Here we are

As we have done since the early days of this magazine, La Voz is published from February to December. So, we are back, beginning 2025 with our twenty-first year of uninterrupted publication. This month, La Voz brings stories of struggle, entrepreneurship, art, health, the environment, and more—stories that reflect the diversity and strength of our Hispanic community. Each story is a testament to the effort, creativity, and resilience of those striving for a better future in our beloved Hudson Valley. Here we are, and we are not leaving.

In the American Dream section, Miriam Schwartz interviews Laura Lecour, General Manager of the Rural Migrant Ministry (RMM), who reminds us that the American Dream is built not only through individual effort but also through solidarity. Her work with migrant families has transformed lives, providing education and opportunities in often hostile environments. Her story highlights the importance of community work in overcoming poverty and paving the way for new generations.

In Your Money, Celia Vázquez Martínez presents the BRIICO initiative, which proves that it is possible to turn an idea into a sustainable source of income in less than 30 days with minimal investment. With accessible programs and daily support, this organization is helping immigrants like Lucía—an Ecuadorian who went from being a domestic worker to owning her own cleaning business—achieve economic independence and stability.

This month, we introduce a new column, Our Artists, led by local artist and professor Camilo Rojas. Rojas pays tribute to Raquel Rabinovich, who lived in the Hudson Valley from the 1960s until her recent passing. Rabinovich was a visual poet whose work captured silence and the essence of human existence. Her legacy endures in international collections and exhibitions, as well as in the memories of those who knew her and shared her vision.

In the Good Taste section, Bard College student and grandmother Ixmucane Pereira writes about the documentary collection Spaces of Exception, which takes us on a journey between two communities separated by continents but united by their struggle against oppression and dispossession: Native Americans in the U.S. and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The screening of these stories at Bard reminds us that resistance is a universal language and that art can be a powerful tool for awareness and social change.

Ivette O’Sullivan, certified in menopause coaching by GGS, writes about menopause in the Healthy Living section. Despite being a natural process that all women go through, menopause remains surrounded by misinformation and taboos. In this issue, O’Sullivan offers a clear guide on the three stages of menopause and how to manage symptoms healthily. Knowledge is power, and speaking openly about these processes is essential for physical and emotional well-being.

In her column The Power of Love, holistic psychologist Dora Inés Grosso García explains how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects people of all ages, influencing their ability to concentrate, organize, and control impulses. Grosso García helps us understand its symptoms and causes, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and proper support to improve the quality of life for those affected.

Being a parent of a teenager with autism involves constant challenges and learning. In the Parenting section, teacher Olga Maritza Salazar shares practical advice for guiding these young individuals toward independence while promoting inclusion, respect, and understanding. Creating safe and loving environments is key to helping teenagers with autism thrive, explains Salazar.

The need to transform our buildings into energy-efficient structures is not just an environmental issue but also an economic and health concern. This is explained by physicist and environmental scientist Diana Ürge-Vorsatz in an interview for the Environment section. She also discusses why biomaterials and deep retrofitting are key solutions for reducing emissions and improving the quality of life for those living in these spaces.

As always, we also include a comprehensive Resource Guide and messages from our local sponsors. We continue moving forward with our commitment to inform, inspire, and connect our community. If you have ideas for topics, interviews, or comments for future articles in La Voz, write to us at [email protected] and make your voice heard!

Come and read La Voz in February 2025!

Mariel Fiori
Director

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