On the occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, MomsRising is celebrating Latina mothers across the United States, ¡Con Mucho Gusto! (With great pleasure.) With a population of 50 million in the United States (1), Latinos have and will continue to contribute to our country in a myriad ways to our economy, our children’s education, and our culture. When Latino families thrive, we all benefit from their contributions whether through taxes to our economy, volunteer hours at our children’s schools, or multicultural events.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, MomsRising is hosting a blog carnival — ¡Con Mucho Gusto! — to recognize the many contributions of Latino parents who strive every day to make a better life for their children and to strengthen our country as a whole. We also want to renew our promise to help Hispanic families attain the American Dream as part of our mission to achieve economic security for all families in our country, to help all children acquire a healthy start in life, and to end civil and human rights abuses in the name of immigration enforcement.

In this blog carnival, we listen again to the voices of Latinos who have published blog posts on MomsRising’s website. They range from Paola Mendoza, a filmmaker and actress who writes movingly about her mother’s experiences as a Colombian immigrant in the United States, to MomsRising member Maria Ramirez’s story in Spanish asking our leaders not to cut Medicaid. We also hear from Congresswoman Linda T. Sanchez on the importance of a paid sick days bill and grandmother and first time blogger, Luz Villafana, on why she supports the DREAM Act, which would have granted approximately a million young undocumented youth of good moral standing the opportunity to attain conditional residency. And there are many more Latina leaders, policy partners, staffers, members and bloggers who contributed to our blog in the last year and a half on a wide range of issues from analysis of the healthcare reform bill to personal stories of why they are politically active. Latino issues are American issues.

If we have forgotten to include your blog post, please let us know! E-mail Elisa at elisa at momsrising dot org. We hope that you enjoy the stories and have a ¡feliz mes de la herencia hispana!

–Kristin, Elisa, Mary, Anita, Gretchen, Donna, Monifa, Joan, Sarah, Claire, Julie, Ashley and Ruth.

Hispanic Art and Culture
The Story Behind My Film “Entre Nos”
by Paola Mendoza

Book Review: Enrique’s Journey
by Elisa Batista

Movie Review: La Misma Luna (Under the Same Moon)
by Erika Chavez

Book Review: “Get Me Out” is a Witty History of Childbirth
by Dora Calott Wang

Savory Latino Meals Without the Meat (Recipes and time-saving tips included!)
by Elisa Batista

The Personal is Political – Latinas Speak Out
Foreclosure: Dismantling Family Ties
by Janis Bowdler

Jessica Alba: Why I’m joining the campaign for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
by Jessica Alba

Wells Fargo wants to know what’s a-brewin’ in my uterus before they make me a loan
by Linda Falcão

Ensuring a Future for My Children
by Elisa Batista

There Is Nothing Like This, But I Have Faith
by “Tigger”

Let’s Not Leave Workers in the Cold this Holiday Season by Kety Esquivel

En La Recesión, Debíamos De Proteger Nuestros Ancianos
por Maria Ramirez

During a Recession, We Should Protect Our Elderly
by Maria Ramirez

The Emergency Room Is No Replacement for a Doctor
by Katrina Alvarez-Hyman

The Fine Line
by Liz Cerezo

Will Work for Healthcare Reform
by Xochitl Oseguera

Building Healthy Communities
Calling In Sick: Americans out of Luck
by Linda T. Sanchez

Ending Pregnancy-Related Lending Discrimination is a Priority for HUD and America’s Families
by John Trasviña

Sen. Menendez: Fighting for NJ’s Families
by Senator Robert Menendez

New California Health Care Rules Welcome Relief to Latinas, Mothers of Color
by Elisa Batista

Para Latinas Y Madres Afroamericanas, Nuevas Reglas de Seguro Médico en California Son un Gran Alivio” por Elisa Batista

Puerto Rico: Now, It’s the Island’s Turn to Work on Health Care
by Natalia Bonilla, Latina Lista and MomsRising

Moms – it’s your time to be healthy
by Linda T. Sanchez

Para el primer aniversario de la Reforma de Salud, debemos de recordar nuestros valores cristianos
por Luz Villafana,

For the First Anniversary of Health Reform, We Should Remember Our Christian Values
by Luz Villafana

When Breastfeeding Doesn’t Come Easy
by Saray Hill

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
by Gloria Riesgo

DREAMing of a Better Future
Let’s Help Parents – and Our Schools – on Parents’ Day
by Lily Eskelsen

Why Do Moms DREAM?
by Mary Olivella and Elisa Batista

A Salvadoran Immigrant Story
by Wendy Carrillo

DREAMing of More Than a Campaign Promise by Wendy Cervantes

¿Por Qué Apoyo el DREAM Act? por Luz Villafana
Why I Support the DREAM Act by Luz Villafana

Our Common Humanity
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on Equal Pay Day
By Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis

Living on a prayer? Latinas need jobs and the ability to live with dignity
By Anjela Jenkins

Letter From Immigrant Mothers in Phoenix
by Cecilia Menjivar

Immigration Enforcement and Family Separation: Unintended Consequences for Children and Families
by Wendy Cervantes

U.S. Child Farmworkers: Dreading their Summer Vacation

Arizona’s New Law and the “92 Percent Situation”
by Mary Olivella and Elisa Batista

Should manslaughter equal community service? Demand jail time for heat death of 17-year old Maria Isabel
by Jocelyn Sherman

1.) http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html