Latest news with #ALMAS
San Francisco Chronicle
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Our stories matter': Mother's Day play gives voice to immigrant, indigenous women
When Ana Salgado walked up onto the rickety stage in the Arlene Francis Center, a small brick building in downtown Santa Rosa where the sound of the Amtrak can be heard as it rolled by, the room fell silent. 'The last time I hugged my mother was in December 1996,' recited Salgado, a member of Teatro ALMAS Libres, during rehearsal just days before the ensemble's Mother's Day premiere of 'La Madre Patria (Motherland).' 'I have been through several strong experiences over the years without being able to receive a hug from her. And finally, on February 14, 2025, we looked at each other again and hugged each other in such a strong way that our heartbeats became one.' Salgado's story is just one shared in the hour-long play, directed by Jackie Katz. Anel Aparicio, María Medoza, Alma Arroyo, Anastacia Cruz, Ofelia (Lía) Ramirez, Eloisa Lopez, Sandra de León and Luisa Isidro — all members of ALMAS, which stands for Alianza de Mujeres Activas y Solidarias (Women's Action and Solidarity Alliance) — complete the cast. Composed of immigrant and indigenous women who live and work in Sonoma County, the ensemble delves into the idea of 'mother' through personal stories, historical analysis, and deep, heartfelt conversations. 'Motherland is built day by day,' Arroyo says in the play. 'Like love, it is suffered and enjoyed.' In spite of — or perhaps because of — these heavy emotions, there is a feeling of strength that fills the room. 'This performance is an ode and a tribute to all of the women who are in any way suffering as a result of oppression," Katz told the Chronicle. The play, which has been in development for the past six months, is defiant in the face of heightened political division — we as women, as mothers, as immigrants are important, it declares. 'Despite the difficulties we are experiencing these days with the current administration,' de León says during her monologue in the last scene in the play, 'we must continue to celebrate our mothers today.' Though only a one-day performance, Katz hopes to secure funding to bring 'La Madre Patria' to San Francisco in the future. Lizzy Montana Myers is a freelance photographer and writer.
Chicago Tribune
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest: ALMAS to hold Naperville City Council candidates forum; John Bramlette added to DuPage Children's Museum Board
ALMAS to hold Naperville City Council candidates forum The Alliance of Latinos Motivating Action in the Suburbs, known as ALMAS, is hosting a Naperville City Council candidates forum from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 24, at the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Drive. All candidates running for the council in the April 1 election have been invited, organizers said. A Spanish-language interpreter forum will be on hand, a news release said. Residents interested in submitting a question to the candidates should go to the ALMAS Facebook page for a Google form. ALMAS organizers will review all submissions and select a range of questions to ensure a fair issue-focused discussion, the release said. Council candidates are Jennifer Bruzan Taylor, Ian Holzhauer, Derek McDaniel, Ashfaq Syed, Mary Gibson, Meghna Bansal, Benny White and Nag Jaswal. Four, 4-year terms are up for election. John Bramlette added to DuPage Children's Museum Board The DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville has named John Bramlette to its board, officials announced. Bramlette is the senior vice president-commercial relationship manager team lead at Busey Bank and was named its 2024 Volunteer of the Year. He is a coach for the Naperville Park District and serves on the board and finance committee of the Naperville Education Foundation for District 203, a news release said. He also served on board and the finance committee for HOME DuPage. Bramlette said in the release that his children have visited the children's museum numerous times and he is passionate about driving youth education. 'I am very excited to join the DCM board to assist in the mission of helping children learn through play,' he said in a statement. 'I look forward to being actively engaged by using my time, connections and skills to help raise awareness in an effort to drive fundraising to advance the mission and goals in the near term and long term.'
