Saturday night was transformed into a cinematic celebration with the anticipated screening of the documentary “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez”, written and directed by David Alvarado. The first screening was sold out but the film is showing all week. The documentary narrates the story of the famous Chicano storyteller, theater and film director, Luis Valdez. During 1965 farm strikes in Delano, California, Valdez founded The Teatro Campesino, a group that performed skits to dramatize the cause of the farmworkers.  Known for the play and movie “Zoot Suit” and “La Bamba”, Valdez transformed the American cultural landscape by bringing Chicano stories from the farm fields to Broadway and Hollywood. Later in his life, he was awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities by President Obama for “bringing Chicano culture to American [...]

Los gritos, los abrazos, las alegrías, las tristezas, las amarguras y todas las emociones que un partido de fútbol puede despertar forman parte de una experiencia colectiva que, cada cuatro años, vuelve a unir a millones de personas alrededor del mundo. Para quienes crecimos en Latinoamérica, ver un Mundial narrado en español siempre ha sido parte de la experiencia. Escuchar el inconfundible ¡goooool  de Andrés Cantor nos transporta, inevitablemente, a los años noventa: a las salas de nuestras casas llenas de familias, vecinos y amigos, compartiendo la emoción de un gol, el silencio de una oportunidad perdida y la emoción que solo el fútbol parece provocar. Hace unos días, el comediante y presentador Trevor Noah comentó que ha seguido todos los partidos a través de Telemundo. Aunque reconoce que no entiende completamente el español, comentó [...]

The cheers, the joy, the heartbreak, the frustration, and every emotion a soccer match can stir are all part of a shared experience that, every four years, brings millions of people together around the world. For those of us who grew up in Latin America, watching the World Cup with Spanish commentary has always been part of the tradition. Hearing Andrés Cantor’s unmistakable “¡Gooooool!” instantly transports us back to the 1990s—to living rooms filled with family, neighbors, and friends, celebrating unforgettable goals, holding our breath after missed chances, and sharing the kind of emotions only soccer can bring. A few days ago, comedian and television host Trevor Noah shared that he has been watching every World Cup match on Telemundo. Even though he doesn’t fully understand Spanish, he said the energy of the broadcast is [...]

Have you ever walked into a friend’s home or a restaurant and immediately felt that everything looked more beautiful? The light seems softer, the space more inviting, and there’s a sense of calm that’s hard to explain. Then you notice it: the plants! A few touches of green can transform an ordinary room into a space that feels intentional, colorful, and full of life. If your home has been missing a little something lately, plants might be the simple change that makes all the difference. Spring doesn’t arrive quietly. It comes as an invitation to open the windows, refresh our spaces, and welcome new growth. There’s no better time to start an indoor garden—even if you’ve never owned a plant before. Where Do I Start? My best gardening secret is surprisingly simple: find a friend [...]

There is something about a good book that defies explanation. It pulls you in, moves you, makes you feel less alone. Here you’ll find recommendations for the whole family, no formulas, no perfect lists. Just diverse voices and stories from near and far, for the little ones and for those who read way past bedtime.In this edition, these four: Tío Ricky doesn’t speak English/no habla inglés by Maritere R. Bellas Enrique is excited because Tio Ricky is visiting from Puerto Rico. His uncle is funny.  They always have a great time hanging out. During their outing Enrique realizes that he is supposed to be his uncle’s assistant because Tio Ricky doesn’t speak English.   Enrique translates for him at the market, with the neighbors and, even with the mailman. But Enrique is annoyed and bored; [...]

Immigration attorney, trusted voice in the community, singer and a mom.In this special Mother’s Day edition, Laura dePaz Cabrera shares an intimate look at motherhood, identity, the balance between multiple roles, and how becoming a mother transforms the way we live, make decisions, and love. She shared with us, “no matter how much you do outside of being a mom, you can never “take that hat off.“ An honest conversation about family, culture, responsibility, and the realities only mothers understand. Join the SOMOS community to read the full story in the launch of our first edition.  

The Story of How Bazar. A Space for Everyone. We met Laila Fakhoury in the middle of a busy downtown market. The event, a partnership between the City of Gainesville and How Bazar, was created to bring life to the streets during the quiet winter months. As we talked, she moved between directing vendors and showing exactly how she builds community in real-time. Laila’s vision is deeply shaped by her Palestinian heritage, where she learned early that “community is everything and all we have.” Her work is rooted in recreating that feeling—a space where people don’t just gather, but truly belong. Coming from such a collective culture, she admits the more individualistic pace of American life once felt disheartening. But in Gainesville, she found something different: people quietly searching for the same sense of belonging, [...]

Three Artists Building Their Own Path. There is something special about walking through a Saturday morning market in Gainesville and suddenly stopping in front of a piece that moves you. A ceramic sculpture that takes you back to a trip you once took, or perhaps to a home you once visited. A one-of-a-kind statement necklace that catches the light just right. Or print with a digital illustration that weaves Latin American roots into a bold, contemporary visual language. In those moments, you realize this is not a Manhattan gallery or an international art fair. This is your Gainesville. And here, behind every piece, there is an artist building their dream, one market at a time. One City, One Scene Gainesville is not Miami or New York. It doesn’t  have the scale or the cultural infrastructure [...]

Somos Moms There’s something powerful about a Latina mom.It’s in the way she loves—loud, warm, and without limits. It’s in the food, the phrases, the traditions, and the quiet sacrifices no one sees. In this special Mother’s Day edition, we celebrate the women who shape our families and our community—one story at a time. This is more than motherhood.This is cultura, resilience, and legacy.   Meet four mamás sharing a look into their unique motherhood journeys and what it means to them Meet Madel Sotomayor, Puertorican mamá, zumba instructor and full time University of Florida employee. Mom to Mia and Gigi “Being a mom means building and protecting a strong sense of familia every day. The hugs, home-cooked meals, music, dancing, and those constant ‘Did you eat?’ and ‘Dios te bendiga’ moments are the love that [...]