Relentless : my story of the Latino spirit that is transforming America

Relentless My story of the Latino spirit that is transforming America

Luis A. Miranda

Book - 2024

"Luis Miranda arrived in New York City from Puerto Rico in 1974 to study psychology at NYU, but he soon found himself drawn to community action, eventually working for the Department of Employment, the Board of Education, and the nonprofit Aspira, among many other organizations. In the 1980s he was a special advisor for Hispanic Affairs to Mayor Ed Koch, and he continued to serve in key roles for the Dinkins and Giuliani administrations. In 1990 Miranda became the founding President of the Hispanic Federation, one of the nation's leading Latino nonprofits. In 2000, he founded the Amber Charter School in East Harlem. As a founding partner of the MirRam Group, Miranda has consulted on a number of successful political campaigns, incl...uding the Senatorial campaigns of Hilary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, and Kirsten Gillibrand. The list of roles and positions is practically endless, but, more simply put, there is no one on the Latino, New York City, and national political scene who has the breadth of experience, passion, understanding, and storytelling charm of Luis Miranda. In "Relentless," he shares the poignant narrative of his life and career-from his early days as a radically-minded Puerto Rican activist to his decades of practical political advising and problem-solving. We experience the thrill of the ascendency of Luis's son Lin-Manuel's "Hamilton" followed several years later by the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Amid the triumphs, challenges, and ongoing hard work, Miranda examines what it all tells us about our ever-changing politics, demographics, and society"--

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2nd Floor New Shelf BIOGRAPHY/Miranda, Luis A. (NEW SHELF) Checked In
Subjects
Miranda, Luis A.
Puerto Ricans > New York (State) > New York > Biography.
Political consultants > New York (State) > New York > Biography.
HISTORY / Americas (North, Central, South, West Indies)
New York (N.Y.) > Biography.
Puerto Rico > Biography.
Autobiography.
autobiographies (literary works)
Autobiographies.
Biographies.
Genres
Autobiography
autobiographies (literary works)
Autobiographies
Biographies
Published
New York : Hachette Books 2024.
Language
English
Main Author
Luis A. Miranda (author)
Other Authors
Richard Wolffe, 1968- (author)
Edition
First edition
Item Description
Includes index.
Physical Description
xii, 260 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
ISBN
9780306833229
9780306833236
  • Foreword
  • Chapter 1. Arrival
  • Chapter 2. Origins
  • Chapter 3. New Roots
  • Chapter 4. Getting Schooled
  • Chapter 5. City Hall
  • Chapter 6. Latinidad
  • Chapter 7. The Senators
  • Chapter 8. A Family Affair
  • Chapter 9. Maria
  • Chapter 10. Change Is Constant
  • Chapter 11. Rising Stars
  • Chapter 12. The End
  • Acknowledgments
  • Index
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A Puerto Rican political strategist and philanthropist describes his life devoted to public service. Miranda, father of Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel, describes growing up in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, in a middle-class, high-achieving family. The author was thinking about attending law school in San Juan when he was recruited by Bernie Kalinkowitz, chair of the psychology department at NYU, to pursue a doctorate. Arriving in New York City at age 19, Miranda would soon be divorced from his childhood sweetheart and leave the field of psychology for work in the arenas of social reform and political activism. He realized that statehood for his country was not the answer, but rather an economic solution to poverty. Miranda soon married another student, Luz, who had a small child, and together they had Lin-Manuel in 1980. They bought a house in Inwood, Manhattan, which became the setting for his son's first musical theater effort, In the Heights. After helping to create the Amber Charter School for dual-language speakers, "the first Latino-led community charter school in New York," Miranda moved to City Hall, as Mayor Ed Koch's special adviser for Hispanic affairs, in 1987. The author's ability to garner the Hispanic political bloc attracted the attention of Guillermo Linares, who was elected to city council in 1992; Fernando Ferrer, "the most prominent Latino official in New York City," who just missed being elected as the first Latino mayor when 9/11 happened; and the Senate campaigns for Chuck Schumer ("a big character and knowledgeable about everything") and Hillary Clinton ("high profile and untested"). The author's tone is charming and personable as he espouses his devotion to Julie Andrews and Debbie Reynolds and authoritative when speaking of the possibilities of Latine political power. His son provides the foreword. An engaging life story and clear picture of some of the mechanics of politics. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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