Saturday, May 08, 2010

Thursday, April 29, 2010

PRSUN Communications to exhibit @ FastTrac's Biz Expo

Hello PRSUN readers and supporters,

Puerto Rico Sun Communications is pleased to be part of the lineup of FastTrac's Spring Business Expo at the SUNY Levin Institute this Saturday. And, I invite you to the Expo to celebrate NYC's entrepreneurship spirit in these challenging times. I'd love to see you there.

About 30 businesses are expected to participate.

I am a proud graduate of FastTrac's GrowthVenture Program for entrepreneurs.

Here's a link with more information on the event:

Check out this event at PRSUN's page @ Facebook

Friday, April 16, 2010

MassMutual Expands Scholarship Program, Helping Students Realize Dreams

Education

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual) is expanding its scholarship program to more states, increasing the number of scholarships, and offering internships in the financial services field to winners.

MassMutual is making $135,000 in scholarships available in nine metropolitan areas as part of the program, which is open to students of Hispanic, African-American/Black or Asian/Pacific Islander. High school students from all areas of the country who plan to attend a college or university in these metropolitan areas are also qualified to apply.

Applicants for the 27 $5,000 scholarships must meet certain academic criteria, such as having concentrations in the fields of business, economics, finance, financial planning, management, marketing and sales.

“When students tell us that our scholarship program could mean the difference between achieving finishing college and dropping out, we are heartened to know that our efforts are paying off, for them and their families and, ultimately, for our industry and our country. Especially during these tough economic times, we’re immensely proud to be able to expand the program, so more students can benefit from it,” said John Chandler, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, MassMutual.

The program is just one of MassMutual’s many multicultural efforts, including attracting talented professionals to the field of financial services and supporting people of diverse backgrounds, both as agents and as clients. The scholarship program’s internship opportunities will expose recipients to the world of financial services, while helping to enhance diversity in financial services and to support increasingly diverse communities.

“Our scholarship program is a very important part and symbol of our commitment to diversity and education, and because of it and our other efforts, we’re already making a big difference in the lives of the communities we serve,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, assistant vice president of Community Responsibility for MassMutual. “As an industry, we need to attract outstanding multicultural candidates to our field and to make our companies representative of the communities we work in, and our scholarship support can help make that happen.”

The scholarship program’s application deadline is May 30, and winners will be notified in late summer.

To be eligible, applicants must:
• Be of Hispanic, African-American/Black or Asian/Pacific Islander descent;
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a permanent resident card or passport stamped I-551 (not expired);
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
• Have plans to attend full-time a degree-seeking program at a U.S. accredited institution in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam during the 2010-2011 academic year;
• Be entering sophomore, junior, senior or fifth-year-senior at a four-year university or be a community college student;
• Reside or plan to attend an institution in one of the following metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Ga.; Denver, Colo.; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; San Francisco, Calif.; Central New Jersey; Chicago, Ill.; Miami, Fla. Or San Antonio, Texas;
• Be majoring in business, economics, finance, financial planning, management, marketing or sales;
• Demonstrate leadership and extra-curricular activities; and
• Apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

For more information on how to apply or to obtain an application, visit www.hsf.net/massmutual.aspx.


source: press release

Friday, April 09, 2010

PRSUN Radio chats with Penumbra's Anthony Fascious Martinez

My upcoming guest on PRSUN Radio is Anthony Fascious Martinez, writer and performer of the award winning Hip-Hop musical Penumbra.

For more information, go to my Facebook event page.

The show airs live at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at PRSUN Radio.

UPDATE
To Listen to the interview:

Monday, April 05, 2010

Rincon, Puerto Rico: Rincon Puerto Rico Film Festival

Rincon, Puerto Rico: Rincon Puerto Rico Film Festival

PRSUN Radio chats with the Rev. Carmen Hernandez

The Rev. Carmen Hernandez of the Bronx is my guest tomorrow night at PRSUN Radio. The Rev. is a recipient of El Diario La Prensa's distinguished woman award this year. She founded and leads the first LGBT Chamber of Commerce in NYC. She's also a community and youth activist.

To read her bio, go to my blog at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

UPDATE: To listen:

Friday, March 19, 2010

Puerto Rican/Latino & Multicultural Arts Center Directors Respond to Rumors about Name Change

In the mailbox

Cultural Center's History to be PRESERVED

The Board of Directors as well as the Management of the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center in the Lower East Side are proud stewards of a Puerto Rican/Latino multi-cultural center and are tremendously committed to the Center's name and identity as the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center.
Clemente Soto Vélez (1905-1993) was a Puerto Rican poet, a nationalist, and a community activist in New York. He mentored many generations of Puerto Ricans and Latinos in Puerto Rico and New York. The Center stands by his name and is assiduously working to enhance the scope of its programming, including artist mentoring and community programming among Puerto Ricans, Latinos and the New York community.
Recently an unsubstantiated rumor has been circulating that the board of this Puerto Rican Center for the arts is seeking to erase the history of the Puerto Rican struggle and specifically trying to erase the poetry of Clemente Soto Vélez, a Puerto Rican icon in New York. On the contrary, the Board of the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center has a mandate to preserve the history of the Puerto Rican struggle and actively treasures and promotes, and always will, the life and art of Clemente Soto Vélez.

source: statement from the Clemente center

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

DTM Magazine - San Juan: City of Encanto

DTM Magazine - San Juan: City of Encanto

Check out my article on one of my favorite places in DTM magazine.

New York League of Puerto Rican Women seeks applicants for its college awards

In the mailbox


NEW YORK LEAGUE OF PUERTO RICAN WOMEN, INC.
(NYLPRW)
Edith Padilla, President
Non-Partisan Not-For-Profit Organization
P. O. Box 268, Patchogue, New York 11772-0268
edienylprw(at)gmail.com; www.nylprw.org

Dear Friend:

We are currently accepting applications for our 2010 College Awards to be
presented at our College Awards Gala Dinner Dance at the Marina Del Rey in the
Bronx, on Thursday, August 19, 2010. These awards are granted annually to
undergraduate Puerto Rican women selected for their academic excellence and
service to the community.

To be eligible, applicants must send a completed 2010 College Award
Application Form to our post office box listed above, by the deadline date of
May 29, 2010, and meet all of the following criteria:

1. Currently matriculated as an undergraduate student in an accredited institution
of higher education, having earned a minimum of 12 accumulated credits.
2. Maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 with no failing grades.
3. Demonstrate service to the community.
4. Provide an official college transcript.
5. Provide two letters of recommendation from a professor, college advisor, employer
or supervisor.
6. Submit a suitable 4" by 6" photo of the applicant for inclusion in our Commemorative Dinner Dance Journal.

The College Award Committee will review only those applications that comply with all of the above six (6) requirements.

The essays of the selected applicants will be included in our Commemorative Dinner-Dance Journal and should be written meticulously.

You can download the Application from our website.

Sincerely,

Edith Padilla, President/CEO, NYLPRW, INC.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Readers: What do you think are the top Puerto Rican-related sites?



Note: This list is aimed at being a resource. The list ranking here is according to the order of submission. That's it. Continue to submit your favorite Puerto Rican-related sites.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

PRSUN Radio chats with watercolor artist Clemente Flores

PRSUN Radio is back at 9 p.m. this Wednesday at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio. My guest is East Harlem-based artist Clemente Flores.

Born and raised in East Harlem/El Barrio, Flores is the son of Puerto Ricans. His parents came from Puerto Rico to New York City in the 1930s. He grew up at 112th Street and Madison Avenue, and says he had a "very adventureous childhood in the 50s."
"Most of my childhood was spent on the streets playing and hanging out my friends," he says, adding that he grew up with three brothers who also became artists ( musicians). He considers his mother and other family members unsung heores because "they sang beautiful (Puerto Rican folk songs) and wrote poetries but never became known or famous."
Clemente is a self taught artist.
"I became an artist thanks to my second son who encouraged me to paint and exhibit my art," he says. He started painting in 1985. His first art exhibit was in East Harlem in 1988 at El Caney del Barrio.

To listen to the interview: