Cultural News by Cem� Underground

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Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EDT

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Biography of Don Ricardo Alegr�a

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:25:00 EDT

July 7, 2011

By Mariela Fullana Acosta / Primera Hora Newspaper, PR

(Our Translation)

Ricardo Alegria Gallardo was born in San Juan (Puerto Rico) on April 14, 1921. His childhood and adolescence was spent between San Juan and Loiza Aldea, where his grandmother had a farm in which he spent the summers. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus, and then obtained a master's degree in anthropology from the University of Chicago.

In the 1950's he gets a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship which enabled him to pursue his doctorate at Harvard University where he earned his degree in anthropology and history.

Back in Puerto Rico, Alegria was noted for his studies of the indigenous history of Puerto Rico, embodied in many different archaeological research and academic work.

Within the study of ancient history in Puerto Rico, Ricardo Alegría deepened the study of the mix of Hispanic and African traditions that were found in the islands, with special attention to the survival of these traditions in the customs, lifestyles, folk art , religion and folklore of Loiza Aldea.

In his authorized biography, Ricardo Alegria: A Life, written by Dr. Carmen Dolores Hernandez, she notes that Alegria became the first professional anthropologist of Puerto Rico in 1947 when he was 26 years old. A year later he was appointed to the position of Assistant Director of the Museum of History, Anthropology and Art at the University of Puerto Rico, where he led efforts to document indigenous Puerto Rican prehistory.

In 1949, as property director, Alegría turned this space into the first art museum of the the country and an important center of anthropology and history.

Alegría also established the Center for Archaeological and Ethnographic Research which implemented the program of excavation and research, its main finding that Puerto Rico had two phases of the Arawak culture: the Igneri and Taíno.

The cultural vision of Alegría, according to Dolores Hernandez published in the newspaper El Nuevo Dia, "led the country into a radical awareness of the importance of Puerto Rican culture in all its forms, its strengthening and its conservation."

In 1949 the historian directed the filming of The Feast of Santiago The Apostle in Loiza, being the first full color documentary made in Puerto Rico.

In 1955 the historian is appointed as the director of the newly opened Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, which he directed for 18 years. This institution conducted work of great importance to establish a historic preservation program with which he could achieve the preservation and renovation of Old San Juan.

In 1973 Alegría became director of the Office of Cultural Affairs under the government of Rafael Hernández Colón. In 1976 he founded the Center for Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. In 1992 he founded the Museum of the Americas. He was also the founder and organizer of the School and Arts Workshops in Puerto Rico, was a promoter of the Biennial of Latin American Prints and Professor of Anthropology at the University of Puerto Rico.

Alegría, according to Dolores Hernandez, founded and directed important institutions, cultural centers and programs, established and directly contributed to the arts, archeology and historiography through books, plays, films and other cultural products.

As recently as last year, Alegría has published five volumes of a series of studies of historical documents of the sixteenth century. One unfinished project is for Puerto Rico to become part of UNESCO.

He received several awards and honors throughout his life, including the award-Shield-Cronic Award, awarded by the National Trust for Hispanic Preservation of the United States.

El Barrio TO CUBA WITH LOVE

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EDT

Casabe Houses, Radio Libre, IFCO, Cemi Underground.com, Circa 95, Casa de Las Americas, Taller Boricua, VirtualBoricua.org

Present

El BARRIO TO CUBA WITH LOVE

June 10, ‘11 - 6 to 9pm
Music / Food / Arts & Crafts
Casabe Houses – 121st St. & Lexington Ave., NYC
$20 Donation

This event is dedicated to the life and commitment of Lucius Walker, founder of Pastors for Peace.

Music By BOMBAYO and El Barrio Caravan Orchestra
Poetry by Tato Laviera and Maria Aponte

For more info: go to www.ifconews.org and or call Esperanza (212) 927-9065

Saturday, June 11: TWO EVENTS - Artesan�a en El Barrio and a Workshop on environmental issues that affect Puerto Rico

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:26:00 EDT

Join Taller Boricua, Comité Noviembre and Cemí Underground

Saturday, June 11: TWO EVENTS

12-6pm: Artesanía en El Barrio
Crafts by Puerto Rican artisans from New York in the parking lot behind 1685 Lexington Ave. at 106th street

1-3 pm: Puerto Rico's Northeast Ecological Corridor: Our Encanto at Risk
Workshop by the Sierra Club of Puerto Rico at the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center, 1680 Lexington Ave., between 105th and 106th streets

The Northeast Ecological Corridor, whose rivers and vistas connect it to El Yunque, is home to nearly 900 plants and animals, the most renowned of which is El Tinglar, the endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle and the world's largest sea turtle.

Camilla Feibelman and Carmen Guerrero, of the Puerto Rico chapter of the Sierra Club, will present the story of the 10-year campaign to protect this area of extraordinary ecological value as a nature reserve to then seeing that designation be removed in 2009. They will talk about the diverse members of the Northeast Ecological Corridor Coalition, the importance of the Corridor, and the opportunities for developing the Corridor as a prime eco-tourism destination and building the local economy in the adjacent towns of Luquillo and Fajardo.

Sierra Club's Puerto Rico Chapter President, Orlando Negrón, will discuss other important environmental issues in Puerto Rico, such as the recently proposed 92-mile natural gas pipeline (gasoducto) that will cut through 13 municipalities of the island and a proposed solid waste incinerator in the municipality of Arecibo.

TODAY - Film Screening NUYORICAN DREAM

Thu, 19 May 2011 09:09:00 EDT

Chronicles the struggles and aspirations of a New York Puerto Rican family as they contend with the devastating effects of urban poverty.

Thursday, May 19, 6:30pm

TALLER BORICUA at the Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center
1680 Lexington Ave., at 106th St., El Barrio NYC

Message to Puerto Rican Artisans - May 1, 2011

Sun, 01 May 2011 20:56:00 EDT

Message to Puerto Rican Artisans in NY/

Mensaje a los Artesanos Puertorriqueños de NY

1. Loisaida Festival

If you wish to participate in this year's festival you can download and send the application to the festival organizers but right-away!!
We are welcome to participate for a fee of $100, but make sure to put "Puerto Rican Artisan" next to your name. If $100 is a hardship please le me know and we will work with the festival organizers to make an adjustment.
The fair is Sunday, May 29, 2011, from 11am to 5pm in Avenue C, Manhattan, between 6th and 12th Streets. More info and vendor application at their website: http://www.loisaidainc.org/

Si desea participar en la fiesta de Loisaida este año pueden hacerlo si bajan la solicitud y la envían inmediatamente!
Como artesanos podemos participar pagando $100 por cada espacio, pero asegúrese de poner "Puerto Rican Artisan" al lado de su nombre. Si $100 es muy alto, déjeme saber y trabajaremos con los organizadores para ver si podemos hacer un arreglo.
La fiesta es el domingo, 29 de mayo del 2011, desde 11am a 5pm en la Avenida C, Manhattan, entre las calles 6 y 12. Más información en el sitio de web: http://www.loisaidainc.org/

2. Comite Noviembre's Puerto Rican Artisan Fair and Exhibition

This year marks Comite Noviembre's 25th anniversary and we want to make sure that this will be a memorable anniversary. The next Fair is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture. Volunteers are needed to get this Fair off the ground please send me a message at info@cemiunderground.com to sign up and help us make this Fair the best and the biggest yet.

Este año Comite Novimbre celebra su 25 aniversario y queremos asegurar que será un aniversario inolvidable. La feria de este año será el sábado 25 de noviembre del 2011 en el Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture. Buscamos voluntarios para que nos ayuden hacer esta la Feria más mejor y más grande hasta ahora. Envíenme un mensaje a info@cemiunderground.com para ayudarnos.

3. Taller Boricua and Cemi Underground present Artesania at Salsa Wednesday

Olga Ayala is now filling the schedule for May. Bookings will be done on a first come first served basis and your request will be accommodated as best possible. Once booked you will be confirmed via email. (Remember there is no fee to participate and it's open to all artisans.)
Taller Boricua at Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center, 1680 Lexington Avenue at 106th Street, El Barrio, NYC.
Contact Olga to participate.

Olga Ayala está llenando el calendario de mayo. Las reservas se realizan en la orden de llegada y su solicitud será satisfecha, como la mejor posible.
Una vez reservado será confirmado vía correo electrónico. (Recuerde que no hay cuota de participación y está abierto a todos los artesanos.)
Taller Boricua en el Centro Cultural Latino Julia de Burgos, 1680 Avenida Lexington en la Calle 106, El Barrio, Nueva York.
Póngase en contacto con Olga para participar.

OLGA AYALA
OLGA AYALA HANDICRAFTS (HECHO A MANO)
Functional Art In Polymer
(718) 448-0730
(718) 709-6574 cell
http://www.olgaayala.zoomshare.com
http://www.olgaayala.etsy.com
http://www.cafepress.com/olgaayala
http://www.myspace.com/prpetite

Book signing by Humberto �Pancho� Cintron

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:11:00 EDT

Book signing by Humberto “Pancho” Cintron where he will be reading from his latest book of short stories and poems about growing up in El Barrio in the 1950’s…

Saturday, April 23 at 6:00pm

at La Mariposa, 442 East 118th Street, El Barrio, NYC

Special Film presentation - So�ando con Puerto Rico

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:07:00 EDT

Taller Boricua and Cemí Underground are teaming up with film collector Henry Medina to present a night of films and a little live plena music by Obanilu Ire Allende and PURA PLENA:
Film #1: “Soñando con Puerto Rico” and special added short film about the late plenero Hugo Asencio.

Film #2: “Cuban Popular Music on Film…”
El Barrio (Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center – 1680 Lexington Avenue at 106th St.).

For info contact Henry Medina, Jr. at: hmj47@hotmail.com

or wwww.cemiunderground.com

March 31 - CELEBRATING THE PUERTO RICAN REVOLUTIONARY WOMAN

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:15:00 EDT

CELEBRATING THE PUERTO RICAN REVOLUTIONARY WOMAN

Join The ProLibertad Freedom Campaign as we honor the contributions of Women to the Puerto Rican independence Movement! This year we dedicate our event to the amazing sisters who are leading the student strike at the University of Puerto Rico

Recipients of the Doña Adelfa Vera Award for 2011:

Melissa Montero, National Boricua Human Rights Network

Sally O’Brien, Where we Live and Cuba en Focus, WBAI Keynote

Speakers:

Iris Zavala, Psychologist, feminist radical and independence activist

NormaHiram Perez, NY con UPR Committee

Performers:

Storm of the Welfare Poets, Poet/Singer Rafael Landron, Poet A-FIG MC, Rapper Bonafide Rojas, Poet

Handcrafts and Art:

Olga Ayala, HECHO A MANO

Luis Cordero, Cemi Underground

Thursday, March 31, 2011 @ 6:30pm

Taller Boricua’s Multi Arts Space at Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center

1680 Lexington Avenue @ E. 106th St.

IWWD! Education, Resistance and Sustainability - Fri., March 25

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:13:00 EDT

International Working Women’s Day!
Education, Resistance and Sustainability

Screening of the “Antonia Pantoja ¡Presente!” documentary* chronicling the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient’s profound commitment to transform society, her pivotal role in the Puerto Rican community’s fight to combat racism and discrimination, and her pioneering work to secure higher education.
*Produced and directed by Lillian Jiménez.

SPEAKER:
Norma Perez, Puerto Rico Solidarity Network and NYC public school teacher CULTURAL

PERFORMANCE:
Maria Elena Sosa is a poet/emcee/artist/writer/Latina/ Woman/and a Human Rights Activist

HOSTED BY:
Lillian Jiménez, Esperanza Martell and Blanca Vázquez, Co-Founders of the Latin Women’s Collective, Activists, Educators and Artists. Refreshments will be served. RSVP: Lemctr@aol.com. Wheelchair accessible.

Friday, March 25th | 6pm – 9:00pm

Casabe Senior Houses 150 East 121st Street @ Lexington Avenue
First Floor Community Room (FREE!)

EMERGENCY PROTEST PR GOV. LUIS FORTUNO IN NY - MARCH 23, 2011

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:16:00 EDT

NY w/UPR

New York with University of Puerto Rico Students - Solidarity Committee

EMERGENCY RALLY AND PROTEST OF PUERTO RICO GOV. LUIS FORTUÑO

Wednesday, March 23 · 4:30pm - 7:00pm

THE NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB
180 CENTRAL PARK SOUTH
(59th St. & 7th Ave. - R train to 57th St)

Long before Wisconsin’s right-wing republican governor, Scott Walker, there was Luis Fortuño, the right-wing, conservative, republican governor of the U.S. colony of Puerto Rico where over 50% of its 4 million people live below the poverty line.

Under his reign of terror, Fortuño and his party-controlled legislature and courts have/are:

· Systematically eliminated collective bargaining rights for workers

· Fired up to 30,000 public sector workers

· Privatized or attempted to privatize numerous public agencies and services

· Attempted to privatize public education including the University of Puerto Rico and have outlawed the independent teacher’s union

· Imposed a financial hardship on thousands of students struggling to gain a higher education

· Militarized public college campuses and have used police and shock troops to violently end peaceful demonstrations while also sexually assaulting female students

· Been condemned by the ACLU and amnesty international for repeatedly violating the human, civil and constitutional rights of thousands of workers, students and journalists and their supporters

· Privatized huge swaths of valuable and ecologically sensitive public lands and sold them off to private developers

· In the wake of the Japanese nuclear disaster, are attempting to build an expensive, unnecessary, and extremely hazardous gas pipeline through the heart of the island which will destroy thousands of acres of sensitive woodland and imperil the lives of untold numbers of residents along the pipeline

Gov. Fortuño has the complete and unequivocal support of the Tea Party, the conservative PAC (where he spoke recently) and the racist John Birch society (where he also spoke). The Wall Street Journal in an op-ed headlined “Puerto Rico’s governor channels Ronald Reagan: Move Over, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. You’ve got a tax-cutting, pro-growth competitor who may be even bolder than you. His name is Luis Fortuño and he is the governor of Puerto Rico, a place that, if you can believe it, is in worse shape than the garden state.”

Let’s show Fortuño that we all condemn his administration’s attack on the good people of Puerto Rico and we stand in solidarity with those fighting for justice in all its forms!

More info: www.virtualboricua.org and on FaceBook: NY with UPR Group

ARTS &CRAFTS FAIR at Salsa Wednesday

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:50:00 EDT

Join Taller Boricua and Cemí Underground

TODAY, Wednesday March 23rd, at 6pm at the Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center, 1680 Lexington Ave, between 105th and 106th Streets

ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR at Salsa Wednesday

THIS WEEK: art by Sally Hyppolite, dollmaker Mercedes Molina, wearable art by Maria Cardes & Nanette Sanchez-Velasquez of Galería Marinette, and introducing photography by Ella Veres.

Forget Macy's...Forget Bloomingdale's!

Do your shopping at the Arts & Crafts Fair at Taller Boricua.

EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Admission is FREE.

For more information please contact Cemí Underground at info@cemiunderground.com

UPCOMING CULTURAL EVENTS - Feb 21-24, 2011

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:34:00 EDT

UPCOMING CULTURAL EVENTS

Wednesday, February 23
Arts & Crafts at Salsa Wednesday
from 6pm to 9pm

Thursday, February 24
An Evening with Authors Jonathan Gill, Christopher Bell & Humberto Cintron
from 6pm to 8pm
Taller Boricua�s Multi Arts Space at Julia de Burgos Cultural Center
1680 Lexington Avenue

www.tallerboricua.org

Thursday, February 24
Ji Sun Lee's Urban Meditation Opening Reception

from 6pm to 8pm
Media Noche Gallery
1355 Park Avenue @102nd St., NYC

www.medianoche.us

Puerto Rico: Privatization &the Human Rights Crisis

info@cemiunderground.com — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:13:00 EDT

NYwithUPR Solidarity Group presents:

E D U C A T I O N A L F O R U M :
Puerto Rico: Privatization & the Human Rights Crisis

A TALK BY and WITH
William Ramirez, Director, ACLU - Puerto Rico Chapter

The Puerto Rico government�s recent firings of over 25,000 public employees and spending cuts to public education are decisions that have deepened the nation�s economic and social crisis. The government aims to boost the privatization process of the basic services on the island and has responded with intolerance and repressive police brutality, including torture and sexual abuse. The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) students continue to resist creatively, heroically and valiantly. The university student strike continues to gain momentum as more and more people and sectors join in solidarity. Support the UPR students in their struggle against unjust tuition increases, privatization and police repression!

Monday, February 21, 2011 - 6:30 pm

Taller Boricua�s Multi Arts Space at Julia de Burgos Cultural Center

1680 Lexington Avenue @ 106 Street(#6 Train to East 103rd Street)
For more info: http://www.virtualboricua.org/ or FaceBook group:

Presented by NY with UPR Solidarity Group

Cultural Eventslisting for January 2011 in NYC!!!

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:15:00 EDT

Happy and Healthy 2011 to all our friends and family!!

New updated information added to our site...Cultural events listing for January 2011.

El Museo del Barrio's THREE KINGS DAY PARADE

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:56:00 EDT

Thursday, January 6, 10:30 am
El Barrio's time-honored tradition of the Three Kings Day Parade, now in its 34th year, with a procession through the streets of East Harlem. Where else can you find live camels, music, colorful puppets, dancing, and parrandas in one fabulous event? Join us!

BOOK PRESENTATION AND SIGNING in the Bronx

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:52:00 EDT

Saturday, January 15, 4 pm
The Last Puerto Rican Indian: a Collection of Dangerous Poetry by Bobby Gonzalez at Books-In-The-Hood, 815 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, NY

EMERGENCY MEETING - SOLIDARITY WITH PR STUDENTS

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:50:00 EDT

Please forward, hopefully we can all organize un movimiento de solidaridad.

Herman@s, Urgent! At this critical juncture when our nation is taking heroically to the streets and confronting fierce repression, we must support our brothers and sisters in struggle. We are calling on you to attend a meeting to build our New York solidarity. The UPR, our patrimony, and the right of our Puerto Rican nation to free quality public education, from kindergarten to the university, must be defended. If you can commit yourself to build our solidarity campaign, join us:

Monday, January 3 at 6 PM
Julia de Burgos Cultural Center 1680 Lexington Avenue (bet. 105 & 106th St.) #6 train to 103rd Street exit.

Let's all step up to the challenge and continue to give our best as we have done previously.

We say to Governor Fortuño:
• No to the $800 tuition hike!
• No to the criminal police occupation of the UPR! University autonomy must be respected.
• No to the criminal brutal police repression of our students!
• No to the colonial corporate-government drive to privatize Puerto Rico's education!
• Honest dialogue with the UPR students!
• Democracy and Independence for Puerto Rico now!

Our actions of solidarity are the best Navidad gifts we can give to our herman@s of the UPR, especially in this most difficult and critical juncture.

Nueva York Con la UPR!

Unidos venceremos!

Esperanza Martell
Melissa Montero
Luis Cordero
Panama Vicente Alba
Angel Gonzalez

ARTESANIA FOR THE THREE KINGS

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:49:00 EDT

ARTESANIA FOR THE THREE KINGS. Special Arts Crafts for the 3 Kings at Salsa Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 6pm.

Taller Boricua and Cemí Underground have invited some of the finest Latino artisans who traditionally create art that feature images of the 3 Kings. If you are a collector of 3 Kings art then this fair is for you and just days ahead of Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos.

Admission: FREE

After Work Salsa Wednesday by Taller Boricua at Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center
1680 Lexington Avenue, El Barrio, NYC

Galeriacemi/Cemi Underground Online Store - Perfect presents under $20!

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:52:00 EDT

Perfect presents under $20!

Today's deal keeps it real.

SAVE $6* on adult white t-shirts + FREE SHIPPING** on orders of $30+ Code: SANTASHIP (Offer good until 8:59 pm tonight 12/15/10).

Don Pedro Tees - Wise Latina - Don Pedro ala Warhol - Puerto Rican Flag -

HARLEM IN HAVANA Fundraiser and Poetry event

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:32:00 EDT

December 18, 7:00 pm -

HARLEM IN HAVANA
Fundraiser and Poetry event
A Night Of Dancing, Music And Fantastic Food For The Cuban 5!

Poetry/Spoken Word by:

The Incredible Sery Colon and
Nuyorican Legend Sandra Maria Esteves.

St Mary's Episcopal Church, 521 w126th St. between Amsterdam Ave. and Broadway.

$10 suggested donation(no one will be turned away for lack of funds). For more information or TICKETS contact: 718-601-4751.

SEE WHAT I MEAN: POETRY READING SERIES

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:20:00 EDT

Thursday December 16, 6pm -

SEE WHAT I MEAN:
POETRY READING SERIES

As part of its latest exhibition, "See What I Mean," Taller Boricua is honored to present a Nuyorican Poetry Reading Series this night featuring:

Sandra Maria Esteves
Jesús Papoleto Meléndez
Nancy Mercado &
Myrna Nieves.

Suggested donation $5
Taller Boricua's Multi Art Space at Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center -
1680 Lexington Ave. at 106th St. in El Barrio, NYC.

Holiday Crafts at Salsa Wednesdays

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EDT

Forget Macy's...Forget Bloomingdales!

Do you Holiday Shopping at

Holiday Crafts at Salsa Wednesday

Every Wednesday in December Taller Boricua & Cemi Underground have invited the finest Latino artisans to help us celebrate the holidays with our traditions...

Joining us Wednesday, Dec. 15 are...

polymer clay artist Olga Ayala,
jewelry and hat maker Esther Pagan,
wood drum maker Angel Garcia,
photographer David Cajigas,
ceramics artist and jewelers Esperanza Martell and Sally Hypoplite,
fashion designers and jewelry designers Maria Cardes and Nannette Velazquez...

Wednesday, December 15 at 6pm, Admission FREE!
Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center,
1680 Lexington Avenue, El Barrio, NYC

52ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRIUMPH OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION!

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:52:00 EDT

52ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRIUMPH OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION!

Casa De Las Americas & the July 26 Coalition wish to invite you to a
NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATION!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31ST, 2010

CRYSTAL ROOM AT TAINO TOWERS
240 EAST 123TH ST., BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD AVE., NYC 10029

8:00 PM TO 2:00 AM

PROCEEDS FOR THE RUNNING OF THE WIFREDO LAM GALLERY AT CASA DE LAS AMERICAS

$25 DONATION INCLUDES FOOD

FULL BAR

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: CUBAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UN

Music by DJ: CARLITO

�BOMBA Y PLENA pa' los presos!

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:47:00 EDT

¡BOMBA Y PLENA pa' los presos!

Happy Three Kings Day Celebration!
Happy 68th Birthday Oscar Lopez Rivera!

Sat. January 8th, 2011 @ 7pm
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
521 w126th St.
(Btwn. Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue)
Take the 1 train to w125th St.

Suggest donation: $10 (no one will be turned away due to lack of funds!)

Join ProLibertad for a night of incredible CULTURE, RESISTANCE and

CELEBRATION! Come and have a great time as we celebrate Three Kings Day and the 68th birthday of Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera with:

The incredible BombaYo: BombaYo emerges from the streets and schoolyards of the Bronx, where salsa and hip hop were born. Under the direction of Jose L. Ortiz aka Dr. Drum and Melinda Gonzalez, this group of teens brings youthful energy to a centuries old Afro Puerto Rican music and dance tradition. BombaYo starts from within. At the core is a connection to the soul, where drum and dance become one. African inspired call and response singing complete the synergy.

And the amazing poetry of:

The Powerful Bonafide Rojas

Nuyorican Poet/Activist Papoleto Melendez

$10 suggested donation(no one will be turned away for lack of funds). For more information or TICKETS contact: 718-601-4751

COMIT� NOVIEMBRE - Puerto Rican Heritage Month 2010

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:21:00 EDT

COMITÉ NOVIEMBRE

Mes De La Herencia Puertorriqueña –
Puerto Rican Heritage Month

Cordially Invites You & a Guest to Attend its

Twenty-Fourth Anniversary
Puerto Rican Heritage Month Kick-Off Celebration

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

El Museo Del Barrio

1230 Fifth Avenue (at 104th Street), New York City

6:00PM – 9:00PM

• “Lo Mejor de Nuestra Comunidad” Awards Presentation

• CN Scholars Recognition

• Announcement of the Richie Perez Scholarship for Peace & Justice Recipients

Please RSVP by Friday, October 22, 2010 to (212) 677-4181

This event is made possible by: City University of New York, CUNY, El Museo Del Barrio, Exotic Foods and Rones de Puerto Rico

Fifth Annual Puerto Rican Artisans
Fair & Exhibit

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Eugenio María de Hostos Community College

Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture
450 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451

11:00AM – 9:00PM

Free to the Public

www.comitenoviembre.org

Get your Don Pedro and Taino tees @15% off

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:16:00 EDT

Get your Don Pedro and Taino tees @15% off your order of $40 or more, excluding shipping charges, gift-wrap charges and applicable sales tax. Excludes Gift Certificates, Flip Minos, CafePress Groups purchases and bulk orders.

Coupon code 15AIR must be entered at check out. Promotion starts on August 3, 2010, at 12:00 a....m. (PST) and ends on August 5, 2010, at 11:59 p.m. (PST).

All orders must be from the CafePress Marketplace. www.cafepress.com/galeriacemi

CULTURAL WORKSHOP SERIES continues with Return of the Cemis - Saturday, August 14

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EDT

Cemi Underground & Taller Boricua's CULTURAL WORKSHOP SERIES continues with Return of the Cemis - Saturday, August 14 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm by Roman Guaraguaorix Perez at Taller Boricua Galleries
1680 Lexington Ave., El Barrio, NYC (106th St. & Lex. Ave.)
FREE to the public . Space is limited, register by sending an email to info@cemiundergound.com

Puerto Rican nationalist Lolita Lebron dies at 90

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:18:00 EDT

The Associated Press
Sunday, August 1, 2010; 8:44 PM

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Lolita Lebron, a Puerto Rican independence activist who spent 25 years in prison for participating in a gun attack on the U.S. Congress a half-century ago, died Sunday. She was 90.

Lebron died at a hospital in San Juan of complications from respiratory disease, said Francisco Torres, president of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico. She had been hospitalized repeatedly in recent months for her ailments.

Lebron was a leading figure in the passionate nationalist movement in this U.S. territory.

"Lolita was the mother of the independence movement. This is an insurmountable loss," said Maria de Lourdes Santiago, a member of the Caribbean island's Senate from the Puerto Rican Independence Party.

Lebron was born Nov. 19, 1919, in Lares, in southwestern Puerto Rico, and moved as a young adult to New York, part of a mass migration from the island to the United States during the 1940s. There she developed her nationalist views and became a follower of movement leader Pedro Albizu Campos.

In 1954, she and three other nationalists entered the U.S. Capitol with automatic pistols and opened fire from an upstairs spectators' gallery onto the crowded floor of the House, firing nearly 30 shots. They said the Lords Prayer, unfurled a Puerto Rican flag and Lebron shouted "Viva Puerto Rico libre!"

No one died in the attack but five U.S. representatives were wounded, including one congressman who was shot in the chest.

Lebron later said that she never intended to kill anyone and that all four nationalists expected to be killed in the assault. She and the others - Rafael Cancel Miranda, Irving Flores and Andres Figueroa Cordero - received lengthy prison sentences.

President Jimmy Carter granted them clemency in 1979 and they were released.

"We didn't do anything that we should regret," Lebron said upon her release. "Everyone has the right to defend their right to freedom that God gave them."

Back in Puerto Rico, Lebron continued to attend political rallies on the island, where the independence movement holds little sway with voters. The vast majority of people in Puerto Rico favor either becoming a U.S. state or maintaining the semiautonomous status they have now.

Lebron was arrested in 2001 at age 81 when she and five other people cut through a fence on the neighboring island of Vieques to protest the 1999 death of a civilian security guard killed by an errant bomb dropped during a U.S. Navy training exercise. The U.S. has since closed the Vieques bombing range. She was sentenced to 60 days in jail for trespassing.

In recent years, Lebron tempered her support for violent struggle.

"I think times have changed, and there is no need now to kill for freedom," she told El Mundo newspaper in 1998. "I would not take up arms nowadays, but I acknowledge that the people have a right to use any means available to free themselves."

(This version CORRECTS date of birth and age to 90 instead of 89)

Semi-Annual Sale on t-shirts starts today - Save 30%*

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:21:00 EDT

Get your Don Pedro and Taino tees @ 30% off now! Go to CafePress.com/galeriacemi and take advantage of the sale...Save 30% off your order of $40 or more for t-shirts, hats and mugs. Coupon code 30SAVINGS must be entered at check out. Sale ends July 30.

Imagenes de Julia de Burgos - Thursday, September 16, 2010

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EDT

Cemi Underground, Taller Boricua and Association for Puerto Rican/Hispanic Culture are proud to announce plans for "Imagenes de Julia de Burgos", a tribute to poet Julia de Burgos, Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 7:00pm

The US Postal Sevice is issuing a stamp in honor of Julia de Burgos in September and the three organizations have joined their efforts to celebrate this occasion. The details of the event so far: a film showing "LA VIDA Y POESIA DE JULIA DE BURGOS", an exhibitionof Julia de Burgos photographs from the collection of Professor Jose R. Olmo, an art exhibition by painter Edith Garcia Velazquez and a conference/QA about the poet.

The event will be held at Taller Boricua’s Multi Arts Space at the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center at 1680 Lexington Avenue in NYC. A modest fee of $7.00 is suggested.

For further information please contact Luis Cordero: info@cemiunderground.com or Carmen D. Lucca: aprhculture@verizon.net

CULTURAL WORKSHOP SERIES - Saturday, July 31

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:09:00 EDT

Cemi Underground & Taller Boricua present:

El Taino Por Fuera y Por Dentro
TAINO CULTURE – INSIDE AND OUT
CULTURAL WORKSHOP SERIES
by professor José Muñoz at Taller Boricua Galleries
1680 Lexington Ave., El Barrio (106th St. & Lex. Ave.), NYC

FREE to the public from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Saturday, July 31

Space is limited, to reserve your space send an email to: info@cemiunderground.com

White Hot Sale - All white t-shirts just $15

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:35:00 EDT

Stock-up on summer-friendly white tees. Today only they're just $15. So get your Don Pedro, Wise Latina and Taino Tees at a price you can afford!

Online Boricua Cultural News - July 2010

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:02:00 EDT

Online Boricua Cultural Center

Taino Workshop Series - Saturday, July 17
Keep up with cultural events, news and other culturally relevant information by subscribing to our RSS feed Cultural News by Cemi Underground
Isla Online now sells our Taino shirts

Ramon Jimenez to Run for Attorney General on Freedom Party Line

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:05:00 EDT

Mary Alice Miller's blog

Ramon Jimenez to Run for Attorney General on Freedom Party Line

posted by Mary Alice Miller
Sat, 07/03/2010 - 4:27pm

'People's lawyer' Ramon Jimenez couldn't say “No” when Charles Barron asked him to run. “I had no plans to run for elected office. No intention, at all,” said Jimenez. The last time Jimenez ran for elected office was in 1978, when he ran a “real people's campaign” for state senate and garnered 40% of the vote. “History is calling,” said Jimenez, “I couldn't say no.”

As a child, Jimenez said he saw firsthand how “ugly, ignorant, and stupid racism is in NYC.”

Born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at Myrtle and Marcy Avenues, at age 8, Jimenez's mother and father moved to East Elmhurst. When he was 15, Malcolm X moved across the street. His family was there when that fateful Molotov cocktail was thrown into Malcolm X's home.

Jimenez experienced his first demonstration at age 13, when he was bussed to school in Astoria. “It was Archie Bunker territory,” said Jimenez. “1,000 Irish and Italians demonstrated against me. They spat on us; called us names. A couple of my friends were painted white. This happened in NYC, not Mississippi.”

Ramon Jimenez attended St. John's U., then Harvard Law School. During each stage of his development, Jimenez engaged in community activism. When he taught at Hostos, Jimenez participated in a 20 day takeover of the college to save it from being closed. While supervising 80 judges statewide as Senior Law Judge with the Worker's Compensation Board, Jimenez organized the judges against being required to decide 100 cases a day. To this day, Jimenez recoils at the thought of “fast food justice.”

In 1988, Ramon Jimenez opened his own law office. “Half of my work is pro bono,” he said. Currently, Jimenez is representing African American and Latino workers at Woodlawn Cemetery, where workers say supervisors call them “spear chucker” and other derogatory slurs.

Explaining his decision to run for AG on the Freedom Party line, Jimenez said “Blacks and Latinos have been shut out. I am compelled to do this.”

To complete the Freedom Party's slate, Buffalo activist Eva Doyle was chosen to run for Lieutenant Governor. Mrs. Doyle is a long time activist, educator, columnist, book author, and host of her own radio show called Eye On History that airs weekly on station WUFO in Buffalo, NY.

TAINO CULTURE � INSIDE AND OUT - Saturday, July 17

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:46:00 EDT

Cemi Underground & Taller Boricua present:
El Taino Por Fuera y Por Dentro
TAINO CULTURE � INSIDE AND OUT
CULTURAL WORKSHOP SERIES
by professor Jos� Mu�oz at Taller Boricua Galleries
1680 Lexington Ave., El Barrio (106th St. & Lex. Ave.), NYC
FREE to the public from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Saturdays - July 17 and 31

Space is limited, to reserve your space send an email to: info@cemiunderground.com

Flea Market &Artisan Fair -

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:29:00 EDT

Saints Peter and Paul Parish
Flea Market & Artisan Fair
July 31, 2010 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Contact: Sylvia
Tel: (347) 723-3916
Email: sylvia@brooklynquiltgirl.com
booth fee $35.00 (table extra)

Saints Peter and Paul Parish
82 South 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Between Berry St. & Wythe Avenue

Nuyorican Poets Cafe at Central Park's Summerstage - Wednesday, June 30

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:46:00 EDT

June 30^th, 7pm

Featuring:
Mahogany, Miguel Algarin, Annette Aguilar, Carlos Cuestas, Vanessa Hidary, Tahani Salah, Sandra María Esteves, Edwin Torres, La Bruja, Helena D. Lewis, Lois E. Griffith, muMs with Aurora Barnes, Mahogany, Jive Poetic, Rome Neal, Daniel Gallant, Carlos Andrés Gómez, Mariposa and the Chembo Corniel Quintet.

The event will go forward rain or shine.

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS
Central Park SummerStage is located at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue on the east side or at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the west side.

SUBWAY
East side: 6 train to 68th or 77th Streets; N, R or W trains to 5th Avenue; F train to 63rd Street and Lexington. Enter the park at 5th Avenue and 69th Street and follow the path to East Drive, which is the only large road in plain sight in that part of the park. Once you are at East Drive, you will see the stage.
West side: 1, 2, 3, 9, B or C trains to 72nd Street. Enter the park at 72nd Street and make a right. Avoid the first two turn-offs and go right on the second. Continue following the 72nd Street Transverse through the park until you see the stage.

BUS
East side: M1, M2, M3 or M4 to 72nd Street and 5th Avenue West side: M7, M10, or M11 to 72nd Street and Central Park West Crosstown: M-66 or M72 to Central Park West or Fifth Avenue

For more info:
Nuyorican Poets Café: http://www.nuyorican.org

Summerstage: http://www.summerstage.org/search_results.html?month_select=6&day_select=30&event_type_select=26&search_input=

CENTRAL PARK REFUSES TO RENEW FIESTA AT RUMSEY

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:49:00 EDT

The “Fiesta Folklorica Puertorriqueña” Festival has the unique, and proud distinction of being one of the oldest, if not the oldest, and longest running annual event held in Central Park in its history. A fixture in Central Park festivities held every last Sunday in August since the mid 60s, “Fiesta” continues to attract thousands year after year. First introduced at the old Bandshell over 40 years ago, the festival grew and was moved to Rumsey Playfield, soon after its inception in 1980, and has remained FREE TOTHE PUBLIC ever since. Countless legendary artists and entertainers have graced the stages at the Central Park venue, bringing families from all over the tri-state area and as far as Puerto Rico.

As an organization “Fiesta Folklorica” has been a dedicated entity of the Puerto Rican community in New York City for over 44 years, educating the greater New York community through an assortment of cultural activities and entertainment, promoting a healthy desire to appreciate Puerto Rican history in all of its forms, while celebrating its rich and vibrant culture and ancestry.

Recently, Fiesta endured a devastating setback in its long-standing relationship with the City Parks Foundation. Fiesta was informed that Rumsey Playfield venue will no longer be available on its traditional date. At present there are no dates available to present the festival in it’s current schedule at Rumsey Field essentially forcing this age-old cultural event out of Central Park to be replaced with a more lucrative alternative.

Every year, the “Fiesta” organization has relied heavily on corporate sponsorships, private donations, and public funding to pay for increasing escalating costs of presenting the festival at the public park, while committing to continue to keep the event free to our visitors. Successful attempts to secure funding to pay for the use of the park were hampered by bureaucratic delays, but the representatives at the City Parks Foundation refused to wait for the secured funding and have chosen to eliminate the festival, admitting they have been offered substantially more money for the use of the venue that day.

“Fiesta Folklorica”, as an organization cannot exist without it’s Central Park festival, it is what we work toward each year, please do not let yet another Puerto Rican organization, another Puerto Rican event, close its doors for lack of support.

We ask that our community let our voices be heard, and place a spotlight on a people that have wonderfully served this city’s inhabitants in every capacity imaginable. Let the City Parks Foundation know that Fiesta is important to you. Also contact your local representatives and ask them to work on behalf of Fiesta not to allow City Parks Foundation hand over the park to the highest bidder.

Sincerely,

The Fiesta Committee

Puerto Rico: Student Victory Affects Government�s Credibility

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:20:00 EDT

Puerto Rico: Student Victory Affects Government’s Credibility

Jesús Dávila

(Translation by Juan A. Ocasio Rivera)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 17, 2010 (NCM) – The government’s credibility and strategy were battered by the student’s overwhelming victory which had paralyzed the entire University of Puerto Rico system and surprised everyone with technological and judicial superiority, its willingness to resist the police, and its model of direct democracy which made the national political institution look bad.

After suffering losses that the government itself calculated at $305 million in the frustrated struggle against the students, the university leadership had to accept all of the economic demands made by the strikers and postpone a plan designed in January of 2009 in the Santa Catalina Palace by the then recently inaugurated governor Luis Fortuno so that the government would keep the increase in the subsidy sent by the United States for students.

“Victory, victory, victory for history!”, chanted hundreds of students who arrived just after midnight at the Court Center in San Juan after finding out that 9 of the 13 members of the UPR Board of Trustees had turned against their President, Ygri Rivera, to support the agreement made with the student National Negotiating Committee. The intense negotiations conducted with the help of mediator were imposed by the Court last Friday, after the last attempts by the government to use the fearsome riot police squad in the conflicto bordered on the illegal.

However, on Wednesday night – after having lost on all the economic points – the government accepted that it “would not bring charges against students and members of the university community who, in the exercise of their constitutional rights to the liberty of expression and association, participated in the strike, marches, riots, pickets or any other related legal activity conducted anywhere within the University of Puerto Rico.” Actually, even for those cases where there are accusations of property damage and other illegal activities, the government committed itself to not impose summary punishment and follow the strictest legal process in administrative forums.

The mention of “members of the university community” has the particular importance of protecting professors and other employees – especially those without permanent positions – from cancellation of contract, since now they would have possible cause for legal action for violations of civil rights. The issue dates back to the student strike of 1973, when after having had to negotiate with students the government proceeded to fire 70 professors who had supported the movement.

Regarding the crucial economic issue, the strikers were successful in maintaining that students who have tuition waivers continue receiving the grants sent by the US, prohibiting alliances with the prívate sector designed to privatize university campuses, and, most of all, that in August there will be no new fees imposed which were to increase the cost of tuition. In this last point, the government left it clear in the document that “the Board of Trustees considers it necessary to establish fees beginning in January of 2011”, but the students then included another clause in which they warned that “the afforementioned should not be taken as acceptance” of the planned imposition.

Actually, Governor Fortuno told radio station NotiUno that “that is exactly what will be the solution”, referring to the fact that they will once again attempt to impose the increase. The Governor explained that the plan, so specific that it included the amount of $1,100 in increases announced recently as something new by the University leadership, was proposed personally by him during a meeting “16 or 17 months ago”.

The talking points to promote the plan, with a million dollar spending cost in propaganda, were to spread that the UPR had an alleged déficit of $200 million resulting from previous bad administration. However, a document was released in which the UPR presidency itself expressed having only a $20 million dollar déficit, which left the Fiscal Efficiency Committee to demonstrate that what was happening was the calculated reduction of hundreds of millions of dollars in funds appropriated by the State itself.

But in reality the current finances of the UPR, with a debt of $700 million on the Wall Street market, continues to be a mystery due to the fact the leadership preferred to lose $305 million than to open its books to the strikers, the state licensing agency, or the Court. These presumed losses include $16 million that they hoped to recoup from limiting waivers, $60 million to be collected from the fees, and the $4 million daily they said they were losing during the strike.

Even before the agreement that would victoriously end the 12^th student strike in the UPR’s history since its foundation in 1903, the students had begun to clean up inside the campuses and even used tractors to cut grass. But while they prepare the student assemblies for ratification, the government also began its preparations and the incumbent New Progressive Party is already discussing legislative pieces that would prevent future student assemblies from discussing and decreeing any more strikes.

It would seem that there are two camps that will come head to head for the destiny of Puerto Rico. During a symbolic graduation ceremony organized by the students, professors, and even various members of the Board of Trustees, strikers were given the honorary title of “exemplary citizen” and during the ceremony, Distinguished Professor Samuel Silva Gotay congratulated them for following the “centuries old tradition” of relating citizens with notions of mercifulness and encharged them with a committment to “that citizenry that we should continuously be constructing day to day, that of the future of the world, that of the other world which is possible to construct here”

TAINO CULTURE � INSIDE AND OUT CULTURAL WORKSHOP SERIES

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:05:00 EDT

Cemi Underground & Taller Boricua present: El Taino Por Fuera y Por Dentro TAINO CULTURE � INSIDE AND OUT CULTURAL WORKSHOP SERIES by professor Jos� Mu�oz at Taller Boricua Galleries 1680 Lexington Ave., El Barrio (106th St. & Lex. Ave.), NYC FREE to the public from 1:00pm to 3:00pm Saturdays - June 19 and July 3

An appeal for international solidarity with the University of Puerto Rico Strike in defense of public education

Sat, 15 May 2010 23:14:00 EDT

San Juan, Puerto Rico - Thousands of students have decided to strike in order to protect the University of Puerto Rico against budget cuts and threats of privatization proposed by the government of the wealthy, headed by Governor Luis Fortuño. Students have raised their brave voice is to make the following demands:

1.Repeal Certification 98 of the UPR Board of Trustees, which eliminates tuition exemptions, affecting thousands of students.

2.Stop budget cuts immediately. The administration must open its financial records to public scrutiny and begin an informed dialogue about new ideas that will not affect student services.

3.Stop summer term tuition hikes, and provide a diverse course offering available to all students.

These simple demands can be easily addressed by the Board of Trustees so that classes can resume immediately. The administration and the governor have the solution to this crisis in their hands: negotiation is the right path.

Against student represion, lets go towards negotiation!

Unfortunately, Governor Luis Fortuño, during his recent Budget Report to the Legislature, threatened to defeat striking students by sending in the notorious Police Riot Squad. He supported the administration's intransigent stance against negotiation. He has declared war on the students without regard for the fact that he may well be opening the door to a bloodbath in the Río Piedras campus.

The Unión de Juventudes Socialistas (UJS), youth branch of the Movimiento Socialista de Trabajadores (MST) is calling on the workers and students of the world to support the striking students in the University of Puerto Rico. Above all, we need economic contributions as well as the broadest possible worldwide dissemination of our message, to make this struggle a success.

Unión de Juventudes Socialistas (Young Socialists Union)
Movimiento Socialista de Trabajadores (Socialist Workers' Movement)

www.bandera.org
info@bandera.org

Bandera Roja
PO BOX 22699
Estación UPR
San Juan, PR 00931-22699

Puerto Rico: Student strike indefinitely closes University of Puerto Rico campus

Sat, 15 May 2010 23:13:00 EDT

SAN JUAN -- Pepper gas, pushes and shoves were today�s dawn prescription for campus guards and students at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.

What began as a peaceful 48-hour strike became a confrontation between administrative forces and civil resistance at 5:50 a.m. When a group of students began to close the campus's seven entrances, the guards prevented it by following the specific orders of maintaining them open, as laid out by the Rector, Ana R. Guadalupe. By 9:45 a.m., Guadalupe addressed the media to announce an indefinite academic closure starting today until further notice.

http://www.latinalista.net/linkinglatinas/2010/04/puerto_rico_breaking_news_student_strike.html