The National Association of Hispanic Journalists Washington, D.C. Chapter mourns the loss of Rafael Pérez-Narváez on January 17, 2024. He was 43 years old.
“Rafita,” as many journalists knew him, worked as the news director at Telemundo 49 Tampa. He previously worked as assistant news director at Telemundo Boston, producer at Telemundo Philadelphia, and a news producer at Univision Noticias DC. Rafita started his communications career in his native Puerto Rico and had a great passion to inform the Latino community.
It was here in Washington D.C. where Rafita helped lead a Spanish-language writing workshop for our chapter members. He showed us how to write news stories in Spanish and produce a newscast. He also attended several meetings including our first briefing at the White House.
We remember Rafael “Rafita” for his commitment to serve the Latino community and teach the next generation of journalists.
Join the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ), National Association of Hispanic Journalists DC (NAHJ DC), Asian American Journalists Association Washington D.C. Chapter (AAJA), South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA), Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA), the Association of LGBTQ Journalists (NLGJA) and the Trans Journalists Association (TJA) for an evening of food, fun and networking. On Thursday, November 16th @ 6pm at WILD DAYS Rooftop Bar at Eaton Hotel, located at 1201 K St NW, Washington, DC.
🌟 Connect, Collaborate, and Cultivate! Dive into an enriching environment where journalists and media professionals from diverse origins and backgrounds converge. Experience the power of unity in diversity, forging connections that transcend borders and boundaries.
🤝 Networking Redefined! Engage in meaningful conversations, build lasting relationships, and unlock unparalleled collaboration opportunities with a mosaic of brilliant minds in the media industry. Expand your network with professionals who bring a wealth of diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas.
🌈 Celebrate Diversity! Be part of a transformative event that champions diversity in journalism, fostering an inclusive space where every voice is heard, valued, and celebrated. Embrace the enriching interplay of different cultures, viewpoints, and stories that fuel innovation and creativity in journalism.
💡 Share and Shine! Seize this extraordinary platform to share your insights, learn from others, and collaboratively explore new horizons in journalism. Harness the collective wisdom and creativity of a diverse community to elevate the impact and relevance of your work.
🔗 Join Us for a Networking Experience Like No Other! Secure your spot now, and embark on a journey that redefines networking, celebrates diversity, and propels your career to new heights!
Please join us for a roundtable discussion with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) on Nov. 15. This will be your chance to meet key officials from the FDA and ask them the hard-hitting questions we know you have.
The FDA is offering an optional lab tour from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. followed by the on-the-record roundtable from 11:30 a.m to 12:30 pm.
NPR’s Ximena Bustillo will moderate the panel, which will include FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf and Chief Scientist Dr. Namandjé N. Bumpus. Public affairs officers Gloria Sanchez-Contreras and Veronika Pfaeffle will also be in attendance.
Please RSVP to nahjdc@gmail.com by Oct. 27 if you’d like to join us, and include the outlet you work for and a question or topic area you would like our panelists to discuss.
We also invite you to participate as a sponsor or donate to the silent auction — it could be an item of value or even the opportunity to spend time with a notable figure on Zoom.
We’ve enclosed our sponsorship brochure — take a look and discover the numerous ways you can help the next generation of Latino journalists and those working in the field. Our sponsorship levels range from $1,000 to $25,000. The proceeds benefit the NAHJ DC chapter and our internship supplement for students.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations to our regional chapter are tax-deductible. Our members include more than 150 journalists who cover Maryland, Virginia, the District, the nation and the world in English and Spanish. We are a diverse group of local, national and international media professionals.
Members of the NAHJ Washington,D.C. chapter met with the highest ranking Latinos in Congress, Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
NAHJ members also met members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference (Latino Republicans) on Capitol Hill during the last week of July.
Members of the NAHJ Washington, D.C. Chapter spent a day visiting the NASA Goddard Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. In a series of briefings, members learned about the Artemis program, the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope and the heliosphere of the sun.
Lori Montenegro, the head of Noticias Telemundo’s Washington, D.C. bureau, is one of the most influential and experienced journalists in Spanish-language television with more than 40 years in the media industry.
Prior to her role, she was a correspondent in the U.S. capital for Noticias Telemundo, a position she held since 2006. An empowering journalist, throughout the years Montenegro has been on the front line covering the issues that are most important to Latinos, and her most notable career interviews includes a sit-down with former U.S. President Barack Obama in 2013. In addition, Montenegro collaborates with other NBCUniversal news organizations, including NBC News and MSNBC.
Before joining Noticias Telemundo, Montenegro spent three years at Univisión as the Washington correspondent for 25 of its affiliates. Between 1991 and 1993, she served as Foreign Policy Correspondent for the U.S. Information Agency (USIA). Montenegro was named one of 100 outstanding Hispanic journalists in the country in 2001 and 2002. She also received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Latina Leader Award and the UnidosUS Rubén Salazar Award, among other accolades. She has received a Media Trailblazer Award presented by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Most recently, she was honored by the Radio Television Digital News Association with the First Amendment Clarity Award, a recognition presented to a journalist who goes to extraordinary lengths to provide meaning and context to complicated news stories or issues of extreme public importance.
Resolution:
Whereas; Mrs. Lori Montenegro joined the National Association of Hispanic Journalists on March 21, 2002 and is a Lifetime member and an active member of the Washington D.C. Chapter,
Whereas; Mrs. Montenegro has advised our chapter, mentored our members, donated and hosted a chapter meeting at the Telemundo Network Capitol Hill Bureau in 2012,
Whereas; Mrs. Montenegro helped tremendously in preparing the national and local chapter in how to interact with staffers in the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations and securing Julio Vaqueiro to co-moderate the chapter’s White House panel discussion,
Whereas; Mrs. Montenegro moderated a plenary session with Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and National Association of Black Journalists joint convention in Washington, D.C. on August 5, 2016.
Whereas, former NAHJ President Mekhalo Medina honored Mrs. Montenegro with the NAHJ Presidential Award of Visibility at the NAHJ-NABJ joint convention in 2016,
Whereas; Mrs. Montenegro shared her experience covering the Trump White House during the 2018 National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention in Miami.
Therefore be it resolved; the board of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Washington, D.C. Chapter and it’s members-in-good-standing signed below, hereby nominate Lori Montenegro for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame.
We the undersigned, being board members of the Washington, D.C. Chapter approved the resolution passed on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 during a membership meeting.
Brandon Benavides President
Estefania Mitre Secretary
Jason Zaragoza At-Large Officer
Silvia Foster-Frau Vice-President
Clara Dominguez Treasurer
We the undersigned, being members in-good-standing signed below, approved the resolution.
Monica Alba Rolando Arrieta Priscilla Alvarez Mauricio Casillas Felix Contreras Gloria Contreras Pedro Cota Jenny Cushman Patricia Guadalupe Fin Gomez Susan Flores Rafael Lorente Maria Lucchini Melissa Macaya Ed O’Keefe Joseph Olmo Maria Pena Yamila Pino Sulema Salazar Rafael Suarez Cristobal Vasquez Lucio Villa
Wednesday, April 19 at 7 PM Via Zoom: Email nahjdc@gmail.com for link.
Agenda
Welcome
Secretary Report
Treasurer Report
Old Business:
Job Fair
Pen & Pad Briefing with Energy Secretary
White House Briefing
News Business
Chapter Elections
Pen & Pad Briefing with Congressman Pete Aguilar
Tour NASA Goddard
An evening with the Mexican Ambassador to U.S.
Resolution to nominate Lori Montenegro to NAHJ Hall of Fame
Whereas; Lori Montenegro joined the National Association of Hispanic Journalists on March 21, 2002 and is an active member of the Washington, D.C. Chapter,
Whereas; Lori Montenegro hosted a NAHJ Washington, D.C. Chapter meeting at the Telemundo Network Capitol Hill Bureau in 2012,
Whereas; Lori Montenegro has mentored, advised and donated money to help our chapter and members,
Whereas; Lori Montenegro moderated a plenary session with Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention in Washington, D.C. on August 5, 2016.
Whereas; Lori Montenegro shared her experience covering the Trump White House during the 2018 National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention in Miami.
Therefore be it resolved; the board of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Washington, D.C. Chapter and it’s members-in-good-standing signed below, hereby nominate Lori Montenegro for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame.
We the undersigned, being board members of the Washington, D.C. Chapter, approved the resolution passed on *** during a membership meeting.
We the undersigned, being members in-good-standing signed below, approved the resolution on ** ** ****.
NAHJ DC 