Monday, September 15, 2025

Celebrating - José M. Hernández

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to celebrate José M. Hernández, who is a Mexican-American Engineer and astronaut.  The other day, while scrolling on my social media, I came across a film clip from the movie A Million Miles Away, which was a film based on his 2012 Autobiography “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut.” This clip prompted me to research José further.

It is incredible that he began as a migrant farm worker alongside his parents as a young child and worked his way up to become a mission specialist on STS-128, which was launched in August 2009. 

He also developed the first full-field digital Mammography imaging system with a commercial colleague while working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

He has earned many awards and honors, which can be found at the Wikipedia link below.

1. José M. Hernández - Wikipedia

Monday, September 08, 2025

Celebrating - Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez and their daughter Sylvia

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I am celebrating Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, who changed California and set a legal precedent ending De Jure Segregation in the United States(1). In 1946, they tried to enroll their children in the majority white school near their home, and their kids were sent to a segregated school for Hispanic students. They filed a lawsuit, arguing that segregating children based on ethnicity was a violation of the 14th Amendment. They won their case and the appeal.  Governor Earl Warren then moved to desegregate all public schools and other public spaces. (1, 2)

Their daughter, Sylvia Mendez, received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2010 for her role in the struggle for Mexican-American Civil Rights

1. Felicitas Méndez - Wikipedia

2. Sylvia Mendez and the Struggle for Mexican American Civil Rights | National Archives Museum

Monday, September 01, 2025

Celebrating Diversity - Sept 2025

This month, we celebrate

Hispanic Heritage Month is observed in the US from September 15 to October 15

Intergenerational Month is celebrated in the US to promote intergenerational understanding and connection among people of all ages.

Our Current administration does not believe in diversity of thought or ethnicity, and I think we lose a lot by not allowing opportunities to those other backgrounds.

* Source Seramount.com

Monday, July 07, 2025

Celebrating Diversity - July 2025

This month, we celebrate Disability Pride Month, a worldwide opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the disability community and recognize the accomplishments of people with disabilities.

Every member of our human community has the potential to allow us to grow as a species.  We can't exclude someone because they are different, as they will bring a perspective that the group may miss. 

Here are some examples of such inspiring individuals:(AI provided this list)

Disability Rights Activists and Advocates:

• Judy Heumann: Often referred to as the "Mother of the Disability Rights movement," she fought tirelessly for inclusive education and the rights of people with disabilities.
• Justin Dart Jr.: Known as the "Father of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)," he played a crucial role in advocating for this landmark legislation.
• Haben Girma: The first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, she is a strong advocate for accessibility and inclusion, particularly digital accessibility.
• Brad Lomax: A disability rights activist and member of the Black Panther Party, he played a key role in advocating for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Johnnie Lacy: An advocate for Black individuals with disabilities, she helped establish the independent living movement and addressed the unique challenges faced by Black women with disabilities. 

Artists and Creatives:

• Frida Kahlo: A renowned Mexican painter who used her art to express her experiences with chronic pain and disability.
• Ludwig van Beethoven: A world-famous composer who continued to create music even after becoming deaf.
• Stevie Wonder: A musical icon, blind from birth, he has been a vocal advocate for civil rights and other social causes.
• Marlee Matlin: An Academy Award-winning actress who has been a prominent advocate for the deaf community. 

Leaders and Innovators:

• Stephen Hawking: A theoretical physicist and cosmologist who made groundbreaking contributions to science despite being diagnosed with ALS.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt: The 32nd President of the United States, who, despite having polio, led the country through the Great Depression and World War II.
• Richard Branson: The founder of Virgin Group, who attributes some of his success to his dyslexia. 

Athletes:

• Tanni Grey-Thompson: A British wheelchair racer who won numerous Paralympic medals and advocates for disability rights.
• Alex Zanardi: A former Formula 1 racer who became a Paralympic gold medalist in adapted cycling after losing both his legs.
• Aaron Fotheringham: A professional wheelchair skater who performs incredible stunts and advocates for inclusion. 

These individuals, and many others, demonstrate that disability is not a barrier to achievement and leadership. Their resilience, talent, and advocacy have enriched society and inspired a more inclusive world for all. 

Monday, June 23, 2025

Celebrating Dannette Dloveslife Brooks

This month, we celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month, which honors and celebrates the rich and diverse culture of the Caribbean American population.

This month, I celebrate Dannette Dloveslife Brooks, who is from Belize, a Central American country on the Caribbean coast. She was one of my Partners at UPS whom I got to know shortly before I retired from UPS. She has been working hard to build a community of diverse people discussing various topics, as well as running a YouTube channel on local restaurant reviews, Cooking, and her Life experiences. I love her motto: Live, love, laugh, inspire.

Her Facebook Group Conversations with Dannette truly showcases diversity as you see who she has invited and the discussions that are had.

I truly hope she finds the success she is working toward, as she brings immense value to many people.

Her Facebook page

Her Facebook group: (4) Conversations With Dannette | Facebook

Her YouTube Channel: Dloveslife - YouTube