Cafe con LIT Friday, December 18

Holiday cheer is near at our next Cafe con LIT with special guests Sacramento City Councilmember-Elect,  Katie Valenzuela and City of Alexandria Councilman Canek Aguirre. 

To meet up with us for coffee register at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/124824666939

LIT 2020-2025 Strategic Plan

 

The Latinos In Transit 2020-2025 Strategic Plan was approved by the Board of Directors on November 24, 2020. The full document can be downloaded from: LIT Strategic Plan 2020-2025

LAMANTIA & WEICHSELBAUMER JOIN LIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

LIT is proud to announce the addition of two new board of directors. On September 23, 2020, the LIT Board of Directors approved the nominations of Lisa Rivera-LaMantia, Sr. Project Manager at the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) and Walter Weichselbaumer, Strategic Account Manager at Clever Devices. Read Full Press Release: https://www.latinosintransit.org/news.html

Cafe con LIT

 

Find out what LIT is brewing next at Cafe con LIT. 
We'll always serve up something good!
Register to join:

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/124824666939

On Streets of Injustice, Here’s How We Move Toward Transportation Equity for Latinos

 

Latinos face many transportation inequities.

Years of unjust planning practices have cut them off from opportunities for health and wealth.

To promote transportation equity for healthier communities, our leaders must ensure that transportation policies and practices are inclusive of Latino needs, address existing disparities, and are responsibly evaluated and measured, according to expert recommendations in two new reports from Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio.

The two reports stem from Salud America!’s year-long workgroup of U.S. transportation and planning leaders that explored all aspects of equity in transportation for Latinos, thanks to an Innovation, Equity and Exploration grant from the Voices for Healthy Kids network at the American Heart Association.

“These reports show us how we can take a systemic approach to address decades of unjust transportation planning practices that have segregated, isolated, and displaced Latino and low-income communities and threaten overall health,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, lead author of the reports, and director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. See full article and download report at Salud America!

LIT Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

 

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with members of Latinos In Transit 

- Meet them  Here https://www.latinosintransit.org/news.html -

Juntos Podemos 2020

Register And Vote in Your State | U.S. Election Assistance Commission

Register And Vote in Your State | U.S. Election Assistance Commission

LIT Featured in Metro Magazine "Groups Work to Build More Diversity, Inclusion in Transit Industry"

 

While equity, inclusion, and gender have begun to come into focus even more, there are groups that have been working to help minorities advance their professional careers in the public transit industry for some time. 
Two such groups include the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), which was incepted nearly 50 years ago to ensure opportunities and maximum participation in the transportation industry for minority individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, and certified MWDBE businesses, and the somewhat newer Latinos In Transit (LIT) — a group of public and private transportation professionals who have formed to promote the advancement and development of Latinos and other minorities in transportation.
METRO’s Managing Editor Alex Roman got a chance to speak to COMTO’s President/CEO Brad Mims and LIT’s President Alva Carrasco about diversity in the industry and the work their respective groups are doing to educate and perpetuate their members’ careers. To read article in its entirety: https://www.metro-magazine.com/10124357/groups-work-to-build-more-diversity-inclusion-in-transit-industry

Cafe con LIT - Sweet New Blend

 

Join us for more delicious Cafe con LIT. To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month we have a special aromatic blend to share with you. We have three lovely but bold Latinas who have dedicated their time to improving public transit services. Enjoy this rare opportunity to meet and learn from LIT's finest brew.

Elsa Ortiz, AC Transit, Board of Directors, Oakland, CA.

Hope Andrade, VIA Metro, Chair of the Board of Trustees, San Antonio, TX.

Rosa Navejar, President of The Rios Group, Fort Worth, TX. 

2020 MV Transportation-Latinos In Transit Scholarship Award Winner Named

 

Edgar Mejia

Edgar Mejia has been named 2020 recipient of the MV Transportation-Latinos In Transit Scholarship.  The award is presented annually by MV Transportation, Inc. (MV), a recognized leader in passenger transportation services, and Latinos In Transit (LIT), a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and development of Latinos and other minorities in the public transit industry.  The scholarship is offered through the American Public Transportation Foundation. Click here for Press Release:  http://www.mvtransit.com/news/2020-MV-Transportation-Latinos-In-Transit-Scholarship-Award-Winner-Named

Cafe con LIT with BART Chief of Police Ed Alvarez

Join us for Cafe con LIT with BART Chief of Police Ed Alvarezon Agust 21st at 9 am (PST)

 

Pledge to Complete the 2020 Census

FTA Thanks the Transit Industry for COVID-19 Response

Fear of Public Transit Got Ahead of the Evidence

The headline of the report read like the title of a 1950s horror film: “The Subways Seeded the Massive Coronavirus Epidemic in New York City.” As America’s densest city became the epicenter of a national pandemic in March, New York’s subway system, which carried 5.5 million people on an average workday in 2019, emerged as the villain from central casting. Landing in mid-April, the report, written by an MIT economics professor, concluded that New York’s subway system was “a major disseminator—if not the principal transmission vehicle” in the city’s COVID-19 outbreak. 

Click here to read more:  Fear of Public Transit Got Ahead of the Evidence

Graduation Announcement of Lisa Rivera-LaMantia

Apply for the 2020 APTF MV Transportation/LIT Scholarship Award

The scholarship will be awarded to a Latino or Latina dedicated to a career in public transportation. To apply and for application information visit www.aptfd.org. The deadline is June 15, 2020.

Cafe con LIT

Join us for our third installment of Cafe con LIT. 

Meet Sal Llamas LIT's Vice President and AC Transit's Chief Operating Officer online over a cup of coffee. Join us for a casual conversation about LIT's vision and what LIT is all about. 

Everyone is welcome!

For meeting details click here: CAFECITO3

WTS Woman of the Year

On behalf of Latinos In Transit's Board of Directors, partners and membership, congratulations to Nuria I. Fernandez for being recognized as WTS International Woman of the Year. WTS recognized APTA Chair Nuria I. Fernandez, general manager and CEO, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, CA, as WTS Woman of the Year during its virtual 2020 Annual Business Meeting May 21. This award ­honors a leader in transportation who has distinguished herself through her professional achievements and support of women in the industry.

Transit Keeping the Lines Open for Those On the Frontlines

Video provided by California Transit Association honoring our front line transit workers. 

Join us for our second installment of Cafe con LIT on Friday, May 15, 2020 9 am (PST) 

Meet LIT's Board of Director Secretary Jim Saenz, Director Oscar J. Gonzalez and Director Albert Marino online over a cup of coffee.

Click here for details & RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cafe-con-lit-tickets-104198705132

Latinos In Transit/MV Transportation Inc. Scholarship

Thanks to MV Transportation, Inc., Latinos In Transit is able to make a contribution a second year in a row to the American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF). The scholarship will be awarded to a Latino or Latina dedicated to a career in public transportation. To apply and for application information visit aptfd.org. The deadline is June 15, 2020. 

Cafe con LIT

Meet LIT's President of the Board of Directors Alva Carrasco and Vice President Sal Llamas online over a cup of coffee. Join Alva and Sal for a casual conversation about LIT, their vision for LIT, and what LIT is all about. 

Details & RSVP Here:

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cafe-con-lit-tickets-101727559870

APTF is accepting scholarship applications from individuals choosing the transit field as a career! Learn more at https://aptfd.org/aptf-scholarship-program/ Deadline is June 15, 2020!

Transit Driver Appreciation Day

Today is a perfect day to show appreciation to transit operators across the nation. Thank them for making it possible to provide Americans a lifeline everyday and especially during this scary period in time. Gracias!!

Celebrate women. Celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, 2020. 

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/international-womens-day

2020 LIT Member Survey

We want to hear from you. Please take our 3 minute survey to help us continue to grow. Click here: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RZWN58W  

Muchas gracias!

Latinos in Transit names new president, board officers

Latinos in Transit names new president, board officers

New Year, New Board

(January 14, 2020) IT recently held elections for its 2020-2022 Board of Directors officers. The newly elected LIT President is Alva Carrasco, who is the Transit and Rail Market Lead - Zero Emissions Bus for Northern California for WSP. The remaining slate of new LIT board officers include:  Vice President Salvador Llamas (Chief Operating Officer, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District); Board Secretary James E. Saenz (Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer, Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority); Treasurer Aida B. Berry, (Senior Manager of Civil Rights Programs for Title VI, Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority); and ex-officio board member Milo Victoria (President and Chief Executive Officer, Victorious Gold Partners, LLC). View list the list of all board members on the Board of Directors page. #board-of-directors