Ransom Everglades School junior Avery Almazan works hard at school “Mainly the things I do for community service have to do with soccer,” she says “Ransom tends to host things for the community that we can do Most of my time I coach little kids playing,” She volunteers with the Soccer Life Foundation “We go to Armbrister Park in the Grove next to carver on Grand Avenue and coach them,” she says We do a lot of meetings in school through Ransom Everglades Athletes Can Help (REACH).” Ransom athletes do clinics during the school year “We go twice in one week and the boys go the next week.” The Ransom girls team won the District 16 Championship and moved on to regionals this year she was named an All-Miami-Dade Soccer Team Honorable Mention Outside of school she plays for two club teams Girl’s Academy team out of Palm Beach Gardens and Elite Clubs National League (ENCL) out of Naples Club leagues are where the college recruiters go to find talent and Almazan hopes to play in college She has been chatting with schools of interest After college she wants to become a lawyer who specializes in business a community service organization for girls She says the group tries to do things that are fun such as fashion shows as well as ushering at places such as Actors Playhouse She also volunteers for the American Heart Association She’s involved because her father is the chair for the southeast region “I’ve been talking to my school to do a service project,” she says AEDs are Automated External Defibrillators portable devices that use electric shocks to restore hearts to normal rhythm Schools have them to help kids or adults who go into cardiac arrest so if they are put in that terrible situation “My dad showed us a video of a young boy on the field in cardiac arrest He could have been saved but no one knew where the AED was Athletic trainers usually bring the AEDs but if a team is at an away game or if the trainer isn’t there it’s important for the students to know where the AEDs are in the school Almazan has spoken to the Health Club at school She’s looking for a spot in an assembly to talk to the students She hopes to get it done before the end of the school year the National Honor Society for Portuguese and Spanish She is a member of the Miami Venture Entrepreneurship (MVE) “There are meetings where we have guest speakers,” she says finance and how to get businesses off the ground One of the things she likes to do is attend Lending to End All Poverty (LEAP) meetings “There’s a website where you can choose people online Like donate 10 dollars to this woman in Africa to buy shirts for her shop look no further than Miami Community Newspapers This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed With topics ranging from local news to community events Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news and local initiatives within its respective community Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com Promote your business to the localized audience you want to reach with Miami's Community Newspapers. Call 305.669.7355 or view our Media Kit. Engineering Alumni Awards   Zepeda-Almazan graduated from the Engineering Plus Program (now Integrated Design Engineering) in 2019 with a degree that combined an emphasis in mechanical engineering with a concentration in engineering management actively participating in the Engineering Leadership Program Zepeda-Almazan serves as a manager of athlete science at Adidas where she combines her engineering expertise and passion for innovation to lead international cutting-edge product development and research focused on enhancing athletic performance commitment to mentorship and passion for integrating engineering and design make her an exceptional role model for current students and alumni Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science: Zepeda-Almazan has made significant contributions since her graduation in 2019 positively impacting the CU Engineering community and the Integrated Design Engineering Program (IDE) through her leadership She has remained a dedicated advocate for the program actively participating in events that connect her with current students She frequently connects with current IDE students through remote mentoring she served as an alumni panelist for the BOLD Center sharing her professional journey and offering valuable insights to inspire students As a member of the Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board Zepeda-Almazan collaborates with other alumni to foster mentorship build connections and support student success her participation in faculty-led K-12 Engineering Experts Panels empowers educators to inspire the next generation of engineers while enhancing the visibility of CU Boulder’s programs Through her approachable and inspiring presence Bea continues to make a lasting impact on the IDE and BOLD communities while enhancing the visibility and reputation of CU Boulder’s engineering programs Zepeda-Almazan exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding alumni role model representing our engineering programs and college with professionalism dedication and a deep commitment to giving back Her contributions extend beyond direct mentorship and panel discussions; she has consistently volunteered her time to foster a supportive and inspiring environment for students even while excelling in her demanding career at Adidas She attributes her unique career pathway — combining engineering and sports product design — to the opportunities and connections she cultivated during her time at CU Boulder she is driven to give back by providing the mentorship support and connections that helped shape her own journey Zepeda-Almazan’s ongoing involvement underscores the enduring impact alumni can have on academic programs and reflects her passion for helping IDE and the College of Engineering and Applied Science continue to develop well-rounded engineers ready to thrive in an ever-changing world As an active alumna of both the IDE program and the college she is truly deserving of recognition for her continued support and efforts to nurture the next generation of engineers                     Phone: 303-492-5071 Email: cueng@colorado.edu University of Colorado Boulder Privacy • Legal & Trademarks • Campus Map University of Colorado Boulder Sign In "Editor's Pick" review of pianist's "triumphant," "gorgeous" new album Pianist-composer Fabian Almazan’s ambition is not a matter of opinion. (Consider: The string quartet of violinists Megan Gould and Tomoko Omura, violist Karen Waltuch and cellist Noah Hoffeld isn’t supplemental, but rather equal partners in his band with Almazan, bassist Linda May Han Oh guitarist-vocalist Camila Meza and drummer Henry Cole.) So his creation of a nine-part suite is no surprise; nor is its multilayered complexity More remarkable is the degree to which he pulls it off Little improvisation is apparent in the first four movements though perhaps that’s because Almazan’s grand structure leaves little room for it Shape-shifts occur internally to each movement and then segue to the next without disruption with lyrics about exploring the world and finding one’s place in it provide a stronger through line—but their presence the variety and intensity of emotional payloads engage the listener pathos (particularly in the dulcet fourth movement Improvisation does add another level of excitement—particularly rhythmic excitement on an album that is predominantly melodic—to the suite’s back half Oh’s bass cookery in part five (“Tribu T9”) is matched by Cole’s verve in part seven (“Pater Familias”) wherein the drummer captures a feel of spontaneity despite not actually soloing (That’s to say nothing of the album’s three solo improv interludes of which Cole’s is the best; the album download also includes the full suite as a single track.) Yet it takes nothing away from the more composed sections whose musical and emotional sweep hold their own They also proffer some high drama and narrative ebb-and-flow: Almazan’s interest in film scoring pays dividends here Preview, buy or download songs from the album Alcanza by Fabian Almazan on iTunes. To take on Peggy Lee phrase-for-phrase, squeak-for-perky-squeak, with those soft sexy whispers, would be by far the easier course. Callaway, wise in the ways of … Read More “Ann Hampton Callaway Fever: A Peggy Lee Celebration (Palmetto)” While a partnership between alto saxophonist Jim Snidero and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel wasn’t immediately predictable, upon closer analysis, makes perfect sense. Both have been active … Read More “Jim Snidero Feat. Kurt Rosenwinkel Far Far Away (Savant)” Vibraphonist Chris Dingman has always been a thoughtful musician, his unique, kinetic style providing both emotional uplift and meditative escape. With his new album, Journeys … Read More “Chris Dingman Journeys Vol. 2 (Self-Released)” As one who has feverishly collected the Prestige Cookbook albums of the great tenor saxophonist Eddie Lockjaw Davis for years, I was dumbstruck when I … Read More “Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis with Shirley Scott Cookin’ with Jaws and the Queen (Craft)” JazzTimes—“America’s Jazz Magazine”—provides comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the jazz scene JazzTimes is a favorite of musicians and fans alike « Back Community Safety Department Director To Resign Amid Tension With Cambridge Police Department From Lab to Startup: Harvard’s Office of Technology Development Paves the Way for Research Commercialization People’s Forum on Graduation Readiness Held After Vote to Eliminate MCAS 8 Takeaways From Harvard’s Task Force Reports Almazan ’16 filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Harvard on June 18 alleging the University mishandled a sexual harassment case involving Almazan The suit alleges that Harvard improperly handled two sexual harassment cases involving Almazan — a student at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health — and another unnamed individual resulting in emotional distress that contributed to Almazan’s suicide in June 2021 Filed by his parents Adrian and Marietta Almazan in the Suffolk County Superior Court the suit also names former Harvard Office for Dispute Resolution Investigator Jennifer Kirshenbaum and an unnamed former HMS student — who appears to be the same unnamed individual involved in the sexual harassment cases — as defendants The first Title IX case identified in the suit included multiple complaints filed by Almazan in November 2020 against the unnamed individual while the second was filed by the individual against Almazan one month later The lawsuit claims that Harvard’s Office of Dispute Resolution committed breaches of contract in handling the cases including failing to notify Almazan for multiple weeks that a claim had been made against him during which time he had been providing information to an investigator It also alleges that the ODR failed to notify Almazan of his “reconsideration or appellate rights” — which would allow him to appeal the verdict — and claims they deliberately sought out expert witness opinions that would support the claim against him The suit accuses each of the defendants of “negligent infliction of emotional distress” that led to Almazan’s death and seeks an amount deemed “fair and just,” in addition to punitive damages A spokesperson for HMS and did not respond to a request for comment on the suit The lawsuit comes less than two months after a Harvard Counseling and Mental Health Service employee was found not culpable of negligence in handling the mental health case of Luke Z an undergraduate who died by suicide at Harvard in 2015 who represented Tang’s family in that case He did not respond to a request for comment on the new filing —Staff writer Veronica H. Paulus can be reached at veronica.paulus@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @VeronicaHPaulus —Staff writer Akshaya Ravi can be reached at akshaya.ravi@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @akshayaravi22 Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNASHVILLE (WSMV) - Homicide detectives found the man they believe is responsible for the targeted shooting death of a man at an Antioch park in April 2024 neighbors found 36-year-old Francisco Almazan-Rojas shot to death in William Pitts Park just after 8 a.m Multiple 9mm bullet casings from a semi-automatic pistol were found at the scene detectives learned Almazan-Rojas was shot seven times with five of his wounds occurring “at close range” and when he “was in a kneeling position on the ground,” according to the report Detectives determined the shooter took Almazan-Rojas’s phone and left the scene in his pickup truck which was later found abandoned approximately 15 miles away at 1711 Luton Street in the Talbot’s Corner neighborhood Almazan-Rojas’s phone was still in the truck Surveillance footage from businesses near where the truck was found led detectives to identify 21-year-old Miguel Cruz-Lopez as the person driving the stolen truck to where it was discarded Detectives then confirmed Cruz-Lopez’s connection through his cell phone locations at the time of the murder and various online posts where he was seen with two 9mm pistols Cruz-Lopez was arrested overnight on March 26 at an apartment complex on Paragon Mills Road and charged with criminal homicide and especially aggravated robbery but a judicial commissioner intervened and removed the option to post bail He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday and he admitted to fatally shooting Almazan-Rojas in the park Ballistics testing will determine if the 9mm pistol found on his person during the arrest is the murder weapon His alleged accomplice in the murder at the park He was tied to the incident when detectives learned he followed behind Cruz-Lopez in a Hyundai Sonata as he moved the victim’s Ford pickup to Luton Street Pulido was charged with accessory to murder and was released after posting a $5,000 bond The Contemporary Dayton presents the work of three nationally recognized artists working in painting The Contemporary Dayton presents the work of three nationally recognized artists working in painting Laura Sanders is a Columbus-based artist who also maintains a studio in New York City Sanders’ lush figural paintings often feature women outdoors and deal with themes of survival Another theme evident in this mid-career survey is the passage of time from a young girl to an adult woman.  Erin Holscher Almazan is a Professor of Drawing and Printmaking at the University of Dayton Almazan’s exquisite new body of oil paintings examines the separation naturally occurring as a mother’s children grow up Scarlett Trust is an interdisciplinary artist who recently received her MFA from CalArts and lives in the Dayton region Trust's sculptures and videos act as intimate self-portraits and reflections of her psyche and the complexities and dualities in female identities Rice University students come from all different walks of life to form the wonderfully diverse and vibrant community the university is known for the university’s weeklong orientation program Rice Connections offers the opportunity for students from different faith traditions cultural backgrounds and more to come together and meet their freshman peers we want to increase participation in QRC because we have a lot of resources and a lot of people they might not be aware that there’s a lot of stuff for them,” Almazán said adding that QRC’s offerings range from a variety of social events to reading materials to sexual education and informational pamphlets 713-348-0000 | Privacy Policy | Campus Carry Cuban-American pianist/composer Fabian Almazan found his musical roots as a child in Havana Cuba was where he first became involved in the classical piano tradition he has developed a personal voice through the electric manipulation of the acoustic piano in live and studio settings Fabian has toured his music extensively as well as accompanied artists such as Linda May Han Oh Avishai Cohen and Ambrose Akinmusire among others He is also the founder of Biophilia Records Biophilia means “an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems.” In addition to creating meaningful and imaginative music Biophilia Records artists are united by a common interest in having a positive impact on the environment and our communities Biophilia artists collaborate with organizations that specialize in conservation regularly volunteering hands-on in community events Fabian lives in New York City with his wife UK Jazz News: What is the best advice you received about balancing/juggling parenthood and career Fabian Almazan: If you will have a child with a partner You will have maybe 10% of the time to do your work that you had prior to becoming a parent Enjoy the time with your child because time really does fly UKJN: What information or advice do you wish you’d received but didn’t (and had to learn through trial and error or on the go)?FA: All children are different so be aware that advice given to you might not apply to you No amount of tour-induced sleep deprivation can prepare you for the lack of sleep that comes with having a baby.  UKJN: Your top tip(s) for other parents in jazz:FA: If the child is showing interest potty train as early as possible.UKJN: Best general travel/gigging/tour-with-child advice:FA: In the US Travel with lots of snacks and extra clothing in case there are accidents Airplane toilets are loud and can easily frighten children Make sure you explain to them that you are going to flush the toilet and it will be loud before you do so Enroll your children in the frequent flier miles programs Use local transportation as much as possible on the road to go to zoos playgrounds and museums so that you don’t have to take a car seat with you Bring new toys they have never seen before and pull them out when there are meltdowns in long flights.UKJN: What is one way that figures or structures in the jazz industry could better support parents who are working jazz musicians?FA: It is extremely difficult and important to find the right child care that parents feel comfortable with in foreign places who are intimately familiar with their local communities could provide child-care takers for parent-musicians UKJN: What has surprised you about becoming a parent and remaining engaged with your professional activities and ambitions?FA: How easily I can drop everything I dedicated my life to prior to having my son literally nothing else matters.UKJN: What boundaries have you set for yourself as a parent in jazz (could be related to travel/touring I have to be able to justify it to myself and him I have no desire to play music with anyone who doesn’t understand that (*) Parents in Jazz was started (first as ‘Mothers In Jazz’) by vocalist Nicky Schrire in August 2022 The initiative aims to create an online resource for jazz industry professionals with children and jazz industry figures who work with and hire musicians who are parents The insight of the musicians and administrators interviewed for this series provides valuable emotional philosophical and logistical information and support that is easily accessible to all “Parents In Jazz” shines a light on the very specific role of being both a parent and a performing jazz musician or jazz arts professional Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a53055d37d2733167eb285ce62f7ce85" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Please check your inbox (and also your spam or junk folder We kindly request to oblige by fair use rules when quoting or sharing our content All original content is copyrighted unless credited otherwise but does take on work as a paid publicist and/or sell advertising packages Where a piece published after 26th October 2012 appears which is linked to this activity the content will be clearly sign-posted with the PP symbol Receive our weekly email newsletter with Jazz updates from London and beyond If you’ve been on our list all along 25 students from various backgrounds were welcomed into the second cohort of Yale Law School’s Launchpad Scholars a program committed to diversifying the legal field.   Yakeleen Almazan ’25, Yale senior and Law School Liman Fellow, applied to be a Launchpad Scholar during her sophomore year. After submitting her application in spring 2023, she later found out she was selected to be part of the program’s inaugural class.  said that she is interested in pursuing a legal career to address “crimmigration” through direct representation She told the News that being part of the program made her feel “empowered” to start the law school admissions process to achieve this goal “I feel very confident going into this process because I’ve learned so much already from [the program],” Almazan said The Launchpad Scholars program, funded in part by the law firm Latham & Watkins remains committed to diversifying the legal field by empowering participants to maximize their potential as law students and legal professionals.  begins with an annual welcome summit at Latham & Watkins the scholars engage in year-long programming designed as preparation for law school applications.  Almazan highlighted the importance of voices from people who have personal stakes in going to law school such as those with ties to incarceration and immigration She said that her participation in the program validated her connection to the legal field.  The program’s activities culminate in a week-long event held on Yale’s campus where scholars from around the world convene.  “The best moments have definitely been the welcome summit,” Cruz Almonaci “Being able to meet other Launchpad Scholars and hear about their stories their journeys and what they’re up to has been really amazing Every single one of them is doing something that I admire.” Launchpad Scholars are paired with mentors from both the Yale Law School and lawyers working with Latham & Watkins.  This year’s class features students from 23 different undergraduate institutions of which three-fourths are or will be the first in their family to graduate from college Around one-fourth of this year’s cohort are first-generation immigrants.  assistant director of admissions for the Launchpad Scholars Program “Our second cohort has so far proven to be as dedicated and thoughtful as our first,” Feuille wrote to the News “They have jumped at every opportunity to make the most of Launchpad and their commitment to realizing their law school dreams is nothing short of inspiring.” partner and global recruiting committee chair at Latham & Watkins emphasized how the program is adapting in its second year.  Penzer specifically highlighted an extended LSAT preparation period and investment of more time and resources into helping scholars prepare personal statements and other application essays.  The first cohort saw a median score improvement of over 15 points when comparing the diagnostic exam to the official LSAT.  “We’ve added programming to better tailor the experience to the needs of our scholars and to best position them for success,” Penzer wrote to the News.  Feuille further highlighted the pride in year one as motivation to continue modifying the program in the best interest of the scholars.  Another new addition to this year’s programming is the hosting of quarterly virtual social events to strengthen ties within the class.   In response to the success of the first cohort associate dean of admissions and financial aid noted her excitement for the future success of the scholars as both law students and lawyers.  “All of us at Yale Law School and Latham & Watkins have been blown away by their commitment to preparing for the LSAT focus on writing authentic and sophisticated essays and — most importantly — support for each other personally and professionally,” Ingber wrote to the News.  Penzer highlighted the enriching aspects of the program for all involved specifically drawing attention to the mentorship program between Latham & Watkins and the Law School.  Almazan noted specific appreciation for both her Launchpad mentor Almonaci also cited appreciation for the authenticity of the program Almonaci encourages everyone interested in law school to apply She emphasized that people often feel their applications to law school need to be perfect but that students really just need to have a will to learn more about the law and be down-to-earth “My fellow Launchpad Scholars are amazing in their various ways,” Almonaci said “I think what really unites all of us is that we have a very strong sense of purpose.” Applications for the 2025-26 cycle of the Launchpad Scholars program will open up next spring.  27: An earlier version of this article misspelled Michèle Penzer’s last name Taking advantage of the amphitheater’s shape the design features ribbon-like fabric panels suspended from the university building These ribbons provide shade for the terraced seats while allowing airflow and natural light to pass through The bright orange fabric contrasts with the surrounding greenery and adds vibrancy to the concrete courtyard The structural design enables the ribbons to be easily removed or adjusted Bolts at the upper fittings allow angle modifications while lower metal fittings permit quick detachment This flexibility ensures the structure can be dismantled during long vacations or typhoon seasons all images courtesy of Jorge Almazán and Keio University StudioLab Completed in November 2023, the shaded terrace designed by architects at Jorge Almazán and Keio University StudioLab quickly became a popular gathering space for students Observational studies and cafeteria usage trends from April to July revealed a 1.5 to 2-fold increase in visitors compared to the same period before the project’s implementation Students utilized the shaded space for dining and leisure with some spending short breaks while others remained for extended periods Thermographic measurements taken in July indicated that shaded bench surfaces were approximately 20°C cooler than those exposed to direct sunlight highlighting the effectiveness of the fabric shading easily installed shading system capable of covering a large area the Hiyoshi Ribbon Terrace demonstrates a practical approach to enhancing the usability of outdoor spaces in educational settings the shading structure enhances a sunken amphitheater at Keio University’s Hiyoshi Campus ribbon-like fabric panels create shaded seating areas making the amphitheater more usable for students the bright orange fabric provides a striking contrast to the greenery surrounding the courtyard the maypole-inspired design suspends ribbons from the building integrating shade with airflow and natural light terraced seating benefits from the shaded environment the ribbon-like shading system enhances comfort while maintaining visual openness the vibrant orange ribbons bring energy and color to the concrete campus courtyard the structural system allows the ribbons to be easily removed or adjusted for seasonal needs name: Hiyoshi Ribbon Terrace architects: Jorge Almazán + Keio University Studiolab | @keiostudiolab designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style RAYMOND Almazan had some good-natured Christmas Day trash talking with import Cheick Diallo And he has some parting words with the former NBA player just before the PBA Commissioner’s Cup game between Meralco and Converge was over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum “Let’s see in the playoffs,” Almazan told the 28-year-old import as the Bolts bowed to the FiberXers on Wednesday The two got entangle in a short verbal joust after Diallo blocked Bong Quinto’s layup and committed a foul with 2:57 left in the game and the FiberXers leading by a mile asked for a goal tending violation on the import for a possible three-point play who was in street clothes due to an ankle injury While the veteran big man took the trash talking as part of the game he also stressed Diallo should have given him some respect hinting the import may have said something personal against him kasi I’ve been in this league how many years “Kaya gusto ko sana makatapat namin sila sa playoffs.” Both teams were called for technical fouls shortly after the sequence and two blocked shots as Converge stretched its winning run to four and improved to 6-2 overall in a tie with guest team Eastern at third place Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph Spin.ph has been granted the NPC Seal of Registration in recognition of the successful registration of its DPO and DPS We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on Spin.ph. 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Find out more here Sign up now for NowHab's weekday newsletter Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Andrea Manenti left his position as vice president of Bridgestone North Region on 1 February 2025 He also departed his role as head of the company’s UK and Ireland operations Bridgestone told Tyres & Accessories that David Almazan Bridgestone UK & Ireland commercial director heading Bridgestone EMEA North Region and the UK and Ireland Drew Chapman continues in his role as consumer director Manenti’s departure adds to the list of leadership changes at Bridgestone since the reorganisation of the company’s management structure in February 2024 including the instatement of a new business unit covering Europe Tyrepress and Tyres & Accessories subscribers can log in below to read the full article If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber Subscribe now If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Christine Maryann Almazan M.D created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Satur.. Made with love by funeralOne Youth motivational speaker Freddie Almazan speaking to TODAY on May 27 2006 should have been like any other day for 13-year-old Freddie Almazan All he remembers is that he was walking home from school that afternoon Then he woke up in the hospital a few weeks later He had been shot in the back of his head on his walk home in California It also marked the start of what would be a decade-long battle with depression before he eventually decided to turn his life around during his university years speaks extensively about how one can find “beauty in the broken pieces” and thus grow and bounce back from the challenges one faces in life Mr Almazan was speaking to TODAY on the sidelines of the Rotary International Convention 2024 where the 31-year-old is a conference speaker Rotary is an international service organisation connecting more than 1.4 million volunteers from more than 46,000 Rotary clubs globally to tackle issues of concern The organisation meets at the annual Rotary International Convention which is held in a different city each year This year’s convention was held in Singapore between May 25 and 29 and saw more than 14,000 Rotary members and participants from 151 countries and more gather at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands Mr Almazan remembers little of what happened that afternoon in November 2006 apart from how much his life had changed as a result “I just remember walking home and then a few weeks later I remember waking up to what I thought was like a nightmare,” he said He was surrounded by doctors at his bedside They asked him several questions — including if he knew what the date was and if he could feel his arms “That was when they told me that I had been shot.” The shotgun used in the attack had been loaded with several ball bearings Some of these had hit the back of his head and neck damaging his nerves and leaving him partially paralysed He underwent many surgeries and therapy sessions — including physical and speech therapy — to regain his mobility and ability to speak He was discharged from the hospital some time in January 2007 He was caring for his little brother one night when the realisation of his situation fully hit him “I thought the entire time that I was dreaming and that one day I would wake up “Being there with (my brother) made me realise that maybe this wasn’t a nightmare it was the same story and I wasn’t going back to the way things were When he eventually returned to high school later that year “I started comparing myself to other people I started self-harming and I was even suicidal.” This marked the start of what would be a decade-long battle for Mr Almazan It was when he studied sociology at the University of California that he decided to turn his life around Mr Almazan had the opportunity to spend a semester studying in Brazil — a chance he jumped at because he believed the new environment would do him good he had been very insecure throughout his schooling years because he feared that people would judge him based on the way he looked He shied away from others and did not have many friends “I thought if I went to a new country where everything was completely different and nobody knew anything about me “But I got to Brazil and I realised my life was the same.” The realisation that nothing had changed prompted Mr Almazan to ask himself if he wanted to continue living his life the same way — or if he would try to move forward with his life He started making little changes to how he lived his life One of his biggest fears was to talk to people afraid that they would judge and reject him a first step out of his comfort zone involved taking a risk to put himself out there and start talking to more people “Doing that and realising that nobody really cared about the way I looked gave me confidence to try more I started going out and I started doing things It was just little things that I was doing over and over again which he described as an “emotional experience” Mr Almazan knew that he wanted to share about this and to help others as well Rolling up his shirt sleeve during the sit-down interview he revealed a tattoo on his left arm that reads: “The meaning of life is to find your gift Mr Almazan recalled how — when he was applying to university — he had chanced upon clips of motivational speaker Nick Vujicic sharing his story online “I remember thinking that I was going to do that one day that I wanted to be like him one day,” Mr Almazan said Mr Almazan was speaking with a friend when he began sharing his story in detail with her for the first time She got visibly emotional and asked if he would consider becoming a motivational speaker Mr Almazan began to seriously explore how he could do so and eventually signed up for a mentorship programme that would guide him on his motivational speaking journey “I was talking to this woman in my community I shared with her my story and then she started crying The woman’s daughter was also battling depression at the time On what he hopes others would also take away from his sharings Mr Almazan said: “We can’t always control everything that happens in life — people go through things But these challenges don’t have to define who we are.” Referring to the Japanese practice of kintsugi — the act of repairing broken pottery by mending them with gold — from which he draws inspiration Mr Almazan noted how people often try to replace broken things with something new “But what kintsugi does is that it repairs that damage… and where it’s fractured “Kintsugi teaches us that our scars shouldn’t be something that we should be ashamed about He said that embracing this has helped him to realise that the challenges he faced were also what developed his character and made him who he is today and I am more valuable because of that story.” Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories 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Contact us Central Valley’s Angel Melgoza, Sal Almazan and Carlos Zepeda and Ceres High’s Parker Borges turned in individual standout performances while representing their respective boys wrestling teams at the James Riddle Memorial Classic on Dec. 14. Melgoza, Almazan, Zepeda and Borges placed in the top eight at the Oakdale High School event. Melgoza, Almazan and Borges claimed medals by virtue of their top-seven performances. Zepeda fell one win shy of winning hardware. “It’s one of the toughest, one-day tournaments in the state,” Hawks’ head coach Rob Beckhart said. “We knew he (Parker) could do it (medal),” Bulldogs’ leader Adam Borges said. “But it’s a tough tournament. There are so many schools there. They come from everywhere.” The 12th-place Hawks and 31st-place Bulldogs posted scores of 62 and 21, respectively, at the 41-team tournament. “It’s one of the better showings I remember us ever having there,” Beckhart said. “Overall, we competed very well,” coach Borges said. “The kids wrestled tough. There were a lot of close matches.” Seeded fifth, Melgoza placed third in the 215-pound weight bracket. Melgoza beat Palma’s Damien Lopez-Reglado (pin, 1:58), Windsor’s Max Solorio (pin, 1:59) and Bakersfield’s Jesse Addington (pin, 4:13). “He (Melgoza) takes wrestling serious,” Beckhart said. “He wants to do well in the sport.” Almazan beat Tracy’s Ruben Cornejo (major decision, 12-4), Turlock’s Freddy Luna (pin, 2:31) and Calaveras’ Noah Johnson (pin, 0:55). “I can’t say I’m surprised,” Beckhart said. “He’s worked hard to get to this point. He has pretty high goals. He wants to get to state like everybody else.” Zepeda beat Calaveras’ Nathan Kavanagh (pin, 3:44) and Merrill West’s Tara Sanghera (decision, 25-19). “The things he does to, he does very well,” Beckhart said. “He’s pretty good in the neutral position. He has crazy hip and flexibility. He’s hard to pin down.” Parker Borges placed fourth at 150 pounds. Borges beat De La Salle’s Andrew Jimenez (pin, 1:18) and Durham’s Zachariah Zwinger (pin, 2:21). “Parker puts in the work at practice,” Adam Borges said. “He’s willing to sacrifice to get what he wants.” Central Valley’s Sunny Breshears (150 pounds, 2-2 record), Anthony Diaz (157s, 2-2), Jayden Mattox (126s, 1-2), Rotceh Mendez (132s, 1-2), Caleb Beckhart (138s, 1-2), Zack Esparza (175s, 1-2), Urijah Krigbaum (144s, 0-2) and Sean Vernon (165s, 0-2), and Ceres High’s Alijah Jackson (106s, 0-2), Michael King (113s, 0-2), Daniel Tubera (138s, 0-2), Jonas Hayes (157s, 0-2) and Abraham Rodriguez (175s, 0-2) all gained valuable experience while competing at the Riddle Classic. Send help right to the people and causes you care about Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee KQED Live EventsPRX Podcast Garage EventsEvents Around the Bay AreaMember Benefits with KQED LiveVideos from KQED LiveWatch recordings of recent KQED Live events FeaturedThat's My WordAn ongoing exploration of Bay Area hip-hop history See Senior Director of TV Programming Meredith Speight’s recommendations from this month’s KQED 9 Watch recordings of recent KQED Live events Support KQED by using your donor-advised fund to make a charitable gift a former music instructor at Adelante Dual Language Academy is currently serving a prison sentence for sexual abuse four lawsuits have been filed against the school district over its handling of complaints against the teacher An investigation by the school district in 2014 documented multiple complaints Santiago inappropriately touched students, according to records obtained by KQED in response to a Public Record Act request Administrators determined he should be transferred to another school in the district Santiago continued to teach for nearly a decade before he was charged with sexually abusing 10 students at Adelante The latest lawsuit alleges that school staff and the district’s current interim superintendent were not only aware of Santiago’s inappropriate behavior but also chose not to notify the police Superintendent Almazan declined to comment The attorney for the victims, Morgan Stewart, said Santiago should have “unequivocally” been reported to authorities. All mandatory reporters are required by law to report all known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect “This is a clear conspiracy to cover this up not report it to the police,” Stewart said He’s acting in a sexually inappropriate manner with 12- and 13-year-olds And there’s a direction from the superintendent not to call the police on that.” Almazan was the principal at Sheppard Middle School in 2014 when she completed an investigation into complaints against Santiago Almazan found “an overall discomfort and/or feeling of insecurity in Mr Santiago’s band class among female students that were interviewed.” Among other allegations referenced in the investigative report by the school Santiago was accused of physically moving a female student by holding her head and shoulders touching a female student at her waist to move her and asking a parent to drop off his child at his house Almazan recommended Santiago be transferred out of Sheppard Middle School The lawsuit alleges former Alum Rock superintendent Stephen Fiss instructed staff not to call law enforcement in response to the complaints “Superintendent Fiss did not want me to contact the police regarding this matter at this time,” reads a draft for an investigative report prepared by the school included in the suit Next to those instructions is a handwritten note reading is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit Gutierrez argues she blew the whistle on Santiago and was terminated after doing what was necessary to protect the children Gutierrez looks forward to all of the legal claims playing out in court because the facts will demonstrate that Alum Rock has an entrenched history of doing what is politically best for them and not what is best for students and families,” the statement reads Almazan, the former Sheppard Middle School principal who investigated Santiago, was appointed interim superintendent with the district in March after the previous superintendent, Hilaria Bauer, was abruptly fired Trustee Minh Pham told the San José Spotlight that the school board is searching for a permanent replacement and Almazan is unlikely to apply for the position Most of the victims in the recent lawsuit are under 14 years old Stewart noted that Adelante and the district are made up of largely Hispanic and lower-income families Many families do not necessarily have the ability to speak out or go to law enforcement and trust their schools to be a safe place “It’s devastating,” Stewart said “And I don’t even know that the parents fully grasp everything that the school did to harm them all along the way.” To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy. Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors General Counsel for the UCLA Alumni Board of Directors Araceli Almazan ‘04 has been guided by her passion for law Her commitment to UCLA arose from the impact UCLA made during a pivotal time in her life The university gave so much to me and opened so many doors that’s why I give back.” Throughout her journey from first-generation student to her current role as a lawyer and volunteer leader engaging fellow alumni she has relied on her inquisitive nature and perseverance in pursuit of her goals Growing up across the street from UCLA’s crosstown rival encountering college students on a daily basis made the idea of higher education a reality Her parents had what she calls a “visionary outlook on life,” unconditionally supporting Almazan and her brother immigrants from Mexico with elementary school educations were always very supportive.” While they encouraged her they didn’t have first-hand knowledge of A-G requirements or standardized tests so Almazan sought help from teachers and counselors “If you don't get the answer you want after you’ve asked two people Because of overcrowding in her neighborhood school, she attended Robert Frost Middle School and John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills. Almazan outperformed many of her classmates academically, yet while they had plans to attend law or medical school, she asked herself why she did not, “It opened my mind to a world of opportunities.” Her junior year she participated in the Chicano Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP) sponsored by Cal State Sacramento to build young people's leadership potential She traveled to Sacramento where she toured the capitol visited the assembly floor and learned about the college admission process This experience inspired Almazan to set her sights on earning a law degree and work in politics Almazan’s counselor suggested she apply to UCLA she took part in the Freshman Summer Program which prepares first generation underrepresented students for a successful transition to college I was determined to achieve my goal.” When she overheard a fellow student talking about UCLA's College Honors Program she sought it out and was admitted as an incoming freshman At UCLA, Almazan embraced every available opportunity, or created her own. She says, “Never take yourself out of the running. Don’t make the decision for them. If they say no, then you’re only back to square one.” She traveled to Washington, D.C. through the UCDC program where she worked in the Department of Education and interned for California’s Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante She joined several organizations and programs including the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) helping students to become competitive college applicants; MEChA Calmécac as a peer counselor a student-initiated retention program; and was part of the founding class of Hermanas Unidas supporting Chicanas/Latinas in their pursuit of higher education Almazan was a research assistant for Professor Abel Valenzuela whose research on immigrant day laborers helped frame national conversations. Luskin Public Policy Professor Michael Stoll became a mentor to Almazan writing letters of recommendation “When I look back on my experience with UCLA I think about the current undergraduates who share my background and I hope they know about the programs Almazan graduated with a bachelor’s in political science with honors and a minor in public policy and education She was a member of Golden Key International Honour Society the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the National Political Science Honor Society - Pi Sigma Alpha she participated in the California Senate Fellows program at the State Capitol Almazan spent the next several years earning advanced degrees — including a Juris Doctorate from UC Davis; a master's in public administration with a concentration in public policy from Columbia University; and a second master's degree in public affairs with a concentration in management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Almazan is currently a senior associate with the law firm Alvarez-Glassman & Colvin work that combines her career’s common themes of policy She handles both litigation and transactional matters representing municipal entities and public entity clients in all areas of civil litigation she is directly involved with the cities of Southeast Los Angeles many in leadership roles in their community She joined the Southeast Bruins Alumni Network whose mission is to serve the community as volunteers and ambassadors for UCLA As president of Southeast Bruins for two years she created opportunities to engage local alumni in UCLA and raise scholarship funds UCLA football watch parties and New Bruin send-offs The group organized a Thanksgiving turkey drive for 180 local families in need a teddy bear drive for young patients at UCLA’s Mattel Hospital and a campus tour for middle and high school students heard from speakers and wrapped it up with a raffle for UCLA swag Almazan also gave back to UCLA by becoming a mentor through UCLA ONE She credits the guidance she received as a student with her success is because I took the initiative and asked questions.” In this role As general counsel for the UCLA Alumni Board Almazan continues her commitment to the Association’s mission to engage alumni directly in UCLA She continues to reach out to Bruins and encourage others to do the same a place to come together and build community.” During the COVID-19 pandemic Almazan believes the Alumni Association is rising to the challenge in finding new ways to increase alumni participation and we’re constantly thinking of creative ways for people to get involved including those who live overseas or far from campus.” Almazan has recently joined the Chancellor’s Society a dedicated community of annual donors that represents the model of philanthropic leadership at UCLA continuing her commitment to the University She advises students to “take advantage of everything UCLA has to offer If you were accepted it’s because you have what it takes.” Terms of Use MERALCO pulled off a 99-94 win over Magnolia in the opener of the PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday despite missing the services of two key players from last season’s champion team The Bolts were without the injured Raymond Almazan and Allein Maliksi to open Season 49 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum They’re a bit older na rin so it’s just a safety precaution,” said Trillo afterwards The two played major roles when the Bolts scored their breakthrough championship in the PBA last season by winning the Philippine Cup crown The 36-year-old Maliksi was relegated to the injured/reserved list prior to the game and was replaced by Jolo Mendoza who provided quality minutes by finishing with 13 points including scoring the second four-point shot in PBA history in the waning minutes of the second quarter Maliksi said he could be out of action for the next two weeks “Ang pakiramdam ko kasi okay na pero sabi nga ng doctor ingatan ko na lang,” he related could be back as early as the Bolts’ next game against TNT Tropang Giga on Thursday Fabian Almazan is among the 25 artists DownBeat thinks will help shape jazz in the decades to come ​Pianist Fabian Almazan has a distinct recollection of an incident that took place years ago at the Village Vanguard a moment that made him feel that his art could connect with listeners in a profound way: “Out of the corner of my eye You could tell he was really enjoying the music Almazan isn’t far removed from his own childhood memories feeling sad and alone but comforted and inspired by his love for music “I don’t know what that boy’s life was [like],” he mused Almazan has spent more than a dozen years in Terence Blanchard’s band and his esteemed status as a collaborator has been bolstered by work with Paquito D’Rivera Dave Douglas and Linda May Han Oh (whom he wed in 2018) Almazan has intertwined his formative love for classical repertoire and jazz with the musical influences of his homeland resulting in two significant recordings with his band Rhizome which he founded to express a commitment to environmentalism The philosophy behind the label is to showcase artists who “care about the environment and stand in solidarity with the people who are fighting to protect this Earth.” Among the artists on the Biophilia roster are Oh trumpeter Adam O’Farrill and vocalist Sara Serpa The label actively collaborates with authors and conservationists helping to raise awareness of initiatives to fight pollution and climate change is a trio effort recorded with Oh and drummer Henry Cole his first return trip there since his family’s departure “I wrote poetry when I was 7 years old about how much I loved Cuba I thought Cuba was the most wonderful place on Earth.” “I think it’s important to not ignore that little voice that’s inside of you that’s telling you what you really like and what you have passion for That moment at the Vanguard remains a keystone Just listen to that voice and go after it.” DB This story originally was published in the November 2020 issue of DownBeat. Subscribe here “This is one of the great gifts that Coltrane gave us — he gave us a key to the cosmos in this recording,” says John McLaughlin In his original liner notes to A Love Supreme The Blue Note Jazz Festival New York kicks off May 27 with a James Moody 100th Birthday Celebration at Sony Hall Blue Note Entertainment Group has unveiled the lineup for the 14th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival New York “I’m certainly influenced by Geri Allen,” said Iverson during a live Blindfold Test at the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival Ethan Iverson performed as part of the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival in… we’re left with similarities,” Collier says “Cultural differences are mitigated through 12 notes.” DownBeat has a long association with the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference but it’s still kind of productive in a way because you have something that you can be inspired by,” Andy Bey said on a 2019 episode of NPR Jazz Night in America who illuminated the jazz scene for five decades with a four-octave range that encompassed a bellowing… About|Terms of Use|PrivacyCopyright © 2025 Maher Publications. All rights reserved. DownBeat is an internationally registered trademark of Maher Publications. CalendarEventsResultsAllHomeAwayAllHomeAwayComposite CalendarDamon AlmazanDamon Almazan Brings Wealth of Soccer Experience to Purdue Fort Wayne10/27/2020 1:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer © 2025 Purdue University Fort Wayne An equal access/equal opportunity university. If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please email Human Resources and Office of Institutional Equity at accessibility@pfw.edu PBA's website is going through major improvements During this process you may experience errors We ask for your understanding and we apologize for the inconvenience We use cookies to ensure the best user experience. By continuing to browse our site, you accept our use of cookies and our Privacy Policy Esther Almazán and Golding Kidd at James Joyce Tower and Museum in Dublin Arizona State University alum Esther Almazán who earned her MFA in dramatic writing in 2020 from the School of Music has spent the past year researching and writing in Galway Her work focuses on studying the intersectionality between Native Americans and Native Irish Almazán received the Kennedy Center Latinx Playwriting Award for Distinguished Achievement the ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence and the Gammage Theatre Scholar Award and was a Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference semifinalist Her original play “Indian School” was presented by ASU Theatre.  A culmination of her Fulbright research project “A Yaqui and Béal: Yoeme and Irish in Conversation,” was presented on May 6 at the O’Donoghue Theatre as part of the Galway Theatre Festival The theatrical piece combines family legends and wisdom from Irish and Yoeme elders with conceived work that includes audience input not just me collecting verbatim interviews and staging those but also opening it up to Irish playwrights,” she said “Ireland is like the land of the playwright Almazán said one challenge of this experience was simply getting settled into a new place exacerbated by the housing crisis in Ireland: “For a minute I thought I was gonna have to live in my car!”  But after a lot of persistence and a chance meeting Almazán found a place to live — a renovated storage space in a small town with views of lush green hills right out her front door But I'm kind of in the middle of nowhere,” she said Almazán drove to the university four times a week to audit classes and work with students it was out of her comfort zone to take acting classes again.  “I haven't been an actor for a very long time but I am saying yes to everything,” she said “I'm just saying yes and jumping in and learning and meeting people.” Almazán was able to meet actors she needed for her production in her classes.  “I've got this amazing group of Irish students and one student from Luxembourg,” she said “They're really eager and excited to work on this project.” She said that she wanted to gather as many people as possible who were interested in working with her.  “I don't want it to be only through my lens I want it to be through Irish lenses,” she said Almazán has been exploring different areas in Ireland She said that she’s seen numerous connections between her work in the United States and her research in Ireland the owner shared about the local industrial schools in Ireland.  which were industrial boarding schools where children were kidnapped and put in those places and they found the graves of those children all leading up to my play ‘Indian School,’” Almazán said “The first place I walked into in Ireland tells me ‘Children were dying in these industrial schools where they were horribly abused and worked to death.’ Just like they were in the U.S Another Irish friend taught her about the practice of preserving fairy rings.  teaching us about the earth and how to preserve parts of it,” she said ancient warnings to keep things the way they should be.” Her final project included a variety of perspectives including work that was devised as audiences entered the space.  “I have this really tremendous group of theater artists who will help devise in the lobby and then bring it on to the stage in real time,” she said. “I got to learn a lot about devising at ASU, with some of the most remarkable people, like Liz Lerman and Michael Rohd.” Almazán said working with the people in Ireland has been one of the best parts of her experience as a Fulbright Scholar.  “One thing I will take away from this is the strength that I've gained from just being around the Irish people,” she said “and the kindness that has been shown to me.” University of Galway students enjoying a Sonoran meal and telling family stories Esther Almazán and cast at the Galway Theatre Festival launch The poster for Esther Almazán's Fulbright research project "A Yaqui and Béal: Yeome and Irish in Conversation." He will graduate from Arizona State University in May with a… In a digital world where stories are easily shared but not always protected Alycia de Mesa (Apache of Chihuahua) asked: How can… dancers with their faces wrapped in red fabric or a ceiling full of balloons 36% of all banned titles featured characters or people of color and a quarter (25%) included LGBTQ+ people or characters This week-long intensive provides an in-person workshop for early-career writers from communities underrepresented in the publishing world Learn how the creation and display of art is entwined with the U.S.’s most fraught cultural and political debates The next four years could reshape the United States for decades to come Join us in fighting every day to protect the freedom to write and the freedom to read The PEN Ten is PEN America’s weekly interview series whose upcoming play La Paloma Prisoner will premiere off-Broadway in April What was the first book or piece of writing that had a profound impact on you Early in high school I remember reading Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and how I felt I had crept into a secret world of women’s voices The internal voices that women were hiding were screaming off the page I vowed I would never allow my voice to be quietly drowned James Baldwin’s essay “The Creative Process” has served as an incredible guide that I continually return to Revolution Books on Malcom X Blvd in Harlem it’s truly a place of resistance and where you can find a spectrum of vast content “Maintaining momentum for me is to keep being affected by what is happening in the world continually imagining what a liberated Latinx future would look like keeps me inspired.” How do you maintain momentum and remain inspired I love to be surprised by an audience after I’ve soaked myself in tons of research during the writing process When I work with collaborators in a play process the re-drafting of writing is in response to what we discover in the room I’m invigorated when a piece of writing is explored through sound design Each play is diverse in dramatic structure and subject matter—a hybrid structure that incorporates components of dance theatre As an arts facilitator to youth and incarcerated women I am moved and inspired to create work about women and their history and to amplify a voice for their futures I am particularly dedicated to working with vulnerable communities who lack access to arts platforms in combination with trained artists and advocates in order for marginalized voices to gain visibility advocacy organizations and scholars—societal engagement that is vital to my process as an artist Maintaining momentum for me is to keep being affected by what is happening in the world continually imagining what a liberated Latinx future would look like keeps me inspired I will never forget when I was invited to make a keynote speech to the graduating class in the Bronx at the Pan American International High School the students entered with the Latinx flag of their country on their backs and held them up high I saw an empowered presence of Latin America in the U.S being shaped by young people who practiced their cultural heritage through writing adaptations of Latinx classics and through dance and music I was just rereading passages from Jane Caputi’s Goddesses and Monsters: Women Wise Women and Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales from Around the World edited by Kathleen Ragan This book keeps me close to womxn’s magic… “My characters and I are saying and committing actions that societally have been reserved for men and it’s been part of my journey that I must fight a psychological and physical battle to continue writing.” What do you consider to be the biggest threat to free expression today Have there been times when your right to free expression has been challenged there have been several companies and individual artists writers who are being denied visas to present their work here in the United States The Trump administration is overtly “cracking down” on cultural exchange Some that I became aware of: South Korea’s Bereishit Dance Company Malian singer and griot Hawa Kassé Mady Diabaté and the Latinx playwright from Yucatan Mexico human trafficking and LGBTQ issues affecting women in Yucatán the attempts to censor the very nature of the work that somehow the work must be “adjusted” in order to assimilate to the agenda of the administration To deny an artist a visa is to deny the cultural relevance of the work of the human being who creates the work and their national identity This creates a culture of fear as artists are also being denied access to the U.S because of what they have stated in media interviews and social media posts This is a threat to community and social organizing limiting the distribution of progressive media content and alternative perspectives When it comes to my personal experiences of my own free expression being challenged I’ve had a spectrum of events happen to me Everything from being being physically assaulted being asked to alter the language in works and rejection from opportunities when not complying with those demands There was concern when the female characters in my plays “spoke filth” because they used profanity and were behaving like men while David Mamet is praised for every glorified “fuck” in his plays while women in his world often lack of agency and dimension I have often been told that my work is overly feminist some feedback from a fellowship application stated that my work was agitprop because of its focus on women and narratives of Latin America During my first playwriting workshop in NYC a group of the men from the workshop surrounded me after a session and threatened me “they were tired of men’s names being dragged through the mud.” The play I was developing was about the real life experiences of sex workers who boxed themselves into cargo ships in order to migrate and men’s authentically destructive role against women in that narrative “The Virgin Stripper,” I was physically attacked by men several times as they attempted to stop me from performing my monologue it was the articulate language of deconstructing rape culture while I was dressed as a stripper that triggered them It was the writer’s identity in me that they couldn’t manage to control or shut down You can also add to the list the number of times I was threatened by Trump supporters when I spoke at political rallies… My characters and I are saying and committing actions that societally have been reserved for men and it’s been part of my journey that I must fight a psychological and physical battle to continue writing Is there such a thing as “the writer’s identity” I believe there absolutely is a “writer’s identity,” this is the heart of a writer’s positionality what shapes their unique choices in how they create or describe a world I’ve lived my life in constant translation: as a child translating for my immigrant parents and now translating the Latinx culture to U.S I am navigating the challenging power structures of society I situate myself within the cannon of Latin American dramatists who are members of the diaspora in the United States exploring how that role influences the construction of the dramatic voice This positionality led me to my life’s dedication in writing the “Latin is America” play cycle where I have written several plays within this bilingual cycle that will ultimately comprise of 33 plays one for each of the countries and dependencies in Latin America While I do not feel that the identity of the writer should limit the subject matter in which the writer engages with not having cultural sensitivity or lived experiences with particular themes leaves the possibility open for an individual writer who is not conscious their own identity to appropriate the cultural materials and the narratives of others “People need stories the way they need water What is the most daring thing you’ve ever put into words Have you ever written something you wish you could take back dangerous of all my works I would have to say is my theatrical sex trilogy: 1 “Porning the Planet: The De-sensitization of a Nation;” 2 “Seventeen Days: A Pornographic Faust adaptation;” and 3 “Goddesses Return to the Temple: Nina Hartley reveals it All.” Porning the Planet: A multi-media butoh dance narrative As NASA chooses her for the making of the film Porning the Planet Sensora attempts to answer multiple personality disorder through the building of a porn persona our savior Sensora follows a journey from glam porn star to snuff assassinated president and her daily rituals are witnessed and downloaded for mass absorption into the collective consciousness Seventeen Days: Loosely based on the biography of pioneer porn star Georgina Spelvin of The Devil in Miss Jones This new play traces the history of pornography through the lives of legendary grandmother porn Star Spelvin and 17-year-old granddaughter based on Sasha Grey living out (The Devil in Miss Jones) Faustian spiral leading to depths she may never escape Goddesses Return to the Temple: Nina Hartley reveals it All: The 30,000 BCE Venus of Willendorf statue is embodied by a middle-aged pregnant women who seeks to know the ancient ways of women’s powers She begins to surprisingly worship The Goddess (Nina Hartley) at the temple/strip club The process of writing these works has been the most taxing on my psyche It required me to confront the ways in which female archetypes and traditional female roles have influenced our modern notions of womanhood as well as the exploitation of the female body and spirit in our media-driven culture I in no way restrained myself from describing or capturing the violence committed against women and the grotesque content that is consumed as entertainment “Porning the Planet,” which was developed with adult star Brittany Andrews required me to immerse myself in every aspect of the industry Brittany challenged several of my pre-conceived notions of her experience and agency in her career choices So many of our modern devices and their functions were designed with collaborations between tech companies government agencies and the adult industry Our complicity in the maintenance of female exploitation is upheld by the way we interact with technology and the more we make technology the main means of human communication While there is a brutality to these three pieces the images and how the body is being shaped on stage are extreme I assured that the characters are not solely living a place of victimhood These pieces are also comedic because it was through humor that I discovered that these legendary women were dismantling the limited whore/virgin dichotomy I was shocked recently when I heard the words I had written during a performance that revealed the abuse of power committed by my first playwriting teacher in undergrad Because it took me so many years to confront that truth suddenly the truth couldn’t be taken back because it had been spoken in a communal space “Your narrative is always valid even when it’s not being valued Trust your gut when you feel someone is intimidated by your boldness I work with young people closely every week and the overall advice I would give and do give is to write about the forces that oppose you and celebrate the forces that uplift you To confront internal and external forces that seek to damage us and our community; is many times the initial motivation that moves young writers from examining the world to writing about it Writers are in need of a response or transformation and you need a community to process the work with Often what comes up in workshops that I facilitate with young writers is the importance of one’s own narrative someone else will attempt to represent you Your narrative is always valid even when it’s not being valued I also recommend to keep photos of ancestors and objects that are sacred to you somewhere close to you and above your head as you write Keeping a plant and a lit candle near you as you write is also helpful I have fantasies of having dinner with Toni Morrison I would ask her how she navigated life as a woman of color in the literary world how motherhood expanded her personal and professional life I would like to hold her hand and ask about the sacrifices she made to build her body of work perhaps this will help me make peace with this inevitable struggle Then I would love to meet Laura Keiler who passed in 1932 in Denmark “Does that Feel Good to you my Lark?: A Doll’s House adaptation.” Keiler’s legacy as an incredible writer and advocate of the women’s movement is overshadowed by her fame for being the “inspiration for Nora.” In the play I deconstruct how her narrative was appropriated and manipulated by Henrik Ibsen I want to desperately ask her about the manuscript she sent Ibsen before A Doll’s House was published So hopefully when I meet her in this special spiritual dimension I can understand Danish and she can understand English People need stories the way they need water Raquel Almazan is an interdisciplinary actor Her eclectic career as artist-activist spans original multi-media solo performances She is a practitioner of Butoh dance and the creator/teacher of arts programs for youth and adults Her work has been featured in New York City—including Off-Broadway—throughout the United States and internationally in Greece and Sweden; including several of her plays within her lifelong project on writing bilingual plays in dedication to each Latin American country (Latin is America play cycle) and learn by donating to PEN America today Copyright © 2025 PEN America. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy Raymond Alamazan was there when Meralco suffered the 2019 and 2021 Governors’ Cup Finals heartbreaks against Ginebra Now everything is worth the wait and pain as the Bolts hoist the 2024 Philippine Cup crown Raymond Almazan gave frontcourt partner Cliff Hodge big hug as confetti fell on them after Meralco lorded over the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the expense of San Miguel Almazan just kept shouting at the top of his lungs dapping his teammates as the Bolts seized a breakthrough title before a raucous crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum When he talked to reporters later that night Almazan still struggled to find the words to describe his feelings after winning his second PBA championship “Grabe ‘tong championship na ‘to sobrang…” he said taking his time to wait for the perfect word to come  [RELATED STORY: PBA: Chris Newsome drills championship winner as Meralco dethrones San Miguel as Philippine Cup champion] the reed-thin center compared this title to the one he felt with his former team during Rain or Shine’s conquest of Alaska in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup He was part of the coach Yeng Guiao-led Elasto Painters and Extra Rice duo Beau Belga and JR Quinahan Beermen’s Don Trollano and Jericho Cruz also suited up for the Elasto Painters then Kasi talagang binuild namin tong team na to,” said Alamzan after the 80-78 Game 6 win over the Beermen at the Smart Araneta Coliseum [ALSO READ: Meralco lifer Cliff Hodge after winning first PBA title: ‘God’s given me everything that I’ve ever wanted’] Alamazan just couldn’t help but feel elated to accomplish his mission of helping deliver a PBA crown for the Bolts He was there when Meralco suffered the 2019 and 2021 Governors’ Cup Finals heartbreaks against Ginebra he remained hell-bent on bringing one for the proud franchise that believed in him this time at the expense of the Beermen no less Now as he hoisted his second PBA title and first with the Bolts Almazan realized all the pain and sacrifices proved worth it as Meralco recovered from a 1-3 and 3-5 start early in the All-Filipino Pinaghirapan mo talaga championship napakasarap sa feeling.” [ALSO READ: ‘I’M SO PROUD OF HIM’: CJ Perez tips hat off to new PBA champion and Finals MVP, Chris Newsome] We use cookies to ensure you the best experience on our website This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.