OCT. 10, 2018 | Much-acclaimed Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza of the Barrio Cafe in Phoenix uses art as much as her mouth-watering cuisine to elevate Mexican American culture. Above, she poses with a Catrina mural by artist Lalo Cota, one of many colorful artworks surrounding her restaurant on North 16th Street.
She also helped us understand the struggles of Mexican Americans in Arizona through the years in a commissioned mural by Angel Dias.
Also on Oct. 10, Bruce Hawker interviewed two noted Latino leaders — Luis Heredia, who currently is managing a mayoral campaign and is a player in national Democratic circles, and state Rep. Isela Blanc, a popular activist politician who is passionate about working on behalf of children to improve education and to help undocumented immigrants. She described her story of moving to the United States from Mexico three decades ago and how becoming a citizen inspired her to give back.