Trascription:

transmit the another the Houston
Lassiter’s cassia estas escuchando now
media ready welcome this is Marisa
Burris and this is speaking with an
accent and today we are celebrating the
Hispanic Heritage Month so we have a
very special guest my friend she is
originally from Colombia and she is the
president of the Institute of Hispanic
culture of Houston I am very happy that
she’s here today please let me welcome
Yolanda Velasquez how are you hi Marissa
thank you for the invitation I’m very
happy to be here and it’s a pleasure to
see you again and have the chance to
talk about the Institute here in your
program well thank you for coming and I
would like to know more about you so I
say you’re from Colombia I would like to
know more about your background yes I am
from Colombia I moved to Houston with my
husband and kids in 1995 I have a
business degree from Columbia but you
know once you move here you change I
work here as an out in an old company in
auditing at the end I ended up in a
bilingual teacher and you know things
change we were traveling overseas for 10
years came back 2 years ago during the
time overseas I had the chance to
develop my artists career so it was
something that I always liked it and I
tried in Colombia when I was 16 but I
never really finished with that it’s
normal that in our countries you are
supposed to finish with a formal
education a degree and being an artist
was not part of that and so when I had
the chance I explore that option and it
was good and I was successful I had the
chance to exhibit my work in Asia in
Australia in Europe and so it has been a
goes right for us and for me
particularly
very nice so Yolanda is an artist tell
me a little more what
– the inspiration when you started
painting you know I like color and I
I’ve seen like we went to cut the henna
like a couple of months ago and I can
see myself in those colors and really I
started with cartagena my first
collection in exhibit was Pauline Cara’s
and you can see the colors the music the
energy of our people and that’s what I’m
trying to represent and I ended up going
a lot you know working a lot with women
I always liked working in Asia for
example you can see a lot of that many
countries the families are sustained by
their mothers and you can see them from
sundown to their sunset so not working
so it’s like you know it’s something
that is in every country in every
culture you see woman working really
hard for their families so I work on
that and then in Australia I develop
morning today figure you know morning –
the abstract idea of their landscapes
they have beautiful places and it’s
impossible not to to paint them and so
I’m working with that now I’m trying to
become much more abstract here in
Houston that is quite different so you
try to adapt what was it what media do
you use I like acrylic and oil but
mostly acrylic I do a lot of acrylic and
with the palette I work with that a lot
I love colors – we love to see more of
your art and tell me how did you end up
becoming this the president of the
Institute of the Hispanic culture when I
came back to Houston in 9 mm 18 2007 at
the end of 2017 I was looking for an
organization that promote the arts and
also part of the exec you know being
part of the Hispanic I was looking for
that giving back to the community I
thought it was important so that’s why I
become involved with the Institute I
started organizing ta one of their
events the gala and there have been the
president you know we had a good really
good years in 2018
you know it has been a good experience
for me to learn about nonprofits how to
fulfill your role in the community how
to do more for the community and
actually how to represent this panik’s
in Houston I think that the main that’s
had been the main focus of my major as a
president well I’m glad that you’re part
of it and you’re doing a great job and
tell me more about the Institute what is
the vision or the mission of the
Institute here in Houston our mission
now is to celebrate the Spanish culture
by promoting education arts and culture
so basically we’re talking about taking
advantage of being here and being
different and feeling that as an asset
we don’t feel we don’t have to feel like
we are different and that’s why we are
less or we need to reduce our accent or
try to blend in the culture is the
opposite we need to take advantage of
that we need to make ourself visible and
we need as a group to be stronger and
have a bigger voice so that’s part of
what we are doing and that we are trying
to reach or you know when we are talking
about the scholarships when we are
talking about workshops for students
it’s about that they can be part of the
culture they can be successful in the
culture in the American culture without
losing their roots and their their
values as Latinos as expanders here I
always believe that it’s not just I was
a top team I do believe we go to a place
we adapt right we try because that ways
we feel part of the community but we
also bring the good things it’s not just
adapting but also bringing all the good
because it’s good everywhere right yeah
it’s important and it’s important to
feel proud of who you are in order to
show them the others who you are and
what you can do for them is not what
they can do for you we are talking here
about how we can serve the community how
we can do more for the community how we
can make
as important and be proud for that
because that’s part of the thing we need
to be proud of what we are and what we
become and what we brought today
American culture is not like we are just
expecting to survive here we are really
helping the community and helping the is
the new America really so very nice and
I agree like we come here and and the
Institute help every country speak
Spanish that is here in Houston and it
is really hell because they are like you
say like Casa de spaniel I like the
house for Spain or or different
countries Argentina and in in the
Institute all the communities and stay
together
so that’s amazing I want you to tell me
a little bit more about that after a
little break that we have but thank you
we are learning a lot about that very
much thank you
[Music]
have you ever seen a listing of your
dream job for this requires that you
speak another language have you ever
done a business deal with a person of a
different cultural background in today’s
world most people that succeed in
business as well as personal
relationships are fluent in more than
one language in fact speaking more than
one language will bring you a world of
opportunities to engage communicate
interact and ultimately try at the
academy of culture and language you will
learn how to become fluent in the
language you always want gain a wealth
of experience become a true citizen of
the world expand your career
opportunities enjoy in a phone and
highly interactive environment become
more confident and creative master
business presentations and succeed in
today’s global economy at the academy of
culture and language we offer great
flexibility to our students while
providing a practical curriculum in fact
our students can choose to enroll in a
specific class or request private
lessons and tutoring no matter your
goals your age or your current level and
skills you can grow with our interactive
home field classes lead by experienced
instructors that assure result enroll
today and start speaking the language
you always wanted to learn
you
here back at speaking with an accent
when I’m not the only one with an accent
I love my guest she’s from Colombia my
friend Yolanda Velasquez she is the
president of the Institute of this panic
culture of Houston I am very happy I met
her we actually met at an event for the
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and we
realize we have friends in Commons so
tell me tell me more about all these
cultures that you know like now that
you’re the president for the last two
years who have you made that have make
an impact in you or somebody from
another country tell me about it because
do you have the chance to make different
people really different backgrounds
different countries of course I would
say you know it’s backwards because I
like when American people like really
Anglo people they go and they are
impressed but because of the things we
do I think they are pretty cool and they
are open to learn and they want to to
see what we do and they are really you
know they they really put an effort to
go and try to follow us in Spanish or to
try to learn what we are doing I really
like that in other countries I would say
every country everybody is different and
and it’s it depends of what they do we
hire like really good musicians from
Argentina which is nice we got artists
from Colombia so it’s a different mix
and really the impact is because we are
together we are stronger and that’s what
it makes highlight the difference so I
guess is part of that is not about one
culture one person is they what I have
seen from the Latinos on the Panny
culture here in Houston and from abroad
because they come from other countries
and they show what they do at the
Institute so that’s that’s a good part
of what we what I do so yeah definitely
learning about everything the food
they know just the language learning how
they speak even if we all speak Spanish
we speak a little different but learning
about their music and supporting their
culture so rich in so many aspects and
what events do you do are the Institute
that we can go through the year like
what have you done like that that we can
go visit or learn about the Hispanic
culture during the year now what agenda
you know it’s full of activities like
except art exhibitions from different
countries we have musical presentations
so like in spring we have a Chilean
singer we just had an Argentinean seeing
that was going through through America
we have lectures we have book
presentations we have also like a
photographic class we have one that is a
continue so we have a local teacher and
we have like three levels photographic
class there are in total 12 classes and
they cover everything in Spanish so it’s
pretty cool for people here for you know
if they feel like they feel better to
learn about all of these little tricks
in the cameras and stuff in English in
Spanish that in English so it has been a
good way to to get into the community
and for them to be part of the Institute
as well that’s normally what we do in
the agenda by the end of the year so in
October para la the other like Spanish a
day spanning day or this panic month the
head attachment we do our meal it out
don’t fear self for chloric festival
that is free to the public
it’s not Emilia outdoors at the Hermann
Park and we also have a gallon
that’s our fundraising event so
basically you know the whole year we are
going to be busy and most of the events
are open to the public so all very nice
at the end of this program we are gonna
get the information from you how to find
you and also I wanted to know since we
are celebrating the Hispanic Heritage
Month
what does that means what can you tell
us about the Hispanic Heritage Month is
a celebration I guess of our culture of
the and a value on the BK you know we
have done a lot for America in general
and what they started – a celebration of
the discovery of America you become or
you became like we are different but we
are special and we need to celebrate
that so the whole month you are going to
see mariachis you are going to see food
festivals you are going to see
conferences art conferences you are
going to you know be able to learn more
and the idea is to present that culture
to the Houston community so that’s what
we do and we partner with another and
organizations all presenting our you
know we gather we’ll get together with
organizations like the ambassadors for
equality and we presenters with them
it’s basically like trying to we are not
really that big but we know we have some
contacts and we can do good things and
and it’s all about this CD and actually
the country I guess but in Houston is
very very important
yes Houston is so diverse and definitely
the Hispanics we are a big big group
here and well we are very happy that you
guys have this event at the Miller
outdoor theater I have been part of it
in the past bring the family and it’s
free and we enjoy it and the music and
every singe ring it’s a lot of fun so
tell us about the you mentioned the
event on October 18 is a big event for
Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at
the Institute where is it when and over
what time or how can we get tickets to
go there Jesse will be at the Miller is
the outdoor theater so we will have the
18 of October at 7:30 is the show we
will have our performance of music and
dance
and basically you can call the office we
can you can send us an email and we’ll
reserve Dukey tickets in the covered
area it’s really like you said open to
the public is for the whole family it
will be around 2 hours of music and
dance and every year we are presenting
or we present a different country last
year what Argentina so this year the
turn is 4 we are going to Venezuela so
we are going to present all the regions
in Venezuela true is called to my eyes
so it like a journey a journey from
through Venezuela regions to with dance
and music wow I can imagine that it’s
gonna be so much fun the energy of the
Venezuelan is contagious like I’m pretty
sure we are gonna have a great time that
we’re gonna be full of people and I
hopefully let you say people from other
cultures also visit and get to know more
about the Spanish Heritage Month
celebrations through the Institute there
are very nice and tell us about the gala
the C fund raised in the major
fundraiser Ronny’s every year for 54
years actually has been the big event in
the Houston calendar now you know we
have a lot of events here in Houston but
it is still there and it’s still fun and
we are trying to showcase the Latin
culture for you know for our guests but
also it’s a fundraiser because is when
we collect money or we get money for our
scholarship program we is one of the
missions of the Institute is to provide
scholarships for a you know deserving
students in the Houston or the Texas
area but mostly Houston obviously and
you know they just have to apply through
our website and we try to have a
selection process we are now the winners
we contact them and they we will present
them at Akali and you have a special
guest you said like a special
presentation on that night
normally we have I guess a speaker or we
are going to have like shows this year
we have musicians last year we got
mariachis and we have a valid
presentation you know that is it’s going
to be a nice surprise we are going to
you know Cobra dance from every South
American country well know every song it
will be nice
that is great well after a break we are
going to talk a little bit more and I’m
very happy you’re here and T she knows
about that there is an Institute of
Hispanic culture here in Houston
probably many people don’t know that and
now we can VC we can participate and
it’s for a good cause so thank you we’ll
be back
[Music]
have you ever seen a listing of your
dream job for this requires that you
speak another language have you ever
done a business deal with a person of a
different cultural background in today’s
world most people that succeed in
business as well as personal
relationships are fluent in more than
one language in fact speaking more than
one language will bring you a world of
opportunities to engage communicate
interact and ultimately try at the
academy of culture and language you will
learn how to become fluent in the
language you always want gain a wealth
of experience become a true citizen of
the world
expand your career opportunities enjoy
in a phone and highly interactive
environment become more confident and
creative master business presentations
and succeed in today’s global economy at
the academy of cultural language we
offer great flexibility to our students
while providing a practical curriculum
in fact our students can choose to
enroll in a specific class or request
private lessons and tutoring
no matter your goals your age or your
current level and skills you can grow
with our interactive home field classes
lead by experienced instructors that
assure result enroll today and start
speaking the language you have always
wanted to learn
you
welcome back I’m very happy we are here
today with Yolanda Velazquez she’s
originally from Colombia I’m from Panama
but we do find a lot of similarities I
mean we are neighbors right so I don’t
know about the accents because it
speaking in English we have strong
accents and we are proud of it and in
Spanish we also speak different what do
you think Yolanda yes we have a strong
that’s true and also we is different a
Colombia and also it’s not that we are
big but our geography where differently
because the differences are because of
the weather and the geography of the
country so you talk with me like I’m
from the mountains it will be different
to the north coast or the coffee area so
you uh you know you are closer to the
coast and you are going to be your
accent is more like the people from the
cost that is it’s different behave
something that you learn to appreciate
and you kind of recognize no matter what
you are and you know when they are from
Colombia and also we kinda try to locate
people from other countries as well
because of the way they speak so you you
can recognize them oh this person must
be from my country because you know some
expressions or something that they say
and there are so many words I cannot
think of one right now but even a straw
when you’re gonna go to a restaurant and
you need a straw for your drink in
Panama we call it Kerry so I don’t know
if you control your are if you’re gonna
speak English what is carries so if you
go to Panama what did you go to Colombia
and you ask for a carry so they don’t
know what it is
and in Mexico they say poor body how do
they call it in Colombia or other
countries is different pity you Patito
pity Gio
Nicholas or Betty or fajita right and
also the food is similar like we call it
we have these plantains that is fry
match with salt and we call it pata
Kony’s and in Colombia they call it
different one is the same but we have
other things like for example certain
fruits like you know like a passion
fruit is called different in Venezuela
is partita in Colombia is maracuja it’s
also different and for example avocado
for us is our car tip for the Chileans
is sparta I will carlough how a catapult
is the Chilean way they call it pal so
is different and you take advantage of
you know when you know somebody to kind
of pick up some couple of words every
time and that’s good it’s a nice
experience yes it’s fun it’s like not
just being a tourist but adapt and learn
and have fun and you connect faster with
people when you understand each other at
least with some through language tell me
and is any country that you would like
to VC that you have not visit yet yes in
delicious Argentina Argentina yes we we
were living on the other side of the
wall so we sit many countries on that
side and now we are here and we went
home you know Argentina is the Nexen so
really really put in a Sunday wishlist
at have you been in Panama it’s okay
very nice very nice we see the Panama
Canal do you have well here you have the
opportunity to meet like all the
consoles tell me more about your role as
the president I hear you’re very busy
attending events
tell me what is what you like or what is
that you want to chat about
good position yeah the national days you
go you celebrate with him they have
events like last week only and you know
last Thursday we had the chance to
attend an exhibition from a Bolivian
artist at the consulate of Bolivia he
just passed in Houston he wasn’t used to
for a couple of days and the Consul has
been you know he was really working hard
to have these artists my money my money
is his name it’s an Indian is it’s
amazing his world his clothes and he is
free you know like you can see like the
Indians from Bolivia in in everything he
is and he does and he was at a consulate
for for one night exhibition it was his
art he’s too early and then he has a
special brand of clothes like I said you
know he’s working on that it was amazing
so you have that it’s a good experience
because at the end we are just one big
pack the Latino Hispanic and and we
really are you know we are part of here
and we are here to support each other
and it’s good to have that opportunity
and listen the things I do I can see the
passion in your eyes when you’re
speaking about it I’m very proud of what
you do this that’s great Thank You
Yolanda and I really would like people
to go to your website so they can sign
for the newsletter updates so you know
when this is happening like this
exhibition that was a really very very
interesting and unique so it will be
very nice you can tell us more how to
find you and also anything that you want
to add encouraging people to learn about
our culture celebrating this panic here
in Houston okay you can you know you can
follow us in our social media know our
pages and Instagram Facebook is e aí h
CH houston so institute of hispanic
culture of houston
or you can visit our website www.eso.org
ESO the european but you will get all
the updates and some discounts also you
just can you know tell us about yourself
and if you want to get involved we
always you know we are we looking for
volunteers there are always
opportunities to help and unload you
know for the events I will just love to
see they for you to visit the me live
and see what we do because it’s a big
effort it’s a big production is is
really it’s going to be a really good
show Sunday again October 18 7:30 you
can be there at 6:30 you want your cover
area tickets but 7:30 is when it starts
so you know those are events that we
plan and we are expecting really all
these panics to be there and celebrate
with us Adam Miller our outdoor theater
in a Hermann Park
yes well very nice I hope I can go with
my family again and then see you there
and see everybody there well celebrating
Hispanic Heritage Month and thank you
Thank You Yolanda anything else it will
be like thank you for the opportunity
has been great chatting with you a
pleasure always welcome back anytime and
again if you have questions if you would
like to come to this program send me a
message
www.a see a lot with a.com maurice
avarice to your service and see you next
time in speaking with an accent
[Music]
have you ever seen a listing of your
dream job for this requires that you
speak another language have you ever
done a business deal with a person of a
different cultural background in today’s
world most people that succeed in
business as well as personal
relationships are fluent in more than
one language in fact speaking more than
one language will bring you a world of
opportunities to engage communicate
interact and ultimately try at the
academy of culture and language you will
learn how to become fluent in the
language you always want gain a wealth
of experience become a true citizen of
the world expand your career
opportunities enjoy in a phone and
highly interactive environment become
more confident and creative master
business presentations and succeed in
today’s global economy at the academy of
culture and language we offer great
flexibility to our students while
providing a practical curriculum in fact
our students can choose to enroll in a
specific class or request private
lessons and tutoring no matter your
goals your age or your current level and
skills you can grow with our interactive
home field classes lead by experienced
instructors that assure results enroll
today and start speaking the language
you have always wanted to learn
you