El Pastor Wilfredo De Jesús, también conocido como “Pastor Choco”, tiene una sencilla visión, ser una iglesia

que ministre a los que sufren y ayudarles a encontrar a Jesús. Su vocación comenzó cuando tenía diecisiete años y aceptó a Jesús

Reactions in the Kansas City area have been relatively calm compared with violence, looting and arson in the St.

Louis suburb of Ferguson, Mo., and protests in other cities across the nation after a much-anticipated grand jury decision.

Riots erupted in Ferguson on Nov. 24 after the announcement that a grand jury had handed down no indictment against white police officer Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of 18-year-old unarmed black Ferguson man Michael Brown.

Before the announcement of the grand jury’s decision, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon directed the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to operate as a unified command to protect the St. Louis region’s public safety. Nixon also deployed the Missouri National Guard to support local law enforcement agencies.

Numerous media outlets reported that, soon after the announcement, gunshots were fired in Ferguson, and that people threw objects at police, set police cars on fire and vandalized, looted and set fire to some businesses. Authorities called in more National Guard troops in response, and arrests were made.

On Nov. 26, Nixon directed the Division of Fire Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control to help St. Louis County authorities in an ongoing investigation of arson, looting and vandalism in the Ferguson area that had occurred on Nov. 24.

“These senseless acts of violence have been devastating to the city of Ferguson,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Dan Isom said in a news release. “These criminals must and will be held to account for their actions.”

The turmoil in Ferguson eased as the days passed, though

Las reacciones en el área de Kansas City han estado relativamente tranquilas en comparación con la violencia, saqueos e incendios en el suburbio de Ferguson, en St. Louis, Missouri, y las protestas en otras ciudades de todo el país, después de la decisión tan esperada

del gran jurado.Los disturbios estallaron en Ferguson, el 24 de noviembre, tras el anuncio

de que un gran jurado había decidido no presentar cargos contra el policía blanco Darren Wilson, quien el 9 de agosto, mató a tiros al hombre negro desarmado de 18 años de edad, Michael Brown, en Ferguson.

Antes del anuncio de la decisión del gran jurado, el gobernador de Missouri, Jay Nixon, dio indicaciones de que la Patrulla de Caminos del Estado de Missouri, el Departamento de Policía del Condado de St. Louis y el Departamento de Policía Metropolitana de St. Louis trabajaran como un mando unificado para proteger la seguridad pública de la región de St. Louis. Nixon también desplegó la Guardia Nacional de Missouri para apoyar a las fuerzas del orden locales.

Numerosos medios de comunicación informaron que, poco después del anuncio, se escucharon disparos en Ferguson, y que las personas

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‘THE DUTY OF ... / PAGE 3 ‘EL DEBER DEL ... / PÁGINA 3

KC-Area mostly calm after Ferguson grand jury decision En calma la mayor parte del área de KC después de la decisión del gran jurado de Ferguson

Darren Wilson has resigned from the Ferguson police department. Wilson’s resignation letter in part read, “It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal.”Darren Wilson renunció al departamento de policía de Ferguson. La carta de renuncia de Wilson en una parte decía: “Es mi esperanza que mi renuncia permitirá a la comunidad sanar”.

“I AM VERY PROUD ... / PAGE 7 “ESTOY MUY ORGULLOSA ... / PÁGINA 7

Two Hispanic faces behind GMC trucks

Beyond their careers at GM, Tony Argote and Raul Villarreal (right) share a mission at the company: helping to recruit, mentor and support Latinos.Más allá de sus carreras en GM, Tony Argote y Raúl Villarreal (derecha) comparten una misión en la compañía: ayudar a reclutar, guiar y apoyar a los latinos.

Dos rost ros Hispanos detrás de GMC

The number of Hispanics employed by General Motors is on the rise. They are participating in almost all

aspects of the business including manufacturing, engineering, logistics, IT, marketing and sales. Most of them are active members of GM’s Hispanic Initiative Team (GMHIT), the company’s award-winning Employee Resource Group which focuses on promoting the value of diversity, supporting Hispanics within the company, and connecting GM with the Hispanic community. Their stories can motivate young

El número de hispanos empleados por General Motors crece cada día. Participan en casi todos

los ámbitos de la compañía, como la fabricación, ingeniería, logística, informática, marketing y ventas. La mayoría de ellos son miembros activos del Hispanic Initiative Team de GM (GMHIT), el prestigioso Grupo de Empleados de la compañía, que se enfoca en promover el valor de la diversidad, apoyar a los hispanos dentro de ella y conectar a GM con la comunidad hispana. Sus historias son fuente

It’s begining to look a lot like Christmas

by Jerry LaMartina

traduce Gemma Tornero

Mary Smith’s home is on the annual Holiday Home Tour in the historic Westheight Neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas. The tour is on Sunday, December 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Six homes will be open to the public and tickets cost $10. The proceeds from the holiday home tour will go towards St. Paul’s Episcopal Church food kitchen. See Page 8 for complete story.La casa de Mary Smith hace parte del evento anual ‘Holiday Home Tour’ (por su nombre en ingles) en el histórico Barrio Westheight en Kansas City, Kansas. El tour será el Domingo, 07 de diciembre de 1:00 p.m. a 5:00 p.m. Seis hogares estarán abiertos al público y los boletos tienen un valor de $ 10. Las ganancias del evento se destinarán para los alimentos de la cocina de la Iglesia Episcopal de St. Paul. Ver Pagina 8 para la historia completa.

“I AM VERY .... / PAGE 2 “ME SIENTO ... / PÁGINA 2

Pastor Choco speaks at Sheffield Family Life CenterEl Pastor Choco habla en Sheffield Family Life Center

Pastor Wilfredo de Jesus, also known as “Pastor Choco,” has a simple vision—to be a church that ministers to

those that hurt and help them find Jesus. His calling began when he was seventeen and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at a

by Debra DeCoster traduce Gemma Tornero

Pastor Wilfredo “Choco” de Jesus, has a simple vision—to be a church that ministers to those that hurt and help them find Jesus. El pastor Wilfredo “Choco” de Jesús, tiene una sencilla visión - ser una iglesia que atienda a los que lastima y ayudarles a encontrar a Jesús.

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como su Señor y Salvador, en una pequeña iglesia Pentecostal de habla hispana en Chicago.

“A partir de ese momento mi vida se transformó para siempre”, dijo De Jesús.

Por lo general, él predica en su iglesia los domingos, pero estará en Kansas City, Missouri en el Centro de Vida Familiar Sheffield, el domingo 7 de diciembre, en los servicios de las 9 a.m. y 11 a.m., para hablar con la congregación.

Él ha sido instrumental en el desarrollo de varios programas basados en la comunidad, como Nuevos Servicios de Vida Familiar, que opera un refugio para los sin hogar encaminado a las mujeres con hijos; el Centro Sueños de Chicago, que ofrece programas y servicios para ayudar a individuos y familias para avanzar hacia la autosuficiencia y superar la pobreza y sus efectos nocivos.

En abril de 2013, De Jesús fue nombrado una de las 100 personas más influyentes en el mundo por la revista Time y, reconoció su liderazgo e influencia con la iglesia Evangélica y el público latino.

“Me siento muy honrado por ello, hay tantos pastores por ahí haciendo cosas increíbles en todo el país. Tengo el honor de representarlos. Me descubrieron cuando la revista Time comenzó a investigar cómo la población hispana está comenzando a inclinarse hacia el cristianismo y estaban buscando a las diez mejores opciones de la iglesia en la nación. Esa fue la forma en que se enteraron de nuestra iglesia, cómo comenzó de manera pequeña y ha crecido”, dijo.

Cuando comenzó su ministerio, la asistencia semanal era de 120 personas, pero ha crecido hasta 17 mil en todo el mundo. Él ha formado a más de 130 ministros para llegar a los desposeídos de corazón roto, los pobres, las prostitutas, los drogadictos sin hogar y pandilleros.

Él cree que los cristianos en los Estados Unidos han estado jugando a lo seguro por mucho tiempo. “Muchos no están dispuestos a sacar el cuello y ver a los marginados que sufren en las grietas creadas por los sistemas rotos y estructuras abusivas de la sociedad”.

En una entrevista con The Christian Post, dijo que, es el miedo al ridículo o el aislamiento lo que ha paralizado a algunos líderes y les mantuvo confinados en sus iglesias, lo que limita su compromiso con un mundo en desesperada necesidad de personas dispuestas a ayudar a cerrar esas brechas.

De Jesús es también autor de dos libros, “Fe Maravillosa: Cómo hacer que Dios tome nota, y en su nuevo libro, En la brecha-Qué sucede cuando el pueblo de Dios Se mantiene fuerte”, analiza las brechas que siempre han existido en nuestra sociedad, pero considera que hoy en día son más anchas y con una fuerza más destructiva.

“Espero que la gente obtenga del libro que tenemos que participar en esas brechas desde los diferentes niveles de la sociedad;

educación, el gobierno, la pobreza y la justicia social. La idea del libro es participar y provocar a la gente a encontrar un hueco donde quiera estar y luego hacer algo al respecto”, dijo.

Una situación que preocupa, a De Jesús, es el aumento de los niños en las filas de los sin hogar, durmiendo en las calles de los Estados Unidos, con algunos niños de tan sólo ocho, nueve y diez años de edad.

“Esa es la persona promedio sin hogar en los EU y es inaceptable”, dijo. “En la sociedad, la gente mira para otro lado cuando se enteran de que el 80 % de la humanidad vive con $10 dólares al día. Hay alrededor de mil millones de niños que no saben leer ni escribir y cada 40 segundos alguien en todo el mundo se suicida”.

“Hemos visto estas cosas, hemos oído hablar de eso y probablemente no nos hemos movido para participar debido al factor de riesgo. Hay un factor de riesgo cuando se decide defender lo que crees. Cada vez que usted decide, tomar una postura en un brecha para aquellos que son más vulnerables, siempre estará abierto al ridículo e incluso a las amenazas”, dijo De Jesús.

Él anima a todos los pastores a ver lo que está sucediendo en el terreno político y a tomar partido por su iglesia y su congregación sobre los temas. Encuestas recientes muestran que los demócratas han perdido terreno frente a los republicanos debido al tema de inmigración. El Pastor De Jesús no se sorprendió de que los demócratas estaban perdiendo terreno en el tema.

“Cuando se tiene un presidente, quien dijo en su primer mandato, que iba a abordar el tema de la inmigración, para nosotros los hispanos, ese es un factor de elección. Creo que el presidente Obama perdió terreno con la comunidad hispana porque no entregó resultados. No sé si el Partido Republicano es la respuesta, pero lo que sí sé es que hay familias rotas, y personas que están sufriendo porque Washington no puede tener sus cosas en orden”, dijo De Jesús.

Él es franco acerca de las condiciones y el trato de los niños que viajan más de 1,400 kilómetros para llegar a la frontera con Estados Unidos en busca de una vida mejor.

“Los niños tienen nueve años de edad, once años, y vienen aquí y luego los encarcelan. La Biblia es clara en que si tratamos a la gente con amabilidad y amor, entonces Dios favorecerá a la nación y la bendecirá. Hemos perdido terreno en nuestro sistema de valores morales “, dijo De Jesús.

“En nuestra sociedad hoy en día, nuestros jóvenes están siendo criados sin brújula moral. En 1960, el 80% de nuestros jóvenes creía en Dios. En el año 2000, estamos en 12%. Ese es un problema real”, agregó.

“Nadie está más allá del poder transformador del amor de Dios. Cuando se lo permitimos, Dios llena nuestros corazones con su amor, fuerza y propósito y nos sentimos completos”.

small Pentecostal Spanish-speaking church in Chicago. “From that moment on my life was forever transformed,” said de Jesus.

He usually preaches at his home church on Sundays, but he will be in Kansas City, Missouri at Sheffield Family Life Center on Sunday, December 7 at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services to speak with the congregation.

He has been instrumental in the development of several community based programs such as the New Life Family Services, which operates a homeless shelter for women with children; the Chicago Dream Center which offers programs and services to assist individuals and families to move toward self-sufficiency and to overcome poverty and its ill-effects.

In April 2013, de Jesus was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world and recognized for his leadership and influence with the Evangelical and Latino audiences.

“I am very humbled by it, there are so many pastors out there doing amazing things around the country. I am honored to represent them. I was discovered when Time Magazine began to research how the Hispanic population is beginning to lean toward Christianity and they were looking for the top ten church choices in the nation. That is how they found out about our church, how it started out small and has grown,” he said.

When he began his ministry, the weekly attendance was 120 people, but it has grown to 17,000 globally. He has formed more than 130 ministries to reach the disenfranchised—the broken hearted, the poor, homeless, prostitutes, drug addicts and gang members.

He believes that Christians in the United States have been playing it safe for too long. “Many are unwilling to stick their necks out for the marginalized who are suffering in the cracks created by society’s broken systems and abusive structures.”

In an interview with the Christian Post he said that it is fear of being ridiculed or ostracized that has paralyzed some leaders and kept them confined to their churches, limiting their engagement with a world in desperate need for people willing to help bridge those gaps.

De Jesus is also an author of two books, “Amazing Faith: How to Make God Take Notice and in his new book, In The Gap—What Happens When God’s People Stand Strong” he discusses the gaps that have always existed in our society but feels that today they are wider and with more destructive force.

“I’m hoping that people get out of the book that we need to engage in those gaps from different levels in society; education, government, poverty, and social justice. The idea of the book is to engage and provoke people to find a gap where ever they are and then do something about it,” he said.

A situation that concerns de Jesus is the increase of children in the ranks of the homeless sleeping on the streets in the United States with some as young as eight,

nine and ten years old. “That is the average

homeless person in the U.S. and that is unacceptable,” he said.

In society people look the other way when they hear that 80 percent of humanity lives on $10 a day. There are about one billion children that can’t read or write and every 40 seconds someone around the world commits suicide.

“We have seen these things, we’ve heard about them and probably have not moved to engage it because of the risk factor. There is a risk factor when you decide to stand for what you believe. Anytime you decide to take a stand in a gap for those that are most vulnerable, you will always be open to ridicule and even threats,” said de Jesus.

He encourages all pastors to watch what is happening in the political arena and take a stand for their church and their congregation on the issues. Recent polls showed that Democrats have lost ground against the Republicans over the issue of immigration. Pastor de Jesus was not surprised that the Democrats were losing ground on the issue.

“When you have a president who said in his first term that he would tackle the issue of immigration, for us Hispanics, that is a choice factor. I think President Obama lost ground with the Hispanic community because he did not deliver. I don’t know if the Republican Party is the answer, but what I do know is there are broken families, and people who are hurting because Washington can’t get their stuff in order,” said de Jesus.

He is vocal on the conditions and treatment of the children that are traveling over 1,400

miles to come to the United States border looking for a better life.

“The children are nine years old, 11 years old, and they come here and then we imprison them. The bible is clear that if we treat people with kindness and love, then God will look favorable upon the nation and bless it. We have lost ground in our moral value system,” said de Jesus.

“In our society today,

our young people are being raised with no moral compass. In 1960, 80 percent of our young people believed in God. In the year 2000, we are at 12 percent. That is a real problem,” he added.

“No one is beyond the transforming power of God’s love. When we let Him, God fills our hearts with His love, strength and purpose and we become complete.”

CONT./PAGE 2

CONT./PÁGINA 1

“I am very humbled by it”“Me siento muy honrado por ello”

Pastor Wilfredo “Choco” de Jesus said “The idea of the book is to engage and provoke people to find a gap where ever they are and then do something about it.”Pastor Wilfredo “Choco” de Jesus dijo “Espero que la gente obtenga del libro que tenemos que participar en esas brechas desde los diferentes niveles de la sociedad; educación, el gobierno, la pobreza y la justicia social.

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lanzaron objetos contra la policía, incendiaron coches de policía y destruyeron, saquearon y prendieron fuego a algunos negocios. Las autoridades llamaron a más tropas de la Guardia Nacional en respuesta, y se hicieron arrestos.

El 26 de noviembre, Nixon dirigió a la División de Seguridad de Bomberos, y a la Patrulla de Caminos del Estado de Missouri y Control de la Delincuencia, para ayudar a las autoridades del Condado de St. Louis en una investigación en curso sobre los incendios provocados, saqueos y vandalismo ocurridos el 24 el noviembre, en la zona de Ferguson.

“Estos actos de violencia sin sentido han sido devastadores para la ciudad de Ferguson”, dijo en un comunicado de prensa el Director del Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Missouri, Dan Isom. “Estos criminales deben y serán obligados a rendir cuentas por sus actos”.

La agitación en Ferguson se redujo mientras pasaban los días, aunque ocurrieron protestas - a veces violentas - en otras ciudades del país, incluyendo Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, Calif., Nueva York, Washington, D.C., y Atlanta, informaron varios medios. Más de mil personas se manifestaron pacíficamente frente a la embajada de Estados Unidos en Londres, el 26 de noviembre, y nadie fue detenido, informó el Daily Mail.

Joni Wickham, portavoz del alcalde de Kansas City, Sly James, dijo antes de la decisión del gran

jurado, que el alcalde no esperaba problemas, citando los esfuerzos de alcance comunitario del Departamento de Policía de Kansas City (KCPD por sus siglas en inglés).

En Kansas City, cerca de 150 manifestantes marcharon desde el Country Club Plaza a Westport, la noche del 25 de noviembre. La Policía de Kansas City detuvo a cinco personas, entre ellas a un fotógrafo de The Kansas City Star, y les dieron citatorios por conducta desordenada, dijo la portavoz de KCPD, Kari Thompson.

Antes de que la decisión del gran jurado se hiciera pública, Thompson dijo que KCPD estaba siguiendo sus procedimientos habituales a pesar de la espera de la decisión del gran jurado.

“Siempre estamos preparados para cualquier cosa que pueda ocurrir, por lo que simplemente estamos aquí”, dijo Thompson a Kansas City Hispanic News. “No estamos haciendo caso de los comentarios negativos, pero si algo desafortunado ocurre, estamos listos, estamos preparados, y nuestro departamento está bien entrenado”.

El Departamento de Policía de Kansas City, Kansas (KCKPD por sus siglas en inglés) emitió una declaración por escrito después del veredicto del gran jurado, diciendo que desde la muerte de Brown, el departamento había “intensificado sus esfuerzos para asegurar que nuestra relación con nuestros ciudadanos siga siendo sólida”.

“Hemos participado en innumerables reuniones

comunitarias, foros y mítines”, dijo el departamento en un comunicado. “Sus voces sonaron fuerte y claro, y nosotros les escuchamos. Con la sentencia del gran jurado de Ferguson, no importa el lado del problema en el que se encuentre, queremos tranquilizar a nuestros socios de la comunidad, el departamento valora nuestra relación y los avances positivos que hemos alcanzado juntos. Estamos preparados, en caso de que se necesite una respuesta de KCKPD, para garantizar la seguridad de los ciudadanos, visitantes y empresas de Kansas City, Kansas”.

Mark Holland, alcalde del Gobierno Unificado del Condado de Wyandotte/Kansas City, Kan., dijo antes de la decisión del gran jurado, que la ciudad se sentía “muy preparada en términos de nuestro programa de policía comunitaria, nuestra conexión con la comunidad religiosa y nuestros grupos barriales”.

“Nosotros sentimos que tenemos una gran red de comunicación dentro de nuestra comunidad, y desde luego, compartimos la pena con el resto de la nación sobre la tragedia en Ferguson, y queremos hacer todo lo posible a nivel local para responder en caso de necesidad, y también para evitar un problema similar en nuestra comunidad”, Holland dijo a Hispanic News.

“Con ese fin, estamos siendo muy proactivos con nuestro departamento de

policía en el reclutamiento, contratación y capacitación”, dijo. “Y estamos iniciando un nuevo programa con todos los distritos escolares en el Condado de Wyandotte, para asegurar que el departamento de policía esté en las escuelas, educando a nuestros hijos sobre cómo responder si son detenidos por la policía. El 4 de diciembre vamos a tener una reunión de comisión a las 7 pm, y el jefe de la policía va a dar detalles de la iniciativa”.

El Fiscal del Condado de St. Louis, Robert McCulloch, anunció la decisión del gran jurado en el caso y describió el proceso por el que habían pasado para llegar a su decisión.

“Ellos fueron instruidos sobre la ley y se les presentaron cinco acusaciones, que van desde el asesinato en primer grado a homicidio involuntario”, dijo McCulloch. “Su carga fue determinar, en base a todas las pruebas, si existe causa probable para creer que se cometió un delito y que Darren Wilson es la persona que cometió ese crimen”.

“La ley autoriza a un oficial del orden usar la fuerza letal en ciertas situaciones”, dijo. “La ley también permite a todas las personas utilizar la fuerza letal para defenderse en ciertas situaciones. Por lo que el gran jurado consideró si Wilson fue el agresor inicial en este caso, o si había causa probable para creer que Darren Wilson fue autorizado como agente de

la ley para usar la fuerza letal en esta situación o si actuó en defensa propia. El deber del gran jurado es separar los hechos de la ficción después de un examen completo, imparcial y crítico de todas las pruebas y de la ley, y decidir si la evidencia apoya la presentación de cargos penales contra Darren Wilson. Ellos determinaron que no existe una causa probable para presentar cualquier acusación formal contra el oficial Wilson y devolvieron una ‘no cierto’ en cada una de las cinco acusaciones”.

En una entrevista de hora y media con George Stephanopoulos, de ABC News, Wilson describió el encuentro con Brown de principio a fin, diciendo que Brown fue el agresor inicial. ABC News entrevistó más tarde a los padres de Brown, que dijeron que no creían en la versión de Wilson sobre el incidente.

Se pueden ver extractos de la entrevista de Wilson, en la página electrónica de la red, en http://abcnews.go.com/US/exclusive-police-officer-darren-wilson-tells-feared-life/story?id=27181469. Una transcripción completa del testimonio de Wilson ante el gran jurado, y todos los demás documentos del gran jurado en el caso, están disponibles en el sitio electrónico del Washington Post en http://a p p s . w a s h i n g t o n p o s t .com/g/page/national/read-darren-wilsons-full -grand-jury-testimony/1472/.

El sábado, Wilson anunció que renunciaba al Departamento de Policía de Ferguson. De acuerdo con el St. Louis Post-Dispatch, la carta de renuncia de Wilson en parte decía: “Me han dicho que continuar con mi empleo puede poner a los residentes y los agentes de policía de la Ciudad de Ferguson en riesgo, por lo que es una circunstancia que no puedo permitir. Es mi esperanza que mi renuncia permitirá a la comunidad sanar”.

Después de la decisión del gran jurado, el Representante Federal Demócrata, Emanuel Cleaver II, quien representa al 5º Distrito de Missouri, emitió un comunicado de prensa.

“Mi esposa y yo hemos criado a tres hijos”, dijo Cleaver en el comunicado, “y sabemos de los retos que un joven hombre negro enfrenta mientras crece. Nuestro corazón está con la familia de Michael Brown, por su trágica pérdida. Sin lugar a dudas, hay cuestiones importantes en este país que necesitan ser confrontados, comunicados, y trabajados a través del espíritu de comunidad. Pero la violencia, saqueos e incendios provocados no son la respuesta. Mucho menos. Sacrificamos la seguridad de los demás, creando caos -en vez de buscar un camino que protege los derechos de todos los estadounidenses- independientemente de su color”.

protests – sometimes violent – occurred in other cities across the country, including Minneapolis; Chicago; Los Angeles; Oakland, Calif.; New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Atlanta, various news outlets reported. More than 1,000 people protested peacefully outside the U.S. Embassy in London on Nov. 26, and no one was arrested, the Daily Mail reported.

Joni Wickham, spokeswoman for Kansas City Mayor Sly James, said prior to the grand jury’s decision that the mayor didn’t expect problems, citing the Kansas City Police Department’s (KCPD) community outreach efforts.

In Kansas City, roughly 150 protesters marched from the Country Club Plaza to Westport the night of Nov. 25. Kansas City police detained five people, including a photographer for The Kansas City Star, and gave them citations for disorderly conduct, KCPD spokeswoman Kari Thompson said.

Before the grand jury’s decision was made public, Thompson said the KCPD was following its usual procedures despite anticipation of the grand jury’s decision.

“We are always prepared

for anything that may occur, so we’re just here,” Thompson told Kansas City Hispanic News. “We’re not buying into the negative talk, but if something unfortunate should happen, we are ready, we are prepared, and our department is well trained.”

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (KCKPD) issued a written statement after the grand jury’s verdict, saying that since Brown’s death, the department had “stepped up its efforts to insure that our relationship with our citizens remains solid.”

“We have participated in countless community meetings, forums and rallies,” the department said in the statement. “Your voices rang loud and clear, and we hear you. With the ruling by the Ferguson grand jury, no matter the side of the issue you are on, we want to reassure our community partners that the (department) values our relationship and the positive strides we’ve made together. … We are prepared, in the event KCKPD response is needed, to insure the safety of Kansas City, Kansas citizens, visitors and businesses.”

Mark Holland, mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas

City, Kan., said before the grand jury’s decision that the city felt “very prepared in terms of our community policing program, our connection with the faith-based community and our neighborhood groups.”

“We feel like we have a great network of communication within our community, and certainly share the grief with the rest of the nation about the tragedy in Ferguson and want to do everything we can locally to respond if necessary but also to prevent such a similar issue in our community,” Holland told Hispanic News.

“To that end, we are being very proactive with our police department in recruiting, hiring and training,” he said. “And we’re initiating a new program with all the schools districts in Wyandotte County to make sure the police department is at the schools educating our kids on how to respond if they are stopped by the police. On Dec. 4, we’ll have a commission meeting at 7 p.m., and the police chief will give details of the initiative.”

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch announced the grand jury’s decision in the case and

described the process it had gone through to reach its decision.

“They were instructed on the law and presented with five indictments, ranging from murder in the first degree to involuntary manslaughter,” McCulloch said. “Their burden was to determine, based upon all of the evidence, if probable cause exists to believe that a crime was committed and that Darren Wilson is the person who committed that crime. …

“The law authorizes a law enforcement officer to use deadly force in certain situations,” he said. “The law also allows all people to use deadly force to defend themselves in certain situations. So the grand jury considered whether Wilson was the initial aggressor in this case, or whether there was probable cause to believe that Darren Wilson was authorized as a law enforcement officer to use deadly force in this situation or if he acted in self-defense. The duty of the grand jury is to separate fact from fiction after a full and impartial and critical examination of all the evidence and the law and decide if that evidence supported the filing of any

criminal charges against Darren Wilson. … They determined that no probable cause exists to file any charge against Officer Wilson and returned a ‘no true bill’ on each of the five indictments.”

In an hour-and-a half interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, Wilson described the encounter with Brown from start to finish, saying that Brown was the initial aggressor. ABC News later interviewed Brown’s parents, who said they didn’t believe Wilson’s version of the incident.

Excerpts of Wilson’s interview can be seen on the network’s website at ht tp://abcnews.go.com/US/exclusive-police-officer-darren-wilson-tel ls - feared-l i fe/story?id=27181469. A full transcript of Wilson’s grand jury testimony, and all other grand jury documents in the case, are available on the Washington Post’s website at http://apps.wash ing tonpos t . com/g/page/national/read-darren-w i l s o n s - f u l l - g r a n d - j u r y -testimony/1472/.

On Saturday, Wilson announced that he was resigning from the Ferguson police department. According

to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Wilson’s resignation letter in part read, “I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow. ... It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal.”

After the grand jury’s decision, Democratic U.S. Rep Emanuel Cleaver II, who represents Missouri’s 5th District, issued a news release.

“My wife and I have raised three sons,” Cleaver said in the release, “and we know the challenges a young, black man faces growing up. Our heart goes out to Michael Brown’s family for their tragic loss. Without a doubt, there are important issues in this country that need to be confronted, communicated, and worked through in the spirit of community. But violence, looting, and arson are not the answer. Not even close. We sacrifice the safety of others by creating chaos –instead of pursuing a path that protects the rights of all Americans – regardless of color.”

CONT./PAGE 1

CONT./PÁGINA 1

Riots erupted in Ferguson, MO on Nov. 24 after the announcement that a grand jury had handed down no indictment against white police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old unarmed black Ferguson man Michael Brown.Los disturbios estallaron en Ferguson, MO, el 24 de noviembre tras el anuncio de que un gran jurado había emitido ninguna acusación en contra del policía blanco, Darren Wilson, en la muerte a tiros de Michael Brown, un hombre negro, sin armas, de 18 años de edad, en Ferguson.

‘The duty of the grand jury is to separate fact from fiction’

KCK Police Department issued a written statement after the grand jury’s verdict, saying that since Brown’s death, the department had “stepped up its efforts to insure that our relationship with our citizens remains solid.”El departamento de policia de KCK emitió una declaración por escrito después del veredicto del gran jurado, diciendo que desde la muerte de Brown, el departamento había “intensificado sus esfuerzos para asegurar que nuestra relación con nuestros ciudadanos siga siendo sólida”.

‘El deber del gran jurado es separar los hechos de la ficción’

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led House may vote this week to undo President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration, House Speaker John Boehner told lawmakers Tuesday as he sought to give outraged conservatives an outlet to vent over Obama’s move without shutting down the government.

The move would be mostly symbolic, since Obama would certainly veto such legislation and the Democratic-led Senate likely wouldn’t go along with it. But GOP leaders hope it will assuage Republicans furious about Obama’s two-week-old actions to shield some 4 million immigrants in this country illegally from deportation, and grant them work permits.

“We’re looking at a number of options in terms of how to address this. This is a serious breach of our Constitution,” Boehner told reporters. “It’s a serious threat to our system of government, and frankly we have limited options and limited ability to deal with it directly.”

Publicly, the speaker told reporters that Republicans were considering several options and no decision had been made, but aides and lawmakers said that he indicated during a closed-door meeting with the rank and file earlier that the vote on legislation to block Obama was the leading option. It would be on a bill by Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., aimed at blocking Obama from unilaterally allowing categories of unlawful immigrants to live and work here.

Party leaders then hope to move on next week to voting on must-pass spending legislation to keep the government running. In the wake of their midterm election victories last month to win full control of Congress, Republican leaders are eager to show they can govern responsibly without risking government shutdowns. But Obama’s administrative moves on immigration and the resulting GOP fury has created complications.

Boehner announced the strategy as Congress reconvened after a week-long Thanksgiving recess. It remained uncertain whether immigration hard-liners who have scuttled past efforts by Boehner to address this issue would be satisfied with the approach.

Some outside conservatives were quick to register opposition, arguing that the approach would do nothing to stop Obama’s plans stripping away the money to carry out the policy.

“If conservative members agree to this plan, they are just as complicit in Obama’s amnesty as everyone else. Don’t be fooled, once this budget bill passes the amnesty will be irrevocable,” wrote Daniel Horowitz, a columnist for the Conservative Review.

Meanwhile Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson defended Obama’s new immigration plans before a House committee where Republicans took turns denouncing them as an unconstitutional power grab that would incite a new rush of illegal immigration at the border.

“The president’s unilateral actions to bypass Congress undermine the Constitution and threaten our democracy,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. “We will see a wave of illegal immigration because of the president’s actions.”

Johnson disputed that point and others, arguing the president acted within his executive authority to temporarily defer deportations for certain immigrants who are not priorities for removal anyway. The actions apply mostly to people who’ve been in the country five years or more and have kids who are citizens or green card holders.

“I’m fully comfortable that we have the legal authority to push forward these reforms,” Johnson said. “Deferred action is an inherent executive branch authority that can and should be used from time to time, and we’ve done so here.”

The spending measure the House will vote on next week will top $1 trillion and fund the day-to-day operations of Cabinet agencies through the Sept. 30 end of the 2015 fiscal year. The Department of Homeland Security — whose personnel implement Obama’s orders to permit more immigrants here illegally to remain in the U.S. — may be kept on a shorter leash and be funded only into early 2015 under a plan floated by Boehner. The idea would be to try to reverse Obama’s moves on immigration when revisiting its budget next year.

House may vote to undo Obama immigration order

Boehner said no decision has been made. If GOP leaders go forward with the plan they would be rejecting demands by conservative activists to take a more confrontational approach now and try to attach legislation explicitly blocking Obama’s immigration orders to the must-pass spending bill. GOP leaders

fear that could have scuttled the spending bill or even could have led to a government shutdown.

Johnson spoke out strongly against such a short-term spending measure for his department, saying it could prevent him from funding needed priorities including hiring protection for presidential candidates heading into the 2016 elections.

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KCHispanicNews.com I DICIEMBRE 4 DEL 2014CLASSIFIEDS & PUBLIC NOTICES | Clasificados & Anuncios Publicos

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDINGTHE GRAND RESERVE

TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN

Pursuant to RSMo 99.825, and in accordance with RSMo 99.830, notice is hereby given by way of certified mail to inform you about a public hearing that will be held by the Tax Increment Financing Commission of Kansas City, Missouri (the “Commission”), commencing at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at the Commission Offices, located at 1100 Walnut, Fourth Floor, Kansas City, Missouri, regarding the Grand Reserve Tax Increment Financing Plan (the “Plan”).

The proposed Plan provides for the historic rehabilitation of the former Federal Reserve Bank properties for use as a suites-style hotel, off-street parking and certain on-site and off-site infrastructure improvements.

The Redevelopment Area is generally bounded by E. 9th Street on the north, McGee Street on the east, E. 10th Street on the south, and Grand Boulevard on the west in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri

The Plan, as proposed, may be reviewed by any interested party on or after December 3, 2014 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Commission Offices.

Pursuant to RSMo Section 99.830.2(3), all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Upon conclusion of the public hearing, all testimony and discussion will be concluded.

Heather Brown, Executive DirectorTax Increment Financing Commission of Kansas City, Missouri1100 Walnut, Suite 1700Kansas City, Missouri 64106

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDINGTHE THIRD AMENDMENT OF THE

DOWNTOWN LIBRARYTAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN

Pursuant to RSMo 99.825, and in accordance with RSMo 99.830, notice is hereby given by way of certified mail to inform you about a public hearing that will be held by the Tax Increment Financing Commission of Kansas City, Missouri (the “Commission”), commencing at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at the Commission Offices, located at 1100 Walnut, Fourth Floor, Kansas City, Missouri, regarding the Downtown Library Tax Increment Financing Plan (the “Plan”).

The proposed Third Amendment of the Plan provides for the identification of certain parking structure, infrastructure and public improvements and related budget amendments.

The Redevelopment Area is generally bounded by W. 9th Street on the north, Main Street on the east, E. 12th Street on the south, and Wyandotte Street on the west in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri

The Plan, as proposed, may be reviewed by any interested party on or after December 3, 2014 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Commission Offices.

Pursuant to RSMo Section 99.830.2(3), all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Upon conclusion of the public hearing, all testimony and discussion will be concluded.

Heather Brown, Executive DirectorTax Increment Financing Commission of Kansas City, Missouri1100 Walnut, Suite 1700Kansas City, Missouri 64106

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Housing Authority of Kansas City, Kansas hereby provides notice that it will receive proposals for security services at K1-55 Wyandotte Towers, 915 Washington Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas.

Written proposals will be received in person, or through the mail, until 2:00 p.m., CST, on December 17th, 2014, at the Kansas City Kansas Housing Authority office located at 1124 North 9th Street, Kansas City, Kansas. In selecting the security services firm to perform these services consideration will be given to those criteria listed in the Request for Proposals (RFP). Proposals documents shall be in a sealed envelope labeled with the words:

“Proposal Documents”Security Services K1-55

Wyandotte TowerName of Bidder

December 17th, 2014

The Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, waive any informality in the proposals, request additional information for any or all respondents, and to negotiate with top-rated firms.

Copies of the RFP, which contains the instruction for submitting proposals, may be obtained at the Housing Authority’s administrative office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning December 1st, 2014 or at the Housing Authority’s website at www.kckha.org.

Questions regarding the RFP should be directed to Barbara Finch at (913)-281-3300 or by email to bfinch@kckha.org by 5:00 pm, December 10th, 2014.

All qualified firms, including minority-owned businesses, Section 3 businesses, and women business enterprises, are invited to submit proposals.

Public Notice sectionINVITATION TO BID

Ryan Companies U.S., Inc. is seeking bid proposals for interior finish packages for the Commerce Tower Renovations project. Proposals are due at close of business on Friday, December 12, 2014.

A portion of the project funding is provided through LCRA incentives which will require MBE/WBE subcontracting goals.

The subcontracted trades to include: Acoustical Ceilings, Closed Cell Spray Insulation, Interior Glass and Glazing, Metal Stud/Gypsum Board, Rough Carpentry, Finish Carpentry, Doors and Hardware supply, Flooring (VCT, Ceramic, Carpet, Vinyl Plank, Rubber), Appliances, Painting, Cabinet Supply and Countertops.

Bid Documents will be made available on Monday December 1, 2014. Please contact KC Blueprint & Plan Room to acquire a set of documents or visit one of the following plan rooms:

KC Blueprint: 816-527-0900Minority Contractor’s: 816-924-4441Hispanic Contractor’s: 816-309-2705

Human Relations Dept.: 816-513-6817

Madre StarrAdivinadora y ConsejeraLe ayuda a resolver

Problemas de amor, negocios y

MatrimonioLimpiezas de Casa Trabajo y Personales

Trabajo Garantizado(816) 923-8244 (816) 923-9549

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“PUBLIC NOTICE”Formal bids will be taken for Hillcrest Manor at 3414 Hughes Rd, Leavenworth, KS. The project consists of renovations of a three-story multi-family structure & (12) four-plex one-story wood framed units. There will also be a new building addition & new construction of a maintenance & laundry building. Site walk information will be posted in the specifications. This project has WBE/MBE/Section 3 goals and will be TAX EXEMPT. Davis Bacon Prevailing Wage requirements apply.

Plans will be available to review at Straub Construction Company’s office located at 7775 Meadow View Dr, Shawnee, KS between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday thru Friday or you may access our online plan room at http://straub.constructionvaults.com. CD’s will be available upon request. Straub Construction Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Employment verification confirming that subcontractor’s employees are legal residents will be required. Please contact Straub Construction at 913-451-8828 should you have any questions pertaining to the bid documents.

BIDS/ESTIMATES ARE DUE INTO STRAUB CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. OFFICE BY DECEMBER 18, 2014 AT 2:00 PM. BIDS CAN BE EMAILED TO BIDS@STRAUBCONSTRUCTION.COM OR FAXED TO 913-451-9617.

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Census 2020: No consensus on how to count Hispanics, Arab-Americans

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Civil rights groups are sounding the alarm over proposed changes to 2020

Census questionnaires, including combining the Hispanic ethnicity category with the race question.

Some of the changes under consideration may not produce the detailed count needed to enforce anti-discrimination laws and compare data over time, according to leaders of African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic and Arab-American groups.

In November At a briefing, the groups called for more government testing - in more languages - of revised questions that may affect the all-important count of minorities.

Census data are used in the enforcement of a broad spectrum of civil rights laws, from fair political representation in redistricting to equal opportunity and access to housing, jobs and education.

“Ensuring a fair and accurate census is a top priority,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund. “Given how much is at stake, the Census Bureau must get it right.”

As yet there was little consensus on whether the Hispanic ethnicity question should be part of the race category, said Rosalind Gold, senior director of policy, research and advocacy for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund.

“Latino identity is very complicated,” she said. What it comes down to is, “Do Latinos see themselves when they see the census question?”

Until now, Hispanic identification has been a separate ethnicity question. Those who check off that box are asked to identify what race they are among five - white, black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian or Native Hawaiian/other Pacific island.

But a growing number of people don’t identify with any of the race categories, and 6.2 percent chose “some other race” in 2010. Hispanics accounted for more than 18.5 million of the 19 million people who checked “some other race” to describe themselves.

The Census Bureau has been conducting tests and is now considering combining race and ethnicity questions. “Many researchers very much believe that Hispanic is not a race and must remain a separate ethnicity because they believe Hispanics are of many races,” said Terri Ann Lowenthal, a consultant to the Leadership Conference and author of “Race and

Ethnicity in the 2020 Census: Improving Data to Capture a Multiethnic America,” a report released Monday.

Every 10 years, when the Census Bureau attempts to count each person in the United States - numbers used to allocate funds to communities - the agency revisits the way questions are asked in the face of an increasingly multiracial and multiethnic population that no longer fits neatly into traditional classifications set by the government. In 2000, for example, the census form allowed people for the first time to select more than one race.

The census is now considering adding a Middle Eastern/North African category (MENA) to satisfy Arab-American groups’ demands that they be counted separately.

“There is no category for Arab-American, and there’s a significant undercount in the community,” said Samer Khalaf, national president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Many Syrians, Egyptians, Sudanese and other MENA groups have a hard time seeing themselves as white or black, he said.

The Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey that asks about national origin counts 1.8 million Arab-Americans in the U.S. But other estimates put the number closer to 4 million, Khalaf said.

Minority groups are pushing to count prisoners as residents not where they’re serving time but where they usually live.

Among the current race categories - but not for black and white - there are 15 options for specific

origin (Chinese, Samoan, Cambodian, for example).

The census now is looking to add a line to every race category for more details about respondents’ origins or tribes. Whites could write German, blacks could write Nigerian and so on. But these options may be available only to those who respond online, Lowenthal said. “We don’t know what percentage of the census will be paper in 2020,” she said.

Losing the option of selecting a detailed race group is of big concern to Asian-Americans. Access to technology has increased, but older people’s access to computers is often limited, said Terry Ao Minnis, director of census and voting programs for Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Not including choices for subgroups of Asians on paper forms will result in less information.

The Census Bureau said it is testing several designs and that all respondents, whether they answer online or not, will have the opportunity to report detailed origin.

“Answering online via a computer is not the only way in which Census will test the inclusion of checkbox categories to collect detailed responses,” said Census spokesman Michael Cook. “These options are also being tested for designs for data collection via smartphone, tablet, in person response, and land-line phones ... This research will be explored in our mid-decade testing.”

“The Census Bureau must ensure that we do not move backward,” Minnis said. “We must collect better, not worse, data.”

Hispanic groups worry about the loss of statistics on Latinos of diverse racial backgrounds, such as Afro-Latinos and Indo-Caribbeans. “In our diverse society, a growing number of people find the current race and ethnic categories confusing, or they wish to see their own specific group reflected on the census,” said Census Bureau Director John Thompson in a statement.

The agency is committed to researching approaches that more accurately measure and reflect how people self-identify, and it is continuing discussions “with myriad population groups,” he said.

“We really want to keep an eye on this issue as we move forward,” Gold said. “Latinos

are increasingly diverse ... We want to make sure that whatever format is used, that we can get information that allows Latinos to express their identities.”

For demographers such as Kenneth Johnson of the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey School of Public Policy, “whatever decision is made, it is imperative that researchers be able to compare racial groups across time,” he said.

Some of his most important research was on the rapid growth and geographic dispersion of the minority child population.

“If there had been changes in definitions of minority populations between

decades and if there was no way to bridge between them, we would not be able to determine how much these populations have grown through time or the likely trajectory of future growth,” he said.

Testing of new questionnaires will be conducted next spring in Maricopa County, Arizona, and in Savannah, Georgia. A national test of up to 1 million households is planned for next September. The Census Bureau will send the proposed questions to Congress by early 2017. “What’s important to realize is that the final decision on race and ethnicity questions must be made within two years,” Lowenthal said.

by Guest Writer, Haya El Nasser Aljazeera America

TU CONEXIÓN LATINA DESDE 1996 YOUR LATINO CONNECTION SINCE 1996

KCHispanicNews.com I DICIEMBRE 4 DEL 2014

de motivación para jóvenes estudiantes y cualquiera que se interese en trabajar en este campo.

Raúl Villarreal y Tony Argote son dos de los empleados hispanos que están marcando una diferencia en General Motors. Cada uno tiene distintos roles dentro de la compañía, y sus perspectivas reflejan la variedad de experiencias que los hispanos pueden encontrar al seguir una carrera en la industria automotriz.

Raúl Villareal es nativo de Texas con un caudal de conocimiento y experiencia en manufactura en General Motors. Raúl ha tenido distintos puestos en GM en los Estados Unidos, Canadá y España, y actualmente se desempeña como Manager del Departamento de Pintura en la planta de ensamblaje de Arlington donde se trabaja en todas las áreas de las ciencias, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas (STEM). Sus responsabilidades incluyen apoyar la producción del 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, y el GMC Yukon XL, entre otros. “Como partidario del éxito a través de la educación

en nuestras comunidades, mi pasión es promover la educación superior y crear una fuente continua de talento profesionales calificados que apoyen el crecimiento y desarrollo económico de todos!”, dice.

La herencia inmigrante corre fuerte por sus venas. Raúl dice que aprendió su fuerte sentido de la ética en el trabajo y el poder del trabajo duro de su abuelo, quien a los catorce años cruzó la frontera mexicana solo para perseguir el sueño americano.

Cici Rojas, la ex presidenta y directora general de la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Kansas City, dijo a Hispanic News, “Estoy muy orgullosa del continuo éxito en la carrera de Raúl, y el haber trabajado con él durante su permanencia en Kansas City. Raúl fue integro en el desarrollo, lanzamiento y éxito, tanto del BizFest y Latinos of Tomorrow. Su compromiso y pasión genuinos al proveer las muy necesitadas oportunidades para la juventud latina en nuestra ciudad, fue una dicha el observar y dejar un ejemplo para otros.

Él no solo compartió su experiencia, tiempo, y esfuerzos, sino que aseguro a sus empleadores que estaba

comprometido de igual manera ante las iniciativas y ante nuestra juventud.

Tony Argote es otro ejemplo de historia hispana de éxito en la compañía. Hijo de inmigrantes cubanos, y primer miembro en su familia en obtener un título universitario, Tony comenzó su carrera en GM el 2005, cuando llegó como un estudiante a participar en el programa de cooperación educacional a través del Georgia Institute of Technology. Desde que asumió su primera tarea en la compañía, un modelo corporativo para economizar combustible, él ha trabajado en distintos elementos de la electrificación de vehículos, desde el diseño y liberación de hardware hasta la integración de sistemas y controles. Tony forma parte del equipo que trabaja en los pick-ups y camionetas deportivas de tamaño completo (Full-Size Truck / SUV) donde trabaja en vehículos como el GMC Yukon y Sierra, al mismo tiempo que ayuda a liderar iniciativas STEM en GM y más allá.

En el verano del 2009, Tony y sus compañeros de General Motors unieron fuerzas para fundar Green Place Detroit, una organización sin fines de lucro enfocada en el voluntariado después de la

escuela y durante los fines de semana en una escuela primaria y secundaria en el sudeste de Detroit, donde los estudiantes eran la mayoría hispanos.

“Estoy muy agradecido por las oportunidades y apoyo que he recibido en este largo camino”, dice Argote. “Ahora es mi turno de prestar una mano”, agrega.

Orgullosos de su herencia,

Raúl y Tony están ayudando a reclutar latinos, actuando como guías y apoyándolos dentro de la compañía y con la comunidad. Mientras Tony ha servido en organizaciones comunitarias durante los últimos 10 años, como programas para después de la escuela y organizaciones universitarias, Raúl está dedicado a ayudar a estudiantes a obtener becas universitarias, al mismo

tiempo que los guía y entrena en materias relacionadas a los campos de trabajo STEM.

Raúl y Tony comparten el mismo sueño. Quieren ver más latinos trabajando en GM. Es por esto que recientemente estuvieron en la conferencia de Great Minds in STEM con GMC. Ellos están ayudando a construir la fuente de talento que traerá a la próxima generación de hispanos a la industria automotriz.

students and others who are interested in working in this field.

Raul Villarreal and Tony Argote are just two of the Hispanic employees that are making a difference at GM. They each have different roles within the company and their perspectives reflect the variety of experiences that Hispanics will find when pursuing a career in the automotive industry.

Raul Villarreal is a native Texan who has a wealth of knowledge and experience in manufacturing with General Motors. Raul has held different positions at GM in the United States, Canada, and Spain, and is currently the Paint Area Manager at the Arlington Assembly Plant, where GM employees apply themselves on all the science, technology, engineer and math (STEM) fields of work. His responsibilities include supporting the production of the 2015 Cadillac

Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and GMC Yukon XL, among others. “As an advocate of success through education in our communities and GM, my passion continues to be higher education towards a pipeline of highly skilled professionals that support economic growth and development for all!” he says.

The immigrant mindset runs deep through his veins. Raul says that he learned his strong work ethic and the power of hard work from his grandfather, who crossed the Mexican border alone at the age of 14 to better himself and pursue the American Dream.

Former Greater Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president and CEO CiCi Rojas told Hispanic News, “I am very proud of Raul’s continued success in his career, and to have worked with him during his tenure in Kansas City. Raul was integral in the development, launch

and success in both BizFest and Latinos of Tomorrow. His genuine commitment and passion for providing much needed opportunities for Latino youth in our city, was a joy to behold and set an example for others to follow.

He not only shared his expertise, time, and efforts, but ensured his employer was equally committed to the initiatives and our youth.”

Tony Argote is another example of a Hispanic story of success at GM. Son of Cuban immigrants, and the first in his family to obtain a college degree, Tony started his career at GM in 2005, when he arrived as a student participating in the cooperative education program through the Georgia Institute of Technology after his first assignment working on the corporate fuel economy model, he worked on various elements of vehicle electrification from hardware design and release to system integration and controls. Tony is part of the Full-Size Truck /

SUV Program team and gets to work on the GMC Yukon and Sierra, while helping to lead STEM initiatives at GM and beyond.

In the summer of 2009, Tony joined forces with peers at General Motors to found Green Place Detroit, a non-profit organization focused on volunteering after school and on weekends at a predominantly Hispanic Middle and High School in Southeast Detroit. The program also focuses on demonstrations of STEM and sustainability concepts through building and maintaining an urban garden.

“I’m thankful for the opportunities and support I received along the way,” says Argote. “Now it’s my turn to lend a hand and point the way,” he adds.

As proud Latinos, Raul and Tony are helping recruit Latinos, acting as mentors and supporting them within the company and in the community. While Tony

has served in community organizations from after school programs to founding college organizations for the last 10 years, Raul is dedicated to help students obtain college scholarships while mentoring and coaching them towards STEM fields of work.

Raul and Tony share the same dream. They want to see more Latinos working at GM. That is why they were at the Great Minds in STEM Conference with GMC (this year). They were part of the team that is helping to build the talent pipeline that will bring the next generation of Hispanics/Latinos.

“I am very proud of Raul’s continued success in his career,” said Rojas

“Estoy muy orgullosa del continuo éxito en la carrera de Raúl, dijo Rojas

CONT./PAGE 1

CONT./PÁGINA 1

Tony Argote and Raul Villarreal share the same dream. They want to see more Latinos working at GM. That is why they were at the Great Minds in STEM Conference with GMC.Tony Argote y Raúl Villarreal comparten el mismo sueño. Quieren ver más latinos trabajando en GM. Es por esto que recientemente estuvieron en la conferencia de “Great Minds in STEM” (por su nombre en ingles) con GMC.

Unified Government County Administrator Doug Bach announced today the appointment of Terry Zeigler as Chief of the

Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. Chief Zeigler, a 24-year veteran with the department, was Assistant Chief under Interim Police Chief Ellen Hanson and Chief Rick Armstrong who retired in December 2013. Hanson took over as interim Chief in January 2014.

“More than eight months ago I started this position as County Administrator for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. At that time, I recognized that one of the biggest task I had ahead of me was the appointment of a new Chief of Police for the City of Kansas City, Kansas,” said Doug Bach. “My selection has proven his leadership abilities and expertise on many fronts during his distinguished career.”

Chief Zeigler has a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Kansas; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Human Relations from Mid-America Nazarene University; and he is also a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and Leadership School-Quantico, Virginia.

In addition his formal education in law enforcement, Chief Zeigler has worked in a variety of assignments during his career with the KCK Police Department. He has committed 10-years of his professional law enforcement career in the role of commander; combining his experience, specialized knowledge, and achievements in areas of

patrol, investigations, national security and administration.

“One question that I have been repeatedly asked is, ‘Why do you want to be Chief of Police?’” The answer is very simple – I love serving people! said Chief Zeigler. “I want to serve the citizens and businesses of our city by helping make our community as safe as possible.

Department reorganization and the continued use of successful policing strategies were just a few of the priorities the Chief mentioned to improving the effectiveness of fighting crime in KCK.

Source KCK Police Department

ZEIGLER NAMED KCK POLICE CHIEF

Photo BY WYandotte dailY neWs

TU CONEXIÓN LATINA DESDE 1996 YOUR LATINO CONNECTION SINCE 1996

DICIEMBRE 4 DEL 2014 I KCHispanicNews.com

Historic Westheight Neighborhood Hosts Holiday Home Tour

A large Christmas tree stands in the front windows of Mary Smith home in the historic Westheight Neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas. Under the tree a model train runs on the tracks. Christmas is her favorite time of the year. “I love to listen to the people as they come on the home tours and hear their stories of growing up either in the neighborhood or in Wyandottew County.”

Colorful holiday lights twinkle in the evening hours as they grace Gothic

and English Tudor, Colonial Revival and Prairie Style homes in the historic Westheight Neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas.

Step back in time as six houses open their doors to the public on Sunday, December 7. The holiday homes tour will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $10 for each adult. No children under 12 years of age admitted. Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 North 18th Street in Kansas City, Kansas.

The church is also listed as a historic site and can be toured by the public on the same day.

The Westheight homes were built from 1915 through 1924 boasting wide woodwork, intricate detailing inside the homes, fireplaces, and floor plans from 1,800 square feet to 6,000 square feet.

The neighborhood is a hidden gem in Wyandotte County as the stately homes are tucked between State Avenue and Minnesota Avenue. The neighborhood is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the first homes built in the neighborhood was an 1800’s three-story Victorian Farm House. The home still graces the neighborhood today and some years it has been open to the public during the holiday tour, but will not be on the list this year.

“We are the longest continuously running home tours in Kansas City, but we don’t do it every year. The last time we did the homes tour was 2011, but we are doing it once again this year and want people to know,” said Nancy Clark, publicity chair for Westheight Home Tour.

Mary (Avila) Smith’s home is reminiscent of the Prairie Style home with large windows, fireplaces and wide woodwork. Christmas is one of her favorite holidays and after not having her home on the tour for the past five years, she decided to once again open her home.

Mary and her husband Jim both shared a love of the holiday and enjoyed decorating their home at Christmas. He handled setting up the lights and helped her with the trees. He passed away two years ago and when she was asked to put her home back on the tour, she slowly agreed as she realized she didn’t know how to handle all the electrical issues of running the lights.

It was through the help of friends that she was able to get her home ready for the holiday tour.

“If I had to put up the big tree by myself it would have taken me two days because I would have to put it together and fluff out all the branches. I don’t leave up my trees, I take every branch off and flatten it out and put it back in the box,” said Smith.

She began in August to bring boxes up from the basement and placed them in each room that she decorates. Inside her kitchen sits a display of elves that she has been collecting since she was 20 years old.

“I started decorating the music room in August. Then I moved to decorating the bedrooms. If I added up my hours that I have spent in decorating it has taken me a full month to decorate the house. It is a big job to do this,” said Smith.

Each room has a lighted Christmas tree, Santa Claus, nutcrackers and holiday toys, trains, and lighted wreaths decorate her rooms.

After the decorations are hung, she enjoys looking at the holiday lights and is excited as people come to her home to see her displays. “During the tour I enjoy the people that come through and they always have a story

to tell about growing up in the area. Since I am not originally from here, I enjoy hearing the stories about the area,” she said.

If the weather is good, they will host several hundred people through their homes. Lawyers, doctors and judges in Wyandotte County originally inhabited the homes.

“We love the architecture of the homes in the community and we want to preserve the homes and the history behind them,” said Clark.

A home that is called the Darby House is on the tour this year. The home was not built for Senator Harry Darby, but shorty after it was built in 1926 he purchased the home and added to the size.

The Colonial Revival home is 6,000 square feet not including the basement. It has 27 rooms, two kitchens, several parlors, eight bathrooms, five fireplaces and an elevator.

“It is one of the largest homes in our tour and everyone always wants to see the Darby house,” said Clark.

The money raised from the Holiday Home Tours helps the Westheight Neighborhood Association keep up the historic feel of their community and half of the proceeds from the event are given to St. Paul’s Church food pantry.

by Debra DeCoster

Coloridas luces de Navidad brillan en las horas de la noche, mientras

adornan las casas góticas e inglesas de la época de los Tudor, las casas coloniales renacentista y del estilo de la pradera, en el histórico barrio Westheight, en Kansas City, Kansas.

Regresaremos atrás en el tiempo mientras seis casas abren sus puertas al público, el domingo 7 de diciembre. El recorrido navideño de las casas será de 1 p.m. a las 5 p.m. y cuesta $10 dólares por adulto. Los niños menores de 12 años no podrán ingresar. Las entradas pueden adquirirse el día del recorrido en la Iglesia Episcopal de St. Paul, en el número 1300 Norte, de la calle 18, en Kansas City, Kansas.

La iglesia también está catalogada como un sitio histórico y puede ser recorrida por el público durante el mismo día.

Las casas Westheight fueron construidas entre 1915 y 1924, y cuentan con amplia artesanía en madera, intrincados detalles dentro de los hogares, chimeneas, y planos de planta desde 1,800 metros cuadrados hasta 6,000 pies cuadrados.

El barrio es una joya escondida en el Condado de Wyandotte, ya que las casas señoriales están metidas entre State Avenue y Minnesota Avenue. El barrio se ha registrado en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos. Una de las primeras casas construidas en el barrio, es una casa estilo granja victoriano de tres pisos, de los años 1800. La casa todavía adorna el barrio hoy, y por algunos años, ha estado abierta al público durante el recorrido de navidad, pero no estará en la lista de este año.

“Somos los recorridos de casas con más tiempo en Kansas City, pero no lo

hacemos todos los años. La última vez que hicimos el recorrido de las casas fue en 2011, pero lo estamos haciendo de nuevo éste año y queremos que la gente se entere”, dijo Nancy Clark, directora de publicidad en Recorridos de Casas Westheight.

La casa de Mary (Ávila) Smith es una reminiscencia de la casa estilo de la pradera, con grandes ventanales, chimenea y amplia artesanía en madera. La Navidad es una de sus fiestas favoritas y después de no tener su casa en el recorrido los últimos cinco años, decidió una vez más abrir su casa.

Mary y su esposo Jim, ambos, compartían el amor a las fiestas y disfrutaban decorar su casa en Navidad. Él se encargaba de poner las luces y le ayudaba con los árboles. Él falleció hace dos años, y cuando se le preguntó a ella el poner su casa de regreso en el recorrido, poco a poco accedió, hasta darse cuenta de que no sabía cómo manejar todos los problemas eléctricos en el funcionamiento de las luces.

Fue a través de la ayuda de amigos que ella fue capaz de tener su casa lista para el recorrido.

“Si yo sola hubiera tenido que poner el árbol grande, me habría llevado dos días, porque tenía que armarlo y limpiar las ramas. No abandono a mis árboles, quito cada rama y la aplano y la pongo de nuevo en la caja”, dijo Smith.

Ella empezó en agosto a subir cajas desde el sótano y las colocó en cada habitación que decora. Dentro de su cocina se encuentra una exposición de elfos que ha ido recopilando desde que tenía 20 años de edad.

“Comencé a decorar la sala de música en agosto. Luego seguí con la decoración de las habitaciones. Si sumo mis horas, las que he pasado en la decoración, me ha llevado un mes completo decorar la casa. Es un

gran trabajo hacer esto”, dijo Smith.

Cada habitación tiene un árbol de Navidad iluminado, Santa Claus, cascanueces, juguetes, trenes y guirnaldas iluminadas.

Después de que las decoraciones se cuelgan, ella disfruta el mirar las luces de Navidad, y está emocionada de que la gente venga a su casa a ver sus exposiciones. “Durante el recorrido, me gusta que la gente que viene siempre tienen una historia que contar acerca como crecieron en la zona. Como yo no soy originaria de aquí, me gusta escuchar las historias sobre la zona”, dijo.

Si el clima está bien, serán anfitriones de varios cientos de personas en sus hogares. Originalmente habitaban las casas abogados, médicos y jueces del Condado de Wyandotte.

“Nos encanta la arquitectura de las casas en la comunidad, queremos preservarlas y la historia detrás de ellas”, dijo Clark.

Una casa llamada, la Casa Darby, está en el recorrido de este año. La casa no fue construida para el senador Harry Darby, pero poco después de su construcción en 1926, compró la casa y la amplió.

La casa colonial renacentista es de 6,000 metros cuadrados sin incluir el sótano. Cuenta con 27 habitaciones, dos cocinas, varios salones, ocho baños, cinco chimeneas y un ascensor.

“Es una de las casas más grandes de nuestro recorrido y todo el mundo siempre quiere ver la Casa Darby”, dijo Clark.

El dinero recaudado del recorrido navideño de las casas, es para ayudar a la Asociación del Barrio Westheight a continuar con el ambiente histórico de su comunidad y, la mitad de las ganancias del evento se dan a la iglesia de St. Paul para su despensa.

traduce Gemma Tornero

El barrio histórico de Westheight ofrece un recorrido de casa

por Debra DeCoster Jose “Jesse” Reyes Jr. Jose “Jesse” Reyes, Jr. 78 of Kansas City, MO, went

into the Lord’s arms on November 30, 2014 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was surrounded by his loving wife of 59 years, Delores, and his children. He was born on Feb. 6, 1936 to Jose and Francisca Reyes who preceded him in death. He worked for Ford Motor Company and was a member of UAW Local 249 for thirty years. Jose was a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help/Redemptorist Catholic Church and was also a Shriner. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marcianna, and is survived by two brothers, Louis (Mary Lou) and Mario (Mollie); sisters, Annie Guy, Ramona Aquino, Consuelo Florez; children, Jose III (Kathy), Patricia Hernandez (James), Antoinette Ruiz, Vincent (Ronda), Armando (Loretta), Robert (Mary), Anthony (Gina); dog, Chula; 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 1 great- great-grandson. ROCK CHALK, DAD! Visitation will be 5-7p.m. (Rosary at 7p.m.) on Wed, Dec. 3 at Redemptorist Church, 3333 Broadway. Mass of Christian Burial will be 9 a.m. on Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers donations may be given to Redemptorist Church or Redemptorist Center, 3333 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111, www.redemptoristkc.org. Online condolences may be offered at mcgilleymidtownchapel.com McGilley Midtown Chapel, 20 W Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111, 816-753-6200

In Loving Memory

Yolanda Tinoco Cerventes1961–2005

A limb has fallen from the family tree. I keep hearing a voice that says grieve not for me. Remember the best times, the laughter, the song, the good life. I lived while I was still strong. Continue my heritage I’m counting on you.

Keeping smiling and surely the sun will come through. My mind is at ease, my soul at rest remembering all … now I truly was blessed, continue traditions, no matter how small. Go on with your life, don’t just stare at a wall. I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin, until the day comes we’re together again.

With all our love from, Mom, Dad, Louis, Mark, Lisa, Mike Vincent,

Jesse, Stephanie, Lil Jess, Jude Erica and family.We love you and there is not a day we don’t

think about you and the love you gave us all.

PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT (Editor/Presidente) Jose “Joe” Arce

VICE PRESIDENT (Vicepresidente) Ramona Arce

EDITOR (Editor)Jose Faus

REPORTERS/WRITERS (Reporteros/Periodistas)Debra DeCoster, Jose Faus, Jerry LaMartina

DESIGN/LAYOUT(Diseño Editorial/Diagramación) Janneth-B RodríguezGemma Tornero

SPANISH TRANSLATION(Traducción a español) Gemma Tornero

STUDENT INTERN(Becario)Jose MuñizArmando Noel Baquedano

KCHN is a weekly publication of Arce Communications Inc. who bears no responsibility for accuracy or content advertisements. All rights reserverd. Arce Communications Inc does not guarantee the absence of error and every attempt will be made to remedy in KCHN at our next edition. KCHN es una publicacion semanal de Arce Communications Inc. quienes no se hacen responsables por la presición o contenido de los anuncios. Todos los derechos reservados. Arce Communications Inc. no garantiza la ausencia de errores en KCHN los cuales seran corregidos en nuestra siguiente edición.

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