Stand for a Cause!

Everyone deserves to be heard. And when not one but many voices speak out and stand for something, our voice, your voice moves the cause toward change.

For years I've been raising awareness about Diabetes. Joining the American Diabetes Association and the millions of people who have raised awareness to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

It all started in 2009 when the company I worked for recruited me to start a campaign. Myself and a very influential Administrator, Norman, went on a mission to spread the word to STEP OUT! for a cure. Friends, Family and Co-workers joined us to raise $10,000 for the 3k walk. All in support for an amazing cause. We were acknowledged with a plaque for raising the most funds. The plaque was appreciated however the greatest reward was bringing all those folks together and raising awareness. The cause was deserving of our fundraising efforts. We did it!



Since that time, members of the Sugar Free Riders have joined forces to raise awareness, funds and ride in the Long Beach ADA Tour De Cure. Up the St Thomas and St Vincent bridges down 32 miles of scenic terrain, joined by thousands of other cyclists.

Every ride much more rewarding than the last. Faye Altobar and Amos Anderson consistently ride along side of me while our friends and family encourage our success by donating thousands of dollars.

This year we will ride on April 29th. visit http://main.diabetes.org/goto/SugarFreeRiders

Every moment is a reminder that standing for a cause is one more way to say I LOVE MY LIFE! - Joanna (Jo) Diaz

Affirmation for the Day

I chose to feel love, compassion and joy. Allow the pleasures in life to fulfill every minute of every day, forever. - Joanna Diaz

Sujeiry Radio: Love Introspection and Joanna Diaz

Radio personality, author and blogger who most recently interviewed Jo Diaz will be on THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW on February 17. Watch and support a fellow artist. MUAH Sujeiry Gonzalez. To your success!! Listen in on the insightful interview with Joanna Diaz.

Sujeiry Radio: Kim Kardashian and Mark Sanchez, Love Introspection and Joanna Diaz

8 Ways Nominated for an Imagen Award

Nominees for 24th Annual Imagen Awards Announced
Black-tie Event Scheduled for August 21st at Beverly Hilton Hotel to Honor Latino Talent and Projects in Television, Film and Live Theater

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 15, 2009 MEDIA CONTACT
info@imagen.org

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Imagen Foundation has announced the nominees for the 24th Annual Imagen (Spanish for “image”) Awards, honoring positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino culture in entertainment. The awards will be presented at a black-tie dinner gala on Friday, August 21st, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Major sponsors of the event include Nielsen, The Walt Disney Company, Disney/ABC Television Group, The Lear Family Foundation and Latino Public Broadcasting.

The Imagen (pronounced ee-mah-hen) Awards program was established in 1985 from a suggestion by veteran television producer Norman Lear to encourage and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in the media. Later, as The Imagen Foundation, it expanded its programs and initiatives to further its mission to serve as a bridge between the Latino community and the entertainment industry in providing access, education, and resources for Latinos both in the industry, as well as those seeking careers in entertainment. More information on the organization as well as details of the event can be found at www.imagen.org, click here to go to our Facebook fan page or www.twitter.com/imagenfound.

Winners will be selected by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latino community leaders. Following are the finalists for this year’s Imagen Awards in their respective categories. [Please note that two categories did not meet the minimum number of entries required for award consideration and therefore have been eliminated from contention: Best Actress/Feature Film and Best Supporting Actress/Feature Film.]

Best Primetime Television Program
Ugly Betty (ABC) Lost (ABC Studios)
Cold Case (CBS) Capadocia (HBO)
Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story (Lifetime)

Best Actor/Television
Hector Bustamante, Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story (Lifetime) Benjamin Bratt, The Cleaner (A&E)
James Roday, Psych (USA Network)

Best Actress/ Television
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty (ABC) Alana de la Garza, Law & Order (NBC)
Selena Gomez, Wizards of Waverly Place (Disney Channel); Judy Reyes, Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story (Lifetime)
Caitlin Sanchez, Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon)

Best Supporting Actor/Television
Raymond Cruz, The Closer (TNT) Rudy Reyes, Generation Kill (HBO)
A Martinez, Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story (Lifetime) Jimmy Smits, Dexter (Showtime)
Carlos Bernard, 24 (Fox Television) Jorge Garcia, Lost (ABC)

Best Supporting Actress/Television
Ana Ortiz, Ugly Betty (ABC) Marlene Forte, Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story (Lifetime)
Cote de Pablo, NCIS (CBS) Eva La Rue, CSI: Miami (CBS)
Ana Ortiz, Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story (Lifetime) Maria Canals-Barrera, Wizards of Waverly Place (Disney Channel)
Gina Ravera, The Closer (TNT)

Best Children’s Programming
Dora The Explorer (Nickelodeon) Handy Manny (Disney ABC)
Maya and Miguel (Scholastic Media) Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (Nickelodeon)

Best Documentary/ Television
A Class Apart (Latino Public Broadcasting) The Last Conquistador (Latino Public Broadcasting)
Latinos ’08 (City Projects) Habla Ya (HBO)
Angel in the Hood (EZ Public Relations)

Best National Informational Program
Despierta America – De Lava Platos a Chef (Univision) Despierta America – La Casa de Martha (Univision)
National Wildlife Federation – Campus Chill Out (Mundo Maravilla) Viva La Familia - Niñas Teniendo Niños (Todobebe)
Extra (Time Telepictures)

Best Local Informational Program
Inside Locke High School (KCET PBS) Camino a la Universidad (WLTV Univision 23)
Vista L.A. (KABC) Dominican Dreams (KTTV Fox11)

Best On-Air Advertising
El Corrido de Papi - Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Arenas Entertainment) Crash the Parties ’08 (SiTV)
Mun2 Image Spot: You’re On (Mun2) FSE Strings (Fox Sports en Español)
HBO Latino Year Ender (HBO) Hershey’s Mothers Day Vignette (Telemundo Network)

Best On-Air Advertising (PSA’s)
LatinoBud.com – Hispanic Scholarship Fund (4 Elements Entertainment) LatinoBud.com – Hispanic Kidney Foundation (4 Elements Entertainment)
University Health Systems – Child in Injury (Creative Civilization) Malaria No More – Every Goal Saves a Life (Fox Sports International)
U.S. Army Vignette (Telemundo Network)

Best Variety or Reality Show
De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7 (HBO) Jammin (SiTV)
Quiero Mis Quinces –Cristina (MTV tr3s) Dog Whisperer (National Geographic Channel)
The Chicas Project (Mun2)

Best Feature Film
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures); Don’t Let Me Drown (Parts & Labor Film)
Nothing Like the Holidays (Overture Films) Sleepdealer (Maya Entertainment)

Best Actor/Feature Film
Andy Garcia, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Luis Guzman, Maldeamores (Maya Entertainment)
George Lopez, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Edward James Olmos, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Best Supporting Actor/Feature Film
Manolo Cardona, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Cheech Marin, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Paul Rodriguez, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Best Director/Feature Film
Kenneth Castillo, The Drive-by Chronicles: Sidewayz, (Plus Entertainment) Alex Rivera, Sleepdealer (Maya Entertainment)
Georgina Riedel, How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer (Maya Entertainment) Carlitos Ruiz, Maldeamores (Maya Entertainment)

Best Feature Documentary
Viva La Causa (Bill Brummel Prods.) Soy Soldado (Juan Escobedo)
Beisbol (Winston Davis Assoc.) Pushin’ Forward: The James Lilly Story (Fanlight Prods.)
Crude (atRadical Media)

Best Theatrical Short
The Book of the Border (UCLA Film & TV) Francisco Ordoñez (Varona Prods.)
On A Sunday Afternoon (Valor Prods.) Rising Up (Eduardo Letamendi)
Tupi – Rebellion in the Backlands (Sandwiches & Juice Prods.)

Best Live Theatrical Production
8 Ways to Say I Love My Life and Mean It! (CASA 101) Rick Najera’s Daddy Diaries (Latinologues Inc.)
Lydia (Los Angeles Center Theater Group)


# # # #

8 Ways - is coming to the New LATC - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Real Women Have Curves’ Josefina Lopez among Writers
to Debut Audience Favorite at the new LATC on May 9

Los Angeles, April 22, 2009 — After sold-out shows at Casa 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights during Women’s Herstory Month, “8 Ways to Say 'I Love My Life' and Mean it!” will premiere at the new Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, May 9, 2009, Mother’s Day weekend. The play, which is part of the new LATC’s Spring on Spring Street Theater Festival will be directed by Diane Rodriguez, recipient of The National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group Directing Award in 1998.

“8 Ways” is a collection of monologues, derived from a forthcoming book by the same name, written by eight women and based on their lives. The “8 Ways” theater performance inspired audiences during its successful 10-show run at Casa 0101, located in Boyle Heights, Calif., in March 2009 and was named “Editor’s Hot Pick” by LatinoLA.com. The monologues will be performed by actresses Jacqueline Calderon-Guido, Kikey Castillo, Michelle Castillo, Yolie Cortez, Yvonne DeLaRosa, Sophia Santi, Iliana G. Wrinkle. Writer Rita Mosqueda Marmolejo will perform her own piece.

In addition to Ms. Marmolejo, the eight writers include author and screenwriter Josefina Lopez (“Hungry Woman in Paris” and “Real Women Have Curves”); author Susan Orosco (“Latin Power: Seven Powers all Latinos Have Upon Which to Build an Empire”); Bel Hernandez (Latinheat.com publisher and editor-in-chief); Margo De Leon Guerra (current Voces Latinas club president); communications specialist Laura De Anda, implementation consultant Joanna Diaz; and producer and screenwriter Nancy De Los Santos Reza. Seven of the writers met through Voces Latinas Toastmasters, a nonprofit speaking and leadership club, based in Los Angeles. Ms. Orosco co-founded this President’s Distinguished Toastmasters club in 2002, Ms. De Leon is the current club president (2008-2009), Ms. De Anda is immediate past club president (2007-2008) and Ms. Diaz and Ms. Reza are current club officers.
Designed to motivate and inspire others, the monologues and stories “demonstrate there is always a way to turn pain into power,” Ms. Orosco said.
Audience members who saw the performances raved:

“I love the play. All the actresses are very talented and it is very [well] written.” –Patricia Alcalde, TV Las Vegas
"I am deeply grateful to all eight writers who opened their souls so deeply and to the eight actresses who acted - no - who lived - these stories as if they were coming out of their bones/guts/hearts." – Dr. Anne P. Warman, marriage & family therapist

"Empowering! This amazing show not only transcends gender and cultural boundaries, but it inspires the human spirit to embrace and accept its beauty. Thank you for the best theater experience I've had in a long while." – Norma Maldonado

“I laughed, I cried, I looked in the mirror and saw a glimpse of what true love really means! Thank you. Mil gracias.” – Raquel Salinas, cultural artist

General admission is $35 for the "8 Ways" theater performance at 8 p.m. on May 9. Students and seniors are $15. Tickets may be purchased at www.thenewlatc.com. New
LATC spring season passes are $100, and are valid for admission to new LATC performances through June 14. The new LATC is located at 514 South Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013.

For more information about the 8 Ways production, contact: Susan Orosco at 626.255.2659 or Bel Hernandez at 310.464.5290. For more information about the new LATC, call 213.489.0994.