Philadelphia Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Today is not only Guatemala's Independence day but is also the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. If you are looking for some fun, educational, and/or interesting activities to do in honor of your child's heritage check gophila.com's latest press release highlighting Hispanic Heritage Month activities. Here's the link:

http://www.gophila.com/Go/PressRoom/pressreleases/From_Parades_to_Poetry_Readings_Hispanic_Heritage_Month.aspx

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Feria Del Barrio

The 26th Annual Feria Del Barrio takes the fiesta to the streets of Philadelphia. This exciting event is hosted by Philadelphia's world-class Latino arts institution, Taller Puertorriqueno. The day is chock full of Latino music and dance acts. Food is being provided by local Latino restaurants and crafts and games will be there to entertain the children. It all happens Sunday September 20th. For all the details click here:

http://www.tallerpr.org/getdoc/bdf65e3a-246d-4205-9cbf-e5728dcea57d/.aspx

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Festival Hispano

The 15th Annual Festival Hispano will take place in Millsboro, DE this Sunday. The festival features a Guatemalan Marimba music and dance group. The event runs from noon to 6pm and is free. To learn more click here:

http://www.yosoydelmarva.com/elcentrocultural/site/index.html

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Adoption and School Assignments

If you are already dreading school assignments like "the family tree" check out Christine Mitchell's Adoption Awareness in School Assignments. It is a 12 page pamphlet that identifies problematic assignments for adopted children and offers constructive ways for parents and educators to address them. Here's the link:

http://www.adoptionpolicy.org/Adoption_Awareness_Schools.pdf

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Smithsonian's Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off

The Smithsonian is planning a celebration for the whole family to mark the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. Their website states:

The day includes craft-making and art activities, music and dance performances, storytelling, and bilingual tours...The theme is “Living in Many Worlds,” which explores the dynamic intersection of family, history, and cultural identity.

To learn more about this free event click here:

http://latino.si.edu/newsevents/

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Phillies Latino Family Celebration

The Philadelphia Phillies are throwing a fiesta for all their Latino fans. There will be Latino music, dancers, food, and fun! Not to mention discounted tickets to the Phillies game too. This all happens Wednesday September 2. To get all the details click here:

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/phi/ticketing/theme/latino.jsp

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Sesame Place's Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Mark your calenders, Rosita's Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration returns to Sesame Place. The fiesta takes place September 19&20th. To learn more click here:

http://www.sesameplace.com/sesame/pa/eventdetail_sept_rosita_heritage.aspx

If you want to take advantage of the group discount post to our yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phillyguatemalanadoptivefamilies/

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Maya Artists

The Maya artists from the highlands of Guatemala have a website. It has everything from large oil paintings to 2010 calendars. It is a beautiful website that is definitely worth a visit:

http://www.artemaya.com/

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Franklin Institute Race Exhibit

The American Anthropological Association and the Science museum of Minnesota have created a traveling exhibition that explores the biological, social, and personal aspects of race in our society. Currently the Franklin Institute is hosting this interactive experience. To learn more click here:

http://www2.fi.edu/race/

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Guatemalan inspired Casserole

Hominy was created in Guatemala around 1200 BC. It is the basis for masa that fills tamales. It has also become part of the Southern U.S. diet. It is used to make grits. The article below contains a simple low fat version of southern hominy casserole. Looks like an easy way to try cooking with hominy. Now if you know of a simple Guatemalan recipe using hominy please share!

http://www.examiner.com/x-7386-Nashville-Healthy-Food-Examiner~y2009m6d21-Country-hominy-casserole-recipe-reduced-fat-version

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Nova Special: Cracking the Maya Code

Cracking The Maya Code follows the dramatic story of how the Maya Hieroglyphics were slowly decoded by unlikely candidates. The 52 minute PBS program can be viewed online courtesy of hulu.com Enjoy!

Smithsonian Festival Explores Latino Culture

The 43rd annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival "will explore music and its meaning in Latino culture in Las Americas: Un mundo musical/The Americas: A Musical World." The Festival starts Wednesday, June 24, and continues through Sunday, June 28, and then begins again Wednesday, July 1, through Sunday, July 5. It is an outdoor festival located on the National Mall between 7th and 14th streets in Washington D.C. Admission is free. Here is a link to the full press release:

http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/folklife09_las_americas.htm

Here is a link to the full schedule of activities:

http://www.festival.si.edu/visitor/schedule.aspx

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Adoption at theTheatre

A jeopardized transracial adoption is the context for Little Lamb, the latest performance being staged by InterAct Theatre company in Philadelphia. The InterAct website states:

It tackles, in a blend of issues...multiple themes: adoption, in this case gay adoption; building transracial families; and bigotry based on stereotypes in Latino, African American, gay, and religious communities.

The play by Philadelphia playwright Michael Wistler opened this week. It runs through June 28th. Philly Fun Guide is offering a half price discount for tonight! Click here for more info:

http://www.interacttheatre.org/2008-2009-feature-4.html

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Attention Bookworms

The next two author events at the Philadelphia Free Library feature Latino authors. Tonight Luis Alberto Urrea discusses his novel Into the Beautiful North and on Tuesday June 2nd Eduardo Galeano speaks about his work Mirrors: Stories of Almost Everyone. Click here for all the details:

http://libwww.freelibrary.org/calendar/calbydate.cfm?type=2

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Ancient History of Tikal

Tikal, Guatemala is an ancient Mayan city with a rich history. On June 3rd Penn Museum will host "Great Sites Lecture Series : Tikal: Changing Views of Ancient Maya Urbanism". If you would like to see Guatemala from a schloarly angle check out the musem's site for more info:

http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/events/calitem.php?which=1832

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People in the Know

It seems most media outlets cover international adoption in two ways: one family's sweet happy-ending adoption story or a sensationalized attack full of sweeping generalizations and misleading material. There are exceptions. This past Sunday The New York Times ran a series of editorials pertaining to international adoption and Madonna. The featured guests included Elizabeth Bartholet of Harvard Law School, E.J. Graff of Brandeis University, and Dr. Jane Aronson of Worldwide Orphans Foundation. Each expert wrote their own uniterrupted editorial on the subject. It's a must read!

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/celebrity-adoptions-and-the-real-world/#more-6787

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Take Me Out to the Ball Game

On June 13th BRAG members and their guests will be cheering on the Camden Riversharks at Campbell's field. This event is a FUNdraiser for BRAG to help defray costs of our organization so invite everyone you know! Here's how it works.

1) Cut and paste this link:
http://cs1.glitnirticketing.com/csticket/web/logingroup.php
2) Type in the password BRAG (ALL CAPS)
3) Purchase your tickets
Or
1) Go to www.riversharks.com
2) Select Fundraiser on left hand side of the screen
3) Select Yellow Log-in Icon on right side of screen
4) Type in the password BRAG (ALL CAPS)
5) Purchase your tickets.

We will all be sitting together in section 201. Get ready to root root root for the home team!

Thoughts on Culture Camp

The Ties organization recently began a Q&A series intended to give voice to adopted people, adoptive families, and adoption professionals. In the current issue adoptees discuss how their culture camp experiences effect their birth country travel. To read what adoptees had to say click here:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs023/1102498753086/archive/1102571519639.html

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Guatemalan Sweet Cakes

This simple and yummy sounding recipe for Guatemalan Sweet Cakes was found on epicurious.com. It contains a brief explanation of the Guatemalan quesadilla. Enjoy!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Guatemalan-Sweet-Cakes-239695

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Free Concert!

Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas recently hosted a BRAG cultural event that got rave reviews. Now Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas will be putting on a free Latin Jazz concert at the Kimmel Center's cafe as part of a big Spring Fling event. It happens Friday May 8th. For all the details click here:

http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/plaza.php

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Guatemala Vacation Tips

"Budget-conscious travelers with a thirst for adventure should consider Guatemala, a country less traveled by American tourists but no less fascinating than its neighbors. " writes the New York Daily News. The article recommends centering yourself in Antigua and then directs you to the best volcano climbs and open air markets in neighboring villages. To learn more click here:

http://tinyurl.com/c2ga3x

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Latino Images in Film

Every Tuesday and Thursday in May Turner Classic Movies will spotlight Latino images in film. UCLA Media Professor Chon Noriega will introduce and provide commentary for the series. 32 films in total will be featured. So stock up on popcorn and make some room in the DVR. Click here for all the info:

http://www.tcm.com/2009/lif/index.jsp

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Change brought by the Maya Nut

The Maya nut is empowering Guatemalan women, saving the rain forests, and providing nutrition to the impoverished people in Guatemala. These videos tell the story:





To read more about Erika Vohman's project click here:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/04/16/cnnheroes.erika.vohman/index.html?iref=mpstoryview#cnnSTCText

Thanks Kris H. for sharing this amazing story!

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Post Adoption Newsletter

Want to know more about homeland tours, transracial adoptee identity issues, or post adoption depression? Wide Horizons has put together an informative newsletter on post adoption topics. Here's the link:

http://www.whfc.org/resources/postadopt.htm

Thanks Sam H. for sharing this!

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Latino Super Foods

Even if you don't cook you can inject a healthy dose of Latino culture into your cupboard. Checkout Sarita's list of Latino super foods and learn about all the great health benefits they provide. Here's the link to her blog:

http://latinonutritioncoalition.blogspot.com/2009/04/super-foods.html

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Book Club: Hummingbird House

Our Quarterly Book Club meets next month to discuss the novel Hummingbird House by Patricia Henley. Hummingbird House, a national book award finalist, tells the story of a midwife in Guatemala who "struggles to face new territories of love and war in the middle of her life". To learn more about the book click here:

http://www.patriciahenley.com/books_hummingbird_house.shtml

To join the book club (virtually or in person) post to our yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phillyguatemalanadoptivefamilies/

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Happy Easter!

The Alfombra pictured above was created right here in Philadelphia! Alfombra's are a handmade Guatemalan creation that have spread throughout Latin America. Now they can be found in our own backyard, Incarnation of Our Lord Church to be exact. To learn more about Alfombra's and their importance check out La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo blog. Happy Easter!

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Bilingual Storyteller

Here's a fun and easy way to get the kiddos to learn Spanish. Check out renowned bilingual story teller Antonio Sacre at Philadelphia International Children's Festival. Antonio performs Saturday May 2 at the Bruce Montgomery Theatre. Click here for more details:

http://www.annenbergcenter.org/tickets/?id=39

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Semana Santana

Holy Week celebrations are happening in Antigua, Guatemala. La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo is capturing the annual creation of Guatemala's world famous Alfombras. To see the photos click here:

http://antiguadailyphoto.com/2009/04/05/holy-week-processional-carpets/

To find out about Philadelphia's very own Guatemalan inspired Alfombra read this post:

http://bragphilly.blogspot.com/2009/03/philadelphias-alfombra.html

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Get Ready to Cheer!

Thinking about jumping on the Villanova bandwagon? Well here's one more reason to start sporting some "Nova Nation" gear. Check out this touching article about Villanova star Scottie Reynolds (yes the one that made that amazing last second shot to take down Pitt) and his adoption story:

http://tinyurl.com/dkhhqt

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Latino Nutrition Coalition

The Latino Nutrition Coalition produces a website, a blog, a twitter account, shopping guides, nutrition facts, etc.... they describe themselves this way:

"The LNC creates practical, culturally-aware materials in English and Spanish that help Latinos combine the best of their healthy food traditions with the realities of modern American life"

With so much great info where does a busy American start? How about this healthy, yummy sounding, simple recipe for Black bean tortillas from Guatemala. Here it is:

http://www.latinonutrition.org/Recipes-OldwaysTable.htm#blackbeantortilla

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Giant Kite Workshop

Update: the workshop below has sold out! However, they will be doing another one in May. It will be posted here as soon as the information is available!

Looking for something to do this weekend? The Art Museum of the Americas is having a Giant Kite Workshop tomorrow where:

"participants will learn about the Giant Kites tradition in Guatemala, where kites are constructed, displayed and flown to celebrate the Day of the Day (Día de los Muertos). Combining geometric patterns with figurative images depicting Mayan Culture, this time-honored tradition continues to flourish in the villages of Supango and Santiago"

The museum is located in Washington D.C. (okay not exactly in our back yard but not too far away). Admission to the museum is free and the workshop only costs $5. It is an all ages event. There is a video of the workshop on their website. Click this link for all the details:

http://www.museum.oas.org/education.html

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Golf Tourism Lands in Guatemala

Fuego Maya might make a non-golfer pick up some clubs. It is Guatemala's first golf resort and is located just outside Antigua, Guatemala. Bunkershots.com has this to say:

"The 18-hole course was carved alongside the base of the active volcano named Fuego (Fire) and it offers the golfer inspiring views of three other volcanoes, plus the Pacific Ocean in the distance."

To read more about it click here:

http://www.bunkershot.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4524:guate&catid=61:golf-news-wire

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Growing season

If Michelle Obama's vegetable garden has got you inspired to start your own, why not toss in some Guatemalan goodies with all your other veggies? Check out Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds to get seeds from Guatemala and a little story about the seeds too. How cute. Just punch the word "Guatemala" into their online catalog. Here's the link:

www.rareseeds.com

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Philadelphia's Alfombra

The alfombra, a beautiful Guatemalan tradition, has made its way to Philadelphia! The Historical Society of Philadelphia has an intersting blurb about it on their website:

"Latino Catholics commonly observe Good Friday by reenacting Christ’s persecution and crucifixion. Rich pageantry like this affirms parishioners’ faith and brings religious communities together during the Easter season. Another religious tradition is that of the alfombra, an intricate sawdust carpet created by hand. Though traditionally Guatemalan, the alfombra has now become an important part of the Easter and Christmas celebrations for pan-Latino congregants at Incarnation Church, a Spanish-speaking parish in Olney."

Incarnation of Our Lord Church makes their alfombra available for all eyes to see on Friday April 10th. For more information about the church here is a link to their website:

http://www.incarnationofourlord.org/index.htm

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Maya History

The Maya have been making headlines lately due to the most recent discovery uncovered in Guatemala. Click here for that story:

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/12/1833838.aspx

If you would like to know more about the history of the Maya. Here is a brief description:

http://history.howstuffworks.com/central-american-history/maya-indians.htm

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CDC Makes New Rec For International Adoptions

A few weeks ago the CDC changed their recommendations about the vaccine for Hepatitis A. The CDC now says:

"everyone who is likely to be in close contact with the foreign adoptive children should receive the vaccination.This means family members, friends, caregivers, and anyone else who expects to come into close personal contact with the child within 60 days after the child arrives."

To read the full article click here:

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1024/20/29472/cdc-makes-new-recommendations-international-adoptions.html

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Charities in Guatemala

Interested in giving back? There are many many organizations working in Guatemala. Informed Adoption Advocates highlights some of their favorites. The chart tells you the types of programs they run, what cities the organizations work in, and volunteer opportunities they offer. Check it out:

http://www.informedadoptions.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=308&Itemid=31

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Pottery and Politics

Painted Metaphors: Pottery and Politics of the Ancient Maya is an exhibit coming to Penn Museum April 5th. The museum website tells us:

Around 700 C.E. Chamá and the other towns and villages along Guatemala’s Chixoy River were hubs of activity, crossroads of trade and pilgrimage, channeling the movement of people and ideas at the height of Maya civilization. This is the story of the ancient Maya as lived by these villagers and the rediscovery of their history by archaeologists today.

To get all the details and download free podcasts about the exhibition click here:

http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/exhibits/exhibits_upcoming.shtml

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Philadelphia's Centro Musico

Music lovers this article is a must read! Centro Musico is at the heart of the Latino music scene in Philly. Find out about their radio show, brushes with fame, and their living breathing store that seems more like an arts center than a retail locale. Here's the link:

http://temple-news.com/2009/03/03/philly-moves-to-the-latin-beat/

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Guatemalan Goodies Delivered

A Guatemalan baker and a Guatemalan living in the U.S. have teamed up to join Antigua Flavors and Colors, an online retailer that ships Guatemalan baked goods to the U.S. If you got a hankering for a hunk of authentic Guatemalan pastries but want to skip the plane ride check out the site. You'll find lots of yummy looking foods and other fair trade goods.

http://antiguafc.com/Home.php

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Processions

Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent, a holy time in the Catholic Church. People from all corners of the world travel to Antigua, Guatemala during this time to witness and participate in the stunning processions that take place there. To get a glimpse of these bright, colorful, massive celebrations click here:

http://www.enantigua.com/Galeria/Coleccion.php?sec=32&catId=32&catName=La%20Rese%C3%B1a&idioma=Espanol

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3rd Annual Hispanic Music Festival

Philadelphia's renowned arts center The Painted Bride hosts the 3rd Annual Hispanic Music Festival on March 21st. To sample the music and get all the details check out this link:

http://www.latinfiestainc.com/

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Elmo Learns Salsa

Update 4/13/09: This episode is no longer airing. We will keep an eye out for its return!

Elmo Learns Salsa is currently available for free if you have Comcast On Demand. Look for the Sesame Street episodes in the PBS Kids section of the On Demand menu.

Cascarones

Heads up! Cascarones are coming. Cascarones are hollowed out eggs filled with confetti. On the day before lent (Feb. 25th this year) children in Guatemala smash them on each other heads. Fun! To see some photos of Guatemala's cascarones click here:

http://antiguadailyphoto.com/

Want to make your own? Crafty Chica has a how-to:

http://www.craftychica.com/blogs/projects/2005/03/cascarones.php

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Put on your Dancing Shoes

In a recent post entitled Perspective on Birth Culture adult adoptee told parents they should immerse themselves in their child's birth culture not just their child. Well opportunity knocks. Main Line Night School is offering a 5 week Latin Dance class so put on your dancing shoes. Here's the link:

http://mainlineschoolnight.org/CourseStatus.awp?&Course=09SDA22094

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Diversity in Schools

Academics? Proximity? Extracurriculars? Diversity? How to pick a school? The Anti-Racist parent discusses how to make decisions about schooling.

http://www.antiracistparent.com/2009/02/09/dear-arp/

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The Grammys

This Sunday the recording industry's annual Grammy awards take place. If you have been thinking about incorporating some Latin music into you home here's the scoop. There are 8 different Grammy categories for Latin music. They are:

1. Best Latin Pop Album
2. Best Latin Rock Or Alternative Album
3. Best Latin Urban Album
4. Best Tropical Latin Album
5. Best Regional Mexican Album
6. Best Tejano Album
7. Best Norteño Album
8. Best Banda Album

If you go to the itunes store you can listen to clips of all the Grammy nominees. Just click the Grammy's icon on their homepage and then click "see all nominees". The Tropical Latin albums will warm you up on this cold February day!

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Kudos to Helping Mayan Families

BRAG member Julie H. and her group Helping Mayan Families received kudos in the Mayan Families January newsletter. Julie's group participated in medical programs, veterinarian programs, and holiday programs this past December. Yeah Julie! To read the newsletter click here:

http://community.icontact.com/p/mayanfamilies/newsletters/mayanfamilies/posts/mayan-families-newsletter-for-january

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The Guatemala Times

The Guatemala Times is an online news outlet (in English) that strives to be " the most creative online media organization about Guatemala in the World." They cover culture, science, the environment, archeology, technology and more...Check 'em out:

http://www.guatemala-times.com

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Something for Nature Lovers

Guatemala has more than 700 species of birds according to Avibase - the world bird database (the entire United States has just over 1,000). People come from all over the globe to check out Guatemala's rich biodiversity. To learn more about Guatemala's birds or to learn how to incorporate some bird watching on your next trip to Guatemala check out this article:

http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=EN&region=us&list=clements

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Perspective on Birth Culture

Adult Adoptee Jae Ran Kim discusses incorporating adoptee's birth culture into family life. When is it being forced? How little is too little? To hear what she has to say click here:

http://www.informedadoptions.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=240&Itemid=31

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GAFE

GAFE is back! GAFE stands for Guatemala Adoptive Families Events. This summer 150 families will gather in Parsippany, NJ and participate in fun, educational, and valuable activities related to adoptions from Guatemala. To learn more check out GAFE's website:

www.gafe-network.org

GAFE is limited to 150 families so if you want to go register now!

Philly's Latino Restaurants

Battling cabin fever? Maybe a night out at one of Philly's many Latino restaurants is what you need. Check out gophila.com for reviews of the Latino dining scene. Here's the link:

http://www.gophila.com/C/Your_Philadelphia/14/Diverse_Philadelphia/287/Hispanic_Philadelphia/270/Hispanic_Restaurants_and_Dining/269.html

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Latino Murals of Philadelphia

Philadelphia has many beautiful murals. The website Muralbase calls Philadelphia "The Mural Capital of the World". You can find exact locations and view thumbnails of more than 25 Latino themed murals around Philadelphia on their website. Click here:

http://www.cml.upenn.edu/murals/mbQueryAction.asp

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Adopting in 2009

What was the first step you took in your adoption journey? For many prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) the first step is to find someone who has adopted and ask a lot of questions. Now that you are an adoptive parent you may find yourself at the receiving end of those questions. Many things changed in the adoption world last year. Adoption Now: Finding a Child in 2009 can be found in The AFA's (American Fertility Association) monthly newsletter. If you want to help the PAPS out there, be informed:

http://www.theafa.org/newsletter/images/dec2008/feature.html#a

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No Offense

The award winning poet Kevin Young confronts playground racism in his powerful poem No Offense. It can be read and commented on at the Anti-Racist Parent website. Don't miss it! Here's the link:

http://www.antiracistparent.com/2009/01/12/you-know-i-dont-mean-you/

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Sounds from the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian has added a new feature to their online exhibits. They have created Radio Latino. According to their website Radio Latino, "draws from the Latino audio holdings of the Folkways Collections—old and new—creating a cultural pastiche of sounds, styles, and cultures that hint at the vast cornucopia of music and cultural expression in the Latino world"

Click here to learn more and listen:

http://latino.si.edu/collections/about_radiolatino.htm

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Gotcha Day, Family Day etc...

How do you celebrate the anniversary of your child's arrival? Adoptive Families magazine asked their readers this question and got replies that described everything from big parties to quiet family conversations about adoption stories. If you'd like to read about them click here:

www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=926

Please share your own stories in the comment section. Some of us need ideas!

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Food and Culture

Warning: This post may induce hunger. Rudy Giron, the author of the blog La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo, recently posted his best, or as he calls it most "emblematic", photo of the year. He chose a beautiful photo of the Guatemalan dish Caldo de Pata. His description of the meal goes beyond taste and texture. Giron explains the rich history and culture of the meal that has its origins in the Mayan culture. Here's the link:

www.antiguadailyphoto.com/2009/01/01/guatemalan-cuisine-caldo-de-pata

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