June 2007 English La Voz - La Voz del Paseo Boricua

Transcription

IPRAC:
Summer with
Films and Art
in Humboldt Park
page 3
Preserving
Community:
Housing Summit
in the Barrio
page 4
La Red Boricua:
Free
Bilingual
Gratis
Boricuas Against Displacement
Filiberto Ojeda Rios
‘Airforce Ones
“Defiende Lo Tuyo”
Humboldt Park is Our Barrio
page 10
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
www.prcc-chgo.org
lavoz@prcc-chgo.org
June 2007
Vol. 4 • No. 4
Informing and Advocating for the Preservation of our “Pedacito de Patria” in Chicago
Fíjate
Sección Nueva:
Special Puerto Rican People’s Parade Insert: Page 15
Historical Legacies:
Confronting Our Challenges
– Building for the Future
Xavier “Xavi” Luis Burgos
‘Chacho, The Flags
Aren’t Moving, but
Puerto Ricans are!’
• In Remembrance of the 30th Anniversary of the 2nd Division Street Riots
• In recognition of “Retire 21”
One of the most pressing issues in Humboldt Park
is the complex process of displacement (gentrification) that Puerto Ricans are experiencing in our
historic community. Therefore, for the next several
months, La Voz del Paseo Boricua will feature a
column, Fíjate, focused on Puerto Rican displacement from Humboldt Park in the hope of stirring
popular opinion, educating our community, promoting a dialogue, and offering alternatives.
Special Contribution:
A Wall, A Mural and An Artist’s Life At Full Circle
Eduardo Arocho
Since 2001, community residents and organizations have been battling developers
who attempted to build a four-story condo
on the empty lot adjacent to the mural. If
successful, the condo would have permanently eclipsed the over three-decade-old
mural, but community residents, supported by Alderman Billy Ocasio (26th Ward)
and Manny Flores (1st Ward), banded together to save the lot and the mural. Early
this year, the city was able to gain control
of the lot through “eminent domain.”
With the lot secured, community organizations are preparing to restore the mural
and create a public garden on the adjacent
lot by the end of this summer.
Now at age 65, Mario remembers as a
young boy sketching and doodling everything he saw. He eventually enrolled at the
29th Annual Puerto Rican
People’s Parade
Credit: Eduardo Arocho
When Mario Galán and La Asociación de
Arte de Puerto Rico (the Association of
Puerto Rican Art) painted the Mural, La
Crucifixión de Don Pedro Albizu Campos,
on the corner of Artesian and North Avenue, they thought the mural would only
last a few years. Thirty-six years later, Mario Galán is both surprised and glad that
it has lasted this long. “It makes me feel
good that I’m still alive and the mural is
still living.”
School of Art and Design in New York
where he went to high school, “…my third
year there I won 1st prize in a design contest.”
In 1966, he moved to Chicago where he
witnessed the riots on Division Street. He
recalled when a police car was turned on
its side and burned, “The police were very
abusive at that time.”
By the end of the 60’s Mario enrolled at
Malcolm X College where he became fas-
cinated with the many indoor murals at
the City College. He asked a teacher if he
could paint a mural. The teacher said yes,
“…so I painted my first mural next to the
Spanish Department. Later I painted another one of Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos,”
recalled Mario. Both murals are still at
Malcolm X College.
While at Malcolm X College, he met several other Puerto Rican students who were
having problems with financial aid. “I
helped them and we began to talk,” said
Mural... continued on page 6
“We’re the only Puerto Ricans left,” says María
Pérez, 43, with a somber facial expression, but a
strong ‘life goes on’ attitude, as she sits comfortably in her front yard, bochinchando with her only
Boricua neighbor. I slowly turn my head, surveying the street. It is beautiful, with tall, old trees,
blocking the burning rays of the sun, lining in
front of meticulously designed and ancient-looking gray-stone buildings. It was an opportunity
real estate developers could not miss. I imagine
how many generations of Puerto Rican families
once lived here and if they too sat in their front
yards, discussing everything from school conditions to the latest telenovelas, as these two do.
Angela Reyes, 30, her daughter, and I continue to
walk through the community, passing out the latest edition of this newspaper to residents’ homes.
Angela has lived in Humboldt Park all her life,
revealed by the smiles, saludos, and small talk
she encounters as she hands the newspaper into
people’s hands. Her block, only a few streets from
María’s, is bustling with Boricuas – children biking, families laughing on their front porches, and
parked cars echoing the voice of ‘El Cantante.’
Real estate developers have tried to persuade
Angela’s mother to sell them her home, which
houses a family of three generations. They all refuse to sell.
Fíjate (Part 1)... continued on page 2
Saturday, June 16, 2007 at 2:00 pm • Division St. and Western Ave.
“Retire #21” and Dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the Division Street Riots, 1977-2007
Fíjate... continued from front page
“You know what you should write about in La Voz,
Xavi,” Angela says in excitement, as she lifts-up her
sunglasses. “You know the rumor that the flags are
moving?” Of course, every Puerto Rican in Chicago
knows about and has seen the flags, the 59 feet tall, steel
Puerto Rican flags on Division Street. And, of course,
eeevery Puerto Rican in Chicago has heard that those
flags are ready to be sold or moved. ¿Pero pa’dónde?
“My friend said he has a friend who works in the Mayor’s office and that the deal was set to sell them to New
York, but he said that two years ago,” laughs Angela.
“I heard they’re moving to New York, but people just
say that para hablar,” says a client at Family Dollar on
Paseo Boricua. But Vanessa Longoria, 18, on the register, was visibly enfogoná at the thought, “Yeah, people
say they were sold to New York or Miami. The flags
aren’t moving! How are they going to move them when
they’re 50 feet into the ground?”
Pero, Fíjate, what is not being said here? What is not
being discussed? People are noticing the experience of
Señora María and the “disappearance” of her Boricua
neighbors” that come along with “up-and-coming”
Humboldt Park. Pero, it is done in obscurity, in the
symbol of our beloved flag, just like the identity of its
alleged buyers and sellers. When the rumor is spread
that the flags are moving, are they really talking about
Puerto Ricans being pushed out of Humboldt Park?
The displacement of Puerto Ricans from Humboldt
Park, as in many other Latina/o and black communi-
ties is called gentrification, which can be defined as “the
buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper- or middle-income
families or individuals, thus improving property values
but often displacing low-income families and small businesses” (dictionary.com). So, if Humboldt Park is seen
as a ghetto and renovation is the only solution, then
why is “renovation” being guided by people outside
our community and why does their plan involve pushing out all the original residents?
What is also being said with “the flags are moving” is
that Humboldt Park is lost to real estate developers and
no longer a Puerto Rican community. Also, that New
York, Florida, or even Riis Park in Chicago are Boricua places and not Humboldt Park. There were once
Puerto Rican communities in Lincoln Park and Wicker
Park, but gentrification forced their destruction. But
in our community so many Boricuas like María, Vanessa, Angela, and thousands more have refused to leave
- why? Is it the sense of community and history they
have attached to this area? Quizás es porque those areas never had a Fiesta Boricua, or a Three Kings Day
parade, or maybe it was because their Division Street
lacked two, 59-feet high, steel Puerto Rican flags? Lo
que sea, Humboldt Park is a Puerto Rican community,
but if Boricuas don’t stay and if Boricuas don’t return,
then it will no longer be our Boricua home. Then, it
wouldn’t matter if the flags are moved or are here forever. There wouldn’t be any Boricuas around to give
them meaning.
Oye, do you care about Puerto Rican Humboldt Park?
Give me some bochinche: fijatelavoz@hotmail.com
¿Qué Pasó?
in Boricua History
Saúl F. Meléndez
June 5, 1908:
Nilita Vientos Gastón, born in San Sebastián, Puerto
Rico, was an educator, writer, journalist, and the first
woman lawyer to work for the Department of Justice of
Puerto Rico. In the 1940’s, Gastón defended the use of
the Spanish language in the courts of Puerto Rico before
the Supreme Court and won. In 1946, Gastón became the
first woman president of the Ateneo Puertorriqueño, a position she held until
1961.
June 4, 1977:
The second Puerto Rican Riots erupt in Humboldt Park, spilling into Division Street after
the Chicago police murder two young Puerto
Ricans, Rafael Cruz and Julio Osorio. 85 People are injured and 120 arrested.
June 6, 1916:
Daniel Santos, “El Jefe,” born in Santurce, Puerto Rico,
was a singer/composer of boleros. Daniel became active
in the Puerto Rican independence movement and identified himself with the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party after
returning from WWII in 1942. In the 1950’s he composed
“Sierra Maestra,” which Fidel Castro adopted as the official hymn of the July 26 Movement. During that same decade, Daniel composed 400 other works. Santos’ colorful life is the subject of three biographical
books.
June 12, 1966:
After a young Puerto Rican was shot by a white police officer, the Puerto Rican
community rose up in protest not only to the unjust shooting, but also to years
of police brutality, slum housing, and racism. Division Street, between Damen
and California Avenues, became the first site of a Puerto Rican rebellion in the
United States. Forty years later the Puerto Rican community, after creating
institutions that address the needs and realities of the Puerto Rican people,
is stronger than ever.
June 13, 1899:
Antonio S. Pedreira, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a renowned author and
educator. In the 1920’s, after traveling to New York and being exposed to the
realities of racism, Pedreira joined the Puerto Rican Nationalist movement.
After returning to Puerto Rico, the University of Puerto Rico named him Director
of the Department of Hispanic Studies. In 1934, Pedreira authored his most
important book, Insularismo, in which he explores Puerto Rican identity. Other
works by Pedreira are: Hostos, Cuidadano de América (1932), La actualidad
del jíbaro (1935), and El acto terrible del 87’ (1937)
June 17, 1833:
Francisco Oller, born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, is considered to be the only Puerto Rican/Latin American painter to
play a role in the development of Impressionism. In 1859,
Oller exhibited some of his artistic works along side Bazille, Renoir, Monet, and Sisley. In 1884, he founded an art
school for young talented ladies, which came to be known
as “Universidad Nacional.” Through his art Oller brought out the reality of
Puerto Rico’s landscape, people, and culture.
is a grassroots newsletter of the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto Rican Cultural
Center. We work in collaboration with various community organizations to
stabilize and strengthen the Puerto Rican community in Humboldt Park.
During this historic moment, our objective is to provide our community with
regular and reliable news and updates on community programs.
Contact us at: lavoz@prcc-chgo.org
The views expressed in the pages of La Voz del Paseo Boricua do not necessarily reflect the views of the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto Rican Cultural
Center and/or the editorial board of La Voz del Paseo Boricua.
Editor: Michael Rodríguez Muñiz
Production Manager: Jodene Velázquez
Photography Coordinator: Jonathan R. Lizardi
Advertisement Coordinator: Saúl F. Meléndez
Designers: Alejandro Luis Molina, Xavier Luis Burgos, Jonathan R. Lizardi
Staff: Xavier Luis Burgos, Juanita García, Nilmari Donate Ruíz, Saúl Meléndez,
Melissa Cintrón, José Rivera, Vanessa Claudio, Manelik Gutiérrez, Jessica Camacho
Translations and proofing: Norma Torres, Agnes Justiniano, Orlando Robles Lugo,
Lorna Morales Amill, Nanett K. Toro, Maria Ramos, Gloria Alonzo, Erika Abad
In Humboldt Park:
IPRAC brings you a summer filled with movies and art!
Puerto Rican Film Series:
Chicago’s enjoyable summer weather welcomes
numerous events that celebrate Puerto Rican culture. The Institute for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC) presents a summer-long film series
as well as an art festival highlighting the works of
Puerto Rican art makers.
The Puerto Rican Film Series, starting July 14
and continuing through August 25, is a free outdoor film series showcasing four films created by Puerto Rican
filmmakers. Visitors
are welcome to bring
blankets, folding chairs
and picnic baskets to
enjoy of a movie night
under the stars at the
Humboldt Park Boat
House, 1440 N. Sacramento. All movies
begin at 8 p.m.
The first, “El Clown,”
will premiere July 14.
Directed by Emilio
Rodriguez, the film follows a small-town circus clown who leaves
his family and friends
to seek fortune in the big city. A successful audition brings him into the corporate world to play
the role of the famous hot dog clown, but fame
and fortune do not bring him happiness. With
the help of his clown friends, he invents a plan to
break away from the corporate world and develops a new appreciation for what he once left behind. The film will be presented in Spanish with
English subtitles.
The second, “Borinqueneer: Their toughest fight
was not on the battlefield,” will run July 28. Written, produced and directed by Noemi Figueroa
Soulet and narrated by Hector Elizondo, the film
recounts the story of the all-Puerto Rican 65th
Infantry Regiment – the only Hispanic segregated
unit in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Using rare archival footage and intimate interviews,
the film explores the painful tribulations of these
now-forgotten veterans. The film will be presented in English with Spanish subtitles.
The third movie, “Cayo,” will run August 1. It is
a movie of love and friendship, as Ivan, Kike and
Julia, three inseparable friends, confront adverse
times that test their love. The film will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles.
Barrio Art Fest
IPRAC also will present Barrio Art Fest on August 18 from 11a.m. to 6 p.m. The fourth annual
Barrio Art Fest will feature local painters, craft
Construction also is continuing at the Humboldt
Park Stables, IPRAC’s new home. The building is
12th Annual Memorial Walk
for Peace in Humboldt Park
On the hot Saturday morning of June
2, community residents, elected official, religious and political organizations including La Capilla del
Barrio, joined Cease Fire in a march
against gang violence through Humboldt Park. Over one hundred people marched to the Humboldt Park
Boat House carrying signs calling
for an end to the killing. The signs
being transformed into a state-of-the-art building
and is scheduled to open on March 2008.
To support the project, IPRAC launched a successful Commemorative Brick Campaign. Bricks
are available for purchase and will be part of
IPRAC’s courtyard, including a Circle of Honor
that will feature a commissioned stone mosaic
work. By purchasing a brick, contributions will
support the only institution in the continental
United States dedicated to showcasing Puerto
Rican arts and historic exhibitions year-round.
To purchase bricks or for more information on
IPRAC’s cultural programming, visit www.iprac.
org or call 773-486-8345.
Puerto Rican History and
Culture Saturday Academy
a program of the Barrio Arts, Culture and Communications Academy (B.A.C.C.A.)
Want your child to learn
Puerto Rican history?
Immerse themselves in
the Spanish Language?
The Puerto Rican Film Series and Barrio Art Fest
are presented by IPRAC in collaboration with the
Chicago Park District, the Division Street Business Development Association, Cultural Outreach Programs of the City of Chicago, Comcast
and Hoy Newspapers.
The Puerto Rican Cultural Center
and La Voz del Paseo Boricua would
like to congratulate
Omaira Gutiérrez, Matthew
Rodríguez, Pedro Medina,
Jodene Velázquez, as well as all of
the recent graduates in the Puerto
Rican community. Youraccomplishments help enrich the educational
experience of Puerto Ricans and continue to bring Puerto Rican culture
and realities to higher education.
also included pictures of loved ones
and friends who fell victim to gang
violence. Following the march, there
were prayers and speeches, some of
which called for mutual respect between police and youth and the need
for more resources for youth. Rapper
Cuban Link performed as well as local artists and the poets of the Café
Teatro Batey Urbano.
Learn about Puerto Rican
cultural expressions?
Offering three sessions for children ages 2-13!
Ages 2-5:
Ages 6-9:
Ages 10-13:
Reading
& Storytelling
Reading
& Storytelling
Puerto Rican
History and
Culture Lessons
Puerto Rican
History and
Culture Lessons
Interactive
Workshops
10-12pm
($10 registration fee)
10-12pm
($20 registration &
program materials)
10-11am
($5 registration fee)
Starting June 9 until July 28
–Space is Still Available Now!–
Contact the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) at 773-342-8023 for more details or to apply.
The final film, “Lost Angels” will run August 25.
It is a beautiful story about innocence; an adventure filled with love, danger and the joy of coming back home. Filmed in the beautiful town of
Maunabo, Puerto Rico, the film, presents us the
magic that lies around in our daily life and the
feeling of hope that should always be our guide.
makers, printmakers, musicians, performers, poets, filmmakers and more sharing their talent and
culture. Art workshops suitable for all ages will
include jewelry making, kite making, printmaking, film and more. The festival will take place at
the Humboldt Park Field House, located at 1440
N. Sacramento blvd.
NNNN/HPEP Housing Action Team to Host
1st Annual Humboldt Park Housing Summit
Rubén D. Feliciano
For twenty years, the Near Northwest Neighborhood Network/Humboldt Park Empowerment Partnership (NNNN/
HPEP) has been at the forefront serving as a voice for low
and moderate-income residents of the Humboldt Park
community. NNNN/HPEP, an organization of organizations, has been the common table for community residents,
schools, churches, block clubs, parents, and other institutions to come together to holistically create a plan of action
for Humboldt Park. The commitment and dedication of
community residents and their call to action has led to the
creation of a network of organizations that is 130 members
strong and consists of action teams that focus on affordable
housing, economic development, education, health, youth,
employment, and ministerial caucus.
In commemoration of the NNNN/HPEP’s 20th anniversary, the HPEP Housing Action Team will be hosting the 1st
Annual Housing Summit in October of 2007. As one looks
at the state of housing in Humboldt Park, one can see that
gentrification has brought a myriad of issues that is threatening the stability of long term residents in the area. Many
low and moderate income residents are seeing rising rent
and housing costs, rising property taxes, predatory lending
practices, foreclosure rates increasing, building code violations targeting long-term homeowners who many times are
on fixed incomes, housing discrimination, and violations of
tenants rights, among others. All these issues have one common goal: displacing and forcing out long term residents
from the community they call home.
Our 1st Annual Housing Summit will serve the purpose of
continuing to address the housing issues in our community
and create a vehicle for community residents to continue to
self determine the state of their community through a common agenda. The following are topics that will be addressed
at the housing summit:
- Discuss the state of housing in Humboldt Park
- Highlight housing victories and accomplishments in our
community
- Continue to raise awareness and consciousness about the impacts of gentrification
- To provide resources to community residents about affordable housing opportunities
- To call to action community residents to join our affordable
housing efforts
Humboldt Park is the heart of the Puerto Rican community
in Chicago. It is also home to many different ethnic and racial groups. Puerto Ricans have seen the detrimental effects
of gentrification. However, our community has been resilient and is avidly fighting to counteract the forces of gentrification. To this end, community residents have won many
victories in the creation, preservation, and organizing of affordable housing efforts. We saw the creation of the Humboldt Park Housing Initiative, an initiative spearheaded by
Alderman Billy Ocasio of the 26th ward to create affordable
homeownership opportunities in our community. We saw
the creation of Hispanic Housing’s Teresa Roldán Apartments on Paseo Boricua, a near elderly affordable housing
facility. We saw Bickerdike’s La Estancia Affordable Housing and Commercial Project coming to the corner of Divi-
sion and California and Division and Kedzie. We saw the
creation of LUCHA’s Affordable Housing program targeting single mothers who need affordable rental housing. We
saw the creation of La Casa Norte’s Solid Ground Supportive Housing for homeless male youth. These are some of the
many accomplishments and responses that our community
is taking to counteract gentrification.
However, our fight is not over. We need your continued
support as a community resident. To volunteer, become part
of the HPEP Housing Action Team, learn more about the
Housing Summit, or to learn of our community’s housing
initiatives please contact Rubén D. Feliciano at NNNN at
773.489.0383 or via email at rfeliciano@nnnn.org
Hispanic Housing’s North Avenue &
Talman Residential Development:
First Recipient of National Philanthropic Program
Want
to
Live
in el
Barrio?
Recognizing Chicago-based Hispanic Housing
Development Corporation (HHDC) as one of the
preeminent non-profit organizations serving the
Latino market, and demonstrating the growing
buying power of Latino consumers, Moen, America’s leading manufacturer of kitchen and bath
fixtures, announced it is kicking off a new nationwide philanthropic program “Alcanzando Sueños
con Moen,” “Achieving Dreams with Moen” with
a donation to Hispanic Housing Development
Corporation’s North Avenue/Talman residential
development on the 2600 block of West North Avenue. HHDC was chosen following a nationwide
search of non-profit organizations serving the Latino community to which Moen plans to donate
several hundred thousand dollars a year in plumbing fixtures and other products. 2725 W. Division
1 bedroom
$575
773-252-7008
2636 W. Division
3 bedrooms
$800 773-415-4353
2735 W. Division
2 bedrooms
$600 773-805-9509
2515 W. Division
2 bedrooms
$850
773-297-4131
2648 W. Division
2 bedrooms
$650 773-520-5035
2648 W. Division
3 bedrooms
$850 773-520-5035
2550 W. Division
3 bedrooms
$850
312-719-4199
2550 W. Division
2 bedrooms
$750
312-719-4199
2550 W. Division
3 bedrooms
$900
312-719-4199
2550 W. Division
1 bedroom
$650
312-719-4199
2500 W. Division
2 bedrooms
$800
773-456-9992
2611 W. Division
3 bedrooms
$1000
773-384-9290 “Moens generous donation will bring top quality
fixtures for the bathroom and kitchen to our West
773-510-6984
2436 W. Division
2 bedrooms
$800
773-384-9290 comfortable living environment for residents,”
commented Hipólito (“Paul”) Roldán, HHDC’s
773-510-6984
2525 W. Division
$800
3 bedrooms
Town project and create a modern, stylish and
773-742-2332
For more information, or if you would like to announce
your apartments for free, please contact: 773/384-7695.
¡Regresa al Barrio!
President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look
forward to deepening our relationship with Moen
as we continue to build high-quality affordable
rental and for-sale housing for seniors and families
across the region.”
The new West Town development at North Avenue and Talman consists of 24 affordable “lease
to own” apartment units in a renovated four-story
historic structure. The rehabbed building for
families will be adjacent to a new construction of
53 rental units for seniors which HHDC expects
to complete in 2008.
HHDC is a major non-profit builder and redeveloper of affordable buildings, single-family homes
and condominiums. Recently, HHDC completed
the Teresa Roldán Apartments on Paseo Boricua,
a 59-unit senior rental building at Division and
Campbell Streets, as well as Boulevard Court, an
affordable condominium development on the historic Humboldt Park Boulevard. Hispanic Business and other major publications rank HHDC
among the sixth largest Latino non-profit organization in the country, in terms of both size and impact. HHDC is led by Hipólito Roldán, who was
recognized in El Nuevo Constructor magazine’s
“Builder of the Year” in 2005 for his service to the
community of Greater Chicago.
More information about Hispanic Housing Development Corporation can be found online at www.
hispanichousingdevelopment.com.
Mural... continued from front page
Mario. Among them were José, Reinaldo and Roberto Bermúdez. They began a collective with another student who
had just arrived from Puerto Rico named Héctor Rosario.
According to Mario, “Héctor really helped organize us.He
was from Puerto Rico, and he knew a lot, so we decided
to paint murals and call ourselves La Asociación de Arte de
Puerto Rico.
Finding a wall to paint a mural was proving to be more difficult. They tried soliciting several property owners, but they
had no luck. As Mario recalls, “The first thing we did was try
to convince the building owner on North Ave. to let us do a
mural. It took us about a month and a half to convince him
because at first he didn’t want paint on his wall, but finally
he said yes.”
Now that a wall was secured, they needed to find funding
to pay for materials. “We had written a proposal to get materials to do the painting,” said Mario. They
weren’t able to get funding from the city, but
they did find some funding from local community groups like Association House, ASPIRA and other community organizations.
Mario goes on to add, “when we ran out of
funds, we just purchased the supplies from
our own pockets.”
Ironically, they had no idea what they were
going to paint on the wall until they met
someone with a dream. “One of our members met a man named Carlos, I forgot his
last name, but he was looking for people who
painted murals,” said Mario. They made an
appointment to meet with Carlos at the wall
on North Ave. and Artesian. He explained
that he had a dream and that dream needed to be a mural.
Mario explained, “as he described his dream to us, I did several different sketches. I put the bandera de Lares on one of
the sketches because I was born in Lares.” Ultimately, that
was the sketch that was chosen: the bandera de Lares back
drop of a crucifixion scene with the then-Governor Luis
Muñoz Marín holding a spear and thrusting it on the torso
of Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos who is on the center cross. The
portraits of six other Puerto Rican historical figures are witnesses to the crucifixion.
Mario goes on to add, “We really did not know what we
were going to paint on the wall until he [Carlos] popped
up. He gave us books with pictures of these people. We
didn’t have good pictures so we worked with what we had.”
They mainly worked mornings including weekends, for over
a month. By the summer of 1971, they finished their first
mural.
Many people from the neighborhood attended the inauguration ceremony. In addition to the sponsoring organizations
like ASPIRA and Association House, there were groups representing the Puerto Rican Independence and the Socialist
Parties. “It was a great day,” said Mario “the lot was full with
people from the community and we received a lot of positive
press coverage that day.”
Mario worked with the Association to do two other murals.
One was at a small building used by Latina/o students called
Centro Albizu/Zapata at Northeastern Illinois University
(which was later torn down). The other mural was at 2315
W. North Avenue, on the walls of several buildings owned
by Carlos Caribe Ruíz, founder of the Puerto Rican Congress. The Puerto Rican Congress was an organization that
sponsored baseball and basketball leagues as well as taught
Puerto Rican dance and musical appreciation. This mural took about three
years to complete. “At the time I was a
student at the Art Institute where I was
attempting to get my Bachelors in Art. I
was mainly trying to keep the other artists motivated and keep them focused on
the mural,” Mario said. The mural at the
Puerto Rican Congress building was the
last mural the Association worked on. It
was completed in 1978 and lasted until
the buildings were sold and the murals
were sand blasted into extinction around
the year 2000.
When the members of the Association
went their separate ways, Mario had
to leave The Art Institute due to lack of money, and with
four children to take care of, he decided to go to work and
stopped painting. He worked as a machine operator for 29
years at Wilson James CO and at the ACCO Company.
Now retired, Mario Galán looks forward to spending his
days with his children and grandchildren. “My daughters
are inspired to know that the mural is still up. I’m glad that
the mural is now more appreciated. It’s a beautiful idea to
keep history,” says Mario.
Mario Galán will be among the artists who will be restoring
the mural later this summer.
Governor Blagojevich Presents Historic All-Inclusive
Healthcare and Education Program for Illinois
La Voz Business Spotlight
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich rallied
hundreds of families with community
and church organizations to present
his all-inclusive program for healthcare
and education. A contingent from Paseo
Boricua, Humboldt Park including the
Puerto Rican Cultural Center, attended
the rally to show support for the historic
proposal, knowing too well the pangs of
education inequalities and healthcare.
This program will provide access to
everyone living in Illinois, opening the
doors to many families and children
who cannot afford healthcare or are not
receiving quality education. Elected officials like Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez, Cook County Commissioner Roberto
Maldonado, State Representatives Luis
Arroyo and Cynthia Soto, Aldermen Billy
Ocasio, Manny Flores, Danny Solis, and
Ricardo Muñoz were all present and in
support of the all-inclusive program,
which will help many of the Latino families living in their districts and wards.
More importantly, these elected officials
along with Governor Blagojevich understand the importance of providing
access for everyone, not just those who
can afford it.
Providing Professional
Services and Serenity:
Migdalia’s
Caribbean Day Spa
in Humboldt Park
Jodene Velázquez
To continue to support the economic development of
Puerto Rican/Latino businesses, La Voz del Paseo Boricua will spotlight businesses in the coming months that
service Puerto Ricans/Latinas/os and make La Voz accessible to their clients. You can also find a listing of businesses that carry La Voz del Paseo Boricua on page 11.
What began as a family business has now turned into a
family legacy for the Cruz family. After migrating from
Puerto Rico to Chicago in 1953, Migdalia’s parents
came to Humboldt Park and after much hard work became the owners of PR Food and Liquors on North
Avenue. Learning from the dedication of her parents
Migdalia went on to purchase a building on North
Avenue, just a block from where her family began the
legacy of entrepreneurship and opened Migdalia’s Nails
(now Migdalia’s Caribbean Day Spa).
In its inception, the idea was to have a nail salon, but
as clientele quickly grew, so did their needs. Migdalia’s
Caribbean Day Spa became the first full service day spa
in Humboldt Park, bringing “an informal day spa without downtown prices.”
According to owner Migdalia, her passion for the service industry really provided her guidance in opening a
business after PR Food and Liquors closed, and in reflecting, said her message for anyone who is interested
in opening a business is to, “have a vision, go for it…
empower one another…highlight other businesses.”
With 11 multi-talented staff, the ambience brings together over 100 years of collective experience, with a
commitment to provide professional services while also
rendering a warm, peaceful and inviting atmosphere,
which draws clients from all roads of life. According
to one of the hairstylists, who is the current manager
and worked for the Miss Universe Pageant when Denise Quiñones of Puerto Rico won, feels, “we are like a
family. Migdalia is very organized and helps make this
business run smoothly. People walk in, don’t know each
other, and leaving feeling like brothers and sisters.”
Having just celebrated its four year anniversary, Migdalia’s Caribbean Day Spa is constantly growing professionally, upgrading services, and committed to maintaining itself in the Puerto Rican community known to
the Cruz family and clientele as home.
Migdalia’s Beauty is located at 3134 W. North.
Dr. Pedro Albizu
Campos High School
Countries are strong to the extent they
love their children... Countries are free to
the extent they respect their children.
Reality Check: Teenage Pregnancy
Congratulations
June 2007
Vanessa Claudio
Teenage pregnancy among Latinas has been the
Dr. Pedro
highest nationally and continues to increase evAlbizu Campos
ery year. Now with many abortion procedures
Puerto Rican High available for teenage women, it makes the decision of having a child even more difficult and
School
stressful. Not only does the decision alone challenge women, but the stereotypes, judgments,
Graduates:
and gossip that comes along with having a child
as a teen is also tormenting.
Jasmine Augustin
Markisha Barconia
Vanessa Claudio
Josue Collazo
Dwight Delgado
Rene Flores
Lucerito Galeana
Amy Garcia
Maria Gomez
Antonio Hernandez
Eduardo Lopez
Marco Mantilla
Yesenia Miranda
Jessica Mojica
Amanda Ortiz
Anthony Rivera
Luis Rivera
As any mother around the world could tell an
individual; deciding to become a mother especially at a young age, is a very tough decision
and even tougher process. So those who decide
to become mothers at a young age should be
tremendously respected. Any individual who
takes care of another human life is taking hold
of a great responsibility. It now means until that
child becomes an adult, the mother will have to
put that child before herself. Even with this said,
pregnant teens still have to deal with the cruel
and uncalled for stereotypes and judgments.
Many people believe that a teenage mother’s life
ends when having a child. Also, teenage mothers
are said to be less likely to graduate high school
and move on to college.
In the Humboldt Park community, the Lolita
Lebrón Family Learning Center (FLC,) a satellite program of PACHS, speaks against that.
The FLC provide young teenage mothers with
the guidance needed to finish their high school
education to be able to move on to college. Other than guidance, they also provide parenting
classes where they mother can interact with their
children, child development courses, and a support network so students can continue with their
education. The Lolita Lebrón Family Learning
Center has helped many teenage mothers and
continues to be a key element in the Humboldt
Park community.
Jasnette Velázquez, a 2007 graduate from Dr.
Pedro Albizu Campos High School became a
mother at the age of seventeen, facing the many
challenges and stressful decisions a young mother experiences. She stated, “I was always being
told, you’re pregnant? You’re still in school?
Are you ready? Are you going to finish school?”
Jasnette spoke on how many thought she would
never finish high school and instead of encouragement, she was made to fear her decision. On
June 26, Jasnette will be walking across the stage
as the first to graduate from her family. She plans
to attend Wright College and plans to become a
parole officer.
One of the many challenges teen mothers face is
one of support. Many times they find themselves
alienated from the support network they once
Many of us have been here since we started high
school and some of us have been at Dr. Pedro
Albizu Campos High School for one year or
less. Overall, it has been a pleasure to grow in
our education and be able to graduate. Here at
PACHS, we have been able to create a wonderful family that will be hard to say goodbye to.
So, like the saying goes the young bird one day
must flee from the nest and, that’s what we are
doing. We are a perfect example of what our
school strives for; self-reliance, self-actualiza-
tion, and self-determination. It is an honor for
us as a school, community, peers, and family to
walk across the stage and step into college and
the world of reality. As we walk across the stage,
we will always remember all that Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School has offered us; support, struggle, an opportunity to experience college, internships, workshops, and a community
to continue to build and strengthen.
PACHS/BACCA
Student Page
Staff:
Jessica Rodriguez
Adriana Rosales
Carmen Rosario
Asminda Villalobos
Yadira Villegas
If you or anyone else is faced with the dilemma
of not being prepared to practice safe sex, Vida/
SIDA (2703 W. Division St, 2nd fl.) is available
to assist with condoms and other birth control
methods. HIV, STI & Pregnancy testing is also
given at Vida/SIDA. If you need to make an appointment, speak to a counselor for advice, or if
you just need basic information, please call 773278-6737 (all information is kept confidential.)
On May 16, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School visited the Fair
Oaks Farm in Indiana for a tour of their facilities. Students experienced the entire process of dairy products and milk productions with
an ethics and responsibility for the cycles of life. Mike MacklowskiPerez, owner of the Fair Oaks Farm, led a discussion with students
on how companies can move toward a more environmental friendly
production and committed to helping our students with the building
of the hydroponics and urban agriculture projects.
Vanessa Claudio
Armando Hernández
Angel Miranda
José Rivera
Adriana Rosales
Samantha
Castellanos
Students at PACHS and
FLC Clean-up our
Community: Paseo Boricua
Students from the Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High
School and the Lolita Lebrón Family Learning
Center collaborated with the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Division Street Business Development Association and Batey Urbano participated
in the annual Paseo Boricua clean up. PACHS
and FLC were part of giving La Casita de Don
Pedro a makeover as a school project (which we
were also a part of creating) as well as sweeping
the streets and cleaning the trees. Overall, we had
lots of fun and feel like we contributed to keeping
Paseo Boricua clean for our families, friends and
community!
Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School (PACHS) 2739-41 W. Division Street • 773-342-8022
A member of Youth Connections Charter Schools (YCCS) and the Alternative Schools Network (ASN)
produced by the students of the Barrio Arts, Culture and Communications Academy (BACCA)
Maria Velazquez
Abortion is a choice and teens should never be
forced to have one but, it should be given as an
option along with the many other alternatives.
The teen should never be pressured to have a
child or not to have a child but shown the proper
support and understanding. Ultimately it is the
young woman’s decision and as hard as it may be
no one else can make it for her.
Graduate MEssage:
Yartiza Rivera
Jasnette Velazquez
had before becoming pregnant. What should be
emphasized more in schools around the nation is
safer sex instead of pushing towards abstinence.
Abstinence is a great choice but, not a reality for
some teens. They should be taught that if they
are to engage in sexual practices that it be done
safely with the use of condoms, birth control,
and other preventive measures to prevent pregnancy or sexual transmitted infections.
Cermak Produce, 2701 w. North Ave.
Chicago IL. 60647, Tel. (773) 278-4447
Cermak Produce, su manager y todo su amable personal felicita la comunidad
puertorriqueña, que celebra las fiesta de San Juan Bautista,
con su 29no Desfile del Pueblo.
Cermak Produce tiene productos de Mexico, Puerto Rico, Centro y Sur America a precios bajos
Especial
Cupón De Cermak con la compra de $50
Recibirá un descuento de 10%-Traiga el cupón
CLOCC thanks our partners in
CO-OP: Humboldt Park!
May 2007 Update: CO-OP Humboldt Park
Community of Wellness
Contact: Miguel Morales • CO-OP Humboldt Park • 773.278.6737 • 2703 W. Division Street
Advanced Pathways to Health Professions in Humboldt Park:
Innovative Health Program for High School Students
Miguel Morales
Latinas/os are underrepresented in the health professions, especially public health. In most Chicago areas with people of
color, there is less than one credentialed public health person
for over 35,000 residents. Some reasons for this stem from barriers faced by students such as low quality education beginning
from K-12 schools, lack of exposure to challenging courses in
high school, poverty, low scores on standardized tests, lack of
exposure to possibilities in public health, difficulties involved
in meeting requirements for admissions to pre-health profession schools such as letters of recommendation, poorly written
statement of intent, lack of visible mentorship programs, limited exposure to special initiatives to help train Latinas/os and
Blacks in public health, and lack of cultural competence on the
part of teachers and counselors.
To address this, the University of Illinois at Chicago, School
of Public Health, Urban Health and Diversity Programs established an important collaboration with the Greater Humboldt
Park Community of Wellness. This group works in partnership with Municipal Health Agencies and the Chicago Public
Schools to implement an Advanced Pathways to Health Professions Program (APHPP) in four high schools, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, El Cuarto Año Alternative School,
Roberto Clemente and Wells Public High Schools, located in
the 4th district, one of the poorest areas (West Town) of Chica-
go. This area has been designated as both a health professions
shortage area and medically underserved area. The overall goal
is to increase the professional development, healthcare access
and increase the quality and effectiveness of educational and
community programs by increasing the pool and the competitiveness of Latinos and other minorities.
The Advanced Pathways program implemented innovations
that include: 1) commemoration of public health week and minority health month aimed at eliminating health disparities and
exploring careers in public health; 2) Hispanic Heritage Month
aimed at presenting the success of Latinos in Public Health Sciences; 3) organization of students into Public Health Sciences
Club where they will receive leadership training and mentoring; 4) a 30–week Saturday college that focuses on enhancing
basic Science and writing skills of students; 5) a 6-week nonresidential summer Public Health Institute that will include job
shadowing, community health work, and other health career
explorations; and 6) an organization of student-focused conferences–HIPHOP (Hoppin’ Into Public Health Opportunities
Program).
If you have any questions about the program, please call the
Humboldt Park Vocational Center, 773 489-8910.
Biography: “Jade” Cacica of Paseo Boricua
I was born and raised in the Humboldt
Park community and lived in Puerto
Rico from 1993-1997. Community
life has served to teach me about my
cultural identity. My upbringing has
made me more open-minded to the
problems we face in our community.
I was involved in a non-profit organization, called Jovenes del Swing,
which empowers youth to focus on
Puerto Rican culture through dance
and music (2000-2004.) I am currently a dancer for Soneros del Swing.
As Cacica of Paseo Boricua, I plan to
become a leader by giving and having
a voice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender (LGBT) members
of our community. I also plan to influence all of the Puerto Rican community and address any problems
that affect us as a whole. One of the
issues that I will target first, will be
to educate our community about
HIV/AIDS and STI’s, an epidemic
that continues to disproportionately
affect the Puerto Rican/Latino community. As an Ambassador of the
Puerto Rican Cultural Center and
Vida/SIDA, I plan to serve as a role
model and advocate for an end to the
stigmas attached to being LGBT.
FREE PRODUCE
through the PRODUCEMOBILE
You can
receive
July 2, HP Field House & August 6, HP Boat House • 10am
One person per household can pick up food!
For more information:
Additional PRODUCEMOBILES
• McCormick Tribune YMCA parking lot
(1834 N Lawndale Ave)
Every first Tuesday of the month:
This program is
provided to you by:
CO-OP Humboldt Park, Greater
Chicago Food Depository. Space
provided to this program
by the Chicago Park District
(Humboldt Park)
Next Date: Tues, July 3 & August 7, 10:30am
Call 773 235-2525 for more information.
• Humboldt Park Boat House
(sponsored by San Lucas Church)
Every third Monday of the month:
Next Date: Mon., June 18 & July 16, Aug 20, 10am
Call Rosa at 773 227-5747 for more information.
Conuco
Farmer’s Market
June 16
9 am – 2 pm
2626 W. Division
Sponsored by Growing Power and
the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Conuco Farmer’s Market will
be open every Saturday through
October 27
For more information
contact: (773) 278-6737
¡Muévete!
CO-OP Humboldt
Park Aerobics
Aerobics
every
Mon.,
Weds. and
Fri., 6:30pm
– 7:30pm
at the
Humboldt
Park
FieldHouse
(1440 N Sacramento).
For more information,
call Leony at (773) 278-6737.
MARKET BASKET
PROGRAM
on Paseo Boricua
In collaboration with Growing Power
and Rainbow Farmers Cooperative,
CO-OP Humboldt Park will launch
a program that allows residents to
buy an affordable assortment of
fruits and vegetables on a weekly
basis throughout the fall, winter
and spring seasons. We know how
important fresh produce is to our
health and fighting disease, so we
urge residents to subscribe to this
service. You can choose one of the
following baskets.
Link Card is accepted!
Choose The Program
That Works For You!
• Farm-City Market Basket
For $16 a week, we guarantee your home
access to safe, healthy produce. Our basket
contains a variety of fruits and vegetables to
feed a family of 2-4 for a whole week.
• Junior/Senior Market Basket (Singles)
For $9 a week, we offer a basket of fresh,
healthy fruits and vegetables that is half the
size of the Farm-City Market Basket and is
senior-friendly.
• Sustainable Box (Organic)
For $27 a week, enjoy a combination of certified
organic, sustainable and eco-friendly produce
grown by members of our farmer’s co-op. Take
care of the earth and experience a culinary feast
each week.
• Chicken Dinner (Organic)
For $17 add an Amish pasture raised organic
chicken to your order! Just $31 for a market
basket with Chicken or $42 for a sustainable box
with chicken.
Contact Myra Rodríguez at (773) 278-6737
for more information.
please contact Miguel Morales,
773/278-6737
Save the Date!
FARM – CITY
National Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN) 2739 W. Division Street, Chicago IL 60622
June 2007 • info@boricuahumanrights.org • www.boricuahumanrights.org • www.presospoliticospuertorriquenos.org
Joint Statement from
the San Francisco 8
(Excerpt)
We, the San Francisco 8, would like to send this joint statement extending our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all our friends
and supporters. As many of you know, this COINTELPRO persecution has been on-going for nearly 36 years. However, in the last
few years, in accord with the implementation of the Patriot Act,
state and federal authorities initiated plans to stifle political dissent,
particularly targeting young activists. Similarly, COINTELPRO’s
objective was to “… expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize the activities of Black nationalist, hate type organizations and groupings, their leadership, spokesmen, membership,
and supporters, and to counter their propensity for violence and
civil disorder …” (COINTELPRO memo of August 25, 1967)…
This case represents the continuation of that COINTELPRO objective… The government is seeking to rewrite the history of struggle
as exemplified by the BPP, venomously trying to define that legacy
of struggle as a “terrorist” movement. … They will never admit to
the unconstitutional practices of the FBI COINTELPRO activities,
despite the 1974 Senate Church Committee findings condemning
those practices. Furthermore, they will never seek to establish remedies for those who are victims of the illegal FBI and local police
actions under COINTELPRO, and now under the Patriot Act, if
we don’t demand they do so.
It is with this understanding the SF8 are issuing this joint statement,
calling for friends and supporters to organize a national determination to ensure our victory. … Ultimately, what is here proposed will
tell of a youth movement and how the government sought to undermine and destroy it. The proposal will expose how the government seeks to retaliate because those youth (who are now Elders)
did in fact challenge the system of racist oppression. … Therefore,
while we engage in a legal battle in the courtroom, it is imperative
we urge our friends and supporters to extend the political front in
the various communities. …
Therefore, a successful national campaign in support of the SF8
requires friends and supporters to achieve the following objectives:
1. Anti-Torture Legislation …
2. Reopen COINTELPRO Hearings …
3. Truth and Reconciliation Commission …
In conclusion, it is these three areas of concern we jointly agree
will empower a national campaign to virtually expose the negative
impact of both COINTELPRO and the Patriot Act. … Let us, together, build a sustainable and durable initiative that redresses civil
and human rights violations, as we organize to win the freedom of
the San Francisco 8.
Free All U.S. Political Prisoners!
The San Francisco 8
10
For the complete statement and more information about the San
Francisco 8, contact:
Committee in Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), P.O. Box 90221,
Pasadena, CA 91109. Website: www.freethesf8.org
Email: freethesf8@riseup.net Phone: 415-226-1120.
Freedom Archives, 522 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 99110;
mail: info@freedomarchives.org; phone: 415-863-9977NYC
Jericho Movement, P.O. Box 1272, NY, NY 10013.
bste: www.jerichony.org Email: nycjericho@riseup.net
Filiberto Ojeda Ríos Uptowns/
Machetero Airforce Ones
Debut at Hessel Museum in NYC
The NBHRN recently learned from Puerto Rican artist
Miguel Luciano that one of his latest works, the “Filiberto
Ojeda Uptowns / Machetero Air Force Ones” was recently
exhibited in a show at the Hessel Museum of Bard College
in NYC and is making its way to Puerto Rico. Below is a
description of the work and an article that originally ran in
El Nuevo Día:
Filiberto Ojeda Uptowns /
Machetero Air Force Ones,
2007
The Filiberto Ojeda Uptowns /
Machetero Air Force Ones are a
customized pair of Nike sneakers that pay tribute to the assassinated leader of the Macheteros,
an armed clandestine group of
Puerto Rican nationalists who’ve
campaigned for independence in
Puerto Rico since the 1970’s. Filiberto Ojeda was brutally
assassinated by the F.B.I. on September 23, 2005 in an event
that sparked public outrage. He has since been revered by
many as the ‘Puerto Rican Che Guevara’. A pair of Nike
sneakers become an unlikely vehicle of veneration for the
fallen leader that both complicate and question how nationalism and resistance are embodied within today’s colonial consumerist society. They engage alternative strategies
towards reconstructing symbols
of resistance from the objects of
material desire, as Nike’s Swoosh
logo is refashioned into a readymade Machete symbol. Problematizing the commodification of
Revolution, “The Machetero Air
Force Ones” retranslate Nike’s
‘goddess of victory’ mantra into
‘hasta la Victoria siempre’.
just do it.
“Not Enough Space” to premiere in September 2007
Filiberto: ¡Present in Venezuela!
The NBHRN traveled to Caracas, Venezuela during the week of May 20-26
to coordinate the September premiere
of “Not Enough Space,” the traveling
art exhibition by Puerto Rican political prisoners Carlos Alberto Torres and
Oscar López Rivera. Lourdes Lugo,
Oscar’s niece and Alejandro Luis Molina, national coordinator of the exhibit,
met with officials from the Ministry of
Culture as well as other interested parties, and presented on the history of the
art exhibition, the colonial situation of
Puerto Rico and the present situation of
the prisoners.
As well, Lourdes and Alejandro were
present, along with a sizeable Puerto
Rico delegation that included Beatriz Rosado, wife of slain Puerto Rican
revolutionary Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, Tito
Kayak, Salvador Tío and others for the
unveiling of a bust of Ojeda Ríos on the
“Paseo de los Ilustres” on Bolivar Avenue. Beatriz also accepted the Medal
of the Francisco de Leon on behalf of
Filiberto Ojeda Ríos from the Mayor of
Venezuela, Freddy Bernal.
Who are the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners?
Carlos Alberto Torres
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on September 19, 1952, Carlos Alberto was raised in Chicago and became a community organizer around
social justice issues in the Puerto Rican community and was a founder of Pedro Albizu Campos Alternative High School. In 1976, he
was forced into clandestinity for fighting for the independence of Puerto Rico and was captured April 4, 1980 with 10 others. He was
accused of seditious conspiracy and was sentenced to 78 years of incarceration. Carlos Alberto has spent 24 years in prison, during
which he has maintained his political commitment and he has become an accomplished artist in the mediums of oil and ceramics,
giving his work to family and friends. In 1999, inexplicably, president Clinton extended no offer of commutation to Carlos Alberto during that phase of
the prisoner campaign.
Oscar López Rivera
Oscar was born January 6, 1943 in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico and moved to Chicago at age 14. He was drafted into the U.S.
army to fight in Vietnam and received the Bronze Star. He returned to Chicago and began organizing the community founded
educational and cultural institutions, including Pedro Albizu Campos Alternative High School. Oscar joined the clandestine
movement for Puerto Rico’s independence in 1976 as was arrested and accused of seditious conspiracy in 1981. Serving
a sentence of 70 years, he spent 12 years in total isolation. Through his writings and his artwork, Oscar has strengthened
his ties to the community and the independence movement. In 1999, president Bill Clinton offered to commute his sentence if he agreed to serve an
additional ten years of prison. He refused, and will not be released until 2027.
Pick up La Voz del Paseo Boricua
at the following locations:
Division Street (Paseo Boricua)
Pagan Liquor • 3251 W. Division
Sabana Grande • 3217 W. Division
Yauco Foods • 2744 W. Division
Latin American Restaurant • 2743 W. Division
Noble Realty • 2734 W. Division
Lily’s Records • 2733 W. Division
Best Sub • 2729 W. Division
Bruquena Restaurant • 2726 W. Division
The Dance Academy of Salsa • 2725 W. Division
Coco’s Restaurant • 2723 W. Division
Banco Popular • 2720 W. Division
Jayuya Barber Shop • 2719 W. Division
Salon de Belleza de PR • 2714 W. Division
Paseo Boricua Grocery • 2706 W. Division
Family Dollar • 2700 W.Division
Joe’s Ace Hardware • 2659 W. Division
Sportz Kuttz • 2653 W. Division
Bubble Land • 2650 W. Division
Shoe Fetish • 2647 W. Division
XcluXive DeXign • 2646 W. Division
San Pablo Medical Center • 2641 W. Division
G & T Auto • 2639 W. Division
Café Colao • 2638 W. Division
Division Oral Surgery • 2632 W. Division
Gamerz • 2627 W. Division
Mario’s and Cesar’s Jewelry • 2629 W. Division
Mi Cantina • 2628 W. Division
Pan American Movers • 2612 W. Division
Floristeria Flores de Amor • 2611 W. Division
La Municipal Supermarket • 2559 W. Division
Vino Fino Liquors • 2558 W. Division
Luquillo Barber Shop • 2552 W. Division
El Quijote Bookstore • 2546 W. Division
Mas O Menos • 2539 W. Division
Chicago Public Radio • 2531 W. Division
PaPa’s Cache Sabroso • 2517 W. Division
Botanica Victoria • 2510 W. Division
YGO Salon • 2508 W. Division
La Nueva Borinqueña Foods • 2500 W. Division
Nellie’s Restaurant • 2458 W. Division
El Paisano • 2429 W. Division
North Avenue
Armitage Avenue
El Mundo Travel • 2904 W. Armitage
Joe’s Hair Studio • 3005 W. Armitage
Plaza Food Mart • 3011 W. Armitage
Humboldt Liquor • 3013 W. Armitage
A+M Television • 3047 W. Armitage
Center for Changing Lives • 3051 W. Armitage
San Juan Star Travel • 3066 W. Armitage
La Bomba Restaurant • 3221 W. Armitage
Armitage Family Practice • 3224 W. Armitage
Caribe Funeral Home • 3314 W. Armitage
Pan De Vida • 3333 W. Armitage
Armitage Produce • 3334 W. Armitage
Tianguis Grocery Store • 3552 W. Armitage
Arco Iris • 4007 W. Armitage
Music Express • 4048 W. Armitage
Fullerton Avenue
Cocina Boricua • 2420 W. Fullerton
Hector’s Barber Shop • 2547 W Fullerton Ave
Albany Foods • 3048 W. Fullerton
Sabor Latino • 3400 W. Fullerton
Chicago Style Music • 3442 W. Fullerton
Dimartino’s Restaurant • 3503 W. Fullerton
Ideal Furniture • 3635 W. Fullerton
Tania • 3704 W. Fullerton
Botanica • 3715 W. Fullerton
Milwaukee Avenue
Borincuba Barbershop • 2545 N. Milwaukee
Disco City • 2632 N. Milwaukee
The Pump Room • 2634 N. Milwaukee
USES Electronic System • 2718 N. Milwaukee
Red Star Food Mart • 2719 N. Milwaukee
Tianguis Carniceria • 2722 N. Milwaukee
Kedzie Boulevard
Puerto Rico Cafeteria • 1532 N. Kedzie
PAI Barber Shop • 1608 N. Kedzie
Banco Popular • 2525 N. Kedzie Blvd.
The Winds Café • 2657 N. Kedzie Blvd.
Western Avenue
El Rinconcito Sabroso • 1304 N. Western
LuckyFood & Smoke Shop • 1358 N. Western
Carlos Food & Liquor • 1401 N. Western
El Jibaro Comida P.R • 1432 N. Western
Quizpes Fashion • 2242 N. Western
Maiz Restaurant • 1041 N. California
Adams and Son • 1057 N. California
T & J Enterprise • 1133 N. California
Garcia Tire and Auto • 1211 N. California
Parkview Dollar and Mini Mart • 1618 N. California
Borinquen Restaurant • 1720 N California
Mini Foods & Liquors • 1900 N. California
Soto Tire Shop • 1901 N. California
Los Artistas Food & Liquor • 2001 N. California
noFriction Café • 2023 N. California
California Grocery • 2058 N. California
Pancho Cafeteria • 2200 N. California
Digame • 2504 N. California
Kimball Street
La Palma Restaurant • 1340 N. Kimball
El Secreto Escondido • 1656 N. Kimball
Food Mart • 1700 N. Kimball
Amigos Food • 1859 N. Kimball
Brisa Foods • 2156 N. Kimball
Other businesses
Loss Leader • 1000 N. Mozart
Homan Food • 3358 W. Lemoyne
La Nueva Puerto Rico • 2559 W. Augusta
Diana’s Food Restaurant • 1000 W. Francisco
Lucy’s Food Store • 3500 W. Hirsch
Urban Cuts • 5344 W. Diversey
Frank’s BarberShop • 2405 W. Homer St
La Voz Hispana • 2514 N Laramie
Community Organizations
Bickerdike Redevelopment • 2550 W. North
DSBDA • 2459 W. Division
Puerto Rican Cultural Center • 2739-41 W. Division
Casa Puertorriqueña • 1237 N. California
Casa Central • 1343 N. California
Las Moradas • 1307-25 N. California
Association House • 1116 N. Kedzie
Hispanic Housing • 1402 N. Kedzie
McCormick YMCA • 1834 N. Lawndale
Humboldt Park Field House • 1400 N. Sacramento
Humboldt Park Libary • 1605 N. Troy
Café Teatro Batey Urbano • 2620 W. Division
NNNN • 2412 W. North Ave, #2
AfriCaribe • 2547 W. Division
Universities
Humboldt Park Vocational Center
University of Illinois at Chicago
Northeastern Illinois University
University of Chicago
DePaul University
Malcolm X College
California Street
A & D Unisex Salon • 1001 N. California
Gonzalez Tire Shop • 1011 N. California
Silvia Grocery • 1026 N. California
Interested in advertising your business in the pages of
La Voz del Paseo Boricua?
Contact: 773.342-8023 or lavoz@prcc-chgo.org
La Junquena • 2501 W. North
Restaurant • 2509 W. North
Family Health Center • 2556 W. North
Yabucoa • 2600 W. North
Las Villas Bakery • 2608 W North
El Mamey Lounge • 2645 W. North
Wright Wood Auto Parts • 2647 W. North
Ricky’s General Store Botanica • 2657 W. North
Tip Top Liquors • 2700 W. North
Family Dollar • 2720 W. North
Cermak Produce • 2731 W. North
J. Discount Pharmacy • 2735 W. North
Migdalia’s Beauty • 3134 W. North
La Fama • 3207 W. North
Roeser’s Bakery • 3216 W. North
Fascination Hair Salon • 3250 W. North
Latino Food Produce & Grocery • 3312 W. North
Tropical Taste Restaurant • 3330 N. North
Disco Sound • 3332 N. North
San Jose Bakery • 3335 W. North
Botanica Yemaya • 3505 W. North
Lissette Flower Shop • 3511 W. North
El Vigia • 3612 W. North
Latin Grocery and Liquor • 3800 W. North
Sabor Latino • 3810 W. North
La Isla Pequeña • 3910 W. North
11
Fiestas Puertorriqueñas
th th
June 12 -17 , 2007
Entertainment Schedule
Tuesday: June 12th, 2007
Richie Ray y Bobby Cruz
Wednesday: June 13th, 2007
Lefty Perez
Andy Montañez
Thursday: June 14th, 12007
Tony Touch
Cuban Link
Notch
Plutonium Music
Encuentro Talento
Friday: June 15 , 2007
th
Voz a Voz
4ever
24 Kilates
Abrazo Boricua
Sponsors Appreciation Luncheon
Fiestas Puertorriqueñas
June 2, 2007
7 :00 pm
Casa Puertorriqueña
June 7, 2007
1 :00 pm
Queen Pageant
June 8, 2007
7:00 pm
June 9, 2007
12:00 pm
Division St. and Humboldt Park
Saturday: June 16 , 2007
Plena Libre
Sammy García y El Sabor de Puerto Rico
Orquesta Zodiac
Sunday: June 17th, 2007
Dignitaries Banquet
Youth Parade and Jamboree
th
12
Calendar of Events 2007
Paquito Guzmán y Paquito Acosta
Carmen la Salsera
Wichy Camacho
Bobby Valentín
San Juan 8k Marathon
June 10,2007
Humboldt Park
9:00 am
June 10,2007
Humboldt Park
1:00 pm
June 12-17, 2007
4:00 – 10:00 pm
Humboldt Park
Puerto Rican Parade
June 16, 2007
12:00 pm
Columbus Drive -Grant Park
Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos
Puerto Rican High School
Over 30 years of building an educational institution, responding to the growing needs of youth in our community
Are you bored with High School?
Looking for a meaningful, Puerto Rican/Latino based high school experience?
Are you between the ages of 16-20?
Do you have at least 5 credits at the high school level?
Maybe our school is for you!
Spaces are available now, contact us right away!
Stop by and fill out an application!
2739-41 W. Division St., Chicago IL, 60622
Call us at: 773.342.8023 and ask for information about enrollment
Lolita Lebrón
Family Learning Center
Are you a young parent interested in completing high school?
Are you bored with High School classes?
Looking for a meaningful, Puerto Rican/Latino based high school experience?
Are you between the ages of 16-20?
Do you have at least 5 credits at the high school level?
Maybe our school is for you!
Spaces are available now, contact us right away!
Stop by and fill out an application!
2636 W. Division St., Chicago IL, 60622
Call us at: 773.342.0809 and ask for information about enrollment
Nellie’s
Puerto Rican
Breakfast & Lunch Restaurant
Dine-in & Carry Out Menu
Catering Available
Visa and Mastercard Accepted!
2458 W. Division Street (Paseo Boricua)
773/252-5520 • Fax: 773/252-5542
*Menu items and prices subject to change.
$2.00
off
*
Any Dine-in, Pick-up or Delivery!
*on purchases of $10.00 or more with coupon.
HOURS: Tuesday – Friday: 10am - 3pm
Saturday: 8am - 3:30pm • Sunday: 9am - 2pm
13
The Alternative Schools
Network of Chicago Salutes
the Puerto Rican Community of
Humboldt Park as They Celebrate Their
29th People’s Parade on Paseo Boricua!
A+
The Alternative Schools Network of Chicago is a notfor-profit organization working to provide quality education
with a specific emphasis on inner-city children, youth and
adults. Since 1973, the ASN has been supporting community based and community-run programs to develop and expand training and other educational services. In addition to
supporting direct services, ASN has been a consistent advocate for community based services whereby the people involved are active participants in developing and running programs – not passive recipients of services.
Goals of the ASN
Resource Development to support educational programs and effective learning activities
at alternative schools;
Technical Assistance and Training across the city and build support and cooperation
among and between alternative schools; and
Advocacy to impact and shape public and private policy in education, employment, social services and other areas as they relate to inner-city youth and families.
14
Alternative Schools Network of Chicago
1807 W. Sunnyside, Suite 1D – Chicago, IL, 60640
Phone (773) 728-4030 – Fax (773) 728-3335
1116 N. Milwaukee Ave. – Chicago, IL 60622
Phone ((773) 342-4243 – Fax (773) 342-4199
E-mail: asn@ asnchicago.org
www.asnchicago.org
Confronting Our Challenges – Building for the Future
29 Annual Puerto Rican
Peoples’ Parade
th
• In Remembrance of the
30th Anniversary of the
2nd Division Street Riots
• In recognition of “Retire 21”
15
29th Puerto Rican People’s Day Parade Insert
Confronting Our Challenges – Building for the Future
Xavier “Xavi” Luis Burgos
Once a year, the greater society tells us, it is ok to be Puerto
Rican. Every June, Boricuas are in a state of bliss and pride,
dancing, singing, and enjoying time with family and friends.
Throughout Humboldt Park’s residential side streets, wide
commercial avenues, and park pathways, the echoes of joyful car honking, the sound of flapping banderas puertorriqueñas, and the smoke of burning pinchos fill the air. But on
June 4, 1977, the day of the downtown Puerto Rican Parade,
the euphoria was violently stripped away. How it happened,
although still debated, cannot be denied in its end result.
Police contend that a gang fight ignited, forcing two cops to
take violent action on a group of young Puerto Ricans. Police
even say that one of their officers was shot at. However, eyewitness accounts, especially by the victim’s families, reveal
that on June 4, 1977 two Puerto Rican men, Julio Osorio,
and Rafael Cruz, were killed in cold-blood by two Chicago
policemen. The 1977 Division Street Riots were sparked.
For two days, the Puerto Ricans of Chicago threw bricks
and stones at unfriendly businesses, fought the abusive police, and once again loudly voiced the frustrations of an oppressed existence. Like in 1966, when first Puerto Ricans rebelled on Division Street, Puerto Ricans were experiencing
slum housing, high unemployment, a high dropout rate from
schools, and of course, police brutality. Although, from the
waning fires of the 1966 riots grew a political consciousness
in the form of organizations and institutions, in 1977 there
was still much resistance to Puerto Rican advancement. We
were, in 1977, still experiencing the social ills of 1966. We
also were being literally burned-out from Humboldt Park.
Chicago Plan 21, supported by then-Mayor Michael Bilandic, sought to “revitalize” the city by displacing communities
across Chicago, which “arson-for-profit” quickly assisted,
with the support of City Hall. Landlords would set-fire to
their apartment buildings in order to collect the insurance,
even if they were occupied. That is how four Puerto Rican
kids burned to death the Christmas Eve before the 1977 riots. But to have two Boricuas shot in the back in front of
their families on the day of our parade was the last straw.
16
To add salt to the wounds of the 1977 Division Street Riots
was the systematic political repression of Chicago’s Puerto
Rican independence movement and other political groups,
which was initially blamed for provoking the riots. The
city’s power structure was furious over the Puerto Rican
independence movement’s vocal and consistent calls for accountability for the police murder of Osorio and Cruz. The
independence movement spearheaded the denunciation of
the police attach and provocation that was evident in the
show of force with a march with hundreds of people a day
after the riots from Humboldt Park to downtown Chicago.
The independence movement, as well as the People’s Law
Office, which represented the families of Cruz and Osorio,
also staged a People’s Tribunal to reveal the truth of that
fateful day. Numerous civic, political, and religious groups
and figures, such as Reverend Seiichi Michael “Mike” Yasutake, supported the People’s Tribunal. Furthermore, in
1978, the independence movement produced the Puerto
Rican People’s Parade as a cultural and grassroots response
to the riots and the abuses against the Puerto Rican community. The Puerto Rican People’s Parade is rooted in not only
showcasing Puerto Rican pride, but also in offering such an
experience in the community. The word “people” was used
for the name of the tribunal and the parade to stress the
power of witness that the community has, because the community knows the truth, which cannot be silenced. For these
A Family Testimony
actions, the police would greet the Puerto Rican People’s
Parade with machine guns as the procession went down
Division Street. However, many white women, including
Mary Powers, from the organization Citizen’s Alert, would
lead the parade to make sure the police would not endanger
anyone. Nonetheless, from the ashes of the 1977 Division
Street Riots grew more parallel institutions and organizations of community building and a wave of newly Puerto
Rican and Latina/o elected officials. Just as Puerto Ricans
set the path for Latina/o elected officials, so are we the leaders of a movement of Latina/o solidarity and the case for the
undocumented, like Elvira Arellano.
The 1977 Division Street not only reveals the hardships that
Puerto Ricans in Chicago have had to endure, but also reinsures that we have claimed space in Humboldt Park and
with our struggles, made it our home. Despite the real-estate
developers that seek to portray our community a non-Puerto
Rican place, Humboldt Park, with the commercial, political,
literary, and musical Renaissance of Paseo Boricua (Division
Street), has become the Mecca of the Puerto Rican Diaspora. Puerto Ricans are being displaced from Humboldt Park,
yes, but not without resistance. Puerto Ricans have struggled too hard and too valiantly against everything from slum
housing and arson-for-profit, to poor school conditions and
police brutality. We have survived two riots and have lived
to tell the tale. This year’s 29th Annual Puerto Rican People
Parade, dedicated to the 1977 Division Street Riots and the
“Retire 21” campaign of Roberto Clemente’s famed jersey
number, to take place down Division Street, again reveals
the resilience of the Puerto Rican community and our claim
to space. The “Retire 21” also is the beginning of a National
Puerto Rican Diaspora Agenda.
June 4, 2007 is an important day that commemorates
the 30th anniversary of the Humboldt Park Puerto Rican
Parade Day Riot. It represents a moment in the history
of the Puerto Rican community in Chicago that strongly
depicts our struggle against adversity. Thirty years ago
on this day, two young Puerto Rican men were brutally
and senselessly murdered by the Chicago Police. These
men were Rafael Cruz and Julio Osorio. Rafael Cruz was
my brother.
The injustices committed on that day burst into a flame
of resistance, which many believe was brought forth
by the spark of the 1966 Division Street Riots. On that
date, I remember that the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police came to realize that our community stood
together as one and had developed into “a people of resistance.” This actually made them retreat as the cowards
they were. My brother was shot in the back. Although
the truth was kept out of the criminal courts, resulting
in one of many Chicago police cover-ups, the truth was
not kept from the community. The community knew the
truth, for it was a witness.
I remember how people cried with and for the families
of the victims as if the victims were members of their
own families. The unity witnessed that day is memorable and worth commemorating. After the riot, the
people not only stood firm against police brutally but
also against other adversities that plague our community.
Our achievements and the representation we have today
come from many hard fought battles. To our youth I say,
as we take the time to commemorate this day, let us also
take a moment to reflect on our history. And let us use
this history as a tool to ensure our future in this community against gentrification, which threatens us with yet
another displacement of our people. Our history is proof
that in unity there is no defeat.
Evelin Cruz-Vázquez
Message from the Peoples’ Parade Coordinator
The second Division Street Riots strengthened the Puerto Rican community, struggle after struggle, from bilingual education,
to the establishment of alternative schools and admissions programs for Latinos at the university. Beyond that, Puerto Ricans in
Chicago have fought for the release of two generations of Puerto Rican political prisoners. In the political arena, we have gone
from zero representation to elected eleven Puerto Rican elected officials.
Furthermore, the riots lead to the establishment of several community housing organizations and institutions to preserve and
promote our Puerto Rican culture. In Chicago’s Police Department today you can find Puerto Ricans among its top leadership.
Like no other Puerto Rican barrio, we have responded to the threat posed by gentrification by establishing Paseo Boricua, as our
social, political, and economic anchor in the Midwest.
Surely, the challenges facing our community have not disappeared, but through struggle we have moved forward. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the 1977 Puerto Rican Riots on ‘La Division,’ we encourage you to join us for the following
events to take place from June 11-26. Let us pay homage to our pioneers, let us celebrate our past accomplishments, and finally
let us make claim to our future on Division Street and in Humboldt Park!
Thus, in the spirit of commemorating 30 years of struggle, which we are but a testament of, the 29th Annual Puerto Rican
People’s Parade is dedicated to our presence and persistence in Chicago.
We hope to reflect on how our community has struggled, built, and rebuilt itself like no other community in the Puerto Rican
Diaspora.
On behalf of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center we want to invite you to join us for the 29th Annual Puerto Rican People’s
Parade on June 16, at 2:00 pm. The Parade will begin on Division Street at the corner of Western Avenue.
On our 29th Annual Puerto Rican People’s Parade of the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto Rican Cultural Center, would like to
extend our appreciation and gratitude to everyone who participated in making this 29th People’s Parade a success:
Parade Committee Members:
Leony Calderón- Parade Committee Coordinator
Juan Calderón- Vida/SIDA
Veronica Crespo- Lolita Lebrón Family Learning Center
Carmen Cruz- Centro Infantil Consuelo Lee Corretjer
Cordelia Ireland- National Boricua Human Rights Network
Saul Meléndez- La Voz del Paseo Boricua
Edwin Mendez- Community Representative
Miguel Morales- COOP Humboldt Park
Carmen Patiño- Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School
Jonathan Rivera- Community Representative
Irma Romero- Community Representative
Enrique Salgado Jr.- Division Street Business Development
Association (DSBDA)
Ad Book Production:
Alejandro Luis Molina, Michael Rodríguez Muñiz, Jodene
Velázquez, Leony Calderón, Xavier Luis Burgos,
Jonathan Rivera
The Staff of Puerto Rican Cultural Center’s
Programs:
Café Teatro Batey Urbano
Centro Infantil Consuelo Lee Corretjer
Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Alt. High School
Lolita Lebrón Family Learning Center
La Casita de Don Pedro
Vida/SIDA
Our thought and prayers go to the Matos family on Graciano
Matos’ speedy recovery.
A special thanks goes out to all the businesses, organizations
and individuals who sponsored our parade ad insert.
Please Patronize Our Sponsors!
29th Annual Puerto Rican
Peoples’ Parade
June 16, 2007
Starting on Division
and California, 2pm
Grand Marshal:
Julio Pabón
Honorary Marshals:
Elvira Arellano and Saúl Arellano
Honored Guests:
The Cruz Family
Ramón López
Commissioner Roberto Maldonado
Alderman Billy Ocasio
Farrique Pesquera
Carlos Quiles
Puerto Rican Cultural Center and the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science Present:
Conference: ‘COMMUNITY AS INTELLECTUAL SPACE’
Our Barrio, Our Stories, Ourselves: The Role of Oral History in Community Building
June 15-17, 2007
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1-4 PM:
http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/CIS2007
Alejandro Molina | 773.342.8023 | alejandro@prcc-chgo.org
THE POETICS OF CULTURAL RESISTANCE
– PUERTO RICO AND THE DIASPORA
Performance by Nuyorican poet/playwright Tato Laviera,
followed by singer/songwriter of Puerto Rico’s “Nueva
Trova” Fernandito Ferrer, Humboldt Park Library (North
and Troy). Co-sponsored by Public Square.
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 5 PM:
OPENING SESSION OF CONFERENCE:
Walking Tour featuring “La Casita de Don Pedro:
Gentrification in El Barrio,” an original installation
created by Héctor Arce-Espasas and students of the
Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, a project of BCA,
followed by a performance by Nuestro Tambó, with
opening remarks from Ramón López.
La Casita de Don Pedro, 2625 W. Division Street.
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1 PM:
Premiere - ‘77 Puerto Rican Chicago Riot’
The opening performance of an original play about
the 1977 Division Street riots written by renowned
Nuyorican poet/ playwright Tato Laviera and directed
by Michael Reyes. The play was made possible by the
B.A.C.C.A. afterschool program and the youth of Café
Teatro Batey Urbano. Followed by panel discussion with
Cruz family and Michael Deutsch (Invited),
2620 W. Division Street
HUMBOLDT PARK: HISTORIC MEMORY
AND LITERARY TRADITION – THE INTERSECTION
OF PUERTO RICAN AND JEWISH EXPERIENCE
Readings by Hazel Rochman/Darlene Z. McCampbell,
Leaving Home: Stories, Elaine Soloway, Division Street
Princess: A Memoir, Carlos Quiles, Memorias
de Josefina; Poetry readings: David
Hernández (Invited), Eduardo Arocho and Batey Urbano
Poets • Humboldt Park Library (North and Troy)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 6 PM:
17
10 Reasons why #21 should be retired
To all my Boricuas, I must inform that the Community of Paseo Boricua took the initiative to participate as the main sponsor for the
Retire 21 Campaign- Midwest chapter. Among the Puerto Rican institutions in Chicago that will participate are the Juan Antonio Corretjer
Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Casa Puertorriqueña, the Midwest Region of the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration,
Division Street Business Development Association and 26th Ward Alderman Billy Ocasio.
We urge all Puerto Rican and Latino institutions, and most importantly the people who Roberto Clemente played for,
to join this important campaign to “Retire #21.”
i
t
e re
1. Greatness he created as a baseball player
Clemente could catch any ball hit to the outfield and throw out any runner
on the bases. His batting prowess with 3,000 hits and four batting titles,
was equaled by his skill in the field. He had one of the most fearsome
throwing arms in baseball history and won twelve golden gloves.
2. His character
R
white superstar. He pointed out that nobody accused the great Mantle of
being a malingerer.
8. His principals
At the dawn of the civil rights era, Clemente had grown more assertive on
questions of racial equality. Martin Luther King Jr. was at the top of the list
of people he admired. They had met several times, and King once spent
part of a day talking with Clemente at his farm in Puerto Rico. When King
was assassinated in April 1968, Clemente led the way in insisting that
the Pirates and Astros delay opening the season in Houston until after the
slain civil rights leader’s funeral.
21
Al Oliver, a Black teammate who considered himself one of Clemente’s disciples, said Clemente would draw him into long discussions more about life
than baseball. “ Our conversations always stemmed around people from
all walks of life being able to get along well, no excuses why it shouldn’t
be…. He had a problem with people who treated you differently because of
where you were from, your nationality, your color, also poor people, how they
were treated…. That’s the thing I really respected about him most, was his
character, the things he believed in.”
3. The love he possessed towards humanity
Despite a massive effort to assist the people of Nicaragua after the devastating earthquake that leveled the people of Managua and killed thousands of residents two days before Christmas, 1972, much of the aid
was not getting to the people. In the aftermath of the quake, the greed of
Nicaragua military leader Anastasio Somoza became apparent. Clemente
decided to go to Managua to make sure that food and medical supplies
from Puerto Rico reached the people who needed help.
4. His commitment towards the less fortunate
He was a man who could have lived a luxurious life away from the troubles
of society and the poverty he faced as a child, yet, he was not like that. He
gave up his life trying to help other people in need.
9. His dignity
In the late 1960’s, Clemente wore the uniform of the San Juan Senadors,
his favorite team as a child. Writers in Pittsburgh often questioned why
Clemente would tire himself by playing winter ball, but he felt an obligation to his homeland and connected his personal history to the struggle of
his people. Ultimately what burned in his eyes was the fire of dignity.
10. For overcoming discrimination
Being a Black Latino, nothing in Puerto Rico was as overtly racist as the
Jim Crow segregation Clemente experienced during his early years with the
Pirates in Fort Myers. However, this did not stop him from inspiring both
Black and Puerto Rican people from trying to reach their dream of making
it to Major League Baseball.
Excerpts from the book, Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s
Last Hero, by David Maraniss.
5. His bravery and leadership
Even in his childhood, Clemente was an organizer. He once led a group of
boys in raising money to build a fence to protect his school, and another
time rescued a driver from a burning car. Besides that, once Clemente was
in the big leagues he was like a big brother to dozens of Latino players
who followed him to the majors, including Orlando Cepeda, who won the
National League MVP in 1967. Clemente won the honor a year earlier.
6. His Latino pride
Planeloads of Puerto Ricans flew to Pittsburg for Roberto Clemente night
on July 24, 1970. Clemente, choked with emotion, saw his whole life race
through his mind and said how hard he had fought over the years to be
understood and recognized for who and what he was, a proud Puerto Rican.
Not ashamed to cry, he said, “ In a moment like this, your mind is a circular
stage; you can see a lot of years in a few minutes. You can see everything
firm and you can see everything clear.”
7. For being outspoken
18
Clemente was outspoken about his perceptions of prejudice toward Latino
players. “Latin American Negro ballplayers are treated today much like
all Negroes were treated in baseball in the early days of the broken color
barrier,” he told Sport magazine. “They are subjected to prejudices and
stamped with generalizations.” One example of such prejudice, Clemente
thought, was writers’ frequent portrayals of him as a hypochondriac. Clemente often complained of health problems, including backaches, headaches, stomachaches, insomnia, tonsillitis, malaria, sore shoulders, and
pulled muscles. Often before stepping into the batter’s box, he would roll
his shoulders and neck, trying to align his spine. He insisted that his injuries were as real as the pains suffered by Mickey Mantle, a contemporary
Chicago Film Premiere:
“Legacy of #21”
An exciting documentary on the
life and example of the heroic
Roberto Clemente– “Retire #21”.
Followed by panel discussion
with Executive Producers,
Julio Pabón and Byron Hunter.
Dance presentation by Clave contra Clave
Monday, June 11,
Roberto Clemente Auditorium, 7pm
$5 (per ticket)
Sponsored by PRFAA and the PRCC
Authentic P.R. Cuisine
Latin American
Restaurant
Tel: 773.235.7290
Fax: 773.235.0243
Cell: 773.344.2681
2743 W. Division St
Chicago, IL 60622
Hall Rental Available
Latin American Restaurant
Tropical Nights
H
O
S
T
E
D
B
Y
Papo Santiago y Conjunto Infravede
[10pm-2am]
[7pm-1am]
Papo Santiago y Conjunto Cuatrisimo
2743 W. Division St. I Chicago, IL 60622
Tel. (773) 235-7290 Cell. (773) 344-2681
print: www.vibragraphics.com 773.509.8026
Galeria Cuca
New Studio Location at
2456 W. Division Street, Suite 201
Chicago IL 60622
galeriacuca.com
Lilly’s Record Shop
“El Salón de la Fama de la Salsa”
Salsa/Merengüe/Jíbaro y más
desde el 1983
Souvenirs from Puerto Rico
2733 W. Division St
773/252.7008
lilysrecordshop@aol.com
¡Le desea las mejores
fiestas puertorriqueñas!
for showings call
773/909-9287
credit card accepted
payment plans available
online purchase at galeriacuca.com
~Experience the Caribbean through Cuca’s art~
19
Alderman Ocasio Introduces
“Retire 21” Resolution in City Council
Urges MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COMMISSIONER ALLAN
“BUD” SELIG TO RETIRE ROBERTO CLEMENTE’S NUMBER 21
FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALl
WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente is considered by many to be the greatest right fielder to ever play the game
of baseball; and,
WHEREAS, as a member of the Pittsburg Pirates from 1955 to 1972 he won four National League batting
titles, twelve Golden Glove awards, and was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1966;
and,
Calle 13 Reflects on
Roberto Clemente,
“Retire 21” and
His Legacy in Puerto
Rico and the World
WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente led the Pittsburg Pirates to a seven game World Series victory over the
heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in 1971 where he received the World Series MVP award; and,
WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente became the first Latin American player to be inducted into the Major
Leagues Baseball Hall of Fame; and,
WHEREAS, his passion for baseball could only be matched by his unrelenting commitment to make a
difference in the lives of the less fortunate; and,
Edwin Méndez
Latino Sports caught up with Calle 13 (comprised of two
brothers, Residente and Visitante,) backstage after a surprise
appearance at Kelly High School to get their reflections on Roberto Clemente and the “Retire 21” Campaign.
Question to El Residente: What role has Roberto Clemente
played in your life as an artist and as a human?
R: Growing up in Puerto Rico you always knew that Roberto Clemente was the standard in humanity. As a youth
playing baseball, like all of the other kids in my neighborhood, we never let anyone put on the number 21 because
it represents a huge amount of respect we all have towards
Roberto Clemente. To us, as artists and speaking on behalf
of our fellow countrymen, Roberto Clemente is the biggest
legacy in Puerto Rico and Latin America.
Question to El Visitante: Can you tell us the force and inspiration that Roberto Clemente has made in your life?
V: Roberto Clemente has had three impacts in my life. Roberto Clemente has been the model citizen I have chosen to
follow as a person and as an artist. To me as a proud Puerto
Rican, it is a pleasure to be associated with Roberto Clemente. To all of the Boricuas, Roberto Clemente is an inspiration as a humanitarian and a cultural icon.
WHEREAS, Clemente was also well known for his fierce ethnic pride and for his unusual capacity to bear
a much larger identity—not just for Puerto Rico but for all of Latin America. It was a responsibility he
embraced and carried with dignity and admirable grace; and,
WHEREAS, he was uncommonly devoted to creating positive change in the world, a conviction he carried
until he made the ultimate sacrifice, giving up his life in an airplane crash while attempting to deliver
supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua; and,
WHEREAS, his legacy goes beyond that of a great player, it exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice that great
humanitarian’s give for their beliefs, his life to help others.
WHEREAS, in sports, we honor an athlete’s legacy by retiring their number; and,
WHEREAS, because of his remarkable accomplishments both on and off the field Roberto Clemente is
truly deserving of this honor.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council of Chicago do hereby urge Allan “Bud” Selig to retire
Roberto Clemente’s number 21 from Major League Baseball.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Chicago City Council hereby proclaim
June 16, 2007 “Retire 21” day in the City of Chicago.
Presented June 16, 2007
Billy Ocasio
Alderman, 26th Ward
‘Retire 21’ Campaign in Chicago
20
For the last several months, La Voz has informed our readers about the ongoing campaign to urge Major League Baseball (MLB) to retire Roberto Clemente’s number 21 by
signing petitions throughout the businesses and community-based organizations on
Paseo Boricua and Humboldt Park.
The following locations will have petitions:
Café Colao (2638 W. Division)
Nellie’s Restaurant (2458 W. Division)
Paseo Boricua Business Center (2459 W. Division)
Papa’s Caché Sabroso (2517 W. Division)
Puerto Rican Cultural Center (2739-41 W. Division)
El Quijote Bookstore (2546 W. Division)
La Casa Puertorriqueña (1237 N. California)
Borinquen Restaurant (1720 N. California)
Humboldt Park Field House (1440 N. Humboldt)
For more information, go to: retire21.org or latinosport.com
Besides signing the petition, the “Retire 21” campaign has created
“Going to Bat to Retire 21,” which is a fundraising effort to cover all
required expenses to build the campaign on a national level that will
involve everyone from celebrities and dignitaries to the average “José”
or “María” in the street that believes number 21 should be retired. By
taking out full-page ads in several national newspapers and magazines,
and creating bumper stickers to hand out everywhere, the “Retire 21”
campaign will gain the national support needed.
Suggested donation amounts are the following:
$ 2.10 = Single
$ 21.00 = Double
$ 210.00 = Triple
$ 2,100.00 = Home Run
$ 21,000.00 = GRAND SLAM
The Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce
of Illinois proudly celebrates with our community
the 29th Annual Puerto Rican People’s Parade.
Ready to start your own business? We have the resources to help.
Visit us on the web at www.prcci.org or call us at 773-486-1331
2515 W. Division St., Chicago, Illinois 60622
Ph: (773) 486-1331 Fax: (773) 486-1340
www.prcci.com.
21
Coming to you in August 2007! PASEO BORICUA
DK;IJHEJ7C8E¼i
Debut CD/DVD
NUES
TROT
AMBÓ
D K ; I J H E J 7 C 8 ÔIVE!
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www.nuestrotambo.org
www.myspace.com/nuestrotambo
r_drums@yahoo.com
22
GROCERY & DELI
2706 W. Division St
Chicago, IL 60622
773/862-5738
The Interfaith Prisoners
of Conscience Ministry
(IPOC)
Salutes the 29th Annual
Peoples Parade
Working for the
freedom of US-based
political prisoners
Rev. Dr. C. Nozomi Ikuta
InterfaithPOC@aol.com
Joe’s Hardware
773/276-3691
Salutes the
Puerto Rican community
on the occasion of the
29th Peoples’ Parade
23
Peace Pledge Chicago
Congratulates the
Puerto Rican
Community on Their
29th Annual People’s
Parade
EACE PLEDG
P
We meet every
Monday at 2502
W. Division St
from 6:00pm7:30pm. Join us!
You are
welcome. Call us
at 312 494-5840 for
more information.
Our web page is
www.peacepledgechicago.org
CH
Patronize
Our Sponsors:
Price Rite Appraisal: 773/517-7174
Bade Paper Products: 847/459-1070
Nunilo and Elenita Rubio
8th Day Center for Justice: 312/641-5151
E
ICAGO
West Town
Community
Law Office
¡Sirviendo orgullosamente
a la comunidad
puertorriqueña y
latinoamericana
24
Linda Padilla,
Paralegal
Melinda Power,
Licenciada
2502 West Division St.
Chicago, IL 60622
773/278.6706
773/278.0635 fax
Juan Mendez • José Acevedo
2507 W. North Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60647-5201
Office: 773-252-2222
Fax: 773-252-2037
Page: 312-418-7099
14KT. Gold Jewelry Repair
Custom Made Jewelry
We Buy Gold
Silver Sale & Watch Repair
Comprando Casa?
Proteje Esa Inversion Con
Una Inspeccion de Casa
JLR Inspections
Jose Luis Rodriguez
LICENSED REAL ESTATE INSPECTOR
Adalberto
United Methodist Church
Iglesia Metodista Unida
2716 W. Division St.
Chicago, Il 60622
Servicios/Services • Domingos/Sunday • 11:00am
Estudios Biblicos/Bible Study • Miercoles 7:00pm
Centro Sin Fronteras • 2300 S. Blue Island Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
Tel: 773/523-8261 • fax 773/523-8109
sinfronteras1205@aol.com
(773) 927-1900
25
?
26
Luquillo
Barber Shop
since 1965
salutes the
29th People’s Parade
Botanica Victoria
We Sell:
•Religious Statues
•Aromatherapy
•Books
•Herbs
•Perfumes
•Quartzes
•Rosaries
•Natural Medicine
•Soaps
•Incense
•Santeria Artifacts
•Prayer Cards
•Candles
2510 W. Division St.
•Buddha
Chicago IL. 60622
•Baths
Tel: 773.252.0682
•Teas
•Make Keys
•Natural Oils
27
28
1er
ASPIRA Inc. de Illinois inaugura su
“Early College” en Illinois en agosto de 2007
ASPIRA Early College es una escuela de 9vo a 12mo grado que le da la oportunidad a
los estudiantes de tomar cursos y obtener créditos universitarios durantes los grados
11vo y 12mo.
Beneficios:
• Proceso fácil de registración y de obtener solicitud
• La mayoría de los cursos universitarios son
aceptados por otras universidades del estado
• Escuela pequeña permite un mejor ambiente de
aprendizaje
• Aprendizaje a través de proyectos permiten una
experiencia del mundo real
• Cursos con crédito universitario a bajo costo
• Oportunidades de trabajar en compañías de Chicago
• Servicios de ayuda académica y social
• Acceso a laboratorios de computadoras y otros equipos de tecnología
• Administración y maestros altamente certificados
• Grupos pequeños de estudiantes por cada maestro facilita una relación más
personalizada
Requisitos para estudiantes:
• Vivir en la cuidad de Chicago
• Haberse graduado de 8vo grado
Para más información favor llamar a Mary Rawlins al 773-252-0970 X 137 X 115.
ASPIRA CELEBRA EL TRIUNFO DE SUS ESTUDIANTES !!!
Estudiantes de Mirta Ramírez ganan 1er lugar en
el juego anual del mercado de valores organizado
por el Consejo de Educación Económica.
Yuriria Ramos, estudiante de 11mo
grado de Antonia Pantoja apoyando
la necesidad de más fondos para la
escuela en una asamblea en Springfield.
Felicidades a Vanesa
Serrano, candidata
a graduación 2007
de Antonia Pantoja
Alternative High School
por ser: estudiante
del año, miembro del
año de ASPIRA Club,
colaboración con la
Federación de ASPIRA
Club y participación en
ASPIRA Club.
ASPIRA INC. de Illinois es un patrono con igualdad de oportunidad de empleo
ASPIRA Inc. es una organización puertorriqueña sin fines de lucro comprometida a la
autodeterminación de los latinos a través de la educación, desarrollo de liderazgo y
conciencia cultural.
29

June 2007 English La Voz - La Voz del Paseo Boricua

Transcription

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