Winter Pow-Wow

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 28, 2009

Milwaukee - The Indian Summer Festival sponsored the 17th Annual Winter Pow Wow over the weekend at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, Wisconsin Products Pavilion. Indian Summer organizers say, a traditional pow wow is a Native American event, which brings people together to dance, sing, socialize, and keeps their tribal culture alive. A pow wow session begins with the Grand Entry, during which all the dancers line up by dance style and age, then enter the arena while a host drum sings a special song. The host drum is a drum group responsible for providing music for the dancers. During an intertribal dance, a drum will sing a song and anyone including American Indians and non-Native Americans can join the dance.
A pow wow usually features an extensive marketplace where vendors from around the country offer original Native American made arts and crafts, silver and gold jewelry, traditional foods and herbs, books and numerous other items to purchase. In most pow wow’s food vendors offer the popular and traditional fry bread, Indian Tacos, including hot dogs and soft drinks.
To experience pow wow’s and “Mother Earth” as Native Americans do, make plans to attend the largest North American Indian cultural festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Mother Earth” is a common metaphorical expression for the Earth and its biosphere as the giver and sustainer of life. “Indian sovereignty and the affirmation of Native culture: the Earth is, indeed, Mother to these nations,” wrote Jace Weaver the author of Defending Mother Earth: Native American Perspectives on Environmental Justice.
Indian Summer Festival will celebrate its 23rd anniversary on September 11-13, 2009 at Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds) on Milwaukee’s beautiful Lake Michigan lakefront.
The festival’s board includes members of many tribes and nations, including Chippewa, Oneida, Menominee, Ojibwa, Ottawa, Apache, Potawatomi and Mohican, according to Indian Summer organizers.

After 4 and 1/2 years locked up, Mory gets a bracelet

By H. Nelson Goodson & Jon Higuera

KEARNEY, N.J. – Moises “Mory” Lamas, a 52-year-old native of Peru, walked out of the Hudson County Correctional Center here a free man — for now — after being held in custody 4 1/2 years by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an arm of Homeland Security.
He says he was given no explanation as to why he was released, and he asked no questions.
In 1986 President Reagan signed the Immigration Reform & Control Act, with an amnesty provision that brought almost 3 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows. Reagan stated, “Future generations will be thankful for our efforts to humanely regain control of our borders and thereby preserve the value of one of the most sacred possessions of our people, American citizenship.”
Both Lamas and his wife Ruth, who reside in West New York, N.J., had already filed applications for amnesty, but his paperwork was held up due to a misdemeanor conviction in June of 1986.
His crime: when he was still undocumented, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

HE PLEADED GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR

Lamas, who has lived in the United States for 26 years, was riding with an acquaintance who was carrying 3.5 grams of cocaine.
The acquaintance confessed to police that the drugs belonged to him and that Lamas knew nothing about them.
On his attorney’s advice and to avoid an expensive trial, Lamas pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to 364 days in jail.
He was required to serve less than half that time. Never did he imagine that the charges could later have consequences with his immigration status.
Fast forward to 1999. After 13 years of clean living, including serving as president of Local 13742 of the United Steelworkers of America, his earlier conviction put him squarely in ICE’s sights for deportation. It started after his wife was sworn in as a U.S. citizen and later filed a petition for a status adjustment for her husband.
Instead, immigration authorities used the 1996 “Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act” passed by the Republican- controlled Congress and signed into law by then-Presiden William Clinton to begin deportation proceedings against him.

OFFENSE RECLASSIFIED AS FELONY

The act allows numerous offenses, including some misdemeanors, to be reclassified as aggravated felonies for which a person can be deported or deemed “ineligible” for citizenship.
Since then, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot elevate a crime to a felony if it is only a misdemeanor under the federal Controlled Substance Act.
In Lamas’ case, immigration officials classified the state misdemeanor conviction as an aggravated felony under the 1996 federal act. They failed to abide by the U.S. Supreme Court decision that such convictions are not felonies punishable under the Controlled Substance Act.
In December 2003, the government had issued an order stating Lamas must leave the country, an order Lamas says he had no knowledge of. In May 2004, he was arrested at work by ICE. During his time in custody, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent two surgeries. Lamas and his wife have a 14-year-old daughter.

ONLY EL CONQUISTADOR RESPONDED

His situation took a turn for the better when his case was featured in several stories in the Wisconsin-based El Conquistador newspaper. Lamas had contacted it and several other media explaining his predicament. Only El Conquistador followed up.
On his release, Lamas expressed gratitude to the paper for its coverage and in a video posted on YouTube, he thanked everyone he felt had in one way or another helped to get him released.
During his time in ICE’s custody, Lamas earned the respect and affection of fellow inmates by helping them with their legal arguments.
They applauded and cheered him the day he walked away.
As he challenges the validity of his deportation proceedings, Lamas now lives at home with a government-issued bracelet wrapped around his ankle, another casualty of the war on immigrants.

(H. Nelson Goodson is managing editor of El Conquistador in Milwaukee. Jon Higuera, of Phoenix, writes free-lance. Email H. Nelson Goodson: conquistador@bizwi.rr.com). Hispanic Link.
Article appeared in The Reporter Newspaper in San Francisco, CA.
Published in ELREPORTEROSF.COM, January 4 - 13, 2009, Volume 18, No. 49
http://www.elreporterosf.com/editions/pdf/edition/vol-18/edition_49.pdf

Después de 4 años y medio de encierro, Mory obtiene un brazalete

Por H. Nelson Goodson & Jon Higuera

KEARNEY, N.J. – Moises “Mory” Lamas, un peruano de 52 años, salió del Centro Correccional del Condado de Hudson como un hombre libre — por ahora — tras haber sido mantenido bajo custodia por 4 años 1/2 por Inmigración y Aduanas de EE.UU. (ICE), un brazo de Seguridad Interior.
Dice que no se le dio ninguna explicación de por qué lo liberaban, y no hizo preguntas.
En 1986 el Presidente Reagan firmó el Acta de Reforma a la Inmigración & Control, con una disposición de amnistía que trajo a casi 3 millones de inmigrantes fuera de las sombras.
Reagan declaró, “Las futuras generaciones estarán agradecidas de nuestros esfuerzos de recuperar humanamente el control de nuestras fronteras y, de ese modo, conservarán el valor de una de las posesiones más sagradas de nuestro pueblo, la ciudadanía norteamericana”.
Tanto Lamas como su esposa Ruth, quienes residen en el Oeste de Nueva York, N.J., ya han llenado las postulaciones para amnistía, pero estos trámites fueron suspendidos debido a una condena por delito menor en junio de 1986.
Su crimen: cuando todavía era indocumentado, fue acusado por posesión de una sustancia controlada.

SE DECLARÓ CULPABLE DE DELITO MENOR

Lamas, quien ha vivido en Estados Unidos por 26 años, estaba conduciendo con un conocido que llevaba 3.5 gramos de cocaína.
El conocido confesó a la policía que las drogas le pertenecían y que Lamas no sabía nada de ellas.
Bajo el consejo de su abogado y para evitar un juicio caro, Lamas se declaró culpable del cargo de delito menor y fue sentenciado a 364 días en prisión Se le requirió que cumpliera con menos de la mitad de ese tiempo. Nunca imaginó que esos cargos tendrían consecuencias con su estatus migratorio.
Adelantándose a 1999. Después de 13 años de vivir limpiamente, incluso siendo presidente del Local 13742 de United Steelworkers of America, su condena anterior lo puso a la vista de ICE por deportación. Esto comenzó después de que su esposa jurara como ciudadana de EE.UU. y posteriormente emitiera una petición para un ajuste de estatus para su marido.
En lugar de eso, las autoridades de inmigración usaron el “Acta de Reforma a la Inmigración Ilegal y Responsabilidad del Inmigrante” de 1996, aprobada por un Congreso controlado por los Republicanos y luego firmado en ley por el entonces Presidente William Clinton, para comenzar los procedimientos de deportación contra él.

OFENSA RECLASIFICADA COMO DELITO

El acta permite numerosas ofensas, incluyendo algunos delitos menores, para que sean reclasificados como delitos agravados por los cuales una persona puede ser deportada o calificada como “no elegible” para la ciudadanía.
Desde entonces, la Corte Suprema de EE.UU.dictaminó que los estados no pueden elevar un crimen a un delito si sólo es un delito menor bajo el Acta de Sustancias Controladas.
En el caso de Lamas, los funcionarios de inmigración calificaron la condena de delito menor estatal como un delito agravado bajo el acta federal de 1996. No lograron acatar la decisión de la Corte Suprema de EE.UU. de que tales condenas no son delitos castigables bajo el Acta de Control de Sustancia.
En diciembre de 2003, el gobierno emitió una orden declarando que Lamas debe dejar el país, una orden que Lamas dice no conocer. En mayo de 2004, fue arrestado en el trabajo por el ICE. Durante este tiempo en custodia, a su esposa le diagnosticaron cáncer de mamas y fue sometida a dos cirugías. Lamas y su esposa tienen una hija de 14 años.

SÓLO EL CONQUISTADOR RESPONDIÓ

Su situación tomó un giro para mejor cuando su caso fue presentado en varias historias en el periódico de Wisconsin, El Conquistador.
Lamas lo contactó, al igual que otros medios, explicando su predicamento. Sólo El Conquistador lo siguió.
En su comunicado, Lamas expresó agradecimiento al periódico por su cobertura en un video subido a YouTube, le agradeció a todas las personas que sintió que de alguna manera lo ayudaron a que lo liberaran.
Durante su tiempo bajo custodia de ICE, Lamas se ganó el respeto y afecto de los otros detenidos, al ayudarlos con sus disputas legales. Lo aplaudieron y alabaron el día que salió.
Mientras desafía la validez de los procedimientos de su deportación, Lamas ahora vive en casa con un brazalete del gobierno en su tobillo, otro daño en la lucha contra los inmigrantes.

(H. Nelson Goodson es editor de El Conquistador en Milwaukee. Jon Higuera, de Phoenix, escribe free-lance. Email H. Nelson Goodson: conquistador@bizwi.rr.com). Hispanic Link.
Artículo fue publicado en El periódico Reportero de San Francisco, CA.
Publicado en ELREPORTEROSF.COM, 4-13 de enero del 2009, Volume 18, No. 49
http://www.elreporterosf.com/editions/pdf/edition/vol-18/edition_49.pdf

MATC President Cole Fired After Being Cited For Drunk Driving

By H. Nelson Goodson
El Conquistador Newspaper
3206 W. National Ave.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215 USA
414-383-1000
conquistador@bizwi.rr.com
February 20, 2009

Milwaukee- Milwaukee Area Technical College President Darnell E. Cole, 61, was fired by the MATC Board after a four hour long closed meeting on Thursday. The vote was 6 to 3 in favor to terminate his contract. Cole's attorney said on Friday that Cole is now deciding whether he will file a civil lawsuit against MATC in a state or federal court.
Cole faced an embarrassing situation with faculty, administrators and students for having been cited for driving-drunk. Last week, a Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputy noticed Cole’s vehicle stopped on southbound I-43/94 near S. Chase Ave. at about 1:40 a.m. on Monday. When the deputy approached the vehicle he noticed Cole inside and he smelled like alcohol. The deputy began asking questions and then noticed Cole’s slurred speech when he tried to respond and glassy eyes, according to the deputy’s report.
Cole was given a sobriety test at the scene and failed. He was taken to a substation where he was given a blood-alcohol test, which measured at 0.20, more than twice the legal limit.
Last Monday, Cole issued an email with an apology. Cole wrote, it was a “serious error in judgment...I deeply regret my actions and any negative impact they may have on MATC. I want to assure you that this will not affect my performance as president and am working with my personal legal counsel to address the situation.”
The MATCBoard met Thursday to deal with Cole’s driving-drunk incident. The MATC contract with Cole terminates in 2011, and within the current contact the Board can terminate Cole’s contract agreement, if he lacks performance or engages in conduct considered grounds for dismissal. In this case, Cole's arrest for drunk-driving and video showing him failing a sobriety test were key factors for the decision to terminate his contract. Numerous media outlets repeatedly aired and published the arrest images that contributed to an embarrassing situation for MATC.
Cole was criticized by former MATCBoard Member State Representative Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee) for not attending a legislative conference that included six presidents of other state technical colleges in Washington D.C. last week. However, four MATCBoard members and two staffers attended the annual conference geared to help colleges get funds from the economic stimulus bill. The Democratic-controlled Congress and White House agreed Wednesday on a compromise $790 billion economic stimulus bill designed to create millions of jobs in a nation reeling from recession. President Barack Obama could sign the measure within days.
In 2007, Cole was involved in a controversial welding program that extended to a non-profit organization in the south side of Milwaukee. La Esperanza Unida and its executive director Robert Miranda tried to get funding for the welding program, which would have netted the organization millions for training potential welders. The MATCBoard decided not to approve the Esperanza Unida measure and Miranda tried to blame Colón in March 2007 for not supporting the program. Miranda apparently had failed to get support from the MATC Board for the Esperanza Unida welding project for what would have been a multi-million partnership between the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Esperanza Unida, and Bucyrus. The majority of the MATC Board decided not to fund the project.
A month later, Bucyrus International President and CEO Timothy W. Sullivan sent a letter on April 20, 2007 to Milwaukee Area Technical College President Cole and others, saying that MATC’s Express Ramp welding program can fulfill all the welding requirements needed to fill various job opportunities at Bucyrus. “It appears to me that virtually all of our near term welding requirements can be addressed by MATC’s Express Ramp program. We are very pleased with this program and the current outputs and we don’t believe that additional capital needs to be spent for our needs at this time,” Sullivan wrote.
Miranda blamed two MATC board members, State Representative Pedro Colón and Attorney Peter Earle for voting against Esperanza’s welding project. However Sullivan made it clear afterwards, the project was not actually needed because MATC’s welding program was meeting Bucyrus needs in training enough welders to fill job openings.

Implementación de ID Real Retrasada Hasta 2010 por el DHS

Coalición Local Para Carreteras Seguras Quieren Que el Estado Provea Certificados de Manejar a los Inmigrantes Indocumentados

Por H. Nelson Goodson
El periódico Conquistador
3206 W. National Ave.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215
414-383-1000
conquistador@bizwi.rr.com
February 18, 2009

Milwaukee- El pasado viernes, un grupo local llamado Coalition for Safe Roads reunió alrededor de 2,736 tarjetas postales de residentes de Wisconsin pidiendo al Gobernador Jim Doyle que repela los fondos para REAL ID.
Representantes de la coalición quiere que Doyle mantenga la seguridad pública y responsabilidad fiscal en el presupuesto del Estado por medio de proveer un certificado de licencia de manejar como opción a los que se dispone en REAL ID para asegurar que los conductores tienen licencia y seguro en nuestras carreteras y autopistas, de acuerdo a ambos, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Presidenta y Directora de Voces de la Frontera y Tony Baéz, Presidente y CEO del Spanish Center in Milwaukee. Estados tales como Utah y Tennessee estan al presente proveyendo certificados de licencia de manejar para inmigrantes indocumentados, dijo Neumann-Ortiz.
La coalición se unió a una creciente oposición de 21 estados al REAL ID, un mandato sin fondos, el cual le va a costar a los pagadores de impuestos de Wisconsin por lo menos $22 millones para implementarlo. Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Carolina del Sur y Washington han pasado actas prohibiendo que las agencias estatales cumplan con REAL ID.
El Departamento de Transportación del Estado (DOT) aun tiene que determinar cuanto le va a costar al estado en realidad el implementar la ley REAL ID. El DOT estima el costo entre de $22 a $31.9 millones hasta mediados de 2009.
Sin embargo el DOT proyecto estimados para generar fondos de $20.9 millones hasta mediados de 2009 a través de aumentar el costo de las licencias, aun así va estar corto millones de dólares.
Miembros de la coalición se dirigieron a Madison el pasado viernes para entregar las tarjetas postales al la oficina del Gobernador. La legislatura del Estado en anticipación al Acta de REAL ID en el 2005, pasó una ley estatal en marzo del 2006 titulada Acta 126. El Acta fue hecha ley inmediatamente por el Gobernador Doyle para asegurar la infraestructura de los fondos federales para arreglar autopistas del estado. El Acta 126 no deja a indocumentados y personas que no tienen número seguro social obtener licencia de manejar o identificación.
Oficiales estatales han estimado el costo nacional a mantenerse entre $4-11 billones durante los próximos cinco años para implementar la tecnología requerida por el Acta de REAL ID, el cual pone nuevos requisitos para las licencias y IDs estatales. El estado tiene hasta el 2018 por cumplir completamente con la ley. Bajo la ley federal de REAL ID, estados tienen hasta el 31 de diciembre del 2009 para implementar los requisitos y personas nacidas después del 1ro de diciembre de 1964, tendrán que obtener una licencia o tarjeta de ID en o antes 2014. Esos nacidos antes de eso tendrán hasta el 2017 para obtener las nuevas tarjetas, de acuerdo de la agencia federal Departamento Homeland Security.
En marzo 2008, el Representante de Estado Rich Zipperer escribió en su página de la Internet, como parte del presupuesto del estado, el estado aumento el costo de las licencias de manejar para cubrir el costo de enastar los requerimientos de seguridad del REAL ID federal.
Las administración de Doyle no ha implementado las medidas del REAL ID, en vez de eso ellos han pedido una extensión de su fecha limite. Mientras tanto, ellos continúan colectando cuotas más altas por las licencias de manejar.
Como parte del “Acta de Reparación de Presupuesto”, el Gobernador propuso atacar $5 millones de las cuentas con fondos para aumentar los costos de las licencias de manejar para gastos generales, en vez de implementar el REAL ID. Al mismo tiempo, el Gobernador perdió la fecha limite del 7 de marzo para aplicar con el departamento federal Homeland Security (DHS) por una concesión que ayude a implementar el REAL ID.
En junio del 2008, El Departamento de EEUU de Homeland Security anunció que en el año fiscal 2008 fueron otorgadas concesiones de Demostración de REAL ID por un total de $80 millones para asistir a los estados en mejorar las licencias de manejar otorgadas por el estado (DL) y los documentos de identificación (ID). Más de $58 millones han sido alocados previamente para la implementación especifica de proyectos estatales que faciliten el cumplimiento con REAL ID. El departamento a otorgado $17 a Missouri que dirija el desarrollo de eje de verificación. Otros cuatro estados, Florida, Indiana, Nevada y Wisconsin cada uno recibiran $1.2 millones para que se asocien con Missouri para la prueba e implementación del eje, de acuerdo al DHS.

Real ID Implementation Delayed Until 2010 By DHS

Local Coalition for Safe Roads wants state to issue driving certificates to undocumented immigrants

By H. Nelson Goodson
El Conquistador Newspaper
3206 W. National Ave.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215
414-383-1000
conquistador@bizwi.rr.com
February 13, 2009

Milwaukee- On Friday, a local group called Coalition for Safe Roads gathered more than 2,736 postcards from Wisconsin residents asking Governor Jim Doyle to repeal funding for REAL ID. Representatives of the coalition wants Governor Doyle to uphold public safety and fiscal responsibility in the State budget by providing for a drivers' license certificate option available under REAL ID to ensure that drivers' are licensed and insured on our roads and highways, according to both Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director from Voces de la Frontera and Tony Baez, President and CEO of the Spanish Center in Milwaukee. States like Utah and Tennessee are currently issuing drivers' license certificates to undocumented immigrants, said Neumann-Ortiz.
The coalition joined a growing opposition of 21 states to REAL ID, an unfunded mandate, which would cost Wisconsin taxpayers at least $22 million to implement. Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Washington have passed bills forbidding state agencies from complying with Real ID.
The State Department of Transportation (DOT) has yet to determine how much it will actually cost the state to implement the REAL ID law. The DOT estimated the cost between $22 million to $31.9 million through mid-2009, and the state intends to pay the costs primarily with the new driver's license fees, which are expected to generate at least $20.7 million by mid-2009. Despite the DOT’s projected estimates to generate funds through raised license fees, it will still be millions of dollars short.
Members of the coalition headed to Madison on Friday to deliver the postcards to the Governor’s office. The State legislature in anticipation of the REAL ID Act in 2005, passed a state law in March 2006 entitled Act 126. The Act was signed immediately into law by Governor Doyle to secure infrastructure federal funding to fix state highways. The Act 126 bans undocumented immigrants and persons who do not have a social security number from obtaining a driver's license or identification.
State officials have estimated the national costs to states between $4-11 billion over the next five years to implement the technology required by the Real ID Act, which sets new requirements for state licenses and ID cards. States have until 2018 to fully comply with the law. Under the federal REAL ID law, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that states have until December 31, 2009 to begin implementing the law. People born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get a new driver's license or identification card by 2014. Those born before that will have until 2017 to get the new card, according to the federal Department of Homeland Security.
On March 2008, State Representative Rich Zipperer wrote in his web site, as part of the 2007 state budget, the state increased drivers’ license fees to cover the cost of enacting the federal REAL ID safety requirements. The Doyle Administration has not implemented the REAL ID safety measures, rather they have asked for an extension to the deadline. All the while, they continue to collect the higher drivers' license fees.
As part of his ‘budget repair bill’, the Governor proposed raiding $5 million from the account funded by the increased REAL ID drivers’ license fees for general spending, rather than implement REAL ID. At the same time, the Governor has missed a March 7th deadline to apply for a federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant for help with implementing REAL ID.
In June 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the Fiscal Year 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant awards totaling nearly $80 million to assist states in improving the security of state-issued driver's licenses (DL) and identification documents (ID). More than $58 million has previously been allocated for state-specific implementation projects that facilitate REAL ID compliance. The department has awarded $17 million to Missouri to lead the development of the verification hub. Four other states, Florida, Indiana, Nevada, and Wisconsin will each receive $1.2 million to partner with Missouri for verification hub testing and implementation, according to DHS.

Pancho Villa's Last Surviving Son

Chicago, IL (HNNUSA)- On November 19, 2008, the last surviving son of Francisco "Pancho" Villa, General of the Mexican army during the 1916 Mexican Revolution visited Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art. From left to right: Ernesto Nava Villa, 93, from Hayward, California posed with H. Nelson Goodson, Managing Editor of El Conquistador Latino Newspaper from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The commemoration of the 98th Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution took place at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., which was sponsored by la Sociedad Civica Mexicana de IL.
Goodson said, "I'm proud to share my Mexican roots and rich traditional culture with my fellow friends and family. I join in the celebration along with other Mexican Nationals and Mexican Americans commemorating the 98th Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution."

Goodson originally from Laredo, Texas is the proud son of the late Marla O. Anderson who was well known for her leadership role and community activism in the early 1970’s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Anderson was instrumental in the August 27, 1970 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee demonstrations calling for access to higher education for Latinos. In 1970, only 14 Hispanics had been enrolled at UWM compared to 25,000 Caucasian students. “Discriminatory treatment was the norm at UWM,” according to Myriad Magazine UWM 1990.
This year (2009), will mark the 39th Anniversary of that historical event. In the Summer of 1970, about 500 Latino community educational activists staged a protest, takeover and sit in at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor's Office. Marla O. Anderson, along with Jesus Salas, Dante Navarro, Gregorio J. (Goyo) Rivera and Jose Luis Huerta-Sanchez on August 27, 1970 while engaged in a peaceful protest, were incarcerated for their persistence to change UWM policy to allow Latinos to enroll.
Their efforts in 1970 led to 85 new Latino students being admitted to UWM and the creation of a Special Assistant to the Chancellor to coordinate programs for the Spanish speaking community. UWM also created the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI), which served to recruit, advise and educate future generations of Hispanics on how to prepare and succeed in college. In 1996, SSOI was renamed the Roberto Hernandez Center.
Their success in opening the door for higher education led to the enrollment of Latinos, Afro-Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Arab descent, and low income Caucasians to enroll in public and private colleges that finally sought enrollment by these ethnic groups. Since then, thousands of Latinos have graduated from UWM and other private colleges throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Anderson is the daughter of the late Eustorgio Ramón from Ciudad Carmargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico who was the son of the late Regino Ramón Pérez and Teodora González García, according to an article researched by The Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Instituto de Investigaciones Historicas titled “Segunda Cronicas De Camargo” by Ernesto Garza Sáenz 1998.
Ramón had migrated to El Rio Grande City, Texas U.S.A. and in 1926 he brought his six year old daughter (Anderson) to Texas and was granted permanent U.S. residency. One of Anderson’s relative was Pedro Diaz, who was well known for starting up the first shopping centers (malls) in South Texas.
She later moved to Laredo, Texas. Ramón was known as “El Leon de la Frontera,” and was a former Colonel in the Porfirio Díaz Mexican army. He was in Cuba when it was liberated from Spain. Ramón took a role in the filmed “Viva Zapata” movie, according to the 70 years of Frontier History by the Sun Valley News, April 26, 1978 article. Ramón became a Captain of the Pronunciados that fought along side Catarino Erasmo Garza Rodriguez and other ranchers against the corrupt federal and local officials that failed to prosecute Caucasians who were racially motivated to mistreat, and murder Mexican land owners for their lands in Texas. The Porfirio Díaz dictatorship in Mexico and the murder rampage of Mexican Americans by Caucasians led to the Garza's Revolution on the Texas-Mexico Border in 1892. In Latin American countries, "revolutions are ritually preceded by pronunciamientos. A Pronunciado usually is a frustrated colonel who "declares" the aims or grievances that have driven him to take up arms against the status quo," explained Robert Mendoza in the November Lifestyle article in LareDos a Journal of the Borderlands 2002. Ramón lived out his days in Rio Grande City where he died at the age of 96, six months after granting an interview with the Sun Valley News.
Goodson a descendant of both Marla O. Anderson and Eustorgio Ramón is well known in the local organizing community network in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nationally, Goodson is one of the foremost respected immigration rights and reform journalist.
Goodson also was instrumental in helping to coordinate the national Immigration movement early in 2006, which drew millions of supporters for immigration rights and reform. Goodson further encouraged numerous members of the Latino entertainment world to endorse and support immigration reform throughout the nation in 2006.

Link to the 1970 UWM Education activists who were honored in 2005:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/El_Conquistador1970_s_full_pg..pdf