OCTOBER 2022
AN EMPOWERING LATINO FUTURES PUBLICATION SERVING NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Josefina
López
Her Struggle
to Become
the Protagonist
of Her Own Story
THE 70TH LATINO
BOOK & FAMILY
FESTIVAL
October 14–15
Free Cultural and
Community Event at
MiraCosta College
7 FESTEJOS
DE DÍA DE
MUERTOS
en el norte
del condado
OCTUBRE 2022
WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM
WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM
OCTOBER 2022
Scan to
visit ELF
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 28
On the cover: Josefi na López, the author of Real Women Have
Curves, tells her story and speaks at the Latino Book and Family
Festival. Photo by Gabriela Parra, Lobazul Photography.
Scan to subscribe to
NCI and see past issues:
North County Informador is
a digital weekly and printed
every 2 months.
Empowering Latino Futures presesnts
The North County Informador Team
www.NorthCountyInformador.com
EDITOR IN CHIEF: Melanie Slone, PhD
editor@northcountyinformador.com
P: (760) 645-3455
ART DIRECTOR: María Fernanda Álvarez
EDITORS: Yenni Patiño, Maggie Ramos
PROGRAMS DIRECTOR: Ana Patiño
EDUCATION BEGINS IN THE HOME: Edward Becerra
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Martha Zamora
VIDEO SERVICES: Daniel Perez
PUBLISHER: Kirk Whisler
Email kirk@whisler.com
to advertise in North County Informador.
Nonprofts, publish content through us.
We accept English, Spanish, or both.
Civic Engagement, Community Services, Cultural Events,
Education, Financial Literacy, Food Security, Government
Services, Health Services, Immigration Services, Information on
access to Essential Services, Virtual or in-person Events
Send material to: editor@northcountyinformador.com
All materials are copyrighted by Empowering Latino Futures, a
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Informador.
EMPOWERING LATINO FUTURES BOARD
Edward James Olmos, CHAIR
Kirk Whisler, PRESIDENT
Katharine A. Díaz, VICE PRESIDENT OF AUTHORS
Edward Becerra, VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION
Lisa Montes, SECRETARY
Martin Valdez, TREASURER
Rocky Barilla, LEGAL COUNSEL
BOARD MEMBERS: Julia Abrantes,
Rene Aguilera, Victor Gonzalez, Andres Tobar
ELF Emeritus Board Members
Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Dennis Hernandez,
Zeke Montes, Ambassador Julian Nava ,
Jesus Nieto, PhD
Services
Food and Book distribution, county
services
Education
Entrepreneurship, Chromebooks
Feature
Josefi na López: Her Struggle
to Become the Protagonist
of Her Own Story
Latino Book & Family
Festival Program
Civic Engagement
Events
Day of the Dead
Feature
Julian Nava Is Remembered
for a Long, Well-lived Life
Financial Literacy
Stretch Your Money
with Good Credit
Health
Servicios
Distribución de comida y libros,
Servicios del Condado
Educación
Emprendedores, computadoras
Artículo
Josefi na López: Su lucha para
convertirse en la protagonista de
su propia historia
Festival Latino
de libros y familia
Civismo
Actividades
Festejos de Día de Muertos
Artículo
Recuerdan la vida larga y
bien vivida de Julián Nava
Educación fi nanciera
Aproveche mejor el dinero
con buen crédito
Salud
IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome to the special issue on the Latino Book & Family Festival.
We hope to see you on October 15, from 10 to 4, for this event for
the whole family. Check out the Festival program in this issue, plus
information about the authors and exhibitors you will see there.
Plus, read about the Real Women Have Curves special screening,
community services, and Day of the Dead events.
Thank you for your support.
You can contact us at editor@NorthCountyInformador.com.
Bienvenidos al número especial sobre el Festival Latino de Libros
y Familia. Esperamos verlos el 15 de octubre de 10 a 4 en este
festejo para toda la familia. Revisen el programa del Festival en este
ejemplar, además de información sobre los autores y expositores
que verán.
Además, hay información sobre la función especial de Real Women
Have Curves, servicios comunitarios y festejos de Día de Muertos.
Gracias por su apoyo.
Contáctenos en editor@NorthCountyInformador.com.
Latino Book & Family Festival
Festival Latino de Libros y Familia
10
16
17
18
20
22
EN ESTE NÚMERO
OCTUBRE 2022
WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM
SERVICES
SERVICIOS
Food Distribution
Sites
San Diego County Annual Report
FROM THE COUNTY NEWS CENTER
Saturday, October 15th
10 am– 4 pm
☛ MiraCosta College
Latino Book & Family
Festival
Sunday, October 16th,
10 am–2 pm
☛ HHSA w/Universidad
Popular
649 W. Mission, Escondido
Tuesday, October 18th
10:30 am–1 pm
☛ Pauma Community
Center
Pauma Valley
16650 Highway 76
Sunday, October 23rd
10 am–4 pm
Día de los Muertos
715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach
Wednesday, October 26th,
4–5 pm
☛ Libby Park, Oceanside
Thursday, October 27th
9 am–12:30 pm
☛ Fallbrook Food Pantry
140 N. Brandon Rd.,
Fallbrook
Thursday, October 27th
4–5 pm
☛ Crown Heights
Oceanside
Friday, October 28th,
5–8 pm
☛ Grapevine Elementary
630 Grapevine Rd., Vista
Saturday, October 29th,
9 am–4 pm
Día de los Muertos
☛ Guajome Park Academy
2000 N. Santa Fe Ave, Vista
Sunday, October 30th,
2–6 pm
☛ Voces de Fallbrook
Cemetery
Día de los Muertos, Fallbrook
☛ Community Resource Center
650 2nd St., Encinitas
8:30 am–12:30 pm,
Monday–Friday / Lunes a viernes
(760)753 8300
☛ North County Food Bank
3030 Enterprise Ct Suite A
1445 Engineer St Suite 110
Vista, CA 92081
(858) 863 5142
☛ Fallbrook Food pantry
140 N Brandon Rd, Fallbrook, CA 92028
Monday -Friday / Lunes a viernes
9:30 am–12:30 pm
☛ Feeding San Diego
Vista Mobile Pantry
4065 Oceanside Blvd. Oceanside
Primer y tercer martes de cada mes
16650 Highway 76, Pauma, CA 92061
☛ Universidad Popular
Every 3rd Tuesday of the month,
Cada tercer martes del mes, 1:30 pm
1307 Laurel Tree Ln, Carlsbad, CA 92011
☛ Crown heights
Every Thursday / Cada jueves, 4–5pm
1219 Division St., Oceanside, CA 92054
Lived Experiences
☛ Libby Lake
Every Wednesday / Cada miércoles, 4–5pm
504 Calle Montecito, Oceanside, CA 92057
Lived Experiences
☛ Eastside Capistrano
Every Thursday / Cada jueves, 5–6pm
1410 Laurel St., Oceanside, CA 92058
Lived Experiences
☛ Volunteer opportunities, MAAC
Monday’s & Friday’s / Lunes a Viernes
10-11:30 am
Matthew 633 Foundation 1st Congregational
Church. Escondido, CA 92026
also provide FREE books /
Libros gratis también
Free Books / Libros gratis
The County, health professionals,
and law enforcement opened One Safe
Place, a new family justice center in San
Marcos to support survivors of domestic
violence, child abuse, elder abuse,
human trafficking, and violence.
- 1050 Los Vallecitos Boulevard
San Marcos
- gethope@OneSafePlaceNorth.org
- 760-290-3690.
- Monday–Friday, 7 am to 9 pm;
Saturday, 8:00 am to noon.
The Health and Human Services
Agency added a new Live Well Mobile
Office, a bus that delivers a wide range of
County services into communities.
The County opened its second and
third North County Crisis Stabilization
Units in Vista and Oceanside. The units
give people who are experiencing mental
health episodes a calming place to get
help 24 hours a day, seven days a week—
rather than being sent to jails or emer-
gency rooms. (888) 724-7240
One Safe Place es un centro en San
Marcos que apoya a los sobrevivientes
de la violencia doméstica, el abuso de
menores o de adultos mayores, la blanca
de personas y la violencia en general.
- 1050 Los Vallecitos Boulevard
San Marcos
- gethope@OneSafePlaceNorth.org
- 760-290-3690.
- Lunes a viernes, 7 am - 9 pm;
Sábado, 8 am 12pm.
La Agencia de Salud y Servicio Humano
abrió una nueva Oficina Móvil de Biene-
star, un camión que entrega una variedad
de servicios del condado a la comunidad.
El Condado abrió la segunda y tercera
unidad de Estabilización de Crisis en el
Norte del Condado, en Vista y Oceanside.
Estos sitios son para las personas que ex-
perimentan episodios de salud mental y
que necesitan llegar a un lugar tranquilo
para pedir ayuda las 24 horas de los sie-
te días a la semana—en vez de llegar a la
cárcel o al hospital.
THROUGH ELF’S EDUCATION BEGINS IN THE HOME PROGRAM
WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM
OCTOBER 2022
sdge.com/fera
EDUCATION
EDUCACIÓN
FAMILY ELECTRIC
RATE ASSISTANCE
(FERA) PROGRAM
If your household has 3
or more people, you may
qualify for FERA and 18%
discount on your electric
bill. Visit sdge.com/FERA
to learn more.
TARIFA ELÉCTRICA
FAMILIAR
Si su hogar tiene 3 o más
personas, podría calif car
para FERA y recibir 18% de
descuento en su factura
de electricidad. Visite sdge.
com/FERA para obtener
más información.
Sign up for our FREE
ePub & newsletter.
To advertise:
editor@NorthCountyInformador.com
he City of Vista, in partnership with Strategies 360,
is off ering a free online entrepreneurship program
that will provide new and aspiring Vista business
owners with instruction and support to prepare for and/
or launch a new enterprise. To access the course please
visit Entrepreneur Bootcamp Course.
If you have questions about the program, please
email econdev@ci.vista.ca.us.
Entrepreneur
Bootcamp
a Ciudad de Vista, en asociación con Strategies 360, está
ofreciendo un programa de emprendimiento gratuito que
brindará a los nuevos y aspirantes propietarios de negocios
de Vista instrucción práctica y apoyo para prepararse y/o
lanzar una nueva empresa. Para acceder al curso, por favor
visite Entrepreneur Bootcamp Course.
Si tiene preguntas sobre el programa, envíe un correo
electrónico a econdev@ci.vista.ca.us.
WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM
OCTUBRE 2022
Photo by Gabriela Parra, Lobazul Photography
wenty years ago, Josefina López’s play
Real Women Have Curves debuted as a
movie, breaking down barriers and chal-
lenging stereotypes. Today, Josefina continues
to fight for women, Latinas, immigrants, and
body positivity.
Real Women Have Curves “has a life of its
own,” says Josefina. When the movie came out,
it did not have much of a budget, she says, so a
lot of people missed it. But now more people are
discovering it.
Josefina tells us that she approaches stories
from her heart and her gut. She feels that this sto-
ry was “given” to her; she started writing it when
she was 18 and got a version produced at 21.
Today, she says she finally understands the
secret to the story’s success. “It’s about five wom-
an, five Latinas who are all transitioning, you
know, there’s the four stages of womanhood…the
virgin; the maiden; the mother; and the crone,
the wise woman.” She says they are having chal-
lenges transitioning to the next level.
“So really, it’s about woman in different stag-
es in their lives who, through their camaraderie,
are able to transition and find their wisdom and
find their rightful place in the world where they
belong.”
Culture and Inspiration
Josefina says she creates based on her reality.
“Everybody in your life inspires you…Every-
body is an interpretation and a mirror to you,”
she says. “We can only write about what we
know; we can only write about ourselves.”
She says she is “showing the conflict of loving
[her] culture…being interconnected…As a wom-
an, you are interdependent.” She says family in-
terdependence is a source of strength for wom-
en; women can be vulnerable and ask for help,
which is really a strength in the community.
She believes her stories show the benefits of
her culture, but also how it can disempower peo-
ple, especially women. She shows in her stories
what she thinks people should let go of and what
they need to hold on to, so that they don’t lose
themselves.
Josefina López
Her Struggle to Become
the Protagonist of Her Own Story
The author of Real Women Have
Curves shares her journey and reflects
on life as a Latina writer
FEATURE
ARTÍCULO
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film version of Real
Women Have Curves, the Latino Book and Family Festival is
holding a special screening at MiraCosta College on Friday,
October 14, at 7 pm. Josefina is also one of the featured
keynote speakers at the Festival on Saturday, October 15.
WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM
OCTOBER 2022
Josefina López
Su lucha para convertirse
en la protagonista de
su propia historia
La autora de Real Women Have Curves
comparte su trayectoria y reflexiona
sobre su vida como escritora latina
“I choose to celebrate my culture in the way
I live my life,” she says. “We have to embrace
all the beautiful things about our culture that
inspire us, that make us whole,” she adds, “like
being part of a community and being an indige-
nous person, being connected to the land, being
connected to family, being responsible to com-
munity, being connected to the creator.”
Josefina says she believes writers are express-
ing their own trauma. “Most of what we write is
a trauma that is at least 10 years old,” she says.
“Anything you’re trying to recreate is something
you’re trying to heal.”
Activism
Josefina has noted how woman are only allowed
to complain about one thing—being poor, or
Mexican, or a woman, “but you can’t complain
about all three, because no one would take you
seriously.”
She believes that people today have realized
that there are many forces that shape and op-
press women, and that awareness has grown.
“Today, young women are more empowered to
see that they have the right to choose what they
want in their lives…When I wrote Real Women
Have Curves, this idea of body positivity wasn’t
around,” she said.
At the same time, she thinks social media
has made women much more conscious of their
looks and the use of filters.
She also believes this empowerment among
women “scares” men, which can lead to backlash.
Josefina creates humor out of anger, in her
quest to confront injustice. “As a woman or
person of color, you’re not allowed to be angry
because if you are, they put you in jail or censor
you, so you cushion it with humor,” she says.
ace 20 años, la obra de Josefi-
na López, Real Women Have
Curves, se estrenó como fil-
me, donde derrumbó barreras y retó
los estereotipos. Hoy, Josefina sigue
luchando a favor de las mujeres, las
latinas, los migrantes y la imagen cor-
poral positiva.
Real Women Have Curves “tiene
vida propia”, dice Josefina. Cuando
la película se estrenó, no contaba con
mucho presupuesto, dice, así que mu-
cha gente no la vio. Pero ahora más
gente la va descubriendo.
Josefina nos cuenta que aborda
sus historias desde el corazón y las
entrañas. Siente que esta historia “se
le encomendó”; empezó a escribirla
cuando tenía 18 años y logró que una
versión se produjera cuando tenía 21.
Hoy, dice que por fin entiende el se-
creto del éxito de la obra. “Se trata de
cinco mujeres, cinco latinas quienes
están en transición, sabes, hay cuatro
etapas de la mujer…la virgen; la seño-
rita; la madre; y la señora sabia”. Dice
que cada una enfrenta retos para pasar
al siguiente nivel.
“Así que, en realidad, se trata de
mujeres en diferentes etapas de sus
vidas que, mediante su camaradería,
logran hacer la transición y hallar su
sabiduría y su lugar legítimo en el
mundo a donde pertenecen”.
Cultura e Inspiración
Josefina dice que crea con base en su
realidad. “Toda la gente en tu vida te
inspira…Todos son una interpretación
y un espejo para ti”, dice. “Solo pode-
mos escribir de lo que conocemos;
solo podemos escribir de nosotras
mismas”.
Dice que “está mostrando el con-
flicto de amar a [su] cultura… ser in-
terconectados…Como
mujer,
eres
interdependiente”. Dice que la inter-
dependencia familiar es una fuente
de fuerza para las mujeres; las mujeres
pueden ser vulnerables y pedir ayuda,
algo que es una verdadera fortaleza en
la comunidad.
Comedy is a way of disguising
anger; the person with power
over you will listen because it’s
funny.
I show the ridiculousness of
sexism and racism because
that’s the only way people will
listen.”
OCTUBRE 2022
WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM
La comedia es una manera de
disfrazar el enojo; la persona
que te domina escuchará
porque es gracioso.
Muestro lo absurdo dentro del
sexismo y el racismo porque
solo así la gente hace caso.”
Ella cree que sus historias exponen
los beneficios de su cultura, pero tam-
bién cómo esta cultura puede desempo-
derar a la gente, sobre todo a las muje-
res. Muestra mediante sus historias lo
que ella cree que la gente debe soltar y a
lo que debe aferrarse, para no perderse
a sí misma.
“Elijo celebrar mi cultura en cómo
vivo mi vida”, dice. “Tenemos que aco-
ger todos los aspectos hermosos de
nuestra cultura que nos inspiran, que
nos integran”, agrega, “como formar
parte de una comunidad y ser una per-
sona indígena, estar conectadas a la tie-
rra, estar conectadas a la familia, tener
responsabilidad hacia la comunidad,
estar conectadas con el creador”.
Para celebrar el
vigésimo aniversario
de Real Women Have
Curves, El Festival
Latino del Libro y de
la Familia presenta
una función especial
en MiraCosta
College, el viernes,
14 de octubre, a las
7 pm. Josefina López
también es uno de
los presentadores
destacados en el
Festival el sábado,
15 de octubre.
Josefina dice creer que las escritoras están ex-
presando su propio trauma. “Gran parte de lo que
escribimos es un trauma que tiene al menos 10
años”, dice. “Cualquier cosa que estás intentando
recrear es algo que estás tratando de sanar”.
El activismo
Josefina ha notado cómo a las mujeres solo se les
permite quejarse de una cosa—el ser pobres, o
mexicanas, o mujeres, “pero no puedes quejarte
de las tres, porque nadie te tomaría en serio”.
Ella cree que hoy la gente se ha dado cuen-
ta de que hay muchas fuerzas que moldean y
oprimen a las mujeres, y que la conciencia se ha
expandido. “Hoy, las mujeres jóvenes están más
empoderadas para ver que tienen el derecho de
elegir lo que quieren en su vida…Cuando escribí
Real Women Have Curves, no había esta idea de
positivismo corporal”, dijo.
Al mismo tiempo, cree que los medios socia-
les han hecho a las mujeres mucho más cons-
cientes de su apariencia y el uso de filtros.
Además, cree que el empoderamiento de las
mujeres “asusta” a los hombres, lo que puede
provocar reacciones negativas.
Josefina crea el humor del enojo en su cruza-
da por enfrentar la injusticia. “Como una mujer o
una persona de color, no se te permite estar eno-
jada porque si lo estás, te meten a la cárcel o te
censuran, así que lo amortiguas con humor”, dice.
Photo by Blanca Soto
WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM
OCTOBER 2022
Adriana Brunner
Ana Patiño
Angel Puente
Beatrice Zamora
Beatriz Palmer
Damaris De La Torre
Diana Minuzzi
Dr. Sunny Cooke
Edward Becerra
Esther Reyes Jones
Gabriela Hooshmand
Gaby Beas
Genevieve Wunder
Georgette Baker
Gloria Chavez
Glorian Sipman
Herminia Ramirez
Israel Marroquin
Jacqueline Ayala
Jaquelin Fematt Dutson
Jonathan Gomez
Juan Estrada
Kirk Whisler
Kristen Huyck
Lilibeth Resendiz
Lisa Montes
Melanie Slone
Maggie Ramos
Martha Zamora
Monica Chapa Domercq
Osvaldo Alcazar Pulido
Patirica King
Rita Sosa
Victoria Vazquez
Yadira Osorio
Yenni Patiño
2022 MiraCosta Latino
Book & Family Festival Team
With appreciation and gratitude
Thank you all for having
supported our team and myself
through the years!
For the past 10 years, I have
worked with Empowering Latino
Futures in multiple programs.
This place has been like a second
home. You all are like family to
me now and I am very grateful for
that. I will cherish the memories I
have made here.
Thank you and I’ll stay in touch
with you all!
Ana Patiño
ELF Programs Manager
10
OCTUBRE 2022
WWW.NORTHCOUNTYINFORMADOR.COM
Welcome to the 70th Latino
Book & Family Festival
¡Bienvenidos al Festival Latino
del Libro y de la Familia edición #70!
Free Cultural and Community Event // Saturday, October 15, 2022, 10 am–4 pm // MiraCosta College // 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA
Books
bring
dreams
to life!
¡Los libros
convierten
los sueños en
realidad!
5 Actividades que el Festival
tiene para su familia:
1 Escuchar a los autores Josefi na
López y Victor Villaseñor, los
reconocimientos a los funcionarios
latino del Norte del Condado y el
tributo a Julián Nava
2 ¡Visitar los puestos de los exposi-
tores y ver los libros y otras cosas!
3 Asistir a los talleres
4 Disfrutar unas botanas deliciosas
5 Ver a los grupos bailar en
el Escenario Principal
5 Activities the Festival has for
you and your family:
1 Listen to the authors Josefi na
Lopez and Victor Villaseñor, the
North County Latino elected offi cial
recognitions, and the tribute to
Julian Nava
2 Visit the exhibitor booths and check
out some books and other great stuff !
3 Go to the workshops
4 Get some great food!
5 Watch the dance groups
perform on the Main Stage
MiraCosta College is honored once again to
host the Latino Book & Family Festival.
The MiraCosta Community College District
has served the coastal North San Diego County
area for over 88 years.
Our mission is to provide superior education-
al opportunities and student support services to
a diverse population of learners, with a focus on
their success.
As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), vet-
eran and military supportive institution, and
Achieving the Dream Leader College, MiraCosta
College fosters the academic and life success of
its diverse learners within a caring and equita-
ble environment to strengthen the educational,
economic, cultural, and social well-being of the
communities we serve.
MiraCosta holds a special place for the Lati-
no community, off ering the Puente Project and
the Offi ce of Advancement, with several schol-
arships and grants to support students and help
them overcome fi nancial barriers to higher ed-
ucation. MiraCosta College is also currently
one of 15 community colleges in California that
off ers a bachelor’s degrees to help students get
jobs in high-demand fi elds.
The friendly campus off ers a spectacular
coastal view. Students, staff , and visitors come
together here to help each other succeed.
Opening Ceremony
Welcome and Recognition
of North County Latino
Elected Offi cials; Tribute to
Ambassador Julian Nava 10:15
a.m., Main Stage
- U.S. Congressman Mike
Levin, San Diego County
District 5 Supervisor Jim
Desmond, and MiraCosta
College President Dr.
Sunita Cooke open the
Festival and honor the
elected offi cials.
- Frank Cruz and Carmen
Nava remember Julian
Nava for his decades
of service to the Latino
community.
- Levin will donate some
books.
Bienvenida y Reconocimiento a
los funcionarios latinos electos
del Condado Norte de San Diego;
Tributo al embajador Julián Nava,
10:15 a.m., Escenario Principal
- El Congresista de Estados
Unidos Mike Levin, el
Supervisor del Distrito 5 del
Condado de San Diego Jim
Desmond y la presidente de
MiraCosta College la Dra.
Sunita Cooke inauguran
el Festival y honran a los
funcionarios.
Frank Cruz y Carmen Nava
rinden homenaje a Julián
Nava por sus décadas de
servicio a la comunidad latina.
- Levin donará algunos libros.
About
Our Host
Mike Levin
Jim Desmond