VIVA NOLA October 2018

ISSUE 6
THE PREMIER BILINGUAL MAGAZINE OF NEW ORLEANS
OCTOBER 2018
We are all Am ericans,
right ?
La dificult ad de
involucrar y m ot ivar a
a los em pleados
Palom a Café
El diálogo com o
herram ient a para el
progreso económ ico
Redefining t he
Office Space
SCAN CODES
WITH PHONE
Cover St ory:
ROMI GONZALEZ, AN
AMBASSADOR OF LATIN
AMERICAN CULTURE
FREE

Publisher's Note
Dr eam i n g of Fal l
september
CONTENT
DIALOGUE AS A TOOL FOR ECONOMIC SUCCESS 4
WE ARE ALL AMERICANS,RIGHT? 7
REDEFININGTHE OFFICE SPACE 10
GET TOKNOW...TULIOMURILLO 15
Cover Story:
ROMI GONZALEZ, AN AMBASSADOR OF LATIN CULTURE 16
PALOMA CAFE 23
THE STRUGGLE TOENGAGE AND MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES 26
A "NEW" DEVICE EVERY YEAR? 28
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 30
THE NEED TOUNPLUG 32
DE MODA NOLA 34
Sections/Contributors
COVER STORY ANAMARIA BECH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALEJANDRA GUZMÁN
VIVIR MEJOR ANDREA MEJÍA
NOLA EATS LESLIE ALMEIDA
PORTAL LATINAMERICA MEMOPÉREZ LARA
TECH TALK THE I.T. GUY
SOMOS NOLA CHRISTOPHER ARD
HEALTH CHECK DR. CARLOS ROSALES
LEAD UP BLANCA ROBINSON
DE MODA NOLA ERIN HEBERT
OUT & ABOUT ANGELA HERNÁNDEZ
DEPORTE REPORTE MARIOJERÉZ
EDITOR CHRISHELLE SMITH
EDITOR MEMOPÉREZ LARA
PROOF MARCELA BOLAÑOS
LAYOUT ANAMARIA BECH GIL
LAYOUT MEMOPÉREZ LARA
GET TOKNOWANAMARÍA BECH
ILLUSTRATION MEMOPÉREZ LARA
AD DESIGN YESSENIA ROVELO
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY JERRY LEE LEWIS
As brief as it usually is, fall in New
Orleans is a fantastic time! The
cooler weather is the perfect
excuse to attend the many outdoor
festivals the city offers and the
right reason to dine al fresco in the
various venues that have made
their patios and terraces a main
attraction.
This year, Oktoberfest returns to
New Orleans. This is an exciting
event for the Deutsches Haus
members who have been working
towards getting their new facility ready. It will be a permanent
home where they will continue their mission to preserving the
German heritage of New Orleans.
Carnaval Latino closes the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in
full swing with cultural activities free to the public at Washington
Square in the Marigny beginning at noon on October 13th. The fun
continues with the "Desfile de las Americas," a parade that rolls at
6:30 p.m. through the French Quarter. For the party goers,
Bamboleo! Latin Night at House of Blues will close the celebration
with live performances of the Ballet Folklorico of South Texas and
the all-female salsa band, Orquesta Canela from Colombia.
Although the weather does not change dramatically in the city, the
mood does. The pumpkin spice season prepares everyone for the
holidays, but before we jump too far ahead, we should not ignore
what is perhaps my favorite day in New Orleans. After
trick-or-treating with my children, I try not to miss people watching
in the Marigny. On Halloween one can have the best time simply
being outside and seeing the most creative, elaborate, and witty
costumes. The weather, the mood and Halloween are some of the
reasons why I cannot wait for the Fall.
¡Feliz otoño!
Contact us
FOR ADVERTISING
OPPORTUNITIES, TO
PITCH A STORY, OR TO
SAY HELLO, REACH
ME HERE:
ANAMARÍA BECH
INFO@VIVANOLAMAG.COM
504.517- 6090
- AnaM aria

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Dialogue as A Tool for Economic
Progress
by Alejandr a Guzm an
@aleguzm an
Too many, if not every economic and social issue of our
time, is multidimensional in nature. This requires that
those leaders that attempt to solve them are open to
dialogue and to understanding different points of views.
Many organizations, including the Aspen Institute
recognize this. This organization is dedicated to foster a
good society and bring people together to promote
dialogue and exchange of ideas. This is done through
different programs including the Socrates Salon. Named
after the Socratic method of discussion, participants of this
program go through expert moderated dialogue and are
able to discover their beliefs about specific topics and
understand the position of others.
Recognizing the value of this program, the New Orleans
Business Alliance (NOLABA) partnered with the Aspen
Institute Socrates Program to co-host a Socrates Salon
?The Future of Work and Learning? on October 11-12th.
Together they will bring expert leaders to explore how
emerging technology trends are impacting education,
business and society.
This topic was selected considering that in the last
decades technology has dramatically and very quickly
changed the way people live, work, and learn all over the
world. With this we have also seen challenges around
public policy, education, and workforce. At the same time
it is important to recognize that innovation around
technology is what is driving many economies' future
growth.
Overall it is important for every community to consider the
opportunities and challenges presented by an increasingly
digital world. Also, leaders need to be thoughtful about
how to embrace the benefits that come with new
technology while making sure communities stay true to
their culture and offers opportunities for all.
New Orleans is no stranger to technology related growth.
Our city has increasingly been recognized as one that is
home to creators and technology companies such as DXC
Technology. Other companies that have chosen our city
include Accruent, GE Digital, IBM, Align, and iMerit. This
makes New Orleans a great location for the Salon ?The
Future of Work and Learning? this October.
The Salon will examine the ways this city has reinvented
itself to welcome inclusive technology companies,
entrepreneurship and innovation while being intentional to
stay true to its history, culture and people. The moderation
will be lead by Dr. Connie Yowel, CEO of Collective Shifts,
a former policy analyst for the U.S. Department of
Education during Bill Clinton´s administration and a former
associate professor at the University of Illinois.
4
I?m excited that New Orleans will be host of this event and
that as a community we have recognized the value of
dialogue as a tool for economic progress.
Until next time!

transl ation>>
El diálogo como
herramienta
para el progreso
económico
Por Alejandr a Guzm án
Muchos, si no es que todos los
problemas económicos y sociales de
nuestro tiempo, son
multidimensionales por naturaleza, lo
cual requiere que aquellos líderes que
intenten resolverlos estén abiertos al
diálogo y a la aceptación de diferentes
puntos de vista.
El Aspen Institute se dedica a
promover una buena sociedad, y a
reunir personas que promueven el
diálogo y el intercambio de ideas. La
organización realiza esta labor a
través de diferentes programas,
incluyendo el Socrates Salon. Este
programa obtuvo su nombre basado
en el método Socrático de discusión.
Mediante este método, los
participantes del programa forman
parte de un diálogo moderado por
expertos, y logran descubrir sus
propias creencias sobre temas
específicos, además de entender el
punto de vista y posición de los
demás sobre dichos temas.
NOLABA (New Orleans Business
Alliance) reconoce el valor de este
programa, y es por eso que decidió
crear una alianza con el Aspen
Institute Socrates Program para ser
copresentadores del Socrates Salon
?El futuro del trabajo y el
aprendizaje?, que se llevará a cabo
del 11 al 12 de octubre. En conjunto,
estas organizaciones atraerán
líderes para explorar cómo las
tendencias emergentes en tecnología
impactan hoy en día los campos de
educación y negocios, y la sociedad
en general.
Este tema fue seleccionado
considerando que en las últimas
décadas la tecnología ha cambiado de
manera rápida y muy dramáticamente
la forma en que las personas vivimos,
trabajamos y aprendemos alrededor
del mundo.
Con estos cambios también llegan
retos en las áreas de orden público,
educación y fuerza laboral. Es
importante reconocer que la
innovación alrededor de la tecnología
es una fuerza que está empujando el
crecimiento de muchas economías.
En general, es importante para toda
comunidad considerar las
oportunidades y los retos presentados
por un mundo digital. Esto también
aplica para los líderes, quienes deben
ser conscientes y buscar métodos
para aprovechar los beneficios que
vienen con las nuevas tecnologías, y
a su vez, asegurarse que sus
comunidades mantengan su cultura y
ofrezcan oportunidades para todos.
Nueva Orleans conoce bien el
crecimiento relacionado a la
tecnología. Nuestra ciudad ha sido
reconocida cada vez más como un
lugar que alberga creativos y
5

El Sócrates Salón ?El futuro del trabajo y el
aprendizaje? se llevará a cabo el 11 y 12 de
octubre en Nueva Orleans.
compañías de tecnología, tales como DXC Technology.
Otras compañías que han seleccionado a nuestra
ciudad son Accruent, GE Digital, IBM, Align e iMerit.
Esto hace de Nueva Orleans una excelente ubicación
para el Salon ?El futuro del trabajo y el aprendizaje?que
se llevará a cabo este octubre. El Salon examinará las
formas que nuestra ciudad ha utilizado para reinventarse
a si misma para dar la bienvenida a empresas de
tecnología, emprendedores e innovación, mientras
también ha realizado esfuerzos intencionales para
mantener su historia, cultura y a su gente.
El programa será moderado por la Dra. Connie Yowel,
CEO de Collective Shifts, analista política para el
Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos bajo
la administración de Bill Clinton, y ex profesora asociada
de la Universidad de Illinois.
Estoy muy emocionada con el hecho de que la ciudad
de Nueva Orleans sea la anfitriona de un evento de este
calibre, y muy orgullosa de que, como comunidad,
sigamos reconociendo el valor del diálogo como
herramienta para el progreso económico.
¡Hasta la próxima!

W e ar e al l
Am er i can s,
r i ght?
by Christopher Ard
Happy Columbus Day! or maybe it?s
better to say Feliz Día de la Raíz!
Either way, let?s celebrate America!
Land that I love. Land of the free.
Home of the brave. There?s just one
problem--what is America?
Most of you reading this are likely of
Latin American descent. So, does
that make you American? When the
United States government asks for
nationality, do you say American?
There are many Americas, from the
north to the south. There?s Spanish
America and Portuguese America,
and even a little French America,
which together make up Latin
America. But there?s also Central
America, but then there?s the United
States which claims the overall title of
American. So then, what does
America mean?
For a few years, Columbus and other
European experts thought they had
sailed around the world and arrived in
Asia. Until that time, spices and
other goods were transported across
Asia and Europe. So, when
Columbus landed he saw the native
people and their brown skin and
thought, ?Oh, these are Indians.?
That?s the reason why many people
today still call native people Indians.
It was a big mistake, based on racism
and a lack of a knowledge about this
new land.
Through his knowledge of the stars,
descriptions of Asia, and his own
mapping skills, Amerigo Vespucci, an
Italian explorer figured out that this
new world was much larger than
everyone suspected back in Europe
and was, in fact, an entirely different
continent--or two! Amerigo had
figured out that what he and
Columbus were exploring were North
and South America, two entirely
different continents.
As a reward for his discovery, map
makers started labeling the new
world as America--the female version
of Americus, Latin for his name.
Befor e the Lou i si an a
Pu r chase, you cou l d
say that ever ythi n g
W est an d Sou th of the
M i ssi ssi ppi Ri ver w as
Lati n Am er i ca.
Fast-forward a few years and
Europeans began pouring into the
new world, some with slaves. Some
of these people spoke French,
Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and
English. The largest divisions were
between Brazil--where the
Portuguese landed--and the rest of
South America where the Spanish
had a majority control.
The next division was basically right
here in New Orleans, where Spanish,
French, and English were spoken
depending upon which part of town
you were in. If you left the city to the
East, you?d find the United States
citizens who spoke English. Leaving
the city to the West, you came across
Spanish territory where they spoke
Spanish. (Ever heard of the Zwolle
Tamale festival in western
Louisiana?) Before the Louisiana
Purchase, you could say anything
West and South of the Mississippi
River was Latin America.
Today that line is now the United
States-Mexican border. But if we?re
being honest, Louisiana, Texas, New
Mexico, Arizona, California, and
Nevada could all be considered part
of Latin America because of cultural
similarities.
Finally, there?s the most confusing
part of this story--where is Central
America? Central America is not a
continent. It is, in fact, geologically
part of the North American continent.
But that?s not enough to stop
everyone from making up their own
definitions for Central America. The
United Nations refers to Central
Am er igo Vespucci, Italian explor er and Chief of Navigation of Spain in 1508..
7

America as all countries from
Mexico to Panama. The British
include parts of Mexico to
Panama. The Portuguese
include all the Caribbean Islands
as Central America. And finally,
if you say Middle America, then
you?re referring to all lands
from Mexico to Colombia and
Venezuela.
To make everything more
complicated, in many countries
of Latin America only 5
continents are taught in schools,
with America being one, though
divided in 3 regions. This
contradicts the teachings from
other places that divide the land
into 2 continents: North America
and South America.
You see, America is a label
applied by the Europeans to the
new world--this giant land mass
between Europe and Asia.
They never intended for the term
American to only be used by the
people of the United States, and
honestly, I don?t think the United
States means any disrespect.
Simply put, if they stop using
American, is there another word
in the English language to
describe citizens of the United
States? Maybe it?s time we
invent one.
Tod os som os Am er i can os...¿No?
¡Feliz Día de la Raza! o quizás mejor, ¡Feliz Día de la
Raíz! De cualquier manera, ¡Celebremos América! La
tierra que yo amo. La tierra de la libertad. El hogar de
los valientes. Aunque existe un problema... ¿Qué es
América?
La mayoría de quienes están leyendo este artículo
probablemente son de descendencia latinoamericana.
Entonces, ¿Eso te hace americano? ¿Respondes
americano cuando el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos
pregunta por tu nacionalidad?
Tenemos muchas Américas. La del norte, la del sur, la
América Española, la América Portuguesa, e inclusive
existe un poquito de América Francesa. Estas, en
conjunto, conforman a América Latina. Aunque también
está Centroamérica, y los Estados Unidos, que se han
quedado con el título general y se denominan ?América?.
Entonces, en realidad: ¿Qué quiere decir América?
Por algunos años, Columbus y otros expertos
exploradores europeos pensaron que habían navegado
por el mundo y habían llegado a Asia. Hasta ese
momento, las especias y otros productos se
transportaban desde Asia hacia Europa, por lo cual,
cuando Colón desembarcó y observó a los nativos de
piel morena, pensó: ?Oh, estos son indios". Por esa
razón, inclusive hoy en día, continuamos llamando
indios a los nativos americanos. Todo por un gran error
basado en racismo, ignorancia, y el escaso
conocimiento del nuevo mundo en aquel entonces.
A través de su conocimiento de las estrellas,
descripciones de Asia y sus propias habilidades
cartográficas, el explorador italiano Américo Vespucio se
dio cuenta que este nuevo mundo era mucho más
grande de lo que todos pensaban o sospechaban en
Europa; y que era, de hecho, un continente
8
completamente diferente. O quizás dos.

Centroamérica es parte del
continente norteamericano, pero
este hecho no es suficiente para
evitar que todos inventen sus
propias definiciones para América
Central. Las Naciones Unidas se
refieren a Centroamérica como
todos los países desde México
hasta Panamá. Los británicos
incluyen partes de México hasta
Panamá. Los portugueses incluyen
todas las islas del Caribe como
América Central. Y, por último, si se
habla de Mesoamérica, entonces
esta se refiere a todas las tierras
desde México hasta Colombia y
Venezuela.
Para agravar el debate, en varios
países de América Latina se
enseña que existen cinco
continentes. América, siendo solo
uno, se divide en tres regiones, lo
cual discrepa de las enseñanzas de
otros lugares donde se separan
como 2 continentes: América del
Norte y América del Sur.
Como
podemos
observar,
América es una
etiqueta aplicada por los
europeos al nuevo mundo:
la gigantesca masa terrestre
entre Europa y Asia.
Sea como sea, los exploradores
nunca tuvieron la intención de que
el término americano fuera usado
solo por el pueblo de los Estados
Unidos, y honestamente, no creo
que los Estados Unidos lo hayan
usado para faltar al respeto.
En pocas palabras, si se deja de
usar el término ?americano? para
los habitantes de Estados Unidos,
¿Habrá alguna palabra en inglés
para referirse a los ciudadanos de
los Estados Unidos? Tal vez es
hora de que inventemos una nueva.
13

Redefining
Office Space
T
The co-working movement surfaced in
San Francisco in 2005 as an idea to
combine the independence of
freelancing with the community and
structure of an office space. These
co-working spaces emerged to offer
flexible alternatives while helping foster
a professional community for
entrepreneurs seeking something
beyond a café or the isolation of
working from home.
10
The Shop is a comprehensive
co-working development at the
Contemporary Arts Center and it is
designed to provide valuable
business/cultural programming and
services to tenants in addition to the
features, amenities, membership
packages, and benefits that form the
cornerstones of a successful
co-working space. ?Many people enjoy
having the flexibility to work by their
own rules and vary their work
environments, but what?s often missing
from that is a sense of community,?
says Pam Meyer, Community Director
at The Shop at the CAC. ?Current
members regularly tell us that they?re
more productive when they?re working
around and able to connect with other
creative, goal-oriented members."
According to one ResearchGate report,
people who belong to co-working
spaces report levels of thriving at an
average of 6 on a 7-point scale.
Research conducted by organizational
psychologist Craig Knight concludes
that ?empowered offices? -- in which
workers can choose their conditions --
can increase productivity on cognitive
tasks by 25 percent or more. One of the
top benefits that people identify in terms
of value is the focus on having a
community that provides networking
opportunities, which in turn helps them
grow their business. Numerous
members at The Shop have acquired
new accounts, clients, financing, and
more, due to their time spent working in
the space.
The need for a progressive workspace
like this in New Orleans helped The
Domain Companies drive the

development of The Shop,
which provides innovative
design and competitive
amenities like onsite car
and bike parking; secure,
24/7 keyless access
through a mobile app; a
full kitchen with coffee and
beer on draft; member
events; local and
company-focused
discounts; and more.
For Matt Schwartz,
Principal of The Domain
Companies, this
alternative works
?extremely well? for New
Orleans, adding that the
main goal for The Shop
was ?to give locals and
visitors a place to
congregate, share ideas,
and in turn, foster a
creative, entrepreneurial
community. New Orleans
is open to that. It?s a
creative city with a ton of
opportunity, already full of
great ideas that we can
build on.?
The Shop is an innovative
workspace. Located in the
heart of the historic
Contemporary Arts Center,
The Shop features over
40,000 sf of
award-winning, art-filled
space curated to highlight
local artists and designers,
featuring both temporary
and permanent
installations; seven
conference rooms
equipped with the latest
technology; private phone
booths; and more.
One of the more unique
aspects of The Shop is the
local, creative focus on the
artwork and educational
and cultural programming
that connects members
with what?s happening in
New Orleans currently
across the arts, business,
local government, and
more. To learn more about
The Shop at the CAC visit
the website or schedule a
tour:
https://theshopcac.com.
Potogr aphy : The Dom ain Com panies

Por Rachel Str assel
Redefiniendo
la oficina
El concepto o movimiento del trabajo compartido, o
co-trabajo, surgió en San Francisco, en 2005, como una
idea para combinar el trabajo de profesionales
independientes con la comunidad y la estructura de las
oficinas tradicionales. Estos espacios de trabajo conjunto
surgieron para ofrecer alternativas flexibles, a la vez que
ayudaron a integrar a una comunidad profesional de
empresarios que buscan algo más allá de un café, o el
aislamiento de trabajar desde casa.
The Shop es un desarrollo integral de Co-trabajo
(co-working) en el Contemporary Arts Center, y está
diseñado para proporcionar una valiosa programación
comercial/cultural y de servicios a los usuarios, además de
las características, comodidades, paquetes de membresía y
beneficios que forman las piedras angulares de una
empresa exitosa con el concepto de co-trabajo o trabajo
conjunto. "Muchas personas disfrutan de la flexibilidad para
trabajar según sus propias reglas, y varían sus entornos de
trabajo, pero lo que a menudo les falta es un sentido de
comunidad", dice Pam Meyer, Directora Comunitaria de The
Shop en el Contemporary Arts Center (CAC). "Los
miembros actuales nos comentan regularmente que son
más productivos cuando están trabajando y pueden
relacionarse con otros miembros creativos orientados a sus
objetivos. Es útil trabajar en un espacio que no solo tiene
una atmósfera productiva e inspiradora, sino que también
está lleno de personas de ideas afines que trabajan para
lograr sus propios objetivos".
Según un informe de ResearchGate, las personas que
pertenecen a espacios de trabajo conjunto o trabajo en
cooperación, informan niveles de crecimiento en un
promedio de 6 puntos, en una escala de 7. La investigación
coordinada por el psicólogo organizacional Craig Knight,
concluye que las "oficinas empoderadas" -en las que los
trabajadores pueden elegir sus propias condicionespueden
aumentar la productividad en tareas cognitivas en
un 25 por ciento o más. Uno de los principales beneficios
que las personas identifican, en términos de valor, es el
enfoque en tener una comunidad que brinde oportunidades
de networking, lo que a su vez les ayuda a hacer crecer su
negocio. Numerosos miembros de The Shop han adquirido
nuevas cuentas, clientes, financiamiento y otros beneficios,
debido a su tiempo dedicado a trabajar en este espacio.
La necesidad de un espacio de trabajo progresivo como
este en Nueva Orleans ayudó a The Domain Companies a
impulsar el desarrollo de The Shop, que ofrece un diseño
innovador y comodidades competitivas, tales como el
estacionamiento en sus instalaciones para autos y
bicicletas; acceso sin llave las 24 horas del día, y los 7 días
de la semana, a través de una aplicación del celular; una
cocina completa con café y cerveza en barril; eventos de
miembros; descuentos locales y enfocados en la compañía;
entre otros beneficios.
12
Para Matt Schwartz, Director de The Domain Companies,
esta alternativa funciona "extremadamente bien" para

Nueva Orleans, y agregó
que el objetivo principal de
The Shop era "brindar a los
lugareños y visitantes un
lugar para reunirse,
compartir ideas y, a su vez,
fomentar una comunidad
creativa y emprendedora.
Nueva Orleans está abierto
a ese esquema. Es una
ciudad creativa con
muchas oportunidades,
llena de por sí de grandes
ideas sobre las que
podemos construir ".
The Shop es un espacio de
trabajo innovador. Está
ubicado en el corazón del
histórico Contemporary
Arts Center. The Shop
cuenta con más de 40,000
pies cuadrados de
galardones y
reconocimientos, espacio
lleno de arte, especializado
para destacar a los artistas
y diseñadores locales, con
instalaciones temporales y
permanentes; siete salas
de conferencias equipadas
con la última tecnología;
cabinas telefónicas
privadas y mucho más.
Uno de los aspectos más
singulares de The Shop es
el enfoque local creativo en
la obra de arte, y la
programación educativa y
cultural que conecta a los
miembros con la
vanguardia de las artes en
Nueva Orleans, las
empresas, el Gobierno
local y más.
Para obtener más
información acerca de The
Shop at the CAC visite el
sitio web, o programe un
recorrido:
https://theshopcac.com

GET TOKNOW
T u l i o M u r i l l o
V P/ L i cen sed A gen t,
Cl assi c I n su r an ce A gen cy
¿De dónde es?
Nací en Nueva
Orleans. Mis padres
son de Honduras.
¿Dónde vive?
Resido en Kenner,
Luisiana.
¿Cuál es su lugar
favorito en Nueva
Orleans?
El ?Foundation Room?
de House of Blues.
¿Tiene algún
pasatiempo
favorito?
Viajar, festivales,
trotar y hacer
ejercicio.
¿Donde estudió?
Me gradué de
Bonnabel High School
(Clase 1990). Estudié
en Delgado Community College, donde obtuve un diploma
asociado en Construcción Civil y Ingeniería Aplicada. Estoy
buscando mi titulo profesional en Ciencias Sociales y un titulo en
Marketing en la Universidad de Tulane.
¿En qué consiste su trabajo?
En la administración y el mercadeo de Classic Insurance
Agency.
¿Qué lo llevó a comenzar este negocio?
Llenar la necesidad de ofrecer seguros e información en español
a los hispanohablantes del área metropolitana de Nueva
Orleans.
¿Qué tipos de servicios ofrece Classic Insurance?
Seguros de auto, seguros de propiedad, seguros comerciales,
seguros de compensación al trabajador, seguro general de
responsabilidad y seguro sombrilla.
¿Por qué elegir Classic Incurance?
Tenemos más de 20 años de experiencia y un récord de
obtener rápidamente la emisión y la cobertura con nuestras
pólizas. Estamos abiertos 6 días de la semana con horarios
convenientes.
¿Cuál es el propósito con sus clientes? Nos aseguramos que
cada persona que sale de nuestra oficina tenga la cobertura
adecuada, entienda sus pólizas y obtenga paz mental. Nuestros
clientes siempre son bienvenidos y pueden visitarnos si tienen
preguntas, o bien, si necesitan más información
¿Qué lo enorgullece de vivir y trabajar en Nueva Orleans?
La diversidad y cultura que nos rodea y como todos nos unimos
para trabajar juntos en los momentos de necesidad.
Where are you from?
Born in New Orleans, LA. My parents are from Honduras.
Where do you reside?
Kenner, LA.
What is your favorite place in New Orleans?
The Foundation Room at the House of Blues.
What kind of hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
Traveling, festivals, jogging & exercising.
What schools have you attended?
I graduated from Bonnabel High School (Class of 1990).
I went to Delgado Community College to attain an
Associate Degree in Civil Construction and Applied
Engineering. I?m currently pursuing a bachelor?s degree in
Social Science with a Minor in Marketing at Tulane
University.
What does your job entail?
Managing and marketing of Classic Insurance Agency.
Why did you get into this business?
To fill the need of providing insurance policies and
information to a Spanish-speaking community in the New
Orleans metropolitan area
What services does Classic Insurance provide?
Auto insurance, Homeowners insurance, Commercial
insurance, Workers Comp., General Liability & Umbrella
Coverage insurance policies.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Guiding my customers and helping them understand their
policies and needs for any new venture. I also enjoy
meeting new people in the community.
Why should someone choose Classic Insurance?
We have over 20 years of experience with a quick turn
around on issuing coverage and polices. We are always
glad to assist, and we are open six days a week with
convenient hours.
What is your goal for your customers?
Making sure that every single one of our clients leaves
our office with the correct coverage, understand their
policies, and peace of mind. Our customers are always
welcome in our offices and they can always come see us
for additional information.
What makes you proud about being in New Orleans?
The diversity and culture that we are surrounded by, and
how we all come and work together in times of need.
15

COVER STORY
Rom i Gon zál ez, An Am bassad or of
by AnaM ar ia Bech
Lati n Am er i can Cu l tu r e
Romualdo "Romi" Gonzalez has
achieved great success as a lawyer,
but in his heart there has always been
a priority to advocate for the Latin
American community in the United
States, to highlight the best of this
culture and to motivate Latinos living in
the country to become active members
in their communities.
School Years. A step away from the
war.
The law was the path he chose to
follow the advice of his father,
Reverend Romualdo Gonzales, Bishop
of the Anglican Episcopal Church of
Cuba, who told him that it did not
matter what profession he chose as
long as he could help others. After
having obtained his English diploma at
the University of the South in
Tennessee, and having completed a
diploma in Spanish Culture at the
University of Madrid, he applied to Law
School at Tulane University.
It was possible that his duty with
military service could interrupt his first
semester. Gonzalez became part of the
army reserve at Tulane's ROTC in
1972, and on December 1st, his
birthday, the fear of going to war
dissipated when he found out his
lottery ticket would allow him to stay in
the country and continue his education.
Gonzalez obtained his Juris Doctor
degree from Tulane University. It was
only until he participated in the law
clinics required as service hours to
obtain his diploma when Gonzalez got
to know people in the Latin American
community in the city and reconnected
with his cultural heritage. That's how he
became known among Latino
immigrants. He enjoyed working with
his community and becoming a
resource of help in various ways
beyond legal issues.
45 years of law, a lifetime of cases
16
In his 45 years as a lawyer, he has
undertaken hundreds of cases,
locally and internationally. One of the
most significant in his career was when
he represented the families of 14
victims of Pan American World Airlines
flight 759 which collapsed on a
residential area of the city of Kenner, in
1982.
He still has contact with one of his
clients, Erica Velázquez Aust, the only
employee who survived the tragic New
Year's Eve fire in the Casino of the
Dupont Plaza Hotel in Puerto Rico in
1989. That day, nearly 100 people lost
their lives. Gonzalez achieved the
highest amount of all the cases from
that event and assisted the family
during their stay in New Orleans during
medical procedures for her client.
The success of these and many other
cases has allowed him to dedicate his
efforts and time to causes that he is
passionate about. "Being part of these
causes has been very important for
me, but nothing causes me more
pleasure than being able to help our
people," Says Gonzalez, adding that
"this is why I have had the desire to
start things that have been good for our
community, despite our community."
Pioneer of cultural, economic and
civic causes
"Romi" Gonzalez has been the pioneer
of countless cultural, economic and
civic causes in the city. "The primary
goal in my life has been to
'Americanize' our community and
expose the best of our culture to the
rest of our city, state and country,' and
he has achieved it because his
profession has allowed him to open
some doors.
The list in his curriculum of the
organizations in which he has
participated is extensive. He has been
the founder of organizations such as
Carnaval Latino, Latin American
Chamber of Commerce, The
International Cuba Society, The New
Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation
and Jupiter Hispanic Leadership
Conference, among others. Some of
these organizations continue, some
have new names, and some have
evolved.
Gonzalez has been a member of

numerous boards, conferences and commissions such as
HISPAC, World Trade Center, NOMA, Mayor Moon
Landrieu's Latin American Advisory Committee, National
Commission of Hispanic Ministers of the National Episcopal
Church, Canal Street Development Corporation, City
Building Corporation, and New Orleans Tricentennial
Commission, to name a few.
Jupiter Leadership Conference
Gonzalez proudly remembers the Jupiter Leadership
Conference, where a group of city leaders went on retreat to
discuss, plan and find solutions to the most critical problems
for the Latino community. The conferences had the presence
of expert speakers recognized at the national level who
guided important initiatives, such as The New Orleans
Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
The origins of the Chamber of Commerce
Along with professors Ricardo Arellano, a marketing
professor at the University of New Orleans, and Ruben
Armiñana, former vice president of Tulane University,
Gonzalez formed the Latin American Chamber of
Commerce, a division of the New Orleans Chamber of
Commerce. The idea of forming the Latin American
Chamber of Commerce emerged as an initiative for political
leaders to include Latino businessmen and bilingual leaders,
who could help reclaim New Orleans' position as the main
connection to Latin America. For many years, New Orleans
had become without much effort the "gateway of the
Americas," but when the city lost its largest trading partner
with the embargo of Cuba, New Orleans lost its hegemony
as such. Gonzalez believes that city leaders had a hard time
accepting that they did not have the vision to promote trade
with Latin America by strengthening relations with Latin
American residents, while Miami welcomed thousands of
Cubans who were knowledgeable in the trade business and
desperate to make a living. The Latin American Chamber of
Commerce got authorities to recognize the importance of a
Latino business force in New Orleans.
The party begins! Carnaval Latino
Carnaval Latino (Latin Carnival) has been one of the many
causes that Romi Gonzalez has nursed through the years as
a flagship of his efforts to promote Latin culture. Carnaval
Latino was conceived in 1989 with the idea of offering a
platform to showcase local and international musicians and
businesses in the City of New Orleans, and to promote the
Latino culture to society in general through a professional
production free to the audience. The golden years of the
Carnaval Latino were between 1989 and 1996, when Canal
Street was filled with spectators from what is now Harrah's
Casino all the way to the river. At that time, they presented
internationally recognized folk groups, and masters of
ceremony who would introduce great artists such as Rita
Moreno, Celia Cruz, Johny Pacheco, Willy Chirino, Rey
Ruiz, Las Chicas del Can and Wilfrido Vargas, among
others.
Union and disunion
Attor ney Rom i Gonzalez and wife, Sar a Lapene Puglia.
Photo: Sar a Lapene Puglia.
Epi scopal Chur ch Task For ce
Being a m em ber of a Task For ce convened by the
Episcopal Chur ch to do a thr ee year study on the
r equest by the Episcopal Dioceses of Cuba for
r eadm ission to the Episcopal chur ch of the United
States of Am er ica,was ver y special for Gonzalez.
"Thi s w as ver y i m por tan t to m e, as m y father w as
the l ast Bi shop of Cu ba befor e the Cu ban Di oceses
had to be separ ated i n 1966 fr om the US chur ch,
d u e to the pol i ti cal fr ay betw een the tw o
cou n tr i es". This r eunification is a significant step
towar ds Rom i Gonzalez's hope that the r elations
between the two neighbor s would one day nor m alize.
Cuba Float. Car naval Latino 2017.
The success of these initiatives has caused the desire of
many people to carry out similar projects. "The saddest thing
I have suffered in my whole life is to see the inability of our
community to work together. This happened to Carnaval
Latino...suddenly there were similar initiatives that wanted to
imitate it, we asked them to stay with us, and we asked to
work together...," recalls Gonzalez, pointing out the division 25

Left: The 5th Annual Car naval Latino poster hangs in the br eak r oom at the Br aden, Gonzalez Associates Law Fir m in downtown New Or leans.
Rigjht: Photo: Jer r y Lee-LewisThe Gonzalez's. Rom i Gonzalez (M iddle). Pablo Gonzalez (left) and Rom i Gonzalez (r ight) ar r ived at their father 's
office for a fam ily pictur e.
of efforts and resources as the main reason for the
interruption of the Carnival for several years. The division
has been a big obstacle for good initiatives to be
strengthened. At some point around five Latino-oriented
Chambers of Commerce existed in the city, destined for the
same purpose. One of the achievements of the second
Jupiter Conference in 1995 was an agreement to merge all
chambers into one to provide greater benefits for the
members, and to represent the business community in a
more unified, strong way. The result of Jupiter II was the
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, which is a
very solid institution today.
Carnaval Latino was revived in 2007 after Hurricane
Katrina. On Saturday, October 13th, Carnaval celebrates
its nineteenth edition. During this celebration, everyone will
be able to enjoy dance performances and cultural events
for free at Washington Park in the Marigny and they will
also observe the traditional Parade of the Americas. The
celebration will close with live music performances at the
iconic House of Blues, during their regular Bamboleo!
party! This exhibition of Latino culture will feature activities
for all tastes of music and typical foods.
A book, his next step
Romi Gonzalez works constantly to expose the best of our
culture in our society. The lawyer confesses that he is
preparing a book to collect all the stories he has been
involved with. Gonzalez is practically a living encyclopedia,
and is a chronicler when it comes to the history of our city,
its connections to our community, and he knows very well
the ties between New Orleans and his native Cuba.
Speaking of the legal needs for the immigrant community,
Gonzalez believes that "it is important to seek stability for
the people who are already here and to show the rest of
the community that an undocumented person is not a
criminal." For the attorney, the term "undocumented" was
sufficient when referring to those who are getting their
documentation in order. Gonzalez rejects the term
18 "illegal", and smiles when he mentions that he does not
like the term 'alien', adding that "we must teach the rest of
the community that we are part of them and not
'aliens'...we did not just fall from the moon."
Family first
Of his greatest pride, Romi Gonzalez does not say much.
His eagerness becomes obvious when he meets his sons,
Romi and Pablo, in his office on the twelfth floor of the
Whitney building just in time for a family portrait. At some
point during the conversation about Latin American culture,
he mentioned that his late wife Sally Ann Howell, the
mother of his children, was an American native of Monroe,
Louisiana who greatly enjoyed traveling through various
Latin American countries and learning about their different
traditions. Gonzalez re-married and currently shares his life
with his wife, Sara Lapene Puglia, a successful commercial
manager, originally from Guatemala.
For a brief moment, the respected lawyer, the entrepreneur
and the executive, ceases to be all of this to become
simply a father. Between the laughter and jokes with his
children who pose for a photo, it is evident that Gonzalez
has truly achieved a successful life.
Scan to watch
video interview

Romualdo ?Romi?
González ha tenido gran
éxito como abogado, pero
en su corazón siempre ha
existido la prioridad de
abogar por la comunidad
latinoamericana en los
Estados Unidos; destacar
lo mejor de su cultura y
motivar a los latinos
residentes del país a
convertirse en miembros
activos en sus
comunidades.
Los años de escuela. A
un paso de la guerra
La ley fue el camino que
escogió para seguir el consejo de su
padre, el Reverendo Romualdo
Gonzales, Obispo de la Iglesia
Episcopal Anglicana de Cuba, quien le
decía que no importaba que profesión
escogiera, mientras pudiera lograr
ayudar a los demás. Luego de haber
obtenido su diploma de Inglés en la
Universidad del Sur en Tennessee, y
haber realizado un diplomado en
Cultura Española en la Universidad de
Madrid, se presentó al Colegio de
Leyes de la Universidad de Tulane.
En ese momento, era posible que su
deber con el servicio militar
interrumpiera su primer semestre.
González entró a formar parte de la
reserva del ejército en el ROTC de
Tulane en 1972, y el primero de
diciembre, día de su cumpleaños, el
temor de ir a la guerra desapareció,
pues su boleto de lotería le permitiría
permanecer en el país y continuar su
carrera.
Obtuvo su diploma Juris Doctor en la
Universidad de Tulane. Después de
haber estado desconectado de la
cultura latina y de sus raíces cubanas,
desde que sus padres decidieron que
dejara la isla en 1961, bajo rumores
políticos de una posible dictadura,
Romi González se reencontró con su
comunidad durante las horas de
servicio en clínicas jurídicas, pues
eran requisito para graduarse como
abogado.
45 años de abogado, toda una vida
de casos
En sus 45 años ejerciendo como
abogado, ha defendido cientos de
casos, local e internacionalmente. Uno
de los más significativos en su carrera
fue cuando representó a las familias
de 14 víctimas del vuelo 759 de Pan
American World Airlines, que se
desplomó sobre un área residencial de
la ciudad de Kenner, en 1982.
Aún mantiene contacto con una de
sus clientes, Erica Velázquez Aust, la
única empleada sobreviviente del
trágico incendio de la víspera de Año
Nuevo en el casino del Hotel Dupont
Plaza, en Puerto Rico, en 1989. Ese
día, cerca de 100 personas perdieron
la vida al quedar atrapados. González
PORTADA
Rom i Gon zál ez, el em bajad or d e
l a Cu l tu r a Lati n a
Por AnaM ar ia Bech
logró el monto más alto
de todos los casos del
incendio, y asistió a la
familia durante su
estadía en Nueva
Orleans. Además,
permaneció con ellos
durante el proceso de
recuperación y
tratamientos médicos
proporcionados a
Velázquez en el
Hospital Universitario
de Tulane.
El éxito en estos
casos, y otros más, le
ha permitido dedicar esfuerzos y
tiempo a causas por la cuales se
apasiona.?Ser parte de estos casos ha
sido muy importante para mí, pero
nada me causa más placer que poder
ayudar a nuestra gente?, asegura
González, agregando que por eso ?he
tenido el afán de empezar cosas que
han sido buenas para nuestra
comunidad, a pesar de nuestra
comunidad?.
Pionero de causas culturales,
económicas y cívicas
?Romi?González ha sido el pionero de
un sinnúmero de causas culturales,
económicas y cívicas en la ciudad. ?La
meta primordial en mi vida ha sido
?americanizar?a nuestra comunidad, y
exponer lo mejor de nuestra cultura al
resto de nuestra Ciudad, Estado y
País?: y a través de su profesión ha
logrado abrir puertas para lograrlo.
La lista en su currículo de las
organizaciones en las que ha
participado es extensa. Ha sido el
fundador de organizaciones como
Carnaval Latino, Latin American 19

Chamber of Commerce, The International Cuba Society,
The New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation y Jupiter
Hispanic Leadership Conference, entre otras. Algunas de
estas organizaciones continúan, y otras han evolucionado
y siguen teniendo presencia bajo nombres similares.
González también ha sido miembro de juntas directivas,
conferencias y comisionados tales como HISPAC, World
Trade Center, NOMA, Mayor Moon Landrieu?s Latin
American Advisory Committee, National Commission of
Hispanic Ministries de la Iglesia Episcopal Nacional, Canal
Street Development Corporation,
City Building Corporation y New
Orleans Tricentennial
Commission, entre otras.
Conferencias Júpiter de
Liderazgo
González recuerda con orgullo las Conferencias Júpiter de
Liderazgo, donde un grupo de líderes de la ciudad salían
de su retiro para discutir,
planear y buscar
soluciones a los problemas
más críticos para la
comunidad latina. Las
conferencias contaban con
la presencia de expertos
oradores reconocidos a
nivel nacional. Iniciativas
importantes, como The
New Orleans Hispanic
Heritage Foundation,
fueron un resultado de
estos eventos.
Los orígenes de la
Cámara de Comercio
Junto a los catedráticos Ricardo Arellano, profesor de
mercadeo de la Universidad de Nueva Orleans, y Rubén
Armiñana, vicepresidente de la Universidad de Tulane,
González formó la Latin American Chamber of Commerce,
una división de la Cámara de Comercio de Nueva Orleans.
La idea de formar la Cámara de Comercio
Latinoamericana surgió como una iniciativa para que los
líderes políticos incluyeran negociantes latinos y líderes
bilingües, que pudieran ayudar a recuperar la posición de
Nueva Orleans como la conexión principal a
Latinoamérica. Por muchos años, Nueva Orleans había
logrado sin mucho esfuerzo convertirse en el ?portal de las
Américas?, pero al perder a su mayor socio comercial con
el embargo de Cuba, New Orleans perdió su hegemonía
como tal. González considera que al liderazgo de la ciudad
le costó aceptar que no tuvieron la visión de fomentar el
comercio con Latinoamérica, fortaleciendo las relaciones
con los residentes latinoamericanos, mientras que
20
Miami recibía a miles de cubanos conocedores de la
industria portuaria y desesperados por encontrar una
forma de vida. La Cámara de Comercio Latinoamericana
logró que las autoridades reconocieran la importancia de
una fuerza empresarial latina en Nueva Orleans.
¡Llega la fiesta! El Carnaval Latino
"Nada m e causa m ás placer que
poder ayudar a nuest ra gent e"
-Rom i González
El Carnaval Latino ha sido otro de los eventos que Romi
González ha cultivado como un legado de su lucha por la
cultura latina. Carnaval Latino fue concebido en 1989 con
la idea de ofrecer una plataforma
de exposición para músicos y
compañías locales e
internacionales en la Ciudad de
Nueva Orleans, y para fomentar
la cultura latina en la sociedad en
general, con una producción
profesional y gratuita para la audiencia. Los años dorados
del Carnaval Latino fueron entre 1989 y 1996, cuando la
calle Canal se llenaba de
espectadores desde lo que
es hoy el Harrah?s Casino,
hasta el rio. En esa época,
presentaban grupos
folclóricos reconocidos
internacionalmente. Se
llegaron a presentar
maestros de ceremonia de
talla internacional, quienes
acompañaron en los
escenarios a grandes
artistas como Rita Moreno,
Celia Cruz, Johny Pacheco,
Willy Chirino, Rey Ruiz, Las
Chicas del Can y Wilfrido
Vargas, entre otros.
Unión y desunión
El éxito de estas iniciativas ha causado el deseo de
muchas personas de realizar proyectos similares. ?De lo
más triste que yo he sufrido en toda mi vida es ver la
inhabilidad de nuestra comunidad de trabajar juntos. Esto
le paso a Carnaval Latino? de pronto salían iniciativas
iguales que querían imitarlo; les pedíamos que se
quedaran con nosotros, y les pedíamos que trabajáramos
juntos? ?, recuerda González, señalando la división de
esfuerzos y recursos como la razón principal de la
interrupción del Carnaval por varios años. La división es el
mayor obstáculo para que las buenas iniciativas se
fortalezcan. En algún momento llegaron a existir alrededor
de 5 cámaras de comercio destinadas para el mismo fin en
la ciudad. Uno de los logros de la segunda conferencia
Júpiter en 1995 fue el acordar que estas cámaras se
unieran, para lograr mayores beneficios para los
miembros, y para representar con más fuerza a la >>

comunidad de
negocios. El resultado
de Júpiter II fue la
Cámara de Comercio
Hispana de Luisiana,
que hoy en día es una
institución sólida.
Carnaval Latino fue
revivido en el 2007,
luego del huracán
Katrina. Este año celebra su decimonovena edición, el
sábado 13 de octubre. Durante el Carnaval Latino, todas
las personas podrán disfrutar de manera gratuita
presentaciones de danza y actos culturales en el
Washington Park, en el Marigny, y podrán observar el
tradicional Desfile de las Américas. La celebración
terminará con música en vivo, en el icónico House of
Blues, durante la fiesta Bamboleo! Esta exhibición de la
cultura latina contará con actividades para todos los
gustos, música y comidas típicas.
Un libro, el siguiente paso
Romi González trabaja constantemente para exponer lo
mejor de nuestra cultura en nuestra sociedad. El abogado
confiesa que está preparando un libro para recopilar todas
las historias de las que ha sido participe. González es
prácticamente una enciclopedia viviente, y es un cronista
en lo que se refiere a la historia de nuestra ciudad y a sus
conexiones con nuestra comunidad. Y sobre todo, con la
conexión de Nueva Orleans y su natal Cuba.
Al hablar de las necesidades legales para la comunidad
de inmigrantes, González considera que ?es importante
buscar estabilidad para las personas que ya están aquí y
demostrarle al resto de la comunidad que un
indocumentado no es un criminal?. Para el abogado, el
término ?indocumentado?era suficiente para referirse a
quienes están preparando su documentación. González
rechaza el término ?ilegal?, y sonríe cuando menciona que
no le cae bien el término ?alien?,agregando que ?debemos
enseñar al resto de la comunidad que somos parte de
ellos y no ?aliens ? nosotros no caímos de la luna?.
La familia ante todo
De su mayor orgullo, Romi González no me cuenta
mucho. Yo observo su ansiedad por lograr que sus hijos
Romi y Pablo lleguen a su oficina en el decimosegundo
piso del edificio Whitney, justo a tiempo para un retrato
familiar. En algún momento de la conversación sobre la
cultura latina, mencionó que su fallecida esposa Sally Ann
Howell, la madre de sus hijos, era una americana
originaria de Monroe, Louisiana. Ella disfrutaba
enormemente viajar por Latinoamérica y aprender sobre la
cultura latinoamericana. González rehizo su vida, y la
comparte junto a su esposa, Sara Lapene Puglia, una
exitosa gerente comercial, originaria de Guatemala.
En un pequeño instante, el respetado abogado, el
emprendedor y el ejecutivo, deja de ser todo esto para
convertirse simplemente en papá. Entre risas y bromas
con sus hijos que posan para la foto, puedo ver
claramente la representación en vivo de lo que significa el
lograr una vida exitosa.
Br i gad a d e Tr abajo por l a Igl esi a Epi scopal
Ser m iem br o del com ité convenido por la Iglesia
Episcopal par a r ealizar un estudio de 3 años seguido al
pedido de la Diócesis Episcopal de Cuba par a ser
r eadm itida a la Iglesia Episcopal de los Estados Unidos
de Am ér ica fue algo m uy especial par a González.
"Esto fu e d e gr an i m por tan ci a par a m í al ser m i
pad r e el ú tl i m o Obi spo d e Cu ba an tes d e qu e l a
d i ócesi s cu ban a tu vi er a qu e separ ar se en 1966
d ebi d o a l a fr i cci ón pol íti ca en tr e l os d os países."
Esta r eunificación es un paso significativo hacia lo que
González esper a sea la nor m alización de las r elaciones
entr e los dos vecinos.
21

Blast to the Past!
Jose and Jorge Colon from The Almas Band, formerly
Almas Gemelas, were visiting town in September.
They?re pictured here with drummer, Gabriel Velasco,
during a show on Frenchmen Street. Their fourth
album, Funk Defender, is putting New Orleans
influence on Almas Band's sound front and center to
create a sexy, funky, invigorating listen; filtering the
spirit of the Caribbean through the sounds of New
Orleans in a way they've never done over the course
of a full album.
Listen and download their l atest album, ?Funk Defender? by scanning the code above.

Palom a Café
NOLA EATS
An Interview w ith
Chefs Danny Alas and
Justin Rodriguez
by Leslie Alm eida
@nola.eats
Imagine that you are back in high
school and your teacher says everyone
must pair up with a classmate for a
project. You turn your head toward
your BFF and they turn their head
toward you. You exchange a nod or
maybe a raised eyebrow. Nothing
needs to be said because you both just
know you will be working together on
this. And everything is going to be
alright.
Now snap out of it, because it?s 2018
and you have to get to the office and
work on that presentation with The Guy
That Makes Noises When He Eats.
Ugh. Wouldn?t it be great if we could
work with our best friend again?
Danny Alas and Justin Rodriguez, the
chefs at Paloma Cafe, have managed
to do just that. The duo met while at
culinary school in Miami, went on to
work together at critically-acclaimed
Scarpella, and then made the move to
New Orleans to join the team at
Compère Lapin. Eventually, they would
open Paloma Cafe, an eatery in the
Bywater heavily influenced by their
Latin-Caribbean upbringings.
For Chef Danny, part of the appeal is
having a support system in an
environment where things can get
pretty hectic. ?Working with Justin, I
know my best friend?s got my back.?
?She knows I?m not gonna bullshit her,?
Chef Justin adds with a laugh. ?If
something isn?t right, I?ll tell her, ?we?ve
got to throw the whole thing away. ?
One would think that sharing the duties
of running a professional kitchen would
present some major challenges, but
the camaraderie extends to the
logistical side of running a restaurant.
While Chef Danny and Chef Justin --
Venezuelan and Dominican,
respectively -- tend to see eye to eye
on most matters, there is one thing that
divides them: tripe.
With a grin, Danny admits, ?I eat it. I
like to get nasty like that.?
Justin, however, is not on board. ?No,
it?s a texture issue for me. My family
grew up eating it but I do not love it.?
Fortunately, there is plenty to love
about Paloma Cafe, perhaps one of
the most adaptable spots in the New
Orleans area. Previous tenants -- first
Booty?s Street Food and later Cafe
Henri -- struggled with the complexities
of a changing neighborhood. Paloma,
attuned to the community?s needs,
serves breakfast, lunch, brunch and
dinner, dependent upon the day of the
week. Additionally, the Revelator
Coffee Company-owned cafe
welcomes the laptop crowd, offering a
space where they can work or study
with a caffeinated beverage and
housemade pastry.
Regardless of the time of day, each
menu reflects the influence of the
chefs?heritage and culture.
Breakfast includes heartier
26
?We?re generally on the same page,?
says Danny. ?It?s like we?re
telepathically sharing these ideas and
then work them out until we have the
finished product.?
?As in all other aspects of running a
business, it?s all about balance,? adds
Justin.
23

offerings such as a plate of eggs,
potatoes and choice of chorizo or
avocado, and lighter fare such as
the vegan-friendly avocado toast
with cumin roasted chickpeas.
The lunch and dinner menus
deliver on amped up homestyle
favorites; think yuca frita,
marinated chicken thighs,
platanitos, and braised short ribs.
Diners can now get their favorites
one additional night a week;
dinner service was recently
extended to Tuesdays.
In a restaurant named Paloma --
a Latin derivative meaning
?peaceful? -- the pair strive toward
a positive work environment for
their team, especially during a
time where there is little to no
room for the contrary.
?We have a chill space here,?
says Danny. ?We try to be mindful
of our team. We never have to go
out of our way to hire, because
the staff is generally friends of
friends.?
Friendship seems to be a
recurring theme with Chef Danny
and Chef Justin at the helm of
Paloma Cafe. How could it not
when two friends navigate
analogous professional paths
across multiple state lines?
?We are both far from our
families,? says Danny, ?but we
have each other.?
Paloma Cafe is located at 800
Louisa Street in the Bywater. For
more info, visit palomanola.com
or follow them on Instagram at
@paloma_nola.

Palom a Café.
Por Leslie Alm eida @nola.eats

The Struggle to Engage
LEAD UP
and Motivate Employees
By Blanca Robinson
VIVA Consulting Group
Every leader faces this problem. In fact, it is a
billion-dollar problem! According to Gallup, only 13% of
employees worldwide are engaged, and 25% of
employees report that they are actively disengaged. The
costs associated with this are staggering in terms of
lost productivity and the cost of replacing employees.
Engaging and mobilizing employees can be a daunting
challenge, but a few simple behaviors can make a huge
difference to improve engagement.
It i s fr u str ati n g to have to r ead m i n d s
Many employees are frustrated because they feel like
they must read their manager?s mind. They don?t know
how they are doing and how they can improve their
performance. The annual performance review is
sometimes their only chance to find out, and that event
is so stressful and formal that the environment is not
always conducive for improvement.
Span s of con tr ol con tr i bu te to the pr obl em
This situation is not completely the fault of
management. In some organizations, spans of control
have become so large that managers must complete
formal performance reviews monthly.
The sol u ti on s ar e si m pl er than you m i ght thi n k
There are many simple strategies to engage and
mobilize employees. They cost almost nothing to
implement, can be put into place immediately, and have
huge impact. For instance, one opportunity that many
leaders have ? even at the C-level ? is to give more
frequent, informal feedback about how each employee
is doing. That way, everyone in an organization knows
what is expected of them and how they can get better.
The 7 qu esti on s
There are seven simple questions every leader must
answer and communicate to employees frequently.
Small, informal conversations about performance go a
long way, especially when they include teachable
moments about different situations and details.
W hat d o I expect fr om you ?
W hat ar e you d oi n g w el l ?
W hat, i f an ythi n g, cou l d you be d oi n g better ?
W hat, i f an ythi n g, d o I w an t you to d o better ?
W hat w i l l happen i f you i m pr ove (e.g., m or e
r espon si bi l i ty, m or e ti m e w i th l ead er shi p,
m or e d esi r abl e assi gn m en ts?
W hat w i l l happen i f you d on 't i m pr ove?
H ow can I hel p?
While all these questions are important, the last
question is especially important. It shows the employee
that the leader cares and is not merely abdicating
responsibility or shifting blame.

La dificultad de involucrar y motivar a los
empleados
Por Blanca Robinson
Las 7 pr egu n tas

TECH TALK
With the quick changes in smartphone technology we
find ourselves expecting a new gadget every year.
Apple released its new version of the iPhone during
their Keynote presentation from the Steve Jobs
Theater on September 12th, 2018. Now the big
question is...Is it worth upgrading devices every
year?
Are you willing to spend $1000+ every year for a
smartphone that looks almost identical to the
previous one and has just a few minor upgrades?
Big cellular companies even now offer plans that
allow you to swap your cellphone every year with a
premium monthly cost.
The new set of iPhones was released with its
versions XS, which arrived in stores on September
21st, and the XR which will be available in stores on
October 26th.
Let?s take a look at the specs and the main
differences from the iPhone X released last year.
transl ation>>
¿Un d i sposi ti vo "n u evo" cad a añ o?
Los cambios constantes en la tecnologia de los
teléfonos inteligentes nos mantiene a la expectativa
cada año de la salida de un nuevo artefacto.
La compañía Apple anunció el pasado 12 de
septiembre su nueva versión del iPhone durante su
presentación Keynote desde el Teatro Steve Jobs.
La pregunta es...¿Vale la pena cambiar de teléfono
cada año?
¿Estás dispuesto a pagar mas de mil dólares cada
año por un teléfono que es prácticamente igual a su
previa versión, con unos pequeños ajustes?
Inclusive, las grandes compañías de telefonía ahora
ofrecen planes que permiten que cambies tu teléfono
cada año si pagas una mensualidad premium.
El nuevo set de iPhones salió al mercado con las
versiones XS disponible en tiendas desde el 21 de
septiembre y el XR estará en las tiendas el 26 de
octubre.
Veamos las especificaciones y las diferencias de los
nuevos telefonos comparados con el iPhone X que
salió el año pasado.

A "n ew " d evi ce ever y year ?
by The I.T. Guy
Com pared t o iPhone X (2017)
Weight 174g / A11 Bionic / Screen Size 5.8" $999
iPhone XS iPhone M ax iPhone XR
- Screen size/Pantalla: 5.8"
- Super Retina HD display
- Weight: 177g
- Pixel per inch/Pixeles por
pulgada: 458
- 12 MP wide-angle and
telephoto cameras
- 2 meter water resistance
$999
- Screen Size/Pantalla: 6.5"
- Super Retina HD display
- Weight /Peso 208g
- Pixel per inch/Pixeles por
pulgada: 458
- 12 MP wide-angle and
telephoto cameras
- 2 meter water resitance
$1099
- Screen size/Patalla: 6.1"
- Liquid Retina HD display
- Weight 194g
- No 3D touch
- 12 MP camera
- 1 meter water resistance
$749
All Share
Processor A12 Bionic chip/7 Megapixel Front Camera/12 Megapixel
4K Rear camera/Face ID/Wireless charging
Scan to see video of new iPhone^^
29

Events
10/ 12-14 GENTILLY
FEST.
Location: 5701 Press Dr.
New Orleans.
910/ 5,6,12,13,19 &
20. OKTOBERFEST.
FREE ADMISSION
Location: 1700 Moss
Street. New Orleans.
oktoberfestnola.com
Three weekends in
October for German
food, music and beer!
10/ 5 SCALES & ALES.
7-11PM
Location: Audubon
Aquarium.
10/ 12 WWII AIR, SEA
& LAND FESTIVAL.
10AM-5PM
Location: New Orleans
Lakefront Airport.
airsealandfest.com
20 18 You n g Pr of essi on al s
N etw or k i n g Even t at YN O T D ock
O ctober 16th 5:30 -7:30 PM
10/ 6 3rd ANNUAL
BEIGNET FEST.
10AM-6PM
Location: Festival
Gounds, New Orleans
City Park.
@beignetfest
Traditional sweet
treats and savory
options with seafood,
cheese and more. Live
music, arts, kids
activities.
10/ 13 CARNAVAL
LATINO. NOON
Location: Festival at
Washington Square
Park in the Marigny
followed by Parade at
6:30pm. Event closes
with live concert at
House of Blues with a
cover charge of $20.
carnavalatinonola.com
Page 30 viva nol a magazine

OCTUBRE
10/ 13 & 10/ 20
BAMBOLEO! LATIN
CLUB NIGHT.
Location: House of
Blues. 225 Decatur
Street. New Orleans.
houseofblues.com
Be our Guest! Scan
code above to get free
tickets for Bamboleo!
on October 20th.
10/ 26-28 VOODOO.
MUSIC + ARTS
EXPERIENCE
Location: New Orleans
City Park
10/ 31 HAPPY
HALLOWEEN!
LATIN CLUB NIGHT
10/ 20/ 18 KREWE OF
BOO!
6:30PM
Location: French Quarter
Parade.
For parade route, visit
kreweofboo.com
0/ 20/ 18 MAC & CHEESE
FEST. 11AM-6M
Location: 835 N. Rampart
St. New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS
SAINTS GAMES
HOME
10/ 18 vs Redskins.
AWAY
10/ 21 @ Ravens
10/ 28 @ Vikings
Redskins
RITMOS)
viva nol a magazine page 31

VIVIR MEJOR
The Need to Un pl u g
"Life is what happens while we're busy
worrying about everything we need to
change or accomplish. Slow down, get
mindful, and try to enjoy the moment.
This moment is your life."
~ Lori Deschene
by Andr ea M ejía
Choosing to disconnect and leave our phones and our
concerns behind is a deliberate decision for many, but for
me it is a necessity.
The decision to disconnect and go on a trip to reconnect
with myself is part of my life.
Our jobs are often the biggest obstacle to unplugging. We
spend most of the day at work, and most of that time we
are online sending emails, updating social networks and
searching the Internet. Once the work day is over, we arrive
home at dinner time and many times we eat while
simultaneously browsing personal Facebook, Instagram,
and email accounts.
I make the effort to get out of the routine and I make sure to
take a vacation to get disconnected.
On a recent trip to Mexico, I was lying on the beach and
realized that I did not know how to relax and disconnect
anymore. That?s when I decided it was time to put the
phone away and enjoy my trip in the archaeological ruins of
Tulum free of social networks.
Since I did not want my business to suffer from this, I
resorted to hiring a person to do the social media managing
for my business and for my personal networks since I like to
share my experiences.
Disconnecting was a truly rewarding experience! The first
day I almost died, but little by little the constant need to see
updates on networks disappeared and I had the best time
not knowing what was happening back home and enjoying
my plans without having to instantly publish what I was
doing. At nighttime I had fun choosing my favorite pictures
and sending them to the social media manager for
uploading.
After this experience, I decided to start a new chapter in my
life. I call it "less is best." I felt satisfied with the way I
enjoyed the trip and felt that I was not missing out on my
experiences because I was hooked to the phone uploading
photos.
It is unrealistic to think that we can banish everyone
completely from our lives and give up the digital world
altogether. I?m back on social media but in a more
conscious way. I like the convenience of social media to
communicate with people whom I love and are far from me.
I believe the key to mental balance is to find the middle
ground of being too connected and totally disconnected.
32

transl ation
Descon ectar se
Elegir desconectarnos y dejar nuestros teléfonos y nuestras
preocupaciones es una decisión deliberada para muchos,
pero para mí es una necesidad.
La decisión de desconectarme e irme de viaje para
reconectarme conmigo misma, es parte de mi vivir.
Nuestros trabajos son el mayor obstáculo para lograr
desconectarnos. Pasamos la mayor parte del día trabajando,
y ocupamos el tiempo enviando correos electrónicos,
actualizando redes sociales y haciendo búsquedas en
Internet. Una vez se termina la jornada laboral, llegamos a
casa a la hora de la cena, y muchas veces comemos mientras
navegamos simultáneamente por las cuentas personales de
Facebook, Instagram y de correo electrónico.
Para lograr desconectarme, hago el esfuerzo de salir de la
rutina, y me aseguro de tomar mis vacaciones. Hace poco
estaba de viaje en México, recostada en la playa, y me di
cuenta de que ya no sabía cómo relajarme y desconectarme.
En ese momento, decidí dejar el teléfono a un lado y disfrutar
mi viaje a la zona arqueológica de Tulum, libre de redes
sociales. Como no quería que mi negocio sufriera por esto,
recurrí a contratar a una persona que hiciera el trabajo de
redes sociales, e incluso decidí que también manejara mis
cuentas personales, ya que me gusta compartir mis
experiencias.
"La vida es lo que sucede mientras
estamos ocupados preocupándonos
por todo lo que necesitamos
cambiar o lograr. Reduzca la
velocidad, concéntrese y trate de
disfrutar el momento. Este
momento es su vida?
~ Lori Deschene
¡Lograr
desconectarme fue una experiencia realmente gratificante! El
primer día casi muero, pero poco a poco desapareció la
necesidad constante de ver actualizaciones en redes, y me la
pasé de lo mejor, sin enterarme de nada, y disfrutando mis
planes sin tener que publicarlos al instante. Ya en la noche,
me divertía eligiendo mis fotos favoritas, que después enviaba
para que fueran publicadas en mis redes.
Después de esa experiencia, decidí comenzar un nuevo
capítulo en mi vida. Lo llamo: "Entre menos mejor". Me sentí
satisfecha de la forma como disfruté el viaje y sentí que no
me estaba perdiendo las experiencias por estar en el teléfono
subiendo fotos.
Es poco realista pensar que podemos desterrar a todos de
nuestras vidas completamente y renunciar al mundo digital
del todo. He regresado a las redes sociales, pero con mayor
conciencia. Me gusta tener la facilidad de las redes para
poder comunicarme con las personas que quiero y que están
lejos de mí, y creo que la clave es encontrar el balance entre
estar muy conectado y totalmente desconectado.

DE MODA NOLA
She's a RA INBOW
With the resurgence of ?70s Style comes the
inevitable return of rainbow motiFs and stripes on
stripes. Fall back on the traditional autumn palette
of deep and dark tones, and let the good vibes shine
through with bands of vivid hues.
3102 M agazine St., NOLA 70115 @Ar m oir eBoutique | Ar m oir eBoutique.com