David Hernandez the “unofficial” poet laureate of Chicago, as he was famously known, died on Monday, February 25th at age 66. He leaves behind his wife Batya and his daughter Matea. David wrote poetry for over fifty years since the age of 11 and is founder of Street Sounds, the musical group that accompanied his poetry for 40 years.

David Hernandez was born in Cidra, Puerto Rico on May 1st 1946. He came to Chicago in 1955, as a young boy with his family. They settled in the Lake View neighborhood around Wrigleyville, when it was home to many Puerto Rican families. David taught poetry workshops in prisons, community centers and the Chicago Public Schools to thousands of Students. In 1971, he cofounded Street Sounds with musician Dean Karabatsos. Street Sounds is a diverse band that accompanied David’s poetry with a plethora of music including Latin-jazz.
David was also author of several books including: Despertando (Waking Up, 1971), Roof Top Piper (1991), Satin City Lullaby (1985) and The Urban Poems (2004). In addition to being noted for reading the poem for Chicago’s 150th Anniversary, he also read the inaugural poem for Mayor Harold Washington, as well as, a poem when the former Mayor died.  David enjoyed humor and used it proudly insisting on a laugh whenever he got up to speak in front of people. He was always introducing himself as, “Hi I’m David Hernandez and I’m a famous Poet.” No one could resist giggling at the notion. All jokes aside, he was always encouraging and mentoring young poets including myself. David Hernandez was the first poet I every saw or met. I first saw David in 1987, I was a sophomore at Clemente High School and part of the Clemente Steel Band. We were invited to play at one of Chicago’s sesquicentennial celebration in Navy Pier. There I saw from far away David Hernandez on stage in front of Hundreds of people reading his Chicago poem for which he had been commissioned to write. A couple of years later, I saw him again in my classroom at Clemente. He had been invited to recite poetry to the students in the Youth Guidance program.

But I still didn’t have a desire to be a poet until a couple of years after in 1991, I was walking west on Division Street, towards Damen Avenue when I came across a café called Random Worlds. There I saw through the window, a tiny-plump Puerto Rican man reciting his poetry with enormous confidence and humor. I stepped in and took a seat to listed. When the program was over, I introduced myself and told him that I had written a couple of poems. He invited me to bring the poems the following week to read. As fate would have it, I returned to the Café the following week and after reading my first poem, I instantly knew I was going to be a poet for the rest of my life. Over 20 years later, I still rely on the dedication he wrote to me when he signed a copy of his book Roof Top Piper in 1993.

He wrote, “For Eduardo the poet I always wanted to be and finally became…sigue con las palabras and your quality life! Love David.” Thank you David Hernandez, for helping me and many others become real poets.

by Eduardo Arocho

La Familia de Ángeles

Al Tribunal Supremo de San Juan, Puerto Rico entran dos damas erguidas, cartera en mano, maquilladas y bien vestidas.  Ambas tienen ese aire de gallardía que algunas veces acompaña a los juristas. A  todas luces podrían ser parte de un grupo de magistrados del interés público, líderes de la judicatura  o simplemente  dos ciudadanas llamadas al deber público de ser jurado. La realidad es amargamente  otra,  Ángeles Acosta y Carmen Milagros Vélez son dos  madres.  Dos mujeres  luchadoras, excelentes ciudadanas, responsables, profesionales y lesbianas que llevan un caso en contra del Estado para que se reconozca la adopción de Ángeles como madre de la hija biológica de Vélez, quien es profesora universitaria.  Si fuese denegada esta sería  la cuarta vez que  a la  peticionaria, se le cuartara  su derecho a declarar legalmente a su familia, compuesta de  su compañera Milagros y de la hija de ambas. “Ella es mi hija desde que nació y así me reconoce”, afirma Ángeles sobre la hija de ambas mujeres quienes mantienen una relación de pareja desde 1988.  A los ocho años de convivencia decidieron convertirse en madres, mediante el método de inseminación artificial. La mujer con voz entrecortada por la situación tan inusitada del caso asegura “hasta ahora solo me han conocido como la peticionaria del caso A.A.R , hoy conocerán a Ángeles Acosta”.

Ángeles Acosta es una sicóloga clínica especialista en niños con impedimentos,  una profesora universitaria y una madre a la cual los jueces del Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico le niegan sus derechos.  En la víspera, la mujer había decidido que mostraría su rostro para que los jueces y el país vieran su realidad,  la de una madre como cualquier otra.  Para explicar la gravedad del caso la mujer declaró que la ley le prohíbe  algo tan cotidiano como acarrear a su hija de un  lugar a otro.  “Tengo que solicitar un poder legal para poder transportar a la niña”.  Agregó que no podía ni llevarla al médico.

El Tribunal Supremo decidió, en una votación dividida, que  Ángeles  no puede adoptar a la hija biológica de su pareja, también mujer, sin que Milagros  pierda su vínculo jurídico con la menor. La opinión mayoritaria, fue emitida por la  jueza Mildred Pabón Charneco, quien basó la determinación en que el discrimen por orientación sexual no está prohibido en la Constitución. La  votación dividida  resolvió que el artículo 138 del Código Civil impide la adopción solicitada y que esta prohibición es válida. Los  otros jueces conservadores  que hicieron eco de esta desacertada opinión fueron: Rafael Martínez Torres, Erick Kolthoff Caraballo, Edgardo Rivera García y Roberto Feliberti Cintrón.
El juez presidente del Tribunal Supremo, Federico Hernández y las juezas asociadas Ileana Fiol Matta y Anabelle Rodríguez Rodríguez, así como el juez Luis Estrella Martínez, fueron las voces disidentes y apoyaron la petición de Ángeles. Sus  opiniones se basaron  en  que el artículo cuestionado no prohibía la adopción solicitada. También añadieron “no podemos ignorar el hecho de que este proceder nos aísla de lo que está sucediendo en el resto del mundo”.

Para afianzar su causa, Ángeles compara su lucha con la de los negros. Mirando hacia el edificio que alberga el Tribunal Supremo, la mujer confía en que prevalecerá con sus nuevos argumentos.  Esta vez su  moción abarca temas  como el  mejor interés y bienestar de la menor, la figura jurídica del segundo progenitor a cargo de la niña también conocida como Second Parent Adoption, la equidad  y también incluye argumentos constitucionales estatales y federales. Ella espera con firmeza y seguridad que al darle un rostro  a sus verdugos en ese foro legal, ellos  tomen  conciencia, se expresen de otra  manera  y que reconozca la diversidad e igualdad que existe en nuestra sociedad.
A esta epopeya jurídico-civil se ha vinculado otro “issue” paralelo al increíble caso de Ángeles, pues los cambios a la Ley 54 podrían ofrecer  una esperanza a estas dos mujeres que quieren legalizar su familia. El gobernador Alejandro García Padilla se ha pronunciado a favor de  someter  dos proyectos para darles “las protecciones adoptantes independientemente de su orientación sexual”, entre otros cambios a esta arcaica ley. Para el gobernador es importante hacer los cambios de la Ley 54 para que  estos sean cónsonos a  ley federal de Violencia Doméstica contra la Mujer. Por lo tanto es  conveniente  que el lenguaje de dicha ley en Puerto Rico garantice  la protección a todas las parejas, independientemente de su estado civil, orientación sexual y de su estatus migratorio. Irónicamente, lo  más importante para el gobernador  es no perder “las asignaciones federales”. Sin los cambios sugeridos por el gobernador  se pondrían en peligro unos $10 millones en asignaciones al Gobierno e instituciones que ayudan a las víctimas  de la violencia de género. Vale señalar que  tanto los ex gobernadores, Sila M. Calderón,  Pedro Rosselló, la alcaldesa de San Juan Carmen Yulín, los presidentes del Senado y Cámara de Representantes, grupos LGBTT y otras instituciones han declarado su sentir a favor de cambios progresistas a esta ley  para asegurar los derechos civiles y humanos de todos los ciudadanos.
El caso de Ángeles y Milagros  es extraordinario y altamente humano. Estamos frente a un atropello, donde no existen recursos legales para apoyar el derecho humano y civil que ellas tienen: legalizar su vínculo como familia. La familia es  un grupo social constituido por personas unidas por la sangre, el matrimonio o la adopción, caracterizado por tener una residencia común, cooperación económica, reproducción y cuidado de la descendencia. Estas  dos mujeres lesbianas son una familia en conjunto con su hija. Al someterse al escrutinio público, Ángeles ha dado un paso gigantesco, dándole una cara humana a este enredo político, jurídico y social. Cuando el presidente de EEUU,  Barack Obama en su discurso inaugural del  21 de enero de 2013 dijo, “nuestro viaje no está completo hasta que nuestros hermanos y hermanas “gays” sean tratados como cualquier otra persona en virtud de la ley”, seguro se refería a nuestras heroínas estas dos  madres lesbianas puertorriqueñas, Ángeles y Milagros.

por Joelle Gonzalez-Laguer, MFA —–
Foto mariel.mejia@gfrmedia.com de  Primerahora.

Joelle González-Laguer MFA
Es Cineasta, Profesor y  Escritor.  Se ha desempeñado como catedrático de Cine y Televisión en New York City. Galardonado con  tres becas CUNY (Educational Development Grants) de desarrollo educativo que le permitió vivir en la Argentina y Cuba. Ex-Moderador y anfitrión del Festival de Cine de La Habana en Nueva York. Escritor, Productor y Director de  varios documentales.  Autor del poemario: Pitonisa de San Juan. Actualmente escribe una adaptación de ficción para el cine.

Nota del escritor.
En  mis años de crianza en Isabela PR, mi abuela siempre me decía “nene vete por la orillita”, eso ha sido  una gran enseñanza para este divagar por la vida. Cuando uno observa las cosas sin estar sumergido en el meollo del asunto, las situaciones se ven claras, diáfanas, sin prejuicio, así  mismo desde orillita, como un silente observador desde la  periferia. Consecuentemente decidí llamar esta columna,
Desde la orillita con Joelle.

As part of the Barrio Arts, Culture, and Communication Academy (BACCA), a group of youth from the Humboldt Park community has become involved in a campaign to address the issue of underage drinking in the community. BACCA is an innovative after school program developed by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) in collaboration with La Capilla del Barrio Community Chapel and funding from the Bethany United Hospital Fund. The program hopes to provide an alternative outlet to substance abuse. In addition, BACCA seeks to integrate community, culture, and multimedia production to empower youth to be agents of change and inspiration in their community.

The program also seeks to develop the assets that youth already have but which are rarely, if ever, validated in standard educational programs and schools. By working with a group of students, as youth organizers, these young people with be creating meaningful program to engage other youth at their schools and community. We hope to create awareness in the community that will speak to the idea of positive transformation and possibility. We will be creating fliers, posters, theatrical productions, video PSAs, hosting events, and visiting schools. We will be working with high school students, particularly in Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School, Roberto Clemente High School, and ASPIRA High School.

Reflection from Jashlee Ann Turbe

The underage drinking prevention campaign has really helped me understand the importance of being part of a program that attempts to provide positive events for youth in the community.  Before getting to know the campaign, I always used to judge people when I saw them drinking and notice that they would become violent towards others and themselves.  I have made some research and came to the conclusion that there are three common reasons why young people drink: they are depressed, their parents gave them their first drink or their peers influence them.  However with being part the campaign, I came to realize that we as a community have to make some changes now especially reaching out to the youth before it is to late. I have become very aware of these issues.  We have been thinking of ideas to show the youth that they have alternatives in which they can be part of creating a solution for positive change.  For example, we will be having monthly events that will allow for youth to be engaged in something different and meaningful for them to do.  The campaign would also like to show that we have a safe environment where youth can come use the space, just hang out with us, and even help us creating events for our campaign.  We hope that this program will be a motivating force in the community to create something great and unique for youth.

Reflection from Edwin Diaz

Underage drinking is something common in the community that I live in. Many young people are involved in drinking and many of my friends are as well. I always thought why do young people turn to alcohol and that was a question I had wondered for a while now. I have come to understand that many do it to deal with the problem they are facing. When I finally found out that young people drink because of problems in their family, stress, and other issues that are often not dealt with in my community I decided to play a role in which I am part of a solution to provide other ways in dealing with our problems. I understand what they are going through.  To keep my head away from drinking I joined an organization that is called the anti underage drinking campaign. Through the campaign, I am able to understand and see how many teens are feeling towards underage drinking and their opinion on the subject. Not only that, I am able to help create positive change to help others in my community. Through creating messages, workshops, and invents we hope to reach young people around that need it the most. We encourage them to take up the leadership and drop the bottle. We also would like for others in the community to show to us how to be more responsible, which I think is very important.

by Nito Morales

I have had the privilege of coaching this year’s Louder Than A Bomb teen slam poetry team here at PACHS. The best and most concise description of the competition comes from the Young Chicago Author’s website: Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB) was founded in 2001, by Kevin Coval (YCA Artistic Director) and Anna West. LTAB is t he largest youth poetry festival in the world, featuring over 100 zip codes within the Chicago-land area. LTAB was created to give youth around the city of Chicago a platform to share their stories. The festival has since become a “bridge” for young people from many different backgrounds to come together and find a common ground through their narratives.
This is the 13th year of the LTAB Festival and what began with only 4 teams competing now has 100 teams of Chicagoland youth pouring out their hearts, minds, and souls on stage. PACHS has finished the first two preliminary bouts as of Wednesday, February 27, 2013. We have placed 2nd in both of those bouts. Each time in competition, our students have placed with some of the highest scores in that particular round. ‘Prelims’ will be complete on Friday, March 1, 2013 and we will know then if PACHS has made it to the semi-finals as a team. We do, however, in addition to group prospects, have individuals that may go on to the individual finals competition. PACHS has the reputation at the Festival of being “raw” or in other words really, really awesome. And this year, our students are living up to that reputation. Marc Smith, the founder of the genre of “slam” poetry visited the opening ceremony of Louder Than A Bomb this year and told the students that slam poetry is about the marriage of poetry and performance. Our team this year has skill in both arenas. We have put in hours of work and have truly demonstrated the essence of dedication, commitment, and teamwork.

They have a saying at LTAB: “It’s not about the points it’s about the poetry.” This spirit of mutual support and encouragement breeds appreciation of diversity and an atmosphere of kinship among the students from all schools and neighborhoods that is unparalleled in this city. Our students have become a part of a large family of poets and artists and I have witnessed them becoming better, more confident and self-assured young people for it. With their work, they have inspired other students, judges, themselves, and their fellow classmates. But most of all, they have inspired me. – Oni Woods, PACHS teacher.

by Oni Woods

Dimar Ortuz is a proud product of Humboldt Park, today a cruise-weight undefeated 7-0 boxer. He carries this label of origin with pride, as part of his promotional presentation, as we can all see on the corner of Division and California. Dimar attended briefly the Consuelo Lee Corretjer Daycare Center, partook in the summer programs sponsored by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center as a young boy, and finally graduated from Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School in 1999. But he is not only excellent in his sport and division, but his life is a testament of human will and power. Dimar has had every reason to not stand where he is at today, but at 31, an age when so many people feel it is not possible to set new goals and ambitions in life, he broke all of the stereotypes of age and life challenges to be 7-0 at 5 knockouts. Our undefeated Dimar, totally a homegrown champ, is a great example of the young people that are produced in Humboldt Park. On behalf of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, we are extraordinarily proud of our homegrown champion as a child of our own, and we know that his beloved mother Elsa Delgado is equally proud. Congratulations, Dimar Ortuz!

Lourdes Lugo

On Friday, December 7th over 450 people packed the auditorium at Roberto Clemente High School for the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture’s 4th Annual Navi-Jazz, which featured the Grammy award-winning Latin Jazz bassist, John Benitez, and his band. His electrifying performance mesmerized the crowd and received a standing ovation.  The highlight of the performance was a piece composed by John Benitez’s son, Francis Benitez (the group’s drummer) dedicated to the freedom of Oscar Lopez-Rivera, a Puerto Rican political prisoner who has served 31 years in jail.