This Friday Recognition of Marquita Rivera@IPRAC, 11am  
IPRAC on the Move
Alderman Maldonado and IPRAC to Honor Pioneering Puerto Rican Actress Marquita Rivera

 

On May 18, IPRAC will host a luncheon to honor Marquita Rivera, on the occasion of her 90th birthday with the Antonio Martorell Award for Artistic Excellence, as well as a Chicago City Council resolution, introduced by Alderman Roberto Maldonado, proclaiming her as an icon and legend that we share with the world and as the representative of our collective spirit and the embodiment of our people. The resolution and award will be received by her son, Eugene Biscardi, who will fly in from Los Angeles to partake in this occasion, as well as to share a few clips of her many film appearances.

 

FRIDAY, May 18, 2012
IPRAC, 3015 W. Division Street, 11am
 
 
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Special Tribute to
Dr. Antonia Pantoja
Founder of ASPIRA
and Boricua College


June 1, 2012

Institute of Puerto Rican
Arts & Culture (IPRAC)

6:30-9:30pm

The Legacy Project, ASPIRA of Illinois, ALMA, Amigas Latinas Unidos, La Casa Norte, Puerto Rican Agenda, and Primera Iglesia Congregacional de Chicago ask that you set aside Friday, June 1, 2012 for a special tribute to the legendary Puerto Rican educator and activist Dr. Antonia Pantoja. She will be the 2012 Inductee to the Legacy Walk. For more information, please email Sonia S�nchez at: [email protected]

IPRAC Introduces Art Education Curriculum For Area Schools

 

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is organizing a program to integrate its offerings into the educational experience of Humboldt Park.  Adolfo Colon, a prominent author and educator, initiated a pilot program this week with a hands on project focused on Puerto Rico's Taino culture.  It will evolve to include the entire spectrum of Puerto Rican arts and culture that will cover the entire human presence on the island. The first workshops were offered to the students from Chopin and Erie Charter Schools. Throughout the next few months, IPRAC will host more of these educational experiences.  If you're interested in learning more please call 773-486-8345. 

 


Over 100 Attend Johanny Vazquez's Book Presentation  

 

Over 100 people gathered at IPRAC for the Chicago based Puerto Rican Poet Johanny V�zquez for the presentation of her latest book. The book entitled "Querido Voyeur" was warmly received as Johanny read from her selected poems.
Soy Tuya by Johanny Vazquez Paz
Soy Tuya by Johanny Vazquez Paz

In describing the event, Johanny writes "Fue una noche magica donde todo quedo perfecto:  el clima, el ambiente, los/as amigos/as.  Segun Jos� E. L�pez, Director de IPRAC, llegaron 102 personas y, para un evento de poesia de una poeta casi casi desconocida, esto es un gran logro.  Espero que hayan distrutado y lo hayan pasado tan bien como yo.  Escribir es un oficio muy solitario que conlleva muchas horas de deicacion, y es muy emocionante poder compartir este esfuerzo de a�os con ustedes y escuchar comentarios, reacciones y elogios. Me siento muy feliz y afortunada."
IPRAC to Hold Planning Meeting for Barrio Arts Fest Saturday June 2

 

This year, IPRAC will sponsor its annual Barrio Arts Fest which showcases the work of Puerto Rican artists and artisans, whose work will be available for sale. There will also be a series of performances of performances during the weekend of September 15th and 16th. Brenda Torres, who has served as IPRACs volunteer curator, is coordinating this event. For more information on the planning meeting as well as the Fest itself, please contact IPRAC at 773-486-8345.
Architreasures and IPRAC Sponsor Family Day Sunday June 3rd

 

All the families from the community are invited to participate in creating a collective mural which will hang from the fences surrounding IPRAC during the week of the Puerto Rican Festivities. The legendary Antonio Martorell as well as the creators of IPRACs present exhibit "Carry-On" Beto Torrens and Anabel Rodriguez will be available as resources for the families to produce their pieces. Also, other area artists will be available. This is an opportunity to showcase your family's legacy, heritage and creativity.  Architreasures is a community based art organization.

 

Guided Tours of IPRAC and the Surrounding Paseo Boricua Community Will Be Available at IPRAC With Eduardo Arocho serving as a docent.  If you're interested in arranging a tour for your organization, school or church please contact IPRAC at 773-486-8345. 

SUHI and Puerto Rican Cultural Center Sponsor
Breast Cancer Prevention Luncheon 

 

On Thursday, May 17, a group of women from the community will come together to discuss breast cancer awareness, prevention and detection issues. This event is co-sponsored by the Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) and is part of a broader project to deal with the problem of breast cancer in the African-American and Latino communities.

 

Puerto Rican Cultural Center
2739-41 W. Division St
Chicago, Illinois 60622
P 773-342-8023
F 773-342-6609
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Program News
PACHS Students Participate in Forensics Field Day at the Museum of Science and Industry
"I Dig 4N6!"

 

A team of five Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School students were among 35 Chicago-area students invited to participate in the spring Forensics Field Day at the Museum of Science and Industry on Friday, May 11, 2012. Students were assigned to a mock crime scene, and worked alongside professional Forensic Scientists to examine the scene, gather evidence, preserve the chain of custody, analyze the case, and present their findings to a panel of experts.

 


The team analyzed fingerprints, footprints, DNA, firearms, handwriting samples, tool marks, and microscopic fibers found on the scene of the crime using a variety of forensics investigation techniques. Their analysis yielded conclusive evidence, and they were able to solve the crime, identifying the culprit in the shooting of a 39-year-old male and receiving high praise from forensics experts.Participating students were Lucia Aguado, Lorraine Melecio, Christopher Miguel, Janeth S�nchez, and Monica S�nchez.  This was the fourth consecutive Forensics Field Day where PACHS was invited to participate. The trip occurs twice a year and is open to PACHS science students.

"31 Days for 31 Years"
Martorell Spends
Mother's Day in Jail
 
Master Artist Antonio Martorell spent last Sunday, May 13, in the makeshift cell as part of the interactive exhibition "31 Days for 31 Years". The exhibit, which began on April 28 and ends on May 29 (the 31st anniversary of Oscar's arrest) is being organized by the National Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN), Batey Urbano and its Latin@ Coalition. Also featured is an exhibition of Oscar's artwork, literature and posters from the campaign to free Puerto Rican political prisoners for the past 30 years, and a letter writing station.

 

The 6 ft by 6 ft cell, where 31 activists and community residents will spend 24 hours each with a guard, for a total of 31 days, is being populated by university and high school students, teachers, community residents and high-profile individuals such as Minister Abel Muhammed from the Nation of Islam and Martorell. Martorell drew and sketched for part of the time he spent in the cell, as well as received visitors. A 31 second video of each "prisoners'" reflection is also posted here. Our flickr site is also updated regularly. Check back every few days to see the new content!

 

The purpose of this exhibit is to call attention to the continued unjust incarceration of political prisoner Oscar L�pez Rivera. The ambitious joint effort of the Latin@ Coalition, Batey Urbano, and NBHRN will culminate in a major event commemorating his arrest and 31 years of imprisonment on Tuesday, May 29, 6pm at the Batey Urbano, preceded by a press conference at 5:30 pm. Save the date!
31 Days for 31 Years, Day 16
View Martotell video here 
For more information or to schedule an interview with artist Antonio Martorell or a representative from one of the sponsoring organizations, please contact Laura Ruth Johnson at (773) 505-2490 or [email protected].

 

WE CAN HELP FREE OSCAR L�PEZ RIVERA!
PRCC Licensed Childcare Serves 50 Children 15 months to 6 years
Apply Now for Your Child!

  

Centro Infantil Consuelo Lee Corretjer, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center's Childcare, is now fully licensed by the Illinois Department of Family Services to service 50 children, ages 15 months to 6 years old. This increases the PRCC's capacity to serve more infant and toddlers in our community.

 

Founded in 1980, the Consuelo Lee Corretjer Day Care Center is a full day bilingual program offering quality childcare services for children 15 months to 5-years-of-age. The Center was founded in response to the need for bilingual-bicultural programs in the community. We place special emphasis on Puerto Rican, Mexican and Latin American cultures. The program is designed to help ease the child's transition to elementary school and aims to provide services primarily to working and student's families.

 

We offer:
* Full day care for children 15 months to 3 years
* Full day Head Start for children 3 to 5 years in collaboration with El Valor
* Research based curriculum
* Family involvement
* Nutritional Meals
* Parent workshops
WE ACCEPT:
* Action for Children
* DCFS
* Private slots are available
Required Forms and Documents:
* Admission application
* Statement of Earnings
* Child's current physical examination signed by physician
* Copy of child's birth certificate
* Copy of child's social security card
* Dental examination

 

For more info contact X�chitl Ram�rez at: [email protected]  



Available at La Cosecha and IPRAC
"Don Oscar" Coffee, Paseo Boricua Edition 

   

Caf� Don Oscar can be purchased for $5.99 at:

 

La Cosecha: 2703 W. Division St. or IPRAC: 3015 W. Division St., 773-486-8345  

 

Join the Humboldt Park Contingent on May 20
NBHRN Marches for Oscar, Against NATO

 

As most of you know, NATO is meeting in Chicago this month, and the National Boricua Human Rights Network) is making a call to join with thousands to stand up to its agenda of unrestricted war and occupation, especially against our people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Bring your flags, noisemakers, buttons and signs and wear your Oscar t-shirts!

This Sunday, May 20th, the National Boricua Human Rights Network, and our supporters will join in a contingent with Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and the CANG8 Palestine Solidarity Working Group as well as the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, the Committee Against Political Repression, and the Coalition to Protect People's Rights.
 
As well as protesting NATO, we will be calling for: 1) freedom for Oscar Lopez, Puerto Rican political prisoner, who has been in U.S. jails for over 30 years. 2) an end to the investigation of the 23 anti-war and international solidarity organizers and activists who were raided and / or subpoenaed to a federal grand jury at the end of 2010; 3) the dropping of all charges against Carlos Montes.

Please join us on Sunday, May 20!
Meet at 10am at the Batey Urbano, 2620 W. Division St for a brief program as we prepare to depart for the Grant Park rally
Coffee and pastries will be available
poetry, performance and culture
Depart at 11-Walk to the Blue Line

For more info: [email protected]