Featured event: La Fiesta Folklorica PR

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

Save El Maestro

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 aspects of Puerto Rican culture, history and identity are nurtured, developed and made available to the community of New York City. We focus on grassroots community activism as a means of strengthening our community.

 

These are the programs we offer:

 

1- EL MAESTRO, INC.  (CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM)

2-JUAN LAPORTE'S BOXING GYM (BOXING, MENTORING  & FITNESS PROGRAM)

3-  5 EN PLENA    (BOMBA & PLENA GROUP)

4-LAS PRINCESSAS DEL CARIBE (BOMBA & PLENA DANCE GROUP 5 -15 YRS. OLD)

5-LOS ADOLESCENTES DEL CARIBE ( MERENGUE & BACHATA DANCE GROUP 12-18 YRS OLD)

6-JUAN "IGOR" GONZALEZ LITTLE LEAGUE (16 TEAMS- BOYS & GIRLS 4-15 YRS. OLD)

7-ROBERTO CLEMENTE SOFTBALL LEAGUE (14 TEAMS YOUTH- 17 YRS OLD & UP)

 WE NEED TO GET 100 FRIENDS TO DONATE

 

$100.00 EACH  PAY RENT AREARS OR WE GET EVICTED.

THIS ACTION WOULD SAVE EL MAESTRO AND HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

 * WE HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 12TH TO RAISE THESE FUNDS.

ON THAT DAY WE CELEBRATE OUR YEARLY FESTIVAL AT VYSE AVENUE IN THE BRONX.

PERFORMING:5 EN PLENA,CONJUNTO SWING Y SABOR, LAS PRINCESSAS DEL CARIBE,LOS ADOLESCENTES DEL CARIBE,JOSIE “LA GATA NEGRA “ & THE WILD STYLE,LIVE BOXING SHOW, ARTS & CRAFTS.

YOU CAN BRING THE DONATIONS ON THAT DAY.

PAYABLE TO: EL MAESTRO, INC.

OR MAIL IT TO: EL MAESTRO, INC.

1029 EAST 167^TH STREET, BRONX, NEW YORK 10459

---

Efrain's Corner: Exclusive Interview with Writer, Producer and Director, Vagabond Beaumont on his Film 'Machetero'

Efrain's Corner: Exclusive Interview with Writer, Producer and Director, Vagabond Beaumont on his Film 'Machetero'

Check out this interview by Efrain Ortiz Jr.

Q&A with activist Vicente "Panama" Alba

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 shape his work as an activist.
Q: Let’s talk about the Young Lords. It’s been close to 40 years since they took over the church at 111th Street and Lexington Avenue. Why are the Young Lords still in the minds of people to this day?
A: As far as the history of my involvement, I am a proud former member of the Young Lords Party. That experience has paved the road I’ve been walking since.
Q: Should there be a memorial in this (NY) city despite their birth in Chicago, Illinois?
A: As far as should there be a memorial for the Young Lords, it needs to be clear that the great majority of us never thought that we were making history. That was not our motivation. We just loved our people, hated what we were being subjected to, and dreamed of a better world. Those are the things that drive me to do what I do to this day. We, without realizing it, did make history. All the credit is deserved by Cha Cha, Sal, Omar, and the women who turned a gang into a revolutionary force and inspired young people in NY and then other parts of the country to join. I have to say, though, I believe that if the YLO had not happened in Chicago and moved people here, something else after that would have been born here because the reality we demanded it. As far as a memorial, that is not for me to say.
Q: Richie Perez was in the Lords with you. Can you tell us a little about him? He once stated that being in the movement keeps you young and strong.
A: As for as Richie Perez, the fact that from amongst all the people who lived for our people, you ask me about him speaks for itself. I first met Richie as one of the fellows when I was a teenager. He was soon after a teacher at Monroe High School where I was registered, but never went. Richie along with Cleo Silvers were the two most influential people at that time in my life. They knew me as an out-of-control rebel and guided me to the path I’ve been on since I joined the YLP. Until his death, he was my brother, my friend, companero de lucha, and is today one on whose spirit I call on. Richie was one of the most caring and committed people I’ve been honored to have in my life. Probably the most brilliant person I have ever come across. He never asked others to do something he would not do himself.

The Young Lords celebrate its 40th anniversary and reunion Sunday with an event at the First Spanish Methodist Church aka "The People's Church" in East Harlem. -- Ismael Nunez

Ismael Nunez is a contributing writer to Puerto Rico Sun.

(photo by Ismael Nunez of Vicente "Panama" Alba, center, with his children at the Better Bronx event)
(Young Lords flier; click on image for larger text)

PRSUN Radio chats with the folks behind Coqui Mexicano

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 atwww.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.