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By Michael Lopez

There is no denying that Michelle Rodriguez is a proud Latina. But what parts of Latin America does her heritage stem from? That's what she's hoping to find out in a new PBS documentary called Finding Your Roots.

For the series, Michelle is planning to travel to the Dominican Republic to learn where exactly her forefathers originated. But discovering her ancestral Roots may be easier said than done.

"With my heritage, it stops as soon as the Indians were killed off," she said. "That's the history of the tribes and how they would pass down their words. They wouldn't write it down, they would just pass it down from generation to generation. You are following your entire lineage and all you're left with is a paper trail."

And of course, that's what will make the show compelling. Will Rodriguez be able to uncover her native connections? You'll have to watch PBS to find out. And don’t think the series is stopping there. Other Roots episodes are planning to feature Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, and John Legend.

Are you curious about tracing back your ancestral roots? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Dominican Republic, Finding Your Roots, John Legend, Michelle Rodriguez, PBS, Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L. Jackson, Television

By Michael Lopez

Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz…what do these names have in common? Not only are they legendary sluggers, they're proud Dominicans! And they're just a fraction of the baseball greats who were born in the D.R. Clearly the MLB knows about the phenomenal talent coming out of the Republic and they're hoping to capitalize it by creating a brand new Dominican league.

Major League Baseball just announced that they are launching a program in the D.R. for unsigned players. The hope is that it will develop and groom amateur sluggers before they transition to playing for American teams.

"We believe that this new league will provide amateur players with an opportunity to showcase their talent," MLB Senior Vice President Kim Ng said. "Major League Baseball is very excited to begin its new prospect league in the Dominican Republic."

Education will also play a big role with the new program. Ng mentioned how players will learn about what to expect in the states, if and when they get recruited.

Hopefully the Dominican players will get to work with unique mentors too. We can already think of one dugout icon who would be a perfect fit in the D.R.

Who's your favorite Dominican baseball player? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Baseball, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Dominican Republic, MLB, Sports

By Michael Lopez

We've been waiting for Angelica Vale to cross over for some time now. The bubbly Mexican comedienne has gotten tons of praise for her novela work, but now she may hit the big time with, of all things, an Israeli romantic comedy.

Salsa Tel Aviv is currently receiving rave reviews at L.A.'s Israeli Film Festival. The story follows a lonely Latina who decides to pack up and move to the Middle East in search of a better life.

Along the way, she falls in love with an Israeli man named Yoni and comedy and romance ensue. Angelica recently told the press that she is very proud of the movie and even traveled halfway around the world to film it.

"I fell in love with the country of Israel," she told Fox News Latino. "I even started eating Kosher!"

But beyond the edible perks of her visit, Vale wants to get the word out that Salsa Tel Aviv is fun movie going experience. And she hopes it can open both Latinos and Israelis to new cultures.

Have you ever thought about visiting Israel? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Angélica Vale, Cultura, Israel, Israeli Film Festival, Movies & CineMás, Salsa Tel Aviv

By Michael Lopez

Despite some recent cinematic stereotypes, U.S. Latinos represent a lot more than gardeners, housekeepers, and restaurant cooks. In fact, a new study is showing that affluence is quite prominent in Hispanic American households, with more than 8.2 million of them earning $75,000 or more.

Within the past ten years, the number of upscale Latino families in the U.S. more than doubled from 1.3 million to 2.9 million. And guess what? That statistic is increasing at a furious pace.

According to Report Linker, the number of affluent Hispanic households grew three times faster than non-Hispanic households. That means you can expect to see a lot more bilingual doctors, lawyers, and professors in the next few years.

But, as with any culture, there is still a lot more work to be done. The study also showed that the upscale faction only accounts for 21% of the entire U.S. Latino population. Though that hasn't stopped advertisers for luxury brands from cashing in.

It is said that the Latino population will spend as much as $680 billion annually by 2016. And believe us, that's not all going to Don Omar albums and Sofia Vergara Kmart clothes. Hispanic spenders are dropping cash on SUVs, jewelry, and giant plasma TVs (for some HD Quiero Mis Quinces).

As expected, the marketing departments are following suit, particularly on the web. As we mentioned before, Latinos are considered early adapters in the technology world, picking up laptops, iPads, and top-of-the-line mobile phones.

If you ask us, these luxury advertisers should start getting on the ball ASAP. We can even think of a certain candidate who'd be a great first target for the upscale Latino market. Bring on the bling!

Do you know many wealthy Latinos? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Affluence, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Earning Power, Economy, Money, Report Linker, Technology

By Michael Lopez

Talk about a trailblazer. Not only is Mexican-American businesswoman Anna Maria Chavez a Yale grad and an accomplished attorney, she's now the first Latina to ever head the Girls Scouts of America.

Chavez (who was once a Scout herself) took over the 100-year-old organization late last year and is already working to push the Girls into the 21st century. One way that she's doing it is by recruiting young Latinas to wear the brown and green uniform.

Anna Maria recently launched a new "Juntos Por Ella" campaign (dubbed "To Get Her There" in English), which promotes female empowerment within the pre-teen set. Nearly $1 billion is being set aside to get the initiative off the ground, which will offer guidance to Girl Scouts at home and abroad.

As of right now, the Girl Scouts of America is about three million strong. Chavez' focus isn't just to recruit new members, but to promote leadership among young women.

"As girls, we want the same things we wanted 100 years ago," she stated. "We want to be happy, fulfilled, and have an impact in our community. I truly believe girls are the answer to the future of our country."

Anna Maria is well-versed in the world of female empowerment. Coming from humble roots in Eloy, Arizona, she earned scholarships, held political office, and rose to Scout CEO before her 44th birthday. Beyond that, she's also a proud wife and mother.

Her hope is that the Scouts will put a renewed interest in teaching fundamental life skills to its recruits. Right now, the Girls' regular curriculum includes community service, finance training, leadership, and teamwork. They also teach their members to be very good saleswomen, as evidenced by the millions of boxes of Thin Mints consumed every year.

Chavez has overseen the inclusion of new merit badges too. In today's world, a Girl Scout can be rewarded for digital movie making and assessing air quality. Anna Maria seems confident that, under her leadership, the organization can thrive and have a major impact on young women's lives.

"Girls tell us they want to see role models," she said. "I hope that we can give them hope."

Were you ever a member of the Boy or Girl Scouts? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Anna Maria Chavez, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts Of America, Juntos Por Ella, To Get Her There

By Michael Lopez

Miami certainly seems to be a hotspot at the moment. Not only is it hosting one of the country's most influential film festivals, it just hosted hosted one of the country's most influential fiestas! That's right, we're talking about Calle Ocho, which wound up breaking quite a few Guinness World Records this year.

Known as Miami's "biggest block party," Calle Ocho features live music, food vendors, dancing crowds, and more. Over one million Latinos descend upon Little Havana for the festival and this year, that number included quite a few celebs.

Proud locals Pitbull and Jencarlos Canela made their presence known at Sunday's event, performing for massive crowds and signing autographs. Canela was actually dubbed "Calle Ocho King!" Tr3s Free Latin Music fave Norka stepped up to the concert stage too, performing a live version of her signature hit, "Milagro."

This year was actually extra special for Calle Ocho, as it marked the festival's 35th anniversary. Since its inaugural event, Calle has welcomed legendary cubanos like Desi Arnaz, Celia Cruz, and Gloria Estefan (on more than one occasion). In 2011 Fat Joe brought the crowd to its feet, with a rowdy, festive live performance.

Spanish TV and radio stations covered every wild moment this year, including the Guinness Record breaker where 100 volunteers held up the world's largest flag! Made up 422 smaller pieces, the giant "One World" bandera stretched out 250 feet long and 36 feet wide.

And that's not the first time Calle Ocho partygoers have gotten their name into the Guinness Book. In 1990, the festival built up the world’s largest piñata and in 2000, attendees rolled together the world's fattest cigar!

Clearly Calle Ocho is an event that leaves a major mark every year. And we imagine it leaves a major cleanup job for the Little Havana trash collectors every day after too.

Have you ever been to the Calle Ocho Festival? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Calle Ocho, Calle Ocho Festiva, Cultura, Fat Joe, Food, Guinness World Records, Jencarlos Canela, Música, Miami, Norka, Pitbull

By Michael Lopez

With the 2012 election just eight months away, Republicans and Democrats are scrambling to attract new voters. And it's no surprise that Latinos are on the top of both parties' lists. Though the GOP is still in the middle of deciding their presidential nominee, Florida Senator Marco Rubio is gaining momentum as a VP contender, clearly because of his Cuban roots.

Seeing how he first got his Senate seat back in January, it's obvious that Marco isn’t attracting attention for his political experience. The reason his name is being shopped around is because of his Latino heritage and his supposed ability to "connect" with Hispanic voters. But is Rubio truly as effective as the media would lead you to believe? Several political analysts are saying no.

One thing that is certainly not working in Marco's favor is his opposition to the DREAM Act. Sticking firm with his conservative roots, Rubio has publicly criticized the measure that would grant undocumented students a path to citizenship.

"[The DREAM Act] is the wrong way to do the right thing," he recently stated.

Several political groups feel very differently and have encouraged Latino voters to protest Marco's political campaigns. A growing movement called "No Somos Rubios" is already in effect, which is calling on the Senator to embrace immigration reform and not "sell out" his people.

Other prominent Hispanic liberals have spoken out against Rubio too, saying they are "concerned" about his ideologies. But at least one famous Latino has got Marco's back. Geraldo Rivera recently defended Rubio's potential as a VP nominee.

"Hopefully, this articulate, intelligent, respectable, responsible Latino man will help guide this nation," Rivera wrote on the Fox News Latino site. "My late father Cruz Rivera would have been proud of him."

Geraldo comes from Puerto Rican roots and admitted that he may be at odds with several of his Latino brethren. But from a political standpoint, Rivera made a very good argument as to why a GOP contender could benefit from Rubio.

For one thing, Marco's home turf of Florida is a swing state and could be pivotal in the November election. He also illustrated how Rubio has shown more compassion towards Latinos than other Republicans and would be able to address Hispanic issues on a national scale.

We too would love to see a Latino in the White House (even in a VP slot), but is Marco the right person for the job? He still hasn't proven himself as a Senator and certainly doesn't seem to unite la cultura. Maybe the Republicans would be better off picking another famous Spanish-speaking conservative instead.

Do you think Marco Rubio would make a good Vice President? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 2012 Election, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, DREAM ACt, Geraldo Rivera, GOP, Hot Stuff, Immigration, Marco Rubio, No Somos Rubios, Politics, republicans

By Michael Lopez

By now, we're all aware of the DREAM Act. Though it still hasn't quite become a reality, the measure to give undocumented students a path to citizenship is continuing to gain momentum. And in California's Silicon Valley, several tech pioneers are taking matters into their own hands by creating their own immigrant college funds.

Palm Pilot inventor Jeff Hawkins has joined the family foundations of Andrew Grove and Mark Leslie to help launch the new program. Grove is one of the original creators of the Intel Corporation and Leslie is the former CEO of Veritas, and they both have A LOT of cash.

That's very good news for undocumented youths in need of financial assistance. The fund will allow selected students to continue their education and open the door to new employment opportunities. The donors are also getting their famous companies involved, by creating special DREAM-inspired internships in the tech world.

Hawkins, in particular, feels very strongly about making up for the government's shortcomings. He told Yahoo News that he was inspired to unite his fellow Silicon associates after meeting an undocumented classmate of his daughter.

"I have chosen to make this one of my philanthropic areas," Jeff said. "It's still at an embryonic stage; I'm willing to crank it up as we find solutions."

California is listening…to a degree. The state is in the midst of initiating its own financial aid DREAM Act, though (much like what the tech philanthropists are doing) it does not create a path to citizenship.

Another famous name in the computer world is hoping to spread the message too. Steve Jobs' widow Lauren has become a very vocal advocate for immigrant rights and lent her full support to passing the DREAM Act.

"We think Congress's inaction…is devastating for these students and tragic for the country," she recently said.

And she may have a point. Several tech companies could be missing out on some brilliant minds because of immigration blockades. Recently, a 23-year-old undocumented civil engineering wiz had to turn down five job offers because of his undocumented status. And clearly there are millions more who are not allowed to put their talents to use.

The tech funds are clearly a step in the right direction. But until the DREAM goes national, they may not be enough.

Do you think the DREAM Act will ever get passed? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Andrew Grove, Blogger: Michael Lopez, California DREAM Act, Cultura, DREAM ACt, Education, Immigration, Jeff Hawkins, Lauren Jobs, Mark Leslie, Politics, Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs, Technology

By Michael Lopez

It's official, Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim is the richest man on the planet! The 72-year-old tycoon recently bested both Bill Gates and Warren Buffet for the top slot on the prestigious Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

As of right now, Slim's total worth is about $68.5 billion, a full $6 billion more than Gates. As expected, Buffet ranked third, with $43.5 billion tucked away in his bank account.

Interestingly, the entire Walton family had a major presence on the Billionaire list. The clan behind America’s hugely successful Wal-Mart chain claimed three different slots in the Index's Top Twenty. Heirs Jim Walton, Samuel Walton, and Christy Walton all left their mark, with Christy in the lead at $24.8 billion.

Other well-known billionaires included were Oracle chief Larry Ellison, L'Oreal's Liliane Bettencourt, and Louis Vuitton chairman Bernard Arnault. A famous name who didn’t make the cut was Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. Amazingly, his net worth of $21 billion wasn't enough to crack the Bloomberg Top Twenty.

But the Latino community was certainly represented well. Outside of Slim, Brazilian businessman Eike Batista made an impressive showing, coming in tenth with $29 billion. Always the competitor, Batista recently made a proclamation that he would best Carlos by 2015.

"I'm competitive," Eike said. "It's Brazil's time to be No. 1. Brazilians have always admired the American dream. What's happening in Brazil is the Brazilian dream and I happen to be the example."

Spain's Amancio Ortega had an impressive showing as well. The Zara clothing head is the country's richest citizen, with a total net worth of $38 billion (putting him sixth on the list).

But no one can match the power of Slim and, judging by his shrewd trading tactics, we imagine it'll stay that way for a long time to come.

Are you excited to see an increase in Latino billionaires? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amancio Ortego, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Bloomberg Billionares Index, Carlos Slim, Cultura, Eike Batista, Finance, Hot Stuff, Mark Zuckerberg, Money, Wal-Mart, Warren Buffet

By Michael Lopez

It seems like several luminaries are making their way to Latin America this year. We had previously mentioned how the Pope was heading to Mexico and Cuba, and now it seems Prince Harry is delving into español territory too.

Harry's visits are part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee tour, which has members of the royal family visiting 15 countries around the world. For Harry, that means whirlwind trips through Belize and Brazil.

For the Prince's first leg, he visited Belize's Xunantunich pyramids as well as several historic Mayan temple sites. Harry will then head to Brazil to show support for his Sentebale charity, which aids impoverished orphans.

The rest of the royal fam will be traveling a bit closer to home. Prince Charles is set to visit Australia later this year and his brother, Prince Andrew, will be making a public stop in India.

Are you a fan of the Brit royal family? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Belize, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Brazil, Cultura, Diamond Jubilee Tour, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Royal Family