Macon Magazine

76 maconmagazine.com | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 top priority for readers, and much of his newspaper's content was designed to help his community navigate the process of becoming U.S. citizens. "When I do the news, ... it's what people tell me [they need]. They tell me, 'This is what's happening,' and that's how I address the issues." Not everyone who immigrates from Latin America speaks Spanish as a first language, such as some Guatemalans who speak indigenous languages or dialects like Mam, or Brazilians who speak Portuguese. Part of Velez's continued work in immigration justice is to connect those who do not speak Spanish or English as their first language to appropriate language courses, like those at Family Advancement Ministries on Orange Street in Macon. Nowadays, U.S. and Georgia Latinos are more diverse than ever, with a 25% increase in immigration from Central America – countries including El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – and a net negative immigration from Mexico – from 2013 to 2018, more people immigrated from the U.S. to Mexico than vice versa, according to PEW Research Center data. Velez sees this as being all the more reason for Latinos to find common ground, championing the diversity of their cultures while celebrating what they share and advocating for their shared needs. Hispanic buying power Another important aspect of Velez's work has been building a strong network for Latinx business owners, connecting them to the right community contacts, and getting the word out to potential customers. From the beginning, he sought to prioritize Latinx-owned businesses in Que Pasa. He believes in Hispanic buying power and entrepreneurship. According to the University of Georgia's Selig Center for Economic Growth, the U.S. Hispanic market's spending power grew to $1.9 trillion in 2020, an increase of 87% from 2010. That buying power is larger than the GDP of Italy and almost as large as the GDP of France. Data from L'ATTITUDE Ventures, a multi-millions-wielding access-mission venture capital firm that invests in Latinx businesses, indicates U.S. Latinx-owned businesses accounted for nearly 80% of all net new businesses created during the last decade, representing a 47% increase, including two million by Latina women. To Velez, creating strong Hispanic business connections made – and makes – good financial sense, and he encourages others to follow his lead. "When you discriminate against someone, you are losing money. Hispanics are entrepreneurial, and we come to this country to work." Don Moises on the radio "What really got me connected to everyone was my radio show," said Velez. "People got to know me better by welcoming me into their homes and bringing me along for the ride during their commutes." Viva, a radio station in Atlanta, decided to expand to Macon, and Velez had his own show. They played music, and he talked about what was happening in the community. It lasted about four years before going off the air, but Velez says that really helped him reach more people's trust. "I would get calls and messages saying, 'I'm listening to you while I'm making my husband tortillas, Don Moises!'" recalled Velez, laughing. Trusted voice of the community While there were many fun times and stories, Velez told stories that mattered to his community – stories that were otherwise not covered by stations and newspapers. One he remembers with great detail was when two Hispanic brothers went missing, and Velez felt it wasn't publicized by any local media. The Hispanic community was upset and felt like they were overlooked. Velez states that he was the only local journalist who covered the incident. It was later discovered the brothers drowned in the river while running, as they were undocumented, according to Velez. "One thing to remember is that not all undocumented people are criminals or bad people. They are scared. They're human," said Velez. "I was able to be a voice for my community during that time, and I think I gained their trust even more." Velez noted that the quantity of Que Pasa's immigration coverage changes with the prevailing attitudes of the season. During a recent administration, when walls were going up across borders, he said, his community became disheartened. Immigrants "were called criminals, and we need to change that. They need to see themselves – we need to see ourselves – as productive instead of second- class citizens. We contribute." Moises at Mercer Another way Velez has built trust is by partnering with Mercer University. Dr. Jose Pino, Chair of Foreign Languages and Literatures Department at Mercer, has worked with Velez to secure student internships at Que Pasa, where students learn real-world journalism and Spanish language skills, and as a community partner in the Hispanic Health Fair, with which Monica Pirela also assists. Pino stated, "Anytime I need something, Moises is always there, helping me. And I am also helping him." As a part of their work in connecting Hispanic residents with vital healthcare information, Pino and his students conduct surveys to gather data about the health needs of the Hispanic community (see maconmagazine.com for the results of their studies). Over the last seven years of health fairs, they have found that access to health insurance is a top need, and lack of ability to communicate complex health needs with English-speaking healthcare providers is another. Through Que Pasa Multiservices, Velez and his team offer medical interpretation. Velez stated that he also helps on a volunteer basis to resolve insurance miscommunications. Looking toward the future, Pino envisions a free health clinic, an idea Velez supports. Marquiez Cornelius, Studio Manager at Mercer University's WMUB television network, has worked with Velez on Que Pasa newscast, which has aired on their channel on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the past eight years. Cornelius says he enjoys working with Velez because of his passion and thoughtful influence. "Moises' "It's about listening carefully to silenced voices, ignored concerns, and dismissed dreams, and then translating those voices into stories that can touch the heart of society." Monica Pirela

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