“ISLEÑA” BY RAICES THEATRE COMPANY (JUN 20-JULY 3, 2022) A ONE-WOMAN SHOW IT WAS!

Entertainment /

I usually have a hard time enjoying a theatre production when the play relies on one individual for the acting, the movement, and the energy.  Honestly, I try to always avoid one-person productions. Why did I go to this one? The answer to the question is simple. I know the performer, I know the organization’s reputation, and I’ve enjoyed all the productions they’ve produced – and I was not disappointed. Victoria Pérez is an amazing woman. She is a woman of all seasons, demonstrating repeatedly that she earned her gifts and talents from the universe. She is for real. If you are not familiar with Victoria, she is a Theatre Director, Actor, Writer, and Playwright. Oh yes, she is also the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Raices Theatre Company; with all these roles, her human experience added to her performance as wife and mother, and by the way, she also sings and dances. What more can you ask for from this beautiful artist? She is truly enjoying her experience as a human being on this planet. She is a role model, and we can learn much from her, and I mean A LOT!  Her one-woman production, composed by Victoria and her sister, is an hour show, a show that will keep you awake, just in case, and it’s full of music, love, singing, and dancing some salsa. The play is about an individual struggling to fit in a world between Puerto Rico (Isleña) and Buffalo, a place with roots, a bilingual coqui cough in Buffalo trying to get back home, a cultural comfort zone, or a frog trying to get back to the “city of good neighbors”, a story of a confused soul searching for her permanent space – here or there? It’s a pity they missed the deadline, and we were not able to promote this product in our June issue. This is a play that needs to come back, become a traveling theatre, and perform in our Puerto Rican/Latino institutions.  Her play started in the kitchen, but it moves your imagination to travel to her island and back to Buffalo, two places dominating her journey, starting when she was just a small girl, age nine. We can go on, but the space in the Village is limited, and we need to stop here. You might miss this play, but you must reach out and get to know the wonderful work by Victoria and her theatre company, a gift to Buffalo’s Puerto Rican/Latino community — and the city of good neighbors. I will keep my eyes open for their next production. Hats off to Victoria Pérez, her sister, and her wonderful team. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Community Education Entertainment Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics LATINO COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE INEQUALITY AND CULTURAL ISOLATION AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK at BUFFALO March 25, 2023/No Comments LACK OF COLLEGE SERVICES FOR LATINO STUDENTS: This is in response to a story by UB Spectrum reporter, Kayla Estrada, Read More “GETTING VERY LITTLE FOR THE WHOLE,  BUT GETTING A LOT FOR THE FEW” WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2023 January 25, 2023/No Comments While I might appear to be biased and selective, I strongly feel the four people in the photo are the Read More The Isaías González-Soto Branch Library (formerly Niagara Branch) is a member of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System December 25, 2022/No Comments When the Hispanic Heritage Council (HHC) moved to rename the Niagara Branch Library several years ago, with the support of Read More Load More End of Content.

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ENTRE TIROS Y  ESPERANZA (Parte 1 de 2)

Community, español /

ENTRE TIROS Y ESPERANZA (Parte 1 de 2) Las balas me han cambiado la vida, solo tenia 17, y empezaba ya la universidad. Ese dia tenia mi primer examen final cuando senti una sensacion de angustia en mi corazon, y no era por el examen. Estaba preparada y entendia la materia. Lamentablemente mi angustia era un pre aviso de la tragedia que me cambiaria la vida. LA BALA: DE ADOLESCENTE A MUJER — Los acontecimientos de las balaceras en todos los lugares del pais, me trasladan a diario a la sala de urgencias de Nueva York: Lincoln Hospital donde mi papa era intervenido de urgencias por un asalto a mano armada por unos adolescentes quienes entraron a robar en su tiendecita. Mi papa sobrevivio un ataque brutal de varios tiros! Uno de estos impacto su mandibula y la fracturo. La vida nos cambio a todos esa noche. Esa noche pase de 17 a edad media: 40! Me volvi una adulta, cabeza de familia y proveedora para mis padres y mis hermanos, las balas nos impactaron a todos no solo a Papi. Pase de nena a mujer en un abrir y cerrar de ojos! Ya nada fue igual. A pesar del impacto adverso de ese acto de violencia, nunca he perdido la Esperanza. NECESITAMOS REFORMA CONCRETA Y REAL — Como sociedad necesitamos reforrmas para el control de armas. Necesitamos invertir mas en la educacion, la salud mental y viviendas para todos. La salud mental pre pandemia era fragil, post pandemia esta rota y necesita ayuda inmediata. La violencia no es normal y no podemos aceptarla como la normalidad. Como sociedad es necesario enfrentar la raiz del problema: la necesidad de balancear el derecho constitucional protegido por la segunda enmienda y la crisis de violencia que nos afecta a todos en particular a la juventud. Hago un llamado a la comunidad educacional y legislative para que trabajemos en conjunto y enlistemos ayuda viable y concreta de todos los sectores: medico, legal, artistico y comunal. A todos nos concierne, y nos afecta. Necesitamos combatir juntos la pandemia de violencia que nos azota. No es un problema aislado. Es un problema colectivo, un desafio intergeracional y global. Este es el momento de actuar firmemente.  A los legisladores necesitamos el apoyo legislativo y fiscal en las escuelas, en los deportes y el arte. Beneficio colectivo, avance colectivo y global. A los manufacturadores necesitamos sentarnos y trabajar colectivamente: el derecho a ganarse la vida  es parte al derecho a vivir! Sin vida no hay nada. EL ARTE: ES VIDA.  UN LLAMADO DE AYUDA! — Este es un llamado a la comunidad artistica, a todos quienes con su arte hablan, cantan y representan la vida: no importa el genero! Ustedes tienen el alcance que todos necesitamos. Su arte corre por las venas de todos. Sus palabras nos indican la realidad que vivimos. Ustedes junto a nosotros somos la esperanza. Este espacio esta disponible para que encontremos una solucion entre todos. Escribeme y dejame saber como podemos construer  juntos el camino! El momento es ahora! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Culture Education Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Military & Veterans Our Community Peace People Sports Uncategorized Who We Are ENTRE TIROS Y  ESPERANZA (Parte 1 de 2) July 23, 2022/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More AHORA — ES EL MOMENTO June 23, 2022/No Comments AHORA — ES EL MOMENTO La masacre en la ciudad de los vecinos, Buffalo es un llamado a la accion Read More YOUR VOTE — YOUR VOICE May 23, 2022/No Comments YOUR VOTE — YOUR VOICE Your vote is being courted and sought by politicians and aspiring public servants of all Read More Load More End of Content.

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RETHINKING THE FOOD WE EAT

Food & Culture /

At the time of writing this article, I can accurately claim that I am an award-winning filmmaker with my film “Boricua Soy Yo.” My film has won an Exceptional Achievement Award at the Multi-Dimensional Film Festival and the Award for Best Narrative Documentary at the Bright International Film Festival, both taking place in the UK. Work never ends and as soon as I wrapped up “Boricua Soy Yo” I immediately started thinking about what the next project would be, striking while  the iron is hot, and creative juices are hot.  While working on “Boricua,” one of the subjects that I wanted to spend more time on was the foods we eat and why traditional “Puerto Rican” foods have led Puerto Rican communities to have such high Type II Diabetes rates, second only to the Pima Indians of Arizona. After some discussion with Puerto Rican doctors and Health Care professionals, I knew this was an idea that could stand on its own, either as a limited series or a documentary feature, and thus, the idea for “Puerto Frito: Diabetes & Nutrition in the Puerto Rican Community” was planted. Through a series of interviews and onsite production, this project will investigate the history of how different cultures came together to create the Puerto Rican diet, consisting of many of the foods our community enjoys. These influences will include foods and customs from our Spanish, African and Indigenous ancestors in addition to Northern African influences, cooking techniques, recipes, and spices brought to the island. Because many of the foods we enjoy are fried, we will investigate what fried foods do to the body and how we can begin introducing new cooking techniques to make healthier versions of the foods we enjoy to hopefully begin slowing down the rate of Type II Diabetes. Have you ever wondered why canned Vienna sausages were such a staple in our kitchens or questioned where alcapurrias came from? Why is our modern diet so starch and fried food heavy? Additional areas I will be exploring are the origins of barbecue food as we know it, which originated from our Taino ancestors. When Spanish colonizers arrived on the islands, they observed the cooking technique Tainos used for meat, callebarbecuecu which became barbacoa or barbecue we use today. Keep in mind, that the intention of this project isn’t to shame the Puerto Rican diet, but instead, to acknowledge how our dietary practices have led to a health epidemic within our communities. So many of us have been touched by friends and family living and dying from the effects of Type II diabetes. This project is still very early and in the proposal stages, but as I mentioned above, the idea is still very fresh and one I look to accomplish while the creative juices marinate. My hope is, that once this project is completed, we may all rethink and reconsider our foods and take better care of our health. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports A BITTERSWEET NIGHT, LISTENING TO THE MUSIC OF “GITANAA July 6, 2023/No Comments On Saturday, June 24th, my wife and I joined a few friends and enjoyed a night of live Latin music Read More MAKING A MARK ON OUR YOUTH June 6, 2023/No Comments During my column last month, I wrote about having the opportunity to visit my childhood school, Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy, Read More IT STARTS WITH A BOOK May 12, 2023/No Comments IT STARTS WITH A BOOK On Friday, April 29th, I will have attended the 13th Annual Dia del Ninos y Read More Load More End of Content.

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