Bilingual Storyteller
When it was announced that Bad Bunny would headline the next Super Bowl halftime show, social media exploded.At first, there was celebration, Puerto Rican flags, excitement, pride, joy. But within hours, the noise … Continue reading Café con José: The Backlash Behind the Beat
This week, the NFL confirmed that Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, and honestly, I can’t stop thinking about what this moment means. For years, Latinos … Continue reading Café con José: Bad Bunny, the halftime show, and why we keep thriving
Today, on the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, I’m holding on to a moment that reminded me why I write, why I tell stories, and why I believe in the … Continue reading Café con José: The American Dream, Alive and Bilingual
Every interview leaves me with something: a quote, a story — and a set of questions.
Not for the person I just spoke to, but for myself.
Did I listen deeply enough? Did I handle their pain with care?
This week on Café con José, I’m pulling back the curtain.
In this edition of Café con José, I reflect on what his legacy meant to my abuela, to my faith, and to the quiet power of being seen by someone who speaks your language — in every sense.
When Gayle King and Katy Perry went to space, headlines called it historic. But real representation goes beyond photo ops. In this edition of Café con José, I reflect on space tourism, visibility, and the trailblazers in STEM who rarely get the spotlight — but deserve far more than a seat.
In this week’s Café con José, we break down what happened outside the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion — and why stories like this deserve more than a headline. The facts, the context, and the questions we should be asking.
This week, Reading felt smaller.
Not because the city changed, but because the grief was shared. A tragic explosion that could’ve been prevented. A shooting that shook another block. And the death of a merengue legend remembered with candles, flags, and music. In the middle of it all, our community kept showing up—with memory, with presence, with love.
What was meant to be a night of merengue and celebration turned into a national tragedy. Jet Set — a place known for joy, music, and comunidad — became the site of heartbreak. Among those lost was Rubby Pérez, a voice we all grew up with. My heart is with the Dominican people — aquí y allá — as we mourn this unimaginable loss, together.
Five years ago, a phone call changed everything. In the middle of a normal workday during the pandemic, I lost my father—and began a journey through grief, memory, and legacy. This week’s Café con José is about what we leave unfinished… and the stories we carry forward.
This week in Reading, the city didn’t slow down.
Berks Jazz Fest brought the energy. The community showed up for a young volunteer in need. And safety updates near the Pagoda reminded us that change happens on every level—big and small.
In this edition of Café con José, I reflect on a city that holds celebration and concern side by side… and why those stories matter more than ever.
Café con José is returning after nearly ten years, inspired by the need for connection. José will share weekly columns that are honest and personal, reflecting on communities and life. The aim is to create a space for shared experiences, inviting readers to join him with their coffee or tea.
José Martínez 