Condolonces to the Black Community on the loss of Chokwe Lumumba

On behalf of the Puerto Rican independence movement, as well as on behalf of my brother, Oscar L�pez Rivera- the longest held political prisoner in Puerto Rico's history, I want to express my deepest sense of condolences to the family, friends, and to all those who labored with him fighting the good fight against racism and colonialism, and for Black liberation, to the harvest of fruits of justice and freedom.

 

Chokwe was truly an exceptional leader-a man who walked the walk, and in the words of Bertolt Brecht, became indispensable. His words and deeds will always resonate with us. His solidarity, particularly with the Puerto Rican and Mexican people, was unquestionable and unswerving.

 

Chokwe clearly understood, as in the lyrics of Mercedes Sosa, everything changes. Tactics needed to be constantly re-molded, but what did not change was his love for his people; and his "Southern Song".

 

In that spirit In the words of Margaret Walker's "Southern Song":

 

"I want my body bathed again by southern suns,

my soul reclaimed again from southern land.

I want to rest again in southern fields, in grass and hay and clover
bloom; 
to lay my hand again upon the clay baked by a southern sun, to touch the rain-soaked earth and smell the smell of soil.


I want my rest unbroken in the fields of southern earth; freedom to watch the corn wave silver in the sun and mark the splashing of a brook, a pond with ducks and frogs and count the clouds.

I want no mobs to wrench me from my southern rest; no forms to take me in the night and burn my shack and make for me a nightmare full of oil and flame.

I want my careless song to strike no minor key; no fiend to stand between my body's southern song- the fusion of the South, my body's song and me."

 

Chokwe, you have indeed been, the fusion of the South.

 

Hasta La Victoria Siempre, dear Chokwe Lumumba.

 

Jos� E. L�pez

 Executive Director, PRCC

 
Move for Life 

Outreach Day!

Saturday, March 29, from 11am to 2pm. Meeting at DEC, 2753 W. Division St.

 

The objective:  to

mobilize the community to attend our Free services at Diabetes Empowerment Center the weekend after this outreach.

 

If anyone needs to complete volunteer hours or if you have students that need to complete community hours, this would be the perfect opportunity!

 

Volunteer Dates:

Saturday, March 29, 2014. Outreach Day from 11am-2pm

Saturday, April 5, 2014.  Move for Life!  Shift 1, 10am-3pm Shift 2,  12noon-5pm  (Actual event is 12n-4pm)  


 

Puerto Rican Senator Requests

Oscar's Release 

of Pres. Obama

San Juan, Feb 19 (Prensa Latina) Senator Antonio Fas Alzamora asked the President of the United States, Barack Obama, for the release of Puerto

Rican political prisoner Oscar L�pez Rivera, who has been in jail for more than 32 years, 12 of them in solitary.

 

The PM of the governing Popular Democratic Party (PPD) recalled in a

letter to the U.S. President that this is a matter of human rights and justice, as he has been imprisoned longer enough and does not deserve to be more time deprived of his freedom.

 

"If the United States has been the defender of human rights in the world, it must be an example, and the case of Oscar L�pez is the opportunity to put into practice what it preaches", stated Fas Alzamora.

 

The veteran Senator took advantage of Obama's visit to Pope Francis,

scheduled that for March 27 as part of his effort in the struggle for

equality and justice for humanity, to ask for the release of the political

prisoner that has been longer imprisoned in the United States.

 

For the politician of the PPD, Lopez Rivera's conviction of seditious

conspiracy, a crime of a political nature, is a vestige of the cold war.

 

 

CUMPLEA�OS DE JUAN (Papo) SEGARRA PALMER

FIESTA PARA OSCAR

Queridos amigos y amigas:

Te invito a que vengas a participar de  una fiesta con prop�sito. Se trata de  mi cumplea�os que  tambi�n coincide con el 10mo aniversario de mi excarcelaci�n como preso pol�tico. Mi deseo para esta fecha es celebrar ambos acontecimientos, contribuyendo para hacer realidad un sue�o - el viaje de Oscar por la ruta de las mariposas monarca-. �Regalo?, para m� nada, s�lo tu presencia. �Para Oscar?  Lo que puedas contribuir; pasaremos el sombrero.

 

S�bado, 8 de marzo de 2014.  Para confirmaci�n: Ivonne Rivera 787-209-9704 o tallercarmin@ hotmail.com

Centro Infantil 

Consuelo Lee Corretjer

Open Registration * Day Care Program * Head Start

We offer:

* Full day, Day Care for children 15 mos. to 3 yrs.

* Full day Head Start for children 3 to 5 yrs. 

* Research based curriculum

* Family involvement

* Nutritional Meals

* Parent workshops

Download the leaflet here.

 

"Still Dreaming": Available at Puerto Rican Cultural Center

Autographed copies of "Still Dreaming: My Journey from the Barrio to Capitol Hill" by Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez, are still available. Contact Alejandro: 
alejandrom@prcc-chgo.org
 
Paseo Boricua Apartment Listing

3723 W. Grand

2 BD $750

773.791-9853

 

1700 Block of Spaulding

1BD $850

773.671.7936

 

Armitage at Monticello

2BD $850

Text 312-841-6534

 

Cortland at Pulaski

2BD $875

TEXT 920.843.7507

 

North and Humboldt Blvd

Studio $895

773.946.3693

 

1124 N. Wolcott

2 BD $950

773.276.8509

 

2646 W. Potomac

1 BD $950

312.893.3522

 

Mozart at Chicago Ave

2BR $975

773-301-7426

 

Maplewood at North Ave

1BD $1000

773-405-4423

 

Cortland at Drake

2BD $1100

(312) 508-3131

 

1635 N. Spaulding Ave

2 BD 1 bath $800

(773) 269-1450

 

1408 N Maplewood

3 BD 1 bath $1650

(773) 559-7215

 

3153 W Augusta

2 BD 1 bath $1025

(773) 235-5160

 

2611 W Wabansia Ave

2 BD 1 bath $925

(773) 677-7418

 

1742 N Humboldt Blvd

Studio $895

(707) 731-7587

  California and Evergreen

2 bedroom 1 bath $1200  773 510-2210

 

2 bedroom 1 bath $950 1632 N Fairfield 

773 904-7476

 

Studio 1 bath  $895 

1850 N. Humboldt blvd. 312 445-9583

 

1 bedroom 1 bath $750 Augusta and Kedzie 773 697-4474

 

Save the Date!

The 2nd United Puerto Rican People's Parade will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2014. Step-off at 2:00pm on Division St. corner of Western. Please join us as we celebrate "Puerto Rican Heritage" and the "40th Anniversary Opening of Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School". For more information or to be part of the parade please contact Leony Calder�n at 773-342-8023 or email at United-prpeoplesparade@prcc-chgo.org

Los Tequis
GOORULEARNING

Memorize this! Use it!
Tell Students about it!
 
Las manos en el cristal: Serie de Cartas de OLR a su nieta Karina
  




Multi_Viral
Multi_Viral
Calle 13 Multi-Viral Video on YouTube

 

The film was produced by Calle 13 and filmed by Zapatero Films in the Palestinian cities of Bethlehem and Beit Sahour, Place of the Night Watch, a Palestinian village at the East of Bethlehem.

 

COINTELPRO 101 on CANTV

COINTELPRO 101 is a 56-minute educational film that will open the door to understanding this history. This documentary will introduce viewers new to this history to the basics and direct them to other resources where they can learn more. The intended audiences are the generations that did not experience the social justice movements of the sixties and seventies

 

Saturday March 8, 6pm

                                          Saturday March 22, 6pm

                                           Friday March 28, 7pm

From Puerto Rican Cultural Center programs

100x35 Annual Event: 

PRCC Celebrates 6th Annual Open House, 2nd Anniversary of El Rescate and Grand Opening of Hermosa Office

On Monday, March 3rd, almost one hundred people visited the PRCC as we celebrated the PRCC open house entitled 100x35+6. This is an annual event in which members of the community and university students complete a tour of the PRCC programs. 

 

The event begun at El Rescate where Jose Lopez provided a historical background of the PRCC and was followed by a tour of the various programs of the PRCC and affiliates, including the Batey Urbano, Vida/SIDA, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, and Affordable Care Act. We highlighted the 3rd anniversary of El Rescate, our supportive independent living program for homeless youth with a dinner held at Nellies' Restaurant.

 

 

Hermosa Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

 

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the PRCC's ACA office in the Hermosa community took place on Monday, March 3rd during the annual 100x35 + 6 event held by the PRCC.  Jos� E. L�pez, PRCC's Executive Director, and the PRCC staff visited the Hermosa office to see the new space and to congratulate the ACA staff on their hard work, particularly Program Director Mayra Estrella and Office Supervisor Rocio Kanan. Our special guests included State Rep. Luis Arroyo, Luis Arroyo Jr., and Ray Vazquez, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC).  The PRCC's Hermosa office is focused on providing education and enrollment bilingual services in the ACA. We also have a member of the Vida/SIDA team conducting outreach and HIV/STI testing. The office is located at 4046 W. Armitage Avenue. For more information, please call 773-661-9077 or visit us from Monday to Friday (8am to 6pm).

 

 

Don't forget that enrollment for private insurance through the Marketplace ends in March 31st. There is only more month left to get covered! Visit us to enroll! Health insurance is a human right and it is the law! For more information, call us at 773-227-7794 or 773-661-9077.

El Rescate Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

 

On March 3rd, 2014, El Rescate celebrated its 2nd anniversary at Nellie's Restaurant and their committment to homeless LGBTQ youth. "There were close a 100 guests who showed up to celebrate the evening with us, which included: delicious food, success stories by our residents, a resident showcase, awards, and a video presentation by Matthew Grcic, which hightlighted our program, staff, residents as well as captured an inside look into our programs day to day respnsibilities. Our residents were excited and worked together so they could look presentable for our event. Everyone was in great mood. They were well dressed and polished...I felt like a proud mother". says Jackie Gonzalez, Program Director of El Rescate

El Rescate
El Rescate

If you wish to contribute to El Rescate in any way, please call us or stop by and visit us: (872) 829-2494 | 2703 W. Divsision St., Chicago, IL 60622.

 

ACA Program is number 2 in Illinois and number one in Chicago!

Congratulations to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) staff for being on the top ten list of Illinois once again! This past week the PRCC made it to second place in a list of more than 50 organizations funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). This reflects the large number of clients that have been enrolled in the Affordable Care Act by PRCC Navigators.

 

Understanding the ACA:

Last Friday, in collaboration with State Rep. Maria "Toni" Berrios, the PRCC hosted an educational and enrollment event on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Our Navigators visited the Scammon Elementary to conduct a brief presentation in Spanish about the ACA and to provide enrollment services. The Principal of the School conducted a tour of the school in the morning before our presentation. The event was held in the school library where we were welcomed with snacks, smiles, and a sea of questions. It was refreshing to see people being so receptive to learning about the ACA and understanding how they could get healthcare coverage. We look forward to collaborating with other schools and organizations to hold events like this in the near future.

 

Save the Date!

The ACA program will be hosting a Community Forum in collaboration with State Representative Cynthia Soto and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) on Tuesday, March 25th. Please join us as we move forward the last days on enrollment in the ACA. For more information or to be part of the event, please contact Mayra Estrella at 773-227-7794 or mayrae@prcc-chgo.org.


There's a lot to take in with the new health insurance marketplace. And with all the new choices, you may have questions. We can help you learn about your health plan options and provide helpful resources. We can even help you enroll into the right insurance plan.

Stop by one of our health insurance
enrollment events.

Tuesday, March 4, Noon-6 p.m.

Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center
Saint Mary Campus - Main Entrance Lobby
2233 West Division Street, Chicago 

Wednesday, March 12, Noon-6 p.m.
Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center
Saint Mary Campus - Main Entrance Lobby
2233 West Division Street, Chicago 

Friday, March 21, Noon-6 p.m.
St. Aloysius Church 
Monsignor Thiele Parish Center - Gonzaga Room
1510 North Claremont Avenue, Chicago

Saturday, March 29, Noon-6 p.m.
Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center
Saint Mary Campus - 3rd Floor
2233 West Division Street, Chicago

In addition to enrolling into the right insurance plan, we'll be offering body mass index and blood pressure screenings. We'll serve refreshments as well.

 
Learn more. Call 877.737.INFO (4636) or visit presencehealth.org/marketplace.
To speak with one of our Spanish-speaking representatives, call312.361.7959 or 818.224.8478. Or to reach a Polish-speaking representative, call 312.491.5086.

 

The 4th Annual Season Kick-off Event "Move for Life" Coming to Humboldt Park

Move for Life! Saturday, April 5, 2014 from 12 Noon-4:00PM in Humboldt Park, (Luis Munoz Marin Drive) corner of Division and California.

 

Now in its 4th year, the purpose of Move for Life! is to kick-off the Spring/Summer season by promoting and supporting an active lifestyle and encouraging the community to participate in physical activities. Whether it's walking, jogging, cycling, dance-aerobics, Zumba, basketball, or soccer the idea is to get people moving. To motivate our community, Move for Life! brings together communitybased organizations, agencies, and individuals to interactively showcase their various free or low cost physical activity programs available to everyone in the community throughout the year. 

 

For more information on Move for Life! or to participate in the event contact the Diabetes Empowerment Center at 773-342-0855 or email us at muevete@prcc-chgo.org.


Centro Infantil Hosts Healthy Foods Puppet Show By Casa Norte!

February 28th was Pajama Day at Centro Infantil Daycare! Every kids dream is just to wake up and go to school in their pajamas. It was a very exciting day because they wore their favorite pajamas and received a visit from Casa Norte. Casa Norte put together a short puppet show for them where they learned about fruits and vegetables and how healthy they can be and how much energy they can put into their bodies. From the puppet show Centro Infantil kids know that fruits and veggies are healthy GO! foods and cookies and chips are NO! foods.


From Our Community Partners

New York Times article on disparities research 

featuring Chicago's Sinai Urban Health Institute

An analysis of breast cancer mortality trends in 41 of the largest cities in the United States shows that the chance of surviving breast cancer correlates strongly with the color of a woman's skin. Black women with breast cancer - whether they hail from Phoenix or Denver, Boston or Wichita, Kan. - are on average about 40 percent more likely to die of the disease than white women with breast cancer. Continue reading...
Norwegian American Hospital on launch team for Medicaid cost-cut project

Advocate Health Care and Loyola University Health System are among five Chicago-area health care groups to receive preliminary approval to join a new cost-saving Medicaid program.

Also winning approval are Chicago-based Presence Health, a 12-hospital system; Access Community Health Network, a Chicago-based system of clinics; and a joint effort by Swedish Covenant Hospital near Lincoln Square, Norwegian American Hospital in Humboldt Park and Mercy Hospital & Medical Center on the Near South Side.

 

The providers are gearing up to launch an accountable care entity by July 1, the state's latest form of coordinated care that aims to help reduce costs in the cash-strapped Medicaid program.

In an ACE, providers manage the care of a group of Medicaid patients and eventually will have to assume the financial responsibility for all treatment within a fixed amount of money per patient. They potentially could share in savings with the state. The networks replace the traditional fee-for-service model, which critics say encourages unnecessary procedures and doesn't provide incentives to reduce spending. Continue reading...

 
Freshman Theater - Sons of the prophet

After weeks of rehearsing, hard work, sweat, and tears, Clemente Wildcat freshman students and upperclass drama students had an exciting experience performing ''Sons of the Prophet" by Stephen Karam.  The play took place at the American Theatre Company.  Every student had a part in the play, either as an actor or on the production crew. It was a great experience for the students and teachers.  The students said that if it were possible in the future, they would love to do it all again.

 

Some students were nervous or scared at first because it was the first time many of them had to perform in front of an audience. Students had to implement every IB skill their teachers taught them. Some students wouldn't want to say their part but teachers would give them a talk and say, "You can do it" or "Give it all you got!"  All of the confidence the teachers had in the students resulted in the students smiling and trying a little harder. When performance day arrived, students performed in front of their parents and strangers.  The thought of missing a line or choking was a challenge they had to overcome, both individually and as an ensemble. 

The students practiced deep breathing to calm their nerves and reflected on all of the time and effort they put into this performance.  A lot of excitement came from knowing that most students could actually do better than what they believed that they could do throughout this experience.  All students enjoyed it because they figured out that deep down inside they have an amazing talent either acting or producing. This was a wonderful experience because it gave our Wildcat students encouragement to do and try out something new.  It truly showed the many talents of each and every Wildcat student. The outcome of the final student production was fantastic!

The culminating activity was a fieldtrip to see the professional matinee of the play.  Students were impressed and inspired by the professionalism and talent the actors demonstrated.   Both students and professional actors had awesome costumes and amazing tone.  Facial expressions were realistic, and the chemistry was amazing among the actors.   The class of 2017 will help mentor the incoming freshmen during the 2014 -2015 school year as an extension to the learning experience.

UrbanTheater Premieres Dark, Magical Realistic Play Devil Land In Humboldt Park

Written by Desi Moreno-Penson

Directed by Hank Hilbert

 

Co-Directed by Juan Casta�eda

 

"A childless, Latino couple kidnap a young girl in order to create a family...but the little girl has ideas of her own...and when her imaginary friend, the Grinch, comes to life to help her, the couple ends up with far more than they bargained for! A dark and gothic fairy tale for the contemporary world."

 

Location: UrbanTheater Company - 2628 W. Division St.

 

Performances: Thursdays - Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 6pm
Previews: $10 March 4th, 5th & 6th 
General Admission: $20
Students: $15
Seniors: $10
Community Discount: $10 with 60622 Zip Code

 

Buy Tickets Today! - http://bit.ly/UTCDevilLand

Campaign to Free Oscar L�pez Rivera
Elizam Escobar, 15 a�os despu�s de su liberaci�n

El artista y ex prisionero pol�tico Elizam Escobar presentar� el mi�rcoles su obra "Crescendo",  con motivo del d�cimo quinto aniversario de su excarcelaci�n.

El evento - dedicado al prisionero pol�tico Oscar L�pez Rivera, quien cumple en mayo 33 a�os de c�rcel, y al centenario de la poetisa Julia de Burgos-, se llevar� a cabo en el local de Hermanas Rivera, en la calle San Sebasti�n #157, que ya se destacada como un centro de actividades culturales en el Viejo San Juan.

Junto a la exhibici�n de su trabajo "Crescendo", se presentar� una obra teatral y habr� m�sica.

La entrada es libre de costos y la actividad comenzar� a partir de las 5:00 p.m. Siga leendo...

 
Orlando Network Chapter Hosts Committee for Puerto Rico at UN

Olga I. Sanabria Davila, Executive Secretary of the Committee for Puerto Rico at the United Nations, spoke on the present situation in Puerto Rico,  the case of Puerto Rico at the UN, and the need to present the case at the International level, including the release of Oscar Lopez Rivera. She then entertained questions. Ms. Sanabria has been involved in the Puerto Rico political status issue for many years which has taken her to many parts of the world. The Committee for Puerto Rico at the United Nations coordinates some aspects of the presentation of the case at yearly United Nations hearings. Ms. Sanabria holds a Bachelors Degree in journalism and a Law Degree.

 

... Olga I. Sanabria Davila, Secretaria EJecutiva del Comite de Puerto Rico en Naciones Unidas, hablo sobre la situacion actual en Puerto Rico, el caso de Puerto Rico en Naciones Unidas, y la necesidad de presentar el caso a nivel Internacional, incluyendo el reclamo de excarcelacion de Oscar Lopez Rivera.  luego contesto preguntas. Sa. Sanabria ha estado involucrada en el tema del status politico de Puerto Rico durante muchos anios lo que la ha llevado a muchas partes del mundo. El Comite de Puerto Rico en Naciones Unidas coordina algunos aspectos de la presentacion del caso en vistas celebradas anualmente en Naciones Unidas. Sa. Sanabria tiene un grado en periodismo y un grado en Derecho.

 

NYC Art Exhibition and Fundraiser for 

Campaign to Free Oscar L�pez Rivera

The NBHRN is excited to invite artists to participate in postcards4oscar, an art exhibition and fundraiser for the freedom of Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar L�pez Rivera, who has been in prison for over 32 years. We hope that you will consider participating in this important event that will help to raise awareness for Oscar's release and we invite you to contribute to this unique invitational exhibition, and sale of original art.

 

postcards4oscar is a fundraising exhibition showcasing artists' work from throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Artists will submit 4" x 6" works of art on a postcard that we will provide. The artwork will be exhibited anonymously (signed on back) and sold on a first-come, first-served basis for $50. Only after selecting and purchasing a piece will a buyer learn the identity of the artist. Artists may work in any medium or style and may submit more than one postcard if so desired.

 

The exhibition will take place in New York at the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center on May 24th, with an Artist Preview Event on May 23rd.

 

Final submissions of artwork must be received by May 12th.

For more info: postcards4oscar@boricuahumanrights.org
New Mural of Oscar in Guanica, Puerto Rico
A new mural of Oscar L�pez Rivera was unveiled last week in Guanica, Puerto Rico by artist Damarys Burgos. Pictured by the mural are, from left to right: Luis Rosa, Clarisa Lopez, Damarys Burgos, Mercedes Lopez and Adolfo Matos.
 
Oscar's Letters to his Granddaughter Karina now Available in English

The series of letters by Oscar Lopez Rivera to his granddaughter Karina published online by El Nuevo Dia are now available in English. All 15 published thus far are available on the National Boricua Human Rights Network website.