I would like to congratulate you for having accomplished one of the greatest milestones we wish most of our young people would achieve.  This accomplishment will be the wings that will carry you into the future and will help you to fulfill more of your dreams, goals and ideals.  You will be a hopeful example to other young people who face the many challenges Latinos(as) face.  An education is not a gift that falls from the sky, but hard work that demands determination and will power.  Go forward and don't forget that a better and more just world is possible as long as we are willing to struggle for it.  You have made many of us proud.  Celebrate this great moment and enjoy it. I send you much love and a big hug with short Puerto Rican arms.  EN RESISTENCIA Y LUCHA, OLR.

RSVP by Friday, May 16

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

La Bruquena

2726 W. Division St

12-1pm

Lunch $10

To put their new knowledge in to action, high school students identified relevant public health topics in their school and worked with the UIC students to create a survey for their peers. On Friday, they stood together to present their findings. Their research uncovered many strengths within their school. For example, most students at Clemente are getting adequate physical activity and enjoy their PE classes; they also felt comfortable discussing safe sex practices. Students also had the opportunity to make recommendations, based on the survey results, to their peers and school administrators present at the event. Suggestions included more education about the health impacts of fast food, a class or group that addresses teen dating violence, and a Public Health club where students could continue applying their new knowledge and explore careers in Public Health. 

Principal Marcey Sorensen and assistant principal Robert Hartwig were present to congratulate their students' hard work and hear their suggestions.

UIC students thanked participating high school students and several emphasized they felt they had learned even more from the community than they had taught their younger co-researchers. They were accompanied by their instructor, Rachael Dombrowski, Doctors Michele Kelley and Ebbin Dotson, and dean of the UIC School of Public Health Dr. Paul Brandt-Rauf. At the culmination of the student presentations, PRCC Executive Director José E. López spoke to the students about the importance of public health and their potential to apply their education for the benefit of their community. His remarks were followed by Dr. Dotson´s invitation to students to consider a degree in Public Health at UIC where, he assured, they would be welcomed and supported.

Yvette Ruiz is a doctoral student at Chicago State University College of Pharmacy; a life long resident of Paseo Boricua and Roberto Clemente High School alumni.  The PRCC would like to congratulate her on her Doctorate of Pharmacy, which she will receive on May 15, 2014. 

May 10, 2014 Mother's Day was celebrated at the Greater Humboldt Park Diabetes Empowerment Center with an event hosted by the Keep Your Heart Healthy program. As a way to promote heart health, physical activity and healthy eating, there were presenters to engage all of the mothers and families in attendance.

Presentations were made by Roberto Perez of Urban Pilon who made delicious and healthy stuffed bell peppers and provided samples for guests to taste. Diana Reyes, Mexican folkloric dancer of Horizontes Mexicanos dance company graced the audience with a beautiful traditional dance. There was also a lively Zumba dance aerobics session to get participants moving and excited to exercise while having fun and Muevete t-shirts and Target gift cards were provided as the free raffle prizes!

The Mother's Day event hosted one-on-one consultations by registered dietician, Jennifer Bauer, RD, LDN, CDE from Presence Health Care and The Puerto Rican Cultural Center's (PRCC) Affordable Care Act (ACA) was on-site enrolling participants for Get Covered Illinois health coverage. The PRCC ACA program can assist community members with enrolling for health coverage weekly at 112 N. California. Call 773-227-7794 for details.

Roberto Clemente Community Academy
International Baccalaureate Candidate School
A new future, a new vision, a world class education in our community

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the first school in the US to be named after legendary Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, Clemente Community Academy is offering the opportunity to become a part of that history. For a limited time, we will commemorate donations to the Roberto Clemente 40th anniversary fundraiser by adding the names of those who have contributed to the Wall of Fame. This will be a permanent display in our lobby which will highlight the names of all who have given generously  to the celebration. Each brick will carry the name of the person making the donation or one of the below options. The donations will fall into 3 categories, Standard $50, All-Star $100, and MVP $250.

3 pricing options-

* Wall of Fame-$50 donation

* All-Star $100 donation

* MVP $250 donation

 All bricks are bronze with black lettering and border

 Naming options available are :

* Name

* Name and Graduation Year

* Mr & Mrs Name

Centrally located adjacent to the New Life Café at 1666 N. California Avenue, the clinic will be serviced by two bi-lingual physicians who are Board Certified in Family Medicine and able to address the healthcare needs of all members of our community from newborn to elder care. Additional services at the clinic will be developed utilizing the joint resources of both organizations including diabetes education, pre-natal care, mental health services, and other wellness activities. 

The ribbon cutting for the New Life Health Clinic will be held on May 13th at 12 PM, during the celebration of National Hospital Week and the New Life Covenant Church JumpStart Leadership Conference.  Over 100 ministers from around the country will be in attendance to celebrate this progressive and unique initiative. 

The New Life Health Clinic will open on May 19, 2014 and is now scheduling appointments at 773-292-7314. 

WASHINGTON -  El presidente de Uruguay, José "Pepe"Mujica afirmó hoy en Washington D.C. que "Puerto Rico es una de las naciones de América latina" y reveló que ha intervenido a favor de la excarcelación del prisionero político puertorriqueño Oscar López Rivera, que cumple este mes 33 años en cárceles estadounidenses.

"Tengo una posición histórica: Puerto Rico es una de las naciones que compone América Latina, pero va a ser difícil que yo pueda convencer a Estados Unidos", indicó Mujica, en una conferencia de prensa al responder preguntas de El Nuevo Día.

Horas antes, Mujica se había entrevistado en la Casa Blanca con el presidente Barack Obama.

Aunque hizo claro que no fue un asunto que trató en su encuentro con el presidente Obama, Mujica, un ex guerrillero tupamaro, afirmó que  "algún día Estados Unidos comprenderá (cuál es) el camino menos traumático para esa relación".

Con respecto a López Rivera, sobre el cual había recibido una petición de intervención, Mujica sostuvo que "hicimos lo que teníamos que hacer". Siga leyendo...

The exhibition features prominent artists from throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, each of whom has contributed an original work of art on a 4"x6" postcard. 

All artwork is on sale for $50. Each piece of artwork is signed on the back and will be exhibited anonymously, to be sold on a first come, first served basis on May 24th. Once a work is purchased, the artist's identity will be revealed to the buyer. 

* Exhibition Preview on Wednesday June 4th, 7-9pm. Sneak preview of the exhibition prior to the public viewing. Tickets $20. 

* Exhibition Opening June 5th, 7-9pm - Doors open promptly at 7pm, artwork will be sold on a first come, first served basis. 

Both events are at

Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center

1680 Lexington Ave. NYC

Featuring Works By (partial listing):

Manuel Acevedo  *  ADÁL Maldonado

Elia Alba * Luis Carle * Marcos Dimas 

Maria Dominguez * Emory Douglas

Elizam Escobar * Zachary Fabri * Teo Freytes 

Scherezade García * Rico Gatson 

Marina Gutiérrez * Charles Juhasz Alvarado 

Yasmin Hernández * Miguel Luciano

Arnaldo Morales * Rubén Ortiz Torres

Pepón Osorio * Antonio Martorell

Ana Rosa Rivera * Freddy Rodríguez

Rodríguez Calero * Adrián "Viajero" Román 

Juan Sánchez * Julio Suárez

John Pitman Weber * Josue Pellot

Jane Norling * Nitza Tufiño

Doug Minkler * Poli Marichal

Brenda Torres Figueroa and many more.  

lunes 28 de abril de 2014

Sr. Oscar López Rivera

87651-024

FCI Terre Haute

POB 33

Terre Haute, IN 47808

Estimado compañero,

Saludos de la nueva junta directiva del Desfile Puertorriqueño Nacional de Nueva York. Este próximo junio se cumplen 57 años desde que se organizo el primer desfile con el objetivo de celebrar nuestra cultura y nuestra historia y destacar los logros de nuestro pueblo dondequiera que se encuentre, ya sea en nuestra querida isla o en los tantos exilios en los que hemos echado raíces.

  Este año el desfile se llevará a cabo el domingo 8 de junio, en la Quinta Avenida de Manhattan, como es la tradición, y el tema del desfile será la gran poeta y activista Julia de Burgos y la 65 Infantería reconocidos como Los Borinqueneers. La intención del desfile este año es celebrar y resaltar los alcances de nuestros artistas, activistas trabajadores de la cultura y educadores y destacar los esfuerzos de nuestros compatriotas que luchan incansablemente por los derechos de nuestro pueblo.

  Por la presente, a nombre de la directiva del desfile y de todos los Boricuas que vivimos en la diáspora, quisiéramos darte un reconocimiento como Patriota Puertorriqueño del Desfile Nacional Puertorriqueño en Nueva York, en junio 8 del año 2014.

Aunque tu presencia física no será posible, nos llenará de orgullo y alegría el saber que serás parte de nuestros esfuerzos para restituir el verdadero sentido de esta importante celebración de nuestro pueblo puertorriqueño. Es nuestro deseo que el 8 de junio todos los grupos que apoyan los derechos humanos y la justicia participen en el desfile para que se oiga en voz alta nuestro llamado a tu libertad. 

Un fuerte abrazo Boricua,

Orlando Plaza

Ululy Rafael Martínez

El 3 de mayo de 2014 el compañero Alejandro Torres y yo tuvimos la invaluable oportunidad de visitar al patriota Oscar López Rivera. Como parte y antesala a su visita nos obsequiaron una visita por las instituciones comunitarias que Oscar ayudó a establecer en la comunidad de Humboldt Park en Chicago y que bajo el liderato de su hermano José López, su sobrina Lourdes y un extraordinario grupo de compañeros y compañeras de la comunidad y nuestro acompañante Alejandro Molina, han continuado desarrollándose sin prisa, pero sin pausa.

La Escuela Superior Pedro Albizu Campos, el programa Vida-Sida, el Centro Comunitario de Humboldt Park, un centro de apoyo para los jóvenes de la comunidad LGBTQ, un Museo de Arte Puertorriqueño, programas de huertos caseros, centros de cuido diurno infantiles, programas para desertores escolares, son algunos de los muchos programas que hoy trabajan por la comunidad de Humboldt Park, mayoritariamente puertorriqueña. Sin embargo, la agresiva política de ¨gentrification¨ está amenazando a esta dinámica comunidad puertorriqueña de la misma forma que lo ha hecho con la comunidad afroamericana. Ya se ven los hermosos edificios conocidos como ¨white stone¨ bajo renovación y en control de los llamados ¨yuppies¨ en calles donde antes no entraban los ciudadanos blancos. Siga leyendo aqui.

Delivers Call-to-Action to End the Puerto Rican Political Prisoner's Incarceration of Nearly 33 Years

April 29, 2014, New York City - In the spirit of its 2014 theme, "Un Pueblo, Muchas Voces"/"One People, Many Voices", the National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) has officially called for the release of long-time political prisoner, Oscar López Rivera. Arrested in 1981, López Rivera was convicted of seditious conspiracy related to his actions in the struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico. A long-time, vocal champion for Puerto Rican independence, López Rivera received a 70-year prison sentence, having spent more than 12 years in prisons that rank highest in punitive control, under torturous conditions of isolation and sensory deprivation. With this year's celebration, the Parade honors López Rivera to recognize his unique voice and rally support from the Puerto Rican and Latino communities, as well as the nearly 2.5 million parade-goers that line the streets of New York City's Fifth Avenue, to sign a petition for the release of López Rivera.

Puerto Ricans of all ideological and political backgrounds support the release of López Rivera since his sentence is widely viewed as not being commensurate with his actions. In fact, the 14 other compatriots that were imprisoned around the same time as López Rivera were released in 1999 when President Bill Clinton authorized their release, determining that their sentences were disproportionate with their actions. Continue reading here.

Apoyo por la excarcelacion de Oscar López Rivera del Gobernador de Puerto Rico

"Si uno examina la realidad de las reservaciones indígenas en Estados Unidos y lo que uno ve allí desde el punto de vista de la realidad de su gente, eso le hace a uno pensar en hacia dónde podría Estados Unidos estar llevando a Puerto Rico", afirmó el luchador independentista boricua.

La revelación la hizo el dirigente del Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano (MINH) Alejandro Torres, quien visitó el fin de semana a López Rivera en la prisión de Terre Haute, en Indiana, junto a la copresidenta de la organización Wilma Reverón Collazo.

Torres aseguró a Prensa Latina que el prisionero político, que el próximo día 29 cumple 33 años encarcelado en Estados Unidos (12 de ellos en solitaria), se mantiene firme en sus principios revolucionarios.

"Cuando el desarrollo propuesto depende, en cualquier país, de recursos que provienen de afuera, los beneficios van para afuera. Estados Unidos puede invertir en Puerto Rico lo que quiera y no habrá nunca un verdadero desarrollo", planteó el prisionero político en su diálogo con los dirigentes del MINH. Siga leyendo...

El 17 de mayo a las 10:30am llega la caminata 33 X Oscar a San Sebastian desde Las Marias.  Llegaran hasta el Coliseo Luis Aymat.  Es importante que todos lleguen comodos para continuar la caminata. Es muy importante contar con un buen grupo que los acompañe hasta Juncal. Partirán a la 1:00pm desde el Coliseo hasta Juncal, donde está el mural.  ahí termina la caminata hasta el domingo en la manana, cuando iniciaran su caminata desde Juncal hasta Lares:  Este es su pueblo y necesitamos el respaldo de todos!  ¡CUENTO CON USTEDES!

Así se lo contó a su hija Clarisa López Ramos y a su nieta Karina Valentín López en unas emotivas cartas que les envío a ambas desde la cárcel de Terre Haute, en Indiana. Es por eso que el colectivo 32 x Oscar se ha dado a la tarea de organizar una actividad que han bautizado Al mar x Oscar que será el domingo, 25 de mayo.

Durante esta actividad, que es una de las iniciativas que se ha creado para pedir la excarcelación de López Rivera, se realizará un gran desfile marino con yolas de pescadores, kayaks y "paddleboards" que saldrá del muelle 8 en Bahía Urbana, en San Juan, a la 1:00 p.m. y navegará por las aguas de la bahía de la ciudad capital hasta llegar a la Puerta de San Juan. Allí desembarcará el personaje de Oscar, creado por el artista Pedro Adorno, para partir en una comparsa hasta El Morro. En esa emblemática instalación, específicamente frente a la Escuela de Artes Plásticas, habrá una tarima donde se realizará un acto artístico que contará con figuras como Andy Montañez, Chucho Avellanet y el cuatrista Christian Nieves y su grupo de trovadores, entre otros. También dirán presente artistas plásticos y teatreros como Nick Quijano, Rafael Trelles, Antonio Martorell y Rosa Luisa Márquez. Siga leyendo...