Vanguardia with James Garcia

Kathy Hoffman is the incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Superintendent of Public Schools in Arizona, where nearly 50 percent of K-12 students are Latino. Vanguardia America's James Garcia interviewed Hoffman about her goals for a second term if she is able to get reelected on November 8. Hoffman is running against Republican Tom Horne. Photo: Flipboard

Rosie's House is the largest free music edition program in the nation. Eighty percent of the children it serves are Latino. Vanguardia America's James Garcia recently took a tour of the organization's new 15,000-square-foot facility near downtown Phoenix with CEO Becky Bell Ballard ahead of its grand opening celebration on November 5.  For more information on how to attend the grand opening celebration, which is open to the public, or to donate to the organization, visit rosieshouse.org. 

Meet Hector Flores, co-founder and artistic director of Las Cafeteras. Hector is a self-described Leo, poet, pachuco, pachanguero and soccer lover, yeller, songwriter, producer, storyteller, cultural worker and one of the artistic directors of Las Cafeteras. Hope you the enjoy the interview.

The band was in Arizona at the Chandler Center for the Arts to perform its Day of the Dead show, "Hasta la Muerte," October 28, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. 

More about Hector: He is the oldest of 6 children and was raised in East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley with parents born of Indigenous and Mexican roots from Morelia, Michoacán and San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora.  He graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a Degree in Chicana/Chicano Studies.  Holds over 10 years of organizing experience working with the California Faculty Association (CFA), Strategic Concepts in Organizing Policy Education (S.C.O.P.E) and served as Co-Director of Youth Organizing at InnerCity Struggle in East Los Angeles.

Joseph Garcia is the director of public policy for Chicanos Por La Cause and the executive director of the Si Se Vota, CPLC Action Fund, which is leading a $10 million campaign called Latino Loud that’s aimed at boosting the Latino vote in Arizona. The organization is making a big push between now and the Nov. 8 mid-term elections, and Joe talked to host James E. Garcia, no relation, to tell us all about CPLC’s get out the vote campaign, and to share who the CPLC Action Fund PAC is endorsing in the races for the top elected posts in Arizona, including the governorship.

ARIZONA - Adrian Fontes is running for Secretary of State, the top elections office in Arizona. Born in Nogales, AZ, Fontes is a lawyer, ex-Marine, and the former elections chief in Maricopa County, a key battleground during the 2020 presidential election and ground zero in fight against the country's election deniers led by now former President Donald J. Trump. Fontes' opponent is Mark Finchem. We interview Fontes, who would be Arizona's first Latino Secretary of State if he's elected, about his race and the state of democracy in America. 

ARIZONA - Melissa Garcia, Chief External Affairs Officer of Planned Parenthood of Arizona talks about the impact of the recent chaos surrounding abortion law on the lives of Hispanic women in Arizona.

PHOENIX, AZ - AZHCC President/CEO Monica Villalobos provides highlights from DATOS: The State of Arizona's Hispanic Market.

PHOENIX, AZ - Ghosts of Bogota, a play by Diana Burbano, directed by Alejandra Luna, and presented by Stray Cat Theatre

In this episode, we talk to Stray Cat Theatre, which has been busting norms for its entire existence. But this year the company is doing something even more unconventional — every play this season is written by a person of color and every production is directed by a person of color. Why? Stray Cat Theatre's Ron May says it just made sense, especially given the Phoenix community's changing demographics. In this interview, we talk to May (who self-identifies, half facetiously, as a "middle-aged white guy," Alejandra Luna, the show's director, and actor, Shelly Trujillo, who calls this her most challenging role ever. If you know Stray Cat Theatre, Ghosts of Bogota, like their previous work, tackles tough topics, including sexual molestation. While it may not be appropriate for all audiences, the show addresses the issue tastefully, with a laugh (yes, it's a dark comedy), and with whole lot of irreverence. As this episode posts, there are just three more performances, Oct. 13-15. So, get your tickets now. Go to straycattheatre.com or by call the Tempe Center for the Arts at (480) 350-2822.

The University of Arizona has reneged on its promise to restore the home of the state’s only ever Latino governor, Raul H. Castro. Last week, a Tucson television station reported the house will not be refurbished and instead will be put up for auction. For her part, Castro’s daughter, Beth Castro, says she’s frustrated with this  turn of events. Vanguardia America host James E. Garcia spoke with Castro and has this report.

(Editor's Note: Vanguardia America reached out to the University of Arizona for comment, but received no response.)

United Cerebral Palsy Association, a national disability advocacy group that represents 56 affiliates nationwide, recently hosted its inaugural Conference on Latinos with Disabilities. The virtual conference was held on Sept. 21-22, 2022. Vanguardia America host James E. Garcia, who also works as a contract communications and policy consultant for UCP, served as coordinator of the conference — though Vanguardia America is not formally affiliated with UCP. In this two-part report, Garcia and UCP President Armando Contreras discussed the goals of the conference, how that ties into the mission of UCP, and why disability groups nationwide should do more to reach out to the country's burgeoning Latino community.