When I think of citizenship, or the embodiment of what it means to be a U.S. citizen, I think of my grandmother my Mama Panchita. She was this adorable viejita, with a smile that warmed my heart, always positive, always in a good mood. She used to make the BEST sopa de fideo and albondigas.
I almost spilled my drink a few weeks ago while I was watching the presidential debate. They actually talked about housing. And no, it wasn’t just, “let’s address homelessness” or “expand Section 8 housing,” they actually talked about HOMEOWNERSHIP and HOUSING SUPPLY.
I just wanted to drop a quick note to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
No politics, no policy, no housing this week. Just familia, turkey, pozole, arroz con candules, pastelón, and lechon (and some major veggie action for all my fellow tofu lovers).
I spent all of last week in Washington D.C. for my own version of “Capitol Hill Visits.” In the span of three days I met with 12 different offices, all members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It was cold in D.C. for this chica! I’ve now gotten used to living in sunny San Diego, but I do have to say I miss the fall. Why can’t San Diego have fall leaves? Can we import those and keep the sun?
I was in middle school when Prop 187 passed in California. I vividly recall being in P.E. class in my smelly gym clothes overhearing a group of teachers discussing what the proposition meant for the school and for its students, a majority of which were Latino. I remember watching a group of girls roll their eyes at the demonstration a group of Latino students had organized to protest the proposition.
I had the pleasure of spending last week at the Mortgage Bankers Association Conference in the beautiful city of Austin, Texas. Aside from the insightful information I learned at the conference, my personal highlight was eating at a new restaurant called Suerte. I must say, I was impressed by Executive Chef Fermín Nuñez. I saw that the restaurant was featured as one of the 18 best new restaurants in the country by Eater last year, and I can see why.
Hope everyone got up today with a smile, brewed your cafecito (with foam), and blasted your favorite song to get your day going. I don’t know about you but my favorite song to either get to dancing or to completely transform my mood is “La Bicicleta” by Shakira. There’s something about the vallenato in that song that fills my soul like my mom’s “sopita de fideo.” Maybe I was Colombian in another life.
Hola familia! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Noerena or “Noe” as many in the NAHREP family have come to call me. I like tofu, my favorite color is yellow, policy is my jam, and I think tapping into the power of NAHREP so that we speak up, rise up and become one of the most powerful Latino organizations in the country is right about the coolest job a gal could have.