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PODCAST

The Garifuna Experience Podcast

Jose Francisco Avila

Mabuiga! Welcome to The Garifuna Experience Podcast — the definitive voice for the Garifuna Community.GALENT Media & Publishing | The Garifuna Experience Podcast and NewsletterEditorial Mission StatementOverview: GALENT Media & Publishing is an independent news and multimedia organization dedicated to the primary newsgathering, reporting, and analysis of issues affecting the Garifuna and Afro-Latino diaspora. Through our flagship platform, The Garifuna Experience Podcast and Newsletter, we

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All Episodes

7:30

Episode 46: The Midterm Elections – Why Every Two...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/04/07

Send us Fan MailWhile the Presidential election gets the "big stage" every four years, the real engine of community change runs on a two-year cycle. In this essential explainer episode of The Garifuna Experience, host José Francisco Ávila breaks down the mechanics of the Midterm Elections and why they are the ultimate tool for Garifuna political accountability.Many of us are busy with work and family, asking: "Does my one vote even count in an 'off-year'?" The answer is

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10:18

Episode 45: The Power of Place: Mapping Garifuna...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/03/31

Send us Fan MailIn this high-stakes episode of The Garifuna Experience, host José Francisco Ávila shifts the conversation from cultural advocacy to political accountability. As we move into the heart of the 2026 Bronx Primary season, we are mapping the "Garifuna Community of Interest" and proving that our 100,000-strong concentration in the Bronx is the ultimate tiebreaker in New York City politics.We take a deep dive into the battlegrounds of Assembly Districts 77, 84, 86, and 87,

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9:33

Episode 44: The Happy Land Tragedy: A Community’s...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/03/24

Send us Fan MailOn March 25th, 1990, the Bronx was shaken by a tragedy that would forever change the Garifuna diaspora. The Happy Land Social Club fire claimed 87 lives—most of them young Garifuna immigrants seeking a better life. But from the ashes of that devastating night, a movement was born.In this powerful episode of The Garifuna Experience, host José Francisco Ávila explores how a site of immense grief transformed into a landmark of resistance and a catalyst for Garifuna political identity in

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12:49

Episode 43: The Fight for Visibility at the...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/03/17

Send us Fan MailAre we being counted, or are we being erased?In this landmark episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, we step into the halls of Congress to dissect the inaugural Congressional Afro-Latino Roundtable. Led by Rep. Ritchie Torres and Rep. Adriano Espaillat, this historic convening marked a turning point in federal advocacy for the Black diaspora.The Garifuna community lives at a complex intersection of Afro-Indigenous identity, migration, and policy neglect. For decades, federal

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8:32

Episode 42: The Power of the Count – Celebrating...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/03/10

Send a text" Did you know that right here in New York, we celebrate the first and only official Garifuna Heritage Month in the world?."In this milestone episode of The Garifuna Experience, host José Francisco Ávila marks the 17th anniversary of Garifuna Heritage Month in New York. While we celebrate the vibrant music, food, and Afro-Indigenous traditions that define us, this year’s message is a clarion call for a different kind of visibility: Political Power.With over 250,000 Garifuna

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8:17

Episode 41: From Yurumein to the 2030 Census Our...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/03/03

Send a text"If you aren't in the data, you don't exist in the budget."In this powerful kickoff to Garifuna Heritage Month 2026, host José Francisco Ávila bridges the 229-year gap between the shores of St. Vincent “Yurumein” and the streets of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem. This episode explores the concept that civic engagement—specifically the fight for a "Complete Count" in the 2030 Census—is the modern-day continuation of the ancestral resistance of 1797.What we

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7:45

Special Episode - URGENT: Act Now To Protect a Fair &...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/02/28

Send a text"New York lost a Congressional seat in 2020 by just 89 people. We cannot afford to let history repeat itself."In this urgent episode of The Garifuna Experience, we sit down with the New York State Census Partnership to discuss the high-stakes battle for the 2030 Census. While 2030 feels far away, the decisions made in Albany this monthwill determine whether our community is seen or rendered invisible for the next decade.We break down the technical—but critical—LUCA (Local Update

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9:27

Episodio especial - URGENTE: Actúa ahora para...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/02/28

Send a text"Nueva York perdió un escaño en el Congreso en 2020 por solo 89 personas. No podemos permitirnos que la historia se repita."En este episodio urgente de The Garifuna Experience, nos sentamos con la Asociación del Censo del Estado de Nueva York para hablar sobre la batalla de alto riesgo para el Censo de 2030. Aunque 2030 parece lejano, las decisiones tomadas en Albany este mes determinarán si nuestra comunidad será vista o invisible durante la próxima década.Desglosamos el

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7:57

Episode 40: The Uncredited and Often Forgotten...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/02/24

Send a text"The history of the 'Banana Republic' begins with a loan that was never repaid."In this episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila pulls back the curtain on one of the most significant—yet silenced—chapters in the history of the African Diaspora. While history books often credit Italian immigrants and American corporations for the industrialization of the Honduran North Coast, the truth lies in the “Unseen Thread” of Garifuna economic

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8:55

Episodio 40: La inversión garífuna sin acreditar y a...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/02/24

Send a textEn este episodio de The Garifuna Experience Podcast, el presentador José Francisco Ávila desvela uno de los capítulos más significativos—aunque silenciados—en la historia de la diáspora africana. Aunque los libros de historia suelen atribuir a inmigrantes italianos y corporaciones estadounidenses la industrialización de la costa norte hondureña, la verdad reside en el "Hilo Invisible" del poder económico garífuna.Antes de que Standard Fruit Company (ahora Dole Food Company) se

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7:05

How Jesse Jackson’s Vision Ignited the Modern...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/02/20

Send a textIn this powerful bonus episode, host José Francisco Ávila takes us back to the vibrant energy of the 1980s—a time of "Mental Emancipation" fueled by the Black Power movement, the defiant lyrics of Bob Marley, and the political earthquake of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s "Rainbow Coalition."José reveals how Jackson’s historic 1988 presidential campaign served as the direct catalyst for organizing the Garifuna community in New York City. From the first pivotal meeting on February

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7:55

Cómo la visión de Jesse Jackson impulso el movimiento...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/02/20

Send a textEn este poderoso episodio extra, el presentador José Francisco Ávila nos transporta de vuelta a la vibrante energía de los años 80, una época de "Emancipación Mental" impulsada por el movimiento Black Power, las letras desafiantes de Bob Marley y el terremoto político de la "Rainbow Coalition" del reverendo Jesse Jackson.José Francisco revela cómo la histórica campaña presidencial de Jackson en 1988 sirvió como el catalizador directo para organizar la comunidad

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8:37

Episode 39: The Unseen Thread: Garifuna Excellence in...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/02/17

Send a textFrom the coastal town of Dangriga to the rugged streets of Brownsville, the Garifuna spirit is leaving an indelible mark on the gridiron. In this episode of our special series, Hidden Voices: The Garifuna Demographic—Undercounted and Underrepresented, we pull back the curtain on the "Unseen Thread" connecting Garifuna heritage to the pinnacle of American sports: the National Football League (NFL).As the world prepares for Super Bowl LX, Host José Francisco Ávila honors Black

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8:37

Episode 38 - Dionisia Amaya-Bonilla “Mama Nicha” –...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/02/10

Send a textIn this powerful episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila pays tribute to a woman whose legacy is woven into the very fabric of the Garifuna diaspora: Dionisia Amaya-Bonilla, known affectionately as "Mama Nicha."From her humble beginnings in La Ceiba, Honduras, to being honored on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mama Nicha’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and community building. We explore her transition from a housekeeper in

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15:33

Episode 37 - The Unseen Thread: Garifuna History in...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/02/03

Send us a textIn this powerful episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila takes up the challenge issued by Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams to “re-release the shackles off our mental bodies” by uncovering the hidden chapters of Garifuna history. While many associate the start of the African experience in the Americas with 1619, we pull back the curtain on a timeline that begins nearly a century earlier.We explore "The Unseen Thread"—the historical

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5:37

Episode 36 - The Torch Exchange: Boomers and X...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/01/30

Send us a textRecruiting the Builders of the Garifuna Leadership ProjectIn this episode, José Francisco Ávila issues a call to action for the "Political Elders" and professionals of the Garifuna community. As we approach the 2030 Centennial, we are moving from being a "hidden demographic" to a visible force in NYC. Discover how the Mentorship Matrix and the concept of Sacred Time are creating a sustainable pipeline for 100 new leaders. Whether you are a Gen Z seeker or a veteran

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7:21

Episode 35 - Passing the Torch: Garifuna Millennials...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/01/27

Send us a textHidden Voices: The Garifuna Demographic Undercounted and Underrepresented Host: José Francisco ÁvilaSummary: In New York City, the Garifuna community is a sleeping giant. With over 200,000 residents—100,000 in the Bronx alone—we are one of the city’s most vibrant demographics. Yet, there is a staggering gap in power: out of those hundreds of thousands, only one Garifuna individual currently holds local political office in New York State.In this episode of The Garifuna Experience

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7:55

Episode 34 - Mapping the Garifuna Community of...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/01/20

Send us a textHow does a community move from being "hidden in plain sight" to becoming a recognized political force? In this pivotal episode, host José Francisco Ávila breaks down the strategic roadmap for the New York City Garifuna community as we approach the 2031 Decennial Redistricting.We are shifting the focus from cultural celebration to political self-determination. With over 250,000 Garifuna residents in New York City—and a 100,000-strong concentration in the Bronx—our community

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10:58

Episode 33 - The Road to Census 2030 Starts Now!

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/01/13

Send us a textWhy are we talking about 2030 in 2026? Because the blueprint for our community’s power over the next decade is being drawn TODAY.In this vital episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, hosts José Francisco Ávila (Chairman of the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc.) and Gregoria Flores Núñez (Executive Director of Garifuna Community Services, Inc.) pull back the curtain on the multi-year battle for Garifuna visibility.The U.S. Census is more than a population count—it is a $1.5 trillion

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18:33

Episode 32 - From the Oscars to Our Roots: The Legacy...

The Garifuna Experience Podcast ·

2026/01/06

Send us a textIn this episode, we bridge the gap between mainstream Hollywood accolades and the independent spirit of Garifuna filmmaking. As we prepare for the 2026 awards season, we reflect on how Garifuna narratives have moved from the background of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema to the forefront of international festivals.Key Takeaways:Awards Season Intel: A breakdown of the 83rd Golden Globes (Jan 11, 2026) and the 98th Oscars voting window.The Pioneer: Celebrating Juan José

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