Cristina martinez grew up in the small central mexican town of capulhuac, where barbacoa is not just a meal, its a way of life. Her mother and father cooked barbacoa for a living. cristina chopping meat and in her town, 99 of the people there cook barbacoa. While cristina carries on the family tradition, she wants a better life for her 3 children in mexico. Cristina, voice cracking w emotion, explaining in spanish how difficult it is shes saying its very difficult. Shes here for the economic stability of the family, and to provide for them. She came to the United States illegally, crossing the border first in 2006 and then again in 2009. The reason she came here was so her daughter would have access to nursing school. And even though were married she has no access to a green card or a visa. Thats because of a Us Immigration law known as the 10 year hard bar. If she wants to get legal not only would she have to go to mexico, shed have to wait a full 10 years outside before she could even ask for the waiver. Ironically, cristina is breaking no laws by owning her own restaurant and neither is her son, isaias, who snuck into the country to join his mother and just opened his own spot a few blocks away. Its illegal to employ an undocumented worker and you can be fined 3k for each one. But its not illegal to own something. Ben and christina chatting in spanish. Cristina and ben met while working together in the kitchen at amis. They fell in love, got married and opened south philly barbacoa, last year. The food that you get here is the same food that you get in mexico. Even down to the supersized maguey leaf they wrap it in. Which gives the barbacoa a certain flavor. When food writers come to rave about the tacos, ben and cristina steer the conversation to immigration. If you want to write about the restaurant, youre going to need to write about this. cristina addressing crowd in spanish they organize regular dinners working to build grass roots support for legislation that would give Illegal Immigrants the legal right to work. Its a basic human right. And theyre calling on other chefs to join them in the fight. There are so many restaurants in philadelphia but there wouldnt be without the undocumented workers. We can fix this if we all get together and talk about it as a chef community. Ben just got back from copenhagen where he gave a talk on workers rights. Taking the Movement International if you want to join the conversation on social media, search the hashtag right2work. And on the subject of work, the Philadelphia Police department is hiring. And theres an effort underway to recruit more latinos to try out for the force. Ilia garcia from our sister station univision has more on the push for more hispanic police. Since 1969 salea the Spanish American Law Enforcement Association has been trying to build a more diverse police force. The mission of salea at that time was to uplift the members, to get more hispanics on the job and after that it was to get more females on the job latinas. Officer eddie lopez, sr. Is the current president. Hes helped grow the membership to 450 active duty and retired officers part or their mission to encourage interaction between police and the community. When it starts, you can feel the tension in the air but when its over the kids that came in with the attitude are shaking out hands. Wow officer lopez, i didnt know cops were that cool. With recent events dividing the public and the police force, growing a more Diverse Department is part of bridging the gap. We definitely need to increase the numbers. Latinos are the Fastest Growing population in the city but only 8 percent of the 6,000 Philadelphia Police officers are hispanic. Were everywhere were in north philly. We have south philly which has your mexicans guatemalans then you have your dominicans coming in. So, hispanic officers are well needed in this whole city. I joined the pd when i was 19 years old. Its the greatest job in the world it really is. Now 21 years into her career lieutenant Maria Ortiz Rodriguez is one of only two hispanic female lieutenants on the philly pd and credits salea with helping her prepare for promotional testing. Well do study groups with each other for the different ranks and that was a tremendous help. The requirements to join the Philadelphia Police department have recently changed and salea considers itself a resource to help those interested in serving navigate the application process. You have to be 22 years or older. We do not have an age cap. The requirements now for becoming a Police Officer is a High School Diploma or equivalent. Because we have so many that wanted to become Police Officers but cannot afford college its easier for them to join. What salea gave me im just giving it back to the younger kids. Despite a rapidly growing population, theres a lack of hispanic representation in politics as well. While there is now a record 38 hispanics in the us congress, just 2 serve in pennsylvanias state house. And there is only 1 latino on philadelphias 17 member city council. But there is some hope on the horizon. Dann cuellar meets 2 young upandcomers working to raise the voice of the Latino Community. Its about how can we empower latinos in the mainstream politics. Born and raised in mexico, Fernando Trevino has always been passionate about politics. I went to law school in mexico and i was a student organizer i was very active in politics there. Upon graduation he came to the us to work as an attorney, but soon decided political activism was his true calling theres still a lot of work to do in pennsylvania. And after working in Civic Engagement for almost a decade, in 2012 he was recruited by president obamas Reelection Campaign. Youre talking about a mexican immigrant dealing and leading the president s Reelection Campaign in pennsylvania for every minority group. With his guidance the campaign was able to increase the latino vote in pennsylvania by 50 . That was a huge victory not only for me personally but for our community as well. Now a strategic consultant, fernando works with organizations like for our future, to help educate and empower voters. Its the key for those groups to feel engaged but also the key for to advance progressive and you know good policies for the city and for the state and for the country. While fernando continues to encourage latino voters, many immigrants are not yet able to express that right, we found another activist who makes sure their voices are heard as well. You dont necessarily need to vote to be able have a voice and i think the immigrant Rights Movement has really shown that. Jasmine rivera has always been drawn to social justice. To make an impact she decided to become a community organizer. Helping Community Members build a political analysis, come together and actually work on the issues and win on the issues. She works to empower individuals like juan carlos romero, a mexican immigrant and local business owner. She teach us sometimes we need to protest, we need to go to the protest to ask for our rights. Regardless of immigration status every Single Person who lives in this country should have a say and should have a voice in how this country is going to operate. She says its about the Community Coming together to create the real change that we need. Anything thats going to happen, happens because the community makes it happen. Definitely some promising young people worth keeping an eye on. Absolutely. Well, when it comes to language, there are an estimated 45 Million People in the United States who speak spanish. Either as a first or a second language. And theres a school in Queen Village where kids from all over the city go to learn. Its called bilingual butterflies. De queso queso its an Immersion Program that teaches kids from birth the spanish language. It is as if theyre going to another country and theyre just being immersed in a language without really knowing that theyre learning it. Yesenia faison or as her students know her, senora yenni, was inspired to start the program when she was 21 years old working as a nanny. They wanted me to teach their children spanish. I just started speaking to them in spanish. But as a child that young you pick up a language. So she started teaching small classes. Other parents started asking about how their kids could also learn spanish. It just grew from there. She draws from her experience with the language barrier when she came to the us from mexico not knowing any english and just 6 years old. I remember the feeling of sitting in a class where i didnt know, i really didnt know what was going on. But she found thats the best time to learn. Mas, mas i dont know any parents that have to teach their child whatever their first language is, children just pick it up. Raspa, raspa for yensenias students, it doesnt feel like learning. They dont feel pressured uh theyre not sitting at a table you know writing papers or learning how to pronounce words, its more just fun based. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the us and parents are quickly realizing the benefits. Studies have shown that learning a second language improves so many aspects uh of a childrens brain. Children that are bilingual uh perform better than monolingual peers throughout math, reading, sats, acts. They also offer classes for adults. And if its latin music youre looking for, weve got just the spot. A shop in north philadelphia thats been around for more than half a century. latin music located in the heart of phillys el centro de oro neighborhood, Centro Musical is the biggest and longest standing latin music store in the city. Everybody knows Centro Musical. The landmark got its start in the early 60s with original owner nestor gonzalez, whos family continued the tradition over three generations until 2014 when Reinaldo Melendez took the reins. To me it was very important to carry the name of Centro Musical. The idea to keep the tradition in the neighborhood. And that tradition is something he takes very seriously. As a puerto rican, its important to carry on the, the tradition of our country and musics one type to do that latin music, salsa is something that we, we have in our genes laughs they carry a wide variety of genres but they are known for their impressive collection of latin inspired music. A lot of caribbean music, salsa, meringue, bachata and then very important to this neighborhood reggae tone. The store also sells a variety of specialty instruments. I sell congas, bongos, trumpets, claves, maracas, anything you name it. And just recently, reinaldo even added latin memorabilia to the stores vast inventory we like to show our roots so i carry a lot of stuff that has the puerto rican flag. Now in its 58th year, Centro Musical is a space for the whole community to celebrate their culture. music playing little kids, young kids, old guys, everybody comes. Its going to be Centro Musical for many years to come. The new owner is in the process of expanding the store. When visions 2016 comes right back. Lets go. Meet the local football coach building a Legendary Program. And phillys first latino world boxing champ. Blinds to gos new motorized blinds and shades. Quiet. Convenient. And surprisingly affordable. Right now, take 25 off all motorised blinds and shades. Lifes just gotten a little bit easier. Blinds to go. Blinds for life. When it comes to risking social sepat toomey wrote the book. Im. Ive got a whole chapter in my book where i. Specifically lay out how i think we should. Reform Social Security. Toomeys plan requires wall street and bankers to manage. The accounts. Collecting fees out of your Social Security that could. Total billions. Fees they collect, even if the market crashes and. Seniors lose everything. Pat toomeys looking out for wall street, not pennsylvania. Dscc is responsible for the content of this advertising. Welcome back to visions 2016 and our celebration of hispanic heritage month. We are at south philly barbacoa, known for its tacos and community activism. Philly is also home to some terrific boxing history. And now danny garcia is adding to the story as phillys first latino World Champion. From philadelphia pennsylvania. Danny garcia is the undefeated wbc welterweight champion. His style, a blend of his home town and his heritage. I got the puerto rican power and the philly skill and will so you mix those two together and you cant be beat. Its a combination thats led to 32 victories, 18 by knockout. Garcia now beginning to unload. Im the type of person i just never give up no matter what i do. That attitude came from dannys father and lifelong trainer, angel. I love you go i been in boxing all my life im a latino thats what we do. Angel moved to philadelphia from puerto rico with his parents when he was 6. Back then they used to go to puerto rico and pick up the Puerto Ricans and bring them over here to farm. That blue collar attitude has always been part of angels lifestyle. I wasnt the most perfect man in the world i was a hard worker i worked all my life. A short stint in jail separated him from his family but also served as a crossroads in his life. He was 8 so i did 2 years i used to talk to him on the phone told him i was going to focus on him when i came home. Now that im older i see how it all played out it saved his life and it saved my future. Angels focus on danny has motivated both, helping his son become a 2division champion. They spend most days training in their juniata gym. The juniata section of philadelphia this will always be my home. Danny has built a dsg campus in the neighborhood he grew up, complete with a boxing gym, an auto shop and a barber shop. Whats up champ. We giving back to the community, trying to create jobs. Each year he gives out backpacks for local students and free haircuts for kids in his neighborhood. When you do good things good things come back to you. The father and son have come a long way, their puerto rican roots a major influence on their journey. Theres never been a puerto rican champion from philly so it show all the young kids, the latino kids that theres a lane there. Danny and angel have spent their life taking punches with a singular goal in mind. Its always been a dream of mine to to be a World Champion as a kid. The happiest moment of my life when he won the world title. And even though theyve reached the pinnacle, its still not easy for the father to see his son get hit. That night im a trainer he cant come to the corner and i say oh im sorry youre bleeding. You hear me stay focused. After he comes out i say bandito you got cut papi laughs . Danny will also be the grand marshal of the puerto rican day parade on september 25th. Well have more on the parade later in the show. But first from the boxing ring to the football field. Saint joes Prep High School football coach gabe infante is building a Legendary Program from the roots up. And the success starts with his own cuban roots. Havana right . Thats the light tower. Inside his st. Joes prep office, head coach gabe infante keeps photos of cuba close. Thats the jose marte monument. Little reminders . Yeah. Im very proud of my heritage and where i come from. The desire to succeed was born from the struggle his parents endured as cuban exiles. When i think of the struggles they went through the sacrifices they made what i do is nothing compared to what they did. Hey lets go lets go. Gabe took over the st joes prep program in 2010 but his path to coaching was different than most. By trade youre an attorney in law school i started coaching and figured out that thats what i really want to do it took about 7 years before i had the courage to leave the practice of law to coach. His law degree hangs in his Office Another prominent image from his past. Its a sacrifice for my family its a sacrifice for me you know going from a lawyers salary to a High School Coaches salary is big jump. Its all part of the motivation when hes on the field. Gotta have a great day lets go. You have so much drive where does that come from . I think a lot of it comes from the kids i dont want to disappoint them. He has built the program into one of the best in the country, backtoback state champions, and right now he has one of the nations top recruits. Dandre swift will be a georgia bulldognext year but first he will have another chance to learn from coach infante. Its tough love, getting me ready for the next level so i embrace it. Im not happy about that. Football is is a means to an end and for us its developing great young. Are you cognizant of the role that you play for the Latino Community because there are kids especially in the city man that look and say hes one of us . I put a lot of i put a lot of pressure on myself uh to do the right things i think that you lead by example and thats what i try and do. team chants whether its speeches after practice. Dont let fear dictate to you the things you will and will not do in your life. Meetings in his office. You make the play because you follow a process. Or the team unity he implores on gameday. This is our game ball. Our legacy is our young men well know in 20 years when theyre fathers and husbands whether we did a good job or not whether we actually wo