By AnaMaria Bech

How often have you heard it is better not to mix business and family? This common phrase does not apply to thousands of family businesses, where values, respect, and love help companies grow from generation to generation.

Mawí Tortillas is a local company led by Carlos Avelar and his sons Wilfredo and Fernando in collaboration with Raul. It has already proven that combining the family’s talents can drive success. 

Wilfredo Avelar is a renowned chef from New Orleans who became interested in cooking from a young age while working as a busboy. “One night, the fryer cook didn’t arrive. I signed up to cover for him and never left the kitchen,” remembers Chef Avelar. 

He wanted to be an architect but studied Culinary Arts at Delgado Community College. Even though his father didn’t want him to sacrifice family time being a chef, he never stopped supporting him. Shortly after, Chef Avelar gained recognition by working for one of America’s most famous chefs, Emeril Lagasse. “I didn’t have enough words to tell people that my son was a champion, that he opened Meril as the executive chef,” says Carlos, beaming with pride and satisfaction.

During his work at Meril, Chef Avelar met his suppliers, including the original owners of Mawí Tortillas, the only place in the region that offered fresh, daily-made tortillas. When he learned the business was for sale, Avelar saw it as the perfect venture for his father, who didn’t want to sit still after retiring.

“If things are meant for you, they will happen for you,” says Carlos. Despite facing significant financial constraints and initial setbacks, the Avelars persevered. They didn’t give up even after several failed negotiations. The owners saw their potential and made a proposal that Carlos could access. The Avelars seized the opportunity to carry out the business they once dreamed of. Father and sons united their strengths and bet on Mawí Tortillas in 2017. 

Armed with his recently acquired business administration knowledge from the University of New Orleans, Fernando stepped up to the challenge. At first, they sold only 50 pounds of tortillas a week, facing the challenge of rebuilding their clientele. However, with their relentless efforts, sales began to improve. “We had to start from scratch because the clientele was lost,” said Fernando. By taking flyers to stadiums, churches, and businesses, people learned that Mawí had the best fresh tortillas. “My son met many chefs, and that’s how our clientele from the best restaurants in the city grew,” says Avelar. Mawí Tortillas became the largest supplier to restaurants and special events such as weddings, quinceañeras, and various celebrations in two years.

In 2019, Chef Avelar dedicated himself entirely to the family business.  In 2020, the pandemic led them to reinvent themselves, and thus the restaurant arrived. He returned to the kitchen and created a Central American menu inspired by the flavors he encountered, thanks to the foods of El Salvador on his father’s side and Costa Rica, where he spent time with his mother, discovering the flavors from the region.

Initially, they offered takeaway dishes so those confined by the pandemic could enjoy an elevated homemade flavor. The pupusas, the Honduran tacos, the birria tacos, the aguas frescas, and, of course, their tortillas were recommended by people and by food experts as an excellent option of Latin food in Metairie. 

In 2022, they doubled the space of the tortilla factory, adding ample space for diners. The tortilla machine had to find a bigger place, and thus came the factory in Kenner. Nowadays, Mawí Tortillas wholesale a minimum of 50 pounds of tortillas a day. For both the restaurant and the tortilla factory, “things are changing,” says Wilfredo. The Avelars tell us that exciting news is coming in the Fall from Mawí, but they can’t reveal it just yet. “We are thrilled with these opportunities and challenges approaching us. The most important thing is that since it is a family business, we support each other,” says Carlos. 

While these changes are happening, Chef Avelar is strengthening his consulting and advisory clientele. He is developing concepts for the Hufft Marchand Hospitality Group, and this summer, he will be traveling to South Carolina to train the restaurant chefs of the luxurious gated community of Bray’s Island. “One of my goals is to obtain more clients to grow my consulting company,” says Wilfredo.

Carlos fondly recalls when he used to take his children to his job and rebuild houses after Hurricane Katrina. Instilling family values, work ethic, and teamwork is a tradition in the Avelars. With a sparkle in his eyes, Fernando expresses his love for his job, his joy in exploring all aspects of the company, and his continued creativity. “I take pride in knowing that I am part of a legacy with my family,” he says with a smile. 

Wilfredo is following his father’s example. “I plan to put my oldest son (Sebastián) to work with me this summer and teach him to be responsible and have a work ethic. That’s something you can’t teach on the first day of a job; it has to be learned at home,” says Wilfredo.

The family decided to lend a hand to the community. Mawí Tortillas provides delicious tortillas and food and opens its space to hold pop-ups, allowing emerging chefs to promote their cuisine. They also invite companies, nonprofit organizations, and even mobile consulates to hold their meetings at the premises, fostering a strong sense of community and support.

The Avelars will continue reaping successes and supporting each other during their company’s growth. We await the good news that will arrive in the fall for Mawí Tortillas.

Para leer este artículo en español, clic>>Deejay Carolina

Many know her as Deejay Carolina, but those close to her call her Carol. She wanted to study psychology until she met her now husband and manager, Juanes Altamirano, a.k.a. Deejay Juanes, an established New Orleans Latin nightclub and radio DJ. Dating him made her curious to find out how it all worked. “It’s like when you get on an airplane, and you see a pilot’s control room with all the buttons and stuff… and I would think, ‘How do you do this?!’” She recalls telling Altamirano she wanted to learn how to DJ. “I don’t think he took me seriously at first,” she laughs. He gave her one week to prove she was serious. He soon learned Zavala had an exceptional talent. “Her good memory,” he said. He added that most DJs usually cue a song or two to mix into what’s currently playing; Zavala could cue up to seven songs without forgetting them. ‘Carolina learned in one week what it took me many years to learn,” said Altamirano. 

Zavala made her DJ debut at the House of Blues in New Orleans. She remembers being excited and nervous. “I knew a lot of people were curious to see how I was going to do.” She felt pressure to do well and favorably represent Deejay Juanes, her mentor.

Her popularity kept growing. She DJ’d a set at every notable nightclub in New Orleans and its surrounding areas. In 2014, the NBA sought a female DJ who could mix English and Spanish format for a party after the All-Star Game. Deejay Carolina got the gig. After that, she had bookings in nightclubs and festivals outside Louisiana. In early 2015, Univision announced DJ auditions to compete in the DJ@PJ competition for Premios Juventud (Youth Awards). Even with fans tagging her in the post, she told Altamirano she didn’t think she had a chance. He told her, “Do it anyway because you may have something else that other DJs don’t have,” remembers Zavala. “Ever since that moment, I began to believe in myself.” She competed for six weeks, became a fan favorite, and was the only female in the top three. The national exposure catapulted her to play in almost every U.S. state and presented Zavala with opportunities to open for major music acts such as Daddy Yankee, El Torito, Zacarías Ferreíra, and Bad Bunny, to name a few. 

Since the beginning of her DJ journey, she established El Macaneo (Honduran Slang for Wild Party or Good Time), a virtual DJ concept to entertain her fans on Facebook LIVE and to give exposure to independent musicians. When the nightclubs closed during the pandemic, Zavala strengthened her connection with her audience, turning El Macaneo into a virtual nightclub concept with over 4 Million followers. She took El Macaneo to TikTok LIVE with viewers from all over the world. 

Deejay Carolina’s future goals know no bounds. With a tour spanning 40 U.S. cities plus Latin American and European stops on the horizon, she’s a force to be reckoned with in the music world.

Beyond her DJ prowess, Zavala dreams of expanding her family. She chuckles when asked if she would add a little Deejay Carolina or little Deejay Juanes to the mix. “Only one, boy or girl. Whatever God sends!” She wants to leave a lasting legacy for aspiring female DJs. “I wasn’t the first Latina female DJ, but one of the firsts, and I know I have opened doors for other girls to do what I love,” Zavala says. Through her journey, she’s shattered stereotypes, proving that women can thrive in the male-dominated realm of DJing.

Catch Deejay Carolina in action on El Macaneo, or book her for your next event. Follow her journey on social media as Deejay Carolina for the latest updates and mixes.

Para leer en español, presión aquí: Empoderar: La misión de Lindsey Navarro

By Axel "Lola" Rosa

Lindsey Navarro is the founder and Executive Director of El Centro Inc., a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization providing financial literacy and entrepreneurial training in Spanish to the Latino/Hispanic community in south Louisiana. Many know her for her bright smile, vibrant personality, work ethic, ambition, and, most importantly, because she’s probably the only person who honestly and wholeheartedly helped a favorite Latino/Hispanic business, such as a coffee shop or taco spot file the necessary paperwork to be able to operate. So what drives this Mardi Gras-loving, Panamanian descent, Houma, LA-born and raised, entrepreneurial-driven woman to do her work?

Her mother, Gloria Navarro, was a commercial banker for nearly four decades and the first female Market President at b1Bank. Her late father, Juan Navarro, was a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur designing and implementing sugar mill factory equipment and specializing in providing consulting services for the sugar cane and beet industry. As a child, she had the opportunity to spend all her summers with her grandparents in Panama, where they owned a distribution center. “I would wake up in the morning and help my grandmother check in all her customers. They would drop off all the merchandise in the mornings, and we would return to the office and count money from 8 o’clock (PM) to midnight.” Navarro cherished these moments and recognized her family’s entrepreneurial spirit. “My grandfather’s brothers all had businesses as well, and some were bankers, so I grew up in an environment where being an entrepreneur was a thing.” 

Navarro holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from St. Peter’s University. Initially, her goal after earning her bachelor’s was to attend law school. She lost interest in that path, even with accomplished opportunities such as working at a law firm and the District Attorney’s office and interviewing for an internship with the Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation. “I knew I wanted to continue my education, so I had to do some sort of a Master’s (Degree) in something.”  She had a boyfriend in college who was studying international business, and she used to review all his papers. She jokes, “He used to say, ‘You know you should study marketing. You’re really good at this.’ I was like, ‘Ahhhhh, no thanks!’ I was stubborn about getting my degree and didn’t want to be one of those kids who switched majors.” 

Little did she know she would later get an MBA from Loyola University New Orleans and start her own business almost a decade later.

After earning her MBA, Navarro began working for LiftFund, a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Corporation (CDC) that supports small business owners through small business loans and technical support. During her seven years with LiftFund, Navarro was instrumental in deploying more than $1.2 million in microloans to Latino/Hispanic entrepreneurs across Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. 

“I had traveled a lot of the U.S. and saw in 2015 that the organizations providing financial literacy didn’t have language accessible services even in metropolitan areas where the Latino/Hispanic population was larger.” She began her work at home and opened El Centro in March 2018. The first program launched in August through a microgrant from the Mexican Consulate of New Orleans, where El Centro provided services through their financial literacy window (Ventanilla de Educación Financiera) with monthly workshops and one-on-one coaching to customers coming through the Mexican Consulate. 

Since launching, El Centro has served more than 6,000 Spanish-speaking individuals via seminars and consultations and has reached more than 190,000 virtually. In 2021, El Centro, operating with just one volunteer, facilitated the deployment of $174,000 in microgrants to ITIN (Income Taxpayer Identification Number) holders and helped customers gain access to more than $250,000 in PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) and EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster) loans.

Ana Gonzalez, owner of La Vaquerita (The Cowgirl), a Mexican clothing store in Gretna, remembers the difficulties of starting her business and how people tried to take advantage due to her language barrier. “I lost a lot of money and business because no one spoke Spanish or wanted to help with documentation and processes,” said Gonzalez. She remembers thanking God the first time she heard about El Centro at the Algiers Flea Market. “A young lady passed out flyers and said, ‘We help you with your business. If you’re opening your business, we can help you and we speak Spanish.” Gonzalez made an appointment with Navarro. Thanks to Navarro and her organization’s efforts, Gonzalez secured a retail space for her clothing store soon after. “Lindsey personally took care of me. She took me by the hand, went with me, and spoke to the landlord about securing this location for me.” Beyond that, Navarro recommended that Gonzalez take computer courses offered at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “I learned more about my business and using a computer. Now I’m not afraid of the computer,” chuckled Gonzalez. 

Aside from contributing to the economic development of Louisiana and providing free programming to the Latino community, Navarro loves to “Let the Good Times Roll!”. She is one of the co-founders and holds a legacy position at the Krewe of Themis, an all-women’s krewe that believes in social justice and community service. “I love it; we are a mixed crew. Very, very diverse. We have a great time parading!” Navarro wanted to be a part of a krewe for a good time and to relay a message to young Latinas. Themis’s signature throw is a hand-decorated umbrella. “Last year, all my umbrellas were themed ‘Poderosas (Powerful Women)’ like an homage to our Latinidad (Latina Identity).”  Holding back tears, she adds, “Who doesn’t dream of being at a parade, Uptown? I imagine myself as a little girl reaching for a special throw and catching an umbrella from a woman who looks like me and hands a powerful message around Latinidad. That was a great opportunity to say, ‘Share your heritage and be proud of who you are because WE ARE PODEROSAS’”. 

Navarro’s work won’t slow down anytime soon. As the Latino/Hispanic Spanish-speaking community grows, so does El Centro. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 62.1 million Hispanics in the U.S. in 2020; in 2060, the population will reach 111 million. By then, roughly 1 in 4 Americans will be Hispanic. Navarro highlighted this paragraph from the book Uncolonized Latina by Valeria Aloe, MBA: “We (Latinas) open businesses at the highest rate across all population groups. We are the engine of the American economy, contributing a massive $2.6 trillion to the US GDP. This figure is so significant that if we were our own country, we would be the eighth largest economy in the world.” 

Navarro is working to serve these entrepreneurs. Last month, El Centro received a three-year grant of $450,000 to provide language-accessible wealth-building programs for 400 Latino residents of New Orleans as part of the Economic Mobility in Motion project. They continue to receive significant grants from organizations that believe in the impact of the various programs provided by El Centro.

Navarro’s upbringing, education, and personal experiences throughout her life have contributed to her strong business mindset and success. Her ambition to identify and find solutions to problems and create change is unmatched! Like most like-minded entrepreneurs who find their calling or knack, Navarro’s calling is to change how Latinos gain financial access. 

When she’s not decorating umbrellas or sailing on her boat, you can find her fighting for change within her community with a big smile while encouraging a network of Latino business owners to take the next step in their careers or businesses. One thing is sure: Navarro is a proud Latina living in the U.S. “I love our heritage, I love our culture.” With a hand in the air, she says, “I am a Latina. Loud and Proud!”

Para español clic: ¡Gracias, Padre Sergio!

By AnaMaria Bech

After leading the Hispanic Apostolate ministry for over ten years, Friar Sergio Serrano, O.P., leaves Louisiana to carry out a new mission in Orlando, Florida.

On July 4, Serrano took advantage of the move to enjoy one of his passions: traveling on his motorcycle. “I’ll be doing 1,100 miles. I chose that date because I love the United States, and I arrived here in the United States on a Marian feast on July 16.”

Since he was a child, he wanted to be a priest. Still, his path was not a straight line.“I wanted to learn about music, the military, motorcycles, girls, everything. So I learned music, did other services, and entered religious life. It didn’t go very well, left, and then I came back”, he said. But his taste for challenges, scuba diving, motorcycle racing, and extreme sports, including skydiving, motorcycle racing, and traveling, remain.

The journey to Florida will be one of the first trips he will make in his new job as a fundraiser for an organization of bishops.”The order has requested that the Dominicans work a little more for the poor. Every weekend, I will travel to a different church nationwide, talking about this agency to get people to donate.” 

Since his ordination on June 9, 2007, Serrano has had multiple assignments in various locations. In all, his mission has been to rebuild.“The reconstruction process is encouraging because it helps me understand that I am in that plan of redemption where a God rebuilds a fallen humankind, revives it all the time, and makes it better. So when they send me to a place with the challenge to rebuild, I am very happy; I love it”.

In 2006 he came to New Orleans to rebuild the faith and churches destroyed or scattered by Hurricane Katrina. “Everyone was displaced, and the provincial told me that he saw in me the ability to rebuild, to build a community.” He worked in St. Dominic for three and a half years. He then traveled to Ecuador, where he raised more than 1 million dollars for the poorest church in the city, a monument that needed restoration. He went to Miami for six months and returned to New Orleans to rebuild the Blessed Seelos Parish, where he spent a year cleaning, fixing, and building. When it was ready, he was assigned to Memphis, Tennessee, but the archbishop requested him to stay in New Orleans. He remained the director of the Center of Jesus the Lord, which would relocate, and at the same time, worked in the Hispanic Apostolate to see if he could recover it.

“I said I am not going anywhere to close. I’ve gone everywhere to open and rebuild.” Since May 13, 2013, he has been working in the Hispanic Apostolate.” Another Marian feast,” he emphasizes.

He recovered and strengthened the Hispanic Apostolate. They restructured and expanded its various programs, provided support after multiple hurricanes, gave visibility to the community’s economic needs, and made alliances with numerous entities. Serrano was integral in educational and communication efforts during a global pandemic, a desperate time, especially for immigrants with language barriers and away from loved ones. Apart from these initiatives, he also arranged for the arrival of eight priests and seminarians to serve a community short of Hispanic priests. The volunteer base he leaves counts with over 300 members ready to help.

New Orleans has given Serrano many life lessons that have helped him grow. “I feel extremely blessed because I have great friends in New Orleans; I have people I can call my family today.” 

He will take from this city all the love and support that they have given him. He confesses he will miss the oysters he loves, along with gumbo, jambalaya, and lobsters. “I’ll take a little water from the Mississippi; as they say, whoever drinks water from the Mississippi will return.”

As for what he leaves behind, his legacy has been showing that Hispanics can improve this country. “We have a lot of talent and potential because we are resourceful, have lived with little, and know how to make a lot from a little bit. So coming to this country and multiplying what it offers and taking our talents to make it better. And most importantly, knowing that none of this is possible if we do not have God in our hearts.”

By AnaMaria Bech

ucy Bustamante is a New Orleans-born journalist who recently returned to her hometown to receive special recognition for her successful career. She discovered her passion at Cabrini High School, when a teacher nominated her to participate in a teen television program on Channel 4, WWL-TV called Our Generation, produced by Dominic Massa and hosted by Sally Ann Roberts, that provided early exposure to many teens in the area. “It was an incredible start to a young career for sure, and I loved it all the time.”

She was first an intern at WWL-TV Channel 4 and then worked as a production assistant at WVUE Channel 8. She moved to Biloxi, gained more experience as an associate producer, and received a phone call two years later to return to Channel 4 in 2004 as a reporter. She was there when New Orleans needed her the most; in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Later in 2006, Bustamante took over the evening anchor spot. And for four years, she was on the television screens of thousands of Louisiana’s households daily, professionally telling the news and winning over viewers’ hearts with charm.

Bustamante made many of the area’s Latino residents proud because she could speak Spanish and was happy to talk about her Cuban tradition and roots. Her Cuban culture is strong. She married a Miami-born Cuban who moved to New Orleans when she was hosting the evening news. A few years later, it was her time to support her Navy SEAL husband in the next step of his career in Virginia Beach. She left her hometown, family, and a prime-time television job. Her company allowed for a lateral transfer to a sister television station in Norfolk, Virginia, where she continued to anchor the news for a few years before moving again and settling in Philadelphia. Being a military wife, she faced the many challenges of moving around and constant deployments while juggling the demands of working on the news and becoming a mother of four. She works in Philadelphia, anchoring the morning news at NBC10 and providing breaking news coverage in Spanish for Telemundo62.

Lucy Bustamante visited New Orleans last May for a few events, including her induction into The Den of Distinction at Loyola University. This honor is reserved for” individuals who have distinguished themselves nationally through a lifetime of accomplishments or extraordinary achievements,” according to Dr. Kennedy Haydel, interim dean of the College of Music and Media at Loyola University. Twenty outstanding alums have been inducted into this hall of fame since its inception in 2012. A reception outside of campus became a special homecoming for the successful journalist. “Lucy is a generational talent. She has a heart for her community and a commitment to excellence that inspires everyone she touches. Lucy is an unforgettable force that represents the standard at Loyola’s School of Communication and Design. I’m honored to have her as our 2023 inductee,” stated Dr. Kennedy Haydel.

This event gathered some of the most recognized faces on television, producers from various channels, family, colleagues, and friends. The gathering was a testament to Loyola University’s impact on the journalism field of New Orleans and Lucy’s impact on her colleagues. “For Loyola to create an event that brought so many loved ones into a room and to be able to look 20-something years into this career and say this crew is truly my extended family was beyond special,” she said.

Bustamante made many of the area’s Latino residents proud because she could speak Spanish and was happy to talk about her Cuban tradition and roots. Her Cuban culture is strong. She married a Miami-born Cuban who moved to New Orleans when she was hosting the evening news. A few years later, it was her time to support her Navy SEAL husband in the next step of his career in Virginia Beach. She left her hometown, family, and a prime-time television job. Her company allowed for a lateral transfer to a sister television station in Norfolk, Virginia, where she continued to anchor the news for a few years before moving again and settling in Philadelphia. Being a military wife, she faced the many challenges of moving around and constant deployments while juggling the demands of working on the news and becoming a mother of four. She works in Philadelphia, anchoring the morning news at NBC10 and providing breaking news coverage in Spanish for Telemundo62.

Lucy Bustamante visited New Orleans last May for a few events, including her induction into The Den of Distinction at Loyola University. This honor is reserved for” individuals who have distinguished themselves nationally through a lifetime of accomplishments or extraordinary achievements,” according to Dr. Kennedy Haydel, interim dean of the College of Music and Media at Loyola University. Twenty outstanding alums have been inducted into this hall of fame since its inception in 2012. A reception outside of campus became a special homecoming for the successful journalist. “Lucy is a generational talent. She has a heart for her community and a commitment to excellence that inspires everyone she touches. Lucy is an unforgettable force that represents the standard at Loyola’s School of Communication and Design. I’m honored to have her as our 2023 inductee,” stated Dr. Kennedy Haydel.

This event gathered some of the most recognized faces on television, producers from various channels, family, colleagues, and friends. The gathering was a testament to Loyola University’s impact on the journalism field of New Orleans and Lucy’s impact on her colleagues. “For Loyola to create an event that brought so many loved ones into a room and to be able to look 20-something years into this career and say this crew is truly my extended family was beyond special,” she said.

Bustamante’s accomplishments include four Emmy awards, one Telly, several Associated Press awards for best anchor, and three regional Edward R. Murrow awards in 2011 for writing a documentary about the Affordable Care Act in Virginia. She also received one for breaking news in 2004 in New Orleans and a Peabody Award for coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Before that, she traveled to Cuba to cover the first gubernatorial trade trip between Louisiana and Havana under President Bush. She also co-hosted LIVE with Regis and Kelly with the late Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa.

Bustamante devotes much of her efforts to raising awareness about diversity in media, and she has been lucky to count on managers with the vision of supporting diversity before it was a global trend. As a young girl in New Orleans, she used to call the Spanish radio station to request songs at her father’s command, and the anchors would keep her on to chat with her live on the air. In Virginia, she served as the morning news anchor for La Selecta 103.3 at WVXX-FM, a Spanish-language radio station. In Philadelphia, she also anchors for Telemundo62. While she strives to neutralize her Cuban Spanish and takes advice from her Venezuelan and Colombian colleagues on certain words, she tells young Latino journalists who aspire to be in the news not to lose their Spanish language, as the need for information in Spanish is growing. She pays special attention to immigration news and strives to provide a balanced account of the stories of Latinos in town.

She has made it her mission to bring fairness to veterans’ stories in the media. In conjunction with NBC News, Bustamante created the “American Vets” reporting series, where she and other journalists around the country are covering issues impacting veterans in the states and abroad. In November 2022, she co-hosted and co-produced American Vets: Beyond the Battlefield, an NBC News Now Veterans Day streaming special highlighting the issues our veterans with PTSD face. “I realized there was this false sense of patriotism in the media when they would aim for the military and tell stories a certain way to propagate this idea that being military and patriotic means being extreme. I said that is not how we live,” said Bustamante.

Much news coverage is based on identities, which can celebrate diversity. “There is a movement for promoting culture with employee resource groups and corporate spaces where they want you to talk about your identity: as a woman, as a Latina, and as a person of color,” Bustamante explains. A superficial focus on those identities can create division and extremism, which happens more in underserved communities. “If you don’t tell the stories of what most of them [Veterans] are like, then you’re going to have these hate groups attaching themselves to only one trope of their identity, and it’s the violent side, and that’s not OK because that’s farther from the truth; and the media it could be farther from the truth,” she says.

With this project for NBC, Bustamante and her colleagues have been covering veteran stories more deeply as a network and in individual newsrooms. The project continues to grow, paired with an effort by NBC Universal to hire more Veterans in their newsrooms. “There is no need for corporate TV America to pin them [Veterans] against each other when that literally can lead to the destruction of our American society,” says Bustamante.

While championing important issues, Bustamante continues representing New Orleans wherever she goes. She misses her hometown’s sense of community and the South’s warmth, which she knows is hard to find elsewhere. “There’s a reason that you have three network morning shows anchored by women with New Orleans ties; we just know how to show the love, we know how to receive it, we know how to give it,” she says.

Returning to New Orleans isn’t a plan. For now, Philadelphia is good for her family. She will continue providing balanced information to English and Spanish audiences and champion the causes she believes in. She is now at the Den of Distinction of Loyola University and will continue to be celebrated here because New Orleans loves Lucy.

Universal Beauty In Town

By Ana García

Click aqui para español- >Belleza Universal en La Ciudad

Sarah Nunez was crowned Miss Louisiana RIM in 2018 and Miss NOLA in 2017, and the Louisiana beauty queen graces our cover as New Orleans prepares to host the 71st Miss Universe competition for the first time.

Viva Nola: Where are you from?

Sarah: I am originally from Chalmette, Louisiana. We are neighbors to New Orleans. So when Hurricane Katrina hit, both my mom’s and dad’s homes were destroyed, so we moved around a lot, but I found my way back. 

VN:  What is the process for participating in beauty pageants?

Sarah: To become a part of the pageant circuit, you have to reach out to the pageant system of your choice. I was recruited by a sponsor of one of the pageants in 2017 and I fell in love with competing and meeting so many amazing people along the way.

VN: What are the benefits of participating in beauty pageants?

Sarah: I have made so many friends along the way because you form a sisterhood with a lot of the participants. Also, I was able to travel and create so many memories along the way through volunteering. There are so many opportunities that come with it.

VN: How can girls get into beauty competitions? 

Sarah: The best way is to reach out through the pageants’ websites and to see if there are any preliminary pageants to compete in first. The organizations make it easy to apply. I have been a part of a few different systems like Miss Louisiana Collegiate, Miss Louisiana USA, and Miss Louisiana RIM, an international system. 

VN: What advice would you give to girls who dream of being a “Miss”?

Sarah: Be yourself and NEVER give up. I know it may sound cliché, but that is what makes you stand out from the rest. So putting in the work will do nothing but elevate you in the future. 

VN: As a former Miss Louisiana and Miss NOLA, what does it mean to you to have the Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans?

Sarah: I am so excited to see the Miss Universe pageant here in the city. I have always dreamed of seeing it live, and now I have the opportunity to do it.

VN: We will have many visitors for the pageant. What do you like the most about Louisiana?

Sarah: The thing I love most about Louisiana is each city's culture. The people of Louisiana are so warm and welcoming with a touch of spice, which is ALWAYS a good thing! 

VN: What do you like the most about New Orleans?

Sarah: What I love about New Orleans is the people here, plus all the food! I work at a large venue in New Orleans, and everyone I meet is always so happy to be there. It’s a beautiful thing. I also love to cook and eat, so the food is just an added bonus. 

VN: What would you say to a person interested in visiting New Orleans for the first time?

Sarah: If you are visiting New Orleans for the first time, my biggest suggestion would be to research all of the cool spots to see because even though I live in the New Orleans area, currently, I am STILL finding hidden gems throughout the city!

Aarón Sánchez Makes an Impact

Click aqui para español- >Aarón Sánchez y su impacto

Aarón Sánchez is one of the world’s most distinguished chefs. You have seen him host and star in multiple food shows, most notably as a judge on FOX’s “MasterChef” and “MasterChef Junior” and co-star of Food Network’s “Chopped” and “Chopped Junior.” He recently debuted a Spanish language cooking competition series called “El Sabor de Aarón.” He was the host of the Cooking Channel’s Emmy-nominated series, “Taco Trip,” and has appeared on numerous other shows, including “Iron Chef” and “Best Thing I Ever Ate.” Additionally, Sánchez hosted two Spanish-language shows on Fox Life, “3 Minutos con Aarón” and “MOTOCHEFS.”

If you’re lucky, you’ve run into him at his CBD restaurant, Johnny Sánchez, or around town in New Orleans, where he has resided for the last seven years.

Sánchez dislikes using the term “Latinx,” but he is a proud Latino. He was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and moved to El Paso, Texas, so he grew up in a bicultural community and spoke Spanish first and English second. Later, his mom, Zarela Martínez, moved the family to New York City to pursue her culinary dream of becoming one of the pioneers of Mexican food in New York.

Sánchez is passionate about preserving his family’s legacy through food and encouraging diversity in the kitchen.  “I’m a third-generation cookbook author. My grandmother wrote a fantastic book called “Mexican Family Cooking” in 1986.”

He comes from a matriarchal background and admires women in charge. “My grandmother and mom are the gatekeepers of flavors and the tastemakers, and that’s how I grew up.” Sánchez’s books include two cookbooks - “La Comida del Barrio” and “Simple Food, Big Flavor” as well as a memoir, “Where I Come From: Life Lessons From A Latino Chef.”

Celebrating Latino heritage is part of everything Sánchez does. And for the active philanthropist, The Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund was his outlet to help preserve his community. The chef understood the impact of mentorship because he lived it when his mother sent him to New Orleans under chef Paul Prudhomme’s wing. “I came down here at a troubling time in my life, and he got me right. He mentored me and gave me fatherly lessons and all the things that I needed, so I always had New Orleans in my heart.”

Sanchez decided it was time to say goodbye to New York and moved to New Orleans when he became the co-owner of the Johnny Sánchez restaurant in 2014. He wanted to add Mexican cuisine and its flavors to the New Orleans food scene. He also wanted to make a difference for young Latino aspiring chefs that needed the support he once sought. “When I started cooking 25 years ago, I felt there was a huge disparity between Latinos getting leadership positions in kitchens, and I didn’t want education to be the crutch.”

The Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund, a program of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, provides access to the best education for aspiring Latino chefs ages 18 to 25. Eleven students have received scholarships thus far valued at approximately $715,000. The scholarship includes full tuition to the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, eight months of room and board, all required school supplies, a monthly unlimited MetroCard, and flights to and from New York for the start and end of the program. It also provides mentorship opportunities for the duration of the program, as well as culinary industry experience. 

“I’m a chef at heart,” says Sánchez. “I do television, and I used that as a marketing tool initially in my career, but now it is this unbelievable tool to reach a huge audience. I can tell stories, and I can tell stories through my food, through the unbelievable team that we have, and we can inspire the next generation through the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund.”

That reach is visible and authentic. Camila Arias, the 21-year-old sous chef at Johnny Sánchez, is one of the three graduates of the program from the New Orleans area. She applied for the scholarship as soon as she turned 18. “I applied online and was interviewed in the restaurant. Then, two weeks later, I got the phone call that I got the scholarship.” Arias was on her way to New York by 2020. “I learned so much from my teachers there and the chef mentoring me. Even though he wasn’t there day to day, he was still checking on us, making sure our grades were good.”

After completing the program, she returned to New Orleans, and they called her from Johnny Sánchez to do her internship with them. She has loved being part of and learning from the restaurant family chef Sánchez has created. 

“Camilla is bold, confident, and has such an appreciation for New Orleans,” Sánchez proudly says. “She loves to learn and be accepted into all the unbelievable opportunities that happen when you are part of our program. Her power is infectious; it’s beautiful.”

Sánchez hopes to find four culinary students, hopefully from the New Orleans area, who, like Arias, will benefit from the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund. “Fill out the applications. Chase your dreams of being a culinary leader. You will have access to all our colleagues and our unbelievable network of chefs who can inspire you.” 

To find out more about the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund, visit AaronSanchezImpactFund.com.

Cesar Bugos and His Legacy

Click aqui para español- >Cesar Burgos y su legado

With over 27 years of practicing law, Cesar Burgos continues to gain recognition as a skilled car accident and personal injury attorney.

His parents emigrated from Honduras to the United States when he was a child. The values instilled by his parents have been a key factor for him in achieving success as a lawyer, an investor, and an entrepreneur. He has remained true to his roots, never forgetting where he comes from and where he belongs.

He lived his childhood and adolescence years in New York City, a modern and beautiful city, but with many difficulties, he recalled. “We had a sacrificed life; my parents worked arduous hours to support all of us. New York was a good school for me,” he said.

Eventually, his parents decided to move to New Orleans. Burgos still has fond memories of his time attending Bonnabel High School and Loyola University, where he earned his law degree.

Burgos also remembers with excitement the best soccer games he played at the various local soccer leagues during his youth. This sport allowed him to win the friendships of many who affectionately called him ‘Cesarito.’

Burgos treasures his experiences from his successful career as a legal professional and serving the Hispanic community. His best school has been the American courtrooms, and the satisfaction of thousands of clients his greatest gift.

One of his greatest achievements as a Latino was his outstanding participation in the reconstruction of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

During this time, he had various positions and appointments, including serving as the president of the Regional Transit Authority of New Orleans (RTA). Throughout his management, he achieved the reconstruction and operation of the public transport service of the city of jazz in record time. His involvement not only serves as an example for new and future generations but also shows that Hispanics can be important contributors to the development of this multicultural city.

“I thank God for my success and for the people who have supported me throughout my career. I also thank my parents who taught me to work hard, be honest, and be proud of my Latin roots,” he said.

In addition to dedicating himself to other fields beyond legal representation, Burgos reiterates that we, as Latinos, must be aware that it is important to work hard, respect, and comply with the law. Burgos also encourages young people to go the extra mile and achieve professional success.

“I was able to honor my parents, and with commitment and dedication, I raised my family. My son Adrian is a real estate professional, and my daughter Amanda is going to law school and will soon become a lawyer. I am proud of them,” he said.

He feels socially responsible to the Latin American community and always has a firm heart and willingness to help those who need it most. Attorney Cesar Burgos is actively involved in the Hispanic community, from sponsoring local soccer events to supporting youth. “Latino children are also the future of this city,” Burgos concluded.

Outstanding Women: Daniela Bello

By AnaMaría Bech

@anamabech

Click aqui para español- > Mujeres sobresalientes: Daniela Bello

We at VIVA NOLA celebrate women’s contributions all the time, and in honor of Women’s History Month, we want to recognize Daniela Bello. Daniela serves as the Cross-Cultural Coordinator for Jefferson Parish. She has managed to unite community leaders, non-profit organizations, and the Latino media, creating a network that provides resources, support, and information to the Latino community in the region.

Get to know the story of this leading woman by reading the following interview:

Where are you from?

I was born in Florida, and when I was one year old, my parents decided to return to Nicaragua, so I grew up and got my education there.

When and why did you move to New Orleans?

In 2009, I came to visit my family in Kenner, where I decided to stay and work for my family and pursue a new academic opportunity.

What did you study?

I attended Herzing University to be a Physician Assistant and studied Communications and Public Relations at the American University of Nicaragua.

What are some of the jobs you’ve held in Louisiana?

I have worked as a medical assistant in different clinics around the city. I was also a reporter for Telemundo 42, and now I am the Cross-Cultural Coordinator for Jefferson Parish.

What do you like most about living in Louisiana?

I love that it’s small compared to other states. It’s slow paced, and in a way, we all know each other.

What do you miss the most about Nicaragua?

My family. The ease of getting around to visit my family since everything is close.

How did you get to your current job?

I believe that God prepares you to take significant steps at some point. I found out about this job offer at the end of 2019, I applied, and although I knew it was the primary position, I never doubted my abilities.

How do you feel in that role?

I feel blessed and happy and enjoy learning a lot every day. My passion is helping communities by providing information, and I know that God has a purpose in my life with this work.

Why did you create a Latino leaders’ group?

Just days before Hurricane Ida, I thought I wanted to have a way to keep the community up to date with the information and decisions made at the Parish level. So, I added Latino community leaders on a WhatsApp group to provide them with official, last-minute information directly from the Emergency Center in Gretna, where essential workers were concentrated.

What have you learned about the needs of the Latino community?

Most needs in the Latino community are due to a lack of curiosity and initiative. Several community resources and programs are available, but people don’t know about them and often don’t utilize them. I have also realized that we need more leaders who are committed to the community.

How have your colleagues responded and supported your initiatives?

My colleagues have been very receptive to new ideas and initiatives. For example, we have managed to take the Latino community and other minority communities into account in projects and programs that had not previously addressed their needs.

Why go beyond what your job requires?

When you’re doing what you love, it’s not difficult to go beyond what you have to do. But, on the contrary, you do it because it makes you feel good. So, thanks to this job, I can combine what I am passionate about: living within the community, informing, and creating new initiatives.

Do you think you’ve made a difference in the community?

I am working to make a difference. It is not up to me to say if I am doing it or not; we will have an answer in some time when we have a more informed and united community. What is gratifying is hearing or reading a “THANK YOU,” which tells me that what I am doing is bearing fruit and motivates me to continue.

What is the importance of women’s leadership in our community?

It is vital because women can be an example for other generations and realize that, with effort and dedication, they can come to occupy essential roles and be agents of change in the community. Locally, we have the example of Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng, who is an inspiration to me for becoming the first woman president of the parish.

Daniela is very proud of her culture and roots and has been involved in cultural activities since she was young, promoting folklore through dance and reciting poetry.

We thank Daniela Bello for her contribution to the Latino community in Louisiana and congratulate her for doing an excellent job!

By AnaMaria Bech

The local beverage company Big Easy Bucha founded by Austin Sherman and Alexis Korman, announced on November 4 its acquisition by the Latin American company Beliv. This transaction allows Big Easy Bucha to expand its products worldwide, allowing Beliv to penetrate the American market with its portfolio of 28 products.

The entrepreneurial couple started Big Easy in 2014 in their apartment near Bourbon Street with a bucket, a straw, and 700 dollars. With the help of angel investors, they grew their kombucha drink products organically until 2017, when the company began to grow exponentially. 

In 2020, a friend of Sherman’s introduced him to Beliv’s partners, Carlos Sluman and José Enrique Alba Escamilla. This meeting was, according to Sherman, “love at first sight.” “We saw an opportunity to partner with a company that values ​​its people, so in terms of culture, we had chemistry. They had the vision to bring innovative products to international markets, and they saw that opportunity with us as their first acquisition in the United States,” added the Big Easy founder.

With the acquisition of Big Easy, not only will the products that originated in Louisiana be distributed throughout the more than 30 countries where Beliv has a presence, but also its brand, immediately associated with our city, will be recognized internationally.

José Enrique Alba Escamilla, CVO of Beliv, shares the joy of this new partnership with Big Easy. Beliv is a tech and innovative company that produces more than 28 beverage products. Its main headquarters are in Puerto Rico, and the bottler is in Guatemala. They are currently exporting their products to China, and this acquisition is another crucial step for Beliv.

“Beyond finding a product or a brand, we are looking for talent and an entrepreneurial mindset. Finding a partnership with entrepreneurs like Austin and Alexis was a perfect opportunity to get into the US market known for its entrepreneurial environment and innovative vision,” said Alba Escamilla.

Beyond investing in Big Easy and its products, Beliv is also investing in the state of Louisiana. “They’re betting on our people,” Sherman says, admitting to the difficulties in New Orleans and Louisiana in raising capital. “It is a great opportunity for a great and respected strategic partner to be integrated into our city and our state.”

The relationship of Beliv with the state is a story that is just beginning. “We want to improve our logistics and create our innovation hub in the United States, and we have many plans with Big Easy and its talent,” said Alba Escamilla.

Economic development organizations in Louisiana have played an essential role in the growth of Big Easy Bucha and other local companies. According to Norman Barnum, CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA), his organization has been pivotal in helping Big Easy select its operations site and serving as a strategic guide for them since 2014. “Seeing the growth of this company from then until now is what’s important. Nurturing and being able to provide solutions to emerging companies to reach this point is something that fills me with excitement”.

This transaction is retaining 27 jobs and creating 50 direct jobs and 119 indirect jobs. Beyond the merger with a Latin American company that allows the expansion of the Big Easy brand to an international market, NOLABA is also excited about the boost this move gives to entrepreneurs and the impact this acquisition has on the New Orleans community.

With the proper business support, a product created in the closet of an apartment can become a global product. Tax breaks, opportunities to present a brand at different events, financial grants, workforce training programs, and support from Louisiana Economic Development and NOLABA, among other economic-boosting organizations, were essential to solidify Big Easy Bucha.

Big Easy Bucha’s story serves as a testament to the incredible talent and entrepreneurial culture in New Orleans. “We want to see more food and beverage entrepreneurs; our community has an entrepreneurial culinary talent that we want to support,” says Sherman.

The new owners of Big Easy are very excited that their growth within the United States begins in New Orleans. Alba Escamilla confesses that NOLA is “one of his favorite cities in the world” and adds that Beliv’s presence in the city is a “first step to support entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry in the United States. Perhaps we can create a hub for this purpose in the country. New Orleans meets the requirements for this mission, and this is the beginning of this dream.”

Beliv wants to maintain operations in the state long-term and hire additional staff. “We have seen great acquisitions these days in our city. It is an opportunity to create impact; we want entrepreneurs to see that this is possible,” said Sherman.

Imagination Movers

The guys who like to figure things out are back!

By Ana García

Imagination Movers

The guys who like to figure things out are back!

Click aqui para español- >Contágiate de creatividad con Los Imaginadores

The city of New Orleans is always brimming with history, culture, cuisine, art, and music. People around the world have experienced its unique sounds of Jazz, Blues, Bounce, Brass, Hip-Hop, Zydeco, and much more. We can thank countless musicians such as the famous Louis Armstrong, Irma Thomas, Trombone Shorty, to name a few, for being an inspiration and for sharing their universal legacy. There is also a unique local music band that’s been “Brainstorming” for years and awakening the imagination of kids around the world. Dave Poche, Scott Durbin, Rich Collins, and Scott “Smitty” Smith are four “goofy” friends from Lakeview, Mid-City and together they are the Imagination Movers. We shared a cup of coffee with Smitty while he told us their success story.

“Everything had gone to animation or puppets, there were no people.” The idea of creating the group was born in 2002 at a friend’s birthday party. Their show would be about four friends who work in an “Idea Warehouse.” This warehouse is a metaphor for the child’s mind to solve problems. Mover Smitty remembered, “the first pilot script was about helping a child decide between a healthy snack and junk food.” Next came creating the music. They wrote three songs, “Snackin ABCs,” “My Favorite Snacks,’’ and “Good Ideas.” These became their first album called “Good Ideas.” This album later added other songs like “I Want My Mommy” and the fan-favorite “Brainstorming.” After putting out the record, selling it, and giving it to friends, their popularity grew, not only locally but regionally. The attention allowed them to create and release their first DVD, which was recorded during a live performance at the UNO Lakefront Arena. The DVD made it to Burbank, California, thanks to friends and opened the door to The Walt Disney Company.

Right from the start, the four movers knew how to “Reach high, Think big, Work hard, Have fun.” Their partnership with Disney helped them gain popularity in Europe and Latin America. According to Mover Smitty, their time at Disney brought them “one of the most fun creative challenges that they had” when writing songs for their television show. After 3 seasons, they began touring around the country.

The “Movers” are a real example of perseverance and resilience. Like many musicians in this business, they had to face some challenges and obstacles. However, they never lost sight of what their brand is all about: Kids. “Kids were being treated as consumers more than anything,” said Smitty. “We wanted kids to have fun using their creativity and using their imagination to solve problems.” It was importanto to the movers “not to play down to the kids, to play on their level, not to dumb down the music.”

The Imagination Movers have been “organic from the start.” All this is reflected in their more than 200 songs, television shows, concerts, and music videos. Their Facebook page has served as a way to stay relevant and to continue connecting with their audience. There, you can see them rehearsing and “goofing around” live. Their brotherhood is so strong that when they get together with their instruments, voices, and songs, magic happens, and you can really see their passion.

The Movers and their iconic blue suits are back with a new album called “Happy to Be Here” which includes five songs, “Happy,” “Robot Breaks Down,” “Leaves Fall Down,” “My Dog,” and “Alligators are Cute.” “Happy to Be Here” is a beautiful, fun, and very clever album that was born in an Airbnb in Manchac, Louisiana, literally, in the swamp. “We went there and brought our instruments. It’s almost like we were sequestered, it’s like, okay, we are here for a reason,” Mover Smitty recalled.

There’s no doubt that their “Big ideas” and inspiration for their new songs are, like the rest of their work, a group collaboration. An example is the lyrics from the song “My Dog,” in which each Mover wrote their own verses about their pets. “So, these lyrics are true, we are all dog owners, except for Dave who’s a cat owner, which is hilarious,” Smitty commented. “Scott’s dog Hershey, his dog pees when you pet him. When I come home my dog picks up a shoe, and brings it to me,” he added smiling. The song “Robot Breaks Down” is one of Smitty’s favorites, he describes it as “It’s just so poppy, candy goodness.” The video for this song was filmed in City Park and was directed by Abby Collins, Mover Rich’s daughter.

What is in store for the Movers? As true New Orleanians, their love for the city, their community, and their passion for music motivate them to keep moving forward. And the Hispanic community is no exception. For their 20th anniversary in 2022, the Movers have a surprise, and in a sneak preview, they told us that it includes Spanish language content. “We’ve been working on a song - tentatively titled Te Digo Que Te Amo (De Muchas Maneras) and we’re also looking to re-record Brainstorming in Spanish. For us, we are aware of our impact and how what we’ve created resonated with our Spanish-speaking fans. It’s our goal to respectfully recognize our fan base as evidenced by our desire to give back even as we create.”

Mover Smitty finished off this interview by giving a special message to the community: “If you are passionate about what you want to do, just do it! We just kind of believed it and we worked to push it along.”

You will never know where that idea could take you and if you need a little inspiration just look at the Imagination Movers.

Photo Credit: Adams Photography

*** The Imagination Movers television show, which originally aired on Disney Junior from 2008 to 2013, is available again on Disney+.

*** Want to support?

Get a “El lema de Los Imaginadores” t-shirt on imaginationmovers.com Proceeds will go to diverse non-profits supported by Los Imaginadores.

Dr. Roy Salgado.
Supporting Mental Health in our Community
By AnaMaria Bech

Click aqui para español- >El doctor Roy Salgado y su aporte a la salud mental en la comunidad

During the COVID-19 pandemic, struggles with mental health have brought what used to be a taboo topic to the main stage. The greatest gymnast of all times, Simone Biles, withdrew from the most crucial competition in her field, the Olympic games, citing the need for mental health as the reason for her shocking announcement. High-performing athletes such as Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps have publicly recognized their mental state. At the same time, entertainers like Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez keep bringing the topic to the mainstream media.

Health practitioners and officials in Louisiana and, particularly in New Orleans, quickly recognized the impact of mental health in the community. The University of Holy Cross was one of the first institutions to react and address the need for health counseling. They expanded their counseling services by providing free access to Tele counseling for New Orleans area residents.

The television series “Coping During the COVID Crisis” helped reach a broader audience with information about mental health issues that many in the community were experiencing. Dr. Roy Salgado, Associate Professor of Counseling at the University of Holy Cross, chose the most relevant topics for the TV program and provided resources to the community. The program airs on WLAE-TV Fridays at 8:00 P. M.

He is a Psychology major graduate from Tulane University and received his master’s degree in Counseling and his Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of New Orleans. “When I began working in health counseling, I was one of the very few licensed Latinos who could provide these services.” When there was an influx of unaccompanied children about six years ago, Salgado worked on a project and gathered health professionals who could support the vulnerable minors, finding only about 23 qualified counselors qualified to provide their services in Spanish.

He realizes there is a greater need today to have representation in the healthcare field. “We need more health providers, whether it is in medicine or counseling, who speak Spanish so that we can meet the demand for these services in our community.”

He has made it part of his mission as faculty to promote access to higher education to everyone. Still, as a Latino, he wants to make sure more Latino students go into professional careers. “We need professional Latinos in our community that cross-culturally understand the community,” says Salgado.

The University of Holy Cross currently has about 5% of a Latino student population. Salgado uses every opportunity to promote the growth of the University, the various programs the University offers, and advocates for careers in Counseling. “I have been able to recruit some Latino students into the program who have served in my private practice as interns. I was able to multiply myself by hiring some of them.”

That additional help is essential at a time when mental health is the topic of many discussions. “Even though not everyone has been infected, everyone has been affected by the virus. Many people have experienced the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, income, community, society, and all of this has impacted the individuals, so there are high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and fear.”

According to Salgado, the most significant need during this fourth surge of the Coronavirus is conflict resolution. “There is a battle between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. We have to learn how to listen to each other without judging or adding heat to an already complex situation.”

Salgado stresses the importance of understanding that we are all humans that react differently to each situation. “When we feel overwhelmed or exhausted, it is a normal reaction of a human being, and not necessarily of a person who is sick, or someone that needs psychiatric help. It’s normal to recognize that sometimes we need help from our family, friends, and if that help is not enough because they don’t have enough resources, perhaps that’s when we need to seek professional help.”

If you are interested in a career in counseling, you can contact Dr. Roy Salgado by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..