PUERTO RICO SUN

Anyone who is in NYC's El Barrio, probably knows Marina Ortiz, an independent journalist, local community activist and resident. She is usually armed with a camera, shooting and documenting many of the people, stories and events in East Harlem. This boricua is founder of East Harlem Preservation, a community advocacy group that monitors large-scale development, supports preservation, and fights privatization of public parkland. Ortiz is a watchdog of the rapid changes going on in El Barrio because of gentrification. The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently interviewed Ortiz on her push to save El Barrio, the so-called crown jewel of Puerto Rican and Latino culture in New York City. "I was inspired to begin efforts to preserve the rich history, culture and architecture of Spanish Harlem and the greater East Harlem when the inevitable footprint of gentrification began to take its hold on our community," Ortiz was quoted as saying. To read the article published ...

Colonialismo / Colonialism Originally uploaded by Moliniano .

In the Mailbox Saludos! Boricuation Cultural Foundation (BCF) spearheads a Boricua social network named Boricuation Cultural Space (BCS). Created to introduce and unite Puerto Ricans from all over the world. To bring them closer via the internet, for them to express themselves on a forum created for them by Puerto Ricans. The focus is not to exclude ourselves from other Latin nations, but to unite ourselves and express our struggles in identifying our own issues through communications and expressions on BCS, therefore educating ourselves and other nations on Puerto Rican history and culture. We encourage everyone to join this special website, but remember to focus on educating and empowering each other so we can better understand ourselves. Bring your own taste of Boricua culture. Share and relate stories, photos, videos, comments, ideals and everything Boricua. We are all making history here and our history is vast and diverse, so let's get together and vibe on the real issues aff...

Featured story Simpsonville resident speaks out on burned Puerto Rican flag Lisa Rodriguez says she doesn’t know of anyone having a problem with her heritage, so she was surprised to learn that someone had set fire to the Puerto Rican flag hanging on the side of her parents’ Simpsonville (South Carolina) home. "We’re just representing who we are," she said Wednesday. "We’re not trying to harm anyone." For more, go to http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080625/NEWS01/80625011/1004 EDITOR'S NOTE: I had not heard about this until I read this report today. I am saddened and annoyed that someone would burn the Puerto Rican flag. Boricua and proud in Simpsonville y donde sea.

Calle Fortaleza-Viejo San Juan P.R. Originally uploaded by haymaco .

Featured story Yankees Insider: A man worth honoring Inside their lockers in the Yankee Stadium clubhouse, Jorge Posada and LaTroy Hawkins have "Retire 21" stickers. They are part of a small but growing group that would like to see Roberto Clemente's No. 21 retired throughout Major League Baseball, as Jackie Robinson's No. 42 is. As much as Robinson did to change the game of baseball, many believe that Clemente had the same effect for Latinos. "I don't think any of us would be here if he didn't go through what he went through, being a Puerto Rican and being a black Puerto Rican," Posada said. To read more, go to http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spyinside275743362jun27,0,817627.story

IMG_8737 Originally uploaded by clarisel . Commentary Puerto Rican Sun is on 156th Street and Fox Avenue in the Bronx. It is too bad that there is no sign with the name of this piece of public art or the artist who did it. That's a real shame because this is a piece of history in the Bronx. This steel sculpture of palm trees and the sun is by boricua artist Rafael Ferrer. Something should be done to better preserve this artwork that dates to 1979 and to better inform residents and visitors about its significance in the Bronx. Visitors just see this giant artwork, and there's no information posted. The Fox playground could be better kept too actually. For more info. on the Puerto Rican sculpture, check out this link with some of the history www.lehman.edu/vpadvance/artgallery/publicart/ferrer.htm I, of course, love its name Puerto Rican Sun. After all, my blog is named Puerto Rico Sun as well as one of my favorite photo groups on flickr: Puerto Rico Sun at http://www.fl...