Portraits in Color

Dr. Frank recently had the opportunity to talk with three Latina leaders working in the Albuquerque area about their leadership journeys. Marisa Magallanez, Roberta Ricci , and Meriah Heredia Griego faced significant challenges and showed great resiliency in the face of racial and gender discrimination that has kept the doors of opportunity closed to many women, particularly women of color.  Learn about their stories and their commitment to opening doors for other women of color.

Soul Divine has been a staple of the Albuquerque music scene since 1997. In this episode, Dr. Frank and the members of Soul Divine share their history from the early days forming the group to opening up for the legendary James Brown. They also discuss their upcoming show "Uncovered", where they will be sharing their catalog of original music with their long-time supporters. The show on November 20, 2021 will also feature singer, songwriter Isaac Aragon and his band The Healing.

Soul Divine Links:
Facebook: @souldivineabq
IG: @souldivineabq

Isaac Aragon and The Healing Links:
Facebook: @isaacaragon.77
IG: @isaacaragonmusic

Downtown Albuquerque. Along historic Route 66 lies a community at the intersection of what once was, and what could be. Like most places, it has seen its ups and downs. A once in a generation pandemic, a struggling economy, and issues of crime and homelessness are issues downtown residents grapple with every day. Many businesses have boarded up, opting for more economically viable and safer parts of the city. But, I spoke to 5 area business owners who embody the fighting spirit of the city and are committed to making downtown a thriving area of town once again.

Special Thanks to Lola Bird and Danielle Schlobohm from Downtown ABQ Mainstreet for supporting this episode!

Featured Businesses/Organizations

The Brew
Tuerta 
Fusion Theatre Company
Sanitary Tortilla Factory 
Cecilia's Cafe

Check out the video version of this episode below:
The Story of Downtown

The recent mass shooting in Atlanta remind us of the deep divides that exist in our country. Naturally, given what we know about the case, we have to ask the question: "were the shootings racially motivated." Dr. Frank explores this question and gives insight to why we can't ignore the history of racism against Asian Americans in this country, the hateful speech that flowed as a result of the coronavirus, and the racist tropes of Asian women in particular.

This episode also sheds light on the inhumane treatment of children in detention facilities along the border as a result of failed U.S. immigration policy. Dr. Frank makes the case for comprehensive immigration reform and holds policy makers on both sides of the aisle to account for our nation's failed immigration policy.

BONUS: At the end of this podcast, Dr. Frank shares an unreleased music track titled "The Border," which was written, produced, and performed by Frank "Kiko" Mirabal.

The Border Credits:
Written, produced and performed by Frank "Kiko" Mirabal
Drums, Keyboards, Bass & Vocals: Frank "Kiko" Mirabal
Additional Vocals: Jak Bailey
Guitar Solo: Exavier "Mr. Ex" Viramontez
Spoken Word: Analisse Mirabal

The insurrection at the Capitol Building on January 6th will be forever etched in the minds of Americans.  On full display that day were White nationalists with their American and Trump 2020 flags,  showing their undying love for a president who promotes hate, while also proudly carrying signs with quotes from scripture.

Jer Swigart, Co-Founder of the Global Immersion Project is a peacemaker and pastor who confronts the racist past of the evangelical church and seeks to build church leaders who embrace a deeper understanding of Christianity--one that acknowledges the wrongs of the past while building anti-racist church leaders for the future. 

In this episode, Dr. Frank and Jer dive deep into the intersections of White nationalism and the church,  discuss his work as a global peacemaker, and explore a conversation where church leaders lead a movement that is rooted in justice. 

What would schooling look like if the school had a symbiotic relationship with the community? What would student engagement look like if we actually asked the students themselves how they wanted to be involved in their school and school community? These are some of the big questions guiding The Reciprocity Project, which is a pilot project of Future Focused Education in Albuquerque, NM.

In the wake of high-stakes testing, The Reciprocity Project seeks to engage voices outside of the education sector to reimagine what education should look like. This new vision pushes schooling outside of the traditional accountability framework where teaching to the test and school report cards became the norm.

Tony Monfiletto, Moneka Stevens and Kateri Zuni from Future Focused Education discuss issues of institutional racism, new measures of student accountability and much more in this episode.  

You never fully appreciate life's simple pleasures until they are gone.  For Greg Webb, a world traveler that has visited over 60 countries, COVID-19 has grounded his travel for almost a year now.  As he will quickly acknowledge, travel restrictions are a necessary step towards getting a once in a lifetime pandemic under control. However, the itch to travel is at an all-time high.

In this episode, Greg talks about his many travel adventures, including trips to Cuba, Serbia, and a hilarious story that involves Spain, Vespas, and super glue.  He also offers valuable tips for traveling the world on a limited budget. 

In May of 2018, Tess took a DNA test and submitted it to Ancestry. A sealed adoption at birth left her with no details of her birth parents. However, submitting her DNA test was more about learning her ethnicity than finding new family members.

Lacey submitted her DNA to Ancestry in 2015 at the urging of her sister Amy, who is the family historian. Unlike Tess, she was not adopted and wanted to learn more about her family history.

Little did they know their worlds would collide. Their DNA results would reveal deeply buried family secrets, unexpected branches to their family trees, and would provide answers that they were not necessarily seeking. Follow all of the interesting twists and turns of their story on the latest episode of Portraits in Color.

If you would like assistance in finding family members through DNA, Amy McKane is here to help. Please contact her at Your Family History Mystery on Facebook. 

Baracutanga is a seven-piece band representing four countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and the United States. The band was born out of a mutual love for traditional South American music, and a now legendary jam session. Their music is a reflection of the times covering social justice issues, such as immigration and women’s rights. 

This episode was recorded using COVID safe practices at Studio 519 in Albuquerque, NM. It also features two, live studio performances from the band. 

Links to learn more about Barcutanga

Band website

Facebook page

Latest releases

In perfect 2020 fashion, this year’s presidential election has been filled with conspiracy theories, allegations of voter fraud, and unprecedented voter counts and recounts in battleground states. As we near the deadline for states to certify their results, one thing is clear: voter engagement during this election cycle--pandemic and all--was at an all time high. 

As the saying goes, victory has many mothers and fathers. There has been no shortage of groups that feel confident that they put the Biden-Harris ticket “over the top.” The Native American population, in particular the Navajo Nation came out big for the democratic ticket. Then there’s the Stacey Abram effect in getting out the African American vote in Georgia that delivered victory in a key swing state. Both of these narratives are true. So, what role did the Latino vote play in this election? 

To answer this question, Dr. Frank recently had the opportunity to catch up with Dr. Gabe Sanchez, Principal at Latino Decisions and Professor of Political Science at the University of New Mexico to discuss the nuance of the Latino electorate and its impact on the 2020 election.