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Join Transitions Optical and Latina Mom Bloggers on Wednesday, June 19 at 6 pm PST/ 9pm EST for a Twitter Party! We’ll be sharing healthy summer tips and how to protect the health and wellness of your eyes so that you can see a better summer.

Twitter Party Details:

What: Transitions Healthy Summer Twitter Party

When: June 19 at 6 pm PST/ 9 pm EST

Where: Twitter

Hashtag: #TransitionsLens

Who to Follow:

Co-Hosts: @QueenofSwag4u, @thriftyninja, @7OnAShoeString, @Joscelynrc, @Sazon_Boricua @UrbanJibaro

Moderators: @LatinaMomBlogs, @Jollymom

Brand: @Transitions

Prizes:

Winners will be selected at random, for a total of four (4) winners:

• Prize #1: $100 Visa gift card & Chef Ana Quincoces New Cookbook

• Prize #2: $100 Visa gift card & Chef Ana Quincoces New Cookbook

• Prize #3: Transitions Eyewear (valued up to $500) & Chef Ana Quincoces New Cookbook

• Grand Prize: iPad2, Transitions Eyewear (valued up to $500) & Chef Ana Quincoces New Cookbook

RSVP  @ LATINA MOM BLOGGERS NOW!

The post Join The Latina Mom Bloggers (& Me) For The Transitions Healthy Summer Twitter Party #TransitionsLens appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.

Buen provecho…

In your pre-poetic past life, you were a Brooklyn raised hustler and drug dealer at some of the biggest clubs in New York City.  Then you found poetry, and became one of the most prominent Nuyorican poets of our generation. Walk us through that transition…

I guess I have a compelling background. That helped set the groundwork for me as an artist. Most artists are somewhat emotionally crippled and we use this as strength to express ourselves creatively. I think having been homeless and surviving the streets as an underage hustler and later becoming a club kid drug dealer made me defiant and tough- two significant qualities for any artist. I used my struggles as fodder for art. I never imagined my life would be what it is today. What I did know was that I was a smart kid who just happened to be in a really really bad situation. People like Willi Ninja saw this in me and encouraged me to keep my head up and stay strong. Eventually, a gay cousin and his lover took me in. I stopped turning tricks and selling and doing drugs.

The first time I experienced spoken word poetry, I was completely blown away and I knew there and then that I wanted to be up on that stage. I went on a date with this poet who took me to the Nuyorican Poets Café to see La Bruja, whom I had not yet met. I had poems in my pocket I brought to share with him. Bru never made it that night so they held a slam instead. Behind my back, he entered me for the competition. To everyone’s surprise, including myself, I ended up winning. Keith Roach, who was in the audience, booked me for the legendary Friday night Grand Slam which he hosted. It was when I won that as well that my life took a different direction.

Except for a spoken word poetry workshop I took with Regie Cabico, I wasn’t trained or considered an educated poet. It was a difficult transition for me because nobody took me seriously. I did not study poetry in college. I was rough around the edges and yet I fit perfectly into the emerging spoken word poetry movement of the ‘90’s. I read tons of poetry books and went out to listen to a lot of poets. If there was an open mic, I was totally there. I was everywhere I could be. I wanted to immerse myself in poetry. I remember my friends at the time making fun of me while, at the same time, more established writers took the liberty to criticize my work. I honestly don’t know what it was that kept me going- ambition, determination, hunger. It was the most challenging and exciting time of my life because, at least I knew, my life was changing. It seemed highly unlikely that this was going to be my journey. It seemed transitory but it felt so natural to me.

If I have any literary acclaim, it was not due to any formal education but by my popularity in the underground arts scene. I had to learn to become a better poet and fight that much harder just to get any recognition.

There is an idea in the Nuyosphere that you are the first openly gay Nuyorican Poet. What do you think of this? Also, in your opinion, how has the supposed cultural phenomenon of machismo affected our Latino writers, past and present?

It’s possible. It’s a box but I’ll take it! I suppose in this case it means Nuyorican in the sense of being a Latino spoken word artist because there were several non-Latino openly gay spoken word artists slamming at the Nuyorican that I knew of. And, of course, there were lesbian Nuyorican poets. I didn’t think I was being revolutionary or ground-breaking by being an openly gay Nuyorican poet at the time. There were others but they either identified as bisexual or were not out of the closet.

I was also publishing. My ‘97 self-published poetic manifesto, Pier Queen, is an identifiable beginning to the modern mariposa lit movement according to Rigoberto Gonzalez (Red-Inked Retablos).

I had no problem going up to the Nuyorican Poets Café stage and sharing my poems about being gay. I don’t remember the audience having any problem with it either. Though I did get my jacket stolen once by this hip hop poet that was pissed that some “faggot” had won over him at a major slam competition. I hope he still has that jacket to keep him warm cause he totally dropped out of the scene.

Anyone who appreciates poetry as an art already has an open mind. There was no reason for me to deny or downplay who I was as a gay man. I suppose the fact that I was a contradiction to this ideal of Latin machismo set the tone for other gay Nuyorican poets to come out or be more open about their sexuality. The fact that my being openly gay was not a detriment to my success perhaps helped others step up to the plate. I think Latin machismo was a very serious threat that silenced many gay voices throughout the years but the world was changing.

However, it’s not just about us convincing one another that it is okay to be gay but about our brothers and sisters who are not gay spreading the message that we all have a right to love whom we choose. Rappers need innovators like Jay-Z and Russell Simmons to pave the way for artists like Macklemore and Frank Ocean to share songs supporting same love. We need more high profile straight Latino men to raise a single middle finger to the concept of machismo and come out in support of gay rights. It’s great that we have Ricky Martin and others like myself that are openly proud gay Latino men but the general straight Latino from the ‘hood needs to see others like himself supporting an issue that has long been considered taboo and does not affect them on a personal level. There’s still a lot of ignorance within our community but that’s because it’s still considered taboo.

One of the biggest things you are known for early on was creating the annual House of Xavier’s Glam Slam in 1998 at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe then Bowery Poetry Club, which now runs in London.  How did you make that happen, and how involved are you in the Glam Slam today?

During my time out on the streets, I was part of the ball scene and House community before I discovered spoken word poetry. Once I started making a name for myself as a poet, I wanted to bring these two worlds that had inspired me to dream bigger together. The first House of Xavier Glam Slam competition we ever had featured guest judges like Bob Holman and Penny Arcade from the literary scene and Willi Ninja and Juan Rivera Xtravaganza from the ball scene. We had “children” like Suheir Hammad and La Bruja in the House of Xavier. That’s where I met Freddie Xtravaganza who went on to stage an entire choreographed dance presentation at El Museo del Barrio based on my spoken word/music collaboration album, Legendary.

It was fun for everyone involved to go out to a slam competition with categories like Best Verbal Vogue and Best Erotic Poem in Sexy Underwear or Lingerie. At the time, the slam competitions were sacred and nobody wanted to fuck with them. It was the formula Marc Smith had created and anything outside of that was considered blasphemy. I got so much resistance from prominent people in the scene about adding props and shit. Yet, it was a huge success and now there are any number of poetry slam competitions that deviate from the standard method.

I put it together for ten years and always had Mother Diva Xavier (Andres Chulisi Rodriguez) host. It was so much fun and such a very New York City underground arts event.  But it became a huge production and I wanted it to go out with a bang rather than beat a dead horse.

They picked it up for the London stage and I attended the very last one several years ago. It was fantastic and such a pleasure to watch something you created take off in another country and with a British accent to boot. However, the event producers soon realized how much work it actually was and we often don’t get much appreciation as poets in our lifetime so it simply lives on in other ways. The combination of poetry, House music, voguing, trophies and costumes was truly unique to our Glam Slam competition and we brought much excitement to the scene.

I know a lot of people have much regard for what we tried to do and I get asked all the time to bring it back. But I lost my friends Dominic Brando, who was the DJ for most of these events, and Willi Ninja, who was always one of the honorary judges. It’s hard to imagine putting the event together without them.

On the world stage, you appeared in 2 seasons of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam.  There is some controversy in the Latino poetry circle about headlining with this as a promotional tool.  How was your experience with Def Poetry, and what are your thoughts about using it in promotion?

I sometimes see it pop up as a promotional headlining tool with my name attached. It was many years ago but organizers still use it to draw people to their events. I don’t think it’s a big deal. We can’t always have control over how other people promote us. What annoys me is when someone doesn’t bother to confirm the correct spelling of your name. It’s a damn literary event! Double check with the artists, get spell check, find an editor, just don’t fuck it up! However, I do think it’s funny when they use that television credit and they end up listing you as having been on Def Comedy Jam. I hope I’ve done enough that being part of the show will only be a mention in passing when I die.

It seemed to me that you gained a broader audience a few years ago with the ‘Speak Up!/Speak OUT!’ series at El Museo Del Barrio.  Has your experience there shaped your outlook and work relative to the Latino community?  What were the benefits and challenges of being at the forefront of such a sizable institution?

That broader audience you speak of was unfortunately a result of the outcry due to the original name of the series which incorporated the word “spic” in an attempt to re-appropriate it much like the gay community took the word “queer” and made it our own. Besides a purposeful play on the word in my poem “Americano”, it’s not a word I ever use myself or particularly care for but I understood the dialogue the series organizers were trying to create. I knew where they were coming from and it was not a place of malice.

As the host, I became the poster child surrounding that controversy. I got a lot of hate mail thanks to a rather biased New York Times article. Some of it ignorantly demeaned my stance in relation to my being gay. I’m not gonna lie and say it didn’t hurt deeply to feel so demonized by my own community and people I looked up to. In retrospect, I comprehend why that word conjured up so much anger. I’ve had that word used toward me too amongst others.

The event name was changed, things eventually settled down and I was invited back as the series host for two seasons. We went on to have some wonderful features. I even edited an anthology based on the series (Me No Habla With Acento) and it was a great experience to have a small part in having a museum embrace spoken word poetry as a genuine art form.

I only wish my welcome into the Latino literary familia had not been so dramatic but I don’t think anything in my life has ever been subtle.

You have a long history of the written and published word to go along with your spoken word resume. You have written or edited a whole list of works: Christ Like, Pier Queen, Americano, Bullets & Butterflies, Mariposas: A Modern Anthology of Queer Latino Poetry,  Me No Habla With Acento: Contemporary Latino Poetry.  How important is poetry for our community, and what is the role of publishing that our people need to know about in the greater conversation about writing our stories?

Publishing is essential to our legacy. It’s wonderful to have an amazing stage presence and be remembered for rocking the mic. However, after we are gone, it is the books and poems we leave behind that others will turn to to learn about our lives. It’s creating history and giving future generations the opportunity to understand who we were and what the world was like for us. I work for Random House, the largest publishing company in the world, and yet I publish through small presses because I am not Billy Collins or Maya Angelou. That disparity helps me have a better understanding of the overall importance of publishing. Our stories not only need to be heard by our immediate audiences right now but also read by the person looking for inspiration out in the middle of nowhere in years to come. As poets, most of us will never have a publicity team heralding us as the next big thing and we’ll probably die unknown but, if we leave something behind, there is a chance someone will appreciate our work down the road.

You were born and raised in Bushwick Brooklyn, not far from where we do Capicu shows. A neighborhood undergoing heavy changes with gentrification. How do you view these changes?

I wrote a poem, “Bushwick Bohemia”, in ’97 that was an ode to the neighborhood where I grew up. I read it now and it is totally retro. Bushwick today is nothing like it was sixteen years ago. In another sixteen years it will be that much more nostalgic. I said this at a recent event in Bushwick and I meant it. When I was growing up, I never felt like I fit in because I was artsy and I was gay. Now I totally fit in and I could have brunch in my own neighborhood if I wanted to. This is not some unique phenomenon exclusive to Bushwick. It’s happened to other areas of New York City and other parts of the country. Nothing is forever. The reason hipsters gentrify neighborhoods is because they are struggling artists looking for affordable housing. Once those neighborhoods are hip and trendy, the wealthy become interested, the rents get raised and soon the hipsters get displaced themselves. It’s a matter of how we learn to survive these changes. This is one of the greatest cities in the world and everybody wants to find a way to live here. I will say this for gentrification- our local school systems benefit.

If you could go back in time and talk to 16 year old Emanuel Xavier, what would you tell him?

Don’t be such a punk ass! Everybody has challenges and, yeah, your life totally sucks but follow your dreams and don’t give up. Learn to love yourself. And don’t go visit your mother in Bushwick at night on October 25, 2005. If you do, you’ll survive that too. It does get better and your life and perseverance will prove that.

—-

PaPo Swiggity is a Brooklyn born Nuyorican Poet, emcee, community leader and cofounder of Capicu Cultural Showcase, a multicultural producer of performing arts events in New York City formed using the philosophies of the most progressive intellectual and artistic movements of the last century. He has recently been commended by both the New York State Assembly and the New York City Council for developing literacy communities through the arts.

 You can connect with PaPo on Facebook & Twitter

Here is a message from PaPo about this very exciting event.

Mi gente! The Equality and anti-violence movements are part of a growing national conversation, and Capicu is committed to engaging our urban community about these important topics and showcasing some of the best talent on NYC’s LGBT realm!
Join us on June 21st as we celebrate Pride month with groundbreaking Brooklyn-born Nuyorican poet, novelist, editor, and activist ✯ Emanuel Xavier!

Plus, socially conscious and original designs – currently superpopular for her line of bowtie art- ✯ Wonder Lee! and spinning on the wheels is the supertalented producer and DJ, Brooklyns own ♫ Cocotaso!

This all takes place at CASA CAPICU, our location right in the back of EvilolivE Pizza Bar- serving up all day every day bar specials: $20 for a pitcher and a pie, and get to us early for the 2-for-1 Happy Hour from 6pm-7:30 pm.

Adonde? Where @@@??

Friday June 21st, 7 PM
@ EvilolivE Pizza Bar
198 Union Ave., (between B’way and Montrose),
Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY, 11211
18 & Over

$10 Cover

(We are across from the 90th Precinct)

✯ About our Feature Poet:

Once a street hustler and drug dealer, Emanuel Xavier has conducted spoken word poetry workshops and produced benefits and events for youth organizations around the United States. He is author of the poetry collections “Americano: Growing Up Gay & Latino in the USA”, “Pier Queen”, “If Jesus Were Gay & other poems” (an American Library Association selection), the novel “Christ Like” and editor of “Me No Habla With Acento: Contemporary Latino Poetry.”

Recipient of the Marsha A. Gomez Cultural Heritage Award, a New York City Council Citation, a World Pride Award, and named a GLBT Icon by the Equality Forum, he has been featured on Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry and co-starred in the independent film, The Ski Trip.
His spoken word/music compilation CD, Legendary- The Spoken Word Poetry of Emanuel Xavier, was released in 2010. He created the annual Glam Slam competition, which ran in NYC from 1998-2008, and is now held annually in London, England. He curated a successful monthly spoken word poetry series at El Museo del Barrio where his spoken word/music collaborations were staged as a dance presentation by choreographer, Ferdinand De Jesus.

✯ About Our Feature Visual Artist:

Wonder Lee is a self-taught green assemblage artist based in New York City’s borough of The Bronx. Wonder Lee aims to inspire a positive social conscience, and encourages all to use what they have, be less wasteful, and leave a better eco-footprint.
Wonder creates an originally designed line of bow ties handcrafted with both reused Lego bricks, and various materials. To see her latest lineup and to place an order visit her website at https://www.wonderlee123.com/

The post Capicu Poetry: Slamming The Fichas With Emanuel Xavier! appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.

I am proud to announce our 5th year organizing and participating in the Feria De Salud with the American Diabetes Association.

Feria de Salud is an outdoor community event that is intended to reach thousands of local Latinos/Hispanics with the important message that they may be at risk for diabetes. Feria captures the festive elements of a street fair, but maintains the important aspects of choosing and managing a healthier lifestyle for the entire Latino family. The atmosphere of Feria includes music, dancing, nutritional information, cooking demonstrations, speakers on topics related to diabetes, and a variety of product and service booths.

We need your support…via volunteers, sponsorship and just spreading the word about this event. I am specifically looking for Latino organizations to link up and become a community partner in this initiative.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is preparing for its largest Latino event of the year Feria de Salud, scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 17, 2013. Every year in New York City the ADA holds this free health event for Latinos in St. Mary’s Park, Bronx, NY the average attendance is about 4,000 people. The goal of the Feria is to illustrate the importance of learning about preventing and managing diabetes and making healthy lifestyle choices. This is accomplished through fun and informative workshops and activities, which take place throughout the day. Feria de Salud has well over 4,000 participants; Volunteers are needed to make this event a success!

Our Mission:
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and give voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
25.8 million Children and adults in the United States—8.3% of the population—have diabetes! In New York alone, 1.3 million adults have diabetes, which are nearly 1 in every 8 people.

If you are interested in volunteering please sign up NOW by filling out our easy Volunteer Form

Please feel free to contact ADA Latino Initiatives Volunteer Chair, Katherine Rodriguez, if you would like more information or if you have any questions: 347-323-4284 or krodriguez913@gmail.com

Event Information: 
Event: American Diabetes Association: Feria de Salud
Location: St. Mary’s Park
146th Street to 148th Street, St. Ann’s Avenue, Bronx, NY
Date: Saturday, August 17, 2013
Time: 11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Feel free to pass this message on… TOGETHER WE CAN STOP DIABETES!!!

The post SAVE THE DATE: We Need Volunteers For La Feria De Salud! appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.

Sponsored by: Sincerely,  Columbia-Harlem SBDC

The post NYS Small Business Development Center Teaches You How To Perfect Your Pitch appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.

The cooking strategy and prep work for everything from amarrillos, to tostones and mangu are passed down by family from generation to generation until one day you find yourself in a kitchen with a caldero of hot oil ready to cook them for your own family. Platanos are one of the most versatile vegetables on the planet. On top of that they have a ton of health benefits. One of my issues with many mainstream American based meal and diet plans is that they forget to add this delicious vegetable to their menus. I am here to tell you why they are one of the healthiest foods in Latin culture. After all, platanos are a staple starchy vegetable in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America. All of these continents cannot be wrong. 

Platanos are a great source of a variety of vitamins and minerals.  They are high in fiber, which helps to keep you regular and push food through your digestive system. They also contain a ton of Vitamin C  to help build up your immune system and promote healthy teeth, gums and skin. Vitamin A is another powerful antioxidant found in plantains and also plays a role in vision and enhancing skin complexion. Just like their banana cousins, platanos also contain potassium, an important component of cell and body fluids that help control heart rate and blood pressure.

The calorie breakdown of the plantain is as follows –

 One medium plantain has about 218 calories, with 57g of carbs making it high on the starchy side. This makes it an ideal post workout meal food that you should be taking advantage of. The plantain also boasts 4gs of fiber and 2.3 grams of protein. Not a bad profile for this delicious veggie!  

Now the big question is when to eat them and where is the best place to put them into your diet? 

We all know it is easy to eat platanos for breakfast lunch and dinner, believe me, growing up in a Boricua household, I know! To reap the health benefits without overdoing it on the starch simply save your plantain meal for one meal a day 3-4 days a week preferably on training days. 

A few tips on plantains I have learned from my family over the years. Feel free to give more tips below!  When selecting a plantain to take home and cook, look for firm, deep green plantains that feel heavy in your hand. Do not buy them too overripe or when the skin is too soft and black, they won’t turn out as well and do not last as long.

Things you should know for preparing plantains – Plantains are inedible raw and should be eaten only after cooked. The easiest way to prepare them is as follows:

• Wash your raw plantain and then using a paring knife, trim both ends
• Next, slit the skin along the ridge and peel the skin gently away from the flesh to extract the pulp from the inside

 Now it is up to you to decide how to prepare it! You can bake, fry, mash, or boil – it is up to you. Call a family member and find out what they say. Either way, it is time to cook, enjoy the food, and reap the wonderful health benefits of this delicious vegetable. Platano Power!

 En fuerza,

 Joey Olivo

@Joeysgymclass on Twitter

The post Platano Power: Uncovering the Health Benefits of the Almighty Plantain appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.

It is a question I get quite often when I find myself in the company of Non-Latinos…  My friend and fellow #TeamCapicu member, Jennifer suggested that I write a blog about my name and the very special straw hat that I wear. She is from Costa Rica and she really did not understand the concept behind my brand.

I think this will help people realize that I am not Punchy, the lovable lil character from  the Hawaiian Punch brand. I do see the similarities and understand the reference, I even thought it was funny but I do not have plans at this time to make “Jibaro Punch” (not even if it’s Guayaba flavored).

Branding has become very important these days, and I did not really get the luxury of choosing my brand. Unlike other people who actually took time to conceive a concept for their branding, my brand chose me. When I started the (Latino) conversation online back in the late 90′s, the internet was only a few years old. Geocities and AOL Chat rooms were the go to places for me to connect with other Latinos and share stories and poetry. There was certainly no real serious thoughts of making it a business at first. I started really thinking about sharing my musings which led to curating other talent, creating open mic show concepts /cultural events and ultimately led to having an established cultural exchange platform.

I do want to preface the rest of the blog post by saying that I would not trade it for anything… I LOVE MY BRAND!

So for all of you who wonder about the name Urban Jibaro and the Straw Hat I so proudly wear in the craziest places (like Hispanicize or Latism conferences) I am going to break it down for you.

El Jibaro by Augusto Marin

Jíbaro is a term commonly used in Puerto Rico to refer to mountain-dwelling peasants,^[1] but in modern times it has gained a broader and, specifically, a nobler, cultural meaning.^{[2] {source:Wikipedia}. In Cuba they are called Guajiros.}

In Puerto Rico, the Jíbaro culture has its origins in the Native Taino culture and the term Jíbaro usually refers to “La Gente de la Montañas” (the people of the interior montainous regions of Puerto Rico) and emerged in the 16th century with the blending of the Pre-Columbian Native Taino and Spanish European cultures in the central mountains of the island of Puerto Rico.

^{To me, a “Jibaro” is a hard working, humble man that has a strong sense of cultural pride. I was raised between NY and Puerto Rico most of my life which really gives me a dual sense of identity. I have street smarts having grown up during the birth of the Hip Hop culture (ps. we did not call it that back then). I also have the experience of living on the island, experiencing life, education, culture, politics and learning the language first hand. As the Jibaro cultivated the land on la isla… I cultivate cultural stories and experiences online and sometimes market events that tie into that part of our cultural legacy to people looking to reconnect.}

^{These elements in my life (as well as a rude cultural awakening) and how I carried myself, inspired my friend and mentor, the late Richie Perez to call me “Urban Jibaro”.}

Now, no Jibaro would be complete without a “Pava”… The pava is the traditional hat used by sugar cane cutters, coffee pickers, and other agricultural workers. It is emblematic of thejíbaro (a Puerto Rican from the countryside) and the rustic traditions of the island’s folkways. The pava is so closely associated with the notion of authentic Puerto Rican culture that when Luis Muñoz Marín founded the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) in 1938, the party adopted the pava, as its symbol. (source: Teodoro Vidal)

My Urban Jibaro official attire would probably be me wearing a beautiful hand sewn Guayabera (also known as Mexican Wedding or Safari Shirts), a pair of blue jeans and some shell top Adidas for the urban touch. As is expected, A pava to make the look complete.

The biggest struggle is helping those that do not really understand the unusual pen name and straw hat to understand the strong symbolic value that shapes my communication online. Although much of this is rooted in Puerto Rican culture, ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you that my love for our culture has expanded to all of the Americas… I have a very Pan Latino soul. I guess this post will be shared with everyone that has that question… maybe the title of this post should have been Urban Jibaro: Demystified. I do discuss this in a deeper and more meaningful way when discussing how my mentor saved my life and my personal bio located in the About Me section of the blog.

Last but not least… I want to share a few other things that you may not know (por se acaso). Here are some common hashtags related to some of the things I do outside the blogging and social influence realm. These may also be difficult to decipher…

#CapicuCulture: Refers to Capicu Cultural Showcase, an event management group I co-founded with PaPo Swiggity (The most prolific social influencer I know) that produces diverse poetry and performing arts events in New York City, formed using the philosophies of the most progressive intellectual and artistic movements of the last century (i.e. The Harlem Renaissance, the Beat Poets & most notably the Nuyorican Movement). The name CAPICU references the winning move in a domino game. This word is screamed when you slam the last domino on the table when you win. 

Want to attend some of our events… join our Capicu Culture Facebook page

#RadioCapicu is the first Latino online radio webcast that discusses Latino issues on the interactive Blog Talk Radio platform. Segments will include open mic poetry, in depth interviews and discussions with prominent people in our community about issues relevant to the evolution of our culture as well as the preservation of our heritage. We are like the Wu Tang Clan of Latino culture. Listen to some archived shows… 

#TeamCapicu is the team of mentors, artists, poets, filmmakers, radio personalities, social influencers and other talented people that help organize our initiatives.  This is my family and they are the ones that make almost everything my partner PaPo Swiggity and I conceive a reality… they have defined what #CapicuCulture means in our community.

Let’s Recap…

I am not PUNCHY

I will not create a line of Guayaba Punch

I do not sell Sofrito on my site (but maybe I should)

Capicu Cultural Showcase is not a Domino tournament

and I am not crazy…

I am a culturally eclectic Urban Jibaro who loves his culture, wears a straw hat, screams CAPICU!, hangs out with a guy named PaPo Swiggity  and tweets about it… alot

Any Questions?

(p.s. I cannot believe I even wrote this blog post)

George Torres

The post What Exactly Is A Jibaro… & What’s With The Straw Hat? #IamNotPunchy appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.

Since the 1950′s  AARP has been dedicated to providing services and benefits to people over 50. The mission statement of this non governmental organization is clear. AARP is, “Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all as we age”. That is a beautiful and powerful concept for a country who all too often, forgets about the needs and desires of our elders.

Members of AARP can enjoy a wide range of perks such as discounts for entertainment, travel and consumer goods. They also have access to long-term care, supplemental health insurance and various other services that can help ensure their lives. Many of the services they provide can be deemed as practical and geared toward everyday living. However, there is a new movement being fueled by AARP. A movement that promises to provide inspiration and direction for a new phase of living, a Life ReImagined.

To launch Life ReImagined, AARP gathered bloggers, members of their team and notable celebrity ambassadors to discuss it’s mission and vision. We learned that Life ReImagined is all about embracing change and that setting sail in a new direction is possible at any age. Even better, there is a new website,lifereimagined.aarp.org that can help members navigate this shift.

Members of any age can begin by signing up, for FREE on their bright, and user friendly website. Through the use of clickable words and images, users are guided through a questionnaire that gets them to think about their talents and goals in a whole new way. The online resource also suggests activities that can help make that change a reality. Additionally, Online “sounding boards” assist in providing a support system where users can interact, offer advice and keep track of their progress.

I had the pleasure of catching up with Life ReImagined Ambassadors, Dan Marino and Emilio Estefan Jr. They were chosen for their ability to transform their careers throughout the various phases of life. I was curious to know if they had any mantras or tips for people who want to ReImagine their lives. This is what they had to share:

“Don’t let anything ever get you down. There are going to be tough times,  everyone has had tough times. You have to keep going. Start thinking about what’s next and who is going to help you. Make a commitment to yourself and to your goals.” -Dan Marino

 ”For me, leaving my country was a time when I had to start over and ReImagine Life. One of the most important things is when people tell you NO, it’s not possible. That’s when you must become persistent. Do the things that you love. When you love what you are doing, that is when it all works out. “  -Emilio Estefan Jr.

-Rebecca Gitana Torres

Interior and Lifestyle Designer Rebecca Gitana Torres is a creation of urban New York, who grew up “having nothing, yet having it all.” It is this same appreciation and fervor for life that makes her design house, LifeStyle Remix, so unique. She will soon be a household name… connect with her on twitter  @LifeStyle_Remix and at her bloghttp://lifestyleremix.com/ . We are proud to have her collaborate with #TeamCapicu on behalf of Sofrito For Your Soul.

The post AARP Launches Life Reimagined: Helping Seniors See What’s Out There! appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.

I was like seriously? 

For those who do not know…

Masters at Work is the house music production and remix team of “Little” Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez. This very prolific duo with more names than P. Diddy created most of the anthems back in my clubbing days (circa 1988-1995) and in my opinion are the ones that should be credited with inventing the remix years before Bad Boy took Hip Hop by storm.

So I attended the Red Bull Music Academy Lecture series (in my Lil Louie hat) to listen to the story of two legendary Latinos in the music business. I was taken back that despite being an active part of their community for many years, I never knew their story.  We all know their music as it is timeless but one thing that struck me was that Latinos do not know this story. Many of us do not know the influence these two had on the music industry. Some of the Latinos present did not know they worked with the likes of Michael Jackson and Madonna. For me, the most compelling parts of this lecture is how they learned the business without anyone to really guide them as most of what they were doing as pioneers was uncharted territory in the music industry.

These stories need to be heard so although I took many notes, I wanted you to experience this moment for yourself. The people at Red Bull Music Academy were kind enough to give me access to the full video for me to share. (FYI – check out my question about mentorship and continuity of their legacy at the 1 hour, 43 minute mark)

Nobody tells the story like the icons themselves… listen to how these two Latinos took their music from NYC to a global stage but remained relatively unknown within the United States. Check the full video here!

buen provecho!

Shout out to my friends at Majestic Relations for the invite!

About the Masters At Work Lecture Series 

Their name says it all: Masters at Work. ‘Little’ Louie Vega and Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez are celebrating more than 20 years together, shepherding dance music down new paths with their inventive production style and imaginative feel for different musical forms. Synonymous with the rise and peak of NYC house music, Kenny Dope and Louie Vega met through their mutual friend Todd Terry, resulting in a fruitful production partnership full of timeless hits. With remixes being their specialty, the Masters at Work treatment has been given to a diverse roster of artists, from Madonna, Debbie Gibson, and Lisa Stansfield to Saint Etienne, Michael Jackson, Brand New Heavies, and about 800 other artists. They defiantly mix everything they can find—house, hip hop, funk, disco, Latin, African and jazz—into a universal groove. In doing so, MAW has become a cultural mélange unto itself, emblematic of the multicultural society in which we live. Watch their lecture from the 2013 Red Bull Music Academy in New York.

For more info and access to more great music content…

visit http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/

If the video does not work… check it out on Vimeo here

Lecture: Masters At Work (New York, 2013) from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.

The Red Bull Music Academy is a world-travelling series of music workshops and festivals: a platform for those who make a difference in today’s musical landscape. 

Two groups of 30 selected participants – producers, vocalists, DJs, instrumentalists and all-round musical mavericks from around the world – come together in a new city each year for two weeks worth of recording sessions, lectures by musical luminaries, collaborations and performances in the city’s best clubs and music halls. If you can imagine a place that’s equal parts science lab, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and Kraftwerk’s home studio, you’re halfway there.

The Academy began back in 1998, and has been traversing the globe since: from Berlin to Cape Town, São Paulo, Barcelona, London, Toronto, New York and beyond.

Interested? Applications for the 2014 Red Bull Music Academy open early next year. Watch this space for more information.
Learn about previous Academy editions >
Read our FAQ >

 

 

George Torres

The Urban Jibaro

 

Cultivando Cultura since 1997…

Social Media | Branding | Event Management

 

Follow me on Twitter… @UrbanJibaro 

 

The post Telling The Untold Story: Masters At Work appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.

El David has returned with a new 27 track Bomba album… for only $5 dollars!

Calle Bomba contains Bomba / World Fusion From the Godfather of Roots & Concrete, El David. El David fuses traditional Bomba sounds with music influenced by the streets of New York, Brazil, Yoruba, Colombia, Cumbia, Mariachi and more. This is not your father’s Bomba album.

This is New York Bomba Fusion. Many have tried to rip the El David Fusion style, but none have succeeded.

LISTEN TO IT / BUY IT NOW ON BANDCAMP

credits

The post New York Bomba Fusion by El David! appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.

In the beginning of 2013, the Latino Social Media Community lost a pioneer, visionary and a dear friend. Before he was any of these things, he was a husband and a father and cherished family above everything. If you knew Louis, you know that he worked hard for his family and he wanted the best for them, especially for his two daughters. We have established this page to help seed an educational fund to help each daughter pursue the education that he would have wanted for them. Please give what you can, knowing that you would be helping keep Louis’ legacy alive through his girls.

As we reflect on Hispanicize 2013, let’s remember that it was Louis that conceived much of what you experienced and what you build from this point on as you walk away with new relationships, strategic partners and work that for many is trailblazing how media is created and consumed in this country. This is an amazing way to say “Thank you Louis”.

This is what I need of each of you…

- Donate what you can. If Louis was here and you thought he was cool enough to chat with and have a cup of coffee with -at the very least, – donate what you would have spent to get him a extra grande cup of his favorite java brand and chat.

- Share this post with the #TuRecuerdoVive so that we can hit our goal of starting a college fund for his two precious daughters.

This is our opportunity to show our strength as a community and really make an impact on these two young minds whose father have given us so much.

HERE IS THE LINK TO DONATE!

George Torres

The Urban Jibaro

 

 

Follow me on Twitter… @UrbanJibaro 

(Photo Credit: Eduardo Gonzalez Loumiet)

The post #TuRecuerdoVive – Help Us Keep Louis Pagan’s Legacy Alive! appeared first on Discover the best of Latino & Hispanic culture with #DailySofrito.