Pretty Cool

Something pretty cool happened last night. After watching President Obama's State of the Union address, I took to my organization's Twitter account and immediately began engaging the Greek community. I felt that Obama's speech was important and addressed several key issues that have been major talking points for my organization this year; the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, Education Reform, and immigration have served for the basis for many events nationwide Chi Upsilon Sigma has sponsored. Staying true to our political roots, I was interested in starting a conversation about Obama's speaking points. Little did I know that one, in a flurry of tweets, would appear on the home page of the New York Times website. It may have been only for a fleeting moment, but it was pretty cool that someone from the paper recognized us out of thousands of tweets. Go CUS!

Queens Stroll for a cause

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the 6th Annual Gamma Stroll Show. I've attended each show since its inception, and performed the first three years on behalf of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. Every year the brothers of Gamma Phi Sigma Hermanos Unidos Fraternity, Inc plan a great show that runs smoothly and starts "on time", which is a feat if you've ever been to a Greek event.

This year's show wasn't about fierce competition, but about raising awarness and celebrating a young life that was taken far too soon. Ramon 'Guatu' Baez passed away this summer from a rare form of cancer. His brothers dedicated the show to him, and raised funds for the American Cancer Society. Ramon loved to dance and stroll, he always performed with pride and determination, and always with a smile. His presence was felt with Chi Iota Pi exhibited a stroll in his honor, adding elements of Ramon's favorite dance; salsa.

Chi Upsilon Sigma won the show, thanks in part to theme creativity an tight execution. $500 will be donated to the I Have A Dream Foundation (our national philanthropy), and we retain bragging rights for another year.

Sprite Step Off

Whew! What a weekend! Packed with so many things to be proud of and hopefully for, especially with my organization. Supporting schools, raising money and walking for AIDS Research and hopefully a cure, AND placing 2nd in the Regional Semi-Finals for the Sprite Step Off in South Carolina! This excerpt is from out official Press Release:

New York, NY (10/16/09) --- Corazones Unidos Siempre, Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. (CUS) would like to congratulate Odette Fuentes, Vanessa Pabon Garcia and Talia Yanowitz for winning second place at Sprite Step Off Regional Semi-Finals competition this past weekend at the University of South Carolina.  The women have not only secured a spot in the Regional Finals on November 14, 2009, but also won $6,000 in scholarships! These three dedicated women continue to be the only team from a Latino Greek organization to compete in the largely Divine Nine competition. First place winners were Sigma Gamma Rho and third place winners were Alpha Kappa Alpha.

A Latin organization beat out other Step Teams considered to be bigger and better because of the roots and emphasis they have on the genre of Stepping. This win was not only HUGE for my organization, but for NALFO (National Association of Fraternal Organizations) as well. Latino Greek Letter Organizations are relative newcomers tot he Greek system, let alone the coveted world of Stepping and Strolling. My organization takes pride in being the FIRST Latin organization to embrace these forms of expression as part of our heritage, and Greek Life culture. Five years ago we revolutionized the Stroll game, and now...we're letting other Greeks know WE STEP TOO! We have and will continue the traditions we hold dear to us and continue to progress. See you in North Carolina!

Leaders are born...and made

I am at a very exciting point in my life right now. Job is treading in the right direction, I've got good people around me, and I have a sense of direction. I was accepted into a Leadership Development Program as part of my sorority's internal development. Our first session was tonight and I definitely felt empowered. It was about fiscal responsibility and really taking control of your money. Women don't do this, ESPECIALLY minority women. First off, its always taboo to talk about money in a minority household which makes it difficult to get to the root of financial problems. I plan to keep a log and track my money. Really get involved with it. If I'm going to run a business or be a VP of Operations for the X-Games (hint hint), or create and run my own urban alternative lifestyle magazine (another hint), I'm going to have to KNOW these things. Naturally I am a leader, I know it, but all leaders need nurturing. I plan to stay on this positive track and buckle down to give it all I got because Business School will be no joke!

GWB Challenge

A couple weeks ago I had the pleausre of participating in the GWB Challenge. A walk across the George Washington Bridge in NYC. I performed the 5k walk and donated $20. My organization did a wonderful job on raising funds, volunteering and participating. Afterwards, there was a great BBQ, music, face painting, fake tattoos and just a plain old good time! Only the pics can truly capture the feeling. Enjoy!

SMOOTH '09

The weekend has come and gone but it was a great one! Words can't express the fun I had watching some good performances, hanging with sisters and friends, and doing things for a good cause! They say pictures are worth a thousand words. Enjoy!

It ends in The City

This past weekend was a curse and a blessing all in one. Let's start with the good news:
My boss recently moved into a new apartment and then got sick, leaving me...YES ME...in charge of the department for about 2 days. Wasn't too bad. I got things done and held it together, the place didn't burn down so I did a great job. Spent time drinking with my Ship and her friends and received a "Cheers" type greeting on the patio of Fridays on the Parkway. Off to a CUS probate (never a disappointment), then home to rest. Hopped a train to Jersey, then off the The City with mi lady. Met some cool people, ate some great food, and broke the bank my getting tatt'd up. Honestly, at this point couldn't have asked for a better Memorial Day weekend.

The Bad News:
After a "blah" Sunday, and a Monday filled with Star Wars watching (don't judge! The movie is madd deep if you pat attention), mi lady comes home--with Taco Bell--both of which made me happy. Now at this point I am content and answering some text messages, then...it happened... the lady is being aggressive (as usual) and I am not in the mood (as usual), not at the moment at least. Maybe after a shower...who knows. Then the question "who are you texting?" Innocent enough. Jokingly, I respond with another person's name. No real reason behind it. It was a bad attempt at a joke that I was immediately going to correct, but decided not to because it was "no big deal"...or so I thought. Then it came; the questioning, the worry, the tears, the consoling.

The Result:
Mental and Emotional death. In ANY situation there are always 3 choices: "Change it. Accept it. Leave it." I've already tried 2, maybe its time to choose the other.

I thought this was 2009?!

I am fresh off my 1st official "CUS Tour" of Northern New Jersey, and I must say it was a pleasant experience. My days were filled with sisterhood, fun, jokes and love.

Needless to say I was brought back down to Earth when today I got blasted with the news of the infamous "Swine Flu". Seriously?! Now, in my experience, whenever the U.S. news/media make a HUGE deal out of something trivial, let's say...... the flu they're usually covering up something more serious. I mean c'mon! Mexico has been ravaged by human trafficking, the influx of a 2nd generation drug war, and a devastating earthquake and we're going to focus on.......the flu?! Why, you may ask? Because is affects us close minded, egotistical Americans.

Now, I remember this one time in history class, where I learned about this Influenza Epidemic of 1918 (which was also referred to as the Spanish Flu. Hm. Interesting). Killed hundreds of thousands in the U.S. and millions worldwide. Since then, we've had the advent of the flu vaccine and other medications that can help stop the virus in its tracks. So to get people's mind off of the Credit Card crisis, the collapse of the automotive industry, human trafficking nationwide, the depleting value of the dollar (not only caused by the "big crash" but also by buying scrap gold. This means that our "money" is no longer worth its weight in anything, its more or less a piece of paper), and natural disasters........ we focus on a COMPLETELY treatable virus that is affecting a developing nation, which doesn't have the resources to treat its people with the medicines we have here, ONLY because we frequently travel to this nation to rape the land, and its people of their natural resources, and support and fuel their drug trade. Way to go America! We've done it again! lol. Seriously!

Its necessary to be aware and pay attention, because if you don't YOU too can fall into the panic trap!