The numbers are bleak. Latinos make up 18% of America’s population but only 5% of the number of speaking roles in movies in 2019 according to the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.

Hollywood seems to be late to the party when it comes to Latino representation onscreen. But luckily, there are a handful of Latino artists and creators out there who are taking the fight to appear in front of the screen to behind the camera.

Take, for example, Eva Longoria, who was just announced to be directing and co-starring in the new action-comedy film, “Spa Day”

Eva Longoria to Direct Action-Comedy ‘Spa Day’ at Sony Pictures (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/FaP3GgE0yj via @variety

— Eva Longoria Baston (@EvaLongoria) September 25, 2020

This marks the third movie the Mexican-American actress will be helming and the first Latina to ever direct more than one major studio film.

The other films on Longoria’s roster include a vehicle for her and Kerry Washington tentatively titled “24/7”, as well as the upcoming biopic “Flamin’ Hot”–a movie centered around Richard Montañez, the man who invented Flaming Hot Cheetos.

Longoria has been candid about how the decision to move into directing and producing has been a strategic one.

“One of the reasons I went into producing and directing was I wasn’t going to sit back and wait for somebody to create a role I wanted to do,” Longoria told Variety in 2018.

“You can’t just sit around waiting for [good projects], and I wanted to create that — not just for myself but for other Latinas.”

But her career transition isn’t unique as a Latina in Hollywood. She has joined the ranks of other Latinas in Hollywood who have began to produce and direct their own projects in order to finally see Latino stories told on screen.

Her peers include Jennifer Lopez (“Shades of Blue“, “Hustlers“), Selena Gomez (“Living Undocumented“), America Ferrera (“Gentefied“, “Superstore“), Gina Rodriguez (“Diary of an American President,” “Carmen San Diego“), and Salma Hayek (“Ugly Betty”).

All of these women have thrown their weight behind projects that otherwise wouldn’t be made if their names weren’t attached to them.

All of these women are creating stories that feature Latino stories and Latino talent–in front of and behind the camera.

America Ferrera explained the reason behind her conscious career pivot from acting to directing/producing: “My genuine heart’s desire is to tell stories that haven’t been told,” she told CBS This Morning. “It’s hard to get stories about people like us made. And then to get those stories told by us is very very uncommon.”

Although the endgame is to have Latinx stories greenlit without having to first be a famous singer or actress, the work these ladies are doing might be laying the foundation for an easier road for future industry players of Latino descent. Or as Longoria so eloquently put it: “If we unite and create opportunities for each other and pull each other up, there could be a lot more success for representation on TV.”

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The world is still trying to get a handle on the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced billions into lockdown measures from various government orders. More than 220 million Americans are living in states with lockdown orders leaving children with no school and parents with no childcare. Now, celebs are offering their time with Save with Stories to read children’s books to help parents and children cope.

Gina Torres reading “Sofia Valdez, Future Prez”

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“Sofia Valdez, Future Prez” by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts (published by @abramskids) – read by @iamginatorres . THIRTY MILLION CHILDREN rely on school for food. Responding to the needs of kids during these school closures, @savethechildren and @nokidhungry have a new fund @SAVEWITHSTORIES to support food banks, and mobile meal trucks, and community feeding programs with funds to do what they do best—and also—with educational toys, books, and worksheets to make sure brains are full, as well as bellies. . If you can manage a one time gift of $10, please text SAVE to 20222. If another amount would work better for you, please visit our website—link in bio. There is no maximum and there is no minimum—together we will rise and together we can help. . Thank you and stay safe. XX #SAVEWITHSTORIES

A post shared by #SAVEWITHSTORIES (@savewithstories) on Mar 28, 2020 at 3:48pm PDT

Save with Stories, created by Amy Adams and Jennifer Garner, is being done in conjunction with Save the Children and No Kid Hungry. Celebrities are joining up with Save with Stories to offer a bit of reading education to the millions of children not in school right now as the world battles the coronavirus.

Eva Longoria reading “La vida de Selena”

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“La vida de Selena” by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein – read by @evalongoria . THIRTY MILLION CHILDREN rely on school for food. Responding to the needs of kids during these school closures, @savethechildren and @nokidhungry have a new fund @SAVEWITHSTORIES to support food banks, and mobile meal trucks, and community feeding programs with funds to do what they do best—and also—with educational toys, books, and worksheets to make sure brains are full, as well as bellies. . If you can manage a one time gift of $10, please text SAVE to 20222. If another amount would work better for you, please visit our website—link in bio. There is no maximum and there is no minimum—together we will rise and together we can help. . Thank you and stay safe. XX #SAVEWITHSTORIES

A post shared by #SAVEWITHSTORIES (@savewithstories) on Mar 26, 2020 at 8:59am PDT

Save with Stories is asking for donations to keep children taken care of during this crisis. Many children rely on getting their meals from their schools. With schools, many children are facing uncertain times with their food. By donating to Save with Stories, you can help the organization continue to provide children with their meals during the shutdown.

Zoe Saldana reading “Cómo dan las buenas noches los dinosaurios?”

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“¿Cómo dan las buenas noches los dinosaurious?” by Jane Yolen y Mark Teague (published by @scholasticinc) – read by @zoesaldana . THIRTY MILLION CHILDREN rely on school for food. Responding to the needs of kids during school closures, @savethechildren and @nokidhungry have a new fund @SAVEWITHSTORIES to support food banks, and mobile meal trucks, and community feeding programs with funds to do what they do best—and also—with educational toys, books, and worksheets to make sure brains are full, as well as bellies. . If you can manage a one time gift of $10, please text SAVE to 20222. If another amount would work better for you, please visit our website—link in bio. There is no maximum and there is no minimum—together we will rise and together we can help. . Thank you and stay safe. XX #SAVEWITHSTORIES

A post shared by #SAVEWITHSTORIES (@savewithstories) on Mar 20, 2020 at 12:25pm PDT

Some of the celebrities have given their storytime a more culturally relevant tone. Both Zoe Saldana and Eva Longoria offered Spanish-speaking children stories in their language.

Lupita Nyong’o reading “Not Quite Narwhal”

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“Not Quite Narwhal” by Jessie Sima (published by @simonkids and @simonandschuster) – read by @lupitanyongo . THIRTY MILLION CHILDREN rely on school for food. Responding to the needs of kids during school closures, @savethechildren and @nokidhungry have a new fund @SAVEWITHSTORIES to support food banks, and mobile meal trucks, and community feeding programs with funds to do what they do best—and also—with educational toys, books, and worksheets to make sure brains are full, as well as bellies. . If you can manage a one time gift of $10, please text SAVE to 20222. If another amount would work better for you, please visit our website—link in bio. There is no maximum and there is no minimum—together we will rise and together we can help. . Thank you and stay safe. XX #SAVEWITHSTORIES

A post shared by #SAVEWITHSTORIES (@savewithstories) on Mar 20, 2020 at 10:10am PDT

According to UNESCO, 87 percent of the student population around the world have been separated from their schools, teachers, and peers. In the U.S., 55.1 million children are not in their K-12 schools as the U.S. prepares for a surge of cases in COVID-19 infections across the country. As of yet, the U.S. government has not called for a nationwide lockdown unlike several governments across Europe and Asia.

Jenna Ortega reading “Don’t Call Me Bear”

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“Don’t Call Me Bear!” by Aaron Blabey (published by @scholasticinc) . THIRTY MILLION CHILDREN rely on school for food. Responding to the needs of kids during school closures, @savethechildren and @nokidhungry have a new fund @SAVEWITHSTORIES to support food banks, and mobile meal trucks, and community feeding programs with funds to do what they do best—and also—with educational toys, books, and worksheets to make sure brains are full, as well as bellies. . If you can manage a one time gift of $10, please text SAVE to 20222. If another amount would work better for you, please visit our website—link in bio. There is no maximum and there is no minimum—together we will rise and together we can help. . Thank you and stay safe. XX #SAVEWITHSTORIES

A post shared by #SAVEWITHSTORIES (@savewithstories) on Mar 17, 2020 at 6:56pm PDT

The initiative is a good reminder that we are all in this together. As billions of people around the world sit at home and social distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is important to feel more connected in your isolation. Movements like Save with Stories show how the world can come together in a time of crisis to help everyone cope.

How are you coping with self-isolation in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic?

READ: AOC Has Strong Words About The Trump Administration’s Response To The COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis

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