Velez's View

Bronx Blogger Fiesta: A Networking Event

Phil Velez — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:14:02 +0000

I always enjoy meeting new people and reconnecting with those I’ve met before. Last night I attended an incredible networking event organized by two very well-connected Bronx bloggers. The event was hosted by a new local business in the Melrose section of the Bronx. Bloggers, media professionals, government and non-profit representatives came together with local entrepreneurs to share their love and pride for the borough of the Bronx.

Clarisel and Ed, owners of the blogs Bronx Latino and Welcome to Melrose, organized the first ever Bronx Blogger Fiesta. The host of the networking event was Darada David, owner of PeaceLove Café, an Internet health food music café on Melrose Avenue. Attendees enjoyed PeaceLove’s organic strawberry smoothies, luscious pound cake, and deep chocolate chip cookies. Music for the evening was provided by The Scheme, a talented rock/soul fusion band with an eclectic sound that grooved the crowd. The red and white wine was also flowing very nicely.

Facebook phenomena Being Latino and from The Bronx mixed with BlkGrl Blog, BronxMedia, BronxTalk, MainlandMedia, and follow local business owners Coqui Mexicano, Isagenix, and SugaBear Pet Care. Representatives from the Hunts Point Economic Development Corp., the New York State Consumer Protection Board, and the Bronx Community Pride Center were also in the house. It’s safe to say all had a good time.

The successful event is sure to lead to other networking parties in the Bronx. I had an awesome time and look forward to the next one. Check out the links above and support any and all of these business men and women. They are wonderful people who do great work and make the Bronx a really beautiful place.

Movie: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (opens Aug. 13th)

Phil Velez — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:26:50 +0000

I have begun working with a group that aims to market mainstream Hollywood movies to the greater U.S. Hispanic/Latino market. The promotional work sounds pretty interesting and I look forward to learning more about, and sharing information on, upcoming films.

The first film I’ll be promoting for HMThinkLatino is entitled “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” an action-comedy based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley. Several trailers for the movie showcase great visuals and a cool and funny cast in their late-teens/early twenties. Overall it looks like an entertaining movie full of lots of fun.

“The emotions and interactions throughout the film are infused with the mass media that this generation has grown up with—not just in music, film and animation, but in over 30 years of video games,” said Bryan Lee O’Malley.

The movie, which opens Aug. 13, 2010, also seems to have a superhero-like tone with a twist of sci-fi fantasy, making it appealing to a broad set of audiences.

Director, producer, and screen writer Edgar Wright has worked on the projects like the U.K. series-turned-international-cult-phenomenon Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, and action-comedy opus Hot Fuzz. In his mid-thirties, Wright has evolved from a young film geek wanting to prove himself to one of the most sought-after geeks working in film today.

Check out the international movie trailer for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World below and feel free to like HMThinkLatino’s Facebook page.

Bronx Politics

Phil Velez — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:54:16 +0000

As the saying goes, most politics is local. So for those of you who live in the Bronx, or know people who do, there are two big races to watch this fall in the Boogie Down. As mentioned in an earlier post, last April I became the Bronx County Political Buzz Examiner for Examiner.com. I have had a little time to glance through some of the big elections coming this fall and have decided to concentrate on two state senate races: the 32nd and the 33rd districts. Two first time challengers (Ramos and Rivera) are trying to unseat two behemoths of Bronx politics (Diaz, Sr. and Espada, Jr.) All four are Latino, which makes sense in a borough where 51.7 percent of the population is Latino. Both races are sure to be exciting and can greatly re-shape the politics of the Bronx, and finally provide some much needed transparency in the local political process. The Democratic Primary in NYC is scheduled for Sept. 14th. Stay tuned, but most importantly get involved anyway you can.

Happy Employees Affect the Bottom Line

Phil Velez — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:50:41 +0000

A productive staff is the most important asset an organization can possess, notes one of the best business schools in the world. A happy staff is more productive, according to a recent study conducted by the Warwick Business School in the United Kingdom.

“We find that human happiness has large and positive causal effects on productivity,” said Andrew Oswald, a professor of economics at Warwick Business School and a leading authority on the relationship between economics and mental health.

“If happiness in the workplace brings increased returns to productivity, then human resource departments, business managers and the architects of promotion policies will want to consider the implications,” the research concluded.

I was a witness to an act of employee recognition this week when I accompanied the staff of Bogota Latin Bistro on a trip to Great Adventure. The owners of the Park Slope bistro, Farid Ali Lancheros and George Constantinou Fernandes, rewarded their hard working staff with an all-paid, full-day trip to the amusement park on Tuesday.

At a time when companies are scaling back on perks and special events recognizing excellent work, Farid and George decided to close the restaurant’s door for the second year in a row. Employees and their family and friends were treated to exciting trip, complete with food and drink, and thanked publicly for another year of productive work.

Many businesses can take a lead from the owners of Bogota Latin Bistro & Mojito Bar, which has become Brooklyn’s premier Latin restaurant. No matter how tough these economic times may be, having a happy staff that is recognized for its hard work really makes a difference to any organization’s bottom line.

Film Review: Amexicano

Phil Velez — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:03:10 +0000

With the incredible political mess in Arizona surrounding immigration reform, I thought I would blog about a movie on DVD I recently viewed that showcases serious issues regarding the current national controversy. Amexicano, a 2008 independent film, is a story about an Italian-American guy from Queens who begins a true and unexpected friendship with an undocumented Mexican immigrant. The characters in the story are developed well and I found myself emotionally invested on a positive outcome. There is a major twist in the end that might throw the film off, however it clearly illustrates the many challenges facing undocumented residents in the United States today. No matter which immigration reform side you support, this film will tap your humanity and make you think about the issue in a different light.

The Power of the Latino Vote

Phil Velez — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:53:34 +0000

Latino Americans will play a vital role in the upcoming 2010 mid-term elections. Latinos, the largest and fasting growing minority group in the United States, were instrumental in electing the last two U.S. presidents. If voting tends keep with the present pace, few politicians in this country will be able to hold an elected position without winning the Latino vote.

Census figures today show 46.9 million Latinos make up 15.4 percent of the total U.S. population. By 2050 more than 130 million Latinos will live in the U.S., about 30 percent of the population or 1 in 4 residents. An estimated 12.1 million registered Latinos voted in 2008 representing an increase of 2.8 million since 2006, or a 30.5 percent increase, making it the largest numerical increase in U.S. Latino voter registration history.

According to the William C. Velasquez Institute, Latino voter polls for the 2008 Presidential Election showed then-Senator Barack Obama was supported by a 68.6 percent to 28.7 percent for Senator John McCain.

A report entitled “The Power of the Latino Vote in America” by America’s Voice, a pro-immigrant group, shows between 2000 and 2008 Latino voter registration grew 54 percent and turnout grew 64 percent. In the 2004 presidential race, 7.5 million Latinos voted. In the 2006 midterm election, 8 million voted, and in the 2008 presidential race, 10 million cast ballots.

Latinos make up at least 25 percent of the population in nearly one in five congressional districts. In the 2010-midterm elections America’s Voice suggests Latino voters will be a potentially decisive force in 37 House and Senate races, plus contests for governor in California, Colorado and Texas.

Statistics clearly indicate Latinos will continue to be a political powerhouse in the U.S. for many decades to come. For more information on the power of the Latino vote read July’s political column at El Boricua.com.

Univision and the 2010 World Cup

Phil Velez — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:10:53 +0000

I’m following the 2010 World Cup and caught the second half of the opening 1-1 tie between Mexico and South Africa. I was rooting for Mexico in that game. Though I am not a big soccer fan, the global excitement of the game has me hooked. I find myself cheering on many of the Latino teams and hope one of them will win it all. As a budding soccer fan, I find it difficult sometimes to find out who’s playing when and where on TV I can catch the game.

Univision created a website for everything you need to know about the 2010 World Cup. UnivisionFutbol.com provides you with the latest scores, coverage, and it is live-streaming all 64 games.

The game between South Africa and Uruguay is just getting started so I have to run. It’s great to know the FIFA World Cup is being hosted in Africa for the first time ever. South Africa should be very proud, but my heart today leans toward Uruguay. Go Latinos!