Tiempo with Joe Torres

Catholic schools in New York City have long served working- and middle-class families, including Black and Latino families. This week on Tiempo, we highlight The Mary Louis Academy, a Catholic school in Jamaica, Queens, that focuses on empowering young Latina women. The Mary Louis Academy is described on the program as a premier, all-girls Catholic college-preparatory school. The school dates back...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss how the Tri-State area is preparing for the 2026 World Cup. New Jersey recently hosted a summit on public safety surrounding the colossal event. The Garden State's MetLife Stadium is one of several U.S. sites hosting matches. The conversation touched on crowd behavior, security readiness and community coordination. The event was held at Seton Hall University i...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the impact of the U.S. trial against ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The former president of Venezuela and his wife Cilia Flores faced a judge in a New York court last month after their dramatic capture by U.S. forces in Caracas back in January. There were demonstrators outside the courthouse. Meanwhile, Venezuela remains in a state of major politi...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the importance of family-owned, home-based day care businesses in the Latino community. Over 85% of Latino infants and toddlers in low-income households depend on these home-based businesses, according to the Hispanic Research Center. The Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) is a nonprofit organization helping to address that need. One...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Cuba after the island nation ran out of fuel. The energy shortage follows the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, which was the island's main source of crude oil. To make matters worse, there are also shortages of food, medicine and clean water. The Cuban people have suffered through widespread blackouts, and it appears tha...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the growing homelessness crisis and its disproportionate impact on the Latino community in New York City. Hispanic people represent about 32% of heads of household in the shelter system, according to the New York State Comptroller's Office. [url HREF="https://www.projectrenewal.org/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Project Renewal[/url] is helping Latinos trans...

On this edition of Tiempo, we catch up with one local congresswoman following her announcement to step down from public office. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who represents New York's Seventh Congressional District, will retire from Congress when her term comes to an end. Velazquez always will be the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the House of Representatives back in 1993. Born in Yabucoa, Puerto Ric...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the recent legislative victory for street vendors in New York City. New York City Council members recently passed a bill which makes it easier for vendors to obtain a license. Former Mayor Eric Adams vetoed the reform package before he left office. Only a few thousand permits and licenses are authorized in the city, and there are an estimated 23,000 street ven...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the recent detainment of a local Latino church leader by Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents in Brooklyn. Immigration enforcement took Deacon Sebastian Renoj Ordoñez into federal custody outside his home. ICE agents also took seven other community members into custody. Community leaders gathered recently to call out the arrest. The deacon, originally fro...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the potential impacts of federal funding cuts on nonprofit organizations in New York City. President Donald Trump announced his administration will withhold federal payments to sanctuary cities beginning on Sunday. The president believes sanctuary cities have policies that limit local law enforcement's ability to cooperate with federal immigration officers. A...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the latest on federal immigration crackdowns across the country and in New York City, including the recent detention of a NYC Council employee. Newly-elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he will not work with federal immigration enforcement agents and will firmly uphold sanctuary city policies. During a recent visit to New York, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi...

On this edition of Tiempo, we take an in-depth look at the capture of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The couple pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other federal charges in a New York federal court week. U.S. military forces captured the president and his wife last weekend in a military operation in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Since then, countr...

On this edition of Tiempo, we take a closer look at the escalating geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. The U.S. launched Operation Southern Spear -- a major military campaign to try and dismantle drug trafficking networks. It also began a naval mission to intercept tankers transporting Venezuelan oil. Anxious uncertainty hangs over many Venezuelan Americans as they watch the esca...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the findings of a new report on how arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement may be disproportionately impacting the Latino community. A new report released by the New York Immigration Coalition finds that agents with ICE unfairly target Latinos. According to research from the coalition and the University of Colorado, nearly 3 in 4 people arrested b...

On this edition of Tiempo, we catch up with the Hispanic Federation about its goals for the new year and its latest initiatives to promote maternal health. The umbrella organization started in 1990 with a network of over 650 nonprofits. Its focus has always been to strengthen the Latino community through education, economic empowerment, immigration, health and much more. Speaking of health, the Hi...

On this edition of Tiempo, we catch up with one local school that is on a mission to mentor the next generation of licensed caregivers. The Ideal School of Allied Health Care on Long Island prepares people for jobs like medical assistants and much more. The school offers classes in Spanish, and Tiempo has featured the institution before. The institution was founded more than a decade ago by a regi...

On this edition of Tiempo, we learn more about a recent state-led international trade mission to Mexico by officials in New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy alongside the statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the nonprofit Choose New Jersey recently spent a three-day, business-oriented trip to Mexico. The mission focused on deepening economic, educational and cultural partnerships between the Garden...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss how one local nonprofit organization is helping families in need of food aid amid the government shutdown. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, has been put in jeopardy since the shutdown. The lapse in funding has put more pressure on food pantries and afterschool programs to alleviate hunger for students and families in underserv...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss how one local higher education institution is supporting the diverse needs of its Latino student community. Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey has a dedicated center to help Latino and first-generation students. In fact, the Hispanic Center has been around for two decades. The center helps students take advantage of educational opportunities, with pr...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss a new poll that shows President Donald Trump's approval amongst Latinos has fallen since the beginning of 2025. According to an October 2025 poll by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, the president's favorability has significantly declined among Hispanic adults since he began his second term in January. The poll points to a drop...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss raising awareness about domestic violence in the Latino community. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and many in the Latino community often cite fear of deportation or family separation as reasons why they don't seek help. Many cases are often not reported due to stigma or lack of culturally-competent resources. Families and advocates recently walk...

On this edition of Tiempo, we break down what students and families need to know about this year's federal student aid form and its new changes. The 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is now available. The form is a critical first step for students hoping to receive federal aid, grants and educational loans as well as work study programs. Technical problems with the fo...

On this edition of Tiempo, we learn more about a local nonprofit organization on a mission to bring fresh produce and food education to residents. Connected Chef is a Queens-based nonprofit that will open a new fresh market and community food hub in Woodside later this month. The organization is on a mission to ensure people in Queens have access to local, nutritious food and education on health e...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss a unique tool allowing people to monitor and be aware of immigration enforcement activity on Long Island. The organization Islip Forward launched the ICE Tracker in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The online tool allows community member to track and report sightings of immigration and customs enforcement agents in real time to help keep immigrant families informe...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss how one organization is addressing the often overlooked subject of Latino mental health. The mental health stigma is a pervasive issue in many Hispanic communities, often preventing individuals from seeking the care they need. On Long Island, the Hispanic Counseling Center is working hard to break that stigma. The center provides bilingual health programs for...