states. Also, another guest analyst talks about the poverty hotspots, as hunger is on the rise in the US.

Fifty years after young Chicano activists in the 60s and 70s staged walkouts in schools of East Los Angeles, launched the Plan de Santa Barbara to create Chicana/o Studies in colleges and universities and fought for bilingual education, scholars and education activists meet in San Bernardino to pay tribute to movement veterans who fought those battles. The conference also focuses on the critical issues of the 21st Century for Latinos in education, including the fight against the school-to-prison pipeline, the challenges for ESL students, the Dreamers, funding for public schools in Latino communities, and the right to education.

Latino students attending community colleges face a number of pressures, including the soaring costs of living. As they struggle, community college leaders reach out to inform on recent changes to financial aid programs, including changes to Cal Grant and more support for full-time students to help them pay for the costs of college.

As Dreamers’ future is still in limbo, a conservative court is expected to rule any day now on DACA. A ruling against the program may impact millions of families, the midterm elections, and the Supreme Court. An analyst discusses the ramifications of this case. In another story, Republican governors from border states keep sending buses to drop off migrants now at the home of Vice President Harris and chartered flights to Martha’s Vineyard. Finally, the White House hosted a summit to address the effects of hate violence on democracy and public safety. An advocate discusses the white nationalist conspiracy theories...

Latino students attending community colleges face a number of pressures, including the soaring costs of living. As they struggle, community college leaders reach out to inform on recent changes to financial aid programs, including changes to Cal Grant and more support for full-time students to help them pay for the costs of college.