Borinquena: 2019 La Borinqueña Awards Ceremony Photo Gallery
2018 La Borinqueña Grant Awardees
2018 La Borinqueña Grant Awardees
MEET THE 9 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS EACH AWARDED $10,000 FOR THE LA BORINQUEÑA GRANT
100% of the proceeds from the sales of the anthology RICANSTRUCTION: REMINISCING & REBUILDING PUERTO RICO goes towards the La Borinqueña Grants Program that will award a $10,000 grant to different grassroots organizations in Puerto Rico that have been working heroically in the recovery efforts and rebuilding of the island via programs for youth, women, community members, and the environment. To date, $150,000 has been raised to help Puerto Rico via the LA BORINQUEÑA GRANTS PROGRAM. This first round grants were awarded to nine different grassroots organizations on September 23rd, 2018 in Old San Juan on the 150th anniversary of the Grito de Lares, and one year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. Read full Press Release
“With the support of thousands of people, purchases from Ricanstruction have supported the La Borinqueña Grants Program.
Our comic book character, La Borinqueña, is enacting real social change. Nine local grassroots organizations in Puerto Rico received grants directly from us. No corporate matching, no additional support, fans are making this movement happen. Every day I engage with hundreds of people who are learning about Puerto Rico via my work. Please see below to learn about the organizations that we are supporting. This is just the beginning. Next year we return to distribute more grants to more organizations doing the heroic work, every day en la isla. Thank you to the over 150 artists and writers who contributed to Ricanstruction and to people like you that make a difference with the purchase of one book.” – Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez
ARECMA
Proyecto Apoyo Mutuo (PAM) is a mutual aid disaster relief initiative in Mariana, Humacao born in the aftermath of hurricane Maria and housed within ARECMA. Center of Imagination, located in Mariana, will be a community space with everything from a tool library, book exchange, coffee shop, small business incubator, and spaces for reading and books for children and young adults.
In order to rebuild we must imagine, we must dream an alternative, a new Puerto Rico. Books are the window through which children can let their imagination fly and it is no secret that in all rural regions of Puerto Rico it is almost impossible to find books children want to read. Immediately after the hurricane we started asking children what they wanted to read and were surprised to find out they wanted to read comic books and graphic novels. Over 700 books later we realize we must also create wonderful spaces for children to read so that more than giving books away we also create a culture of reading and creating.
ARECMA
PR. 909 KM 5.1 Camino Antonio Rodriguez, Humacao, PR 00791
Website: https://www.apoyomutuomariana.com
Telephone: 787.640.1902
Operations: Francisco Nieves, [email protected]
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PUERTO RICO
The Boys & Girls Clubs was established 50 years ago to fill the need to provide children and youth a safe, positive and creative place to become leaders who reach their academic, personal and professional goals.
We provide after school programs to participants ages 6 to 18 through educational programs, post-secondary support, entrepreneurship and career development. 89% of the children and youth we service live in poverty. Our mission is to provide youth hope of a better future and opportunities to develop to their full potential. We provide the necessary tools to create and/or obtain a job that allows them to reach economic security so they can break the generational cycle of poverty.
Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico
501 Roberto H. Todd Avenue, San Juan, PR 00907
Website: http://bgcpr.org/
Telephone: 787.691.2690 cell
Resource Development Director: Patricia de la Torre, [email protected]
LA BRIGADA SOLIDARIA DEL OESTE(BSO)
La Brigada Solidaria del Oeste (BSO) was founded in the city of Mayagüez, just before the passage of Hurricane Maria. The BSO arises from the lack of attention and help that historically have received the communities of regions outside the metropolitan area, by the state government and federal, after the passage of atmospheric phenomena.
The BSO is composed of activists from different struggles (agro-ecological, feminist, environmental, university, etc.), in addition to volunteers for whom the BSO has been one of their first experiences within an organization that fights for empowerment of communities. We promote the self-sustainable development of communities through human resources diverse, in order to achieve social, food, economic, and cultural sovereignty. We support the empowerment of communities in their collective processes promoting solidarity, self-management, and sustainability, deepening the transformation social for a just, inclusive and equitable society.
La Brigada Solidaria del Oeste (BSO)
Website: http://isrcr.be/bso/
Telephone: 787.906.7266
Secretary: Cristine Diez Correa, [email protected]
CORALations
CORALations is a non-profit coral reef conservation organization founded in 1995 based in Culebra, Puerto Rico. CORALations’ conservation projects are conducted using a multidisciplinary task force of scientists, engineers, and other professionals as advisors.
Our Ocean Conservation Youth Corps (OCYC) offers an annual course for local young people between the age of 10 and 18 in Culebra with a long-term goal of creating educated and pro-active members of island and coastal communities empowered with the knowledge and commitment needed to conserve and protect valuable coastal ecosystems for their and future generations. The organization works to maximize limited conservation resources by uniting government agencies, academia, and the private sector on accomplishing specific coral reef conservation objectives.
CORALations
Lot #1A, Bo Frailes, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Website: http://www.coralations.org/
Telephone: 787.556.6234 / 787.742.0787
Executive Director: Mary Ann Lucking, [email protected]
CORPORACIÓN PIÑONES SE INTEGRA (COPI)
The mission of Corporación Piñones se Integra (COPI) is to provide services that contribute to combat the problems that the community faces with the commitment to seek alternatives to improve the quality of life of residents, families and visitors.
We aspire to the transformation of marginalized sectors, in communities developed culturally, economically and socially. In the year 2001, a group of women and men of the community rescued the building of the “Ancient Walker” that was abandoned and transformed it into the Piñones Cultural and Ecotourism Center where we offer various cultural and ecotourism services such as: Bomba Classes and Workshops, Puerto Rican: Dance and Percussion, bicycle and kayak rental, conferences; and others activities that contribute to transform life in the community for the better.
Corporación Piñones Integra (COPI)
Highway 187 Km 4.2 Sector Torrecilla Baja, Boca de Cangrejos in Piñones, Loíza, Puerto Rico
Website: http://www.copipr.com/
Telephone: 787.253.9707 / 939.281.9921
Founder and Executive Director: Maricruz Rivera Clemente, [email protected]
CREATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVE
Creative Justice Initiative is a new non-profit organization founded by Dr.
Marta Moreno Vega that will look to develop an economic framework of cultural arts for community development from an Afro-Scientific perspective in Loiza/Piñones, Puerto Rico. With the recent securing of a building in Loiza, this facility will be named Corredor Artes Loiza and will provide workshops for youth and adult focused on history, memory, and development of skills in tour preparedness, silkscreen production and handcrafted traditional art making. In addition, the new space will provide workshops in music, dance, song, theater, storytelling, and writing. The long term goal for Corredor Afro is to create a central location to promote tourism in Loiza/Piñones.
Creative Justice Initiative
Santillana del Mar – 58A 00772
Website: coming soon
Executive Director: Dr. Marta Moreno Vega, [email protected]
EL PUENTE: ENLACE LATINO DE ACCIÓN CLIMÁTICA (ELAC)
El Puente Enlace Latino de Acción Climática ELAC’s vision is to connect communities, groups and individual leaders to address climate change, promoting safety, comprehensive health and cultural values of self-determination, sustainability, social justice and peace in Puerto Rico.
Our mission is to inspire and nurture leaders for peace and justice. We seek to create environmental awareness and encourage citizen participation for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. We are currently working to shift Puerto Rico from an electrical system based overwhelmingly on expensive fossil fuels to one that relies largely on solar, wind and energy efficiency. We have six committees that implement and lead all our year-round activities focusing on three core areas: Mobilization, Education and Public Policy.
El Puente: Enlace Latino de Acción Climática (ELAC)
800 avenida R.H. Todd 00907
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ELACPR/
Telephone: 787.545.5118 / 787.545.5119
MUJERES AYUDANDO MADRES (MAM)
Mujeres Ayudando Madres (MAM) is a non-profit organization with the objective of educating and supporting families during the pregnancy process. We promote a culture of peace for birth, focused on achieving a safe birth experience that protects the physical and psychological health of the family.
Founded in San Juan in 2007, MAM offers gynecological/ obstetric, midwifery, psychological, legal and educational services, focused on supporting the development of educated and fortified families to face pregnancy. The objective of our project is to provide women with a woman-centered, family focused, and Puerto Rican-specific teaching guide for community health education, thereby extending the mission of Centro MAM. This will expand the reach of MAM significantly into underserved communities and further empower local leaders and women to take charge of their own lives and community to further strengthen families and the overall health of the island.
Mujeres Ayudando Madres (MAM)
Calle Dalia #11, Carolina, Puerto Rico 00979
Website: http://mujeresayudandomadres.com/
Telephone: 787.945.5000
Director: Vanessa Caldari, [email protected]
MULTISENSORY READING CENTERS OF PUERTO RICO, INC. (MRC)
The mission of Multisensory Reading Centers of Puerto Rico, Inc.
(MRC) is to provide access to effective literacy instruction for struggling readers in Puerto Rico, particularly students with language-based learning disabilities. Our vision is to achieve an education in which qualified and knowledgeable teachers meet the diverse literacy needs of all students in order for then to achieve their full potential. Information is presented to students in a multisensory way thus ensuring that it enters the brain through different mediums to enhance learning. Because reading permeates learning we believe that everyone involved in a child’s life should be supportive of developing reading skills. Thus we reach out and educate parents and teachers through workshops, one on one meetings and written communications. This way ensuring that our work is supported and extended both at school and at home.
Multisensory Reading Centers of Puerto Rico, Inc. (MRC)
5 Nam Street, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00907
Website: https://www.mrcpr.org/
Telephone: 787.
948.1071
Executive Director: Natalia Canto, [email protected]
Latina superheroes take on real-world problems in La Borinqueña and A La Brava : NPR
Latina superheroes take on real-world problems in La Borinqueña and A La Brava La Borinqueña and the A La Brava are new superheroes whose creators hope will influence change.
La Borinqueña saves the day in Puerto Rico.
Edgardo Miranda- Rodriguez
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Edgardo Miranda- Rodriguez
La Borinqueña saves the day in Puerto Rico.
Edgardo Miranda- Rodriguez
In the multiverse of superheroes, some comic book and graphic novel creators are using Latina characters to challenge real-life issues.
New Yorker Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez created La Borinqueña, a Puerto Rican superhero who crusades for issues affecting the Caribbean island– including climate change, economic displacement, renewable energy and Black Lives Matter.
In 2015, while writing stories for Marvel, Miranda learned that Puerto Rico had amassed an $80 billion debt. He decided to write his first graphic novel (which is independently published) to raise awareness and raise money for grassroots non-profit organizations in Puerto Rico.
La Borinqueña is a Puerto Rican superhero created by Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez. Illustrated by Alitha Martinez, with colors by Andrew Crossley.
Edgardo Miranda- Rodriguez
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Edgardo Miranda- Rodriguez
La Borinqueña is a Puerto Rican superhero created by Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez.
Illustrated by Alitha Martinez, with colors by Andrew Crossley.
Edgardo Miranda- Rodriguez
“La Borinqueña is unapologetically an Afro-Boricua, a Black superhero of Puerto Rican descent who is also an activist,” says Miranda.
In her first adventure, “La Borinqueña didn’t fight a supervillain; she dealt with a massive hurricane that left the island in a complete blackout. The book was published months before Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, killing more than 3000 people and destroying homes.
The latest issue of La Borinqueña commemorates the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Maria and comes at a time when Puerto Ricans are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, with no electricity or running water. It talks about the importance of climate-resilient reconstruction to reduce future impacts of natural disasters. Miranda partnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council to publish the special edition issue featuring celebrity activist Rosario Dawson.
“It was important for us to reflect on the power and resiliency of Puerto Ricans as they continue to sustainably rebuild from the disasters brought on by Hurricane Maria,” Miranda wrote in a statement. “At the same time, we must hold local and mainland U.S. leaders accountable for the harmful delays in distributing promised resources and services to the island in the aftermath. Puerto Rico, the island itself, and especially the people who call it home–deserve more.”
La Borinqueña is now a part of the collection by the Smithsonian and has been featured at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York and art exhibitions around the world. Actresses Dawson and Zoe Saldana have voiced La Borinqueña for public service announcements urging Latinos to register to vote.
Stretch And Bobbito
YouTube
A portion of the sales of the first line of La Borinqueña action figures will be dedicated to continued philanthropic work in Puerto Rico.
One of the newest ventures is a music video collaboration with Stretch and Bobbito + The M19’s, featuring Eddie Palmieri.
Kayden Phoenix’s A La Brava superhero team, whose motto is “Dream big, mija.”
A La Brava comics
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A La Brava comics
Kayden Phoenix’s A La Brava superhero team, whose motto is “Dream big, mija.”
A La Brava comics
Kayden Phoenix is a third-generation Chicana from L.A.’s Boyle Heights neighborhood. Her team of comic book superheroes, called A La Brava, are social justice crusaders who tackle femicide, teen suicide, gun control in schools, child trafficking and domestic violence.
“I had to make superheroes that actually have grounded superpowers,” she says.
Phoenix says she wants to go beyond the usual superhero stories. “How many times you can save Metropolis or Gotham or Central Park or the world? If the team wants to save the world or the planet, you think of the Avengers or the Guardians of the Galaxy,” she says. “But who’s going to save a real girl?”
Her A La Brava team includes:
“Jalisco,” a Mexican Folklorico dancer with blades on the edges of her dresses. She takes on femicide in Mexico.
“Santa,” from the Texas-Mexico border, has divine strength. “She’s my brawler and she has deja vu,” says Phoenix. Santa faces off against a corrupt politician called “Ice.” “He’s symbolic of ICE and all the detention centers and everything that comes with that.”
“Loquita,” a Boricua-Cubana from Miami, balances high school life with being a supernatural detective.
“Ruca,” a Chicana from East L.
A. has “instant karma, so whatever, whatever you do to her, she can throw back right at you.”
“Bandida, a Dominican gunslinger in New York. “Bullets ricochet off of her,” says Phoenix. “She infiltrates a Broadway theater group and ends up taking it down for abusing the females.”
Kayden Phoenix’s A La Brava team fights back.
A La Brava comics
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A La Brava comics
Kayden Phoenix’s A La Brava team fights back.
A La Brava comics
As more Latino superheroes are featured in movies and on TV, these two comix creators hope their characters make it to the screen someday, too. And they’ll be armed with powers to take on real-world problems.
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- Borinken – about. see Puerto Rico
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Borinken was so terrible – Profesora Matorrales – LiveJournal
that I could not wait to leave home, because there were students waiting for me, and I could not wait to tell them about complex-subordinate sentences as soon as possible.
I’m exaggerating, of course, and Borinken’s horrors are just a figure of speech. Far from perfect figure. And yet, the Island of a Thousand Blessings became for me the Island of a Thousand Disappointments.
First disappointment.
… Only Puerto Rican women can be as rude as the taxi driver who drove me from the airport. I call the hotel.
– What the hell is this? What the hell is this in? What the hell took you there? There’s no way to take it out! What kind of asshole even opens a business there?
In fact, it was a dialogue, only I will not give my own remarks. Ashamed. In response, I would put in place a sassy woman with brown lips and black manicure, generously overlay fakes, pings and bergs and send a mierda to eat. I just babbled something intellectually and with a trembling hand slipped a blue piece of paper with an address and a phone number.
Second disappointment.
“Spain in America”, “a piece of Europe on the other side of the Atlantic”, the beautiful ancient San Juan turned out to be the home of gringos.
Gringos dads, gringos moms, little gringos, gringo grandmas, gringo grandpas, in shorts, flip flops, sneakers, sundresses, baseball caps, sunglasses, highlighted, tanned, burnt, lean, fat. Gringos, gringos, gringos. They growl, meow, neigh, point their fingers at the colonial balconies, take pictures against the backdrop of fortress battlements, chew panini, drink mojitos. Gringos, gringos, gringos. They try to show off their knowledge of the Castilian dialect and smugly give out “gracias”, “por favour” and “piña colada sin ram” with a gringo accent. From such an Anglo-Saxon splendor, I got lost (in the literal sense) and had to ask where the bus stop was.
The brisk boricua began to explain to ME, like some dumb gringe: “Remember, in Spanish this is called a parade. Repeat: PA-RA-DA. Green color … “I got upset and wandered towards the” parade “, and after, like a Kansas tornado, it rushed:” Do you know what kind of bus you need? Where do you get off? Tolls must be paid without change…” In gringoyaz, of course.
The third disappointment.
Lyrical digression. Before going to Borinken, I did not pursue the goal of sniffing out and looking out for the shortcomings of this beautiful island. I was not going to snatch out the treasured notebook every couple of minutes and scribble: there is no normal service, only gringopivo. There is no public transport between cities. The rainforest tour guide was not particularly friendly, spoke rote, didn’t say anything that I hadn’t previously read on the Internet. And in general, in the rainforest (e) for the whole day it never rained. To buy food on the beach, you need to go almost to the other end of the island on broken glass. This is not Locombia! The restaurant in the tourist area allegedly did not have Chardonnay, and instead of fried bananas they brought me hummus. I didn’t write it all down. I remember it! And yet I am very positive.
When I heard about the luminous bay and 500,000 bioluminescent dinoflagellates per gallon, I laughed with joy, jumped up and down my not-say-how many-kilogram carcass and enthusiastically clapped my hands.