Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus members spoke to several notable guests during the month of August. We heard from an “undocu-queer” Chicanx artist in Oakland about how he incorporates art into his immigration activism; we chatted with a Latina who was named her state’s 2019 Teacher of the Year for her outstanding methods as an educator; we learned from a Democratic ally in Washington, D.C. about why each state’s attorney general is a critical elected position in fighting the Trump agenda; and we caught up with an amazing professional singer and businesswoman also in California who engaged with us in a bilingual discussion about her experience growing up on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Check out the names below in bold font to see who we spoke to this month.

As a reminder, all of our podcast episodes can be accessed here (or seen with episode summaries here).

ICYMI: We’re also on Apple Podcasts/iTunes! Click here to check us out.

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An Engaging Bilingual Discussion With All-Around Super Woman Martha Soledad

The amazing Martha Soledad, an accomplished businesswoman, published author, and professional singer, took some time out to join the Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus in our most recent podcast. Like so many other Hispanic Americans, Martha can identify with two cultures, two languages, and fully knows the immigration struggle. In Martha's case, she is U.S.-born but has proud roots all the way from Oakland to Michoacán.

In this episode, we speak to Martha about the absolute need for civic engagement from every available voter. While addressing the unique community of U.S.-born-but-foreign-raised Latinos, we explore this rarely-discussed community within the spectrum of Latinx identity. Our guest also shares her experience of people affected outside our borders and across Latin America. Finally, we discuss the urgency of the next presidential election in the U.S. and Martha encourages us all to not merely talk about “doing something,” but to actually take meaningful action. Have a listen to this episode with Martha Soledad and we guarantee you won't be disappointed. ¡Sube el volumen!

“Martha is a spitfire with superwoman energy in her professional life. Her passion for civic engagement is positively contagious.” - caucusita Alison Maciejewski

“With deep roots in the binational community that she loves, Martha connects with people on a personal level, on both sides of the border, in a way few others can.” - caucusito Sam Stone

Hispanic Caucus participants in this episode: Alison Maciejewski (DA Czech Republic), Sam Stone (DA Mexico), and Rebecca Lammers (DA United Kingdom). Podcast intro/outro music provided by Carlos Colao (DA Spain).

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“¡Defend DACA!” A Brief Chat With Chicanx Artist/Activist

Nicolas González-Medina

If you’ve been to Oakland, California within the last few years, you've likely seen the work by this episode’s podcast guest. This week the Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus caught up briefly with the talented Nicolas González-Medina, an artist and long-time political activist. An expert with his paint brush, screen printing and woodwork, Nicolas has his art proudly displayed on buildings, at pro-immigration rallies, on political advertisements, in fashion shows -- you name it.

As a self-identified “undocu-queer” Chicanx artist, Nicolas is an undocumented immigrant who was born in Mexico but arrived in Chicago as a child. He spent his childhood there, his adult life in California, and is just as “American” as his Chicagoan friends who happened to have been born in the U.S. Check out this brief conversation we had with Nicolas to hear first-hand yet another moving story of someone needing the Senate to do the will of the American people and pass the Dream and Promise Act. #SinPapelesSinMiedo

Hispanic Caucus participants in this episode: Alison Maciejewski (DA Czech Republic) and Amerika García-Grewal (DA Fiji). Podcast music provided by Carlos Colao (DA Spain).

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Raising The Education Bar With 2019’s Kentucky State Teacher Of The Year Jessica Dueñas

Somewhere on the south side of Louisville, a teacher is providing boys with the knowledge and tools to be America's next generation of leaders. On this week's podcast, Jessica Dueñas, the 2019 Kentucky State Teacher of the Year, chatted with the Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus on a variety of topics, including her experience in declining a White House formal ceremony invitation earlier this year based on the Trump Administration’s “values” conflicting with her own set of principles.

It’s no secret that young men of color may encounter negative future life experiences due to ongoing stereotypes, racial profiling, low expectations, and so forth. But she and her school, the W.E.B. DuBois Academy, have raised the bar for having a bold curriculum based on the diversity of the student body such as including minorities’ contributions to our country rather than excluding them (per “traditional” teaching methods). Of Cuban and Costa Rican heritage and unapologetic of pointing out certain politicians’ attacks on public education, Jessica is one Latina educator in the Bluegrass State of which we’re all extremely proud of and grateful for. Have a listen to this insightful discussion and remember to subscribe via Podomatic or iTunes to get notified of new episodes!

Sus comentarios en español comienzan a las 15:22 en la conversación. (Jessica’s Spanish-language remarks begin at 15:22 into the conversation.)

Hispanic Caucus participants in this episode: Nelleke Bruyn (DA Costa Rica), Greg Dolezal (DA Vietnam), and Michael Ramos (DA Australia). Podcast music provided by Carlos Colao (DA Spain).

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DAGA’s Lizzie Ulmer And Understanding The Critical Role Of Your State's Attorney General

With an incompetent Trump Administration and extremist lawmakers pursuing a far-right agenda, each state's attorney general is the last line of legal defense for the American people. Working hard to get these elected officials into office is Lizzie Ulmer with the Democratic Attorneys General Association, or “DAGA.” Have a listen to Lizzie explain why having Democratic AGs is critical in protecting our democracy from those who seek to do harm to our communities of color, our environment, women’s reproductive rights, and more. Make no mistake - the dozens of court cases by states winning against the Trump Administration over the last two years are directly attributable to the hard work of Democratic AGs.

Lizzie also touched on the diversity of DAGA-supported AGs, including one candidate of color who would be an amazing addition to DAGA if elected. If you’re an American living abroad, we hope you find Lizzie’s commentary just as enlightening as we did and that you learn a bit about a branch of the Democratic Party not often on the front pages. Because every year there are elections for state AGs, requesting your ballot should always be a top priority.

Hispanic Caucus participants in this episode: Alison Maciejewski (DA Czech Republic), Lori Smith (DA Mexico), and Angelo Goode (DA Philippines). Podcast intro/outro music provided by Carlos Colao (DA Spain).