Kansas Democrats celebrate Washington Days with Latina panel
By Mary Lou Jaramillo On March 1-2, Kansas Democrats celebrated Washington Days, which included a Latina Trailblazer panel, in Topeka, Kansas. The panel, which drew a large audience, included Democrat Rep. Susan Ruiz, elected in November to the Kansas state legislature, representing District 23; Delia Garcia, interim Secretary of Labor and former legislator from Wichita; […]
Castro aims to improve community
By Angie Baldelomar For Katie Castro, the biggest motivators to strive for success are her four sons. Castro not only works, but also manages to juggle her job with volunteering and studying on top of spending time with her family. She works as the director of membership at Nonprofit Connect, a local organization that links […]
Need for change motivates Latina politician
By Chara In 2018, Susan Ruiz decided it was time for a change in Kansas politics. That year, Ruiz acted on her decision by seeking election in the Kansas House of Representatives and won. Ruiz represents Kansas’ 23rd District. She took office in January. Ruiz, an openly gay native Texan whose father was from Mexico […]
Non-profit aims to help women by creating policy changes
By Angie Baldelomar A Kansas City area non-profit organization is focused on creating policy changes to help empower women. Founded in 1991, the Women’s Foundation promotes “equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy and policy solutions to make meaningful change,” as stated on the organization’s website. Wendy Doyle, president and CEO, […]
Dos Mundos editor receives award from K-State
By Angie Baldelomar Clara Reyes, Dos Mundos Newspaper publisher and editor, received the 2019 Huck Boyd Community Journalism Leader of the Year award from Kansas State University on Feb. 14. “I was very humbled to receive this award,” Reyes said. “Sometimes, you don’t think people are looking at your work, but when you receive an […]
Ruiz strives to be community resource
By Angie Baldelomar While she was in high school, Bibiana Ruiz was unsure about her post-graduation plans. She toyed with the idea of becoming an immigration lawyer. Ultimately, though, Ruiz realized her path was in the financial world. That path has led the Kansas City, Kansas, native to the position of branch manager at the […]
Marroquin helping Latinos understand Boy Scout culture
By Chara Marielena Marroquin builds bridges – metaphorically speaking. Marroquin serves as a district executive with the Boy Scouts of America in the Kansas City area. As part of her job, the New Jersey native with Puerto Rican and Guatemalan heritage helps Latino families to understand the Boy Scout culture. “Sometimes, Latino families think they […]
New KCK Police Athletic League boxing gym opens
On Feb. 7, the new Kansas City, Kansas Police Athletic League (PAL) boxing gym opened at 5th and Ann in Kansas City, Kansas. For the last year and a half, the KC Golden Gloves has worked with KCK PAL Executive Director Matt Tomasic and the KCK police department to make this vision a reality. The result […]
Richard and Rosie Ruiz celebrate 50th wedding anniversary
By Angie Baldelomar El Centro co-founder and longtime Kansas City, Kansas, resident Richard Ruiz and his wife Rosie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the weekend of Feb. 9. The ceremony included a Feb. 9 Mass at the St. Joseph’s Chapel in San Antonio, Texas, followed by a luncheon at the Cordi-Marian Retreat Center, with […]
New podcast showcases KC’s diverse food culture
By Angie Baldelomar A new podcast hopes to highlight the diversity of food culture in Kansas City. “Open Belly” is the podcast exploring Kansas City’s “vibrant and diverse food culture.” The podcast features interviews with first-generation American restaurant owners or chefs. Each episode focuses on a specific restaurant whose owner is of immigrant descent. The […]