1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cutline: Constitutional scholar David J. Shestokas and author Dr.
Berta Isabel Arias have released Cápsulas Informativas
Constitucionales. This publication affords America’s Spanish
speaking population an unprecedented opportunity to understand
their freedoms, combining translations of America’s founding
documents with an engaging discussion of historical context and
contemporary application.
Groundbreaking publication offers translation
and discussion of America’s founding documents
to Spanish speakers for the first time
Honoring a proud tradition, Cápsulas Informativas
Constitucionales promotes understanding of
American freedoms in readers’ native tongue
LEMONT, Ill. (Nov. 17, 2015) – For the first time,
America’s Spanish-speaking community, which often
finds itself the subject of Constitutional discussion, has the opportunity to join these
discussions in their own language.
In a new book titled Cápsulas Informativas Constitucionales, (available at
amzn.to/20BqgQr), Spanish speakers can read not only the Declaration of Independence,
the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights in their native language but they now can also
learn the accurate historical context and contemporary implications.
All of this is accomplished in a simple, unbiased, easy-to-read format taking into account
the “sound bite” nature of today’s cyber-driven, fast-click culture.
Constitutional lawyer, author and radio host David J. Shestokas has joined forces with
novelist Dr. Berta Isabel Arias, a noted language expert and longtime educator, to
produce in Spanish, an expanded single-edition of his series of Constitutional Sound
Bites books. Their collaboration acknowledges the significance of America’s diverse and
growing Latino population and electorate.
With information going far beyond the basic civics education provided in preparation for
citizenship exams, Cápsulas Informativas Constitucionales will help Spanish language
readers understand the history and context of America’s founding documents, identify the
freedoms and rights guaranteed to all citizens, and actively participate in the democratic
process.
ORGANIZATION
David Shestokas
Constitutional Lawyer/Author
(312) 451-5550
constitution@shestokas.com
MEDIA
Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz
JJR Marketing
630-786-6116
jackie@jjrmarketing.com

2. Readers will find in Cápsulas Informativas Constitucionales that the principles of
America are not liberal, conservative, Republican or Democrat, but are the heritage that
binds people together into a community known as America.
This work represents, in a format that modern media consumers prefer, a long tradition of
informing citizens about the country’s founding documents in their native languages. In
1787, fully one third of Pennsylvania’s residents were German speakers. Accordingly, of
the 4500 copies of the proposed Constitution that legislature ordered, 1500 were printed
in German.
While the dissemination of such information in translation speaks to the ideal of equality,
the medium has had to evolve with the preferences of modern Americans. Our forebears
may have appreciated poring over reams of long-form essays such as The Federalist
Papers. Modern citizens, however, are accustomed to getting information in short bursts
and often from entertaining online sources.
Shestokas said, “My grandmother came to the U.S. to escape the horrors of the
Communist regime in Lithuania, and her memory serves as my inspiration to teach about
the freedoms we all have. Under the Constitution, we are all entitled to the same rights,
regardless of ideology and whether our first language is English or something else.”
Throughout her seamless translation for Cápsulas Informativas Constitucionales, Arias
takes great care to maintain Shestokas’ voice while faithfully retaining technical and
historical accuracy. Arias said, “Working so intimately with this project reminded me
over and over again that the words in the founding documents are not simply words. They
represent who we are as a people and what we hope for each other. I believe this book
will be a great resource to everyone who wants to better understand how the United
States works and why it is unique.”
An English language companion edition is due to be released within the month. It mirrors
the Spanish work, in which Shestokas provides additional technical and historical details
not found in his original series. Both versions contain the full text of the Declaration of
Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights
and are appropriate for native Spanish speakers and those who wish to further their
Spanish reading skills as a second language.

3. About the Authors
Berta Isabel Arias, Ed.D. is an accomplished Cuban-America woman of many talents
and the winner of numerous awards garnered during an illustrious career as a professor in
world languages and international education in the Chicago area. Dr. Arias has made
helping others, saving communities and bringing beauty and learning through the arts a
cornerstone of her being. She served as the first Board President of the Illinois Latino
Council on Higher Education, (ILACHE) where she has funded a scholarship for
Excellence in Writing. Dr. Arias offers the winning students her personal time to help
them achieve their writing goals. In her collaboration with Mr. Shestokas on Cápsulas
Informativas Constitucionales she lends her extensive experience in translation toward
those same goals of helping young Latinos succeed in America. Throughout her
academic career, Dr. Arias has channeled her creativity by writing poetry and short
stories. Now, on her next stage of life, she has moved to Amelia Island, Florida. There,
when she is not championing the cause of trees, the environment, libraries and education,
she is attending to her novels. Her first book, Mango Rain, is a luscious story of intrigue,
beauty and love that spans Chicago and Havana. Its prequel, Mimi’s Path, is due out
spring, 2016.
David J. Shestokas earned his B.A. in Political Science from Bradley University and his
Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School, cum laude, where he served on The
John Marshall Law Review. He studied law at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. A
former Assistant State’s Attorney, he has been admitted to practice law before the Illinois
Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the
Supreme Court of Florida, and the United States District Court for the Middle District of
Florida. Mr. Shestokas has hosted his own weekly, broadcast and live-streamed radio
program, “Constitutionally Speaking.” Using that as a springboard, he has attracted over
80,000 followers on Twitter. His website Constitutional and Legal Education and News
has 30,000 monthly readers. His Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ social media
community exceeds 20,000. An avid writer, Mr. Shestokas has brought the Declaration of
Independence, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights to life through his
published works, “Constitutional Sound Bites.” That work is a three-volume set which
comprises the entirety of the single Spanish language version.
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