Venezuelan journalist based in San Jose, California. 15 years of experience as a reporter, editor and alliance builder in Latin America and the US. Worked with Efe News, BBC, Terra.com, El Nuevo Herald, and others. Co-founded Venezuela Decoded. Follow me @Avilesm
Latest posts by Mary Aviles
‘Daughters of the Forest’ Documents How Education Empowers Young Women in Rural Paraguay
"...if you give young women a chance by giving them an education, they can become valuable," says director Samantha Grant about her film "Daughters of the Forest".
Through Hardships to the Stars: These Latin American Children Won’t Let Garbage Stand in the Way of Music
“Per aspera ad astra” means reaching the stars despite hardships. Youngsters from Mexico and Paraguay, whether living among garbage or using it to build musical instruments, are doing just that.
A Look Back on the Stories We Told About Latin America in 2015
From the anniversary of the disappearance of Ayotzinapa's students to the controversy surrounding the inauguration of Argentina's new president, we review the stories we shared on Latin America during 2015.
In Spanish, Inclusive Language Can Be at Odds With Grammar Rules
"Being contained and invisible within masculine nouns forces women to ask themselves the same question thousands of times throughout their lives: 'Are they speaking about me?'"
The Struggle of More Than One Thousand Cuban Immigrants Stranded in Central America
Some 1,500 Cubans are stranded at the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua after Nicaragua denies them entry, and violently turns them away alleging "violation of sovereignty."
Meet the Flourishing Muslim Community in Buenaventura, Colombia
Almost 300 Colombian families of African descent converted to Islam 40 years ago as a form of empowerment in the face of marginalization.
Transgender Activist's Death Shows That Argentina’s Fight Against Gender Violence Is Far From Over
Hate crimes and gender violence are once again in the spotlight after the death of a prominent fighter for transgender rights in Argentina.
A Landslide in Guatemala Killed More Than 200 People This Month. Here’s How You Can Help the Victims.
The Guatemalan Red Cross has put in place various measures to help the victims of a landslide in the town of El Cambray Dos that killed more than 200 people.
Venezuela's Oscar Entry Speaks an Indigenous Language
“Gone with the River” by Mario Crespo is Venezuela's Oscar entry in the Best Foreign Language Film… https://t.co/XR8tzauaSU — Carlos Aguilar (@Carlos_Film) September 3, 2015 Lo que lleva el río...
It's About Time to End Female Genital Mutilation in the Only Latin American Country Where It Still Exists
Female genital mutilation is a practice usually associated with African countries, but in some indigenous communities in Colombia it's still being practiced.
‘Las Patronas': Making Mexico’s ‘Train of Death’ a More Humane Place
How a petition on Change.org pushed a family improving the lives of thousands of U.S-bound migrants towards a nomination at the 2015 Princess of Asturias awards.
This Is What Happens When You Give Power to the ‘Chicas’
Chicas Poderosas is a movement that trains women in journalism to help bring more diversity to newsrooms in Latin America.
Bolivia's Civil Service Wracked by a Series of Social Media Slip-Ups
Blunders made by Bolivian civil servants show how simple mistakes quickly escalate in social media.
Media Factory Seeks to Invest in New Digital Media in Latin America
Media Factory, a startup accelerator which focuses on the business of online news and journalism, announced the second class of its news acceleration program, seeking to support new digital-only media ventures in Latin...
Photo of a Mexican Revolutionary Who Looks Like Pacquiao Goes Viral
A photo of a Mexican revolutionary who looks like Manny Pacquiao has gone viral few days before the Filipino boxing icon's fight today against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas for three champions belts (OMB,...
‘There Is a Word Missing in the History of the Armenian Genocide: Justice’
Only five Latin American countries have recognized the Armenian genocide, among them Argentina, where a journalist tells the story of her grandparents harrowing escape.
Mexican Group Receives International Journalism Recognition Julio Anguita Parrado
Periodistas de a Pie (@periodistasdeapie), an active journalist organization that aims to raise the quality of journalism in Mexico, received the International Journalism Award Julio Anguita Parrado in Spain. Through...
All Eyes on Cuba, Venezuela and the US at the Summit of the Americas
Cuba's participation in the 2015 Summit of the Americas will make history, and the inevitable encounter between the Venezuelan and US presidents will be full of tension.
Peru's Congress Censures Prime Minister Ana Jara in the Throes of Domestic Spying Scandal
Peru's Congress recently censured its Prime Minster for the first time in 50 years. Expect the battles between the legislature and the executive to continue.
Nicaraguan Mother Recovered Her Child Detained At German Embassy in Managua
Ximena Gutiérrez, a Nicaraguan mother, recovered her child who was detained by his father at the German Embassy in Nicaragua. Arun was taken to the Embassy's office in Managua by...
Before the Border: The Immigrant Odyseey Across Mexico
The perils of crossing the border between Mexico and the United States are well documented, but for thousands of undocumented migrants from Central America, crossing Mexico is even more dangerous....
