HABLA Y VOTA

Co-hosts Paul Saldaña and Chris “Tejano Man” Tristan are joined by Austin Community College Trustee Dr. Manuel Gonzalez and Barb Clapp, CEO Dwyer Workforce Development. 

Dr. Gonzalez was first appointed as Trustee for Place 5 in April 2022.  And was subsequently reelected for a full term later that year. 

Dr. Gonzalez serves as Regional Director for Western Governors University (WGU), a nonprofit, online university established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors to expand access to higher education across the nation. As Regional Director, Dr. Gonzalez leads strategic initiatives and education partnership efforts in the South Region which includes Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Through this work, Dr. Gonzalez expands access to higher education and builds pathways to careers in the high-demand, high-need workforce fields of education, nursing/healthcare, IT, and business.

Barb Clapp joined Dwyer Workforce Development as the CEO in 2021. She was chosen to transition Dwyer Workforce Development as a new venture from concept to a full-scale, national workforce development organization. In her role, she leads nonprofit program development, operations, strategic partnerships, marketing tactics, and board development while leveraging past entrepreneurial and nonprofit success to develop an immediate and sustainable market presence.

We have a great discussion regarding Texas’ ongoing population growth, the need for healthcare services and a workforce to meet the increasing demand. 

Last year Latinos officially became the largest demographic in Texas, representing now over 40% of ALL TEJANOS in Texas. In Texas more than 5.4 million children attend public schools with Latinos students representing nearly 53% of this population. Nearly 61% of Texas students are considered economically disadvantaged. 

There’s also a growing senior demographic that further compounds the need for healthcare services across a state that is already facing nursing challenges. 

A critical component of the solution here is engaging traditionally underserved communities and providing not just jobs, but training to build life-changing careers. 

We dive into Latino higher education data, challenges regarding the successful matriculation of Latino students into higher education, and what are we doing to ensure Latinos and underserved communities and students have access to equitable educational opportunities and successful life long career paths. 

We discuss a great partnership between Austin Community College District (ACC) and Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD) to train and skill-up more nurses and help close the healthcare workforce gap in Central Texas. (https://dwyerworkforcedev.org)

HABLA y VOTA is co-produced by Paul Saldaña and Chris Tristan every Sunday at 9am as we discuss Latino community affairs, politics, and the importance of our power, voices and votes with local community leaders, elected/appointed officials, and guests. 

Listen on ⁠https://hottejano.com⁠ or download the HOTTEJANO app.

Co-hosts Paul Saldaña and Chris “Tejano Man” Tristan are joined by Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez, District 19 and special co-hosts Alicia Perez-Hodge and Marco Mancillas. 

Roland is a Texas State Senator that fights for working families from San Antonio to Uvalde, and the Texas Border. 

In the days after 19 children and 2 teachers were killed in the Uvalde massacre, Roland fought to uncover the events of Robb Elementary, supporting victims and their families, and pursuing life-saving policy reform. 

The son of Mexican immigrants, Roland has spent his whole life fighting to create real change for communities across Texas –from fixing infrastructure to lowering the cost of healthcare. That’s exactly the kind of fight he’ll bring to the U.S. Senate.

During our platica with Senator Gutierrez we discuss his announcement in July 2023 to join the Democratic primary to challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, his fight for pushing for stronger gun restrictions, and his thoughts about what’s not happening in Texas or in Washington for the poor and working class. We discuss his Immigration Plan, other policy priorities and the state of politics in Texas and the nation. 

We also discuss the endorsements of Little Joe and Ramon Ayala and an upcoming headline concert by Ramon Ayala on Thursday, Nov. 2nd Weslaco, Texas on his behalf. And of course there’s plenty of chisme. 

HABLA y VOTA is co-produced by Paul Saldaña and Chris Tristan every Sunday at 9am as we discuss Latino community affairs, politics, and the importance of our power, voices and votes with local community leaders, elected/appointed officials, and guests.  

Listen on ⁠https://hottejano.com⁠ or download the HOTTEJANO app.

Co-hosts Paul Saldaña and Chris “Tejano Man” Tristan are joined by Miguel Acero, SUVIDA Healthcare, Jill Ramirez, Latino HealthCare Forum, and special co-hosts Alyssa Ramirez and Marco Mancillas. 

Jill Ramirez is athe CEO and Co-Founder of Latino HealthCare Forum 

Originally from El Paso Texas, Jill arrived in Austin after receiving her BA at UTEP and graduated with a Master of Education and Master in communication Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. She is an Author, and Instructor of PromoSalud, which is a State of Texas Certification Program for Community Health Workers /Promotores de Salud.

Miguel Acero has spent most of his career in the healthcare space working closely with providers, carriers, and the external distribution channel to influence over $12 million in revenue for these groups.
Currently, his focus is on collaborating with Medicare agents to introduce a new kind of doctor group for Hispanic seniors on Medicare Advantage plans and working directly with Suvida Healthcare. 

During our platica we discuss the continued growth of the Latino community, Latino health disparities, chronic conditions, existing barriers in access to health care including cultural and language barriers and social determinants. We discuss how diversity in the physician and medical workforce can help build health equity for increasingly diverse and multiracial populations, and how the shortage of Latino physicians has worsened over time.

We introduce Suvida Healthcare and discuss their commitment to building a better healthcare system for Hispanic seniors and their families, right inside our neighborhoods. Rooted in trust, respect, and community engagement, Suvida delivers senior-focused primary care in a warm, comfortable environment where physicians and other healthcare professionals can care for patients in ways they always dreamed.

And we discuss the importance of medicare enrollment and our call to action for our Latino communities and families.

HABLA y VOTA is co-produced by Paul Saldaña and Chris Tristan every Sunday at 9am as we discuss Latino community affairs, politics, and the importance of our power, voices and votes with local community leaders, elected/appointed officials, and guests.  

Listen on ⁠https://hottejano.com⁠ or download the HOTTEJANO app.

Co-hosts Paul Saldaña and Chris “Tejano Man” Tristan are joined by Native Austinite, Detective Bino Cadenas.

Detective Albino "Bino" Cadenas is a native Austinite who grew up in East Austin and lives within the city with his beautiful wife and two children. He understands the challenges of policing in a minority community and works hard to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the community.

Throughout his years of public service, he’s prided himself on regularly meeting with community stakeholders to share crime trends and recommend tips to help deter and prevent crime. Detective Cadenas holds the viewpoint that he will meet with whomever, wherever, to discuss public safety in Austin. His success and passion for "bridging the gap"; stem from his life and work experience within the department. He's a networker who understands the meaning and impact of cultivating and fostering partnerships.

During our platica we discuss Detective Cadenas' decision that led you him want to become police officer, his perspectives of Police and Latino community relations, the state of Policing in Austin, the Austin Police Association, politics between APA and Austin City Hall and his recent decision to run for APA President.

HABLA y VOTA is co-produced by Paul Saldaña and Chris Tristan every Sunday at 9am as we discuss Latino community affairs, politics, and the importance of our power, voices and votes with local community leaders, elected/appointed officials, and guests.  

Listen on https://hottejano.com or download the HOTTEJANO app.

Episode 3, Season 3 – A platica with Dave Gutierrez, historian, writer and author of the Patriots from the Barrio. 

Co-hosts Paul Saldaña and Chris “Tejano Man” Tristan are joined by Dave Gutierrez, a historian, writer, and author of the book Patriots from the Barrio, the true story of Company E 141st Infantry: the only all Mexican American Army unit in WWII. 

Patriots from the Barrio has been named one of the top 24 History books of all time by Book Riot.  

His articles have appeared in publications including American Legion and War History Online. Recognized by both the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans for his groundbreaking work on Company E 141st Infantry, he also specializes in genealogical research, Mexican American history, and World War II studies. Dave is a member of the National Medal of Honor Museum's Advisory Panel. 

Dave’s passion for writing includes Mexican American History, Genealogy, and World War II.  And remains committed to bringing positive stories to the world using all available platforms. "As Latino Americans we must improve at documenting and recording our own history, no one is going to do it for us."

On this episode we are also joined by Alicia Perez-Hodge, Co-Founder of Hispanic Advocates Business Leaders of Austin (HABLA) and Marco Mancillas the Interim Executive Director of the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation. 

Austin Event on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 6:30pm at the Texas Military Forces Museum, 3038 W. 35th Stret, Austin, TX 78703

 The Texas Military Forces Museum invites Author Dave Gutierrez to present his book on the only all Mexican American Army unit in #WWII. The museum's Mabry Mixer will celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth and the 80th Anniversary of the Italian Campaign. Nearly 500,000 Hispanics served in WWII. Join us and learn about one of the more unique and historical US Army units in WWII. See you in #austin 

HABLA y VOTA is co-produced by Paul Saldaña and Chris Tristan every Sunday at 9am as we discuss Latino community affairs, politics, and the importance of our power, voices and votes with local community leaders, elected/appointed officials, and guests.  

Listen on https://hottejano.com or download the HOTTEJANO app.

On Episode 2 of Season 3 of HABLA y VOTA we are joined by Alicia Perez-Hodge, Al Duarte, and Marco Mancillas as we discussed the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month and recap the recent 2023 HABLA con Orgullo Awards. And of course we discuss the latest chisme in the community.

Alicia Perez-Hodge is the Co-Founder of Hispanic Advocates Business Leaders of Austin (HABLA) and was the first Latina Assistant City Manager at Austin City Hall.

Al Duarte is a native Austinite and the Founder of Fiesta Austin.

Marco Mancillas is local entrepreneur and member of HABLA.

HABLA y VOTA is co-produced by Paul Saldaña and Chris Tristan every Sunday at 9am as we discuss Latino community affairs, politics, and the importance of our power, voices and votes.

Every week local community leaders, elected/appointed officials, panelists join Paul and Chris to discuss the latest Latino quality of life issues, current affairs and La Politica.

On Episode 1 of Season 3 of HABLA y VOTA we are joined by Sylvia Blanco, the Chief Operating Officer of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) as we discuss Adelante Santa Rita.

HACA has plans to redevelop Santa Rita Courts, and is reaching out to residents, neighbors, and community members to guide our planning and to ensure we continue to help people on their journey to self-sufficiency.

Santa Rita Courts, the first public housing project in the country under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, has been home to low-income residents in East Austin since 1939. While innovative when it first opened, the 84-year-old buildings have not kept pace with modern needs: the cinder block walls lack insulation, spaces do not accommodate persons with disabilities, and units have no central air conditioning or heating.

HABLA y VOTA is co-hosted and produced by Paul Saldaña and Chris Tristan. Every Sunday morning at 9am we discuss Latino community affairs, the importance of our power, voices and votes.

We have special guests that join us weekly as we discuss community and quality of life issues.

Join us every Sunday at 9am on HOT Tejano! https://hottejano.com (download the HOTTejano app).

Learn more about Adelante Santa Rita:

https://www.hacanet.org/adelante-santa-rita/

Your voice matters. Let’s work together to enhance our community and ensure that Santa Rita Courts remains a place everyone is proud to call home. For more details or questions, reach out to [email protected]

On Episode 18 we are joined by Special Guest: Senator Kirk Watson, Candidate for Austin Mayor.

Elected Mayor of Austin at just 40-years-old, Kirk helped Austin navigate its first tech boom, driving initiatives that accommodated an influx of people and businesses in ways that addressed affordability, the economy, and things people love about Austin. He did it by bringing different political sides together — leveraging the community’s creativity, commitment, and compassion to advance transformative environmental, transportation and public safety initiatives.

Kirk went on to become the State Senator representing most of Austin and was honored multiple times in Texas Monthly magazine's analysis of the state's best legislators.

At the Capitol, he filed and passed bills aimed at employing diverse strategies to create affordable housing and make Austin more affordable. He fought efforts to reduce Austin's control of its destiny, especially in cases where the Texas Legislature wanted to undermine local policies that help people live and thrive here.

Kirk was also the Founding Dean of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston. During this time, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner appointed him to the Mayor's Task Force on Policing Reform.

During this episode we discuss the upcoming December 13th, 2022 Run-off Election for Austin Mayor and Senator Watson's proven track record as a strong advocate for Austin's Latino community. 

Bienvenidos to HABLA y VOTA co-hosted and produced by Paul Saldaña, Lily Zamarripa-Saenz and Chris "TejanoMan" Tristan. Every Sunday morning at 9am we will be talking about the importance of our power, voices and votes. We will have special guests that will join us weekly, from Latino community leaders, elected/appointed officials, and candidates.

On Episode 17 of HABLA y VOTA we are joined by Special Guest Dr. Manuel Gonzalez, Austin Community College Board of Trustee, Place 5.

Dr. Manny Gonzalez was appointed as Trustee for Place 5 in April 2022.  His term ends in November 2022.

Dr. Gonzalez serves as Regional Director for Western Governors University (WGU), a nonprofit, online university established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors to expand access to higher education across the nation. As Regional Director, Dr. Gonzalez leads strategic initiatives and education partnership efforts in the South Region which includes Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Through this work, Dr. Gonzalez expands access to higher education and builds pathways to careers in the high-demand, high-need workforce fields of education, nursing/healthcare, IT, and business.

Prior to joining WGU, Dr. Gonzalez served as Executive Director for the Community College Association of Texas Trustees, a membership organization representing more than 400 elected trustees and regents across the state’s 50 public community college districts. Dr. Gonzalez built trustee and regent capacity through professional development, supporting board leadership committees, and engaging trustees with legislative advocacy strategies. Dr. Gonzalez’s career also includes work for the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas House of Representatives, and the White House Domestic Policy Council.

Dr. Gonzalez holds a baccalaureate degree in Management from Trinity University, an M.Ed. in College & University Personnel Administration and Ph.D. in Education Leadership & Policy, both from the University of Texas at Austin. During his higher education academic career, Dr. Gonzalez focused his research efforts understanding and address issues related to college access, student success, adult learners, and college affordability. For his work, Dr. Gonzalez received several graduate fellowships to support his studies, along with various recognitions commending his scholarship.

Dr. Gonzalez currently serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of the Children – Austin, the Trinity University National Alumni Association Board, and the Austin Community Foundation Somos Austin Steering Committee. In his free time, Dr. Gonzalez enjoys spending time with his wife Andrea and their three young children, coaching/watching their respective games at Town & Country Sports, serving as Pond Springs Elementary PTA Vice President, and trying to keep up with his “pile” of podcasts and audiobooks.

During our podcast we discuss Latino higher education data, challenges regarding the successful matriculation of Latino students into higher education, and what are we doing to ensure Latinos and underserved communities and students have access to equitable educational opportunities.   We also discuss current Austin Community College priorities, the exploration of a potential bond election this November 2022, politics, chisme and Latino quality of life issues.

HABLA y VOTA is co-hosted and produced by Paul Saldaña, Lily Zamarripa-Saenz and Chris Tristan. Every Sunday morning at 9am we discuss the importance of our power, voices and votes. We have special guests that join us weekly as we discuss community and quality of life issues.

Join us every Sunday at 9am on HOT Tejano! https://hottejano.com (download the HOTTejano app).

Bienvenidos to HABLA y VOTA co-hosted and produced by Paul Saldaña, Lily Zamarripa-Saenz and Chris "TejanoMan" Tristan. Every Sunday morning at 9am we will be talking about the importance of our power, voices and votes. We will have special guests that will join us weekly, from Latino community leaders, elected/appointed officials, and candidates.

On Episode 16 of HABLA y VOTA we are joined by Special Guest Monica Maldonado, Founder of MAS Cultura. 

Monica Maldonado established MAS Cultura in the summer of June 2021. Raised in South Austin by a single immigrant mother, her inspiration is fueled by early childhood struggles. Both as an Austin Native and with 20+ years in multi-family property management she understands the inevitable change that comes with growth. Both her personal struggle and understanding of gentrification drives her passion for culture preservation. She believes that culture preservation and celebration of Latino culture begins with accessibility and representation.

Monica’s first project was curated in 2019, a pop art event showcasing photography of Austin’s Lowriders. Throughout 2020 and 2021 she has organized murals, initiated events/programming, and volunteered in areas identified as underserved. Monica also has been a strong supporter of emerging and underrepresented Latino artists. In 2021 Monica was the Project Manager of the inaugural Latino Art WKND, a three-day experience showcasing art from 65 Latino artists. She currently sits on the Cap Metro Art Committee, a participating member of the working group for the City of Austin Cultural Arts funding program, and a past juror for the AIPP (Art in Public Places) Dove Springs Health Facility. She was recently named a 2022 DivInc Champion of Change Rising Star Nominee.

During our episode we discuss the mission and initiatives of MAS Cultura, the importance of celebrating and advancing our cultura by empowering and advocating for Latino art, artists, and ideas. And the significance of investing in our Latino neighborhoods and community, through advocacy and cultural arts. We discuss the powerful words of Raul Valdez, Chicano Artist Juarez-LincolnUniversity/Chicano Cultural Center. “It’s impossible to be proud when you don’t know who you are.” 

Monica shares details about her recent visit to Uvalde, current initiatives and upcoming events intended to honor the victims, families and the community of Uvalde.  

HABLA y VOTA is co-hosted and produced by Paul Saldaña, Lily Zamarripa-Saenz and Chris Tristan. Every Sunday morning at 9am we discuss the importance of our power, voices and votes. We have special guests that join us weekly as we discuss community and quality of life issues.

Join us every Sunday at 9am on HOT Tejano! https://hottejano.com (download the HOTTejano app).