Hispanic Living Nikki Dobrin

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HISPANICFALL 2015
LIVING
‘SÁBADO GIGANTE’
ENDS 53-YEAR RUN
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UP FRONT | XXXXX
HISPANICLIVINGFALL 2015
Features
28 In Her Words
Mom shares the chal-
lenges of raising a child
with ADHD
34 True Character
Actress Gina Torres
commands attention in a
variety of roles
46 Peruvian Cuisine
Chefs explore the
country’s diverse cuisine
54 Latina Winemakers
Women climb to the top
at California vineyards
58 National Parks
Explore the great
outdoors
40Sábado Gigante
A family favorite ends
its run after 53 years.
Exclusive photos by
Rodrigo Varela.
RODRIGOVARELA

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FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
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ON THE COVER:
Gina Torres, multifaceted
actress, embodies power
and passion.
PHOTO BY JSQUARED
PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES
Up Front
112 Culture
Hispanic Heritage
Month celebrates Latino
contributions and culture
116 Music
Ricky Martin searches for
the next superstar boy band
118 Fashion
Peruvian culture at the heart
of jewelry collection
120 Fashion
N.Y. designers create
out-of-this-world clothing
124 Religion
Pope Francis resonates with
Hispanics as U.S. visit nears
92
Departments
170 Workplace
Companies make efforts to
recruit and retain Hispanics
178 Health
Practical tips to take control
of your well-being
182 Education
College outreach efforts
encourage young Latinos to
earn degrees
188 Business
Special programs help
Latinos buy homes
192 Finances
It’s never too early to start
saving for retirement
196 Travel
Limits on Cuba travel ease
96
18
HISPANICLIVINGFALL 2015
Jewelry designer Evelyn
Brooks gets ready for her
close-up.
Cuban boys pass time on
the streets of Old Havana.
4 HISPANIC LIVING | FALL 2015

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DIRECTONE.
DON’TJUSTHAVEA CAREER.
More than a decade ago,
Greg Feo arrived at Emory
University’s Goizueta Business
School ready to script his
future. The Miami native of
Cuban descent envisioned a career
where his talents could shine, and
knew a top-ranked MBA would
help make that dream a reality.
He chose Goizueta for its stellar
reputation of preparing business
leaders, a choice that has helped
him produce blockbuster results
and receive rave reviews as
an executive at Warner Bros
Studios. Feo credits Goizueta for
giving him the skills he needed
to be a rising star. “GOIZUETA
TAUGHT ME WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE IN CHARGE
OF YOUR OWN SUCCESS,”
he asserts. How’s that for a
Hollywood ending?
Our diversity recruitment weekend, Inside Goizueta, showcases how we
produce successful leaders. Travel stipends may be awarded to qualiﬁed
at
GREG FEO, MBA CLASS OF 2004
DIRECTOR OF BRAND MARKETING, WARNER BROS STUDIOS

LUISA COLÓN is a
Brooklyn-based writer
whose work has appeared
online (including The New
York Times, BuzzFeed
and Refinery29) and
in numerous print
publications, including
Latina, New York and
Glamour. A native New
Yorker who dabbled in an
acting career, Luisa also
likes to travel. “I love the
warmth and generosity of
the Hispanic community,”
she says. “Latinas are
always looking out for
each other; we have each
other’s backs, and it’s a
great feeling.”
SUZAN COLÓN is the
author of 10 books,
including her latest
novel Beach Glass. She
has written for O, the
Oprah Magazine; Good
Housekeeping; Latina; The
Huffington Post and more.
When she’s not writing,
Suzan teaches yoga, and
she recently created an
iTunes app, Take A Yoga
Break, to help fight the
health dangers of sitting
too long.
JOHN LANTIGUA
is winner of the Robert
F. Kennedy Journalism
Award and the National
Association of Hispanic
Journalists Award for his
coverage of immigration
issues. He has also
published seven suspense
novels, including the Willie
Cuesta series, set in the
Hispanic communities of
South Florida. He lives in
Miami Beach and once ran
a camping business in the
Sierra Madre Mountains of
southern Mexico with three
employees — two of them
burros. “I’m a journalist,
and I’m proud when I see
Latino journalists fighting
for the interests of those
less fortunate,” he says.
HISPANICLIVING
FALL 2015
EDITORIAL
DIRECTOR
Jeanette Barrett-Stokes
jbstokes@usatoday.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Michelle Washington
mjwashington@usatoday.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jerald Council
jcouncil@usatoday.com
CREATIVE MEDIA MANAGER
Christine Neff
cneff@usatoday.com
GUEST EDITOR
Marisol Bello
EDITORS
Nikki Dobrin
Chris Garsson
Elizabeth Neus
Amanda Shifflett
DESIGNERS
Ashleigh Carter
Gina Toole Saunders
Lisa M. Zilka
INTERNS
Miranda Pellicano
Alexa Rogers
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Laura Castañeda, Luisa Colón, Suzan Colón,
Denise DiFulco, J.C. Pérez-Duthie, John
Lantigua, Jennifer Mabry, Sylvia Martinez,
Lilliam Rivera, Marissa Rodriguez,
Christine Romero, Roxana A. Soto
ADVERTISING
VP, ADVERTISING
Patrick Burke
(703) 854-5914
pburke@usatoday.com
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Justine Goodwin
(703) 854-5444
jgoodwin@usatoday.com
FINANCE
BILLING COORDINATOR
Julie Marco
PREMIUM PUBLICATION
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CONTRIBUTORS
ROXANA A. SOTO is a
bilingual journalist whose
work has appeared in
print, television and online.
She’s the co-author of
Bilingual is Better and
lives in Denver with her
husband and two children.
By the time she was 14
years old, she’d already
lived in five countries
(Peru, Mexico, Argentina,
South Africa and the
U.S.). She is extremely
proud of the everyday
achievements of Latinos
“who continuously prove
that we’re a force to be
reckoned with.”
MARISSA RODRIGUEZ
is a journalist who
specializes in creating
content about Latino life
and culture. She served
as an editor of Vista
Magazine and Hispanic
Magazine, among others,
and most recently founded
ModernTejana.com, which
celebrates the life and
style of contemporary
Latinas in Texas. She
lives in San Antonio with
her husband and son. A
third-generation Mexican-
American, she’s fascinated
by the Mexico of her
grandparents and the way
descendants of immigrants
live their culture now.
J.C. PÉREZ-DUTHIE is
a bilingual and bicultural
journalist, adjunct
professor and language
instructor. He loves to
travel, and San Juan, New
York, Buenos Aires and
Miami have all been home.
“For the most part, I think
Latinos are very hospitable
and warm,” he says. “I
try to live up to that, and
appreciate it. There’s a lot
of truth to that old saying
‘Mi casa es su casa.’”

H.DARRBEISER
EDITOR’S LETTER
Celebrating Cultural Pride
I’VE ALWAYS FELT an inherent pride in being
Latina. I am proud of my Dominican roots. I
am proud to be a first-generation daughter of
immigrant parents who worked hard to be part
of the fabric of their new country but who also
wanted to maintain family
traditions that we would pass
down to future generations.
But growing up in the ‘70s
and ‘80s in the Bronx, popular
culture didn’t reflect my experi-
ence. I didn’t grow up seeing
people like me on English-lan-
guage television or in films or
books. So I turned to what was
popular at the time. I became a
fan of alternative English music
bands and decided to learn
more about French and Italian
cuisine. I read books by Jane
Austen and E.M. Forster, who
became two of my favorite novelists.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad I did that. We
should expand our knowledge of cultures and
literature and food and art. But in my youthful
exuberance, everything was black and white and
there were no shades. So I exposed myself to all
things non-Hispanic at the expense of learning
about the richness of my own culture.
That is, until I went to college and decided to
major in Latin American studies.That opened
a vibrant world of Hispanic art, politics, history
and, most especially for the book lover in me,
literature.
My studies opened the door to Gabriel García
Márquez and the turbulent lives of the Buendía
clan in One Hundred Years of Solitude. I learned
about the struggles of native cultures to be
recognized in countries like Guatemala and
throughout Latin America. I learned about the
roots of liberation theology in Latin America, a
movement among religious scholars to meet the
needs of the poor that has spread worldwide.
It turned the inherent pride I had for being
Latina into an intellectual pride. I learned about
and truly understood the important contribu-
tions of Latinos in shaping our world.
That’s what we hope you appreciate in this is-
sue. In big and small ways, Latinos are asserting
their presence and changing the world around
them, whether it is in popular culture or in
weighty areas, such as medicine and education.
In this issue, you will read about the impact of
the Roman Catholic Church’s first Latino pontiff,
Pope Francis, and the effect he may have on
attracting and retaining Latino parishioners.
You will read about the end of the longest-
running variety show in television history with
the final countdown to the last Sábado Gigante.
Many a family, mine included, can tell you
stories of spending Saturday nights watching
host Don Francisco and his antics.
Our cover story profiles the powerhouse that
is Cuban-American actress Gina Torres, who
stars in the USA Network drama Suits, as she
navigates stardom, motherhood and maintain-
ing her Latina roots in Hollywood.
You will learn about how Peru has become
a culinary destination that has inspired some
of the world’s top chefs, such as José Andrés,
who are opening restaurants from Washington,
D.C., to Miami, with dishes based on the South
American country’s cuisine. In other pages,
you will discover the growing clique of Latina
winemakers, creating some of the most complex
vinos in California.
Elsewhere, you will find advice on home buy-
ing, saving for retirement and staying healthy.
We hope you enjoy our pages.
This magazine represents the beauty of
growing up Hispanic today: We see our culture
recognized and celebrated in all areas of life.
We’ve come a long way. It is the realization of a
dream I’d hoped would have been a reality when
I was a youngster.
Marisol Bello
Guest editor, Hispanic Living

We’re diverse because the world is, too. We
are committed to helping families traditionally
underserved by the financial services industry
become properly protected and learn how
money works.
Hispanics are among the most underserved in
the financial marketplace, with confusion existing
around topics like retirement plans and life
insurance. Our representatives meet with clients
one-on-one, in their homes, and bring clarity to
topics that once seemed confusing. Not only do
many of our representatives speak Spanish, we
offer a growing number of materials in Spanish –
because financial matters are too important to
get lost in translation.
If you think you would enjoy helping families in
your community while building a business you can
feel good about, Primerica might be a great fit for
you. Our Hispanic American Leadership Council is
committed to helping grow Hispanic leaders in our
company. Want to learn more?
Visit www.primerica.com.
La OportunidadAt Primerica, our representatives mirror the communities we serve.

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UPFRONTCULTURE 12 | MUSIC 16 | FASHION 18 | RELIGION 24
| HISPANIC LIVING
Flor de Toloache, based in New York City, is
part of a growing trend of all-female mariachi
bands to hit the music scene in the last decade.
Group members, who hail from countries such
as Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic,
Australia, Italy and the United States, travel the
country performing traditional mariachi as well
as styles that range from salsa and cumbia to
gypsy jazz, pop and reggae.
ANDREIAVERBUCH

UP FRONT | CULTURE
ALANPOIZNER
WHEN PEOPLE EN Español publisher Monique Monso
and her staff decided to create a Hispanic festival, they
realized it would have to be an experience that spoke to
and embraced the multiethnic spectrum of the Latino
community in the U.S.
Many festivals, including the Puerto Rican Day Parade
in New York, Fiesta in San Antonio, Fiesta Broadway in
L.A. and Calle Ocho Festival in Miami, were already in
existence — some of them for decades. But many of
these important cultural festivals take place in
Fiesta
Time
Hispanic Heritage Month
celebrations highlight Latino
contributions and culture
BY SYLVIA MARTINEZ
A dancer with
the Primavera
Folklórico
Dance Company
performs during
the 2014 La
Cultura Cura:
Celebrating Latino
Heritage in Dance
festival in Phoenix.

A CHILD’S WISH IS WAITING.
YOU CAN HELP MAKE IT COME TRUE.
Every 40 minutes, the Make-A-Wish Foundation®
grants the wish of a child with a life-threatening medical
condition — being a veterinarian for a day, meeting a favorite entertainer or going anywhere their imagination
takes them. You can help make wishes happen. Visit wish.org today.

the spring and summer, and not closer to
Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept.
15 to Oct. 15.
People en Español Festival, born in
2012, was designed to coincide with the
designated month, which dates back to
1968, when it was a weeklong celebration
(it was expanded to a month in 1988).The
month is designed to recognize the many
contributions of Hispanics to the U.S., and
celebrate their culture and heritage.
The celebration covers the anniversary
dates of independence for many Latin
American countries — Costa Rica, El Salva-
dor, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua,
all on Sept. 15; Mexico on Sept. 16; and
Chile on Sept. 18. It also includes Columbus
Day, or Día de la Raza, on Oct. 12.
“Festival is a truly curated content
experience that will make people feel as
though they’ve walked onto our website or
the pages of the magazine,” Monso says.
While there will be plenty of entertain-
ment that appeals to lovers of salsa, pop
and merengue, the two-day event Oct.
17-18 (peopleenespanol.com/festival) will also
feature presentations designed to inspire.
Among those scheduled to attend are
Dominican-American actress Dascha
Polanco, the pregnant Dayanara on Orange
is the New Black, and Mexican-American
telenovela star Angélica María, who will
receive the Icono de People en Español, a
lifetime achievement award.
After three years in San Antonio, the
free public festival, which boasts an an-
nual attendance of about 40,000, will take
place this year in New York City.
At a time when the nation has noticed
the economic power and might of the 55.4
million Latinos in the U.S. — a 2014 report
in the magazine Advertising Age found that
spending on Hispanic media increased by
8.1 percent in 2013, compared with just
0.9 percent for all media, and AHAA: The
Voice of Hispanic Marketing found that
Latino buying power amounted to $1.4
trillion in 2013 — event organizers seek to
harness that power and voice.
“If we speak en masse, people notice,”
Monso says.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus In-
stitute (CHCI) — a non-partisan, non-profit
organization designed to help develop
Hispanic leaders — will also celebrate
Hispanic Heritage Month with a three-day
event Oct. 6-8 in Washington, D.C.The
group has chosen “Powering Growth and
Influence” as its 2015 theme for its annual
event (hhm.chci.org).
“It’s an opportunity to focus on the
growing demographic and the diverse
tapestry of the country,” says CHCI
president and CEO Esther Aguilera.
The CHCI conference will feature panels
and discussions chaired by Latino congres-
sional leaders.The group says more than
3,000 people attend the annual event,
while another 12,000 watch live streams.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time of
year for there to be national focus on Lati-
nos and our contributions to this country
from the very beginning, but in reality, it
should be lived and celebrated year-round
and our contributions showcased for the
broader nation,” says Aguilera.
UP FRONT | CULTURE
OTHER HISPANIC
HERITAGE MONTH
EVENTS
uSept. 13-Oct. 18, Albu-
querque: “Quinceañera:
Our Story, Our Future”
exhibition explores the
National Hispanic Cul-
tural Center’s Art Museum’s
permanent collection and
celebrates the center’s 15th
anniversary.
nationalhispaniccenter.org
uSept. 13-Oct. 17, Fort
Worth, Texas: The city’s
Human Relations Commis-
sion was among the recipi-
ents of a National Endow-
ment for the Humanities/
American Library Associa-
tion grant to fund public
presentations on Hispanic
culture. “Latino Americans:
500 Years of History” will
include screenings of a
documentary by the same
name, as well as a program
to collect oral histories of
local Latinos for the Fort
Worth Library.
fortworthtexas.gov/LA500
uOct. 5-Nov. 8, New
York: On Your Feet! The
Story of Emilio & Gloria
Estefan, a musical about
the lives of the acclaimed
Cuban-American singer
and her producer-song-
writer husband, will be in
previews at the Marquis
Theater on Broadway.
onyourfeetmusical.com
uOct. 6, Washing-
ton, D.C.: The National
Hispanic Foundation for
the Arts’ 19th Annual
Noche de Gala Dinner is
a black-tie event that
benefits NHFA programs,
including scholarships to
students seeking careers
in arts, entertainment and
telecommunications. The
red carpet is usually star-
studded. hispanicarts.org/
nochedegala
Singer-songwriter Wences Romo of Monterrey, Mexico, performs before an enthusiastic crowd
at Nashville’s 2014 Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
ALANPOIZNER

UNIVISION
UP FRONT | MUSIC
Ricky Martin
Life, longevity and La Banda
BY J.C. PÉREZ-DUTHIE
IF ANYONE KNOWS about successful Latino boy
bands, it’s Ricky Martin. Since the age of 12, when
he joined that pin-up phenomenon known as
Menudo, the Puerto Rican hip-swivelling superstar
has mastered the demands and experienced the
glories of a wildly successful entertainment career.
Now, Martin is about to reveal a new and
different side as the executive producer of the
Univision Network talent show La Banda, developed
by prolific English TV producer and talent judge/
villain Simon Cowell (America’s Got Talent, The X
Factor), and which is set to begin airing Sept. 13 at
8 p.m. ET. Martin will also manage the eventual
winners of La Banda.
Earlier this year, the Renaissance man born as
Enrique Martín Morales — who is the author of the
autobiography Me (2010) and of a children’s book,
Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars; the star
of two Broadway musicals (Les Misérables and Evita);
the doting father of twin sons Valentino and Mat-
teo; a philanthropist and child advocate — released
a new Spanish-language album, A Quien Quiera
Escuchar (To Whoever Wants to Listen), which he has
been promoting with his One World Tour.
At the same time, Martin, 43, has been working
to ensure that La Banda, on which he also is a judge,
along with Italian singer Laura Pausini and Spanish
singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz, will be a smash.
While in the midst of his whirlwind schedule,
the man who once had the whole world shaking
their bon-bons and topped charts everywhere with
his mega hit Livin’ La Vida Loca, recently discussed
his involvement with and expectations for the
upcoming show.

UNIVISION
Competi-
tion in the
field of real-
ity TV con-
tinues to be
intense, even though the
musical talent format may
be showing some signs
of fatigue. Why is this a
good moment to launch a
show like La Banda?
Ricky Martin: Well, music
is not going anywhere, so
to me it is always a good
moment to do a show such
as La Banda. There are so
many people out there with
amazing talent wishing to
have the opportunity to ex-
press themselves in front of
millions of people. We are
happy to be that platform
that gives a new genera-
tion a chance to fulfill their
dreams.
Cowell asked you to help
produce La Banda. What
do each of you bring to
the table to launch this
project with Univision?
RM: Not only is Simon
responsible for discovering
some of the biggest solo
artists and bands in music,
he has produced and
created several successful
shows on television world-
wide, so he knows exactly
what to do with La Banda
to produce it and make it a
unique experience for the
viewer. I bring the artistic
side and my experience
as a performer for more
than three decades. I can
tell who is ready to take
this step or the ones who
need to continue prepar-
ing, because I have been in
their shoes.
What makes this show
different from other
talent-based reality TV
programs?
RM: We are looking to form
an all-male supergroup
between the ages of 14 to
18, who are able to sing in
Spanish and English. The
audience will dictate what
artist is going to go and
meet us, the judges. That
is something that has never
happened in a reality show.
We are used to seeing
you on stage. Now, as
a producer, you have
been working behind the
scenes. Please describe
what your role entails.
RM: My focus as a pro-
ducer is to make sure we
are bringing the audience
the best show, and for that,
both the talent and the pro-
duction elements need to
be superb. As a judge, I’m
looking for specific things:
charisma, obviously the
talent, the passion toward
Latin music. Artists that are
willing to do what it takes
to make it to the end.
What challenges do you
face as a manager?
RM: I will lead a manage-
ment team dedicated to
working with the band,
24/7. Having an expe-
rienced team that is
knowledgeable of all areas
is key: touring, PR, schedul-
ing, media and everything
necessary to make an artist
successful.
Even though Univision
often beats the major
English-language TV
networks in the ratings
among the most coveted
demographics, major
networks still don’t seem
to pay much attention to
Latinos, the largest minor-
ity group in this country.
What do you think needs
to change?
RM: I disagree. There are
plenty of us doing a great
job representing the Latino
community, and there will
be more. We just have to
continue working hard,
bringing the best of our
culture around the world,
using our voices as loud
and clear as possible. I feel
the best is yet to come.
LATINO
BOY
BANDS
Q}
Alejandro Sanz, left, Laura Pausini and Ricky
Martin are judges on the new Univision Network
talent competition La Banda, set to air Sept. 13.
HOT BANDS THAT
ROCKED BEFORE
The singers who
become the next
Latin boy-band
phenomenon on La
Banda will be in very
good company:
uMenudo: The
group was established
in 1977 and managed
crossover success
into English-language
markets until the
rights to the band
name were sold in
1997. They released
scores of hits such
as Sube a mi Moto
(Motorcycle Dreamer)
and Mi Banda Toca
Rock (My Band Plays
Rock).
uLos Chicos:
Created in 1978,
the band managed
to achieve quite a
measure of success
in Latin America in
the ‘80s. The quartet
filmed a movie, had
its own weekly TV
show and gave the
world another Latin
heartthrob who is still
a singing sensation
today: Chayanne. The
group ceased to exist
after 1985.
uMagneto: The
band emerged in the
early ’80s and had its
biggest hit in 1991
with Vuela, Vuela, a
cover of ’80s French
pop hit Voyage
Voyage. The group
lost its magnetism
in 1996, but original
members still perform
sporadically.
17

JERALDCOUNCIL
EXOTIC GALA HEADBAND
has small black and red seed
beads and silver balls.
$125
FLOWER EARRINGS
feature red huayruro seeds, hand-
beaded to create a flower.
$78
EXOTIC NATURE BELT
is hand-beaded with natural red
and black huayruro seeds.
$395
The Seeds
of Beauty
Jewelry maker weaves
Peruvian culture into her designs
BY ALEXA ROGERS
THE GALA NECKLACE
is an adjustable statement necklace with red seeds and silver
beads crocheted to create a custom design. It is one of the
most admired pieces in the collection.
$650-$1,800, depending on design

JERALDCOUNCIL
AWARD-WINNING JEWELRY ENTREPRENEUR Evelyn
Brooks brings her own flair to designs that are
eco-friendly and inspired by her love for her Peruvian
heritage.
Her work features stunning red and black huayruro
seeds from the Peruvian Amazon. Although Brooks
wasn’t attracted to traditional seed jewelry growing up
in Peru, she now embraces the material in her designs,
along with gold and silver, to create a more contempo-
rary look that still has meaning to her and many of her
Latin American clients.
Her favorite piece — the Gala — is an eye-catching
statement necklace filled with huayruro seeds that are
crocheted into the back of the piece and bound with
memory wire for stability. One of her most detailed
creations, Brooks says it takes about four weeks to
make and it embodies her personal characteristics of
strength and hard work.
“It’s about me,” she says. “It represents overcoming
things … my strength.The design says that my work,
it’s growing.”
Born in Lima, Brooks grew up helping out at her
father’s jewelry store on weekends and pursued it as a
profession, now her business, later in life.
Brooks graduated as a jewelry professional from the
Gemological Institute of America in New York. In 2004,
she launched her company, Evelyn Brooks Designs,
based in Alexandria,Va.
PASSION RED
GOOD
LUCK BRACELET
is handcrafted
with medium
huayruro seeds
and jump rings.
The adjustable
wrapping bracelet
is also available
with red and
black seeds.
$49
FLOWER RING
is made with
black petals
and three good
luck seeds.
$48
BEHIND THE DESIGN
Evelyn Brooks, right, is not only an
exceptional jewelry designer, she
also enjoys inspiring others.
uRecognition for her work. In
2013, Brooks was given the Suc-
cessful Peruvian Women in America
Award at the Embassy of Peru in
Washington, D.C. Her work has also
been featured in museums, including
the Museum of Arts and Design in
New York.
uProviding inspiration. Brooks
seeks to inspire all women, particu-
larly moms, to find success in their
passions. She shares her experiences
on her popular blog, twoworlds
onechica.com. See more of her
jewelry at ebrooksdesigns.com.
Huayruro
(WHY-EE-RU-RO)
Peruvian huayruro
seeds symbolize
prosperity, love and
happiness.
UP FRONT | FASHION
19

FOR MORE THAN five decades, Earth-
lings’ forays into space have inspired
technological advances, movies, books
and more. Now, thanks to New York
fashion designers Ali Bennaim and
Ximena Chouza, co-owners of the
online fashion boutique Shadowplay
(shadowplaynyc.com), it is possible for
many of us to own a little piece of the
universe.
Graduates of the prestigious Parsons
School of Design in New York City, Ben-
naim and Chouza met through friends
and bonded over their shared language
of Spanish. But it was their mutual
love of space that led to a business
partnership and their experiment with
transferring images, many captured
by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope,
onto textiles to create a galactic-print
clothing line that has exploded into a
profitable online retail store in just four
years.
Born in Caracas,Venezuela, and
raised in Miami, Benniam, 23, says
her “fascination with space” is rooted
in summers spent at space camp
and visits to Florida’s Kennedy Space
Center, where her muse was brought
alive through the “stunning beauty”
of the stars and inspiration born of
astronauts’ journeys beyond the
bounds of Earth.
Chouza, 28, born in San Diego and
raised in Mexico City, says she wanted
to study fashion design because “I
love designing and textiles. I’m also
interested in graphic design. I even
took a few courses in architecture. And
I have always had a fascination with
space and the Hubble images because
of their beauty. As a textile designer,
I naturally thought to print them on
fabric.”
The duo has industry experience
ranging from freelancing to apprentice-
ships at small design houses and larger
corporate entities.They’ve applied that
experience — coupled with their imagi-
nation, creativity and knowledge — to
a clothing line that is contemporary
and affordable. (Most pieces cost less
than $125.)
The collection includes dresses,
scarves, skirts, swimsuits and T-shirts,
each with vibrant images of solar
eclipses, stars, moons and a super-
nova’s explosion against a galactic
backdrop.
Their cosmic clothing line includes
the Lightning shift dress, featuring
bolts of lightning crackling across an
eggplant-colored, lightweight
DANIELAMEKLER
Images taken
by NASA’s
Hubble Space
Telescope are
featured on
this Hydrus
Galaxy scarf.
UP FRONT | FASHION
Cosmic
Collection
NYC designers create
out-of-this-world fashion
BY JENNIFER MABRY

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UP FRONT | FASHION
jersey fabric, and the strapless, revers-
ible Milky Way Galaxy skater dress with
a splash of stars on one side and fine
black-and-white stripes on the other.
They also sell similarly themed jew-
elry — necklaces with pendants shaped
like crescent moons, other-worldly
quartz and pyrite bangles — made by
local artisans to complement their
clothing line, and the pair is working to
launch their own line of jewelry.
The designers chose Shadowplay, a
song by the iconic British band Joy Divi-
sion, as their company name because it
sounded “cool,” but soon realized that
“many of the beautiful sights in space
are created by shadows,” which really
communicates the message behind
their designs, says Bennaim.
Images they’ve chosen show “the
way the sun lights up one side of a
planet but not the other, or the light
versus the dark side of the moon,
lunar eclipses which are caused by the
shadow of Earth on the moon,” adds
Chouza.
As the only full-time employees of
Shadowplay, they maintain a simple,
streamlined shop, collaborating on
designs and sifting through hundreds
of images, selecting only those that
best fit a garment’s design.
Chouza then experiments with
the colors of the digital images to
brighten or sharpen them; she’ll then
email the results to the company’s
fabric suppliers, who print them onto
fabric for a predetermined number of
garments. By working closely with their
suppliers to buy only as much fabric as
they require, Chouza says, they have
significantly reduced the amount of
fabric waste.
The socially conscious duo also
keeps their production local, work-
ing only with seamstresses in New
York City’s Garment District; they do
business with local fabric suppliers and
printers as much as possible.
For most designers, a space motif
might serve as a theme for a season in
a collection, but Shadowplay’s entire
clothing line is built around space.
Benniam says they are seeking to grow
creatively.
“We do want to expand into differ-
ent kinds of things, different kinds of
prints,” she says. “We do a lot of prints
with minerals and different gemstones,
but we want to keep it very photo-
graphic, related to things we can find in
the earth, space, stones and trees.”
But the designers concede that as
long as Earth’s inhabitants are drawn
to the universe’s beauty, Shadowplay’s
future will remain in the cosmos.
Shadowplay fashion designers Ali Bennaim, left, and Ximena Chouza discuss options
and color palettes for their line of intergalactic clothing.
Q&A
DESIGNED
INSPIRATION
Fashion designers Ali Bennaim and
Ximena Chouza share things that
inspire them in their work.
What is your favorite TV show or
movie with a space theme?
Bennaim: Cosmos: A Spacetime
Odyssey, a documentary series
presented by astrophysicist Neil
deGrasse Tyson exploring the laws
of nature through space and time.
Chouza: Firefly, a short-lived
fictional TV show about a renegade
crew aboard a small spacecraft 500
years from now trying to survive as
they travel the edges of the galaxy.
What is your favorite quote
about space?
Bennaim: “It has been said that
astronomy is a humbling and char-
acter-building experience. There is
perhaps no better demonstration
of the folly of human conceits than
this distant image of our tiny world.
To me, it underscores our respon-
sibility to deal more kindly with
one another, and to preserve and
cherish the pale blue dot, the only
home we’ve ever known.” — Carl
Sagan, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of
the Human Future in Space
Chouza: “If you wish to make an
apple pie from scratch, you must
first invent the universe.” — Carl
Sagan, Cosmos
What is your favorite song
related to space?
Bennaim: Space Oddity by David
Bowie
Chouza: Life on Mars? by David
Bowie
If you could visit any planet,
which one would you choose?
Bennaim: I would visit Titan, which
is a moon of Saturn. It’s been
described as a planet-like moon
with similarities to Earth, such as
volcanoes, methane lakes, water
and ice.
Chouza: Mars, because it’s the next
obvious step for humanity.

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UP FRONT | RELIGION
WITHIN THE ROMAN Catholic Church,
the phenomenon is known as “the Francis
effect.”
The phrase refers to the enthusiasm
for Pope Francis, the first Latin-American
pope.The feeling resonates, not only
among most Catholics, including U.S. His-
panics, but among long-lapsed Catholics
and those who practice other faiths.
“He brings an immense popularity, even
with people who are not exactly greedy
for the gospel,” says the Most Rev.Thomas
Wenski, archbishop of Miami.
In September, Francis — formerly
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argen-
tina — makes his first U.S. visit since being
chosen as pope in 2013. He will canonize
Spanish missionary Junipero Serra and
also address a joint session of Congress
in Washington, D.C.; speak to the U.N.
General Assembly and visit the National
September 11 Memorial in New York; and
celebrate Mass at the World Meeting of
Families in Philadelphia, the first time
The People’s Pope
Hispanics embrace the first Latin-American pontiff
BY JOHN LANTIGUA
Argentina-born Pope
Francis prepares to
lead an open-air Mass
at Bicentennial Park in
Quito, Ecuador, in July.

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that conference has been held in the
United States.
Francis arrives during a period of
great stress in U.S. Catholicism, due, in
part, to the hundreds of cases of sexual
abuse involving priests worldwide over
several decades, which badly tarnished
the church.
The number of Catholic parishes be-
gan to decline between 1995 and 2000,
according to the Center for Applied
Research in the Apostolate (CARA), a
Catholic research center at Georgetown
University in Washington, D.C. But a
2015 study by the Pew Research Center
found that while 20.8 percent of people
identified as Catholic, down from 23.9
percent in 2007, the percentage of
Hispanic Catholics rose from 29 percent
to 34 percent in that same period.
John de Leon, a Miami attorney and
practicing Catholic of Cuban descent,
acknowledged the crisis in the church
caused by the sex abuse scandal. But,
he says, while addressing that crisis,
Francis has also inspired the faithful
to focus on “God’s work,” especially by
emphasizing help for the poor.That, he
says, can positively change how disaf-
fected Catholics think of their church.
“He is the kind of person who can
change the minds of Catholics who
are considering leaving the church,”
he says. “No recent Catholic leader has
connected with the world better than
he has. He is speaking for the 1 billion
people who go hungry in this world,
and that message is resonating with
people in all spheres of influence.”
So far, Francis has not altered church
doctrine on controversial issues that
have led to some attrition, especially
among liberal Catholics.The Vatican
still opposes artificial contraception,
divorce, same-sex marriage and female
priests, but the pope has “brought a
new tone to the discussion of those
issues,”Wenski says.
For example, Francis recently said
that it might be “morally necessary”
for married couples to separate in
some extreme instances. He has said
that gays and lesbians should be
treated “with respect, compassion
and sensitivity.” And he also ended a
controversial Vatican investigation of
U.S. nuns who were accused of straying
from church teaching.
Francis has helped to increase focus
on the plight of the poor and im-
migrants, an emphasis many Hispanics
support.
“This pope speaks our language,”
says Maria del Mar Muñoz-Visoso,
cultural outreach director for the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops. “He
also emphasizes the central role of
family in Catholicism, and for Hispan-
ics, family is so important.”
Sister Silvia Patricia Nava, co-director
of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas’ Pas-
toral Juvenil Hispana, a youth ministry,
says young Hispanics appreciate that
the pope has a Twitter account —
@Pontifex.They also respect that he
doesn’t just talk about poverty, he seeks
to understand it. He lives in a Vatican
guesthouse rather than the more
opulent Apostolic Palace and mingles
with the poor wherever he travels.
“They admire him because he
doesn’t just talk the faith, he lives it,”
Nava says. “The young are tired of talk.”
Armando Cervantes, director of
youth and young adult ministry for the
Orange County, Calif., diocese, also sees
a strong connection between Francis
and U.S. Hispanics.
“Many Hispanic families came to the
U.S. fleeing poverty,” he says. “When
(he) speaks of poverty, it is clear he has
worked among the poor. He knows why
Hispanics came here and what they left
behind. He sees the world through a
lens they understand.”
CRISBOURONCLE/AFP/GETTYIMAGES
UP FRONT | RELIGION
Pope Francis greets believers in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, en route to a Holy Mass in Christ
the Redeemer Square in July. The pope is popular among Latinos because of his
emphasis on the poor and immigrants and his ability to connect with the Latino culture.
He brings an immense
popularity, even with people who are
not exactly greedy for the gospel.”
— THE MOST REV. THOMAS WENSKI, ARCHBISHOP OF MIAMI

BY MARISSA RODRIGUEZ
othersofchildrenwithbehavioralissuesregular-
ly hear all sorts of remarks: “He’s chiflado.” “He’d
dowellwithagoodchancletazo.”“Sendhimtome,
I can straighten him out.”
When you have a child with behavioral or mental health
disorders, like I do, you are a magnet for unsolicited advice.
I try to stay appreciative of well-intentioned advice, but
handlingjudgment,meancommentsoroutrightskepticism
is another story.
Myfirstreactionisoftentogetdefensive.Iwanttoexplain
the challenge of having a child who struggles emotion-
ally, academically and socially. How can they understand
what it’s like to see your child feel so intensely, become so
consumed by some minuscule detail that he can’t focus on
anything else, or have strange, irrational fears? How can I
explain the anxiety and sadness of having your little one tell
you that his brain tells him to do bad things?
FROM
TO
RESISTANCE
For moms of children with behavioral
issues, growing through doubt and
criticism is part of the therapy
Acceptance
M
ELIDAD.RODRIGUEZ
Marissa Rodriguez
reads to her son, who
has attention-deficit
hyperactive and opposi-
tional defiance disorders,
in the family's playroom.
28 HISPANIC LIVING | FALL 2015 29

I could explain until I’m hoarse, but
I won’t change every mind. It can be
difficult to be thought of as a bad mom
by teachers, other parents and perhaps
members of your own family. But I know I
am not an anomaly and chancletazos can’t
fix everything.
My son has attention-deficit hyperactive
disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiance
disorder (ODD) and potentially other
issues. His ADHD makes it difficult for him
to sit still, listen, stay focused on a person
who is speaking and retain what’s being
said. He also has poor impulse control
and has trouble interpreting nonverbal
cues. ADHD is one of the most common
mental health disorders among children,
and kids who have it
are more likely to have
other mental health
or developmental
issues, like ODD, which
some reports estimate
40 percent of ADHD
kids have. My son’s
ODD manifested as
thoughtless defiance
without understand-
ing or regard for
consequences, a short
temper and irritability.
He also shows signs
of sensory processing
disorder (SPD), a
condition that makes
it difficult for the body
to understand and
process information coming from the
senses. He’s disgusted easily, and certain
smells, textures, sights and loud sounds
can overwhelm him. As a result, school
has been a major challenge.
For many children, kindergarten is a
time of discovery, of playing in glitter
and glue, making first friends. Eventu-
ally, first-day jitters ease and rules and
routines sink in. While my son brought
home his fair share of glittered and glued
creations and worksheets filled with
letters and numbers in adorable, shaky
handwriting, he also brought home notes
and ink-soaked behavior charts describing
poor behavior, inability to sit still, aimless
wandering in the classroom and dif-
ficulty understanding social situations and
boundaries.
At first I chalked this up to the growing
pains of getting adjusted to a new school
in a new city (we’d recently moved), that
he was among the younger students in
his class and had already exhibited some
developmental delays. We instituted rigid
new rules at home in hopes of nipping
this in the bud. For months my husband
and I became stricter, firmer in our
punishments and more authoritarian. We
took toys away until there was nothing
left, offered rewards and tried “traditional”
discipline. His behavior, and our whole
family’s happiness, plummeted.
After a particularly terrible playground
incident landed him with an in-school
suspension, I was desperate for help and
sick with worry. I called the best therapist
I could find and tearfully explained that
we needed support. We were sitting in his
office the next morning. With his help we
discovered our son had ADHD and ODD.
Many in the Latino community (and
elsewhere) believe that childhood behav-
ioral and mental health disorders are the
imaginings of anxious helicopter moms
who are eager to pathologize bad behavior.
And they aren’t shy about telling them so.
For them, behavioral issues are a function
of poor parenting, sparing the rod, bad
habits, poor diets or unruly households.
They sniff at the idea of therapy or ques-
tion why you simply can’t “handle” your
own child. After all, good Latino moms
would never accept bad behavior — their
strictness and threat of la chancla have
those issues handled. Right?
To be fair, there is plenty of controversy
around childhood mental health issues,
especially ADHD.That could be partly due
to the fact that there is no simple medical
exam that can confirm its presence (like a
blood or urine test) and many children are
potentially misdiagnosed. Diagnosis (made
by pediatricians, psychiatrists and child
psychologists) is based on observations
about the child from parents, caretakers
and teachers. Research indicates that
heredity and environment play a part, but
studies increasingly find physical indica-
tors like key brain differences in kids with
ADHD and signs in infancy, when environ-
“I will find
the right
strategies
to deal with
this and
everything
will be fine.”
Marissa's
MANTRA:

ELIDAD.RODRIGUEZ
ment doesn’t factor in.
And the tides may be changing.
Although ADHD diagnosis rates are lower
in Hispanic children (which some attribute
to Latinos' willingness to see a wider
range of behavior as normal, the benefits
of large, close-knit families, lower rates of
parent reporting, and/or poor perception
of mental health issues), one recent study
of ethnically diverse children ages 5 to 11
showed that the rates of diagnosis among
Hispanic children climbed 60 percent over
nine years.Those numbers could indicate
a sea change in the instances of disorder,
Latino parents’ perception and/or their
willingness to seek help.
That could be good news for children
and families like mine who need to
identify a mental health problem and get
support as early as they can. Children
with untreated ADHD and other mental
health issues are more likely to get in
Rodriguez says in
the Latino commu-
nity, it is often be-
lieved that a child's
behavioral problems
are due to poor par-
enting, not mental
health issues.
31

RUSSELLRAYMER
trouble, drop out of school, be incarcerat-
ed, are prone to substance abuse and have
car accidents. Studies show that a high
percentage of children (about 67 percent)
diagnosed and receiving treatment for
ODD are symptom-free after three years.
Some children appear to outgrow ADHD
symptoms and others will struggle with
ADHD all their lives.
I am determined for my son to suc-
ceed, critics be damned.To counteract
detractors, it’s vital to create a community
(friends, family, doctors, teachers and
especially other Latino moms). We share
our misadventures and draw support from
our experiences and wisdom. Among our
supporters, we’re more likely to hear:
“Did you get a weighted jacket?” “Try
that robotics class!” “How did he do with
a probiotic?” “Get an advocate for that
school meeting.”We understand when one
of us has a meltdown or how we feel when
someone is cruel to one of our kids.Their
kind words help drown out the insensitive
ones.
At one of my lowest points, a good
friend reminded me that my son isn’t a
problem to be solved, that he needs me
to be his advocate and to embrace the
mantra: “I will find the right strategies to
deal with this and everything will be fine.”
Another friend confided that she had
trouble accepting her child’s challenges at
first, but when she changed her mindset
from resistance to acceptance, she was
able to let go of what should have been,
and work with what is.
I’m struggling to be free from those ex-
pectations, and empowered to be among
the mothers who, despite detractors, have
hung up their chanclas. I know my child
and my family are better off for it.
RESOURCES
FOR
SUPPORT
• ADDitude
magazine
online publication
provides informa-
tion and tips for
people living
with attention
deficit disorders.
additudemag.com
• Children and
Adults with
Attention-Deficit/
Hyperactivity
Disorder (CHADD)
national non-
profit organization
offers the latest
government and
science-based
news regarding
ADHD, webinars
and training.
chadd.org
• MentalHealth.
gov website
(with information
in English and
Spanish) can
help parents
and families
identify red flags
and understand
mental health
fundamentals.
mentalhealth.gov
• National Alliance
on Mental Illness
(NAMI) website
offers information
about commonly
diagnosed mental
illnesses and
opportunities
to connect with
local affiliates
and programs of
support. nami.org
800-950-NAMI

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4 MAG NAME XXXXXXXXXX
USANETWORK
CUBAN-AMERICAN ACTRESS GINA TORRES
HAS MADE A CAREER OUT OF PORTRAYING
FIERCE FEMALES. BUT THE WOMAN BEHIND
THOSE FAN-FAVORITE CHARACTERS
MAY SURPRISE YOU.
BY LILLIAM RIVERA
USANETWORK
CUBAN-AMERICAN ACTRESS GINA TORRES
HAS MADE A CAREER OUT OF PORTRAYING
FIERCE FEMALES. BUT THE WOMAN BEHIND
THOSE FAN-FAVORITE CHARACTERS
MAY SURPRISE YOU.
BY LILLIAM RIVERA
WELL-SUITED

WELL-SUITED
That’saverbatimquotefromthemanagingpartner
at Pearson Specter Litt, the New York law firm that
anchors the action of the legal drama Suits on the
USA Network. And that was one of character Jessica
Pearson’s softer barbs.
With legal skill and intellectual agility, the fierce,
formidable and, frankly, badass Pearson is a com-
mandingpresenceinhertailoredsuitsandpointy-toe
stiletto pumps. But flip the script, and you’ll find a
warm and passionate actress behind the lawyer and
other take-charge female roles.
From her start on One Life to Live to her portrayal of
Zoë Washburne, a fan favorite on the science-fiction
TV series Firefly, Cuban-American actress GinaTorres
has made a career out of playing tough women who
don’t seem to sweat under pressure.
“The essence of it all is who you trust to take you
through the storm. You will follow Zoë to battle be-
cause you know she’s got your back. She’s a soldier,
and Jessica is much the same,” Torres says.“It’s about
carryingakindofauthorityandassurednesswithyou.
“People seem to buy that about me, which I’m
happy about.”
She delivers that last statement with a deep laugh,
knowing the woman who puts on the space-cowgirl
costume and sleek lawyer suits could not be more
different than her warrior roles.
Instead,Torres is an accomplished mezzo-soprano
singer, who spends her downtime watching Broad-
way musicals with her 8-year-old daughter, Delilah.
(Imagine Jessica Pearson belting out show tunes?The
evidence speaks for itself.) Sure, she can keep that
serious face on camera,but off -screen? The actress is
quick to laugh at herself as she speaks with gratitude
about the long career she’s carved out in Hollywood.
At heart,Torres is still the girl who, with two older
siblings, grew up in the Bronx, surrounded by Latino
culture.
Her parents migrated to the U.S. from Cuba before
the Cuban Revolution and gravitated to the melting
USANETWORK
UNIVERSALSTUDIOS;FOXSTUDIOS,CARTOONNETWORK
pot community. Her 1970s’ childhood, she says, was
filled with memories of a beautiful, technicolor New
York City, “living in an apartment with all kinds of
culture, every language and smell imaginable and a
sense of community.”
Always drawn to television, Torres says she fell in
love with telenovelas and variety shows as a child. She
sang and danced in her apartment, but though her
talent was obvious, her interest in making a career in
entertainment was difficult for her parents to accept,
especially her father. As immigrants, they dreamed
that their children would become professionals, she
says.“Doctors,engineers,something with a title.That
was not where I ended up.”
Their initial lack of approval didn’t stopTorres from
attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music
& Art and Performing Arts, where she studied voice.
She was inspired to pursue a career on the stage
when her class watched a Broadway performance of
the dramatic play A Day in the Death of Joe Egg with
Stockard Channing in the lead role.
“I just remembered thinking, I want to do that. I
want other people to feel the way she made me feel,”
Torres recalls. "And I want to take other people on
Gina Torres lays down the
law as no-nonsense lawyer
Jessica Pearson on USA
Network‘s drama Suits.
"I PUT YOU OUT ONCE.
WHEN I BEAT YOU THIS
TIME, THEY’RE GOING
TO HAVE TO PEEL YOU
OFF THE WALL."
In her career, Torres has been
the voice of Vixen on Cartoon
Network’s Justice League
Unlimited (top); portrayed the
wife of a conflicted husband
(comedian/actor Chris Rock)in
the 2007 film I Think I Love My
Wife; and played Zoë Washburne
in Fox’s sci-fi series Firefly.
• Majored in voice at New York
City's prestigious Fiorello H.
LaGuardia High School of
Music & Art and Performing
Arts, aka “the Fame school.”
• Made her TV debut on One
Life to Live.
• Met her husband, Laurence
Fishburne, on the set of The
Matrix Reloaded. The two
worked together on The
Matrix Revolutions and the
2006 political thriller Five
Fingers.
• Won the 2001 ALMA Award
for Outstanding Lead Actress
in a syndicated drama series for
her work in Cleopatra 2525.
Source: tvguide.com
ROLL THE CREDITS

WELL-SUITED
GETTYIMAGES
the ride she just took me on."
Eventually, that ride led to the small screen in roles
on dozens of TV shows, including CSI, Law & Order,
The Shield, Alias, Boston Legal, Bones, Castle and the one
that made her a science-fiction cult hero, Firefly. Her
manymoviecreditsincludeTheMatrixRevolutionsand
The Matrix Reloaded, on the set of which she met her
husband, actor Laurence Fishburne.
The couple of 13 years could have been a high-
profile Hollywood family, but they prefer to keep
their personal lives out of the spotlight — and all that
celebrity entails.
“Me entrego completamente a mi familia,”Torres hap-
pily admits. “I keep my house. I cook. I iron, as odd as
that sounds. Spending time just being Gina because
I spend so much time being other people.”
Being a mom also means Torres gets to share her
love for music and culture with her daughter, right
down to preparing flan for Delilah’s class.
Already she can see signs that Delilah has caught
the acting bug. But Torres and Fishburne stress that
hard work comes before all the glitz and glamour.
Acting is a job they both take seriously, she says, and
as an Afro-Latina, Torres knows what obstacles may
await her daughter.
“It’s really the only industry where prejudice is
sanctioned,” she says. “The fight is really just to be
seen as humans telling a story and whatever else it is
that we bring to the table, given our experiences and
our existence on this planet.”
The fight will also continue on season six of Suits
when Torres slips on the stilettos once again. What
can fans expect from the next season of this smart,
entertaining show?
According to Torres, Pearson will continue to pro-
tect her law firm — at all costs.
And in that sense, Torres and her character do
have one thing in common: a focus on the future.
“My intention is to continue with an open heart and
a great sense of adventure and imagination, so I can
meet whatever is around the corner.”
Being prepared? That’s so Jessica Pearson.
"I KEEP MY
HOUSE. I
COOK. I IRON,
AS ODD AS
THAT SOUNDS.
SPENDING TIME
JUST BEING
GINA BECAUSE
I SPEND SO
MUCH TIME
BEING OTHER
PEOPLE."
Torres and
her husband,
actor Laurence
Fishburne.

39
USANETWORK
SUITS TV DRAMA TO AIR EN ESPAÑOL
Spanish-speaking fans of Suits,
the original USA Network hit
drama starring Gina Torres, can
now catch up with the series on
NBC UNIVERSO, a sports and
entertainment cable channel
for Latinos.
The show, which revolves
around a corporate law firm
in Manhattan, has already
attracted a following of
English-speaking viewers who
call themselves “Suitors.”
The first season is currently
airing in Spanish on NBC UNI-
VERSO on Tuesdays from 10-11
p.m ET/PT, and will be followed
by season two, for a total of 28
episodes.
“Now an entirely new audience
will be able to follow the series
from its inception, and be
captivated by the show’s great
storytelling, emotional charac-
ters and tantalizing themes,”
says Bilai Joa Silar, senior vice
president of programming and
production for NBC UNIVERSO
in announcing the deal in June.
The series stars Torres as pow-
erful attorney Jessica Pearson,
Patrick J. Adams as brilliant
college dropout-turned-lawyer
Mike Ross and Gabriel Macht
as bold and intense attorney
Harvey Specter. Sarah Rafferty
is the firm's nerve center and
top executive assistant Donna
Paulsen, and Meghan Markle
is ambitious paralegal Rachel
Zane.
Currently in its fifth season,
Suits airs on Wednesdays at
10 p.m. ET/ 9 p.m. CT and has
been renewed for a 16-episode
sixth season.
NBC UNIVERSO subscribers
can also view episodes of
Suits in Spanish on Video on
Demand, nbcuniverso.com and
the NBC UNIVERSO NOW app.
Torres poses with Suits
castmates, from left, Rick
Hoffman, Patrick J. Adams,
Meghan Markle, Sarah
Rafferty and Gabriel Macht.

QUÉ, QUÉ??”The repeated cry of “why?” over social media
wasallthatcouldbesaidinlightofthenews:SábadoGigante,
the TV variety show that has been an institution in Latin
and NorthAmerican homes for 53 years,is going off the air.
The announcement stunned the show’s millions of fans. After all, Sábado
Gigante (Gigantic Saturday) is the longest-running variety show in television
history,certified by GuinnessWorld Records.During the show’s 2,600 consecu-
tive weeks on the air, or 16,000 hours of programming, there has never been a
single rerun. Fresh episodes have been airing every weekend since the show
premiered in Chile in 1962.
SO LONG,
SábadoTHE LONGEST-RUNNING VARIETY SHOW IN TV
HISTORY, A LATINO FAMILYTRADITION,
IS COMING TO AN END
“¿QUÉ,
BY SUZAN COLÓN | PHOTOS BY RODRIGO VARELA

Mario Luis Kreutzberger Blumenfeld,
better known as Sábado Gigante
host Don Francisco, has entertained
audiences every weekend for 53 years.

SO LONG,
Sábado
“Did I know, that first night,
that the show would go this far?
Never,” says Gigante creator Mario
Luis Kreutzberger Blumenfeld. “It
was an idea born under modest
circumstances.”
In fact, the juggernaut that has
at times reached an estimated 90
million homes was part of Chile’s
baby steps into the broadcasting
world, thanks to a young man’s love
of American television — and lack of
interest in tailoring.
Kreutzberger was born in Talca,
Chile, where his Jewish parents
fled after escaping Nazi Germany.
Kreutzberger was born as World
War II was raging in Europe. His
classically trained mother’s singing
lessons sparked a desire in him to
perform, and he had some early
success with acting and character-
driven stand-up comedy. His
father, probably thinking in more
practical terms, sent Kreutzberger
to New York in 1959 to follow in his
footsteps and become a tailor.
While in New York, Kreutzberger
fell in love with American TV — not
zoning out in front of it, but getting
inspiration. Chilean television was
in its infancy when he returned
home in the early 1960s, bringing
with him some very big ideas about
a variety show. He put together a
program packed with comedy and
news, singing and dancing, parodies
and serious interviews.To host the
show, Kreutzberger created a funny,
flirtatious alter ego with an easier-
to-remember name: Don Francisco.
Early versions of the show ran on
Sunday, lasted eight hours and were
canceled twice.The third time —
along with a Saturday-evening time
slot and a downsizing to around
three hours — was the charm.
Sábado Gigante became a hit in Chile,
then in Latin America, Europe and
beyond. In more than 40 countries,
every Saturday night, generations of
families, from abuelos to grandkids,
gathered around the tube to watch
together.
The show began airing in Miami
in 1986 on the Spanish International
Network (SIN).The following year
the network was relaunched as
Spanish-language U.S. network
Univision, and the show became
a ratings monster as millions of
immigrants reconnected with a
family tradition. “A producer told me
with tears in her eyes that the show
had been like a companion when
she came here to go to school,” says
executive producer Antonio “Cuco”
Arias, who has worked on Sábado
Gigante for 29 years. “She watched
every Saturday, just like she had
with her family when she was
Model Alina Robert and the infamous El Chacal de la Trompeta scout out the next
contestant to be dragged offstage during the show’s singing competition.
“DIDIKNOW,
THATFIRSTNIGHT,
THATTHESHOW
WOULDGOTHIS
FAR?NEVER.”
—MarioLuis
Kreutzberger
Blumenfeld

FALL TV’S
Star Power
Primetime TV this fall promises to be
chock-full of series and movies with
Latinos in leading roles. So why go
out to see the leaves change, when
you can park it on the couch and be
charmed by these stars?
• NBC
Eva Longoria, Hot & Bothered: Allur-
ing Longoria heads a Hispanic cast in
this hilarious take on telenovelas and
their stars’ equally dramatic private
lives. ALSO: Jennifer Lopez stars in
gritty cop drama Shades of Blue;
Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera returns
to the small screen with a starring
role in the TV movie Superstore; Ryan
Guzman joins the miniseries Heroes
Reborn, a continuation of the comic
book/action series Heroes.
• FOX
Christina Milian, Grandfathered: The
Cubana co-stars with the still-sexy
John Stamos in this sitcom. ALSO:
Dreamy Diego Boneta joins the
all-star cast of Scream Queens; Parks
and Recreation’s Natalie Morales co-
stars with Rob Lowe in The Grinder;
Stephanie Escajeda, Efren Ramirez
and Nicholas Gonzales provide
voices for the Seth MacFarlane-
produced animation Bordertown;
Wilmer Valderrama stars in Minority
Report, a sci-fi TV movie based on
the Tom Cruise film.
• CBS
Luis Guzman, Code Black: A grip-
ping ER-style hospital drama stars
well-known character actor Guzman
(you’ll likely know his face, just not his
name). ALSO: Angelique Cabral is the
love interest in family comedy Life in
Pieces; Dexter alum Aimee Garcia
stars in Rush Hour, a reboot of the
Jackie Chan action movies.
• ABC
Gabriel Luna, Wicked City: The
Texas-born star of Matador and True
Detective stars in this 1980s-set L.A.
crime drama. ALSO: Floriana Lima
co-stars in The Family, a drama about
a politician’s son who disappears and
mysteriously resurfaces more than 10
years later.
growing up.”
While the show was modeled on
classic American variety programs
like The Ed Sullivan Show, “Don Ma-
rio,” as his team affectionately calls
him, kept things current by seeking
out fresh talent. Enrique Iglesias,
reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee,
and bachata singer Prince Royce all
performed on Sábado Gigante early
in their careers. Cristina Saralegui,
often referred to as the Latina
Oprah, credits Kreutzberger for her
first opportunity on TV.
The show’s reputation for wildly
over-the-top comedy skits and
cheeky contests made it popular
with non-Spanish-speaking viewers,
too.You didn’t have to understand
the language to be joyfully trans-
fixed by El Chacal de la Trompeta, a
singing competition featuring a
hooded judge whose name trans-
lates to Trumpet Jackal.You think
Simon Cowell is tough? Try perform-
ing while being heckled by a guy
dressed as a creepy ninja, and Don
Francisco in a leopard fez. Losers
were quickly dragged offstage by a
person in a plushy lion costume.
When appropriate, the show
took a serious tone.Viewers met
2,600 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS ON THE AIR,
OR 16,000 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING
Don
Francisco
clowns
around
during a
recent live
taping of
Univision’s
Sábado
Gigante.
43

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SO LONG,
Sábado
presidential candidates through Don
Francisco’s direct, news-anchor-like
interviews, and were invited to cel-
ebrate Cinco de Mayo at the White
House in 2001.They processed the
9/11 World Trade Center attacks
and were riveted by the 2010 rescue
of the Chilean miners in reports
that were by turns straightforward
and emotional. Kreutzberger, who
missed only one show, when his
mother passed away in 1974, served
as his viewers’ ambassador to the
worlds of celebrity, politics and
news, as well as being seen as a
member of their families.
Sábado Gigante’s 40th year of
programming in 2002 was cause for
celebration, as well as contempla-
tion. Even back then, Kreutzberger
admits, “I started feeling like it
might be time for the show to come
to a close.” As Sábado continued to
beat English-language programming
on the big networks, he may have
been the only one thinking about
the end. “I spent a lot of sleepless
nights consulting my pillow, as
well as my wife (Teresa “Temmy”
Muchnik), my kids (Vivi, Francisco
and Patricio), and of course my
colleagues on the Gigante team,” he
says. “For the past 13 years, I’ve been
preparing to stop doing what has
been the love of my life.”
During that time, the way people
watch shows, and what they watch,
has changed; Saturday-night
programming is no longer the huge
draw it once was. Also, Kreutzberger
is now 74 and might enjoy some
time off after working 12-hour days
for the past 53 years. Univision
president of programming and con-
tent Alberto Ciurana admits, “There
is no replacing Sábado Gigante,” but
says the plan is to fill the time slot
with Sabadazo, another variety show,
and a Saturday edition of celebrity
news show Sal y Pimienta (Salt and
Pepper), which will also keep its
regular Sunday time slot.
The final episode of Sábado
Gigante airs live Sept. 19 and will be
“full of adrenaline,” Kreutzberger
promises. “The last show should
be a faithful reflection of what it
has always been: humble, vibrant,
exciting, full of human warmth.” As
Antonio Arias predicts, “It will be a
historic moment in television.”
Ever the diplomat, Don Francisco
refuses to choose a favorite guest
of the some 50,000 he’s said to have
interviewed, and perhaps cannot
single out a favorite moment. His
thoughts are not now in the past,
but at a time in the future that starts
the moment after he says his final
good-bye. “Our legacy is what we
will leave behind in the hearts of the
people who watched,” he says. “The
best legacy: Good memories.”
Don Francisco says Sábado Gigante’s legacy will be the good memories it
leaves with viewers when he and other cast members say good-bye after the
final episode, which will air live Sept. 19.
45

2 MAG NAME XXXXXXXXXX
KENWYNER;THINKSTOCK
PIQUANTPERU
Chefsembrace
thepopularityof
Peru’sdeliciously
diversecuisine
othing unites Peruvi-
ans more than their
obsession with food
— specifically, their
food.
Once inconspicuous, cui-
sine from Peru has become a
source of national pride and
has transformed the country
intoalegitimateculinarydes-
tination.Tourists who used to
equatePeruwiththemajestic
and world-renowned Inca ru-
ins of Machu Picchu, (and not
much else) are now booking
gastronomic tours in search
of the unique flavors found
in its innumerable dishes.
N
BY ROXANA A. SOTO
La
Araña
CHEF JOSÉ ANDRÉS’
ChinaChilcano
WASHINGTON, D.C.

ERNESTOCANOSSA;ILLUSTRATION:LISAM.ZILKA
But you don’t have to go to Peru to get a taste of the food.
“It’s an astonishing melting pot of different cultures and
cuisines that always inspires,” says Spanish-born celebrity
chef José Andrés, who ventured into Peruvian cuisine
earlier this year with the launch of his restaurant China
Chilcano in Washington, D.C. “Even though
it has just recently come on our radars,
Peruvian food is not a new, hip cuisine to try.
Peru is a very old country that has evolved
over hundreds of years into an interesting,
beautiful thing.”
Connoisseurs agree that the current boom
has to do with the South American country’s
biodiversity, which yields high-quality
products hard to find elsewhere, as well as
the myriad foreign influences Peruvians have
expertly fused into their own creations.
But it’d be almost sacrilegious not to
include Peru’s most celebrated chef on this list
of reasons.
“I don’t think many people would disagree
with me if I said that Gastón Acurio is largely
responsible for making the country of Peru
a superpower in regards to its food,” Andrés
insists, referring to the owner of more than 40
restaurants in a dozen countries and author
of 20 cookbooks — including his recent first venture in
English, Peru: The Cookbook. “He is without a doubt one of
the most influential chefs in the world and has made the
PIQUANT PERU
LaRaíz
CEVICHE
This classic
Peruvian dish,
primarily
featuring raw
fish cured in
citrus juices,
is featured
on Morena
Cuadro’s
popular food
blog, Peru
Delights.
NazcaLines
The ancient
geoglyphs depicted
in these drawings
are part of a
UNESCO World
Heritage site in
southern Peru.
Scholars believe
they were created
by the Naza culture.
(Illustrations: spider,
root, lizard, heron
and dog.)

COURTESYOFMORENACUADRA;ERNESTOCANOSSA;ILLUSTRATION:LISAM.ZILKA
food of Peru its greatest export,” says Andrés. Not only
through his dozens of restaurants worldwide, but because
of how he’s created an army of Peruvian chefs by igniting a
passion and devotion to the country’s cooking.”
Restaurateur Juan Chipoco is one of them. He says
Acurio made Peruvian cuisine known worldwide and
challenged chefs to “figure out how to maximize and give
use to all the marvelous products we have in Peru.”
The young Chipoco opened CVI.CHE 105, his first
Peruvian restaurant, in downtown Miami seven years ago,
and his main dream was for it to become a source of pride
for himself and for his fellow Peruvians.
“I wanted to prove that Peruvians are also capable of
accomplishing great things outside of our country,” says
ElLagarto
CHOROS
A LA CHALACA
This hors
d’oeuvre is a
common entry on
many Peruvian
restaurant menus.
Its name means
“mussels Callao-
style,” referring
to the busy Port
of Callao in Peru.
The spicy concoc-
tion consists of
steamed mussels
covered with
a vegetable
medley.
SUDADO
DE PESCADO
A simple dish,
this stew is
made from fish
fillets and a
flavorful broth.
It is often
complemented
with peppers,
tomatoes,
cilantro, white
wine and
lemon juice.
49

COURTESYOFMORENACUADRA;ILLUSTRATION:LISAM.ZILKA
Chipoco. “And since our cuisine distinguishes us from
the rest, I think opening a restaurant was the best way to
position myself and say, ‘Hey, Peruvians are here!’”
Mission accomplished. His clientele hails from all
over the world, and those who try
Peruvian food for the first time at
his restaurant say it’s so unexpect-
edly savory, they have no words to
describe it.
Indeed, his ceviche — raw fish
cured in citrus juices and flavored
with spices — has been rated as one
of the best in Miami five years in a
row by Miami New Times, the city’s
weekly newspaper. According to
Chipoco, many of his guests have
been known to head to CVI.CHE 105
straight from Miami’s airport. And
now they have two to choose from,
as Chipoco opened a second location
in South Beach late last year.
Back in D.C., chef Andrés has
received many accolades for
China Chilcano, where he opted to
concentrate on three of the major
influencers in Peruvian cuisine: Chinese (chifa), Japanese
(nikkei) and traditional (criollo). On his menu, guests can
find anything from a classic ceviche to spicy tuna rolls
made with quinoa as well as lomo saltado, a beef-steak
stir-fry served with French fries that most Peruvians eat
for lunch on a regular basis.
“I think people have been very receptive to the food,
although they may have needed some support in the be-
ginning,” Andrés says. “There are so many different kinds
of dishes to choose from that when we first opened, a lot
of people appreciated our team guiding them through it.”
Morena Cuadra, author of two Peruvian cookbooks,
knows exactly what Andrés is talking about.
“It’s a big country with all these different geographies,”
says the trained chef, making reference to Peru’s three
distinct physical features: the coast flanked by the Pacific
Ocean, the Andes mountain range and the Amazon rain
forest. “This gives way to an enormous amount of dishes,
so you could spend years trying something new every
day.”
Cuadra’s latest cookbook, The Peruvian Kitchen, features
100 Peruvian recipes not to be missed — including, of
course, the iconic ceviche.
“Without a doubt, of all the ceviches I’ve tried around
the world, there’s nothing like the one served in Peru,”
says Cuadra, who’s originally from El Salvador but has
lived in Peru for so long that she’s adopted the country,
and its varied cuisine, as her own.
On her popular food blog, Peru Delights (perudelights.
com), the majority of comments come from non-Latino
readers who’ve either visited Peru and want to recreate
PIQUANT PERU
LaGarza
POWERFUL
CEVICHE
This version of
the Peruvian
favorite, made
with raw fish
and shrimp
marinated in
lemon juice,
is said to have
aphrodisiac
qualities.

ElPerro
Fivemust-try
Peruviandishes
(andadrink!)
FROM CHEF JOSÉ ANDRÉS’
CHINA CHILCANO MENU
Ceviche
Peruvian ceviche is unlike any
other because of its leche de tigre.
Also known as “tiger’s milk,” it’s
essentially the marinade after the
fish has had a chance to soak in
it. The result is a soupy, flavorful
mixture that the ceviche is served
in. It’s a unique dish that belongs
only to Peru.
PapasalaHuancaina
These boiled yellow potatoes are
served in a spicy, creamy sauce
that highlights the iconic aji ama-
rillo pepper. It’s often served cold
and is a staple in Peruvian picnics.
TheCaliforniaRoll
This Japanese-influenced dish
is rolled with causa, a purée of
potato, instead of rice, and is a
great example of how dynamic
the potato is in Peru.
SudadodePescado
It’s a classic Peruvian fish stew
that has a small touch of in-
novation — it comes to the table
steamed in a bag and you have
to cut it open to enjoy!
SuspiroLimeña
This is considered an iconic
dessert of Peru, with a sweetened
condensed milk custard that’s
topped with a soft, crunchy
meringue and passion fruit.
PiscoSour
This cocktail made with pisco
liquor, lime juice, egg white and a
simple syrup is THE drink of Peru!
BLAIRGETZMEZIBOV;ILLUSTRATION:LISAM.ZILKA
PIQUANT PERU
the dishes they enjoyed there, or who’ve
never been but are extremely curious to try
Peruvian cuisine.
“I believe that the complexity of flavors,
textures and intensities makes the food so
attractive to them,” says Cuadra. “I think
there will come a time when it’ll become
even bigger than what it is now and even
more known.”
Chipoco agrees. In fact, he dreams of
CVI.CHE 105 one day becoming a worldwide
franchise. And if what chef Andrés believes
about the future of Peruvian cuisine is
true, Chipoco’s dream may not be far from
reality.
“It will continue to capture the world’s
attention because it will always keep
changing and evolving,” says Andrés, who
back in July showed his support for fellow
immigrants by pulling out of a restaurant
deal in Donald Trump’s new hotel venture
under construction in Washington, D.C.,
after the real estate mogul and presidential
hopeful publicly made anti-immigrant
remarks.
“My only hope is that while it grows, it
stays true to its authentic roots,” he says.

CEJAVINEYARDS;FAUSTAFRANCO-GUERRERO
A
melia Moran Ceja was only 12 years
old when she decided she wanted to
become a winemaker. She had just
arrived in the Napa Valley from the
Mexican state of Jalisco, and was picking
merlot grapes in one of Robert Mondavi’s
famed vineyards along with her father.
“It was actually the very first time I tasted
a (ripened) grape that did it for me,” Ceja, 60,
says about discovering the distinct difference
between table and wine grapes. “They are so
much more complex, incredibly sweet and
succulent. Once you taste a perfectly fine
ripened grape from the vine, you’ll never have
table grapes again.”
She wasted no time letting her father know
that one day she’d own her own vineyard. And
she was serious.
Today, Ceja is a co-founder of Ceja Vineyards,
the first Mexican-American woman ever
named president of a winery.That’s a monu-
mental feat considering the wine industry has
been historically controlled by men.
BY ROXANA A. SOTO
Latinasmaketheirmarkathelm
ofCaliforniavineyards
:
:
:
:
:
:
AmeliaMoranCeja
CEJA VINEYARDS
FaustaFranco-Guerrero
FATHIA VINEYARDS
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ueens
Vino
Q

CEJAVINEYARDS
Queens Vinoof
Workers, including
co-owner Pedro
Ceja,far right,
pick pinot noir
grapes during Ceja
Vineyards' first
harvest in 1988.
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“We’ve done something that very
few people can accomplish in a gen-
eration,” says Ceja, who — together
with her husband, Pedro, and his
brother, Armando, and sister-in-law,
Martha — owns more than 110 acres
that produce about 8,000 cases of
award-winning wine per year. “We’ve
gone from working the vineyards
to now owning some of the most
respected vineyards with pedigree
here in Napa and Sonoma.”
Ceja belongs to a small but
growing group of Latina winemakers
in California’s Napa and Sonoma
valleys — hard-working and
tenacious women whose journeys
from humbled beginnings to
winemakers are the embodiment of
the American dream.
“We never had anything. My
dad never owned a house. He was
responsible, but he never had a
great income,” says Fausta Franco-
Guerrero, who owns the boutique
Fathia Vineyards with her husband,
Roy Guerrero. “This is my American
dream.”
Like Ceja, Guerrero, 38, knew she
wanted to be a winemaker since she
was very young. Raised in Sonoma,
Guerrero’s playground was the
vineyard where her father worked
and lived (in a 500-square-foot
home) with her and her mother. Her
favorite childhood memories involve
being among the grapevines and
the workers who took care of the
luscious fruit — blissful moments
she wanted to recreate for her three
young children.
In 2005, Guerrero took the initial
step toward making that dream a re-
ality by purchasing the family’s first
piece of land in Sonoma. Despite
several setbacks, including losing
their entire first harvest due to a
disagreement over the company’s
branding with an early associate and
a trademark infringement issue that
forced them to change the winery’s
name from Fausta to Fathia, the
Guerrero family now owns 10 acres
and produces between 1,000 and
1,500 cases of four types of highly
rated wines per year.Their 2011
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was
rated excellent (91 points) by Wine
Enthusiast.
“Someone once tried to put me
down (by) telling me winemaking
was an industry for men where no
females were allowed,” Guerrero
says. “But I wanted to show my kids
that you should always go for your
dreams. So I kept going.”
Ceja remembers people trying to
discourage her, too. A supposed men-
tor once told her that “people of color
don’t have the discretionary income
for a luxury product” like wine when
she shared her plans to pair it with
Mexican cuisine — something no one
was doing at the time.
So Ceja set out to prove him wrong.
“The wine industry has done a
really good job at being arrogant and
elitist. But we’ve changed the way
wine’s made,” she explains. “We’re
not making wines for wine critics.
We’re making wine to pair well with
all the food that we love — Mexican,
Peruvian, Cuban and Asian.”
Acceptance has been overwhelm-
ing. On her vineyard’s YouTube
channel (youtube.com/user/cejavine
yards), where Ceja shares her passion
for food and wine, the most-watched
video shows her preparing the iconic
Mexican soup pozole, which she pairs
with one of her very own red blends.
“We’re showing everyone that
there’s a place on the table for wine,
regardless of what the menu is,”
Ceja says.
Try
their
wines
CEJA
VINEYARDS
Varieties:
White (sauvignon
blanc and
chardonnay),
rosé, red (pinot
noir, red blend,
merlot, cabernet
sauvignon, syrah),
sparkling and
dessert wines
Cost range:
$24 to $85
Where available:
cejavineyards.
com and at
the vineyard in
Sonoma, Calif.
FATHIA
VINEYARDS
Varieties:
White (viognier
and sauvignon
blanc) and
red (cabernet
sauvignon)
Cost range:
$25 to $65
Where available:
fathiavineyards.
com
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CONNECT WITH THE
NATURAL BEAUTY OF AMERICA’S
NATIONAL TREASURES
BY LUISA COLÓN
And yet, according to a survey by
the National Park Service, Latinos ac-
count for only 9 percent of all national
park visitors. Are misconceptions
about national parks — that they’re
prohibitively expensive, difficult to
get to or entail roughing it without
any of the creature comforts of
home — keeping us from sojourns to
famous destinations likeYellowstone
and the Grand Canyon, and lesser-
known treasures like Zion or Glacier
national parks?
“Much of it probably stems from
lack of awareness,” says Kathy Kup-
per, a spokeswoman for the National
Park Service (NPS), noting that there’s
at least one national park site in every
state.Inparksthatofferfoodandlodg-
ing, options range from "cafeterias to
upscale dining, camping to lodges to
world-class hotels,” she says.
As far as entrance fees go, only
127 of the 407 NPS sites charge one.
And when they do, it’s very reason-
able, ranging from as low as $3 per
person to $30 per vehicle. In addition,
entrance fees are waived on several
holidays and holiday weekends each
year. That’s only one of the ways our
country’s national parks are warmly
welcoming visitors, whether sea-
soned travelers or first-timers.
“President Obama is committed
to giving every child the chance to
explore America’s great outdoors
and unique history. That’s why he
launched the Every Kid in a Park
N
ATIONAL PARKS GIVE NEW MEANING TO THE TERM ALL-INCLUSIVE
vacation. Where else can you visit celebrated landmarks, see
hard-to-find animals like brown bears and wolverines roaming
free in their natural habitats and explore diverse scenery that ranges
from towering rock formations to lush rain forests — all in the U.S.?
KEY OF
Popular
Activities
SWIM/BEACH
BOATING
FAMILY
FRIENDLY
FOOD/LODGING
HIKING
SCENIC
LANDSCAPES
OUTDOOR
ADVENTURE
SHOPPING/SPA
TOURS
WILDLIFE
initiative, which enables every U.S.
fourth-grader and his or her family to
have free access to any national park,
forest, land or water for an entire
year,”explains Kupper.“The initiative
hopes this valuable opportunity will
encourage families from across the
country to plan a visit to the great
outdoors.”
Encuentra Tu Parque/Find Your Park
(findyourpark.com) invites people to
learn about and connect with na-
tional parks in a unique, personal
way. “With Encuentra Tu Parque/Find
Your Park, we are building a move-
ment in which we’ll not only bring
people to parks, but also bring parks
to people,” says David French, senior
vice president of marketing, commu-
nications and corporate partnerships
attheNationalParkFoundation(NPF).
“By meeting people where they are
online and in person with intriguing
and thoughtful images and personal
stories, we will help people discover
that a park can be more than a place
and that there are endless ways to
find their own unique connections
to parks.”
Sites within the national parks
system allow us to explore vastly
different landscapes, and to appreci-
ate our planet in its natural glory,
protected and preserved. Here are
the 10 most popular national parks
in the U.S.,along with just some of the
ways they’re going to redefine — and
exceed — your expectations.
THINKSTOCK;ILLUSTRATIONS:THINKSTOCK,ASHLEIGHCARTER
59

According to the NPS, Great Smoky Mountains National Park — located on the border
between Tennessee and North Carolina — is the most visited national park in the U.S. That’s
not surprising, considering the range of activities that are available (horseback riding, fishing,
hiking on the Appalachian Trail and even auto tours) amidst the astonishing natural setting.
If a visit to the Grand Canyon, located in
Arizona and considered one of the Seven
Natural Wonders of the World, has you
conjuring up visions of white-knuckle
whitewater rafting or all-day hikes along
precipitous drops, think again. Free
shuttle buses (running May-September)
allow visitors to enjoy the gorgeous views
without breaking a sweat, and attractions
such as the Historic Village District offer all
the expected amenities of a vacation con
familia — food, lodging, special events —
surrounded by a true geological wonder.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Grand Canyon
National Park
1
2
Place of a
Thousand Drips
ARIZONA
TENNESSEE – NORTH C AROLINA
THINKSTOCK;NATIONALPARKSERVICE
Grand
Canyon

61
California’s famous Yosemite National Park is a household name,
thanks to a variety of features that make it popular for travelers of
all different tastes. Stunning views of the Sierra Nevada mountains?
Check. Family activities, including night prowling and kid-friendly
hiking? Sí. Activities like shopping and spas for the tourist who
wants to take it easy and feel pampered? ¡Claro! Yosemite is a
classic destination for anyone looking to explore natural wonders
without forgoing the comforts of a traditional vacation.
Yosemite National Park
If you’re looking
to explore national
parks outside of
the U.S., check
out these six Latin
American destina-
tions and prepare
yourself for eye-
popping attractions
like Mayan ruins,
giant tortoises and
the highest waterfall
in the world — as
well as classic
vacation activities
like picture-perfect
beaches.
IGUAZÚ
NATIONAL PARK
Argentina
Located on the
border of Argentina,
Paraguay and Brazil
(the latter of which
is home to the adja-
cent Iguaçu National
Park), Iguazú boasts
breathtaking water-
falls which nurture
a lush subtropical
rain forest, home
to more than 2,000
plant species, 400
bird species, and
endangered animals
like jaguars and
ocelots.
3
Half
Dome
NATIONAL
PARKS
OF INTEREST
IN LATIN
COUNTRIES
C ALIFORNIA
NATIONALPARKSERVICE

Peaks and valleys, highs and lows — those are terms you’ve probably
used but never truly understood on a literal level unless you’ve seen the
Grand Teton National Park’s beautiful landscape. Located in northwestern
Wyoming (not far from Yellowstone), Grand Teton features the snow-
dusted mountains of the Teton Range contrasting with the vibrant green
— or white, depending on the time of year — of Jackson Hole valley.
The incredible scenery of Utah’s Zion National Park
may look like something from another planet, but
space travel is not required to access the dazzling
Navajo Sandstone formations or the rugged beauty
of the Virgin River. More good news? You can explore
the canyons at a pace and level that suits you (and
your family, if you’re traveling todos juntos). Looking
for a more daring way to explore the landscape? Try
the multifaceted physical and mental thrills (hiking,
swimming, rappelling) of canyoneering.
Zion
National Park
Grand Teton National Park
GALÁPAGOS
NATIONAL PARK
Ecuador
Consisting of 19
islands, the incredibly
diverse ecosystem
that makes up the
Galápagos National
Park — home to such
species as the giant
tortoise — inspired
none other than
English naturalist and
geologist Charles
Darwin when he
visited in 1835. Since
then, Ecuador’s first
national park has
become a UNESCO
World Heritage
Site and home to
the Charles Darwin
Foundation.
TORRES DEL PAINE
NATIONAL PARK
Chile
Torres del Paine
may be named for
its famous attrac-
tion — three granite
monoliths that reach
up to a mile and-a-
half into the vast, vivid
sky — but this Chilean
national park has
even more to offer
in the form of varied,
unbelievably beautiful
landscapes, wildlife
like pumas and
approximately 115
species of birds.
4
5UTAH
W YOMING
THINKSTOICK
Wahweap
Hoodoos
sandstone
columns
Historic T.A.
Moulton Barn

63
PHOTOCREDIT
This diverse Colorado wonder is the
perfect spot to enjoy proximity to the
famed Rockies in any of the four seasons.
Depending on the time of year, the park's
415 square miles are home to activities like
camping and hiking, backcountry skiing
and snowshoeing and taking in the wildlife
that calls the Rocky Mountains home. The
park boasts 60 species of mammals, 280
recorded bird species, 11 species of fish
and countless insects.
While the state of Washington is well-
known for its natural attractions, Hoh Rain
Forest in Olympic National Park is a well-
kept secret. It’s here you can hike through
its startlingly temperate environment,
marvel at the lush, dense vegetation,
enjoy the sensation of the moss and ferns
that blanket the earth and gaze upon the
snowcapped splendor of Mount Olympus
(at almost 8,000 feet high, the highest
mountain in the park).
Olympic
National Park
Rocky Mountain
National Park
6
7COLOR ADO
WASHINGTON
Hoh Rain Forest
Bald
Mountain

CANAIMA
NATIONAL PARK
Venezuela
One of the largest
national parks in the
world (12,000 square
miles) and home to
Angel Falls, the high-
est waterfall on the
planet, Venezuela’s
Canaima National
Park is a geological
wonder in more
ways than one. The
landscape is largely
made up of ancient
sandstone plateaus
called tepuis, and
endangered species
like giant anteaters
call this habitat home.
Its unique geological
scenery and unusual
wildlife make this
national park a place
like no other on Earth.
TULUM
NATIONAL PARK
Mexico
Take the beaches
of Cancún and
Acapulco, subtract
the party-hearty
atmosphere and add
the fascinating culture
of the Mayan empire
— you’ve got a trip
to Mexico’s Tulum
National Park. Part
of a coastal stretch
known as the Riviera
Maya, Tulum offers
access to beautiful
beaches as well as the
stunning archaeologi-
cal marvels that are
the Mayan ruins.
If you’re looking for a trip that’s a little more offbeat and solitary, try the
vast, untouched wilderness of Glacier National Park. Located in Montana
on the Canadian border, Glacier does offer food and lodging for the
discerning traveler, but the preserved, protected ecosystems — think
ancient rock formations, crystal-clear lakes and wildlife like cougars, lynx
and wolverines — make Glacier feel like an isolated stretch of space
uninhabited by the complexities of the modern world.
Glacier National Park
8 MONTANA
Maine’s Acadia offers visitors a relax-
ing, restorative experience surrounded
by picture-perfect scenery, with many
activities that are ideal for families (like
the ranger-narrated boat cruises or
the Nature Center at Sieur de Monts
Spring). A trip to Sand Beach is perfect
for lounging by the waves — although
the chilly North Atlantic water may
have you heading for the more
temperate Echo Lake Beach if you’re
looking to take a dip in the brilliant,
blue water.
Acadia
National Park9MAINE
THINKSTOCK
St. Mary Lake
Maine
Harbor

THINKSTOCK
Grand
Prismatic
Spring
The country’s first national park (and arguably the most well-known), Yellow-
stone spans from part of Wyoming into Montana and Idaho. From the famed
Old Faithful geyser to diverse outdoor activities like boating and cycling (not
to mention the wildlife — elk, gray wolves, black bears and bison, just to
name a few — that roam the 3,500 square miles), Yellowstone is everything
you’d expect from the classic national park and more.
Yellowstone National Park
10 W YOMING – MONTANA – IDAHO
ROSARIO & SAN
BERNARDO
CORALS
NATIONAL
NATURAL PARK
Columbia
Put a new spin on
the concept of the
tropical beach vacation
with a trip to Rosario
and San Bernardo
Corals National Natural
Park on Columbia’s
Caribbean coast, an
underwater otherworld
that allows you to get
up close and personal
with the wonders of
the sea.

ALBUQUERQUE
505 8429003• WWW.AHCNM.ORG
EMAIL: ABQTOURISM�AHCNM.ORG
The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce specializes in
HispanicandNativeAmericanconventionsandevents.Letourdepartment
connect your attendees with a complimentary cultural experience.
Convention & Tourism
D e p a r t m e n t
Our National Parks
The National Mall
welcomes millions every year,
but what they see
is hardly welcoming.
It welcomes the world to our most significant monuments and memorials. But like many national parks, the National Mall
in Washington, D.C.,
desperately needs our help, including $350 million in federal funding
for maintenance, repairs, and preservation.
You can help with a simple letter.
Visit NPCA.org/mall. Or call 1-800-NAT PARK.

CHIPSOMODEVILLA/GETTYIMAGES
LIFESTYLE&MOREWORKPLACE 70 | HEALTH 78 | EDUCATION 82 | BUSINESS 88 | FINANCES 92 | TRAVEL 96
A CUBAN
CELEBRATION
The Cuban flag is raised July
20 at the nation's embassy in
Washington, D.C., for the first
time in 54 years. (See story on
Cuba travel on page 96.)
| HISPANIC LIVING

THINKSTOCK
WORKPLACE
A
s more businesses look to Hispanics to help improve the bottom line,
Latino families and communities depend on stable employment that
offers economic security and benefits. Millennial Hispanics are poised
to become an even more essential piece of the U.S. labor puzzle because
they are both young and a fast-growing segment of the population.
The current employment landscape for Hispanics is a mixed bag, with
unemployment and lacking access to mentors highlighted as critical issues. While
the number of Latino workers has rebounded to pre-recession levels, unemployment
among Hispanics remains higher than the national average, says Stephanie Román,
economic policy analyst with the National Council of La Raza in Washington, D.C., the
nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization.
“We were actually the first group to recover.That’s a good trend,” says Román. “There’s
still room for progress for Latinos to continue to work toward bettering unemployment
levels. What should be of concern is still tied to the progress we have made.”
Given the current and future impact of Hispanic workers, major corporations such
Wanted: Diversity
Companies make efforts to recruit and retain
Hispanics among the ranks
BY CHRISTINE ROMERO
Hiring Hispanic
workers in an effort
to expand diversity
in the workplace
is a growing trend
among some major
businesses.

IT’S EASY TO STAND OUT
when your ideas are as diverse as your employees.
To learn more about our careers, our procurement opportunities, our
services, and our company, log on to our Web sites.
www.bcbsil.com
www.bcbsnm.com
www.bcbsok.com
www.bcbstx.com
Divisions of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company,
an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. EOE M/F/D/V
The blend of talents, backgrounds, ideas, and approaches uniﬁes our commitment to serve and
promote the health and wellness of our members and communities. It’s our employees who are
the heart of our company, and it’s our differences that set us apart.
We build a high-performance work culture that is successful and distinct. And we accomplish
that by attracting, retaining and developing a diverse community of skilled, engaged and
prepared employees.
We hope you’ll join our diverse, inclusive and caring community.

Hispanic Living Nikki Dobrin

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