Obama Te Ama: 2009

Monday, May 4, 2009

Benefit Concert for Emanuel Pleitez

Los Angeles, CA. May 4, 2009 - With all the buzz and excitement in the media about congressional candidate Emanuel Pleitez, the son of a single mom raised in East LA, it’s no wonder that the hip, young and cool would come out in his support this Tuesday, May 5^th with a benefit concert at Bandit Gallery in Echo Park. The exciting line up includes a surprise performance by one of Miami’s hottest imports, a special DJ set by electronic super duo, Palenke Soultribe, and explosive performances by Gardenia and MC Preska. Hosted by Viviana Vigil of NBC’s Open House and by Jose Galvan of Indie 100.3, the evening will celebrate the best in Latino music while raising important funds for the Emanuel Pleitez for congress campaign.

An assortment of indy and electronic music sprinkled with rock and hip hop, the evening’s musical presentation is much like the message of Emanuel Pleitez - one of hope and progress, bringing a fresh new attitude to the world of politics, something the youth of today need more than ever. “It is so important to get involved – so much is at stake, from the economy to immigration reform, everyone should participate. I’m happy to help do my part in hopes of motivating others to also get involved,” said Gardenia’s lead singer, Polly Salas. “A fun party for the people in the heart of Echo Park is what we have planned with lots of great sponsors including Sailaway Collective, Nacional Records, Automático, KGB Studios, Avatar Records, the Republic Vision, PD Media and XR Collection, to name a few.”

The special event takes place at Bandit Gallery, one of the many new hot spots sprouting across Echo Park, one of LA’s most vibrant and diverse communities. The evening begins at 7:30 PM with guests treated to an exhibit in the main gallery followed by an outdoor patio area to enjoy live music under the stars. Delicious margaritas and cold beer compliment the melodic beats of an eclectic evening full of progressive politics and beautiful people.

Tickets can be purchased for a $10 donation and includes a drink ticket, live entertainment, entrance to the gallery exhibit and outdoor patio concert area. “In these tough economic times, we wanted to make this event accessible to everyone” said Jaime Rojas, one of the event organizers, “It’s also a reminder of how important it is to have leadership that understands the economy and Emanuel certainly has the experience. Growing up in East LA and later with his time spent on President Obama’s transition team, Pleitez understands what it is to not have while advocating for economic policies that bridge and bring light to our communities.”

Please RSVP at veronicajacuinde@gmail.com or call (310)508-1896 for more information. VIP tickets can also be purchased at $100 for unlimited drinks and VIP access.

Party for the People!

Benefit Concert for Emanuel Pleitez

May 5^th 2009

Bandit Gallery

1549 Sunset Blvd.

(cross street Echo Park)

LA, CA 90026

7:30PM –11:30PM

About this blog

Obama Te Ama is dedicated to airing Latino voices in contemporary political dialog. The site's current editors are:

Carlos "Bookworm Brown" Aguilar

Aguilar is an LA based TV writer and producer, emcee and herbivore. Bookworm graduated from Occidental College and received his MA in the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Talbot School of Theology. In addition to performing across the U.S. Bookworm has taken Hip Hop to China, Korea, Japan, Mexico and Guatemala and has written about Hip Hop and Spirituality for several publications including Christianity Today, Sojourners and Prism.

Veronica Jacuinde
Veronica Jacuinde is a television producer and journalist covering all things Latino especially in the world of entertainment, fashion and philanthropy. The eldest of six children born to Mexican immigrant parents, Veronica graduated from UC Berkeley and worked on Wall Street before embracing a career in Latino media. She got her start in radio as the host of "FRANK" and has since worked in television for Mun2, American Latino TV and SiTV. Veronica has interviewed Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, America Ferrera, and Wilmer Valderamma to name a few.

Enrique Mier Vergara
Enrique is a community organizer for several communities inLos Angeles. He is currently working with low-income families. He works closely with organizations throughout Los Angeles in bringing support services to over 500 families. The eldest of five children born to Mexican immigrant parents. Enrique entered a catholic seminary at the age of 18 and took vows as a religious brother. In 2004 he decided that the “call” to the priesthood was not for him. That same year he began working for the Diocese of San Bernardino as an event/community organizer. After a struggle with his faith he decided to leave the diocese and pursue a more humanistic approach to religion. In 2008, Enrique began working on his production for a documentary. His documentary will focus on the effects of religion on society and the need to focus on the human story of faith.

Unai Montes-Irueste
Unai Montes-Irueste can't remember a time when life didn't revolve around politics. In San Bernardino County, where he attended high school, Unai actively campaigned on behalf of school and citywide initiatives promoting educational access, multicultural understanding, and student rights. After completing a dual major at Dartmouth College, in Government and Latin American Studies, he headed to Southern California to pursue a career in social justice. Unai joined Teach for America (Americorps) and taught for several years in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. During this time, he worked with the Coalition For a Non-Violent City, El Centro de Accion Social, La Alianza Oxnard, and a number of other community advocacy organizations, along with parents and students, to rally the School Board and the City Council for education reform and community improvements. Unai left the classroom and joined the nonprofit sector as an advocate for youth. In recent years, he has helped lead a series of campaigns for progressive candidates and causes, as well as completed an MBA in Public Policy from Brandeis University. Unai has worked to defend the rights of workers, worked to remove the influence of big money in elections, and to elect progressives to the School Board, City Council, State Assembly, State Senate, the US Congress, as well as the Presidency of the United States, and Mexico. Since last year, he has worked to register and mobilize thousands of young voters from communities of color as the National Director of Youth Vote Projects for Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, and a Senior Consultant to Voto Latino. Somehow, Unai also made time to produce Directmail Slate Cards for the League of Latino Voters, and contribute to the Field, Outreach, Political, Communications, New Media, and Speechwriting components of Barack Obama's Presidential campaign.

Andrea Portes
Andrea Portes is the bestselling novelist of HICK, her debut novel. Because of the success of HICK, the book has been optioned and is being turned into a feature film. Andrea Portes is currently writing the screenplay adaptation, as well as her second novel. Born to an American mother of German descent and a Cuban father from Havana, (world-reknowned Sociologist Alejandro Portes, now at Princeton), Andrea grew up being shuffled around between such disparate places as Nebraska, Rio de Janiero, North Dakota and Brazilia. It is this nomadic childhood that most certainly accounts for Portes’ insight into the human spirit, as she grew up in the position of being “other”, observing those around her from the outside, always. Andrea atteneded Bryn Mawr College on full scholarship and graduated cum laude. She then earned her Masters in Fine Arts degree from UC-San Diego. Portes grew up in a family of discourse and, as such, has always been political. Heavily influenced by her father and his family’s exile from Cuba, in 1959, the dinner table discussions were often philosophical or theoretical in nature. It is this upbringing that has led Andrea to feel a sense of political responisibilty throughout her life.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez
A long-time resident of the U.S. Midwest, Cuban-born Raul Ramos y Sanchez is a founding partner of B/R/C Marketing, established in 1992 with offices in Ohio and California. Besides developing a documentary for public television, Two Americas: The Legacy of our Hemisphere, he is host of MyIimmigrationStory.com — an online forum for the U.S. immigrant community. Ramos began writing America Libre in 2004, with the input of scholars from Latin America, Spain, and the United States. After five months as a self-published edition, America Libre, was acquired by Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books). A revised version of the novel by Grand Central Publishing is under development. Grand Central Publishing has also acquired El Nuevo Alamo, the sequel to America Libre. You can read Raul's blog here:

http://raulramosysanchez.blogspot.com/

Monday, May 4, 2009

Benefit Concert for Emanuel Pleitez

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