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This year's Pa'lante Conference was focused on Puerto Rican Identity in the Age of Diaspora, a topic that brought about an array of deep thought and discussion among students and staff. Monday April 6th kicked off the Annual Pa'lante Conference hosted by UPRS at UIC with a very engaging presentation by Nelson Denis on his book, War on All Puerto Ricans. This event discussed the powerful, tragic, and untold history of U.S. intervention into the politics of Puerto Rico.Nelson Denis not only spoke about the content of his book, but also what inspired him to write it. The audience got a look into his family's personal experience with these issues, and how their struggles led him to write against the U.S. and its invasion of Puerto Rico.

Tuesday April 7th was a day to immerse in a traditional form of Puerto Rican art and culture. Bombera de Corazon was led by Ivelisse Diaz, an educator and instructor of Bomba in the community. This event was meant to illustrate the origins of Bomba, her experience as a Bomba performer and instructor, and how Bomba is used to express Puerto Rican culture.  It was set in what is called a "Batey", a place of congregation and gathering, a story circle. Ivelisse spent the first half talking about the history and significance of Bomba as well as her experience, while the second part was spent learning how to dance Bomba.

Melissa Montero led a wonderful presentation on Wednesday April 8th introducing her short for the film, ISABEL. The film ISABEL portrays the life of Isabel Rosado Morales, a woman whose life encompasses the history of Puerto Rico over the last century, and whose struggles reflect the politics that have divided Puerto Ricans in the past and continue to divide them.

Later in the day a presentation/performance by Too4G captivated the audience's senses through musical performance. The instruments of choice? The Puerto Rican Cuatro. The members of the group explained what Cuatro music is, their own experiences, and how they got involved. The rest of the presentation involved the group performing Cuatro music.

Thursday April 19th was another busy day in the Pa'lante Conference as students were engaged in an Arts-Based Civic Dialogue in the afternoon and Noche de Poetas later that evening. The Arts-Based Civic Dialogue was hosted by the UIC Latino Cultural Center and was focused on the Awakening of the Americas mural to explore collective creative solutions for common challenges. The dialogue discussed the meaning of 3 specific scenes in the mural, what they mean, and how students and staff could relate to them personally. One scene was the bird man with all of the flags, a scene of immigrants crossing the border, and the Zocalo scene that shows various aspects of indigenous cultures. Noche de Poetas was an amazing night filled with talented poets and musical artists sharing their own words.  The focus of this Noche de Poetas was, Without Borders: Reimagining Cultural Identity. It combined a variety of student organizations on campus such as the Union for Puerto Rican students, Mexican Students de Aztlan, Students for Justice in Palestine, as well as Students for the Advancement of Freedom, Equality, and Human Rights. Aside from the open mic there were three invited guests including two featured poets, Remi Kanazi and Luis Tubens, as well as a performance by our musical guest Gabriel Miranda. This was a full house filled with discussion and a great sense of unity among all students.

Easter is perhaps the most important of the Christian holidays, because it celebrates Christ's resurrection from the dead following his death on Good Friday. Considered a rebirth that is commemorated around equinox, which coincides with the arrival of spring, and symbolizes the arrival of light and the awakening of life around us.

The history of Easter reveals rich associations between the Christian faith and the unrelated practices of the early pagan religions. Easter traditions that we practice today evolved from pagan symbols, from the Easter Bunny, Easter eggs and the Easter egg hunt. 

In celebration of Easter, El Rescate staff organized an Easter egg hunt for the residents. This was not your ordinary egg hunt, although some eggs were filled with delicious candies at least half of the eggs were filled with money, ranging from $1 $5, $10, and $ 20 inside the eggs. 

Some residents were hesitant to participate because they considered the egg hunt a game for children and they did not want to play a children's game but once they found out money was involved all rose up to the occasion.

The residents scattered throughout the office and outside the building searching for the eggs, some becoming frustrated when they found eggs with only candy inside. It was such great fun seeing the residents laughing and running after each other searching for eggs. 

The big winner was Kishawna Irvin who literally ripped the hand sanitizer container off the wall to claim her $20 egg. The egg hunt culminated with an Easter cake and ice cream for all the residents and staff.

Staff donated the money used for the event.

By Leony Calderón

Health Education Every Wednesday, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.

Manage, Control and Prevent Diabetes.  Ask Doctors, Residents, Nutritionist, Pharmacist and Dietitian Your Pressing Health Questions.

Weekly Topics

• *       Diabetes 101
• *       Medication Education
• *       Nutrition Class
• *       Intro to Diabetes & How the Body Works
• *       Protecting Your Eyes
• *       Protecting Your Feet
• *       Oral Health
• *       Using The Glucose Meter & Meds
• *       Heart Health Education
• *       Physical Activity and Diabetes

Diabetes Empowerment Center, 2753 W. Division St. 773-342-0855

Free and Bilingual.

Educación de Salud todos los Miércoles de 12:00pm a 1:00pm

Manege, Controle y Prevenga la Diabetes. Haga Preguntas a los Médicos, Residentes, Nutricionistas, Farmacéuticos y Dietista Acerca de Su de Salud.

Temas Semanales

• *       Diabetes 101
• *       Educación Medicamentos
• *       Clase de Nutrición
• *       Introducción a la Diabetes y Cómo funciona el cuerpo
• *       Proteja sus ojos
• *       La protección de sus pies
• *       Salud Oral
• *       Uso del medidor de glucosa y Medicamentos
• *       Educación para la Salud del Corazón
• *       Actividad física y la diabetes 

Gratuito y Bilingüe.

Centro de Empoderamiento Contra la Diabetes, 2753 W. Division St. 773-342-0855

JOB DESCRIPTION

Organization: Puerto Rican Cultural Center

Job Title: In-Person Counselor (IPC) (Full-time, temporary position)

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1973 to serve the social and cultural needs of Chicago's underserved communities.

We are seeking bilingual (English and Spanish or other languages), motivated, and organized who are already certified or have an inactive In-Person Counselors (IPCs) license. IPCs will maintain expertise about the newly expanded Medicaid program and the Health Insurance Marketplace that are part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The IPCs will provide information and services in a fair, accurate, and impartial manner to the community members. Additionally, IPCs will be comfortable as public speakers and conduct activities to facilitate enrollment in health coverage.

Qualifications:

• Seeking Certified IPC - or IPC with inactive license
• Bilingual (English and Spanish)

November Chicago Magazine "Why José López Stands Between Gentrification and Humboldt Park"

Be sure to pick up the November issue of Chicago Magazine, which features an interview by Puerto Rican Cultural Center ED José E. López conducted by Elly Fishman.

Fri. Apr. 17th 6pm-7pm, Book Presentation by Dr. Edwin Meléndez, Puerto Ricans at the Dawn of the New Millennium at 2701 W. Division St.  Co-sponsor: Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College.

Sat. Apr. 18th, 1pm, Luncheon, A Panel Discussion with Drs. Antonia Darder and Angela Valenzuela "Towards a New Discourse on Latino Pedagogy." Co-sponsor: National Latino Education Research and Policy Project (NLERAP) ($10-$15 Sliding scale donation). Nellie's Restaurant, 2458 W. Division St.

Sat. Apr 25th Hostos College, 500 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY

National Conversation on Puerto Ricans in the Age of the Diaspora on the 50th Anniversary of the Death of Albizu Campos with a community concert featuring Roy Brown and El Topo (leaving Chicago on Fri. Apr. 24th)

Fri. Apr. 30th, 6pm, Rollout of CPS Latin American Curriculum with CPS CEO Barbara Byrd Bennett at National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, 3015 W. Division St.

Tues. May 19th Naming of Dr. Steve Whitman Greenhouse at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School. (Time TBA)

Fri. May 29th Event commemorating Oscar López Rivera's 34 yr. Anniversary of his arrest, La Casita de Don Pedro & Doña Lolita, 2625 W. Division St.

Sat May 30th NY Rally for Oscar Lopez Rivera's 34 yr. anniversary of his arrest (leaving Chicago on Fri May 29th)

Puerto Rican People's Parade                    22nd Fiesta Boricua "De Bandera a Bandera"

Sat June 20, 2015                                        Sept 5 - 6, 2015 * 12pm - 8:30pm

Starting 2PM-Division/Western                Honoring: Cayey, Puerto Rico, Orlando, Florida