PUERTO RICO SUN

This Puerto Rican festival is tomorrow at Central Park in Manhattan. It is the 43rd anniversary. Support our cultural events. They matter. Free admission.

In the mailbox: EL MAESTRO, INC. JUAN LAPORTE'S BOXING GYM 1029 EAST 167 TH  STREET BRONX, NEW YORK 10459 TEL.: (646) 337-6775                                                          LAST TIME OPORTUNITY TO SAVE EL MAESTRO, INC.   To: All our Friends, Family and Comrades From: Ponce Laspina We are reaching to you to request your support in helping an important institution stay alive: El Maestro, Inc. is a 501-C 3 non profit organization founded in 2003 whose mission is to improve the quality of life of the people in the community through social activities such as; sports, cultural and educational programs. At this time we do not have or receive any funding. We are reaching out to you to request your assistance in order to continue providing these services to the youth in our community. El Maestro, Inc.    is a sports, cultural and educational oasis in the heart of the South Bronx named in honor Puerto Rican Patriot, Don Pedro Albizu Campos  "El Maestro" , where all aspec...

Efrain's Corner: Exclusive Interview with Writer, Producer and Director, Vagabond Beaumont on his Film 'Machetero' Check out this interview by Efrain Ortiz Jr.

The organization “For a Better Bronx,” a community-based organization in the South Bronx, which fights to achieve environmental, social and food justice through education, community organizing, and empowerment held a special event earlier this year at St. Luke’s Church in the Bronx. That day, long-time activist Vicente “Panama” Alba was honored for many years of service to the organization and his commitment to people. Vicente has done it all in his many years of activism, including being a member of the influential Young Lords Party, which this weekend celebrates its 40th anniversary, and being a member of the underground group the F.A.L.N. (Fuerzas Armadas Liberacion Nationalista). He has fought against police brutality and against the war. He is an environmentalist. He was also active in the movement to get the Navy out of the Puerto Rican town of Vieques. With the anniversary and reunion of the Young Lords, Alba reflects on his time with the organization and says it continues to ...

Coqui Mexicano is a new bodega/cafe on Brook Avenue in the South Bronx. It is also a cultural spot, featuring art and books. It is named Coqui Mexicano representing the mix of the owners, Danisha (el Coqui) and Alfredo (el mexicano from Acalpulco). The shop features Puerto Rican and Mexican food.  PRSUN Radio talks to the entrepreneurs at 9 p.m. tomorrow at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio . To learn more, go to my blog at  www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio . (photo courtesy of Coqui Mexicano) Support this Latino-owned community-minded business in the Bronx. Update: To listen to the archived version of the show, click on the PRSUN Radio widget box in this blog or go directly to BTR. Thanks.

Community calendar Chapter meeting 6:30 p.m., Thursday, August 27 CSS BUILDING,  105 East 22nd Street,  4th Floor conference Room 4A, Manhattan For more information on the NCPRR, go to www.ncprr.us .

Ed Morales and Laura Rivera are both journalists who were inspired to do the “Whose Barrio?" documentary, which focuses on the gentrification or the selling of NYC’s Spanish Harlem, El Barrio. East Harlem is one of the hardest hit Latino strongholds in the city impacted. Many Latinos have fallen victim to raising rents, new buildings not suitable for the working class, and small businesses forced to close or relocate. In this documentary, you will hear from activists, artists, elected officials, and groups who are combating this sensitive issue and get a picture of the rapidly changing barrio. Q: Why East Harlem? What was it about the community that got you into doing the movie? A: First of all, my parents came to New York from Puerto Rico and they met while living in East Harlem. I have had several relatives who have lived there, and I still have an aunt who lives there. In 2002, I wrote a story for the New York Times about gentrification of East Harlem because I’d heard fr...