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Puerto Rican Cultural Center Newsbriefs
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IPRAC'S Trailer Park Proyects at Erie Elementary Charter School
On Friday, May 24th, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture's Trailer Park Proyects had a presentation for the students at Erie Charter School. The event was done outside with almost the entire school participating. Every child was given T-shirts made by the artist of the Trailer Park Proyects. Billy Ocasio, IPRAC's CEO, was also present and spoke with students.
4th Grade Erie Charter School Students use Paseo Boricua as a Classroom
On Wednesday, May 15th the 4th grade students of Erie Elementary Charter School took a tour of Paseo Boricua. They tour was led by Jose E. López, Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. The tour began at Artesian and Division near the huge steel Puerto Rican flag located there. Students walked along Division Street learning about the Paseo Boricua Walk of Fame, La Casita de Don Pedro and the long history of Puerto Ricans in Humboldt Park. The tour ended at the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture with a presentation by Carlos Hernández on the Tainos. At the end of the tour, the 4th grade students of Erie Elementary Charter School took a collection and donated money to IPRAC.
El Rescate to be featured at the 2013 United States Conference on AIDS
El Rescate, Vida Sida's transitional housing program, will be taking part in the 2013 US Conference on AIDS (USCA). USCA is the largest AIDS-related gathering in the U.S., bringing together over thousands of workers from all fronts of the HIV/AIDS epidemic-from case managers and physicians, to public health workers and advocates, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and policy-makers-to build national support networks, exchange the latest information and learn cutting-edge tools to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS. The Conference will convene September 8-11, 2013 in New Orleans. The members of El Rescate Program will be giving a workshop presentation to the conference participants on Tuesday, September 10.
Paseo Boricua Beautification Update
Through an initiative of Alderman Roberto Maldonado the Paseo Boricua flags were repainted Wednesday, May 29th. Through the collaborative effort of Pedro Albizu Campos High School, Division Street Business Development Association, Roberto Clemente Community Association and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, the planters on Division St will be restored and replanted in time for Puerto Rican People's Parade on June 15th.
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Our Websites:
View our Photos on Flickr!
(Over 13,000 pics!)
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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.
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Puerto Rican Cultural Center 2739-41 W. Division St Chicago, Illinois 60622 P 773-342-8023 F 773-342-6609
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We are proud recipients of United Way contributions |
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Monarch Community Garden Giveaway Day!
The Monarch Community Garden Give Away Committee met this week and is planning the first give away of Monarch Garden's surplus produce. Living in a produce desert (more info here), this is what we want to do.
* FIRST GIVE AWAY: Sunday, June 23, 2013, from 11am-1pm
* Place your surplus or what you want to give away on the picnic tables by Saturday, June 22
* We will organize and publicize the giveaway through by reaching out through our website, Facebook page, twitter and some leaflets
* No reserving food bags; first come first serve basis
* limit one bag per family
thanks, looking forward to the first giveaway!
For more information:
alejandroman@gmail.com
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Puerto Rican Cultural Center
Homeless Prevention and
Rental Assistance Program
Do you qualify for rental assistance?
- Homeless?
- About to be homeless?
- Falling behind in rent?
- Need a security deposit and first month's rent?
Eligibility for Assistance:
- Resident of Humboldt Park or Logan Square
- Seeking housing in the Humboldt Park and Logan Square community
- Behind on rent
For more information, please contact Melissa Rodríguez at 773.227.7794.
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¡Humboldt Park
NO SE VENDE!
Apartment Listings
1530 N. Kedzie - Studios
$675 and up
Heat included, $0 Deposit
773-387-1482
2734 W. Division
$730 1 bed
773-401-3600
1850 N. Kedzie - Studios
$750 and up, $0 Deposit
773-387-1482
Potomac and Kedzie
$775 2 bed
773.772.4550
1742 N. Humboldt - Studios
$795 and up
Heat included, $0 Deposit
773-387-1482
Washtenaw & Walton
$850 - 1 bed
708-224-8520
954 N. Rockwell
$850 2 bed
Avail 8/1, $850 Deposit
312.829.2273
1530 N. Kedzie - 2 bed
$895, $0 Deposit
Heat included
773-387-1482
1542 N. Kedzie - 2 bed
$895, $550 move-in fee
919.434.4563
Division & Rockwell
$900 2 bed
847.971.5482
Reference ID #2478
Maplewood and Lemoyne
$925 2 bed
Gas Heat, Laundry, Avail. 8/1
773.474.1777
1143 N. Rockwell
$925 - 2 bed
312.285.7772
911 N. Francisco
$950 2 bed
312.285.7772
2441 W. Cortez - Garden
$950 1 bed
773.886.8893
1330 N. Ridgeway
$975 3 bed
Coin laundry, parking included
847.452.9675
852 N Fairfield Garden
$1000 2 bed
773-397-8223
1742 N. Humboldt
$1025 - 1 bed
Heat included, $0 Deposit
773-387-1482
1832 N. Humboldt - 1 bed
$1,095
Heat included, $0 Deposit
773-387-1482
1521 N California
$1150 - 3 bed
773-269-1450
Thomas & Washtenaw
$1150 2 bed
773-312-3000
2717 W. Evergreen
$1300 - 2 bed
224-217-1879
Boricua, Return
to El Barrio
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Community Calendar of Events
32 Days for 32 Years
April 28-May 29, Batey Urbano, 2620 W. Division
Mercado del Paseo Boricua Farmer'sMarket
El Rescate Rummage Sale
(EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY)
Friday, May 10th 2pm-7pm
Saturday May 11th 10am-3pm, 2628 W. Division St.
College Pipeline and BACCA Culminating Event
Friday, May 31st 6pm, Batey Urbano, 2620 W. Division
Puerto Rican Agenda Meeting, Special Guest: Representative from Puerto Rican Studies Center at Hunter College
Saturday, June 1st 9am-11:30am, IPRAC, 3015 W. Division
Puerto Rico Eco-Tour Trip,
SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE!
Thursday, June 6th to Tuesday, June 11th
Contact: militzap@prcc-chgo.org
Puerto Rican People's Parade Dignitaries Event honoring San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz Soto
Friday, June 14th 6pm, IPRAC, 3015 W. Division
Puerto Rican People's Parade
Saturday, June 15th
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Puerto Rico: Urban Art for Oscar
Urban Art Project demanding the release of Oscar López Rivera, political Puerto Rican prisoner and fighter for the independence of Puerto Rico, from prison.
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32 x Oscar Events in Puerto Rico and the US Point to Support Across Political Spectrum
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Chicago
32 Days for 32 Years: Youth Lead Effort to Educate and Free Oscar López Rivera
Over 130 people jammed into Batey Urbano on Wednesday evening, May 29 to hear, see, listen, sing and pray on the 32 anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of Oscar López Rivera, decorated Viet Nam veteran and Puerto Rican political prisoner. The commemoration, part of a series tof events that will culminate with the extraordinary Oscar contingent for the 1st United Puerto Rican Peoples Parade, Sat, June 15. See ad below. Crime Against Humanity, the acclaimed play based on the real-life experiences of the Puerto Rican political prisoners, returned to Chicago as part of the commemoration the week before for three performances, with a new local cast and over 50 new spectators.
Oscar, who was arrested May 29, 1981 at 10:30am in the Chicago suburb of Glenview, has served 32 years in 7 federal prisons, 12 of them in Control Unit prisons with the highest level security rating at that time. Over the course of his 32 years in prison, his co-defendants-who were arrested in 1980 and 1983 and served time for the same charges- Alicia and Ida Luz Rodriguez, Carmen Valentín, Dylcia Págan, Alejandrina Torres, Alberto Rodriguez, Edwin Cortes, Luis Rosa, Elizam Escobar, Haydee Beltrán, Adolfo Matos Antongiorgi, Ricardo Jiménez, and most recently, Carlos Alberto Torres have been released, 9 of them by Pres. Bill Clinton's executive clemency in 1999 and Carlos Alberto by parole in 2010.
Michelle Morales, long-time activist and spokesperson for the Network, and Alyssa Villegas, Batey Urbano leader and Network member, co-emceed the event which began with José E. López, brother of Oscar and Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, being freed and escorted to the front, where he was accompanied by other project participants.
The audience was then treated to Batey leader and Latino Alliance activist Matt McCanna's compilation video of the 32 prisoners which had taken part in the "32 Days for 32 Years" project. and was followed by a short video of San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin being interviewed by NY Assemblyman Jose Rivera.
A scene from Crime against Humanity was also performed by José "Pinky" Perez. Several of the prisoners also reflected on their "prison" experiences, including youth from El Rescate, community residents, immigration reform leader Emma Lozano and Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School Dean of Students Judy Diaz.
A extraordinary recognition was given to the compañeros who had been part of the campaign and struggle for more than fifteen years and fittingly enough, a standing ovation was reserved for Josefina "Fifo" Rodriguez, mother of Alicia and Ida Luz Rodriguez.
Mayor Carmen Yulin and the City of San Juan had also sponsored an exhibition of Oscar's art, which opened Memorial Day and can be seen here.
 | | Carmen Yulin Cruz Alcaldesa de San Juan por la libertad de Oscar Lopez Rivera video por Jose Rivera |
The event in Chicago was complimented by a stunning show of broad support and solidarity by civil society in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican Diaspora, events have taken place commemorating Oscar's unjust imprisonment in:
PUERTO RICO * San Juan * Caguas * Mayaguez
* Ponce * Arecibo * Aibonito
 | | Mercedes Lopez, Oscar's sister, in cell in Mayaguez |
In a spectacular display of strength and solidarity, 10 mayors from different cities in Puerto Rico went to jail for Oscar, and a resolution calling for his freedom was passed by the Puerto Rican Senate and separately, by the town of Aibonito.
An Editorial appeared in El Nuevo Día, articles appeared in El Vocero, Primera Hora and El Nuevo Dia. In New York, two articles also appeared in El Diario-La Prensa (free registration required). Music superstar Rene Perez Joglar from Calle 13 tweeted that he was "going to prison for Oscar" as soon as he got off a flight from Argentina to Puerto Rico, where Oscar's daughter, Clarisa also spent an hour. View video here. As well, Ricky Martin, also sent a press release, from Australia, calling on Pres. Obama to release Oscar.
 | | Rene Perez Joglar in "prison" with his family, for Oscar |
 There was intense activity on Facebook and Twitter by the different organizing committees involved. You can see dozens of pictures here. Resolutions in support of Oscar's freedom was also
In New York the NYC Coordinadora to Free Oscar López Rivera held a vigil at the mural of Oscar and Norberto and Avelino Claudio Gonzalez in El Barrio, which was well-attended.
IN THE US
* Chicago * New York * Philadelphia
* Cleveland
EUROPE
* Madrid, Spain
On May 24, a group of students at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain), organized an event on the life and struggle of of Oscar López Rivera.
The event counted on the online participation of the ex-political prisioner Alicia Rodríguez, Oscar's daughter, Clarisa López Ramos, attorney Eduardo Villanueva, spokesperson for the Human Rights Committee of Puerto Rico and a video of Rafael Cancel Miranda speaking about Oscar.
 | | Rafael Cancel Miranda ante los 32 a??os en prisi??n de Osc??r L??pez Rivera |
Approximately 30 people participated in the event, including a group of boricua residents of Madrid, alongside students and workers from other countries such as Chile, Poland, México, Venezuela and Spain, who were able to learn first-hand about the campaign to free Oscar and the struggle for independence.
LATIN AMERICA
* Habana, Cuba
Former President of the Peoples Assembly of Cuba, Ricardo Alarcón Quesada, spoke at a commemoration sponsored by the Cuban Institute of Friendship between Peoples (ICAP) the speech which can be downloaded here, featured the poster below.
This is a civil movement that is demanding Oscar's return in so many ways- vigils, protests, marches, songs, poetry, theater, literature and prayers, across the political spectrum- in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican Diaspora, joined by 5 Nobel Laureates including Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Join us to support Oscar's release at the upcoming event:
* 1st United Peoples Parade, Sat June 15, noon, Division and Artesian. Join the Oscar contingent!
For more info: http://boricuahumanrights.org/
See all Chicago 32 x 32 videos here! |
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Comerio Cultural Center Dedicates 33rd Jibaro Festival to PRCC
 The CIRILO W. MEIJERS Comerio Cultural Center has dedicated its 33rd FESTIVAL JIBARO COMERIEÑO (June 7-9) to the Puerto Rican community of Chicago, represented by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center Juan Antonio Corretjer of Chicago. In addition, they recognize that the tribute would not be complete without dedicating the festival also to Oscar López Rivera. In this spirit they have organized a "Committee to Free Oscar", which has already published a call urging the townspeople to become involved in the campaign to free Puerto Rico's longest held political prisoner.
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NBHRN to open online
store next month
 The National Boricua Human Rights Network will be opening an online store in time for the Peoples Parade in June. It will have "Oscar López Rivera: Between Torture and Resistance", the CD collection of songs authored by some of Puerto Rico's most well-known singer-songwriters is also available for sale. "La Vida Es Lucha Toda" tributo a Oscar López Rivera features Roy Brown and Zoraida Santiago, Tony Mapeyé, Lucecita Benítez and Haciendo Punto en Otro Son.
 The book is available for $15.95 plus s/h and the CD for $12 plus s/h. The classic Oscar T-shirt (image left), are $10 each, plus shipping and handling, and is available in various sizes. The button (same image) is $1.
To get your copy, contact alejandrom@boricuahumanrights.org. Each copy is $15.95 plus shipping & handling. The Oscar CD is also available and costs $12 plus s/h.
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Social Media links for Oscar Lopez Rivera Campaign and May 29th
TWITTER
32 x Oscar (5 cells exhibit in Puerto Rico on May 29th)
National Boricua Human Rights Network (Chicago Chapter)
FACEBOOK
National Boricua Human Rights Network (Chicago Chapter)
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