People You Should Know – Maria José Ramirez Braiz

This is the second in our series “People You Should Know” highlighting local leaders who exemplify values of community and collaboration.  Meet Maria José Ramirez Braiz of Latinos Connect!

AV: Let’s start with you – how long have you been in St. Joseph and what are your current roles in the community?

Maria:   I moved here from San Francisco 12 years ago.  My husband grew up in St. Joseph so for him it was a return home. I am a journalist and own my own business, Te Lo Cuento News. We provide international and national news and analysis, and also services in marketing, cultural education, and consulting. I have volunteered over time with a number of different organizations, and founded Latinos Connect.

AV: Let’s focus on Latinos Connect.  Can you tell us more about how it evolved, your current role, and how you see its role in the community?

Maria:  During the pandemic there were many difficulties for the Latino community in finding good information.  This included information about our children’s schooling, medical care, immigration and other issues.  There was also a real shortage of translators.  I spent 45 days translating for one family who had a member in ICU because the hospital had no translator.  People were looking for answers and I was able to use my journalism degree, knowledge, and skills to provide help.  In a few instances we even needed to use subpoenas to get information from the City. 

So throughout the pandemic I connected with and helped people here, and of course I was also reporting on national news.  Post pandemic I knew I needed to do something to continue to help the community.  So I founded Latinos Connect to help to bridge the gap between Latinos and others in the community, and to promote  integration and advancement within Latino communities.  More connection brings more resources in terms of both information and relationships, and with more resources comes more hope and opportunities. We are committed to providing access to resources and opportunities that will help Latinos succeed in all areas of life.  Our formal mission is to connect and empower the Latino community through various programs and initiatives, such as education, career development, and civic engagement. 

We started meetings in parks with the idea of “lets connect with each other” — then started dinners.  Our dinners have averaged over 60 people and are free and open to all in the community, not just to Latinos.  In all of our programs and events we aim to foster a sense of community and belonging among Latinos and to help Latinos and other members of the community connect. In addition to our dinners we have various community outreach initiatives, such as our children’s choir which bring Latino culture to the forefront.  And we continue to advocate for the Latino community. 

All of these programs foster interconnection among and between groups in the community, and help break down the fear that often is present when different cultures are present but not connected. 

AV:  Tell us more about some of the successes Latinos Connect has had and what you are focusing on in the next year.

Maria: Our dinners here in St. Joseph are consistently drawing a good crowd, and we have now expanded to Kansas City where there is also both a great need  for connection and a wide range of resources, especially professionals within the Latino community. We have established a good working relationship with our police chief and were able to announce at our January dinner that there are now two Spanish speakers who have been accepted into the police academy.  Currently the police force has only 1 officer who speaks Spanish. We have seen several in our community move  into the types of positions that they were professionally trained for.   Over the next year we are continuing to build connections across the community. Last month was the second time Latinos Connect had a presence at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet.

AV: When and where do the Latinos Connect dinners happen? 

Maria:  They are dinners in the winter months and when the weather warms we have gatherings in the park.  Dinners are held at the YWCA from 6 to 8 pm.  Park gatherings are held at Bartlett Park from 4 to 6 pm.   They occur on approximately a monthly basis and are announced in the events section of our newsletter and on our Facebook page. They also have been posted on the events page of this site. 

Note that you don’t have to be Latino to attend. ALL those who want to connect with our community are welcome.

AV:  What can one expect if visiting a dinner or gathering?

Maria:  A warm welcome, delicious food, conversations in both Spanish and English, people from many different backgrounds and countries, and lots of energy.  We usually have a presenter who gives a brief speech and we also make announcements about midway through the evening.

AV: How does one get involved with Latinos Connect?

Maria:  Come to one of our dinners or one of our park gatherings!  Or sign up for our newsletter. Again all are welcome.

AV: Both participants in the All Voices dialogue and the St. Joseph Imagine 2040 plan talked about the importance both of being an inclusive and welcoming community and of many different organizations and entities working together to ensure that all people reach their full potential.  What ideas/thoughts do you have on these themes?

Maria:  I grew up in Venezuela which has a very warm and welcoming culture.  I think it’s important to show hospitality – invite your neighbors to join you for a meal or bring them to Latinos Connect.  Say hi to those who are new to the community. Be patient with those learning a new language.  Ask those who are new to the community how you might help, and listen to them. Share information.  I would like to see the City take more of a leadership role in working with community groups to highlight the wealth of diversity we have here and actively welcome and support our many immigrant communities.

I also think we need to recognize that we are part of an even broader metropolitan area that extends all the way down to Kansas City.  We can learn from each other, work together, and share resources throughout the region. Latinos Connect works closely with Hispanic organizations in Kansas City. They see us as an important part of their network and they are of ours. We help each other.  We all need to find ways of coming together to support and uplift one another.