Feel Good Friday - The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York

The days tend to blur together when sheltering in place so we're going to spend this Feel Good Friday talking about Tuesday! Cinco de Mayo is a holiday commemorating the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. While you're raising your glass to Mexico next week, take some time to learn about The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York (MCINY).

Founded in 1991, the mission of The MCINY is "to strengthen the image of Mexico and foster a  better understanding of our country through the promotion of its art and culture."

They do this by organizing music concerts, dance performances, art exhibitions, film screenings and book presentations. The MCINY also participates in local festivals and partners with art institutes around the world. You can explore past events at this link.

With no current events scheduled, and in-lieu of an annual luncheon, The MCINY is supporting the Cinco de Mayo Eat, Drink and Support Week. From May 2 - 9, New Yorkers are encouraged to order delivery and takeout from participating restaurants who will all be offering special Cinco de Mayo menus. Sounds delicious!

If you're not in New York, perhaps you live near another Mexican Cultural Institute. You can find them in Miami, San Antonio, Washington DC, Paris, Spain and Costa Rica!

As you celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Tuesday, consider supporting and promoting Mexican culture in New York with a donation to The MCINY and by liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter @MCINY. ¡Viva!

Feel Good Friday - Corazón de Niña

Today's Feel Good Friday coincides with Day of the Dead (Día de Muetros en Español). It's "a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died." (Thanks, Wikipedia).

So let's go to Mexico! A local restaurant in Puerto Vallarta is hosting a charity event to raise money for Corazón de Niña - a shelter for teenage girls. As they explain on their website, "Our goal is that the girls grow with security, love, values and education in order to become healthy, strong and independent women and thus change the cycle.  The girls know that this is their home until they are ready to leave the house and fly.  We are the only house in Puerto Vallarta with a focus on adolescent girls, insisting on maintaining the girls together with a variety of ages."

Keeping the home running isn't easy. To make ends meet, the girls sell donated items on the weekends and they subsist on food from Costco that is past it's expiration date. All the while they're trying to build out the house to accommodate more girls.

How can you help? If you'd like to make a donation and want it to be tax deductible in the US, you must make it through the Casa JoJo Foundation. You can watch the 6:22 minute video they made here.

As always, you can stay in the loop by liking their Facebook page or best of all, make a plan to visit in person! Now you've got an excuse for a little vacation in PV! You're welcome.