Tag: NAHJ

Latino, NAHJ

Remembering friend and journalist George Ramos

Heaven shines brighter tonight because journalism sent one of its best.

George Ramos, Pulitzer winner, professor, mentor but most of all friend.

News of George’s death this weekend shocked and saddened all of us who knew, loved and respected him.

I still find it hard to believe he is no longer with us.

I first met George at an NAHJ convention about a dozen years ago. And I last saw him in June at NAHJ’s  convention in Orlando. I ran into him at the start of the convention, as always he was volunteering his time to be a mentor for the student campus. George was a mainstay of this program, helping teach young Latino journalists how to become the best. He did this because he knew that Latinos in journalism still had a long way to go. And he was right.

The last time I spoke with him was at the airport as he waited to board his flight back to California. We spoke for several minutes about the future of NAHJ and who might be running for the organization’s presidency next year. As they called his row, I told him I would see him next year in Vegas for Unity and I wished him a safe flight home.

How could I have known then it would be the last time I would speak to him?

George was an old-school journalist in many ways. I remember at NAHJ’s convention in Puerto Rico, he was in the hotel lobby surrounded by his students, giving them final instructions for the day’s assignment. As he sent them off, we talked for a while. I asked if he was on Facebook. He scoffed and answered, “I’m a dinosaur.”

I can’t even begin to imagine an NAHJ convention without George’s presence.

His death leaves a void that cannot be filled. But I can say with all certainty that those of us who had the honor and privilege of calling George a friend, will make sure his legacy lives on.

Rest in peace, dear friend. Rest in peace.

 

 

 

 

 

DREAM Act, immigration, immigration reform, NAHJ, Uncategorized, undocumented immigrants

Lack of immigration reform affects many

If ever there has been one word that can bring out the worst in people it is immigration.

This is especially true when it is associated with undocumented immigrants. On Wednesday, Pulitzer winner Jose Antonio Vargas revealed in a lengthy essay that he is undocumented. He arrived in the United States as a 12-year-old from the Philippines. He’s lived the American dream, working for the Washington Post, becoming an accomplished journalist, but all the while hiding a secret.

But he is not the only one living this personal nightmare.

Last week I was in Orlando attending the NAHJ convention. I connected with a young woman I met at last year’s convention. She is bright, dedicated and has big dreams for the future. But one thing stands in her way: she too is undocumented. She is part of that growing group of young people known as DREAMers, students who would benefit from the passage of the DREAM Act.  Not only would they stand to gain so much, they would also be able to contribute and give back to the only country they know; the country they call home.

I saw her at the beginning of the convention, so full of hope, ready to show the media companies what she could offer. Two days later, I saw her again. Her demeanor had changed; she appeared demoralized. She had spoken to an immigration attorney who also was attending. He told her the news she had hoped not to hear, the chances of legalizing her status would be difficult at best and could take years.

I did what I could to offer moral support and encourage her to not give up. I stayed positive on the outside, but on the inside my heart was breaking for her. It was one of those moments when I wished I had a magic wand and could fix things.

I may not be able to change her status, but what I can do is be there for her. Offer support; let her know she is not alone. But most of all keep fighting for passage of the DREAM Act because it is the right thing to do.