Dania Ramirez on Playing Iconic Fairytale Character
Dania Ramirez plays Cinderella on ABC's "Once Upon a Time." She sits down with Alyssa Julya Smith in Los Angeles to talk about what its like to play a Dominican Cinderella and what that means for diversity on the screen.
"To be really be inclusive of all ethnic backgrounds and to be able to tell his fairytale story being a Dominican woman of color was already groundbreaking for me," Ramirez explains. She also says being a part of "Once Upon a Time," which has a huge fan base has been an honor.
She talks about her journey from the Dominican Republic to playing Cinderella, saying this role has changed her life. She says she is looking forward to the future of Hollywood and the industry creating more roles for more diverse backgrounds.
Members of the Kappa League mentoring program at Wyandanch Memorial High School in Long Island, NY are preparing for an educational trip to Ghana. Principal Paul Sibblies is on a mission to enrich his students' lives to put some of them in touch with their roots. "When you invest in young people, then it's the greatest investment you can make," he said.
A group of 15 students recently graduated from SANYS U., a six-week program held by the Self Advocacy Association of New York State. The course helps people with disabilities to advocate on their own behalf, learning more about their rights, legislation and issues that matter most.
The minivan is turning 40 years old this year. While it made up just 1.8 percent of the car market in 2022, that number could begin to tick up, as more families increase interest in the car's advantages. Cheddar News' senior reporter Michelle Castillo takes a deeper look at the minivan's lineage.
