Santurce, PR
Monday, April 07, 2008
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
A Message to My Mentor
In the Mailbox
Dear Editor:
After reading Puerto Rico Sun's November 30, 2007 entry about a documentary on Puerto Ricans in the Bronx, I realized that one of the interviews featured in "Migration: The Puerto Rican Experience" happens to be with one of the most inspirational people in my life.
I met Alma Torres-Warner back in 1986 at a school in the Bronx. The New York City Board of Education had a program called the Auxiliary Services for High School (ASHS). The program offered preparations for the General Educational Development (GED), and I attended the one at 383 Willis Avenue on 138th St called The Roberto Clemente Center, where Torres-Warner was at the time the center administrator.
I remember I had just arrived that year to New York from Puerto Rico. I wanted
to something with my life and quickly decided to prepare for the GED, so I enrolled in Roberto Clemente Center. I was excited that I was doing something with my life, but I didn't have any idea as to where I was headed.
I used to arrive very early to Roberto Clemente -- sometimes before the staff. I remember Mrs. Torres-Warner would arrive and open the doors and allow me in. We would converse (which is a word she taught me) on the way up to the third floor.
Every morning, never missing a day, I arrived early to Roberto Clemente and met up with Mrs. Torres-Warner.
She later offered me a job with the New York City Board of Education as a
student aide, which I accepted. After obtaining my GED and attending Bronx Community College, she promoted me to a paraprofessional (assistant teacher).
Mrs. Torres-Warner became my mentor. She would always remind me of my potential. She saw something in me and gave me a chance, always telling me that I could do whatever I set my mind to do. But most of all she believed in me.
After working with Torres-Warner for a few years, she later transferred to ASHS headquarters, where I later joined her. I remember working for Marty Blum,preparing Lotus 123 spreadsheet documents. But it just wasn't the same. He wasn't Torres-Warner, so I decided to move on. I left the NYC Board Education and moved to the State of Virginia where I decided to pursue a degree in psychology.
Along the way, I lost contact with Torres-Warner.
I would like more than anything for Torres-Warner to know that I appreciate everything she did for me. She didn't know it at the time but she became my inspiration.
I never stopped trying. I have faced many obstacles but I never stop trying.
I thank her for being a great employer, a true mentor, and a dear friend.
I know she's out there helping and inspiring someone who needs it.
May God bless her.
I'm currently in NYC.
I am hoping to reconnect with my mentor.
I may be reached at hernandez.walter@gmail.com.
Thank you Puerto Rico Sun and God Bless.
Sincerely,
Walter Hernandez
Editor's Note: For more information on Bronxnet's documentary on the history of Puerto Ricans in the Bronx, go to the PRSUN's archive section and click on the November 30, 2007 posting entitled "Migration" and visit www.bronxnet.org.
Dear Editor:
After reading Puerto Rico Sun's November 30, 2007 entry about a documentary on Puerto Ricans in the Bronx, I realized that one of the interviews featured in "Migration: The Puerto Rican Experience" happens to be with one of the most inspirational people in my life.
I met Alma Torres-Warner back in 1986 at a school in the Bronx. The New York City Board of Education had a program called the Auxiliary Services for High School (ASHS). The program offered preparations for the General Educational Development (GED), and I attended the one at 383 Willis Avenue on 138th St called The Roberto Clemente Center, where Torres-Warner was at the time the center administrator.
I remember I had just arrived that year to New York from Puerto Rico. I wanted
to something with my life and quickly decided to prepare for the GED, so I enrolled in Roberto Clemente Center. I was excited that I was doing something with my life, but I didn't have any idea as to where I was headed.
I used to arrive very early to Roberto Clemente -- sometimes before the staff. I remember Mrs. Torres-Warner would arrive and open the doors and allow me in. We would converse (which is a word she taught me) on the way up to the third floor.
Every morning, never missing a day, I arrived early to Roberto Clemente and met up with Mrs. Torres-Warner.
She later offered me a job with the New York City Board of Education as a
student aide, which I accepted. After obtaining my GED and attending Bronx Community College, she promoted me to a paraprofessional (assistant teacher).
Mrs. Torres-Warner became my mentor. She would always remind me of my potential. She saw something in me and gave me a chance, always telling me that I could do whatever I set my mind to do. But most of all she believed in me.
After working with Torres-Warner for a few years, she later transferred to ASHS headquarters, where I later joined her. I remember working for Marty Blum,preparing Lotus 123 spreadsheet documents. But it just wasn't the same. He wasn't Torres-Warner, so I decided to move on. I left the NYC Board Education and moved to the State of Virginia where I decided to pursue a degree in psychology.
Along the way, I lost contact with Torres-Warner.
I would like more than anything for Torres-Warner to know that I appreciate everything she did for me. She didn't know it at the time but she became my inspiration.
I never stopped trying. I have faced many obstacles but I never stop trying.
I thank her for being a great employer, a true mentor, and a dear friend.
I know she's out there helping and inspiring someone who needs it.
May God bless her.
I'm currently in NYC.
I am hoping to reconnect with my mentor.
I may be reached at hernandez.walter@gmail.com.
Thank you Puerto Rico Sun and God Bless.
Sincerely,
Walter Hernandez
Editor's Note: For more information on Bronxnet's documentary on the history of Puerto Ricans in the Bronx, go to the PRSUN's archive section and click on the November 30, 2007 posting entitled "Migration" and visit www.bronxnet.org.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Puerto Ricans are 'Obama people,' says ex-governor
Featured News Story
Rafael Hernandez Colon discusses politics at The Warehouse in Syracuse.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has enjoyed the support of Hispanics in Democratic presidential primaries earlier this year, but she may lack that support in Puerto Rico's primary June 1, the island's former governor said Thursday in Syracuse.
For more, go to an article by Maureen Sieh, urban affairs editor,The Post-Standard in Syracuse, NY, at
http://www.syracuse.com/articles/news/index.ssf?/base/news-13/120729968652651.xml&coll=1
Rafael Hernandez Colon discusses politics at The Warehouse in Syracuse.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has enjoyed the support of Hispanics in Democratic presidential primaries earlier this year, but she may lack that support in Puerto Rico's primary June 1, the island's former governor said Thursday in Syracuse.
For more, go to an article by Maureen Sieh, urban affairs editor,The Post-Standard in Syracuse, NY, at
http://www.syracuse.com/articles/news/index.ssf?/base/news-13/120729968652651.xml&coll=1
Spotlight: AHA's Beni Matías
Bienvenida "Beni" Matías, a boricua filmmaker who is the new executive director of the Association of Hispanic Arts (AHA) in NYC's East Harlem, says one of her priorities now is getting feedback from local artists.
"I love arts organizations connected to the Latino community," says Matías about why she took on this new professional challenge.
At a meet-and-greet activity Wednesday night at the Longwood Art Gallery in the Bronx, artists were busy chatting with Matías. And, she was all ears. After all, she says, "I need artists to come and tell me what's important to them." -- Clarisel Gonzalez
Here's the press release from AHA on Matías' appointment:
The Association of Hispanic Arts (AHA) announced (in March) their new Executive Director, Bienvenida (Beni) Matías. The AHA Board of Director’s Chairperson, Elba Cabrera said, "The Board is pleased that Beni will be leading the organization in the next stage of our development. She is a veteran arts administrator who has worked for many arts non-profits, similar to AHA."
Ms. Matías is an executive, educator and filmmaker. She is the former Executive Director of the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF) in New York City and Publisher of The Independent magazine. She is a founding Board Member and former NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) Coordinator. She was the Executive Director of the Center for Arts Criticism (CAC), a Minneapolis-based non-profit. Before coming to CAC, she was Director of Production at the Independent Television Service and Executive-in-Charge of Production at WNYC-TV. She is a former AIVF board member, and has served on the boards of Intermedia Arts Minnesota and Women Make Movies.
She is a pioneering Puerto Rican filmmaker having produced documentaries both for public television. Her 1979 film Heart of Loisaida is recognized by the Donnell Media Center at the New York Public Library as part of their major film preservation initiative, "Twentieth Century Mirrors: America Through the Eyes of Independent Filmmakers." She has received grants from the Jerome Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Paul Robeson Fund, among others, for her documentary work. Ms. Matías was awarded a Leadership Initiative in Neighborhood grant, from the St. Paul Company in Minnesota, to explore connections between arts criticism, media, leadership, and community activism. She has mentored many documentary filmmakers and has taught video production at Hunter College.
Ms. Matías said, "I am excited to be part of the Association of Hispanic Arts and the work it will accomplish for Latino Arts in El Barrio and New York City. I grew up here, a few blocks away from the AHA office. It’s great to be home again."
The Association of Hispanic Arts, as a non-profit learning institute, is committed to serving Latino artists and arts administrators. Our mission is to promote career development, financial independence, and networking opportunities for individual artists and creative entrepreneurs.
For more information on AHA, go to www.latinoarts.org.
(Photo of Beni Matías by Edwin Pagan)
NOTE: See related story by Clarisel about Beni at
http://manhattantimesnews.com/covers/Archives/2008/Vol9N15.pdf
(page 9)
Thursday, April 03, 2008
In the First Person
My Night with Piri Thomas
By Ismael Nunez
I had the pleasure of speaking to author Piri Thomas earlier this year before he had a stroke. I wish him a quick recovery. Here are some of my notes from my conversation with Piri.
I remember the night I spent with Piri Thomas.
It was on a February night in Brooklyn, New York.
Piri Thomas, the legendary author of “Down these Mean Streets,” was the featured speaker at an event entitled “Capicu Poetry Cultural Showcase” at the Notice Lounge,198 Union Avenue in Williamsburg. That night there was a rich lineup of live cultural performances as part of an Open Mic. It was a nice place to be on a cold night.
PRSUN sat down with Thomas for only five minutes. I remember listening to him talk and thinking how strong this man is. Rappers, poets, hip-hop artists, listen and learn!
PRSUN: You wrote the book 41 years ago. Still a best seller, read in schools and colleges. Is this magic or …?
Thomas: It’s no magic. The reason it’s done well in the past/present is because it tells the truth about everything. (It deals with) life in the streets, the prison system, what people of color go through while being incarcerated, and family struggles in a big city.
PRSUN: Was it prison that got you into writing?
Thomas: In reality, it was my mom. My mother is from Fajardo, Puerto Rico. She would always tell me stories of the island, the food, the beaches. My six siblings and I would sit for hours as she told us these lovely stories. When I was sent to prison, I remembered all those stories...My mother’s spirit saved my life along with the writing.
PRSUN: Do you share your stories of your life as a street gang leader, drug addict, ex convict with others?
Thomas: Oh Yes! Just like my books, I speak the truth. After what I went through, I don’t want no child/adult to go through what I went through. Prison life, being in a juvenile hall, gangs, that’s not cool. It’s not fun.
PRSUN: How do you stay so young?
Thomas (laughing): A lot of things. I love people, I love what I’m doing, talking to kids. Being a motivational speaker saves lives…seeing a child come to me saying, “Thank you, you saved my life,’ means a lot to me. I’m never bored!
After he spoke that night, artists and audience members shook his hand, gave him kisses and hugs and took photos with him.
We love you Piri.
Ismael Nunez is a freelance writer based in East Harlem who contributes to Puerto Rico Sun.
For more on Piri Thomas’ appearance at the Capicu showcase, go to Sofrito for Your Soul at
http://www.sofritoforyoursoul.com/2008/02/history-has-b-1.html.
Photo of Piri Thomas courtesy of wikipedia.
Artists Wanted
for East Harlem Arts Symposium
& Arts Festival
For more info., call 212 828 5829 or e-mail nyssenate28@gmail.com.
Family
Puerto Rico Has Higher Homeownership, Larger Households
Residents of Puerto Rico had a higher homeownership rate, had more people per household and were less likely to move than U.S. stateside residents, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data from the 2006 Puerto Rico Community Survey.
Puerto Rico's homeownership rate of 74.1 percent was lower than only two states -- Minnesota (76.3 percent) and Michigan (75.2 percent). There were 3.13 persons per household in Puerto Rico, compared with 2.61 in the United States, and 7.1 percent of Puerto Ricans moved within the commonwealth in 2006, compared with 13.5 percent who moved within the same U.S. state.
These are among the wide range of data now available annually from the Census Bureau's Puerto Rico Community Survey. Among the other findings are:
• According to Census Bureau population estimates program, there were 3.9 million people living in Puerto Rico in 2006. Of these, nearly 20 percent were children and 12.8 percent age 65 and over. The median age of Puerto Rico residents was 34.7. Households in Puerto Rico were more likely than those in the United States to contain at least one person 65 and over, 29.3 percent compared with 23.2 percent, and at least one person under 18, 38.8 percent compared with 34.6 percent.
• From 2000 to 2006, Puerto Rico's high school completion rate increased from 60 percent to 66.1 percent, and its bachelor's degree attainment rate increased from 18.3 percent to 20.7 percent among people 25 years and over.
• Since 2000, Puerto Rico's individual poverty rate decreased from 48.2 percent to 45.4 percent. However, this rate was more than three times as high as the rate for the United States overall and more than twice as high as any state. Median earnings of full-time, year-round workers were $19,280, with men earning slightly more ($19,750) than women ($18,803). At $20,425, the median family income in Puerto Rico was about a third that of the United States ($58,526) and about half that of Mississippi ($42,805), the state with one of the lowest median family incomes. Among municipios, Bayamon, Carolina, Guaynabo, San Juan, Toa Alta and Trujillo Alto had median family incomes that were higher than the median for the commonwealth.
• People changed residences at a lower rate within Puerto Rico (8 percent) than within the U.S. overall (16.8 percent). In 2006, 4.5 percent of Puerto Rico's residents lived in the same municipio one year ago, 2.5 percent lived in a different municipio, 0.8 percent lived in the United States mainland and 0.1 percent lived abroad. For Puerto Rico, 91.7 percent of the total population was native born, 5.1 percent were born in the United States or U.S. Island Areas, 0.3 percent were born abroad of an American parent and 2.9 percent were foreign born.
For more information, visit www.census.gov and www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/index.htm.
Source: PR Newswire/Hispanic PR Wire
Puerto Rico Has Higher Homeownership, Larger Households
Residents of Puerto Rico had a higher homeownership rate, had more people per household and were less likely to move than U.S. stateside residents, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data from the 2006 Puerto Rico Community Survey.
Puerto Rico's homeownership rate of 74.1 percent was lower than only two states -- Minnesota (76.3 percent) and Michigan (75.2 percent). There were 3.13 persons per household in Puerto Rico, compared with 2.61 in the United States, and 7.1 percent of Puerto Ricans moved within the commonwealth in 2006, compared with 13.5 percent who moved within the same U.S. state.
These are among the wide range of data now available annually from the Census Bureau's Puerto Rico Community Survey. Among the other findings are:
• According to Census Bureau population estimates program, there were 3.9 million people living in Puerto Rico in 2006. Of these, nearly 20 percent were children and 12.8 percent age 65 and over. The median age of Puerto Rico residents was 34.7. Households in Puerto Rico were more likely than those in the United States to contain at least one person 65 and over, 29.3 percent compared with 23.2 percent, and at least one person under 18, 38.8 percent compared with 34.6 percent.
• From 2000 to 2006, Puerto Rico's high school completion rate increased from 60 percent to 66.1 percent, and its bachelor's degree attainment rate increased from 18.3 percent to 20.7 percent among people 25 years and over.
• Since 2000, Puerto Rico's individual poverty rate decreased from 48.2 percent to 45.4 percent. However, this rate was more than three times as high as the rate for the United States overall and more than twice as high as any state. Median earnings of full-time, year-round workers were $19,280, with men earning slightly more ($19,750) than women ($18,803). At $20,425, the median family income in Puerto Rico was about a third that of the United States ($58,526) and about half that of Mississippi ($42,805), the state with one of the lowest median family incomes. Among municipios, Bayamon, Carolina, Guaynabo, San Juan, Toa Alta and Trujillo Alto had median family incomes that were higher than the median for the commonwealth.
• People changed residences at a lower rate within Puerto Rico (8 percent) than within the U.S. overall (16.8 percent). In 2006, 4.5 percent of Puerto Rico's residents lived in the same municipio one year ago, 2.5 percent lived in a different municipio, 0.8 percent lived in the United States mainland and 0.1 percent lived abroad. For Puerto Rico, 91.7 percent of the total population was native born, 5.1 percent were born in the United States or U.S. Island Areas, 0.3 percent were born abroad of an American parent and 2.9 percent were foreign born.
For more information, visit www.census.gov and www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/index.htm.
Source: PR Newswire/Hispanic PR Wire
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Artist Opportunity
The Young Playwrights Latino Challenge
Submission deadline: April 7
A message from TeatroStageFest:
Greetings!
If you are a New York City high school student - Latino or not - listen up! There are only 7 days left to submit your original plays to the Young Playwrights Latino Challenge, the second annual city-wide playwriting competition held by TeatroStageFest in partnership with Young Playwrights Inc.
Don't miss this awesome chance to be a part of the most exciting, two-week theatre festival (June 2-15, 2008) featuring great theatre from New York, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain!
ALL STUDENTS who submit a script to YPLC will get free tickets to local and international shows at TeatroStageFest 2008, along with a Certificate of Merit, and feedback from a professional playwright.
FIRST PRIZE PLAYWRIGHT/S will be awarded $500 and the WINNING PLAY will have a staged reading with professional actors at the celebrated APOLLO THEATER during the YPLC awards ceremony. SECOND and THIRD PRIZE WINNERS will receive $250 each. TEACHERS associated with 5 or more student submissions will receive a pair of complimentary tickets to TeatroStageFest.
Join our young playwrights community at www.myspace.com/latinochallenge.
For YPLC contest guidelines, go to www.youngplaywrights.org. For help with your writing, email latinochallenge@youngplaywrights.org or call (212) 594-5440.
Postmark your play on or before Monday, April 7th to:
Young Playwrights Inc.
Dept. LC
PO Box 5134
New York, NY 10185
The Young Playwrights Latino Challenge
Submission deadline: April 7
A message from TeatroStageFest:
Greetings!
If you are a New York City high school student - Latino or not - listen up! There are only 7 days left to submit your original plays to the Young Playwrights Latino Challenge, the second annual city-wide playwriting competition held by TeatroStageFest in partnership with Young Playwrights Inc.
Don't miss this awesome chance to be a part of the most exciting, two-week theatre festival (June 2-15, 2008) featuring great theatre from New York, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain!
ALL STUDENTS who submit a script to YPLC will get free tickets to local and international shows at TeatroStageFest 2008, along with a Certificate of Merit, and feedback from a professional playwright.
FIRST PRIZE PLAYWRIGHT/S will be awarded $500 and the WINNING PLAY will have a staged reading with professional actors at the celebrated APOLLO THEATER during the YPLC awards ceremony. SECOND and THIRD PRIZE WINNERS will receive $250 each. TEACHERS associated with 5 or more student submissions will receive a pair of complimentary tickets to TeatroStageFest.
Join our young playwrights community at www.myspace.com/latinochallenge.
For YPLC contest guidelines, go to www.youngplaywrights.org. For help with your writing, email latinochallenge@youngplaywrights.org or call (212) 594-5440.
Postmark your play on or before Monday, April 7th to:
Young Playwrights Inc.
Dept. LC
PO Box 5134
New York, NY 10185
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