Community events

It is my honor to introduce myself as the representative for the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) and to humbly request your assistance in helping us promote NSHMBA’s 15th Annual Conference and Career Expo.
NSHMBA is a 501(c)(3), which was started in 1988. The mission of the organization is to foster Hispanic leadership through management education and professional development in order to improve society. There are currently 29 chapters through out the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The conference will take place on October 21-23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The national conference attracts Hispanic MBA students and professionals from across the country. Thursday, October 21, offers a full day of professional development. On Friday and Saturday, there is a Career Fair that hosts more than 280 companies, mostly Fortune 500. There is an anticipated attendance of over 6,500 Hispanic professionals.
We would greatly appreciate any efforts that you could lend in educating your community about this incredible event and/or this incredible organization and its leadership.
Please call me at the numbers below if you have any further questions and thank you beforehand for your valuable assistance.
RAIZ Public Relations & Special Events

Mauricio Navarro
President RAIZ
4622 Maple Ave. Suite 202
Dallas, Texas 75219
navarro@raizpr.com tel:
fax:
mobile: 214-523-3440
214-523-3448
469-733-8137

Manny Hernandez

book
Originally uploaded by Manny.

Hernandez will speak about his textbook and other Latino issues at an upcoming activity in Rhode Island.

Hernandez regularly contributes opinion pieces on education issues to the Puerto Rico Sun.

Comunicado de Prensa

División de Asuntos Educativos Puertorriqueños de RI
Contacto: Abigail Mesa, Directora
401-785-9533
Fecha: 1ero de octubre de 2004
Asunto: Presentación del Educador y Escritor, Manuel Hernández

El educador y escritor puertorriqueño, Manuel Hernández, confirmó su visita a Providence, Rhode Island, para una disertación y presentación de su libro titulado: "Latino/a Literature in the English Classroom", el cual fue nominado como el Libro de Texto Latino 2004. Hernández es una autoridad a nivel nacional, conocido por sus ensayos sobre literatura. Ha conducido un sinnúmero de talleres, simposios, entrevistas televisadas y trabajos periodísticos sobre este tema.
Hernández, quien actualmente vive en Luquillo, tiene una trayectoria en el análisis de la literatura latinoamericana a nivel nacional. Dedicado a la motivación a la lectura y la escritura, Hernández se concentra en la preparación y estudio de exámenes a nivel estatal como parte de un programa de tutoría a adolescentes.
Posee una Maestría en Educación de la Universidad de Puerto Rico y un Bachillerato en Ingles del Colegio Herbert H. Lehman de Nueva York. "La educación es la llave que abre las puertas a un nuevo mundo.sin educación arriesgamos nuestra existencia como pueblo latino en los Estados Unidos. Esta invitación de impartir lo que por gracia he recibido; es mi visión de ir a los pueblos latinos en Estados Unidos y establecer un puente literario entre la literatura latina de la Diáspora escrita en Ingles y los clásicos anglosajones. No hay representación en las instituciones que gobiernan a estos países. Podemos ser muchos en población pero sin educación, los números no tienen validez. Para mi es un honor y privilegio compartir mis ideas y estrategias con ustedes" declara Hernández.
La disertación se llevará a cabo el sábado 6 de noviembre de 2004 en Progreso Latino, localizado en el 626 Broad Street en Central Falls. La misma está pautada para las 5:00 pm. Un panel de analistas se integrará al auditorio para una sección de preguntas y respuestas.
"Sé que una sóla presentación de Manuel Hernández no es suficiente para lograr el objetivo que tiene la División con esta presentación. Pero extraeremos lo esencial para utilizar su disertación en nuestros centros de trabajo y en nuestras vidas personales" indicó Abigail Mesa, Directora de la División.

Community happenings

source: www.prdream.com

This is the new info on PRDREAM/MEDIANOCHE/MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOOD
NETWORK's workshops: These begin in October. Classes are now forming!

PRDREAM/MEDIANOCHE/MNN

FREE WORKSHOPS: Hands-on, 10 weeks.
1. Basic Digital Camera and Editing Workshop
Leads to MNN public access certification. Classes now forming.


PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS: Registration: $25 Plus Workshop fee

1. Screenwriting: The basics, STARTS OCTOBER 7
Workshop fee: $250, Ten sessions, Thursdays, 6PM - 8:30PM

2. Cinematography: Optimize Your Lighting for Film and Digital Video
Workshop fee: $250
Two-day session: Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17
One-day Intensive session: Saturday, October 23

3. Create a Website for your Artwork: For artists.
Workshop fee: $350, One-day.
Knowledge of computers and basic software operation necessary.


All classes and workshops are held at
PRDREAM/MEDIANOCHE
MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK's
Satellite Facility in El Barrio
161 East 106th Street
New York, NY 10029
(212)828.0401


=======================================
Judith Escalona
Director

PRDREAM.COM
161 East 106th Street
(212)828-0401

http://www.prdream.com
Empowering community through technology
========================================

source: www.elmuseo.org (Museo del Barrio, NYC)

Saturday October 9
LATIN BEAT AT EL MUSEO: NEW LATINO FILMS FROM LINCOLN CENTER .
1:30 PM City of Men / Cidade dos homens,
U.S. Premiere, Fernando Meirelles, Cesar Charlone,
Katia Lund and Regina Case , Brazil , 2003; 125m
4:00 PM Sábado / Saturday
Matías Bize, Chile , 2003; 63m
5:30 PM Offsides / Fuera de juego,
Victor Manuel Arregui, Ecuador , 2003; 87m
Tickets: $7 admission; $5 members, seniors, and students;
$10 combo ticket for any two films on the same day.
Tickets on sale day of show at the Museum shop.
Call (212) 660-7132 for more information or visit our website at www.elmuseo.org

Saturday, October 9
Extreme Makeover: Performance Workshop for
High School Teens, 12 noon–2pm
Meet performance artist Carmelita Tropicana and discover your new inner persona! Tropicana will lead teens in a two-hour workshop exploring autobiography through performance improvisation, movement and writing exercises.
Free for NYC high school students; registration required. Groups welcome.
Call (212) 660-7134 for more information.

Featured Site:

Virtual Boricua (www.virtualboricua.org)

This cultural site offers news articles from various media sources on issues of interest to boricuas; cultural, political and justice community information; photos; and a forum.

I am a forum member. This is a site worth visiting.

Cueva de Camuy

Cueva de Camuy
Originally uploaded by clarisel.

Check out the Sunrise, Sunset -- Anything Sun photo group at flickr. Wonderful collection of sun shots from around the world. Places range from Puerto Rico and Cuba to Japan and Brazil.

POETRY
By Fernando A. Zapater

CONDEMNED

In that poker game god dealt me cards
An anti-Semitic joker as a wild trump
That played me like a well-tuned guitar
To the fine tune of a mashuganov gentile
I traveled 32 hundred miles
To reach the rabbis daughter and reconcile
But imagine a balsero boricua all the while
After he had his heart circumcised
Perhaps in past incarnations I had been
A nazi luftewaggen first lieutenant air force
Maybe I was the roman soldier who gave Christ
His hideous last drink
Or perhaps had been the Jew that condemned
Him to be crucified
It is my karma I accept in mazeltov
All the while thinking in Luria's mysticism
And when my love for Mordecai borders fanatism
You will know me also as his sidekick companion
Esther's lover, Lilith's cousin, a Jew beloved
Like Moses leadership amongst the waters
But when Palestinians explode like watermelons
It is time to corner Arafat with serious questions
Not only traveled a mile for a camel
But 32 hundred for a whole herd
With which we will conquer the west
And will have again Jerusalem and Bethlehem
We must not thrust aside the Palestinians
For they are a tribe that is here to stay
I have been dealt the anti-Semitic trump
It's now my turn to twist and shout, to hum and hump
We shall live like a civilized tribe
Amongst human, spirits, and animals alike
Love and peace shall prevail amongst all the same
Shalom, Mazel-tov, Hola, Hello, Bienvenido, y Como estas.


c Condemned, by Fernando A Zapater
Published in "Cuentos Cortos y Poemas de Un Balsero", Volume II, by Fernando A. Zapater.

Zapater is a contributing poet to Puerto Rico Sun.

Community News

NCLR Supports Report Showing that "Three-Strikes" Laws Fail to Control Crime

Washington, D.C. - The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino civil rights organization in the U.S., welcomes the report released today by the Justice Policy Institute demonstrating that the "three-strikes" mandatory sentencing laws are highly ineffective. This report, Three Strikes and You're Out: An Examination of the Impact of 3-Strike Laws 10 Years After their Enactment, is a timely analysis of these laws which have been adopted by approximately two dozen states and the federal government in the last ten years.

NCLR has expressed great concern with "three-strikes" laws because, in addition to being ineffective, these laws impose unduly harsh sentences on people who commit minor, non-serious crimes, such as shoplifting, and waste resources that could be invested in better methods for reducing crime. Given the data in reports such as this one, it is clear that "three-strikes" laws give the public a false sense of safety and do not make good on their promise of reducing violent crime.

The "three-strikes" laws put into place in the past decade had two primary goals: to reduce crime by incarcerating repeat offenders for long periods of time and to dissuade individuals with criminal records from committing new crimes. "Three-strikes" laws were designed to make communities safe by reducing violent crime. However, violence has not decreased at a faster rate in the states that have implemented these laws as compared to the states that do not have "three-strikes" laws.

"Tough-on-crime" measures, like the "three-strikes" laws, result in the incarceration of tens of thousands of petty criminals for life, while not reducing crime and wasting billions of dollars. Instead, those resources would be better invested in education and job training, as well as prevention and treatment programs for people with substance abuse and mental health problems.

For example, while 31% of California's population is Latino, nearly 40% of prisoners in the state are Hispanic. In this state, a person could conceivably receive a 25-year-to-life sentence, under the "three-strikes" laws, for shoplifting. Thus, approximately a quarter of the total prison population is serving time as a result of this punitive measure. This overreliance on incarceration causes a strain on the state budget and dries up resources needed for community programs.

The Latino community believes that the punishment needs to fit the crime; severe prison sentences should be reserved for violent repeat criminals and not for nonviolent minor offenders. "Three-strikes" laws offer a "cookie-cutter" solution to crime. NCLR urges the states and the federal government to look for smart approaches to public safety and crime reduction, which yield results and address the root cause of the problem.

###


All Content © 2004 NCLR. All Rights Reserved

FYI -- My photos are now part of the photo collection at the Escape to Puerto Rico site.

My work is located under the categories:

Old San Juan
escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/oldsj8.shtml

Churches
escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/church4.shtml

Folklore
escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/folklore3.shtml

Please visit and send an Isla del Encanto e-card.

Manny Hernandez

Picture MH
Originally uploaded by Manny.

Read Manny's empowering articles on education right here at the prsun.blogspot.com.

Education Corner

Commentary

The Key That Unlocks The Door: Education
by Manuel Hernandez

Education is the key that unlocks the door to a new world of opportunities here and anywhere in the world. Without education, humanity merely survives and risks its existence. Yet, the talk is about war and politics these days. With all the kidnappings, bombings, and the presidential campaign, education, the key to the future, has been relegated to the back door of daily conversation.
When you are born, you do not choose where you will start out in life. I had the blessing of being born in a legendary town right across George Washington's Hudson River, Sleepy Hollow. The positive learning environment imparted by teachers and the educational community at John Paulding, Pearson and Winfield L. Morse went beyond all academic expectations. I was taught to care, open my mind, think for myself, speak out, stand up for what you believe in and be creative. The rising factor in an education is motivation, and I was handed that package at a very early age. But this is not the story of millions around the world.
What happens when you are brought up in, during or in times of war and tragedy? How do you evoke or provoke yourself to grow and care without appropriate role models? When do you decide to march forth in life and go beyond the negative expectations of those who surround you? How do you restore faith when there is disaster, crisis, destruction and adversity knocking at your door constantly? The best-selling Latino poet, Tato Laviera, answers these questions and others purposefully in "Fighting":

ceased to be physical

when I realized my natural

potential for dealing with

institutions on their own

word and logic turf


ceased to be physical when

the power of my uneducated job

prose elicited respect at a job

interview at Livingston college

(first and third stanzas, La Carreta Made a U-Turn, p. 31)

All of our modern day heroes have learned to take these questions and transform them into keys to unlock the doors of opportunities in their lives. Motivation does not come easy. It takes purpose, strength of character and leadership to go deep inside within. When doors are seemingly closed, others will open. When role models fail, big brothers and sisters will fulfill their duties. Bigotry, ignorance and prejudice can only be confronted from an educational standpoint. The current Secretary of State of the United States has learned to serve and lead under both political parties. Mr. Powell comes from a very humble background in the South Bronx and has used his great determination and will to demonstrate that no one is excluded from greater doors of opportunities.
When the reflection in the bedroom window (past experiences) are not the brightest, the key to salvation may very well be an education. It will take an encounter within to heal and restore, but it is possible. With all the talk on war and terror, education will soon surface to the top, and all Americans will understand its role to unlock those hard-locked doors. There will be no need to bring the doors down. They will open naturally.

Manny Hernandez, a Puerto Rico Sun contributing writer on education issues, is an educator and columnist. He may be reached at 787-448-6080, or you may write:
HC-O1, Box 7717, Luquillo, Puerto Rico 00773

Community News:

New NCLR Study Finds Hispanics in the South are Reluctant to Use Health Care System

Lack of Access, Information is a Public Health Concern

Atlanta, GA - A report released (this month) by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) finds that, contrary to conventional belief and despite the explosive growth of the population, Hispanics in the South are underutilizing public heath care services throughout the region. The report, The Health of Latino Communities in the South: Challenges and Opportunities, includes the perspectives of health care professionals and members of the community and notes that Hispanics are reluctant to use public health care programs and facilities due to barriers such as lack of information about available services; lack of insurance; insufficient numbers of bilingual, bicultural personnel in the healthcare arena; and disparate treatment.

"The fact that many Hispanics are intimidated enough by the health system that they are not seeking care should trouble anyone who is concerned about public health. These adults and their families are an important share of the workers and taxpayers of the South, and the region's economy depends on their well-being," stated Janet Murguia, NCLR Executive Director and COO.

NCLR conducted the study to gain new knowledge about the rapidly-growing, young, and increasingly significant Latino population in the South. "Ensuring the integration of Latinos into the social fabric of the South is critical to the region, and we can only do that if we understand the community and its needs," observed Murguia. With financial support from the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NCLR partnered with four highly-respected community-based organizations (CBOs) with experience in the health care field - El Pueblo, Inc. (Raleigh, NC); Latin American Association (Atlanta, GA); Latino Memphis (Memphis, TN); and Southeast Georgia Communities Project (Lyons, GA) - to gather information from community members and health care service providers.

NCLR's research and analysis suggest that a serious information gap prevents the Latino community from accessing available health services and hinders the ability of health care professionals to provide Latinos with adequate care. Specifically, the report's key findings show that:

There is a lack of knowledge about available health care service providers within the Hispanic community.
Health care facilities and professionals often do not have the adequate linguistic and cultural skills necessary to treat members of the Hispanic community.
Among Hispanics, there is a lack of trust of the medical system, which is sometimes amplified by immigration status.
Many Hispanics experience disparate treatment when they visit health care facilities, including longer waits and denial of service.
"The issues raised across the region were remarkably consistent, regardless of which state Latinos live in. Many without insurance are unable to get help due to the high cost of care. Struggling to learn English, others are daunted by the lack of information in Spanish and are unable to find anyone in the public health arena who understands or can communicate with them. People shouldn't have to resort to over-the-counter medicine or the botánica when they need medical attention," stated Andrea Bazán-Manson, NCLR Board Member and Executive Director of El Pueblo, Inc., one of the community-based partners in the study.

But the report also notes that strategies are within reach to improve information, access, and care available to Hispanics. "There are some rays of hope - partnerships between government, public health organizations, and CBOs can serve as models for other communities eager to address the challenges raised in the report," advised Murguia.

The report proposes detailed recommendations to educate the Latino community on available health care, and to prepare members of the medical profession to be responsive to the needs of this diverse population. Specifically:

The public and private sectors should collaborate on a comprehensive media-based campaign aimed at Latinos to increase awareness on public health issues.
Government agencies should establish mechanisms to ensure that appropriate language services, required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, are available when needed.
Regional nonprofit organizations should train other CBOs on community health education and outreach techniques.
Medical professionals, with help from regional CBOs, should create cultural competency and continuing education courses to help doctors increase their knowledge of culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
Latinos should play an active role in improving the health of their communities, through education, advocacy, and research.
"Hispanics need and want what many other Americans take for granted - that if they or their kids get sick, they will be able to find the means to get well. Given that Hispanics are an increasingly critical part of the region's economy, we urge public health officials in the South to partner with the Hispanic community to ensure that all residents of the South are able to access and receive health care services," concluded Murguia.

The full report, The Health of Latino Communities in the South: Challenges and Opportunities, can be accessed on the Internet at www.nclr.org.

SOURCE: NCLR

Community News

PRdream/MediaNoche
FALL WORKSHOP SERIES

SCREENWRITING: THE BASICS

A workshop with Screenwriter/New School Professor
Frank Algarín

An introduction to the techniques, tools and vocabulary necessary for
turning an idea into a screenplay.

The goal is to develop an original idea into an outline for a feature
length screenplay and write the first scenes of the script.

The workshop will include lectures, discussions, viewings of films,
exercises, assignments, resources and handouts.

THURSDAYS, 6PM - 8:30PM
10 sessions: October 7 - December 16, 2004
Course Fee: $250
Registration Fee: $25

PRdream/MediaNoche
161 East 106th Street, First Floor
(Between Lexington and Third Avenue)
NYC

For more information and to register:
Call (212) 828-0401
Email: info@prdream.com

http://www.prdream.com
Empowering community through technology

Let there be light!

Mi gente, I have been off-line for nearly a week as a result of the blackout on Puerto Rico. I finally got electricity at home today, so I'm back to blog.

Go figure. The blackout was not even caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne!

The blackout and lack of water was actually worse than the storm! I got the water back over the weekend.

Some wise person decided to shutoff the power, and the Puerto Rican government is now fending off critics.

Whatever! I won't get into the politics of that foolish decision that left the island in chaos for days.

I'll leave that to the Puerto Rico radio reporters and commentators, who did a fantastic job of informing and letting people voice their opinions during the last week.

Community News

New Report Finds That D.C. Council Juvenile Justice Proposals From Past Year are Ineffective and Unfair

WASHINGTON, DC- A consortium of Latino organizations will join civil rights, community, and youth organizations tomorrow in releasing a report on Latino youth in the District's justice system and call on the D.C. Council to reject the harsh juvenile justice proposals they have considered in the past year when they take a final vote this month.
The report, District of Columbia Responses to Youth Violence: Impact on the Latino Community, which offers a comprehensive analysis of the proposals introduced by D.C. Council members and District Mayor Anthony Williams since the fall of 2003, finds that some of the policies being considered would be ineffective in protecting public safety and would have a negative impact on Latino families if adopted into law.
The consortium's report includes alternative policies that would more effectively reduce youth crime and assist families who are caught in the criminal justice system. These recommendations are similar to those of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Youth Safety and Juvenile Justice Reform, which provide a sound blueprint for effective reform based on research and experience from around the country but have been largely ignored by District policy-makers.
The report's authors are the National Council of La Raza, the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and the law firms of Foley & Lardner LLP and Piper Rudnick LLP. These organizations will be joined at the briefing for the D.C. Council and the press by representatives from the Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition, the Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative, the Latin American Youth Center, the Youth Law Center, the Justice 4 DC Youth Coalition, as well as Latino families who will speak to the personal impact of these policies. The briefing will be hosted by the D.C. Council's Subcommittee on Human Rights, Latino Affairs and Property Management, whose members include Jim Graham (Ward One), Adrian Fenty (Ward Four), and Phil Mendelson (at large).
The release of the new report on juvenile justice proposals that are ineffective and unfair to Latinos will be made at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Source: National Council of La Raza

Jibaro Embraces Lady Liberty

Jibaro Embraces Lady Liberty
Originally uploaded by clarisel.

The Reading Life
By Vivian Lake, Puerto Rico Sun Book Editor

The Turkish Lover by Esmeralda Santiago ($24.95 DaCapo Press, 341 pp.)

This much-awaited follow-up to When I was Puerto Rican and Almost a Woman is a riveting memoir of a young woman’s first serious relationship. Santiago, at age 21, meets an older man and leaves her family to be with him. Although the man is older, charming and experienced, she soon learns that he is also a dominating, lying, psychologically abusive man and has no visible means of support. And he calls her “Chiquita.”
After a financial setback, he takes her back to New York and dumps her at her parents’ home. After he leaves the country Esmeralda flourishes, finds a job she loves and her own place to live. Unfortunately, she continues to correspond with the Turkish Loser (as I call him) who calls and writes constantly with fervent but vague promises of reuniting with her. Instead of running for the hills (as every reader would advise), Esmeralda is enthralled, though not yet immobilized by her attraction for this man.
Esmeralda is working at a prestigious and fulfilling job at the Museum of Modern Art when she hears from the loser again, telling her that he is enrolled at the University of Texas. She is living in Lubbock, Texas, in a matter of weeks. His life becomes hers as she finds a job – and hands over her salary to him, researches and writes his papers for him, and learns to be quiet, submissive and not ask too many questions. When he completes his Master’s – for which she did all the work, something happens. Esmeralda’s self-esteem and self-worth begin to flourish. She has been taking a few courses, has done most of the work for her lover’s degrees, and begins to believe that she can accomplish more, and deserves better.
During a vacation in Massachusetts, the couple drive through Cambridge and the Harvard campus. Esmeralda has an epiphany. She belongs here. She returns to Lubbock unsure of how she will make the desire a reality. With the support of her co-workers, she completes the application and applies for scholarships and is accepted. To his credit, the loser is supportive. They pack up their Lubbock life and head north. He is to start a doctoral program in upstate New York and she moves to Cambridge to start life at Harvard.
This is an extraordinary testament to the strength of the human spirit – and the strength of Ms. Santiago in particular.
Esmeralda Santiago’s website is at www.esmeraldasantiago.net

Vivian Lake, a contributing writer to Puerto Rico Sun, runs her own blog site dedicated to book news. It is at www.bookauthority.blogspot.com.

Community News

NCLR to Release First-Ever Survey of Health Care and Hispanic Community in the South

ATLANTA, GA - The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights organization in the U.S., will release the findings of the first multistate report to document the health care challenges, needs, and aspirations of Latinos in the South. NCLR will hold a news briefing on the report, The Health of Latino Communities in the Southern United States: Challenges and Opportunities, on Friday, September 17 at Saint Joseph's Mercy Care Services Clinic-North, 3367 Buford Highway, Suite 910, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Hispanics, the nation's largest minority and its fastest-growing population, have experienced their greatest growth in the South. The four states included in the survey - Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee - are those with the highest percentage increases during the 1990s in the number of Latino residents. Yet, despite this explosive growth, little documentation exists regarding the status of, and challenges facing, these communities, especially related to health. The report, funded by the Office of Minority Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, surveys health care professionals and members of the community on issues such as availability of health care services, barriers to accessing health care, and treatment of Latinos by health care personnel and facilities.
Speakers at the news briefing include Janet Murguia, NCLR Executive Director; Andrea Bazán Manson, Executive Director of El Pueblo, Inc., Raleigh, NC; Andrea Cruz, Executive Director of the Southeast Georgia Communities Project, Lyons, GA; Dr. José A. Velázquez, Chief Executive Officer of Latino Memphis, Memphis, TN; Cecilia G. Galvis, Family Health Promotion Manager of Saint Joseph's Mercy Care Services; and the author of the report, Liany Elba Arroyo, Senior Program Manager, NCLR Atlanta Office.
All Content © 2004 NCLR. All Rights Reserved


Hispanic Scholarship Fund Awards $29.3 Million Nationwide to Nearly 7,500 Latino Students During 2003-2004 Academic Year

Increased Giving Highlights Organization's Impact as Census Bureau Reports a Decline in Household Income of Hispanics Nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation's leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education, announced it has awarded more than $29.3 million in college scholarships during the 2003-2004 academic year, enabling nearly 7,500 Latino students in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to further their college education. HSF's award numbers are encouraging news in the face of an August 26 report from the U.S. Census Bureau showing a 2.6% decline in the median household income of Hispanics nationwide during 2003 -- the only major racial or ethnic group to show such a decline(1).
"During the past academic year, HSF has worked hard to increase the number of scholarships awarded, the number of students supported, and the number of programs developed and delivered -- all during a period when Hispanic families find themselves struggling with shrinking financial resources," said Sara Martinez Tucker, HSF president and CEO. "Because these numbers reflect an urgent need -- one that we are working to satisfy with the generous support of corporate partners, private foundations, and individual giving-we must continue to provide Latinos with the resources necessary to earn a college degree so that we can break the cycle of under-education in the Hispanic community."
The $29.3 million represents scholarships awarded through HSF's College Scholarship, High School Scholarship, Community College Transfer Scholarship and Partnership and Internship programs, as well as awards through the Gates Millennium Scholars Program and the Washington D.C.-based HSF Institute. Although the 2003-2004 numbers represent a cumulative dollar increase over the previous year, the disappointing news from the Census Bureau's August report points to the increased need for education support for Latinos as the median household incomes of Hispanic families have fallen in real terms. Hispanics already struggle with significantly lower college graduation rates than their white or African American counterparts -- only about 10% of Latinos complete their four-year degrees -- and this new data shows a diminishing capacity for families to meet rising tuition costs.
In addition to the unprecedented financial support secured for Latino students in the past academic year, HSF worked to close the education gap through innovative programming that seeks to build a pipeline of Latino students entering and graduating from college, while engaging Latino families to become advocates for their children's education.
HSF toured the country and hosted more than 66 HSF "Steps for Success" workshops, Town Hall Meetings, and other outreach events, providing more than 10,700 students and their families with the critical tools needed to help them graduate from high school and successfully navigate the college application and financial aid processes. In addition, the HSF Scholar Chapter Network has grown to 20 chapters on university campuses nationwide, providing students with access to mentors, leadership opportunities and skill-building workshops to help them stay in college and complete their degrees.
HSF's scholarship and support programs continue to rank among the most effective in the country. An independent study found that 97 percent of all students selected as HSF Scholars attain their college degrees. Almost 90 percent of HSF Scholars earn salaries above the national median income, and nearly 60 percent earn at least double the average annual income of most working Hispanic Americans.
Since its founding in 1975, HSF has continued to raise the bar on giving, and provides the Latino community with more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. During the past year, HSF has partnered with more than 100 Fortune 1000 companies, gained support from more than a dozen national and regional foundations, and conducted numerous workplace giving campaigns and community fundraising events.
During its 29-year history, HSF has awarded more than 68,000 scholarships in excess of $144 million to Latinos from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who have attended more than 1,700 colleges and universities.
Several of HSF's scholarship programs have begun accepting applications for the 2004-2005 academic year, with additional programs opening in September and October. Each scholarship program has a different application deadline, ranging from October 15, 2004, to January 15, 2005. Please call for more information.
(1) Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2003; issued August 2004 by the U.S. Census Bureau. See pages 3-6.
Source: Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Web site: http://www.hsf.net/

Ground Zero

Ground Zero
Originally uploaded by nonny.

Remembering September 11

Photo by Jonny "Nonny" Newman is part of a collection of Nonny's photos at flickr, showcasing New York City.

Worth visiting.

Puerto Rico Sun is republishing this poem by Fernando A. Zapater


In honor of 9/11 Victims
SCORCHED EARTH
By Fernando A. Zapater

It keeps creeping upon me
As an invisible tower of hatred
You perceive it through your senses
Where you feel the fire burn unto your soul
I despise you suicide victims
For you are the perpetrators
Of your own invincible weaknesses
How can I avenge your threat of killing me?
Life is a destiny, it is also a tyranny
With being alive, and all its serendipity
When things happened and the culprit vanished
Where do I unleash my anger?
Darkness of night was afraid of my tongue of fire
The sun was scared of the burning hatred of my desires
Tell me earth where do I unleash my anger
The one that burns my life with hateful anxieties
For every time I fall, I push you down as I get up
I’m only a human that stumbled once upon,
One more time
Mother earth where do I unleash my anger
Brother sun, sister moon, tell me siblings where I do
Tell me mother I wish not to scorch your face
Please tell me soon, my next breath might be combustion.

Copyrighted 2002 Fernando A. Zapater
Fernando A. Zapater contributes his poetry to puertoricosun.com.

Dance!

Dance!
Originally uploaded by clarisel.

Featured site:

Latin music lovers, a site worth visiting is www.latinbeatmagazine.com.

ON TV

On PBS

ARTS & LITERATURE

VISIONES: LATINO ART AND CULTURE
"Episode 2"

Sunday, September 12, 2004
10:30 - 11 pm
This episode features Miriam Colon and the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater Company (PRTT) of New York, Tejana musical artist Selena and the Santero art tradition of New Mexico.

Latino artists across the United States take center stage in VISIONES: LATINO ART AND CULTURE, a groundbreaking six-part television series airing on PBS Sundays this month to October 10. Viewers experience the world of Latino artistic expression as the series journeys throughout the country, capturing rich stories about theater, music, dance, spoken word and the visual arts. From New York City's hip hop culture to mural painters in Los Angeles and Chicago to theater in Texas, the series offers a unique cross section of Latino artists.


VISIONES: LATINO ART AND CULTURE is the first PBS series to focus exclusively on Latino artistic expression in the United States.


source: www.pbs.org

Update -- Community News

Governor Calderón Announces Success of Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Hispanic Voter Registration Campaign

Washington, DC--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--September 7, 2004--On the steps of the Cannon House Office Building today, Sila M. Calderón, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, claimed victory for Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities nationwide as she announced that her government’s grassroots empowerment initiative met its goal of registering over 300,000 voters before this year’s general elections.

The nonpartisan education, registration and mobilization campaign, dubbed “¡Que Nada Nos Detenga!” or “Let Nothing Stop Us!”, was launched in July 2002 as an effort to empower the 642,000 Puerto Ricans across the nation who were eligible to vote in their local communities yet had not registered. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 3.5 million Puerto Ricans living in the states, 1.7 million of whom are of voting age.

“I am proud to announce that our nonpartisan voter registration effort has surpassed the goal of 300,000 voters nationwide,” said Governor Calderón. “This accomplishment is about more than just numbers, it’s about the empowerment of our people and the transformation of our communities.”

As Republicans and Democrats alike target the ever-growing Hispanic vote, Puerto Ricans have the opportunity to play a dramatic role in this year’s presidential, state and local elections. Many Puerto Rican communities are located in politically strategic areas and, because of the Puerto Rican electorate’s largely politically undecided stance, are expected to cast deciding votes in many upcoming elections. In the 1992 Presidential election, 100 electoral votes were decided by a difference of less than two percent of the votes; Puerto Ricans make up more than two percent of the population in as many as seven states nationwide.

“Many Puerto Rican communities represent swing votes that could potentially decide elections across the nation. The eyes of the nation are focused on the Presidential campaign and Puerto Ricans will be crucial in states such as Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio,” said Mari Carmen Aponte, executive director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) which launched and managed the campaign.

“We expect even greater impact as we mobilize Puerto Ricans to vote in local and state elections. We have educated our communities to understand that voting is the key to directing many issues which impact the quality of our everyday lives – such as school funding, police budgets, public works projects and zoning,” Aponte continued.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the mainland Puerto Rican population has grown to 3.5 million, a nearly 30 percent jump in the last ten years alone. In addition, Puerto Ricans now reside in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

“This is all about enfranchising people to effect change throughout the nation,” said Calderón, “this campaign is about solidarity, pride and empowerment. We are mobilizing Puerto Ricans and raising awareness of their potential impact on issues that affect their local communities as well as the Island. All citizens play an important role in the political process and should have the information and the opportunities to help control how decisions are made that affect their daily lives.”

Voter registration and participation rates on the Island are 95 percent and 86 percent respectively, higher than any state in the nation. But when Puerto Ricans move to the mainland, both registration and participation rates drop to about 40 percent.

“Research conducted by PRFAA and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF) showed there are a number of factors accounting for this stunning drop,” said Aponte. “In some cases there are physical barriers such as language fluency, comparative complexity of the process or even outright discrimination. Often there are psychological barriers such as embarrassment, fear or lack of confidence about participating, as well as cynicism and a sense that voting does not make an impact on people’s daily lives.”

The voter registration campaign has overcome these barriers through an extensive grassroots network of field educators who have spent the last two years talking one-on-one with Puerto Rican community members about the process of voting, how government is structured and why an individual’s vote does have an impact. This approach differs from many other national registration efforts because it places greater emphasis on education and encourages civic involvement.

The campaign’s strategy proved extremely effective in the 2002 mid-term election year as demonstrated by exit poll data. Results showed a 70 percent increase in turnout over the 2000 Presidential election among first-time Puerto Rican voters and 34 percent increase over 2000 in overall turnout among Puerto Rican voters. In addition, 87 percent of Puerto Ricans surveyed in 2002 said they were aware of the voter registration campaign in their community and 54 percent said they were motivated to vote because the campaign drew a clear link between voting and benefits for their community. Since the campaign’s launch in July 2002, major voter registration rally events have been held in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania — all states with large Puerto Rican populations.

The campaign theme, “¡Que Nada Nos Detenga!,” speaks directly to the Puerto Rican spirit of determination and hope for a better future and encourages increased participation in the democratic process, thereby positively impacting communities both on the mainland United States and on the Island. Governor Calderón’s campaign combines grassroots community outreach efforts with an aggressive, multi-faceted communications campaign reaching Puerto Rican neighborhoods across the nation.

The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, which serves as the mainland offices of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, advocates for the social, economic and educational empowerment of Puerto Rican communities nationwide and operates 12 regional community outreach offices in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Springfield, Mass. PRFAA is headquartered at 1100 17th Street, NW in Washington, D.C.

For more information, please visit http://www.prfaa.com.

Community News

Puerto Rico Governor To Announce Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Hispanic Voter Registration Campaign Succeeded in Registering Over 300,000 Hispanic Voters

Over 100,000 Registered in Key Swing States Including FL, OH and PA

WASHINGTON -- From the steps of the Cannon House Office Building, Governor Sila M. Calderón will announce Tuesday that the Hispanic voter registration campaign has reached its goal of registering 300,000 voters and provide details about the impact these voters will have in upcoming local, state and national elections.
Calderón, Mari Carmen Aponte, executive director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, and Puerto Rican elected officials from across the country will also announce that PRFAA’s extensive grassroots empowerment operation has succeeded in meeting its goal of registering 300,000 voters before the 2004 presidential elections. Battleground states including Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio have large or rapidly growing Hispanic populations that will prove to be decisive in the upcoming elections.
The goal of Calderón’s ambitious empowerment initiative, “¡Que Nada Nos Detenga!” (“Let Nothing Stop Us!”) was to register 300,000 Puerto Rican and Hispanic voters — or nearly half the eligible yet unregistered Puerto Rican voters living in the states — thus enabling them to become actively engaged in the civic process in their local communities across the nation.
The campaign increased first-time voter turnout by more than 70% in the 2002 mid-term elections and effectively mobilized this pivotal voting block, ensuring that national, state and local leaders focus on issues that affect the Hispanic community in November.
Puerto Ricans on the Island vote at a higher rate than any state in the Union — over 85% — but when Puerto Ricans move to the mainland United States, voting rates in local elections drop to approximately 30-40%. The initiative has used education and grassroots outreach to reduce the physical and psychological barriers associated with voting to leverage the Hispanic vote in targeted geographic areas where their vote will have a significant impact.
¡Que Nada Nos Detenga! was a $12 million voter education and empowerment effort launched in July 2002 to encourage citizens to engage in their communities while demonstrating the combined power of the Puerto Rican vote. Local elected officials will be available for comment about the campaign’s impact in local communities.
PRFAA, which represents the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the United States, is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The agency is responsible for the advancement of Puerto Ricans on the island and the United States and serves as the advisor to the Governor, Resident Commissioner and constituents on all activities in the U.S. of interest to the island. PRFAA facilitates and promotes economic and public policy initiatives important to the growth and empowerment of all Puerto Rican communities.
PRFAA is located at 1100 17th Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20036, and can be reached at 202-778-0710 or via the web at http://www.prfaa.com.

La Isla

La Isla
Originally uploaded by clarisel.

Hello, you are invited to view the new
"Sunrise, Sunset -- Anything Sun!" photo page at flickr. It features sun images from a mix of photographers.

Sun images from la isla and different parts of the world are showcased.

Housing

U.S. Representative Luis V. Gutierrez Joins Guaranty Bank and Fannie Mae to Announce 'Buy for Family' Mortgage; Qualified Borrower Can Finance the Purchase of a Residence for a Parent or Sibling Who is Unable to Purchase for Themselves
CHICAGO, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D- IL) today joined local community leaders, housing advocates, and representatives from nonprofit organizations, Guaranty Bank, and Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) , the nation's largest source of financing for home mortgages, to announce a new mortgage designed to help increase affordable homeownership opportunities for underserved markets, including low- and moderate-income immigrant and minority families. "Buy for Family," a new mortgage designed by Guaranty Bank, allows a qualified borrower to finance the purchase of a residence for his or her parents or a sibling if they are unable to buy a home for themselves. Guaranty Bank will originate the Buy for Family loans, and Fannie Mae will purchase the eligible loans.
"The power of homeownership is a central wealth building tool and an essential vehicle for long term financial security and stability," said Rep. Gutierrez. "And that is why Buy For Family is so important, because it will help tear down barriers that currently prevent homeownership and it will provide opportunities and options for first-time home buyers, especially in minority and immigrant communities."
"America was built on the backbone of new immigrants who arrived in this country trying to make a better life for their families," said Chicago Housing Commissioner John G. Markowski. "Buy for Family is a great solution for immigrants to buy their piece of the American dream. When we have a gap in the homeownership rate, that's a gap in access to wealth."
Buy for Family is a flexible, affordable mortgage that helps qualified buyers, such as the first generation children of immigrants, purchase a home for their parents or siblings, who may not have traditional forms of credit or use mainstream banking and are, therefore, unable to qualify to buy the home themselves. Buy for Family offers borrowers the opportunity to finance a parent or sibling's home through several key features.
Borrowers contribute at least $500 down from either their own funds, with the remainder coming from a gift from their family member or grants from a church, employer, municipality or nonprofit agency. In addition to the flexible down payment sources, additional funds may be obtained from cash on hand or money not traditionally placed in a financial institution. To be eligible for the Buy for Family product, the home must be located in Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, and the State of Wisconsin.
Buy for Family is intended to help boost homeownership rates, which have been on the rise recently. According to the National Association of REALTORS(R), the homeownership rate for African American households in the first quarter of 2004 was 49.3 percent, up from 47.7 percent in the first quarter of 2003, while the homeownership rate for Hispanic households was 47.3 percent, up from 46.7 percent a year earlier. In addition, the homeownership rate for Asians, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders was 58.2 percent, up from 55.7 percent in the first quarter of 2003. The homeownership rate for non-Hispanic whites was 75.5, up from 75.0 percent a year earlier.
"These are very needed programs that we bring to the table. Buy for Family will enable many minority and immigrant families to realize the American dream of homeownership, by reducing some of the barriers they presently face," said Guaranty Bank's Executive Chairman Gerald Levy. "Guaranty Bank is thrilled to partner with Fannie Mae and further demonstrate our commitment to the communities we serve by offering more diverse and creative programs and opportunities to the residents of the communities we serve."
The Buy for Family mortgage is offered by Guaranty Bank as part of its recently announced five-year, $2 billion multicultural lending initiative with Fannie Mae that is designed to increase affordable homeownership opportunities for underserved markets, including immigrant and minority families.
As part of this initiative, Guaranty Bank and its subsidiaries, Guaranty Mortgage, Shelter Mortgage Company, and GN Mortgage, will offer new or enhanced mortgage products that utilize options for helping people overcome barriers such as blemished credit or lack of a down payment. Fannie Mae has committed to purchase from Guaranty Bank $2 billion in eligible loans originated under this initiative.
"Fannie Mae is committed to bringing more initiatives to the marketplace that provide solutions to one of America's most pressing housing needs," said Terry Young, director of Fannie Mae's Illinois Partnership Office. "With Guaranty Bank, we are excited about Buy for Family, and how it recognizes the need for more affordable housing in underserved markets, including immigrant and minority families.
This effort is part of Fannie Mae's American Dream Commitment(R) for Illinois, a new seven-year, $135 billion Illinois housing investment plan to help finance affordable housing for 900,000 families across the state.
For information about the Buy for Family mortgage, the multicultural homeownership initiative, to apply for a loan, or learn more about loan opportunities, contact Guaranty Bank at 1-847-439-5626.
For more information on Fannie Mae's affordable mortgage products, consumers may call Fannie Mae's Consumer Resource Center at 1-800-7FANNIE (1-800-732-6643), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CDT.
Guaranty Bank is a Federal savings bank headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Guaranty Bank has more than 117 retail locations throughout southeast Wisconsin, northern Illinois, southeast Michigan and Minnesota. Guaranty Bank's subsidiaries and d/b/a's include: Guaranty Mortgage, GB Home Equity, GN Mortgage, Shelter Mortgage, and BestBank (in Southeast Michigan). At the end of June 2004, Guaranty Bank's assets totaled $1.89 billion. Guaranty Bank is owned by Guaranty Financial Corp. The stock symbol of Guaranty Financial Corp. is "GFCJ."
Founded in 1923, Guaranty Bank has established a strong presence as a well-known community bank. As a subsidiary of Guaranty Bank, Shelter Mortgage's nationwide offices specialize in its own niche of mortgage lending. With more than 300 loan programs available, borrowers are placed with the best-suited mortgage fitting their needs. Personalized customer service is one reason why Guaranty Bank is one of the top 50 lenders in America. For more information visit http://www.shelter-mortgage.com/
Fannie Mae is a New York Stock Exchange company and the largest non-bank financial services company in the world. It operates pursuant to a federal charter and is the nation's largest source of financing for home mortgages. Fannie Mae has pledged through its "American Dream Commitment" to expand access to homeownership for millions of first-time home buyers; help raise the minority homeownership rate to 55 percent; make homeownership and rental housing a success for millions of families at risk of losing their homes; and expand the supply of affordable housing where it is needed most. Since 1968, Fannie Mae has provided $6.3 trillion of mortgage financing for 63 million families. More information about Fannie Mae can be found on the Internet at http://www.fanniemae.com/.


Style Usage: Fannie Mae's Board of Directors has authorized the company to operate as "Fannie Mae," and the company's stock is now listed on the NYSE as "FNM." In order to facilitate clarity and avoid confusion, news organizations are asked to refer to the company exclusively as "Fannie Mae."


Source: Fannie Mae; Guaranty Bank

Web site: http://www.fanniemae.com/
http://www.shelter-mortgage.com/

Health News

Teen Drug Treatment Jumps 65 Percent Over Decade, Federal Study Says

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of admissions to substance abuse treatment for adolescents ages 12 to 17 increased again in 2002, continuing a ten-year trend. These data were released today in the "Treatment Episode Data Set: National Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services 1992-2002" by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The new data show that the number of adolescents ages 12 to 17 admitted to substance abuse treatment increased 65 percent between 1992 and 2002. In 1992, adolescents represented 6 percent of all treatment admissions. By 2002, this proportion had grown to 9 percent. This report expands upon data published in May in the "Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) Highlights 2002."
The increase in substance abuse treatment admissions among 12 to 17 year olds was largely due to the increase in the number of admissions in this age group that reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse. Between 1992 and 2002, the number of adolescent treatment admissions for primary marijuana abuse increased 350 percent. In 1992, 23 percent of all adolescent admissions were for primary marijuana abuse. By 2002, 63 percent of adolescent admissions reported marijuana as their primary drug.
"The youthfulness of people admitted for marijuana use shows that we need to work harder to get the message out that marijuana is a dangerous, addictive substance," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said. "All Americans must begin to confront drug use -- and drug users -- honestly and directly. We must discourage our youngsters from using drugs and provide those in need an opportunity for recovery by encouraging them to enter and remain in drug treatment."
Forty-eight percent of all adolescent treatment admissions in 2002 involved the use of both alcohol and marijuana. Admissions involving these two substances increased by 86 percent between 1992 and 2002.
In 2002, more than half (53 percent) of adolescent admissions were referred to treatment through the criminal justice system. Seventeen percent were self- or individual referrals, and 11 percent were referred through schools.
The TEDS report provides detailed data on admissions to substance abuse treatment for all age groups. The 2002 data show that polydrug abuse (abuse of more than one substance) was more common among TEDS admissions than was the abuse of a single substance. Polydrug abuse was reported by 55 percent of all admissions for substance abuse treatment in 2002. Alcohol, marijuana and cocaine were the most commonly reported secondary substances. For marijuana and cocaine, more admissions reported these as secondary substances than as primary substances.
This new report provides information on the demographic and substance abuse characteristics of the 1.9 million annual admissions to treatment for abuse of alcohol and drugs in facilities that report to individual state administrative data systems. The report also includes data by state and state rates.
The report is available on the web at http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/.


SAMHSA, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States.


Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

CONTACT: Leah Young of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, +1-240-276-2130


Web site: http://www.samhsa.gov/
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/

source: jointogether.org

Most Crimes in Puerto Rico Linked to Illegal Weapons
8/30/2004

Testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee of Public Integrity, Pio Rechani Lopez, the executive director of the Institute of Forensic Science, said most of the crimes in Puerto Rico are committed with illegal and stolen weapons, the Associated Press reported Aug. 27.

"There are illegal weapons arriving from other countries or the United States that enter the island as contraband that are more used for these types of crimes. The majority of the firearms used in murders and crimes are assault weapons, like the AR-15 or the AK-47," Rechani Lopez said.

Rechani Lopez said it's difficult to monitor the flow of illegal weapons into Puerto Rico because some assault weapons illegally entering the island are obtained legally in states like Kentucky and Texas.

Note: This article is online at http://www.jointogether.org/z/0,2522,574404,00.html

Visit www.jointogether.org for complete news and funding coverage, resource links and advocacy tools supporting community-based efforts to reduce and prevent substance abuse and gun violence.

Join Together Online (www.jointogether.org)
Join Together is a project of the Boston University School of Public Health.

Featured Site

Escape to Puerto Rico (there is a link to the site from the prsun.blogspot). But there is one more reason to visit.

Check out:
http://escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/new.shtml

I am pleased to report that my photos are featured at
Escape to Puerto Rico as part of its Puerto Rico e-cards collection.

My work is located under the categories:

Old San Juan
http://escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/oldsj8.shtml

Churches
http://escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/church4.shtml

Folklore
http://escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/folklore3.shtml

Thanks.

Latino/a Literature: A Resource for Standardized Testing

book
Originally uploaded by Manny.

By Manny Hernandez

Manny, who regularly contributes to Puerto Rico Sun articles on education and Latino issues, is the author of the Latino/a Literature book, a resource for young adults and standardized testing in America.

Essay

The Latino Agenda in the Upcoming Elections: Education

By Manuel Hernandez

There has been a lot of talk that Latinos are now the largest minority in the United States. According to recent projections, close to half of the population will be Latino by half of the 21st Century. Hispanic Magazine describes the phenomenon as the “Minority Nation.” The Latino population growth has surpassed all predictions and continues to baffle census specialists. There are many Latino issues on top of the electoral table, but the following seem to be the most relevant: home ownership, immigration, health insurance, economic growth, security and education. As a hard-core believer in the power of education, all of the issues served on the electoral table are appetizers of a quality education.

It was in 1967 with the publication of "Down These Mean Streets" that the legendary pioneer of Latino letters, Piri Thomas, made “El Barrio” in Manhattan a household name. The classic autobiography portrayed and depicted the issues of the late 1960's: identity, survival and racism.

But in 2004, the climactic point in the Latino drama is education. With an approximate 25 percent high school dropout rate average and merely 6 percent registration rate at the graduate level in colleges and universities across America, the numbers speak for themselves and have been thrust around at will by those who have all kinds of interests.

Despite the good intentions coming from one party and another, a sound and solid based educational plan has yet to be designed and created. How will the National Latino high school dropout rate be attended? What academic plan will be drawn to ensure that Latino teens entering high school in 2004-2005 will not drop out tomorrow? How will those young adults graduating from high school receive motivation, information and support to pursue graduate studies? The answers to these and other educational questions remain tied up in the “language of ideas” discussed by politicians at all corners of the electoral table.

Under President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Law, there is renewed accountability, enhanced flexibility and community control. At the same time, there is an emphasis on teaching strategies that have worked in the past. But there are no specific, concise and detailed suggestions on how states should tackle the desired educational outcomes. Senator Kerry’s people are talking about providing quality education and recognizing that “children need good schools” (Hispanic Magazine, page 84). The good intentions are undeniable, but the ideas do not fulfill the academic demands of a population that continues to impact, influence and redefine America.

The academic demands cannot be taken lightly and should provide immediate intervention, pre-planned prevention and long-term planning. The highest high school dropout rate amongst minorities is preventing Latinos to attain a higher education degree. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a college graduate will earn more over a lifetime period than a high school graduate. However, in the traditional age group, only 25 percent of foreign-born Latinos who graduated high school are enrolled in an undergraduate institution. On the other hand, 40 percent of second generation Latino high school graduates attend college.

If Latinos are less likely to graduate from high school but continue to grow in population, the United States has an economic situation that needs serious attention. Why not make it a national priority to work with states to develop a vision in tune with the necessities of the Latino teen?

Latino teens are scoring poorly in city, state and national testing requirements. Teens have difficulties reacting and responding to literature that is far away from their immigrant experience. The literary text possesses no fixed and final meaning or value; there is no one "correct" meaning. According to Louise Rosenblatt, a poem is "what the reader lives through under the guidance of the text." If Latino teens cannot make a connection with the text, there will be little possibility of an interpretation. As a consequence, the possibilities of better scores in these exams are reduced to a minimum.

Latino teens today are open to options. It is the responsibility of government, teachers, administrators, parents and educational advocates to provide them with the keys to their educational experience. I strongly believe that education should be highlighted as the core issue once and for all -- not only by Bush and Kerry but by Latino leaders and academics alike. There are so many of us, but we have not decided on the best interest of our future generations: education.

Manuel Hernández contributes education essays to Puerto Rico Sun. He is the author of Latino/a Literature in The English Classroom. If you would like to publish the article in your local newspaper, call his editor at 787-355-0099. Feel free to visit his page at www.puertoricans.com.

Featured site:

Association of Hispanic Arts (www.latinoarts.org)

Founded in 1975, the Association of Hispanic Arts, Inc. (AHA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of Latino arts, artists and arts organizations as an integral part of the cultural life of the nation. It facilitates projects and programs designed to foster the appreciation, growth and well being of the Latino cultural community.

Site includes listings of opportunities for Latinos interested in developing films, information about art exhibitions and culture events and a book store featuring literature on and by Latinos. Worth a visit.

Literacy Tips for Latino Families

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a growing trend: more education experts are offering bilingual resources addressing the needs of Latino families. From the launch of PBS's Maya & Miguel family-themed website and television program later this fall, to online resources such as Reading Rockets' www.colorincolorado.com, the message is clear that reaching the growing Latino audience -- even with literacy advice -- demands special cultural consideration.


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040823/NYFNSF02 )


"Getting children and families of all backgrounds excited about reading requires more than a one-size-fits-all solution," said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental, the nation's oldest and largest children's and family literacy organization. "By offering resources tailored specifically to empower Latino families, we're taking an important step in reinforcing positive attitudes and behaviors toward literacy."


To encourage literacy every day, RIF offers families these tips:

* Talk with your children as you play, go shopping or work around the
house. Listen to what they say. Ask questions. When you talk to your
children, you help them learn to use words.

* Let your children see you read. Show them you think reading is important
and that you enjoy it, too.

* Ask older children to read to younger ones. Older children will be proud
of their skills and younger children will want to read like their older
brothers, sisters, or friends.

* Say rhymes, raps, and poetry and sing songs. Rhymes and songs are easy
for kids to remember, so they can say them and sing along with the rest
of the family. Rhymes also help children learn letter sounds.

* Tell stories about your family, and stories you enjoyed when you were a
child. Ask other family members to tell stories, too. Write down these
stories and those your children tell. Save them to read aloud later.


In September, RIF will launch its own special initiative aimed at promoting early childhood literacy among Latino families in the United States. Called "Un futuro brillante empieza en un libro" (A brilliant future begins with a book), the campaign emphasizes the ways families can incorporate into their lives simple, appropriate activities -- many of which families already do regularly -- that will promote literacy among their children.


The core component of the campaign is a comprehensive, Spanish website (http://www.rif.org/leer) that offers tips and advice for families. RIF will also begin distributing two Spanish language television public service announcements (PSAs), featuring television personalities Cristina Saralegui and Jorge Ramos, and a half-hour educational parent video in Spanish.


Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) works to build a literate nation by helping young people discover the joy of reading. For more information and to access reading resources, visit http://www.rif.org/.

Wall

Wall
Originally uploaded by clarisel.

Old San Juan

Stop in and view the latest photos.

Poetry

CONDEMNED
By Fernando A. Zapater

In that poker game god dealt me cards
An anti-Semitic joker as a wild trump
That played me like a well-tuned guitar
To the fine tune of a mashuganov gentile
I traveled 32 hundred miles
To reach the rabbis daughter and reconcile
But imagine a balsero boricua all the while
After he had his heart circumcised
Perhaps in past incarnations I had been
A nazi luftewaggen first lieutenant air force
Maybe I was the roman soldier who gave Christ
His hideous last drink
Or perhaps had been the Jew that condemned
Him to be crucified
It is my karma I accept in mazel tov
All the while thinking in Luria’s mysticism
And when my love for Mordecai borders fanatism
You will know me also as his sidekick companion
Esther’s lover, Lilith’s cousin, a Jew beloved
Like Moses leadership amongst the waters
But when Palestinians explode like watermelons
It is time to corner Arafat with serious questions
Not only traveled a mile for a camel
But 32 hundred for a whole herd
With which we will conquer the west
And will have again Jerusalem and Bethlehem
We must not thrust aside the Palestinians
For they are a tribe that is here to stay
I have been dealt the anti-Semitic trump
It’s now my turn to twist and shout, to hum and hump
We shall live like a civilized tribe
Amongst human, spirits, and animals alike
Love and peace shall prevail amongst all the same
Shalom, Mazel-tov, Hola, Hello, Bienvenido, y Como estas.

c 2004 Fernando A. Zapater

Fernando A. Zapater contributes his poetry to Puerto Rico Sun. He is the author of "La Biblia Desnuda," and "Cuentos Cortos y Poemas de Un Balsero (Volumes I and II)." "Condemned" is published in the Cuentos Cortos y Poemas Volume II edition, which features writings in Spanish and English.

Entertainment

Celebrate Hispanic Culture on PBS

PBS offers variety of Latin-themed programs for Hispanic Heritage Month

Alexandria, VA--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--August 18, 2004--In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month — September 15-October 15, 2004 — PBS brings the vibrant talents of Latino actors, actresses and producers into viewers' homes. With broadcast premieres and encore presentations, animation, drama, history, art and music, PBS has something with a little Latin flavor for everyone.

Latino artists across the United States take center stage in a groundbreaking six-part television event VISIONES: LATINO ARTS and CULTURE, premiering Sunday, September 5 and airing Sundays through October 10, 2004, 10:30-11:00 p.m. ET. Viewers experience the world of Latino artistic expression as the series journeys throughout the country, capturing rich stories about theater, music, dance, spoken word and the visual arts. From New York City's hip-hop culture to mural painters in Los Angeles and Chicago to theater in Texas, the series offers a unique cross-section of Latino artists working today. Through storytelling and vivid imagery, the fast-paced and entertaining series leads the viewer to understand the origins of Latino art and culture, and depicts the struggles and victories of the artists as part of their artistic interpretation. Additionally, the series examines the nation's diverse Latino communities and how they were able to keep their artistic expressions alive while creating new and unique visions that contribute to art in America.

Kids will find a new place to watch and learn weekday afternoons with the new daily animated series MAYA and MIGUEL. Lively and colorful, MAYA and MIGUEL chronicles the adventures, and sometimes misadventures, of 10-year-old twins Maya and Miguel Santos, and features their family, friends and a richly diverse neighborhood. The programs present culture and language learning as fun, relevant and rewarding for all children, with a special emphasis on the Latino population. This never-a-dull-moment situation comedy revolves around Maya's well-intended meddling in her family's and friends' lives, ultimately creating new quandaries to fix. Sprinkled throughout the series are values of friendship and family and a positive, culturally rich portrayal of Latino family, language and cultures. The weekday series premieres Monday, October 11, 2004 (check local listings).

Oscar-winner Richard Dreyfuss stars as a veteran cop working on Manhattan's Upper West Side in this new two-part offering of PBS HOLLYWOOD PRESENTS, "Cop Shop," airing Wednesday, October 6, 2004, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET. Blair Brown ("The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd," The Astronaut's Wife), Oscar-winner Rita Moreno (West Side Story, Oz), Rosie Perez (Do the Right Thing, White Men Can't Jump) and Jay Thomas ("The Education of Max Bickford," Mr. Holland's Opus) also star. The first part, "Fear," focuses on the heated exchange between police officers and a gathering of local residents on the verge of panic over a series of rapes in the community. The second part, "Blind Date," provides a glimpse into the lives of working women in a neighborhood brothel when their paths cross with the police.

Sure to keep everyone on their feet is the music and beats from the PUERTO RICO JAZZFEST 2003 (September, 2004, check local listings). This year's festival features performances by Berkley professor William Cepeda, Makoto Ozone, Paquito D'Rivera, Claudia Acuña and Chick Corea.

And rounding out the month is the conclusion of the encore presentation of the the Emmy(R) award-nominated miniseries AMERICAN FAMILY — JOURNEY OF DREAMS. This compelling epic interweaves the Gonzalez family's courageous escape from the Mexican Revolution to seek a better life in America with the sacrifices the family made in the 1990s to send their first-born son to medical school and the consequences of those sacrifices as seen through the war in Iraq. Edward James Olmos, Constance Marie, Yancey Arias, Jesse Borrego, Patricia Velasquez, Kate del Castillo and Raquel Welch star, with special guest stars Esai Morales, Lynn Whitfield and Rachel Ticotin and special appearances by Sonia Braga. AMERICAN FAMILY — JOURNEY OF DREAMS airs Sundays, 7:00-8:00 p.m. ET through October 23, 2004.

Throughout the months of September and October PBS offers a wide variety of encore presentations of award-winning documentaries and acclaimed specials. Please check local listings for airdates and times of the following programs:

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE "Zoot Suit Riots"
In August 1942, the murder of a young Mexican American ignited a firestorm in Los Angeles. The tensions that had been building up for years between Mexican and white Los Angelenos boiled over. The press claimed that Mexican youth — known as "zoot-suiters" for the clothes they wore — were terrorizing the city with a wave of crime. Police fanned out across the city arresting 600 Mexican Americans. Seventeen zoot-suiters headed to a trial in which prosecutors had little evidence to present. Nonetheless, guilty verdicts were handed down to all. The tensions the trial inflamed sparked riots between servicemen and the Mexican American community that led to zoot-suiters being beaten and stripped of their clothes. Despite vigorous denials from city officials, a citizens' committee concluded the riots had been fueled by racial prejudice and encouraged by sensational news reporting and a discriminatory police department.

BEYOND THE BORDER
Over the past decade, thousands of Latinos seeking "la vida buena" (the good life) have migrated to Kentucky, finding low-paying jobs in the tobacco, manufacturing and horseracing industries. As the Latino communities have swelled, so too have xenophobia and discrimination. BEYOND THE BORDER traces the painful transition made by four sons in the Vierya family, who leave their parents and sisters in Mexico and fight cultural, class and language barriers in Kentucky.

COME AND TAKE IT DAY
Myth, history and heavy metal collide in Jim Mendiola's enticing South Texas tale of dreams, schemes and revenge. The century-old legend of the lost treasure of Tejano folk hero Gregorio Cortez changes the lives of four present-day Texans, each working in a tourist trap restaurant on the San Antonio Riverwalk. This Tejano film noir explores the class structure of San Antonio's multi-layered Latino community while telling a fascinating story of obsession, betrayal and death.

FLAMENCO: THE PASSION OF SPANISH DANCE
This one-hour performance program of sizzling group presentations, sultry duos and solo interpretations of the passion of Spanish dance features Maria Benitez, an internationally acclaimed performer, choreographer and director (who has appeared on EVENING AT POPS) who performs "El Amor" with her troupe, Teatro Flamenco.

INDEPENDENT LENS "Foto-Novelas: Junkyard Saints and Broken Sky"
Exploring the Latino experience through the prism of dreams, memories and reality, "Foto-Novelas" consists of two half-hour dramas: "Junkyard Saints," a spiritual thriller set in a South Texas automotive graveyard; and "Broken Sky," a fictionalized account based on the real-life 1948 plane crash that killed 28 Mexicans in Fresno, California.

P.O.V. "90 Miles"
Juan Carlos Zaldavar's "90 Miles" is a personal memoir that offers a rare glimpse into Cuba, a country as mythologized to Americans as the United States is to the rest of the world. The Cuban-born filmmaker recounts the strange fate that brought him as a teenage communist to exile in Miami in 1980 during the Mariel boatlift. Zaldavar uses news clips, family photos and home movies to depict the emotional journey of an immigrant father and son struggling to understand the historical and individual forces shaping their relationships and identities in a new country.

STEALING HOME: THE CASE OF CONTEMPORARY CUBAN BASEBALL
Set against the backdrop of the 38th Cuban National Championship Series, STEALING HOME examines the tension between baseball players who left Cuba in search of freedom and multimillion dollar contracts and the government that invests heavily in their training. This program probes a sociopolitical conflict that is fundamental to any political ideology — the interests of the individual versus those of the greater good. Should baseball players in Cuba be expected to play exclusively in the Cuban National League, forgoing American baseball, in the interests of a society that benefits from the sport both as a national pastime and in less tangible terms as the assertion of a sovereign identity?

Featured Sites:

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You will find an array of images from different parts of the island.

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ON TV

Piri Thomas and EVERY CHILD IS BORN A POET

Re: Documentary on Nuyorican poet Piri Thomas: EVERY CHILD IS BORN A POET to air at 8 p.m. Aug. 18 on TUTV in Puerto Rico. This program may also be seen online (go to TUTV's site at www.tutv.puertorico.pr).

Combining poetry, documentary and drama, EVERY CHILD IS BORN A POET explores the life and work of Piri Thomas, the 75-year-old Afro-Cuban-Puerto Rican poet and author of Down These Mean Streets. A landmark of modern American literature, this 1967 autobiographical novel continues to be taught in schools for its groundbreaking bilingual style and its realistic portrayal of youth, imprisonment and search for racial identity.

Like the novel, the film traces Thomas’ path from childhood to manhood in New York City’s Spanish Harlem from the 1930s to the 1960s: his home life during the Great Depression, membership in barrio youth gangs, travels as a teenage merchant marine, addiction to heroin, notorious armed robbery of a Greenwich Village nightclub, six years spent in prison and eventual emergence as a writer.

As the first writer of Puerto Rican ancestry to receive national recognition in the United States, Piri Thomas is not just a cultural icon, but also a community treasure. His poetry has inspired and influenced generations of students, artists and activists. But Thomas is not simply a writer. When he started on his own path towards self-reclamation and self-respect, he also made a commitment to help others do the same. Since his release from prison in 1956, Thomas has devoted himself to the development, health and well being of young adults. As a social worker, he pioneered violence prevention and drug treatment efforts. As an educator, he has promoted literacy and taught writing in order to stimulate artistic expression—not only as a means of human enrichment, but also as a tool of individual and community survival. And as a poet, Thomas’ rhythm and style pre-figured rap by decades.

A stylized, genre-spanning production, EVERY CHILD IS BORN A POET includes a spellbinding collage of rare archival footage, still photographs and provocative mixed-media artwork, as it explores Thomas’ use of creativity as a means of overcoming violence and isolation. This coming-of-age story is counter-pointed with dramatizations, spoken word and vérité scenes of Thomas’ ongoing work as an educator and activist empowering marginalized and incarcerated youths. Pulsating with an original Latin jazz score, this is a riveting portrait of a life lived through struggle, self-discovery and transformation.

EVERY CHILD IS BORN A POET, produced and directed by Jonathan Robinson, is part of a weekly PBS series called Independent Lens.

For more information, visit: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/everychildisbornapoet.

ON TV

"Every Mother's Son"

In the late 1990s, three victims of police brutality made headlines around the country: Amadou Diallo, the young West African man whose killing sparked intense public protest; Anthony Baez, killed in an illegal choke-hold; and Gary (Gidone) Busch, a Hasidic Jew shot and killed outside his Brooklyn home. "Every Mother's Son" tells of the victims' three mothers who came together to demand justice and accountability.

"Every Mother's Son" is up next on P.O.V. on Tuesday,
August 17th at 10 P.M. (ET) on PBS.

Be sure to check your local listings for the airtime in
your area - visit http://www.pbs.org/pov/everymothersson
and click the link next to the premiere date which reads
"check local listings."

On the "Every Mother's Son" website you can also find
a film synopsis, photos and trailer, an interview with the filmmakers
and more:

http://www.pbs.org/pov/everymothersson

La Perla

La Perla
Originally uploaded by clarisel.

La Perla's scenic basketball court, Old San Juan

Commentary

Vieques’ Revenge

By Cecil Harris
Puerto Rico Sun
The final score of Puerto Rico 92, United States 73 still shocks those who cling to the outdated notion that U.S. superiority in basketball is a given, somehow part of an American’s birthright. The truth, however, is it doesn’t matter anymore that basketball was created in the mainland U.S.—albeit by a Canadian, Dr. James Naismith—because the days of other teams genuflecting before American squads are long gone.

Finally, the phrase “Dream Team,” as it relates to USA Men’s Olympic Basketball, can be retired for good. The phrase is as anachronistic today as the Soviet Union, amateur athletics and American diplomacy.

On Sunday, August 15, 2004 in Athens, Greece, a team of pampered NBA millionaires with an aversion to defense, perimeter shooting, free-throw shooting and team play was humiliated by a team from Puerto Rico before the eyes of the world. Never before had a U.S. team composed of NBA stars lost in Olympic competition.

But this was no fluke. Puerto Rico exposed the flaws of the U.S. team from start to finish. Led by point guard Carlos Arroyo, who had game-highs with 24 points and 7 assists, Puerto Rico held a 22-point lead at halftime. Despite a plethora of bigger names on Team USA—names like Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Lamar Odom, LeBron James and Stephon Marbury—Arroyo, a starter for the NBA’s Utah Jazz, was the best player on the court.

August 15 may be forever celebrated in Puerto Rico as Vieques’ Revenge. Vieques is the island bought by the U.S. Navy in the 1940s after which many families and farmers were forced to leave to make way for decades of bombing runs and military practices. The inhumane policy prompted years of protest, and an occasional tear-gassing response from the Navy. Finally, President George W. Bush announced in June 2001 that the Navy would leave the island. According the Web site viequeslibre.org, May 8, 2003 marked the first day on Vieques in more than 60 years that was free of bombing.

The U.S. Navy pushed the people of Vieques around for generations, and USA Basketball lorded over the sports world for just as long. Yet Puerto Rico brought an athletic superpower to its knees. Puerto Rico’s strategy was to force Team USA team to shoot from outside. As Iverson told NBC television after the game, “We don’t want to shoot (from) outside. We want to get easy baskets and run.”

Yet the well-schooled Puerto Rico squad packed in its defense to limit easy baskets and invite shots from the perimeter. Team USA shot a dreadful 35 percent from the field, including an obscene 3-for-24 from 3-point range. That’s 12.5 percent shooting on 3-point shots, despite a three-point semicircle that is 20 feet, 6 inches away in the Olympics as opposed to 23 feet, 9 inches away in the NBA. Quite simply, Puerto Rico forced Team USA to do what it did not want to do and could not do well—shoot from the perimeter.

Other teams will pick up on Puerto Rico’s strategy, which will make it exceedingly difficult for Team USA to win a fourth straight Olympics basketball gold medal.

Team USA first sent NBA players to the Olympics in 1992 after a squad composed of college stars finished third in the 1988 Games. The 1992 team was the only true Dream Team—Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Karl Malone, John Stockton et al. Every member of that team (except Christian Laettner) is in the Basketball Hall of Fame or soon will be. From the team that Puerto Rico dominated on August 15, only Duncan and Iverson are certain to be Hall of Famers.

At least lazy broadcasters and headline writers should no longer refer to just any U.S. grouping of NBA players as a “Dream Team.” Such laziness should have ceased in 2002 when Team USA finished sixth in the World Championships in Indianapolis and the NBA’s arrogant, showboating, trash-talking style went over like lead-based paint.

Many will look at Puerto Rico 92, USA 73 and say the rest of the world has caught up. But strictly in terms of playing basketball as a five-man unit, other teams have passed the U.S.A. Puerto Rico has only two NBA players on its Olympic squad (Arroyo and forward Jose Ortiz), but it played as a team—not as a motley crew of self-indulgent individuals.

No matter what else happens at the 2004 Olympics, the Puerto Rico men’s basketball team made history, humbling the once-invincible Team USA. Only after 40 minutes of game time did Puerto Rico’s dominance end. Only then could Team USA feel a sense of relief. Now they could be left alone. Finally. The people in Vieques know the feeling.
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Cecil Harris is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and lives in Yonkers, New York.
Harris is the author of BREAKING THE ICE The Black Experience in Professional Hockey (Insomniac Press, 2003) and the screenplays The Iceman and White Chocolate. Harris worked as a sports journalist for daily newspapers, magazines and an Internet site. Among his many accomplishments in journalism, he covered the National Basketball Association's Indiana Pacers for The Indianapolis Star and the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes for The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina and the New York Rangers and New York Islanders for Newsday.
Harris has covered such major events as the World Series, the American League Division Series, the American League Championship Series, the NBA Finals, the NBA playoffs, the NCAA men's basketball championships, the NCAA Division I football national championship game, the Stanley Cup finals, the Stanley Cup playoffs, the U.S. Open tennis championships, All Star Games in baseball and hockey, the New York City marathon, the Millrose Games and the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
Harris contributes to sports columns to Puerto Rico Sun.
Check out Harris' website at www.cecilharris.com.