BELatina’s Weekend Recap: Vanessa Guillen, Hispanic Fund Scholarship Creator Ernest Z. Robles, and More

BELatina's Weekend Recap: Vanessa Guillen, Hispanic Fund Scholarship Creator Ernest Z. Robles, and More belatina latine

Happy Monday, everyone!

We’ll start with some good news: We are no longer in Mercury Retrograde. Phew! This also means that the pressure is on. As the well-known Latina astrologer Jasmin Alejandrez-Prasad, better known as Esoteric Esa, said, “if shit falls apart [from now on], that’s on you. Well, at least avoid blaming the planets and the stars until the next Mercury retrograde.

Aside from that, plenty went on over the weekend. From Vanessa Guillen’s story coming to Netflix to Bad Bunny making a grand gesture, there’s a lot to cover. 

So, let’s get with it!

Vanessa’s Guillen Story Heads to Netflix

BELatina's Weekend Recap: Vanessa Guillen, Hispanic Fund Scholarship Creator Ernest Z. Robles, and More belatina latine
By U.S. Army / Ejército de los Estados Unidos

“I Am Vanessa Guillen,” a new documentary about the tragedy of the late Latina U.S. Army soldier, will air later this fall, according to Variety. Guillen’s heartbreaking story was led by director Christy Wegener. 

Wegener recounts Guillen’s murder after she was sexually harassed on the Fort Hood army base. The director also added the aftermath of the catastrophic event, such as her family’s fight for justice and the movement that came to fruition in support of Guillen. 

“In making the film, it was incredible to witness a family, in the most tragic moment of their lives, put their grief aside, step out into the public arena and fight for the greater good,” the director told Variety. 

Guillen would’ve turned 23 this past Friday. 

‘Jefa in Training’ continues to inspire others

On Friday, Ashley Stoyanov-Ojeda, the author of the first business startup toolkit in Spanglish, spoke at FIU’s PowerUp conference in Miami, Florida. During it, she gave a rundown on what it takes to be a jefa by referencing the tips she stipulates in her book, “Jefa in Training.” She also emphasized using your differences as your strength. After her event, the room buzzed with excitement because that’s the effect Stoyanov-Ojeda’s formula to becoming a jefa has on people. It gets people to understand how attainable their dreams truly are. 

Bad Bunny Honors the Bryant Family at His L.A. Concert

Bad Bunny invited Vanessa Bryant and her daughters to one of his concerts in Los Angeles. To further exemplify his solidarity with Kobe Bryant’s family, he wore Gigi’s bracelet as he performed. After the concert, Bryant took to her social media to thank El Conejo Malo Bueno. 

Ernest Z. Robles, The Educator Who Launched The Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Dies

It was recently reported that the man behind the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Ernest Z. Robles, died at the age of 92. Robles helped thousands of Latino students throughout his life. Years ago, he followed his heart and took out a $30,000 mortgage on his house. By the time of his death, which was caused by heart failure, the fund had granted $700 million in scholarships, according to NPR. 

Butte College Receives a Grant to Support Latine Students

This past Friday, California’s Butte College announced that it was awarded a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant’s purpose is to support Latine and low-income students. Using this grant, Butte College will be able to continue to fund its Center for Access, Support & Achievement (CASA) project. The college intends to use the grant to provide a support network for students’ success, completion, and transfer as well.

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