Anibal Acevedo Vila is Innocent

Former Puerto Rico Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila is not guilty on all counts in his corruption trial. The verdict by a jury at the federal court concluded his month long trial earlier today in Puerto Rico.

"I hope Puerto Rico learns from this lesson," said Acevedo Vila after the verdict. "You defend the truth no matter what."

I'm glad because federal authorities didn't have enough proof against the former governor, judging by media reports I heard during the trial.

To read today's report on Acevedo Vila's verdict,
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090321/twl-cb-puerto-rico-governor-s-trial-1be00ca.html

Share your thoughts. Feel free to leave your comments.

Research Seminar: Welfare reform in NYC

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Welfare Reform in NYC:
From Slums to the Projects

Presenters: Cordelia Reimers and Howard Chernick, Hunter College with Marygrace Tyrell, Northwestern University

6 p.m., Thursday, March 26

Centro Conference Room 1437 East Bldg.
Hunter College
68th & Lexington Avenue, Manhattan

For more information, www.centropr.org.

Free Stylin' in El Barrio

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90’s Diva Judy Torres is expected to attend.

TONIGHT is Freestyle night at Cemi Underground in NYC's El Barrio.

For more information, www.cemiunderground.com.

Editor's note: Nieves-Powell's book "Free Style" is also available at the PRSUN aStore.

Riches in 4 Steps with Xavier Serbia

Financial expert and former Menudo Xavier Serbia is the scheduled guest on PRSUN Radio Monday night. He is currently promoting his new book "La riqueza en cuatro pisos," and will be sharing some helpful financial tips with listeners. The talk show is planned for 9-9:15 p.m. at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio. If you can't listen to the show live, it will be archived at PRSUN Radio.

"La riqueza en cuatro pisos" is a survival manual. Having sufficient wealth in the future, and achieving financial independence are two of the primary goals for Hispanics; this book is the first step. For more information, go to my blog at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.


Editor's Note: Serbia's book is available at the PRSUN aStore at:

‘The Show Still Goes On’

In one of their first events honoring Women’s History Month at the Centro (The Center for Puerto Rican Studies) library at Hunter College in Manhattan, organizers put together a talk entitled “The Show Still Goes On.”
Professor and historian Virginia Sanchez-Korrol moderated the conversation with actresses Miriam Colon (the founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre) and Eva Vasquez.
The actresses offered a history lesson and conversation full of theatre, especially focusing on the Latino New York theatre scene, and they shared their success stories. Both actresses said their inspiration came from family. –- Ismael Nunez

(photo by Ismael Nunez)

It's time to change

It's time to get another Puerto Rican flag.
This flag decorates a community garden in NYC's El Barrio.
(photo by Clarisel Gonzalez)

My day of dreams at the Nuyorican Poets Café

In the first person

If you’ve ever been to the Nuyorican Poets Café in lower Manhattan than you can understand why it would be such an honor for my first public performance outside of school to be at this historical Café.
It was a Sunday in the middle of the afternoon and I was seemingly relaxed. I was coming above ground from the 6 train, probably the most eager as I’ve ever been. My older sister Lisa and I strolled the streets of the L.E.S. searching for this landmark. My blood was boiling with excitement. I was headed to the Urban Word’s 11th Annual Teen Poetry Preliminary Round at the Nuyorican! Life couldn’t get better.
I spent countless hours practicing the poem, so I wasn’t nervous about my memorization of my piece. I remember the names were placed in a raffle envelope as everyone took a seat for a chance to spill their guts into the mic for the judges.
“This rug is a very famous one, one that Saul Williams and other famous poets have stood on; you should be honored to recite on this rug poets,” I remember one of the hosts telling us as part of his introduction. Poet after poet literally poured their hearts out for us to hear and for judges to judge in the hopes to make it to the next round. INTENSE. When I was called up, the level of comfort was amazing. It was as if I felt that this was where I belonged all these years. I was sick with pink eye in both eyes and just midway through my recovery, but that didn’t stop me. I was up on stage at the Nuyorican. AMAZING.

“You Are Nothing.” That was the first line of my poem. People gasp and laugh at the same time throughout the piece. I’m still shocked at such positive feedback I received. Being pulled to the side by a judge was probably the most stunning part of the night. “CARLOS! Besides our name being the same, I really liked that poem,” the judge told me.
I mean even the bathroom at the café is amazing. It’s decorated with autographed posters of famous performing artists that I’ve never even heard. As a poet, honestly, it was a dream to perform at the Nuyorican Poets Café, especially because I am a Puerto Rican from New York. I never, ever, ever, ever, EVER thought it would happen, and I never expected this to be the first place where I would have been given the opportunity to perform.
It’s truly amazing. As I write this article, I’m still in shock that I performed at the Nuyorican and impressed with the people, even though I couldn’t see their faces during the performance because of the spotlight. Honestly, if not the best, performing at the Nuyorican has been one of the best experiences of my life as a poet and even more so as a person trying to succeed. -- Carlos Burgos

Carlos Burgos, a contributing writer to Puerto Rico Sun, is a poet that goes by the name "Iro" because he says it means "Man" in Taino and the name Carlos also means "Man." To connect with Iro, go to his Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1461579595&ref=profile


(photo of Carlos Burgos)
(photo of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe by Clarisel Gonzalez)

Entrepreneur Night in El Barrio

Join La Casa Azul Bookstore on Entrepreneur Night
6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17
East Harlem Cafe
1651 Lexington Ave., NYC's El Barrio

Local businesses will feature their products and services. Some examples of what you will find: fashion, accessories, catering, life coach and books.

Support the small businesses in your community.

Aurora Anaya-Cerda, a contributing writer to this blog, is owner of La Casa Azul Bookstore.

I, representing Puerto Rico Sun Communications, a community-minded independent multimedia social entrepreneurship, will be there. I'll be mingling.

ProLibertad to honor Latinas for contributions to independence movement

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This Women's History Month, The ProLibertad Freedom Campaign honors the contributions of Boricua/Latina women to the Puerto Rican Independence Movement.

Recipients of the Doña Adelfa Vera Award for 2009:
Yasmin Hernandez, Artist/Activist/Educator
Teresita "Lah Tere" Ayala, Poet/Activist/Rebel Diaz
Claudia de la Cruz, Pastor of La Iglesia San Romero de Las Americas/UCC

Mistress of Ceremony:
Haydee Morales, Casa Atabex Ache Co-Founder

Keynote Speaker:
Prisionera, Poet/Activist/Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico

Sample Work Presentation:
"Our Women, Our Struggle" (working title) is a 70-minute long documentary that chronicles the life of Puerto Rican revolutionary Isabel Rosado who dedicated her life to the Puerto Rican Independence movement and has become a symbol of the island's patriotism. Other women such as Lolita Lebron and Dylcia Pagan will also be highlighted. All three women were subjected to FBI surveillance and each spent many years in prison as a consequence of their radical political actions or as some might refer "terrorist activities."

Melissa Montero is a Latina filmmaker living in Queens, New York of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian heritage. She has co-produced and directed a non-broadcast ten-minute promotional video/documentary on Casa Atabex Ache, a non-profit organization that does healing and transformation work for women of color.

Poetry by:
Mariposa and Prisionera

Hand crafts and Natural Products:
OLGA AYALA HANDICRAFTS (HECHO A MANO)
Botanicafe (Lourdes Garcia)

7 p.m., Friday, March 27
St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 521 W. 126th St., Manhattan

Suggested donation: $5 (no one will be turned away)

Light refreshments will be served.
For more information contact ProLibertad: 718-601-4751 or visit www.ProLibertadWeb.com.

source: ProLibertad

Following the News: A boricua is in space now for real

The Discovery has launched.

It is so cool to know that a boricua astronaut is in space right now. Joseph Acaba is part of the crew of seven. He is making history as the first astronaut of Puerto Rican heritage in space.

Here's a report on tonight's launch:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h1W8dcUP9H70AmlSfDSenPteDT9gD96UPFL00


To read Acaba's bio, go to http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/acaba-jm.html
or click on this entry's headline.

Here are some photos I took between yesterday and tonight on news coverage of our boricua going to space.








For more photos, visit my photo page at http://flickr.com/photos/clarisel.

(photos by Clarisel Gonzalez of some of the TV coverage)

Pianist Jose Ramos Santana performs at Pregones

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March is for music at Pregones theater in the Bronx. This month has been full of concerts.

Today's afternoon show features classical music with Puerto Rican concert pianist Jose Ramos Santana.



For ticket info. on today's show, go to www.pregones.org.

(photo courtesy of Pregones)

Featured PRSUN Video: San Sebastian, PR

Video by Brave Little Soul, a member of the PRSUN Video group.

To check out more videos from the PRSUN Video group at flickr, go to
http://www.flickr.com/groups/prsunvideo

Reminder: Cyber Boricua Chicas chat is today in El Barrio

Come join us at 5 p.m. today at Cemi Underground, East Harlem, for a chat titled "Cyber Boricua Chicas."

Listen to my voice blog at
http://www.snapvine.com/blog/show/20e0ee360d1a11de9ade0030485b0f88

Also tune in to a show I did with Lenina Nadal of performingprofound.com and Iris Morales of us-puertoricans.org for PRSUN Radio at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.