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Pedro Escárcega and his inspiring journey as a successful entrepreneur in the Delaware Valley

Recently, he began a project that also promises to make an impact: his podcast titled “Cómo lo logré” (“How I Made It”), in which, alongside his friend and collaborator Erwin. (Photo: Courtesy PE)

The stories of immigrants in the United States are a living testament to sacrifice, courage, and perseverance. Pedro Escárcega, a Mexican entrepreneur based in Delaware, is one of those examples of hard work, passion, and determination. Through his projects, ranging from the arts to gastronomy, and most recently, his venture into the world of podcasting. Pedro has not only built successful businesses but has also inspired the immigrant community to pursue their dreams despite the obstacles.

In a Charlas de Impacto – Pedro shared details of his personal and professional life, highlighting how his resilient mindset, his love for Mexican cuisine, and his drive to contribute to the Latino community have allowed him to overcome difficulties and find success. Pedro’s story is, without a doubt, a reflection of the determination and fighting spirit that define Latino immigrants striving to build a better future in foreign lands.

Pedro was born in Mexico into a family environment that, while modest, was full of love, hard work, and values that shaped his life. He studied Advertising Communication at the Ansel Adams American College of Photography in Mexico City. From a young age, he knew he wanted to tell stories through images. Inspired by the technological advancements in the United States, he decided to move temporarily to acquire professional photography and video equipment, to return to Mexico to practice his profession. However, life had another path in store for him.

After working, saving money, purchasing his equipment, and taking it to Mexico, he ended up returning to the U.S., where he had to face challenges such as language barriers, cultural adaptation, and, above all, the uncertainty of being far from his homeland.

Despite these obstacles, he never lost sight of his goal: to achieve success. “Everything I accomplished is the result of not giving up. If I fell, I got back up, and if I didn’t know something, I learned,” he said.

Pedro is an entrepreneur who has reinvented himself time and again. His first major venture was DreamArtStudio, a visual content production company he founded to offer photography, video, and marketing services to the Hispanic community. Today, it has a broad client base. Through this project, he was able to combine his academic background with his creative vocation, carving out a place for himself in a competitive market through talent, perseverance, and a commitment to quality.

One of the toughest challenges he faced was the COVID-19 pandemic. The creative sector was among the hardest hit, and he knew he couldn’t just sit idly by.

“The last thing you needed in the middle of a pandemic was a video or a photo. Who was going to invest in that?” he recalled.

In the face of uncertainty, Pedro saw in the crisis an opportunity to adapt and diversify. “I started researching, learning. I thought: we have to expand if we don’t want to die. It was a turning point,” he said.

This led to his venture into producing commercials and public service content. Together with his team, he offered Spanish versions of state-issued announcements: campaigns on mask use, social distancing, and infection prevention. “The companies contracted by the government didn’t speak Spanish and didn’t know if the translations were accurate. Through a friend, we got to work producing those versions for the Latino community in Delaware,” he explained.

In addition, amid that challenging context, Pedro and his team kept alive one of their most cherished traditions: creating a majestic Christmas set. “Every December is different. That December, during the pandemic, I thought no one would come. But some families return every year.”

Pedro Escárcega

Not content with his success in the visual arts, he launched another business. According to him, Mexican House Restaurant in Delaware has become a benchmark for authentic Mexican gastronomy in the region, offering not only delicious dishes but also a cultural experience that allows diners to feel as if they were in Mexico. From its artisanal mole made with fresh ingredients to its sauces hand-ground in a molcajete, each dish is a representation of his country’s culinary tradition.

However, what sets Mexican House Restaurant apart is not just the quality of the food, but the atmosphere Pedro says he has managed to create.

“It’s not just about serving food, it’s about offering an experience. I want people to feel they’re in a piece of Mexico, to live the tradition and warmth of our culture. For us, each dish is a way to honor our history,” he said.

Recently, he began a project that also promises to make an impact: his podcast titled Cómo lo logré (“How I Made It”), in which, alongside his friend and collaborator Erwin, he interviews people who have overcome significant obstacles in their lives and achieved success. In this space, he aims to offer a platform to share real stories of perseverance — stories that inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter the difficulties.

“Success is not measured only in money or fame. For me, success is overcoming an obstacle that once seemed insurmountable. When someone beats an illness or manages to open their business, that’s success. Success lies in the ability to get back up, time and again,” he emphasized.

Through his podcast, Pedro has given a voice to people from different fields, from entrepreneurs to individuals who have faced personal hardships. The podcast seeks to inspire and remind the audience that, despite setbacks, there is always a way forward.

Beyond his personal ventures, Pedro also directed a major community art project that celebrates Latino culture in an innovative, collective way. La Guagua 47 is an unprecedented cultural production in Philadelphia that involved hundreds of people, including artists and community members.

The musical short film tells the story of a young Latina immigrant who, feeling alone in an unfamiliar city, finds a magical bus that leads her to discover community, identity, and hope. Very soon, this work will become a full musical.

La Guagua 47 addresses universal themes such as migration, belonging, and the strength of community, and represents the diverse artistic expressions of the Latino diaspora in the United States.

“We Latinos are a strong, resilient community. We know what it is to fight for our dreams, despite the difficulties. We don’t come to take anything away — we come to add, to contribute, to bring the best of our culture,” emphasized the multifaceted entrepreneur, who has clear that his mission is not only to grow personally, but also to help others achieve their goals.

It is a testament to how Latinos in the United States have, through effort and dedication, established themselves in different fields. “We Latino immigrants are changing the narrative. Today, we are an active part of this country, and not only that, we are contributing to its growth,” he states.

Pedro left a clear message for those facing challenges along their path: live without fear. Despite obstacles, losses, and crises, he firmly believes that the most important thing is to move forward with determination, adapt to change, and never lose sight of your dreams.

“Every day is an opportunity to grow, to learn. If something doesn’t go well today, there’s always tomorrow. The important thing is to keep trying, keep fighting, and never lose hope,” he concluded.

Pedro’s story is an example of what it means to be an immigrant: a resilient person, capable of adapting to any circumstance, who does not give up in the face of challenges and is willing to give the best of himself to society. Pedro is the proof that true success is not found in material wealth, but in the ability to overcome adversity and inspire others to do the same.

Charlas De Impacto con: Pedro Escárcega  – Impacto

Día de Acción por la Calidad del Aire Código Naranja este 10 de Agosto en Filadelfia

Harrisburg, PA – El Departamento de Protección Ambiental de Pensilvania (DEP) ha declarado un Día de Acción por la Calidad del Aire Código Naranja por niveles de ozono para el domingo 10 de agosto, en los condados de Filadelfia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester y Delaware.

Ese día, se esperan cielos mayormente soleados, vientos ligeros del sur y temperaturas cercanas a los 90 grados Fahrenheit, condiciones que favorecerán la formación de concentraciones de ozono dentro del rango del Código Naranja durante la tarde.

Grupos sensibles de la población, como niños, adultos mayores y personas con afecciones respiratorias, deben evitar actividades intensas al aire libre durante ese período.

El ozono se forma cuando ciertos químicos en el aire, como óxidos de nitrógeno y compuestos orgánicos volátiles (llamados “precursores”), reaccionan con la luz solar. Los niveles elevados de ozono son más comunes en los meses de verano, cuando los días son largos, hay abundante sol y se combinan altos niveles de precursores. Aunque los precursores del ozono provienen principalmente de emisiones de vehículos e industrias, el humo de incendios forestales también puede contribuir.

La contaminación por ozono es más común en áreas densamente pobladas, donde hay mayores emisiones de vehículos e industrias.

En un Día de Acción por la Calidad del Aire Código Naranja, los niños pequeños, adultos mayores y personas con problemas respiratorios como asma, enfisema y bronquitis son especialmente vulnerables a los efectos de la contaminación del aire y deben limitar sus actividades al aire libre.

Se recomienda a los residentes y negocios en las áreas afectadas colaborar voluntariamente para reducir la contaminación por ozono mediante:

  • Usar menos el automóvil, compartiendo viajes o utilizando transporte público.
  • Agrupar diligencias para reducir los desplazamientos.
  • Limitar el tiempo de encendido del motor en vehículos estacionados.
  • Repostar gasolina después del anochecer.
  • Conservar electricidad ajustando el aire acondicionado a una temperatura más alta y apagando luces innecesarias.

El Índice de Calidad del Aire (AQI) de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE.UU. (EPA) utiliza códigos de colores estandarizados para pronosticar y reportar la calidad del aire diaria:

  • Verde: buena calidad del aire
  • Amarillo: calidad moderada
  • Naranja: niveles de contaminación no saludables para grupos sensibles
  • Rojo: niveles de contaminación no saludables para todos

La venta de coches en Puerto Rico en julio bajaron 17,9 % ante el mismo mes de 2024

Vista de una autovía con varios autos en San Juan, Puerto Rico. Imagen de archivo. EFE/Jorge Muñiz

La venta de coches en Puerto Rico en julio pasado tuvo una baja de 17,9 % en comparación con el mismo mes del año pasado, informó este fin de semana el Grupo Unido de Importadores de Automóviles (GUIA), organización que representa la industria automotriz en la isla.

Según detalló GUIA en un comunicado de prensa, en julio pasado se vendieron un total de 8.052 automóviles, mientras que en ese mismo mes de 2024 se adquirieron 9.806, lo que representa una disminución del 17,9 % y un 6,35 % de merma durante todo el corriente año 2025 ante el año pasado.

Uno de los segmentos que obtuvo un impacto en el mes fue el segmento minivan con una disminución en comparación con el mismo mes del año pasado de 82,72%, seguido por los segmentos sedan compacto y premium con una disminución de 42,68%.

Sin embargo, el segmento de van tuvo un aumento de un 13,47%.

De acuerdo con José R. Ordeix, presidente de GUIA, las ventas reflejan «un patrón de declive impulsado por una baja en la actividad económica, incremento en precios de autos producto de los aranceles y tasas de interés que aún no reflejan una mejoría para el consumidor».

GUIA es una organización independiente, sin fines de lucro, que se creó en el 2006 con el fin de atender asuntos que atañen directamente a la industria automotriz, así como asuntos relacionados a la economía general de Puerto Rico.

El atacante de los CDC creía que la vacuna contra el COVID lo volvía suicida, dice su padre

Un policía armado se prepara cerca de la escena de un tiroteo en la Universidad de Emory en Atlanta, el viernes 8 de agosto de 2025. (AP Foto/Mike Stewart)

ATLANTA (AP) — Un hombre de Georgia que abrió fuego en los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de Estados Unidos (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés), disparando docenas de rondas en el extenso complejo y matando a un oficial de policía, culpaba a la vacuna contra el COVID-19 por hacerlo sentir deprimido y suicida, dijo el sábado un agente de seguridad a The Associated Press.

El tirador, de 30 años, también intentó ingresar a la sede de los CDC en Atlanta, pero fue detenido por los guardias antes de conducir hasta una farmacia al otro lado de la calle y abrir fuego el viernes por la tarde. Portaba cinco armas, entre ellas, al menos un arma larga, dijo el agente, quien habló bajo condición de anonimato porque no estaba autorizado para declarar públicamente sobre la investigación.

El agente del Departamento de Policía del condado de DeKalb, David Rose, fue herido de muerte mientras respondía.

El secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS, por sus siglas en inglés), Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., cuyo escepticismo hacia las vacunas ha sido un pilar de su carrera, expresó el sábado su apoyo a los empleados de los CDC. Pero algunos trabajadores despedidos de dichos centros dijeron que el funcionario comparte la responsabilidad de la violencia y debería renunciar.

La Oficina de Investigación de Georgia (GBI, por sus siglas en inglés) identificó al atacante como Patrick Joseph White, pero las autoridades no han dicho si fue abatido por la policía o si se suicidó.

El padre del sospechoso se comunicó con la policía e identificó a su hijo como el posible agresor, dijo el agente de seguridad a la AP. El padre dijo que su hijo había estado molesto por la muerte de su perro, y que se había obsesionado con la vacuna contra el COVID-19, según el agente. La familia vive en Kennesaw, Georgia, un suburbio de Atlanta a unos 40 kilómetros (25 millas) al noroeste de la sede de los CDC.

Hasta el sábado, no se había obtenido respuesta a un mensaje de voz dejado en un número de teléfono listado públicamente para la familia de White.

El tiroteo dejó agujeros de bala en las ventanas de todas las instalaciones de los CDC, donde miles de personas trabajan en importantes investigaciones sobre enfermedades. Los empleados se refugiaron durante horas mientras los investigadores recopilaban pruebas. Se alentó al personal a que trabaje desde casa el lunes o a que tome licencia.

Al menos cuatro edificios de los CDC fueron alcanzados, dijo la directora Susan Monarez en X.

Sam Atkins, que vive en Stone Mountain, dijo el sábado, fuera de la farmacia CVS, que la violencia armada parece “un hecho común” ahora. “Esto es algo que sucede todos los días aquí en Georgia.”

“Estamos profundamente tristes por el trágico tiroteo en las instalaciones de los CDC en Atlanta que cobró la vida del oficial David Rose”, dijo Kennedy el sábado. “Sabemos cuán conmocionados se sienten hoy nuestros colegas de salud pública. Nadie debería enfrentar violencia mientras trabaja para proteger la salud de los demás.”

Algunas personas rechazaron las expresiones de solidaridad que Kennedy hizo en un correo electrónico titulado “Queridos colegas” y pidieron su renuncia.

“Kennedy es directamente responsable del descrédito de la fuerza laboral de los CDC a través de sus continuas mentiras sobre la ciencia y la inocuidad de las vacunas, que han alimentado un clima de hostilidad y desconfianza”, dijo Fired But Fighting, un grupo de empleados despedidos que se oponen a los cambios en los CDC realizados por el gobierno del presidente Donald Trump.

Vista de la puerta de una farmacia CVS perforada por una bala el sábado 9 de agosto de 2025, cerca de donde un hombre disparó el viernes en la sede de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC), en Atlanta, dejando un oficial muerto. (AP Foto/Jeff Amy)

Durante el mandato de Kennedy, los CDC han despedido a casi 2.000 empleados. Trump propone reducir el presupuesto de la agencia a la mitad el próximo año, trasladando algunas funciones de los CDC a una nueva Administración para unos Estados Unidos Saludables. Kennedy tiene antecedentes como líder en el movimiento antivacunas, pero alcanzó nueva prominencia al difundir su desconfianza hacia las vacunas contra el COVID-19. Por ejemplo, dijo que dar vacunas contra el COVID-19 a los niños es una “mala praxis médica criminal”.

Kennedy aprovechó esa atención para obtener una candidatura presidencial y el respaldo de Trump, lo que llevó al mandatario a nombrarlo secretario. Kennedy continúa socavando el consenso científico sobre las vacunas al ordenar el martes un recorte de 500 millones de dólares en la financiación del desarrollo de inmunizaciones.

Fired But Fighting también pidió la renuncia de Russell Vought, señalando un video grabado antes de que Trump lo nombrara director de la Oficina de Administración y Presupuesto con órdenes de desmantelar gran parte del gobierno federal.

“Queremos que los burócratas se vean traumáticamente afectados”, dijo Vought en el video, obtenido por ProPublica y el grupo de investigación Documented. “Cuando despierten por la mañana, queremos que no deseen ir a trabajar, porque se les ve cada vez más como los villanos.”

Hasta el momento, la agencia de Vought no ha respondido a una solicitud de comentarios.

Este tiroteo fue la “encarnación física de la narrativa que ha tomado el control, atacando la ciencia y a nuestros trabajadores federales”, dijo Sarah Boim, una exempleada de comunicaciones de los CDC que fue despedida este año durante una ola de destituciones.

Una vecina de White dijo al Atlanta Journal-Constitution que habló con él varias veces sobre su desconfianza hacia las vacunas contra el COVID-19.

Nancy Hoalst, que vive en la misma calle que la familia de White, dijo que parecía “un buen tipo” mientras hacía trabajos de jardinería y paseaba perros para los vecinos, pero mencionaba las vacunas incluso en conversaciones no relacionadas.

“Estaba muy inquieto y creía profundamente que las vacunas lo lastimaban a él y estaban lastimando a otras personas”, declaró Hoalst al periódico de Atlanta. “Lo creía enfáticamente”.

Pero ´también dijo que nunca creyó que White fuera violento: “No tenía idea de que pensara que arremetería contra los CDC.”

Rose, de 33 años, fue un marine que sirvió en Afganistán, se graduó de la academia de policía en marzo y “rápidamente se ganó el respeto de sus colegas por su dedicación, valentía y profesionalismo”, dijo el condado de DeKalb.

“Esta noche, hay una esposa sin marido. Hay tres hijos, uno todavía por nacer, sin padre”, dijo la administradora del condado de DeKalb, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.

Los funcionarios de mayor nivel de los CDC dijeron el sábado a algunos empleados que harían una evaluación completa de seguridad tras el tiroteo, según la grabación de una llamada de conferencia obtenida por la AP.

Un empleado dijo el viernes que la gente se sentía como un “blanco fácil”. Otro preguntó si los administradores se habían comunicado con Kennedy y si podían hablar sobre “la mala información, la desinformación” que “causó este problema.”

Está claro que los líderes de los CDC temen que los empleados puedan seguir siendo atacados. En un correo electrónico enviado el sábado y obtenido por la AP, la oficina de seguridad de los CDC pidió a los empleados que quitaran de sus vehículos las viejas calcomanías de estacionamiento del organismo. La oficina dijo que no se han exigido dichas calcomanías desde hace algún tiempo.

Trump cesa a director de Servicio de Impuestos tras solicitar datos de indocumentados

(Foto: EFE/Yuri Gripas)

El jefe del Servicio Interno de Impuestos (IRS), Billy Long, fue cesado este viernes después de que el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) solicitara datos sensibles y privados de contribuyentes para confirmar las direcciones de supuestos inmigrantes indocumentados, lo cual excedía el acuerdo para que la agencia tributaria colabore con las deportaciones, según una exclusiva publicada este sábado por el Washington Post.

El jueves, el DHS pidió al IRS que le ayudara a ampliar los datos personales de una lista de 40.000 personas sospechosas de residir en el país ilegalmente, haciendo uso de datos confidenciales de contribuyentes.

En un primer momento, el IRS colaboró para identificar alrededor del 3 % de los nombres de la lista, principalmente aquellos asociados con un número de identificación fiscal ITIN, que muchos indocumentados utilizan para trabajar y pagar miles de millones de dólares en impuestos en Estados Unidos.

El desencuentro entre el IRS y el DHS se produjo ayer, cuando este último solicitó a la agencia tributaria datos de declaraciones de impuestos, como aquellos que reclamaron exenciones fiscales a las que por su estatus legal podrían no tener derecho.

Ese tipo de información fiscal, sobre cuyo uso para deportaciones han criticado abogados de privacidad tributaria, elevó la oposición de altos funcionarios del IRS por exponer datos muy sensibles y vulnerar derechos, según informó hoy el diario.

Long, cuya salida las fuentes no quisieron confirmar que estuviera directamente relacionada con este episodio, ha reiterado internamente que el IRS no iba a compartir información fuera de los confines de un acuerdo firmado con el DHS en abril.

«La Administración Trump está trabajando para eliminar silos de información y prevenir que ilegales se aproveche de los beneficios que están pensando para contribuyentes americanos que trabajan duro», indicó en un comunicado la Casa Blanca.

El DHS confía que una mayor implicación del IRS, que tradicionalmente se ha mantenido al margen de asuntos migratorios para no disuadir a los inmigrantes de pagar impuestos, en la campaña de deportación masiva de Trump podría facilitar la captura de siete de los alrededor de once millones de indocumentados que se cree que viven, trabajan y tributan en el país.

Una mochila para los sueños de miles de niños de Filadelfia

En sus las quince versiones del Carnaval, se han beneficiado alrededor de 15.000 personas. (Foto: Cristian Marin)

La mochila es más que un accesorio en el que guardamos objetos. Es un medio de transporte. Allí, entre lápices, cuadernos, borradores y libros, siempre hay lugar para llevar a los sueños tan lejos como la imaginación lo permita.

Esos “bultos”, como le dicen en algunos rincones del Caribe, ya reposan en los hombros de miles de niños del norte de Filadelfia.  En ellos cargarán lo necesario para llegar listos al nuevo año escolar después de darse cita en el decimoquinto Carnaval “De regreso a la escuela” organizado por el Hospital para Niños Saint Christopher.

El cielo del verano decoró este evento en el que centenares de familias acudieron para llevar en sus espaldas todo lo que necesitan para el aula de clases y guardar en el corazón una jornada de juegos, comida, lectura y aprendizaje.

Instituciones públicas y privadas unieron fuerzas para entregar, además de las mochilas, alimentos, experiencias, helado, maquillaje facial para los niños, videojuegos y una amplia oferta de servicios de promoción, salud y bienestar para los habitantes de este sector de la ciudad del amor fraternal.

En sus quince ediciones del Carnaval, se han beneficiado a alrededor de 15.000 personas. 

El cielo del verano decoró este evento en el que centenares de familias acudieron para llevar en sus espaldas todo lo que necesitan para el aula de clases y guardar en el corazón una jornada de juegos, comida, lectura y aprendizaje. (Foto: Cristian Marin)

Una cita con la esperanza

Renee Turchi, pediatra y organizadora de la actividad, expresó su deseo de que “los niños sepan que en el mundo hay personas que se preocupan por ellos, que los quieren y que quieren que tengan un buen inicio de la escuela con sus nuevas mochilas. Todos necesitamos esperanza”.

Con esa misma ilusión Amelia Rippo le empaca a su hija todos los días en su maleta, además de todos los elementos de la escuela, un peluche para que, en sus palabras, “le recuerde que siempre estoy con ella”. La quiere apoyar en su idea de crecer y aprender para ser doctora, pues según ella es “el aprendizaje lo que te lleva a niveles altos y te abre puertas”.

La misma que quiere abrir Inés y con su deseo de ser veterinaria, o Amariles con su anhelo de ver a su hija ser profesional, o los niños que se adornaron su rostro para imitar a sus superhéroes favoritos o los voluntarios e instituciones que donaron su tiempo y energía para que una mochila sea el medio de transporte que lleve los sueños más allá de lo imaginable.

Reverend Bonnie Camarda: A life of faith and service in community action in Philadelphia 

Bonnie Camarda
Reverend Bonnie Camarda, Director of Community Partnerships at The Salvation Army, Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Division. (Photo: Impacto/staff)

A woman who has worked tirelessly, transforming lives through her unwavering vision of service always guided by faith and a commitment to community-building.

 

Beginnigs

Born in 1951 in Havana, Cuba, Reverend Bonnie Camarda emigrated to Spain during her teenage years and later to the United States, where she earned an MBA from Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Divinity from Rice University.  

 “I came here thanks to my relatives, who paid for my education. It was a cultural shock, I was 16, didn’t know anyone who spoke Spanish, and had no family around. That’s why, when people say young people can’t achieve anything, I laugh, because I’m living proof that they can.” 

When asked by Impacto if she would change anything about her childhood or early years, she answered with conviction: “No, I wouldn’t change a thing. I lived in different countries with different people. My life was enriched. I learned that in many moments, I had to keep going… and I did.” 

While she doesn’t regret her past experiences, she reflects on one exception with tenderness: 
 “If I had to change something, it would be that my entire family could have left Cuba at the same time.” 

Rev. Bonnie Camarda with Governor Josh Shapiro and his wife Lori Shapiro: (Photo: Courtesy/GACLA)

Professional development 

Although she studied business, Reverend Bonnie Camarda felt a deep calling toward philanthropy. A friend gave her a bilingual Bible, and reading it together led her to a personal relationship with God. 
 “I realized it wasn’t about me – it was about helping others. That’s where it all began.” 

For nearly nine years, she worked as Finance Director for Christian crusades in New York and Colombia, supporting local pastors with organization and financial management. Upon returning to the U.S., she began her pastoral work in Philadelphia with the church, Comunidad Viviente. Her ministry flourished particularly in Hunting Park: “It wasn’t easy to bring the gospel there, but I knew God had placed me in that space. And this was what I wanted to do. I’m back home, and this is where evangelism begins.” 

On 5th Street in Philadelphia, Reverend Bonnie Camarda launched a community project with families and pastors, offering spiritual and material support. It was there that she met Reverend Luis Cortés. Together, they founded the Philadelphia Hispanic Clergy, which eventually gave birth to Esperanza, a nonprofit that has transformed lives in Hunting Park and beyond. 
  

“The only way to create real change was by forming a non-ecclesiastical organization. Reverend Cortés’ vision made Esperanza possible.” 

Reverend Bonnie Camarda, Reverend Luis Cortés, and Ron Gilg during her farewell, in recognition of her years of service to Esperanza. (Photo: Esperanza) 

Mission and leadership

Guided by this common vision, Reverend Bonnie Camarda found in Esperanza a powerful platform to serve with faith and social commitment. As a board member for over 26 years including one as Board Chair, she contributed to economic, educational, and community projects throughout Philadelphia. 

As co-founder of the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia, she promotes interfaith dialogue and collaborates with schools, churches, and government agencies. Her mission: “To unite and serve, using the gifts God gave me and learning from others.”  

She remains active as Director of Community Partnerships for the Salvation Army in Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, leading social initiatives including food distribution, support for displaced families, violence prevention, mental health programs, and emergency response. 
 “This experience has allowed me to work for my community and expand my reach to others.” 

The Salvation Army is a network of community centers offering both social and spiritual support, including Sunday worship and weekday activities. 

Legacy

Her social impact work earned her an official resolution from Philadelphia City Council in 2022, recognizing her as a spiritual leader and community bridge-builder for the Latino community. After Hurricane María, she was named an honorary citizen of Puerto Rico for her work with migrants. 
 “There’s still so much to do; service is my legacy—to help those with the least and transform lives, from the street to a home, a job, and a school… all with Christ’s help.” 

2019 Phenomenal Women Committee Awards, Taller Puertorriqueño Carmen Febo, Patricia DiCarlo, Rev. Bonnie Camarda, and Ana Benítez (Photo: Courtesy/Luz Selenia Salas) 

Reverend Bonnie Camarda continues her work in social justice and community wellness, connecting churches and resources to serve those in greatest need. With a vision of unity and steadfast faith, she works toward a future full of hope: “Leaders must come together, share the vision, and work collectively to generate change. That is my legacy.”  With tireless and compassionate leadership, Reverend Bonnie Camarda is our featured Vida de Impacto. 

Reverend Bonnie Camarda at her farewell for her years of service on Esperanza’s Board of Directors. (Photo: Esperanza/staff)

CASA’s Pennsylvania Director Issues Statement on the Tragic Death of Mr. Ge at Moshannon Valley Processing Center

Immigrant Rights Advocates Demand Full Investigation with Accountability and Transparency Due to Rising Death Tolls in ICE Detention Facilities

YORK, PA – The Pennsylvania Director of immigrant advocacy organization CASA, Shamaine Daniels, issued the following statement reacting to the lamentable death of Chaofeng Ge at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, under the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“We are heartbroken by the death of Mr. Ge, an immigrant who died while under the custody of the Trump regime at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania. First and foremost, our thoughts are with Mr. Ge’s family and loved ones during this devastating time. His death is an unacceptable tragedy, and we urge a full, transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to this loss of life. Moshannon Valley must be closed immediately.

“Mr. Ge is the 12th person to die in ICE detention in under seven months since Donald Trump returned to the presidency. This is an alarming and indefensible trend. These deaths are happening as the Trump regime systematically dismantles oversight mechanisms within the Department of Homeland Security. Nearly all staff in the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and the DHS Inspector General’s Office have been fired or sidelined. Congressional attempts at oversight have been blocked, including unannounced inspections of detention centers.

“We are especially concerned about conditions at facilities operated by private prison corporations like the GEO Group, which owns and runs Moshannon Valley. For-profit detention centers have a well-documented history of cutting corners on medical care, staffing, and safety at the expense of human lives. For years, CASA has been raising the alarm against this savage form of incarceration and in favor of alternatives to detention. 

“This tragedy also comes amid the passage of Trump’s so-called “Big Bad Betrayal Bill,” which massively expands immigration detention and enforcement. This bill funnels billions of taxpayer dollars to militarize ICE and escalate the use of detention at the expense of Pennsylvania families. The Trump regime is siphoning dollars from our rural hospitals and healthcare to kidnap our immigrant brothers, sisters, and siblings. We call on ICE to immediately reduce its reliance on detention, end contracts with private prison companies, and invest in life-affirming alternatives. Local counties should not cooperate with this nefarious agency and should not send parents and other community members into these harrowing jails. No one should die while in government custody. Mr. Ge should be alive today.”

Latinos in Pennsylvania suffer heavy economic blow from Trump’s policies

One of Donald Trump’s electoral strategies during his campaign was to propose high tariffs as a central piece of his economic plan; a universal tariff on all countries, and an even more aggressive one specifically targeting China, which he threatened to raise up to 150%.

The European Union settled for avoiding a trade war, while Canada continues to search for ways to reduce or eliminate the arbitrary tariffs imposed despite violating the free trade agreement with that country and with our southern neighbor.

The taxes on Mexican imports, used as leverage on that country over migration issues and the fight against fentanyl trafficking, gained the president political support, but today they are bringing serious consequences.

What is often overlooked in the tariff debate is the real, local impact they have on the daily lives of communities, not just on Wall Street. For Pennsylvania, a state with a highly diverse industrial and agricultural economy, trade is not just an abstract concept; it’s an essential part of everyday life. And one of the state’s most important trade relationships is with Mexico.

Bilateral trade between Pennsylvania and Mexico amounts to approximately $12.1 billion. Mexico is the state’s third-largest trading partner and its second-largest export market, after Canada. In addition, this exchange generates around 200,000 jobs annually in Pennsylvania.

From manufacturing and medical devices to agricultural products and processed foods, the flow of goods between the two regions is dynamic and touches virtually every sector of the state’s economy.

The ports in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware, serve as gateways for key products from Latin America and the Caribbean, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, arriving in refrigerated containers and quickly distributed throughout the northeastern U.S. and into Canada.

Year-round, these ports bring in healthy and affordable foods. Tariffs will drive prices higher, especially for families already struggling with the cost of basic groceries.

Tariff supporters claim they are a way to punish foreign governments that have “taken advantage” of the U.S. or to protect domestic industries. But it has been proven that tariffs often function as a hidden tax on consumers and small businesses. They create economic uncertainty, provoke retaliatory measures, and ultimately do little to restore industrial sectors that have changed or disappeared.

Beyond the macroeconomic impact, imposing tariffs raises costs for businesses — especially small and medium-sized ones — and, ultimately, for consumers.

Higher prices, lower profit margins, and in some cases, tough decisions about layoffs or relocating operations are the result.

In Pennsylvania, the effect is especially felt in its thriving restaurant sector, which is already experiencing a negative impact from price speculation and, like other Mexican immigrant-owned businesses, has suffered a significant drop in clientele due to the fear sparked by ICE raids, as well as difficulties in retaining employees, who are often immigrants themselves.

Across the U.S., it is estimated that one in ten restaurants serves Mexican food, and Pennsylvania is no exception. These restaurants rely heavily on imported ingredients to offer authentic dishes. Key supplies come mainly from Mexico and Latin America, making the impact on them —and on stores selling traditional products from various countries— inevitable.

These businesses, largely run by immigrants for immigrants, create jobs, contribute to the local economy, rent commercial spaces, pay taxes, and help shape the rich multicultural identity of Pennsylvania’s cities and towns. But that is precisely the point of the increasingly obvious MAGA agenda: “Make America White Again.”

Tariffs, the persecution of immigrants, and the targeting of U.S. citizens based on racial profiling harm millions of families, damage the economy, and cause ripple effects that even hurt international tourism.

According to 2022 data, Mexico accounted for 23.06% of all international tourists, making it the second most important country of origin after Canada (26.93%).

It is known that the number of visitors from both countries has dropped drastically, driven by fear of being turned away and as retaliation for Trumpist policies that have turned the nation’s closest allies —and its labor force— into enemies.

Sooner or later, this regime’s actions will backfire, harming not only the most vulnerable, and by then, who knows if it will be too late, because the rest of the world will not stand idly by.

Wounded Pennsylvania troopers recovering after chaotic shooting that left gunman, neighbor dead

Pennsylvania State Police Commander Colonel Christopher L. Paris and District Attorney Marion O'Malley, third right, answer questions about the Pennsylvania state trooper ambush in Susquehanna County, Pa., at the barracks, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Gibson, Pa. (Photo: AP/Aimee Dilger)

A man fatally shot his neighbor in rural Pennsylvania and then unleashed a hail of gunfire on first responders, wounding two state troopers, running an EMT off the road and sniping a police drone from the sky, officials said.

The chaotic scene unfolded Thursday morning after Thompson resident Lori Wasko’s boyfriend called police to report gunfire. Police arrived to find the 57-year-old woman dead and her 61-year-old neighbor, Carmine Faino, lying in wait to ambush them.

One of the wounded troopers commandeered a tractor trailer to block the roadway and prevent other motorists from driving into harm’s way as police say Faino continued to shoot, targeting a police drone as he holed up near a propane tank that officials feared could be used as a bomb. He also fired at an SUV driven by an emergency worker before being shot and killed by police.

The Susquehanna County coroner’s office said an autopsy was conducted Friday morning on Faino, but the results were not immediately available. Police have not said what led to the shootings.

“I don’t want to speak to his motive leading up to this. I would say you can draw certain conclusions from the standpoint that we believe Faino shot our victim prior to our arrival and then from a position of tactical advantage fired dozens and dozens of rounds,” state police Col. Christopher Paris said.

He said Trooper Joseph Perechinsky applied a tourniquet to his injured colleague, Trooper William Jenkins, and, despite his own injuries, ordered the driver of a tractor trailer to block the road.

Perechinsky was “still thinking at that point in time, after being shot twice in the chest, what can I do to secure this location? What can I do to make sure nobody else gets hurt?” Paris said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro called the two troopers heroes and said Perechinsky “saved lives.”

“He acted decisively. He acted thoughtfully. And the work he did today exemplifies the absolute best of the Pennsylvania State Police,” Shapiro said.

A spokesperson for Geisinger, a hospital network where the two wounded troopers are being treated, said in an email that, as of late Friday morning, Jenkins was listed in good condition and Perechinsky in fair condition. Both had been wearing ballistic vests and are “lucky to be alive,” Paris said.

The shooting happened in Thompson Township, some 163 miles (262 kilometers) north of Philadelphia. The township has long been without its own police force and, like much of Susquehanna County, relies on the state police for emergency response, which is free to local taxpayers. About one-quarter of Pennsylvanians — largely in rural areas — receive some sort of police coverage from the state police.

Erika Mills, who lives near the site of the shooting, said the lack of a local police department has left the area less safe and more vulnerable to crime. She also said it made the response to the shootings more difficult.

“They know they have a large window of time before state police could be on scene,” she said.