Portraits In Color

All Chola kind of happened by accident. “I would have conversations with my friends about chola sayings that we thought were funny, says Michelle Sena, founder of the All Chola lifestyle brand. “I never thought it would actually turn into a business.”All Chola embodies a strong Chicano/Chicana cultural aesthetic. From the low riders, the fashion, and the music, Michelle Sena introduces the long legacy of the culture, which is rooted in the Pachuco culture of the 40’s and 50’s, through her fashion brand.  In this episode, we discuss the 150 different meanings behind the word “orale,” talk about the All Chola brand and it's growing reach, share stories about “the hustle,” and talk about our beloved neighborhood, “The Brick.”  This episode was produced in partnership with ABQ Artwalk and The Ruppe.

The rise of a global pandemic naturally elevates feelings of fear and anxiety. With the spread of coronavirus rising and death tolls across the globe multiplying, it is natural to feel a sense of hopelessness and uncertainty. These are unprecedented times for us. Ironically, it is also it perfect time for healing and transformation.So, how do you approach healing and transformation in times of trauma and isolation? Nanci Luna Jiménez joins the show to offer insights on healing and self-care during these unprecedented times. She also discusses her work in the areas of racial healing, language oppression, and reclaiming your power. Nanci Luna Jiménez is regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized for her highly effective and insightful trainings, inclusive facilitation, and dynamic speaking for groups of diverse ages, industries, and cultural backgrounds. In 1994, she founded the Luna Jiménez Institute for Social Transformation (then known as Luna Jiménez Seminars & Associates) to deliver unique

A bill to legalize recreational marijuana was tabled in the Judiciary Committee during the 2020 New Mexico legislative session. The year-long lead up to the bill created a comprehensive 187 report that laid out economic forecasts and a regulatory framework to enforce intoxicated driving, work place use, and restricted access to youth. Over two thirds of New Mexicans approved of the measure. The bill was a legislative priority of Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham and had strong bipartisan support. So why couldn’t legislators get this done?New Mexico Representative Javier Martinez, a sponsor of the bill, joins the show to give his perspective on recreational marijuana legalization and the ongoing work ahead to address both public and lawmaker concerns.   

Ryan Montaño recalls learning a valuable lesson from reading legendary producer David Foster’s memoir. The lesson? Compromise breeds mediocrity. It was a lesson that guided his songwriting and production in the early days of his solo career. Admittedly, Ryan says this dictum no longer fully applies and that it actually made him averse to collaboration early on. It also made him second guess himself often when thinking about musical approach, stylings, and overall production of his music.Now, with two Billboard charting singles, a growing fan base, and a musical “squad” that includes Paul Palmer III, Artha Meadors, Steve Figueroa, and others, Ryan is seizing the moment. His genre-spanning sound can be heard on the country influenced single Never Really Said and the John Mayer inspired Honey Girl. He is a staple on contemporary jazz stations across the country and is headlining jazz clubs and jazz festivals throughout the U.S.Ryan also relishes the role of bandleader, composer, and horn section lead for the lik

At age 9, Marc Quiñones was introduced by a family friend to salsa legend Tito Puente. Along with long-time collaborator Bobby Allende, Marc was seen as somewhat of a child prodigy in New York salsa circles. Quiñones comes from an impressive lineage of musicians, including father Tony, late uncle Rafael, and younger brother Camilo. The musical roots run deep. Quiñones and Allende would go on to play several high-profile dates with Puente, including Carnegie Hall before they were even old enough to drive. You might ask, where does one go from there, when you have had the proverbial "mic drop" opportunity of a lifetime to play with a music icon.While playing with contemporary jazz group Spyro Gyra, Quiñones would have a chance meeting that would change his career trajectory for decades to come. It turns out that Butch Trucks, the legendary drummer of the Allman Brothers Band was a big Spyro Gyra fan. While attending a Spyro Gyra show, Trucks was intrigued by Quiñones' playing and went backstage t

What are the possibilities when community-based organizations have the space to be creative and innovative with funding? In this episode of Portraits in Color, you will hear about an interesting collaboration between city government, philanthropy, and nonprofits that create economic opportunities for boys and young men of color (BYMOC).Próspero represents a unique approach to grant making. Instead of releasing a highly-prescriptive request for proposals (RFP), the Albuquerque Community Foundation, in collaboration with the City of Albuquerque and the Obama Foundation, decided that they wanted to create a fund that allowed nonprofits and social enterprises to freely test innovative ideas without restrictions. Five organizations received a share of $100,000 in prize money as part of a community-wide "pitch competition", along with additional capacity-building support.Joining the show to discuss the impact of Próspero are Joanna Colangelo from the Albuquerque Community Foundation, Charles Ashley III fr

Mentor Me is a powerful collaborative of grantees, funded by the Albuquerque Community Foundation that pairs young men of color with adult mentors to build healthy relationships, learn valuable leadership skills, and become leaders in their communities. Its origins are rooted in a national movement, spearheaded by President Obama, in response to the tragic murder of Travon Martin.  This episode features adult mentors and youth leaders from the Native American Community Academy/NACA Inspired Schools Network, Together for Brothers, and Three Sisters Kitchen--all Albuquerque-based organizations committed to elevating youth voice and preparing young people for the challenges of school, career, and life.

Since the Reagan-era 'War on Drugs,' which expanded Nixon-era policies, our nation has seen a dramatic increase in the prison population. Despite increasing evidence that large-scale incarceration is not an effective means of achieving public safety, our nation continues to "cage" men and women of color at disproportionate rates. The problem has now extended to the inhumane detainment of immigrants and refugees in and around the border. Episode 16 examines the issue of mass incarceration with expert Isaac Bryan.Isaac Bryan is a policy shaper and published scholar, whose work has helped to advance activist led movements and policy change around issues of racial, economic, and social justice. Currently, Isaac serves as the founding Director of the UCLA Black Policy Project, head of the Public Policy Division for the Million Dollar Hoods Project, and as the Director of Public Policy for the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center. 

We live in a world where we constantly seek affirmation, whether in the form of "likes" on social media, or through our relationships. Andrew Garrison, author of the award winning book, Being Image stopped by the studio to share simple exercises to claim your authentic being and remove the distractions in our lives to enter a more fulfilling sense of "being."Andrew Garrison is the President/CEO of BodyFacts Wellness Services. He delivers trainings to nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies.  

Upon completing a doctorate in education, Lee Francis IV was faced with a career decision--follow the path of his father, who was an academic, or create his own path. He chose the latter. A self-proclaimed "Indigenerd," Lee tells the stories of Native American superheroes and indigenous icons through comic books. He is the founder of Native Realities, a publishing company that produces and distributes comics to children, youth, and adults. He also is the founder of Indigenous Comic Con (now Indigenous Pop X) that brings together Native American creatives representing multiple art mediums. In this episode, we discuss the art of storytelling, the importance of owning your own content, and living life in the "gig economy."  

Representation matters. The recent emergence of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and presidential candidate Julián Castro demonstrate the power of intentional leadership development efforts. In this episode, Marco Davis, President/CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) shares his insights on leadership and how CHCI is building a pipeline of diverse racial, gender, geographic, and sector leadership to address the complex needs of the Latino community. 

One of the  major catalysts behind the My Brother's Keeper Alliance (MBKA), an initiative of the Obama Foundation, is Michael Smith who serves as the Executive Director. In this episode, Michael shares his deeply personal experiences with racism as a youth in western Massachusetts and how some of these formative experiences fuel his social impact work. Michael also brings to light issues that disproportionately impact boys and young men of color and how MBKA is responding.    In 2014, President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and to ensure all youth can reach their full potential. In 2015 the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance) was launched, inspired by My Brother’s Keeper, to scale and sustain this mission. 

Isaac Aragon's new single, Love Bless America delivers a unifying message of love and truth in these divisive times. His music hearkens back to a time when soul singers could showcase virtuosity and social message in the same breath. A time when artists were producing concept albums as messengers of social change, like Marvin Gaye's classic What's going on?In this episode, we discuss Isaac's plan for a full album, upcoming dates with the likes of Los Lobos and The Mavericks, and compare all-time favorite soul singer lists. We also take an historical look at cultural appropriation in music and discuss Isaac's desire to continue to produce music with a message.Show links:Isaac Aragon Website: https://www.isaacaragon.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isaacaragonandthehealingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacaragonmusic/Twitter: https://twitter.com/isaacaragonMUS

Hateful rhetoric is creating a dangerous climate for immigrants and refugees in America. Eli Cuna has experienced the harmful effects of this rhetoric first hand. That is why she fights for immigrant rights as National Field Director for the largest immigrant, youth-led network in the country. United We Dream is equal parts aspirational message, call to action, and social justice advocacy with a membership surpassing 400,000.In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of immigration—from an immigrant’s perspective. We discuss the propaganda around the president’s border wall, DACA, ICE raids, mass deportation and how identity plays a key role in creating safe spaces for immigrants.   Show Links:United We DreamEli Cuna USA Today Opinion PieceEli Cuna on Twitter

Carlos Medina’s unique cultural voice has led to comparisons to legendary musical storytellers like Tom Waits.  A unique, boundary spanning entertainer, Carlos captures the essence of northern New Mexican culture through traditional mariachi music and a brand of comedy that reflects the spirit of the Rio Grande and the El Camino Real.In this episode, we discuss his collaboration with Meow Wolf Entertainment and what it means for his brand. We also discuss his comedy work, which has led to a residency at George R.R. Martin’s Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe.  Learn more about Carlos Medina at:www.carlos.mwFacebookYouTube

Just a week removed from mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Representative Deb Haaland stopped by to discuss the dangerous rhetoric of President Trump and how it has fueled senseless violence in communities like El Paso--which is predominantly Latino and immigrant. She delivers sharp criticism of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's inaction on recent gun legislation, referring to the Senate as a "graveyard" for gun bills. She also shares her thoughts on the healthcare debate, the plight of murdered and missing indigenous women, universal childcare, and other significant issues facing Americans.  Representative Deb Haaland is a 35th generation New Mexican who is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, and also has Jemez Pueblo heritage. After running for New Mexico Lieutenant Governor in 2014, Haaland became the first Native American woman to be elected to lead a State Party. Along with Representative Sharice Davids, Haaland became the first Native American elected to congress. She s

In this episode, we preview the new album Psychadelic State by Jak, discuss that time Rick James gave him a "noogie", and explore the 20 year history of the group Soul Divine.  Jak Bailey is a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist with major label album credits and shared stage experience with James Brown, Buddy Miles, Lakeside, and the Dazz Band.

Dr. Gabe Sanchez shares his insights on the Latino vote, immigration, and health care policy as a key driver to the 2020 presidential election.  Dr. Sanchez is a Professor of Political Science at the University of New Mexico and also serves as the Executive Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy and Co-Director of the Institute of Policy, Evaluation and Applied Research (IPEAR) at the University of New Mexico. Sanchez was formerly the Director of Research, and now principal at Latino Decisions, the nation’s leading survey firm focused on the Latino electorate.

In this episode, we discuss creative placemaking, artists in government, and the gig economy.  Carlos Contreras is a national champion poet, artist, and public servant.  He currently serves as the Director of Marketing and Innovation in the Mayor's Office for the City of Albuquerque.  

Frank Blazquez and John Acosta, creators of the docuseries Duke City Diaries, provide an unfiltered look at life on the streets of Albuquerque. In this episode, we delve deep into the stories of the 'hood and how these stories represent tragedy, truth, and redemption.  Frank and John also provide useful insight for up-and-coming creators as they develop their passion for film and the arts.