2013 was indeed a year on the move as we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, along with the 35th anniversary of the Puerto Rican Peoples Parade, coinciding with the unification of the downtown parade and the Paseo Boricua Parade into one. Additionally, we held the 20th Anniversary of Fiesta Boricua, and the 25th Anniversary of the founding of Vida/Sida. These milestones speak to the effective and unswerving work of those who labor and continue to labor in our midst, including our non-Puerto Rican allies.

We need to thank all of our elected officials who continue to support all our work specially Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez, State Reps. Cynthia Soto, Antonia "Toni" Berrios, Luis Arroyo and State Sen. Iris Martínez, Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, Cook County Commissioner Edwin Reyes, Ald. Joe "Proco" Moreno, Ald. Ray Suarez, and of particular note, Ald. Roberto Maldonado.

We are extremely proud of our partners and these include the following: Norwegian American Hospital and it's CEO José Sánchez, New Life Covenant Church and it's Reverend, Wilfredo de Jesús, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Puerto Rican Agenda headed by Pablo Medina, Diabetes Empowerment Center and Director Jaime Delgado, Humboldt Park Vocational and Educational Center and Dean Madeline Roman, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture and it's CEO, Billy Ocasio, Community of Wellness and Director Jose Luis Rodríguez, Division Street Business Development Association and Executive Director Eduardo Arocho, West Town Bikes and Executive Director Alex Wilson, Alivio Medical Center and CEO Carmen Velásquez and a very special note of gratitude to Roberto Clemente Community Academy and Principal, Marcey Sorensen.

As we reflect on our many achievements, our engagements and particularly, on our milestones, we also are envisioning another year filled with struggles, challenges and possibilities as we continue our legacy of building a community of hope and change. 2014 will mark another phase of our new 5 year strategic plan. The plan calls for the implementation of the Community as a Campus, the articulation of a more holistic health vision, the expansion of our technology and informatics division, and the construction of the Paseo Boricua Arts Building. And of equal importance, we will multiply our efforts, though the work of National Boricua Human Rights Network, to bring our Patriot Oscar López Rivera home.

On behalf of all the staff, the volunteers, and the Board of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, I would like to extend our best wishes for the year 2014 to everyone who has so diligently supported our efforts. There are so many who have made our work so amazing, so we can continue to do the impossible, there is not enough room to mention all of you. However I want to make a specific shout out to Melinda Power for her contribution of $10,000.00 to our Unrestricted Fund. I would be remiss if I did not mention the physical loss in 2013 of our beloved and indomitable Board Member, Irma Romero.

The following highlights of 2013 will serve as a reminder of how effective our work has been.

Jan 6- 19th 3 Kings Winter Festival & Parade with a visit by Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Jan. 11- Death of Irma Romero, a lifelong community activist and member of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center Board of Directors.

Jan 26- 40th Anniversary Celebration Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School

Feb 1- Film "The Untold History of the United States" with a panel discussion on Empire, Colonialism, and Torture with Academy Award winning Director & Author Oliver Stone and Historian Peter Kuznick, José E. López, PRCC Executive Director and Dr. Margaret Power, President, Board of Directors, PRCC.

March 3- PRCC Annual 100x35+5 Open House

Celebration of 1 year anniversary opening of El Rescate, transitional housing for LGTBQ youth; Celebration and book presentation of "Out of Control" by Nancy Kurshan.

March 10- Paseo Boricua Tribute to Life President Hugo Chávez Frías.

April 21- Film showing "Who is Albizu Campos?" by filmmaker Michael Torres at Clemente High School.

May 8- Roberto Clemente High School Awarded IB Candidate School Status!

May 31- Puerto Rican Cultural Center / Clemente HS College Pipeline Celebrates "Building A Community of Excellence"- ensures 53 Clemente students to college

June 5- Hunter College Announces 100 Most Influential Puerto Ricans Campaign in Chicago

June 6-11- PRCC organizes 1st Eco-tour to Comerio, Puerto Rico with 23 participants

June 7,8,9- Festival de Música Jíbara, Comerio, Puerto Rico, dedicated to the 40th Anniversary of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center

June 15- 1st Unified Puerto Rican Peoples Parade with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz as Grand Marshal!

July 11-14- PACHS Leadership and Students Speak at Free Minds, Free People Conference in Chicago

July 31- DSBDA Celebrates First Paseo Boricua Classic Car and Bike Show

August 28- Humboldt Park Community Action Council's Community as a Campus Plan officially endorsed by CPS CEO and CPS Board of Directors

August 29- Hunter College's Center for Puerto Rican Studies honors 16 Chicago Puerto Ricans at IPRAC

August 30- Press Conference Ald. Roberto Maldonado reads Mayor Emanuel's proclamation  declaring "Jayuya Days" in Chicago.

August 30- 40th Anniversary Puerto Rican Cultural Center X during Noche Jibara Celebration at IPRAC with Mayor Jorge Gonzalez of Jayuya

Aug 31-Sept 1- 20th Annual Fiesta Boricua featuring "Lo Mejor de Nuestros Pueblos" Jayuya, Puerto Rico

Sept 7 and 8- 12th Annual Barrio Arts Fest at IPRAC

Sept 9-11- Vida/SIDA's outreach and El Rescate team present at US Conference on AIDS in Louisiana

Sept 16- Urban Theater Company (UTC) opens 8th Season with Cándido Tirado's "First Class"

Sept 28-Still Dreaming: My Journey from the  Barrio to Capitol Hill

Reception featuring Cong. Luis V. Gutiérrez

Oct 2- Clemente declared a Level 2 School

Oct 9- Clemente teachers and staff tour Paseo Boricua

Oct 15- UIC President Robert Easter is Presented with Community as a Campus Plan at IPRAC with State Rep. Cynthia Soto and Community Leaders

Oct 26- Sen. Durbin, PRCC and Congressman Luis Gutiérrez Roll Out Affordable Health Care in Community During Barrio Health Fair at Norwegian American Hospital and CEO José Sánchez

Oct 31- Hundreds of families participated in 12th Annual Haunted Paseo Boricua

Nov 19- SUHI Announces Second Community Survey in Humboldt Park at Diabetes Empowerment Center with with Chicago Community Trust CEO Terry Mazany and Sinai Hospital CEO Alan Channing.

Nov. 20- Northeastern Illinois President Sharon Hahs, along with Dean Maureen Gillette and  visit IPRAC to hear about Community as a Campus Plan from State Rep. Cynthia Soto and Community Leaders

Nov. 21- Paseo Boricua Pays Tribute to Nuyorican Legend Tato Laviera

Nov. 24- Wilbur Wright College of Chicago President David Potash and Dean Madeline Roman visit IPRAC to engage in possible partnership about Community as a Campus Plan

Dec 1- Vida/SIDA Celebrates 25th Anniversary as World AIDS Day Culminating Event; Health Activists Carmen Velásquez & Dora García Honored

Dec 21- Paseo Boricua Parranda

Other Community Partner Highlights 2013

April 9- Jaime Delgado honored by St Marys Hospital for his leadership in addressing community health issues.

April 24- Pastor Pastor Wilfredo de Jesús "Choco" selection as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential.

June 19- Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School Celebrates, Commemorates Close of 40th Year

Dec 7- New Life Covenant Church Opens Its New Church in Humboldt Park