Thursday, December 30, 2010

Puerto Ricans in the US and the 2010 Census: 100 years and still counting ... a reflection

Commentary
By Victor Vázquez-Hernández

In the closing days of 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau began to release the data collected earlier this year. For Puerto Ricans in the Diaspora (US-based), the 2010 census has a particular historical meaning --- it marks the 100th anniversary since the first US Census, back in 1910, started counting Puerto Ricans as a separate group. It would be a good time for our community to take stock of where we are and how far we have come in one century. For the National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights (NCPRR), which will be hosting its 9th National Puerto Rican Convention in Miami on October 7-9, 2011, these new data present us with the opportunity to put together a status report on Puerto Ricans in the U.S..

What will the data from the 2010 Census tell us? What long-term comparisons can we make about our presence in the US? Puerto Ricans were present in the US since before 1910, and have been here, in some cities in particular, for some five generations. What will the Census tell us about how we fare compared to other migrant/immigrant groups in the U.S.? These will be important questions to ponder as we struggle to make sense of the Census data and what it tells us about our communities stateside and, if recent data is any indication, the results of the 2010 Census are going to be a mix bag for us.

On the one hand, the data already released confirms what Angelo Falcón, President of the National Institute for Latino Policy told us back in 2004: there are now more Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. than on the Island. The Census also confirms that Puerto Rico lost 2% percent of its population since 2000, a significant loss. We know, at this point, that most of those who left the island have come to live in the U.S., mostly to other Puerto Rican communities. But, we can also see that the Census will confirm that the Puerto Rican Diaspora is, well, more diasporic, i.e., more dispersed. It now appears that Puerto Ricans have followed the general pattern in the U.S. of internal migration from the Northeast and Midwest to points South and Southwest. Florida is now clearly the state with the second largest Puerto Rican population in the country. In addition, states like Texas, Arizona, and California are now among the ten states with the largest Puerto Rican populations in the U.S.


In terms of socio-economic factors, the 2010 Census is likely to reflect some significant gains for Puerto Ricans but also some troubling areas as well. Among Puerto Ricans in the U.S., there are probably more college graduates than ever, more homeowners and more who have moved into middle-class status. But these trends are probably going to vary from region to region. For instance, in terms of education, recent studies conducted in Philadelphia and New York City have found that Puerto Rican youth are graduating high schools at a 50% rate. In those cities, Puerto Rican youth are being outperformed even by newer immigrant groups, namely Dominicans and Mexicans. And while Puerto Ricans made national news with the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor, a second-generation Puerto Rican from the Bronx to the US Supreme Court, and José Acaba, the first boricua astronaut in outer space, there are disproportionately more young Puerto Ricans incarcerated than in college.


So, while we have much to celebrate and contemplate after 100 years of Census data, it's time to take serious stock and determine where we go from here. For its part, the NCPRR will convene a working group to produce this status report and calls upon anyone interested in participating to contact us. We also invite everyone to attend the convention in Miami where the report will be made public and call upon our communities to engage in a conversation about ... "¿dónde estamos y hacia dónde vamos?" (Where are we and where are we heading?).


Let the conversation begin.


Victor Vázquez-Hernández, PhD is President of the National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights (NCPRR) and an Associate Professor of History at Miami Dade College. He is co-editor of The Puerto Rican Diaspora: Historical Perspectives (2005). Dr. Vázquez-Hernández can be reached at vvazquez(at)mdc.edu

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Have a Merry Christmas

Thank you Puerto Rico Sun readers, visitors, advertisers, supporters...Have a Merry Christmas. PRSUN is going on Christmas break.

(photo by Clarisel Gonzalez)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Come join us at the Mott Haven slideATHON in the Bronx

Tomorrow I am participating in the Mott Haven slideATHON, a showcase of Bronx artists. I will share some of my Bronx images. I selected the photos to display with the feedback of my followers of my photo page at Facebook.

The slideATHON will be at the Bruckner Bar & Grill in the Bronx. Admission is free.

For more information about the show, go to http://motthavenartschool.com.

Hope to see you there.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thank you PRSUN

I want to thank all PRSUN readers, visitors, social media followers, supporters and advertisers.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Que dios los bendiga.

Clarisel Gonzalez
editor and publisher
Puerto Rico Sun Communications

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Happy Puerto Rican Heritage Month

Boricuas in New York City are celebrating with an array of cultural, art, educational, and community events throughout this month.

Here are some useful links to stay connected:

Comite Noviembre
Borimix

There is a lot going on.

Happy Puerto Rican Heritage Month.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Comité Noviembre Kicks-Off Puerto Rican Heritage Month in NYC

Community calendar

Heritage committee honors Puerto Rican community leaders and outstanding scholars:
Anita Antonetty, community organizer; Javier E. Gomez, actor/reporter, community volunteer; Frances Lucerna, Executive Director, El Puente; Yesenia Aponte-Meléndez, El Punto de la Montaña; Brenda Jimenez Peralta, Associate Director of Agency Development/North East Region, Big Brother, Big Sister of America; Lance Rios, President & CEO, Being Latino, Inc.; Jose Santiago, News Director WBAI; George Torres, Founder, Sofrito for Your Soul & Capicu Poetry & Cultural Showcase. Members of Taller Boricua (Marcos Dimas, Fernando Salicrup, Nitza Tufiño and Irma Ayla) will receive special recognition for promoting and supporting community artists and cultural diversity.

CN Scholarship Recipients, Continuing Scholars and Richie Perez Peace and Justice
Scholars will also be honored.


What: The “Mejor de Nuestra Comunidad” Awards recognize outstanding individuals who are the unsung heroes of our community. The awards honor Puerto Ricans whose pride in their heritage and strength of character have empowered them and inspired others to make a significant impact on our community.

Since 1996 the Comité Noviembre Scholarship Program has awarded over $179,000 in scholarships. Our scholars have a college graduation rate of 90 percent.

In 2004, the Puerto Rican community lost an advocate and community leader. Richie Pérez was a beloved activist in the fight for social justice and human rights. In his memory, Comité Noviembre established the Richie Pérez Scholarship for Peace and Justice. The award recognizes Puerto Rican young people for their commitment, activism and achievements in any of the areas of human rights and social justice.

Where: El Museo del Barrio, 104th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan (Free admission)

When: 6- 9 p.m. TOMORROW, October 27th


Comité Noviembre promotes. acknowledges, and creates awareness of the rich culture, language, and history of Puerto Rico . Comité Noviembre is the collective effort of ten key Puerto Rican organizations: the Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, ASPIRA of New York, El Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños, El Museo del Barrio, El Puente, Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights–Justice Committee, the National Institute for Latino Policy, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. These groups coordinate Puerto Rican Heritage Month…el mes de la herencia puertorriqueña.

source: Comite Noviembre

Note: If you are on Twitter, follow @comitenoviembre. The hastag is #comitenoviembre. If you are on Facebook, join the Comite Noviembre page to stay connected with Puerto Rican heritage month events in NYC. PRSUN Communications is helping CN with its social media campaign this year.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Meet us at the Puerto Rico Sun social network

The Puerto Rico Sun has its very own social network at http://www.puertoricosun.ning.com. This network has limited members.

Join our community of movers and shakers now.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Listen to PRSUN Radio's interview with Being Latino's Lance Rios

Last night, I interviewed Being Latino's Lance Rios for PRSUN Radio. Being Latino is one of Facebook's most popular Latino pages. Lance spoke about his vision for Being Latino and more.

Check out his interview at http://blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

The show is archived and available online.

If you have ideas of future guests for PRSUN Radio, e-mail me at prsunradio (at) puertoricosun.com. PRSUN Radio, a cultural talk show, highlights Puerto Ricans and the Diaspora.

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Scenes from the 'Bronx Blogger Fiesta: A Community Mixer' on Aug. 31st



www.flickr.com

clarisel's Bronx Blogger Fiesta: A Community Mixer photoset clarisel's Bronx Blogger Fiesta: A Community Mixer photoset

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The melancholy soul

Pensamientos

the melancholy
soul
is found in
our jibaro
music
with its
child called
salsa -- Samaris Ayala

Samaris Ayala of NY's Lower East Side contributes her writings to Puerto Rico Sun.

Monday, August 09, 2010

On vacation

Hi everyone, I have decided to take a break from the business.

Please follow PRSUN @ Twitter.

Thanks for your support.

@prsun

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Latino Digital Divide

Latinos and Technology


The Native Born Lead the Foreign Born

When it comes to the use of technology among Latinos, nativity plays an important role. Internet use and cell phone use are much higher among native-born Latinos than among foreign-born Latinos. And among young Latinos ages 16 to 25, the native born are more likely than the foreign born to use mobile technology to communicate daily with their friends. These findings emerge from two new analyses of a nationwide survey of Latinos ages 16 and older by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center.

Fully 85% of native-born Latinos go online while just half of foreign-born Latinos do so. And when it comes to cell phone use among Latinos, 80% of the native born use one, compared with 72% of the foreign born. Results also reveal that use of a cell phone or the internet among adult Hispanics still significantly lags behind non-Hispanics. Among those ages 18 and older, only 64% of Latinos go online, compared with 78% of non-Latinos. An ethnic gap exists in cell phone use as well--about three-fourths (76%) of adult Latinos use a cell phone, compared with 86% of non-Latinos. These findings are in the "The Latino Digital Divide: The Native Born versus The Foreign Born" report.

A second report that focuses on Latino youth, "How Young Latinos Communicate with Friends in the Digital Age," finds that Latinos ages 16 to 25 use mobile technology to communicate and socialize with their friends more than other technologies. However, the native born are far more likely than the foreign born to send texts (65% versus 26%) and to use a cell phone (55% versus 29%) to communicate daily with their friends.

Both reports are based on the 2009 National Survey of Latinos, which was conducted from August 5 through September 16, 2009 among a randomly selected, nationally representative sample of 2,012 Hispanics ages 16 and older. The survey was conducted in both English and Spanish, on cellular as well as landline telephones.

Hispanics are the nation's largest and youngest minority ethnic group. In 2008, there were 46.9 million Hispanics in the U.S., representing 15.4% of the total U.S. population. Among young people, Hispanics represent an even larger share. Some 18%, or 7.5 million, of those ages 16 to 25 are Hispanic.
The reports, "The Latino Digital Divide: The Native Born versus The Foreign Born" authored by Gretchen Livingston, Senior Researcher, Pew Hispanic Center, and "How Young Latinos Communicate with Friends in the Digital Age" authored by Mark Hugo Lopez, Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center and Gretchen Livingston, are available at the Pew Hispanic Center's website, www.pewhispanic.org.
The Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy research organization based in Washington, D.C. and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

source: Pew Hispanic press release

Monday, July 26, 2010

Come join PRSUN's own social network

Did you know that Puerto Rico Sun has its very own social network. Members include entrepreneurs, writers, artists, educators and even a lawyer or two. It is a diverse group of movers and shakers.

If you are a mover and shaker in the Puerto Rican community, you might want to join our social network. You can even customize your own page.

Come join us at Puerto Rico Sun

Yes, PRSUN is on Facebook and Twitter, but it is nice to have a social network of our own. Membership to the PRSUN network is exclusive and limited, so hurry and share your news and events with us.

Clarisel

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Spreading the Sunshine Award

Spreading the Sunshine Award

Thanks to Efrain Ortiz Jr. for honoring Puerto Rico Sun with The Sunshine Award.

LOL, Bronx Latino honored Efrain's Corner with a Sunshine too.

There's a lot of sunshine spreading in the Puerto Rico Sun community. )

Friday, July 16, 2010

It's my blogosversary!

Happy blogosversary to me...Happy blogosversary to me...Happy blogosversary to me.

Wow, it has been SIX YEARS since I have been blogging here on blogspot. While the Puerto Rico Sun project started as an e-magazine project in 2002, it was in 2004 that I started blogging here. I lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, so this blog was born on the island (kind of).

These days I have been microblogging more on Twitter and sharing on Facebook and other social networks, but my mission remains the same: to inform, empower and build community.

This Puerto Rico Sun blog is just one of the community media and art projects that I am working as part of my independent community media and art business, Puerto Rico Sun Communications.

Thanks for being a part of the Puerto Rico Sun community for all these years. Thanks for your continued support of independent community media and art. Remember to follow @prsun on Twitter or "like" us on Facebook or LinkedIn.

With love,

Clarisel Gonzalez
editor and publisher, Puerto Rico Sun Communications
www.prsun.blogspot.com

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Thursday, April 29, 2010

PRSUN Communications to exhibit @ FastTrac's Biz Expo

Hello PRSUN readers and supporters,

Puerto Rico Sun Communications is pleased to be part of the lineup of FastTrac's Spring Business Expo at the SUNY Levin Institute this Saturday. And, I invite you to the Expo to celebrate NYC's entrepreneurship spirit in these challenging times. I'd love to see you there.

About 30 businesses are expected to participate.

I am a proud graduate of FastTrac's GrowthVenture Program for entrepreneurs.

Here's a link with more information on the event:

Check out this event at PRSUN's page @ Facebook

Friday, April 16, 2010

MassMutual Expands Scholarship Program, Helping Students Realize Dreams

Education

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual) is expanding its scholarship program to more states, increasing the number of scholarships, and offering internships in the financial services field to winners.

MassMutual is making $135,000 in scholarships available in nine metropolitan areas as part of the program, which is open to students of Hispanic, African-American/Black or Asian/Pacific Islander. High school students from all areas of the country who plan to attend a college or university in these metropolitan areas are also qualified to apply.

Applicants for the 27 $5,000 scholarships must meet certain academic criteria, such as having concentrations in the fields of business, economics, finance, financial planning, management, marketing and sales.

“When students tell us that our scholarship program could mean the difference between achieving finishing college and dropping out, we are heartened to know that our efforts are paying off, for them and their families and, ultimately, for our industry and our country. Especially during these tough economic times, we’re immensely proud to be able to expand the program, so more students can benefit from it,” said John Chandler, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, MassMutual.

The program is just one of MassMutual’s many multicultural efforts, including attracting talented professionals to the field of financial services and supporting people of diverse backgrounds, both as agents and as clients. The scholarship program’s internship opportunities will expose recipients to the world of financial services, while helping to enhance diversity in financial services and to support increasingly diverse communities.

“Our scholarship program is a very important part and symbol of our commitment to diversity and education, and because of it and our other efforts, we’re already making a big difference in the lives of the communities we serve,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, assistant vice president of Community Responsibility for MassMutual. “As an industry, we need to attract outstanding multicultural candidates to our field and to make our companies representative of the communities we work in, and our scholarship support can help make that happen.”

The scholarship program’s application deadline is May 30, and winners will be notified in late summer.

To be eligible, applicants must:
• Be of Hispanic, African-American/Black or Asian/Pacific Islander descent;
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a permanent resident card or passport stamped I-551 (not expired);
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
• Have plans to attend full-time a degree-seeking program at a U.S. accredited institution in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam during the 2010-2011 academic year;
• Be entering sophomore, junior, senior or fifth-year-senior at a four-year university or be a community college student;
• Reside or plan to attend an institution in one of the following metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Ga.; Denver, Colo.; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; San Francisco, Calif.; Central New Jersey; Chicago, Ill.; Miami, Fla. Or San Antonio, Texas;
• Be majoring in business, economics, finance, financial planning, management, marketing or sales;
• Demonstrate leadership and extra-curricular activities; and
• Apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

For more information on how to apply or to obtain an application, visit www.hsf.net/massmutual.aspx.


source: press release

Friday, April 09, 2010

PRSUN Radio chats with Penumbra's Anthony Fascious Martinez

My upcoming guest on PRSUN Radio is Anthony Fascious Martinez, writer and performer of the award winning Hip-Hop musical Penumbra.

For more information, go to my Facebook event page.

The show airs live at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at PRSUN Radio.

UPDATE
To Listen to the interview:

Monday, April 05, 2010

Rincon, Puerto Rico: Rincon Puerto Rico Film Festival

Rincon, Puerto Rico: Rincon Puerto Rico Film Festival

PRSUN Radio chats with the Rev. Carmen Hernandez

The Rev. Carmen Hernandez of the Bronx is my guest tomorrow night at PRSUN Radio. The Rev. is a recipient of El Diario La Prensa's distinguished woman award this year. She founded and leads the first LGBT Chamber of Commerce in NYC. She's also a community and youth activist.

To read her bio, go to my blog at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

UPDATE: To listen:

Friday, March 19, 2010

Puerto Rican/Latino & Multicultural Arts Center Directors Respond to Rumors about Name Change

In the mailbox

Cultural Center's History to be PRESERVED

The Board of Directors as well as the Management of the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center in the Lower East Side are proud stewards of a Puerto Rican/Latino multi-cultural center and are tremendously committed to the Center's name and identity as the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center.
Clemente Soto Vélez (1905-1993) was a Puerto Rican poet, a nationalist, and a community activist in New York. He mentored many generations of Puerto Ricans and Latinos in Puerto Rico and New York. The Center stands by his name and is assiduously working to enhance the scope of its programming, including artist mentoring and community programming among Puerto Ricans, Latinos and the New York community.
Recently an unsubstantiated rumor has been circulating that the board of this Puerto Rican Center for the arts is seeking to erase the history of the Puerto Rican struggle and specifically trying to erase the poetry of Clemente Soto Vélez, a Puerto Rican icon in New York. On the contrary, the Board of the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center has a mandate to preserve the history of the Puerto Rican struggle and actively treasures and promotes, and always will, the life and art of Clemente Soto Vélez.

source: statement from the Clemente center

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

DTM Magazine - San Juan: City of Encanto

DTM Magazine - San Juan: City of Encanto

Check out my article on one of my favorite places in DTM magazine.

New York League of Puerto Rican Women seeks applicants for its college awards

In the mailbox


NEW YORK LEAGUE OF PUERTO RICAN WOMEN, INC.
(NYLPRW)
Edith Padilla, President
Non-Partisan Not-For-Profit Organization
P. O. Box 268, Patchogue, New York 11772-0268
edienylprw(at)gmail.com; www.nylprw.org

Dear Friend:

We are currently accepting applications for our 2010 College Awards to be
presented at our College Awards Gala Dinner Dance at the Marina Del Rey in the
Bronx, on Thursday, August 19, 2010. These awards are granted annually to
undergraduate Puerto Rican women selected for their academic excellence and
service to the community.

To be eligible, applicants must send a completed 2010 College Award
Application Form to our post office box listed above, by the deadline date of
May 29, 2010, and meet all of the following criteria:

1. Currently matriculated as an undergraduate student in an accredited institution
of higher education, having earned a minimum of 12 accumulated credits.
2. Maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 with no failing grades.
3. Demonstrate service to the community.
4. Provide an official college transcript.
5. Provide two letters of recommendation from a professor, college advisor, employer
or supervisor.
6. Submit a suitable 4" by 6" photo of the applicant for inclusion in our Commemorative Dinner Dance Journal.

The College Award Committee will review only those applications that comply with all of the above six (6) requirements.

The essays of the selected applicants will be included in our Commemorative Dinner-Dance Journal and should be written meticulously.

You can download the Application from our website.

Sincerely,

Edith Padilla, President/CEO, NYLPRW, INC.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Readers: What do you think are the top Puerto Rican-related sites?



Note: This list is aimed at being a resource. The list ranking here is according to the order of submission. That's it. Continue to submit your favorite Puerto Rican-related sites.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

PRSUN Radio chats with watercolor artist Clemente Flores

PRSUN Radio is back at 9 p.m. this Wednesday at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio. My guest is East Harlem-based artist Clemente Flores.

Born and raised in East Harlem/El Barrio, Flores is the son of Puerto Ricans. His parents came from Puerto Rico to New York City in the 1930s. He grew up at 112th Street and Madison Avenue, and says he had a "very adventureous childhood in the 50s."
"Most of my childhood was spent on the streets playing and hanging out my friends," he says, adding that he grew up with three brothers who also became artists ( musicians). He considers his mother and other family members unsung heores because "they sang beautiful (Puerto Rican folk songs) and wrote poetries but never became known or famous."
Clemente is a self taught artist.
"I became an artist thanks to my second son who encouraged me to paint and exhibit my art," he says. He started painting in 1985. His first art exhibit was in East Harlem in 1988 at El Caney del Barrio.

To listen to the interview:

Friday, March 12, 2010

'There is no need to rush' to get new Puerto Rico birth certificates in July

In the mailbox


Last December the Government of Puerto Rico enacted a new law (Law 191 of 2009) aimed at strengthening the issuance and usage of birth certificates to combat fraud and protect the identity and credit of all people born in Puerto Rico. We are working to ensure that the individuals, communities and institutions that will be impacted by this law have access to complete and accurate information on this topic. Therefore, we kindly request your assistance and collaboration to communicate the facts about this change in law to affected citizens as well as federal, state and local governments.

The new law was the result of cooperation with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to address the fraudulent use of Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates to unlawfully obtain U.S. passports, Social Security benefits, and other federal services. Under the new law, all birth certificates issued by Puerto Rico before July 1, 2010, will be invalidated on that date so that new, more secure certificates can be issued in their place. Until then all current birth certificates will remain valid.

This change will impact all people born in Puerto Rico regardless of whether they reside in the island or the U.S. mainland. Affected individuals living in the states will be able to request and receive their new birth certificates through a simple process by mail. However, it is important to understand that there is no need to rush out and get a new birth certificate on July 1, 2010. Instead it is suggested that only people who have a specific need for their birth certificate for official purposes request a new birth certificate right away.

To better inform the public we are providing several public outreach materials in both English and Spanish. They can be found on the PRFAA website through the following links:


http://www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates/

http://www.prfaa.com/certificadosdenacimiento/

Please share these links and the public outreach materials they contain with all of your pertinent networks. We thank you in advance for your help.


Sincerely,



Luis M. Balzac
Regional Director
Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration

Sunday, March 07, 2010

National Puerto Rican Day Parade Gives Captain Morgan The Boot

Rum Co. Gets $2.7B to Leave PR – Money Would Have Funded Education & Health

New York City, NY [CapitalWirePR] March 7, 2010 – The National Puerto Rican Parade, one of America’s largest outdoor events with more than 2 million participants, today announced it is terminating its relationship with the makers of Captain Morgan Rum over the company’s planned abandonment of its Puerto Rican distillery in exchange for taxpayer-funded grants of $2.7 billion that the island needs for health and educational needs.
“The corporate sponsorships of Captain Morgan and its British parent, Diageo, PLC, are no longer welcome,” announced Parade Chairperson Madelyn Lugo. Diageo’s brands, Johnny Walker, Jose Cuervo and Captain Morgan, have had a 30 year relationship with the Parade.
“This Parade is about pride and respect, and Captain Morgan has shown us neither,” she asserted. “They are abandoning us in exchange for $2.7 billion in taxpayer-funded corporate handouts that would otherwise be used to meet the educational and health needs of Puerto Rico, where 16 percent are unemployed and 1 in 3 lives below the poverty line.”
Two years ago, the U.S. Virgin Islands lured Captain Morgan to St. Croix by promising to split $6 billion in anticipated revenues from rebates of federal excise tax it expects to receive on the rum. The rebates are the principal form of federal assistance to both Territories, generating $470 million for Puerto Rico last year.
The deal has been sharply criticized by labor groups, who complain that the new distillery on St. Croix, also being financed by federal excise tax rebates, will employ at least 330 fewer workers.
Florida Republican Senator George LeMieux has announced plans to offer an amendment this week to the proposed jobs bill that will effectively scuttle the deal by tying future excise tax rebates to the respective Territories’ populations, rather than the place of production.
The National Puerto Rican Coalition, which has led the fight against the Captain Morgan deal, said today’s decision by Parade organizers will put “serious pressure” on New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. “New York represents the greatest concentration of Puerto Ricans living on the mainland,” said NPRC President Rafael Fantauzzi. “They’ll be watching to see whether their Senators stand with us, or with a British liquor company.”

source: press release

Friday, February 26, 2010

Mujeres de El Barrio seeks local Puerto Rican women to honor

Nuestra comunidad

Join Women of El Barrio/Mujeres de El Barrio at our 8th Annual Women's History Month Celebration as we honor Puerto Rican women that are positive role models in the East Harlem community.

Women of El Barrio (WOEB) promotes the leadership of Puerto Rican women regardless of age, sexual orientation, religious preferences, political affiliations or socio-economic status. Through our annual Women’s History Month celebration we have the opportunity to recognize women who have contributed to enhancing the quality of life in El Barrio/East Harlem according to the criteria stated below:

-Must be a woman of Puerto Rican descent
-Must be a resident of El Barrio/East Harlem
-Must be active in cultural, social, political efforts that enhance the quality of life in El Barrio, demonstrating leadership, mentorship and/or creativity that is NOT related to employment.
-If nominating a young woman (16-24 yrs old), the candidate should be aspiring, mature, active, creative and be seen as an emerging leader.

***The deadline for nominations is WEDNESDAY MARCH 3RD! If you know of someone you would like to nominate as an honoree, please send an email to Womenoeb (at) gmail.com for a nomination form to be sent to you. ***

Food, Music, and Entertainment will be provided.
Contribution: $20

source: Women of El Barrio


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Sunday, February 07, 2010

Mayra Calvani says 'Writing for Children is like Walking on a Rainbow'

Reading corner

My most recent column at Examiner is an interview with writer Mayra Calvani, a boricua who lives in Belgium. She writes about many different topics and is currently promoting her children's book "Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster."
To read my interview, go to
Mayra Calvani says ‘Writing for Children is like Walking on a Rainbow’ -
http://www.examiner.com/x-11970-NY-Latino-Community-Examiner~y2010m2d7-Mayra-Calvani-says-Writing-for-Children-is-like-Walking-on-a-Rainbow

Her collection of books have now been added to the PRSUN aStore.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

NEW: Top 100 PRSUN Directory

Submit your Puerto Rican-related link for consideration for the Top 100 PRSUN Directory.

This is a directory dedicated to bloggers, websites, nonprofits and even a limited number of small businesses that cater to a Puerto Rican audience.

Here's the link:
Top 100 PRSUN Directory

Empowering
Informing
Building Community

Friday, January 29, 2010

Let's connect

Puerto Rico Sun readers and visitors, I have been using the social networks more to update lately.

Follow me at Twitter -- @prsun
Join the Puerto Rico Sun social network at www.puertoricosun.com
Or, look for Puerto Rico Sun Communications on Facebook at and join my fan page.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Friday, January 08, 2010

Petition drive for a U.S. stamp to honor the 65th Infantry Regiment

Featured cause

El Pozo Productions is organizing a nationwide petition campaign to request that The Borinqueneers of the 65th Infantry Regiment be considered for a commemorative U.S. stamp honoring their unique military service as the only all-Hispanic unit in U.S. Army history.

To help make this happen, download the Petition Form at http://www.borinqueneers.com/files/Stamp_Petition.pdf. Collect as many signatures as possible.

Return the original signed petitions to El Pozo Productions, PO Box 302, Crompond, NY 10517 by February 15, 2010. El Pozo will then forward the petitions to the Committee for consideration. El Pozo prefers to submit petitions as a group to make more of a statement.

You may also send your own letter to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
c/o Stamp Development
U.S. Postal Service
1735 North Lynn St., Suite 5013
Arlington, VA 22209-6432.

For more information,
www.borinqueneers.com