This past Saturday marked the 139th annual Kentucky Derby horse race. The prestigious event attracts both spectators and racers from over the globe to participate at the hallowed Churchill Down Tracks. This year's victory marks a very special one for us here at the office as Dominican-native (yes República) Joel Rosario was the winning jockey. The 27-year-old racer had just come off of his Dubai World Cup victory just over a month earlier. Dominicanos stand up!

Harlem-born Dominican/American author, Raquel Cepeda, traces the roots of her bio-genetic makeup in her latest work, Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina. The autobiographic piece follows Cepeda's chaotic family upbringing and her yearning to literally identify who she was and where she came from. Embracing both Hip-Hop and the New York City streets of Uptown Manhattan the once "lost" child of the inner city manages to pick herself up and put together the puzzle that is her DNA and history. The book drops March 5, 2012 and can be pre-ordered here. Oh, and there's even a coupon for 10% off of an ancestral DNA kit of your choice so readers can trace their history as well!

Now that the Uptown Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights is on the map thanks to MTV's new reality series, media outlets like The New York Times have been taking notice of the burgeoning creative community and what it has to offer. Case in point, they recently sat down with show star, Jonathan Perez (Audubon), and peered into the inspiration behind the series. Kudos to those Uptown kids and their really well-spoken ideas and platform. Extremely refreshing to see, considering the not-so-positive post-Jersey Shore reality television landscape out there! Check out the interview in this recent Media and Tech episode of Times Cast.

B.L.A.C. (Black Life, Arts and Culture) is Detroit's premiere lifestyle magazine for African American in the metro area. Covering everything from entertainment to education, the mag presents interesting stories and on-goings via high quality editorials and visuals. Check them out for the ins and outs of Detroit's progressive black culture.

Bureau of Common Goods is a creative film company from Brooklyn, New York City. Their niche is telling small stories in cool ways. As part of their on-going Made By Hand series, which focuses on people who engage in local and sustainable craft businesses, the group recently captured the story of local cigar shop, Martinez Cigars. Kick back and peer into the world of hand-rolled tobacco and how one small shops brings a family of men together to celebrate a tradition of smoking and comradery.

It's amazing what some good public relation dollars can buy you now-a-days.  Apparently the McDonald's New York Metro Nutrition Network (great euphamism right?) is under the controversy scope this week for partnering up with Latinos In Social Media (LATISM). Critics like author Odilia Rivera Santos point out the almost blatant disregard for health and socio-economic conditions in the Latin communities by the golden arches. I mean really--sponsorship is one thing--but outright sleeping with the enemy, that's a bit too much! Here's what the valiant writer went on the Twitter record to say. We completely agree:

I'm very disappointed that LATISM would choose to partner with McDonalds, not only for the pesticide, herbicide and hormone-laded food served there but for the environmental destruction and displacement of indigenous communities on the part of the McDonald's corporation. (Latinos in Social Media) #obesity epidemic in Latino community

Presenting the indigenous sounds of Batz’i rock band Sak Tzevul. Comprised of Mexican band members, the group plays to a global beat comprised symphonic medlies, violins, indigenous chants, and earthy sounds. Their latest video for The Day (shot by Frank Beltrán) is a compelling look into the natural landscape of Chiapas, Mexico. Prepare to be awed!

The Original Home of Afro-House + Latin Soul (WEPA) hits Brooklyn, New York City this weekend with the first in a series of open market jams at the Dekalb Market. Expect food, art, goods and tunes!

Saturday May 19th, 6-10PM [FREE] 

138 Willoughby Street (Flatbush Ave.) Brooklyn, NY 11201

Came across this little imported gem thanks to one of our Dominican connects. Apparently the phrase Teke Teke derives from a Japanese folklore about a vengeful female spirit. We're no sociologists, but the fact that there's a very vengeful young lady after our heroes, Crazy Design and Carlitos Way (Los Teke Teke), certainly justifies a correlation. Check out the official El Teke Teke video. Shot and directed by Nelson Paulino of NP Studios. Guaranteed Caribbean banger and vengeful spirit provider!

Introducing Liberator Magazine, an insightful journal dedicated to art, culture, education, politics and truth. The Minnesota-based cooperative project is print published quarterly and updated daily via its blog. Some of the topics covered since its inception in 2002 include; Ability Grouping In Public Schools, Affirmative Action, Civil Rights, Film, Gay Marriage, Gun Control, Hip Hop Historiography, Homelessness, Hurricane Katrina, Imperialism, Immigration, Literature, Love & Relationships, Music, Parenting, Philosophy, Police Brutality, Political Theatre, Race, Reparations, Sudan, Visual Art, Welfare, White Identity, Zimbabwe and more...