Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez

For his visionary leadership carried out in words and deeds as exemplified in the following:

• During the annual fundraiser gala for Claridad, the newspaper of the Puerto Rica Nation – where he engaged Puerto Rico’s legendary artist Antonio Martorell in a historic conversation on “The Politics of Art and the Art of Politics,” demonstrating his skillful oratory and his profound sense of Puerto Ricaness.

• In the helping to design an innovative approach to the immigration quagmire by enlisting citizens to petition for their undocumented partners, family members and friends.

• In the working out a compromise for the workers of Republic Windows through which they were able to get back, wages as well as to provide a Christmas meal and gifts for each worker and his/her family.

Runner Ups:

Wilfredo de Jesus

• For his national prophetic voice in making comprehensive reform a national agenda issue for evangelical Christians, as well as for his national promise as a Latino leader demonstrated by his selection as one of 15 Latinos to serve as advisers to President-Elect Obama.

• For building one of the largest Puerto Rican/ Latino churches in Chicago, which has put out a welcoming for the hurting.

Freddy Santiago

• For his courage in hosting the largest “Familia Unidas – Yá Basta” gathering in his church Rebaño, and for making the church much more accessible to the surrounding community.

• For his leadership in speaking out on important issues impacting the Latino community such as education, health and youth services.

Alderman Billy Ocasio

For his many heroic stands on behalf of our community manifested recently in the following:

• For being the only Alderman to oppose the City’s budget which hit the working class the hardest.

• For the creation of a summer leadership youth institute to instill a sense of values, responsibility and cultural awareness to our youth.

Mildred Amador

• For her consistency and perseverance in producing a documentary about the flags of Paseo Boricua, titled, “Flags of Steel.” This project will inform future generations about the story behind the creation of our monuments to the Puerto Rican Flag.

Alberto Carrero

• For his many years of service to Banco Popular and for transforming it into a Peoples Bank in our community and his leadership in the capital campaign to build our national museum, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC).

Maddi Elga Amil

• For her deep-seated commitment to the development of Paseo Boricua as exhibited in her instrumental role in moving the office of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration from Downtown to our barrio. And also maintaining and expanding the only Puerto Rican bookstore on Paseo Boricua.

Efrain Vargas

• For having the vision and the practice that created Bickerdike’s “La Estancia Housing Complex” on Division and California with its “Garita” like façade reminiscent of our Viejo San Juan, as well as his longstanding efforts to build affordable housing in our community

Michelle Morales

•For her uncompromising advocacy for the human rights for the Puerto Rican people through the National Boricua Human Rights Network as an organization actively supporting the release of the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and the clean – up of Vieques, Puerto Rico.

Nereida Áviles

• For her untiring work as supervisor of Humboldt Park, which has transformed the park into a true people’s park by making it welcoming, accessible and culturally vibrant.

Xavier “Xavi” Luis Burgos

Rare is the opportunity to honor the academic and creative achievements of youth outside of school. On December 19, such a celebration took place on Paseo Boricua for the culmination of the second cycle of the Barrio Arts, Culture, and Communication Academy (BACCA). BACCA is an innovative after school program developed by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) in collaboration with the Capilla del Barrio Community Chapel and funding from the Bethany United Hospital Fund. BACCA served, for eight-weeks, 18 high school-age youth, mostly from Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School (PACHS) and other Humboldt Park-area schools.

BACCA addresses the high drop-out/push-out rates in the Humboldt Park community that, as a result, most mainstream media outlets portray as a wild jungle overridden by dangerous and uneducated youth. Therefore, BACCA seeks to integrate community, culture, and alternative media 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 are rarely acknowledged in standard educational programs and schools. The different classes that exist are Radio, Multimedia (a combination of graphic design and photography), Skateboarding, and Participatory Democracy. Participants are able to choose which of these classes they would like to join, with the latter class being taken by all students.

On December 19, BACCA hosted an event to showcase the application of BACCA’s vision through the different programs. Attended by over 60 youth, parents, and community residents, it was some of the participants’ first time speaking and presenting to an audience. The Participatory Democracy students read poetry and stories that addressed their thoughts and experiences on the issue of gentrification/displacement of longtime residents from Humboldt Park due to rising rents and expensive housing development. The class is a civic engagement piece that seeks to redefine community and youth organizing.  Marilyn Pérez, 17, a junior at PACHS received loud applause for her piece that exclaimed, “The reason we fight for this community is because it’s unique and lively/ Like no other/ Paseo Boricua/ A place I would never want to see die/A place if it gets destroyed I would suffer and cry…”

The Multimedia class, which produced a full-colored book of their work, discussed the subject of identity through graphic design, photography, and poetry. The themes of community, family, culture, and adolescence served as an inspiration for their dynamic works of art and creativity. The class also produced a small video documentary about BACCA with student interviews and a CD that included the work of the different BACCA classes.

Probably the most unlikely class for an after school program was Skateboarding, which presented many artistic creations. Reclaiming community history is an important concept of BACCA, and skateboarding as an increasingly popular form of inner-city youth recreation is a part of that. Skateboarding and Hip-Hop are almost forgotten pieces of Puerto Rican history in the diaspora. The class researched and discussed that history as well as designed their very own skateboards. A huge, colorful timeline created by the students was displayed at the event.

The last class to present was Radio, which showcased their skills in ProTools and other voice recording software with clips of insightful testimonials and interviews about alternative schools, gentrification, and personal triumphs.

At the end of the successful event, which included catering by Nellie’s Puerto Rican Restaurant, the audience filled-out comment cards that will be used for a program evaluation being conducted by Dr. Michele Kelley of the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health.

“I hope that they could take what they learn from BACCA and be able to go out into the world and be critical of the other works that they see in photography, radio, and film…and how they can be the ones to tie media to their communities,” said Samuel J. Vega, who was a student in BACCA’s first cycle and is now a university student of media at Northeastern Illinois University.

For more information on BACCA, please contact: 773-342-8023.

• 100 x 35 campaign

• Premiere of Flag of Steel

• 30th Peoples Parade

• Crime Against Humanity Play

• Premiere of Nothing Like the Holiday

• 15th Annual Fiesta Boricua

• 20th Anniversary Vida/SIDA

• Premiere of Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story

• Casa Puertorriqueña Presidential Election

• Petition Drive for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Rebaño Church.

Humboldt Park community residents gathered at Batey Urbano (2620 W. Division) to prepare for one of Puerto Rico’s most cherished cultural traditions. This tradition, which has taken place for over a century in Puerto Rico, has finally made its way onto the streets of the chilly Windy City.

Despite the wicked wind, nearly 100 people came out to participate in the 2nd annual ¡Humboldt Park NO SE VENDE! Parranda on Paseo Boricua on December 20. The sounds of panderetas, tamboriles, güiros, maracas and palitos unleashed into the eardrums of everyone on Paseo Boricua.

The Parranda visited Paseo Boricua businesses such as Café Colao, La Bruquena, Yauco Liquors, Latin American, Lily’s Record Shop, La Plena, Luquillo Barbershop, and Papa’s Cache. It ended at the Teresa Roldán Apartments on Paseo Boricua, where the building residents and all who participated in retaining the holiday spirit were welcomed to dance, sing, drink hot chocolate, play dominoes, and eat a delicious Puerto Rican meal. All in all, old man winter could not ruin our Caribbean ritual as it turns out that the spiritual warmth inside of all Puerto Ricans proved more powerful. Organized by the ¡Humboldt Park NO SE VENDE! campaign, which is a project of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, with support from Alderman Billy Ocasio (26th Ward) the parranda was yet another example of how important it is to maintain our culture as we fight against gentrification and in the process, keep our traditions strong for future generations.

A seven-year collaboration between DePaul and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) in Humboldt Park earned top honors from Illinois Campus Compact when it was named winner of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Foundation Award.
The Irwin W. Steans Center for the community-based Service Learning and the PRCC will share the award’s  $15,000 purse and continue addressing jointly critical health, social and cultural issues affecting Puerto Rican and Latino communities. “The creation and maintenance of a true partnership between a university and a community is an exercise in listening, planning and mutual respect,” says Howard Rosing, Steans’ executive director. That approach was validated by a selection committee of higher education, business, government and community leaders who recognized the beneficial relationship it sustained as they reviewed applications from 14 Illinois Campus Compact members vying for the prestigious Carter Award.

Illinois Campus Compact consists of 42 universities, colleges and their presidents, who are highly committed to service-learning and civic engagement. It’s the state’s affiliate for a national coalition of more than 1,100 institutions that put these values into action.

For several months, Bronx Democratic Party Chairman José Rivera’s legacy has been slandered by two elected officials who have revealed themselves as self-promoters, with no regard for the truth, or the welfare of the people of the Bronx. These elected officials have been so desperate for the control of the Bronx Democratic Party leadership that they have callously portrayed Jose Rivera as anti-black.

When Assemblyman Rivera voted in favor of gay marriage, Reverend Díaz and Assemblyman Díaz Jr. vowed to take revenge. Long time homophobes, the Díazes, are subjecting Assemblyman José Rivera to callous and racially divisive attacks, discrediting themselves in the process.

For the last three decades Assemblyman José Rivera has worked relentlessly as a street activist for the people of the Bronx struggling for jobs, better housing and social justice. A longtime member of the Carpenters’ Union, Assemblyman Rivera is a champion of the working class. In 1975 he founded the United Tremont Trades, and secured jobs for Latino, African-American and White workers in the Bronx. In 1980, the attention of the entire world focused on the inhumane conditions of the South Bronx, through José Rivera’s now legendary “People’s Convention” on Charlotte Street.

Assemblyman Rivera continues to advocate for every development in the Bronx to be built by our construction trade unions. Yankees Stadium was the most recent development where José Rivera has demonstrated his commitment to union labor by demanding union construction and jobs. His efforts have led to thousands of good paying jobs for people of all races and ethnicities.

Yet a lifetime of service and leadership and solidarity with working people has not immunized José Rivera from the effects of a smear campaign engineered by a group of ruthless elected officials. Despite their attempts to destroy José Rivera’s legacy, on September 28th, at the Utopia Paradise Theatre, Bronx Democrats showed their appreciation for José Rivera’s contributions to the people of the Bronx by arriving by feet, car, train and buses to cast their vote. Despite the lies and media attacks, Bronx Democrats made their voices heard and overwhelmingly voted to re-elect Jose Rivera Chairman of the Bronx Democratic Party.

The same unscrupulous elected officials are now challenging the re-election of José Rivera in court.

For more info: Jasmine Clavasquin at ms.jasminclavasquin@gmail.com.

Days before the 15th Annual Fiesta Boricua, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) unveiled two news additions to the cultural landscape of Paseo Boricua. These cultural expressions, a mural and sculpture, add to the uniqueness of Paseo Boricua, nuestro “pedacito de patria.”

Renowned Puerto Rican artists Pablo Marcano and Rosana Vazquez Medina presented their newest mural in Humboldt Park to over 100 people. The mural is found at the new annex of the PRCC (2700 W. Haddon). The mural, which is composed of several parts, features colorful renditions of Juan Antonio Corretjer and Lolita Lebrón; two important 20th century figures in Puerto Rico. These figures represent the legacy of struggle and resistance that characterize the PRCC’s community work. This is not the first local mural created by Marcano. He is the artist responsible for the mosaic mural of Roberto Clemente that adorns the outside of Roberto Clemente High School (1147 N. Western Ave).

Along with the mural, the PRCC unveiled a five-foot tall bust of Juan Antonio Corretjer. The extremely talented Puerto Rican artist, Juan Nuñez, designed the impressive sculpture. It is an exact replica of the original work found in the entrance of the mountainous town of Ciales, the birthplace of Corretjer. In Chicago, the bust currently resides in the first floor of Bickerdike’s La Estancia Building (on the corner of Division and California).

These works were created to commemorate the Centennial of Juan Antonio Corretjer and 35th anniversary of the founding of the PRCC. In honor of a history that continues to be made, these artistic productions affirm Corretjer’s famous assertion: “Yo sería Borincano, aunque naciera en la luna.”

Marisol Rodríguez

Last month WTTW11 premiered “Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story,” a documentary about the struggles Puerto Ricans faced during their settlement in Chicago. Produced by married couple Antonio and Gloricelly Franceschi, “Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story,” uses interviews and news footage to present a first-of-its-kind chronological story of Chicago Boricuas.

The documentary begins with the Spanish American War of 1898 and the annexation of Puerto Rico as a United States territory and ends in present-day. At one point Antonio and Gloricelly considered centering the film on the 1966 Chicago riots, but decided to broaden the scope in order to include more historical context.

While conducting interviews with numerous Chicago Puerto Ricans for their documentary, Antonio and Gloricelly began to see a common thread connecting the experiences of these individuals—discrimination and poor quality of living.

Gloricelly, who moved to Chicago from Coamo, Puerto Rico in 1982, said she shares an affinity with the experiences of many of the interviewees, especially when they spoke of the trauma of leaving a familiar life in Puerto Rico for a new and strange one in the United States.
Gloricelly and her family settled near Foster and Ashland avenues, in the area known as the Andersonville. Her husband Antonio, who has family roots in Villalba, Puerto Rico, was born in Chicago and raised in the neighborhoods of Bucktown, Wicker Park and Logan Square.

Despite balancing parental and film-making responsibilities, Gloricelly said she and Antonio had relatively little difficulties in working on “Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story.”

“We really complement each other,” Gloricelly said. “Where [Antonio’s] weak, I’m strong and where I’m weak [Antonio’s] strong.”

In addition the couple shared a similar mission in their documentary making, which added to their personal relationship. “We have a passion to educate through the medium and I think that’s what makes us closer as a couple,” Gloricelly said.
The first project Antonio and Gloricelly worked on together was a public service announcement on AIDS. In 1998 they collaborated on “Siempre Caliente,” a television show on Latino popular culture.
Now that they have completed “Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story,” the couple is considering future projects.

Gloricelly mentioned a possible venture which stems from an idea the couple has had for many years– a television show called “Latinos on the move.” The program would highlight Latino professionals who are committed to promoting a healthy work environment and being active in their community.

In addition to “Latinos on the move,” Gloricelly said the translation of “Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story” is also in the works.

According to Gloricelly, Daniel Soles, Senior Vice President and Chief Television Content Officer of WTTW, is interested in producing a Spanish-language version of the documentary which would air on WTTW’s Spanish language television network, V-me.

Each year, Alderman Ocasio and the organizers of Fiesta Boricua (Bandera a Bandera) recognize the contributions of an important figure of the Puerto Rican community. This public recognition comes in the form of a bronze Paseo Boricua “Walk of Fame” medallion. Past honorees include musical icons Lucecita Benítez, Eddie Palmieri, and Willy Colón, as well as local political and community figures Congressman Luis Gutiérrez and Elías Díaz y Pérez. This year’s “Walk of Fame” honoree is Richard Carrion, the President and CEO of Banco Popular. On September 15, at Coco’s Restaurant (2723 W. Division) Alderman Ocasio and many community leaders and members honored Carrion with his very own Paseo Boricua “Walk of Fame” medallion, as a token of appreciation for his longstanding commitment to Paseo Boricua’s economic development and for his widespread promotion of Puerto Rican culture and identity.

At two o’clock, on Saturday, June 14, Humboldt Park’s Puerto Rican community will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the People’s Parade along “La Division.”

Before 1978, when the Humboldt Park Puerto Rican community first gathered to celebrate the People’s Parade, Chicago Boricuas traveled downtown to attend the city’s Puerto Rican Day Parade. However, the dislocation of the city’s parade from where Puerto Ricans lived motivated the Humboldt Park residents to create their own parade, thus taking ownership of their cultural expression, according to PRCC executive director, Jóse E. López.

López also noted that the People’s Parade was formed to have an event that addressed the social issues of the Puerto Rican community. “We could do parades, but unless they spoke to our reality, they become sterile.”

The issues that affect this community are manifested in the selected themes of each People’s Parade as well as the social message of the various floats. The first parade addressed police brutality in the community, which had been tragically highlighted by the killing of two Puerto Rican youths by Chicago police officers during this period. The mother of one of these two men, Virginia Cruz, who recently passed, will be honored at this year’s People’s Parade.

“Aesthetics as resistance – the act of community building” is the theme of this year’s People’s Parade. The theme relates to the Humboldt Park communities’ resistance to displacement through gentrification, according to parade coordinator, Leony Calderón.

Calderón, who also works at the PRCC’s Vida/SIDA, an AIDS education and prevention Program, said the average cost of putting together the parade is about $13,000. The funding for the parade comes primarily from the sale of advertisements, which have been printed in La Voz each year, for the past three years and in a separate ad book previously.

This is Calderón’s seventh year as parade coordinator, a position for which she is not paid but does as a volunteer. Her involvement in organizing the parade began when she served on its committee, under the leadership of, then parade coordinator, Josefina Rodríguez.

The first time Calderón attended the People’s Parade was as a high school junior at Latino Youth, an alternative high school located nearby the Pilsen area. Her advisor at the time, Roberto Sanabria, a current PRCC board member, told Calderón about the parade. She remembered the impression a large crowd of Puerto Ricans had on her.

Despite the challenges that Calderón faces in putting together this important community event, she said the final product is worth it.

“The day of the parade … when we blow the whistle and say ‘Let’s start,’ that’s the joy,” Calderón said. “That’s really why I do it.”