QEPD Vicente Fernández and other headlines we’re watching
Good morning! We’re less than a week away from Christmas and today’s headlines include the death of Vicente Fernández, the sad fact that more than half of the COVID-19 deaths in 2020 in Harris County were from the Hispanic community, and a new project from the University of Houston to promote education about dementia among Hispanics using soap operas.
Vicente Fernández, the Mexican Icon and ‘King of Rancheras,’ Dead at 81 (NBC Los Angeles)
“King of Rancheras” Vicente Fernández passed away Sunday, December 12, 2021, at age 81. A cultural icon, Fernández sold over 50 million copies worldwide and his work earned him three Grammy Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards, 14 Lo Nuestro Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Below I’m sharing a video from one of his most famous songs, “Volver Volver.”
COVID-19 leading cause of death for Hispanic residents in Harris County last year, report says (KHOU)
More than half of COVID-19 Harris County deaths in 2020 were Hispanic residents — a fact that comes as no real surprise but does remind us that the disease has hit the Hispanic community hard. Lack of access to health resources, higher rates of medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, and high rates of employment in service positions (where there’s a higher risk of infection) are all contributing factors.
To find out what the leading cause of death is in your area, use this interactive map by entering your zip code.
Using Soap Operas to Inform Hispanics about Dementia
According to the CDC, “13 percent of U.S. Latinos age 65 and older are thought to have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, lower than for African Americans and higher than for non-Hispanic whites.” A new project from the University of Houston is hoping to inform the Hispanic community about Dementia.
The Jack J. Valenti School of Communication at the University of Houston hosted a one-day creative script writing “hackathon” where 30 aspiring writers. Their goal was to develop a telenovela script to inform Hispanics of all ages about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The telenovela from the winning team will be produced by Valenti School students and air in a five-part series on Facebook in the spring.
Learn more from the University of Houston.
Have you seen a headline we should consider adding to our next update? Share it in the comments!
Sandra Fernandez is a professional communicator, tech enthusiast, book lover, and blogger. You can find her main blog at SandraSays.com and more of her writing at HispanicHouston.com.