Macon Magazine

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 | maconmagazine.com 77 show [provides] ... that diversified look into what's going on in that community ... Sometimes, as journalists, we get busy covering what is closest to our own heart – and the information we have access to also determines what we can cover. When you don't speak Spanish, you can't always know what is happening in that community. So, a bilingual show on this network is definitely something I had to include; that way, we are really representing everyone in our community," said Cornelius. Velez says the broadcast being bilingual is especially helpful for households where children and parents might have different levels of fluency in Spanish, allowing children who may have more English to connect with their parents, who may primarily speak Spanish, over the local news together. Pino sees Velez as a pioneer for Hispanic Central Georgians. "At the beginning, there was only one newspaper. Nowadays, I am glad we have more. We have more awareness because the Hispanic community is growing and having more impact." Referencing Velez' and Pirela's nomination to the 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia, Pino stated, "Their work is great for the community and for us. I hope people will see that and invest more in our Hispanic community." Recognizing what's important Velez was humbled when he received word that he'd been peer- nominated and awarded as one of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia. And, while, as a U.S. citizen of Puerto Rico, he was never given the right to vote for senators or the president until he became a Georgia resident, he was thrilled to know his decades-long work in advocacy and journalism was of importance to U.S. leadership, evidenced by his presidential commendation. He said, "The recognition really belongs to the people who have been backing me up all these years, and it's not so much a recognition to my person, but to my work in the community. That's why I'm doing it. Because if I touch one life, and that person gets enough from what I do to be able to change and have a better way to live, that is what is important to me." Senator Jon Ossoff told President Biden, "Mr. President, as Georgia's U.S. Senator, I commend and recognize Moises Velez for his contributions to Georgia's Latinx community and years of service to the Macon community ... Mr. Velez's vision of keeping newly arrived immigrants informed about vital services available to them in Middle Georgia and across the State quickly transformed the newspaper into a trusted news source for the Latinx community on important issues like health care, immigration, and education." But Velez is far from finished making waves. He is glad to have a seat at the table, he said, but "don't invite us to the table if you are not going to listen to us. If you want to fulfill [the idea of] having a minority voice, you have to listen when they speak." Velez conveyed gratitude to our current city leadership, stating that he is on many committees, including the Bicentennial Committee. "And that is a good thing to do," he enthused. Still, he envisions an even brighter future where there is Hispanic representation in every room where decisions are made that affect the community, and that Hispanic youth will continue to enter leadership positions in greater numbers in every field. As the fastest- growing and youngest demographic in the U.S., it's projected that by 2050, one of every three working-age Americans will be of Latinx heritage. "They will be the people taking care of us, of our children, of our parents," Velez said, saying it's never been more important to ensure that all American youth, including Hispanic youth, have access to the best opportunities to make our country stronger. Velez concluded, "I think the problem has been that we had two communities running beside each other but not intersecting each other. And that's what we need to do – to get together. There is nothing we cannot do if we do it together instead of divided." M O N I CA P I R E L A Fleeing Venezuela Being a voice for the voiceless is why Monica Pirela wanted to become a journalist. Born and raised in Maracay, Venezuela, she studied broadcast journalism at the University of Venezuela. She produced her first magazine, Medientorno Magazine, in Venezuela, specializing in health. Pirela moved to Byron, Georgia, in 2014 a er escaping the political corruption happening in Venezuela. The minute it felt unsafe for Pirela and her family, they had no option but to leave and come to the United States. "We were personally working for the political opposition at the time, and we would protest against the government," said Pirela. "It got so bad that people broke into our home, ruined our belongings, and threatened us. That was when we decided we needed to leave." She continued, "When I had to leave Venezuela, I knew I was leaving behind a very important part of me – my family and my roots. I didn't leave because I wanted to; I had to do it, and that transformed my entire essence as a person. It was my own country, my Venezuela, that showed me the value of being a voice of those Velez at the Que Pasa offices.

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