Mayra Calvani says 'Writing for Children is like Walking on a Rainbow'

Reading corner

My most recent column at Examiner is an interview with writer Mayra Calvani, a boricua who lives in Belgium. She writes about many different topics and is currently promoting her children's book "Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster."
To read my interview, go to
Mayra Calvani says ‘Writing for Children is like Walking on a Rainbow’ -
http://www.examiner.com/x-11970-NY-Latino-Community-Examiner~y2010m2d7-Mayra-Calvani-says-Writing-for-Children-is-like-Walking-on-a-Rainbow

Her collection of books have now been added to the PRSUN aStore.

'Valentine's Day' giveaway

New giveaway for one lucky winner and guest for NYC screening of VALENTINE’S DAY. It’s a WB romantic comedy with an all-star ensemble cast including Jessica Alba, George Lopez, Hector Elizondo, Jessica Biel, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, and many more! The pass is to an advance screening in NY on Tuesday 2/9.
The first Bronx Latino reader who responds to this entry, is the winner. E-mail your name to bronxlatino (at) puertoricosun.com.

For more information and to view the trailer, go to
http://www.valentinesdaymovie.com/

UPDATE: Giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner.

Bronx Tweeters...

Are you on Twitter?

Bronx Latino is too.

Are you a Bronx resident? Were you born or raised in the Bronx and moved away? Are you a nonprofit or small biz in the Bronx? Do you have any interesting Bronx ties? I am especially interested in following you on Twitter.

@bronxlatino

Follow me and I will most likely follow you too.

Also, I have been tweeting more and blogging less lately. Visit me at Twitter or check out my Twitter widget posted right here in this blog.

Serrano Calls for an Immediate Anti-Hunger Effort in Bronx

Here's a statement from Sen. Serrano that I thought I'd share. It is outrageous that the Bronx is one of the hungriest communities in the nation and something must be done about this for real. This is not acceptable.

Serrano's statement:
January 26, 2010 – Washington, DC – After hearing news that the Bronx was one of the communities with the highest hunger rates in the nation, Congressman José E. Serrano today called for an immediate effort to increase access to food and food assistance.

“We feared that this recession could have an effect on our hunger rates in the Bronx, which were already too high, and now we have learned that our fears have become reality. We must take immediate steps to combat this problem, in all ways that we can.

“This morning I wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, whose department oversees food assistance programs, to ask him for his immediate assistance in expanding access to food programs in the Bronx—as well as inviting him to come see successful yet struggling Bronx food assistance non-profits.

“I also wrote to Mayor Bloomberg today to seek his partnership in a new effort to end hunger in the Bronx. I believe that working with these two leaders and those already working diligently on this issue in the Bronx, we can put an end to these unacceptably high hunger rates.

“We know that many people are unable to access the benefits for which they are eligible, and we must do more to connect people to the available resources. And where the resources are lacking, we must urgently bridge the gap. This is a problem we must attack with great urgency. People without proper access to food cannot wait.

“In the richest city in the richest nation on Earth, food insecurity is simply unacceptable and immediate action must be taken to help those in need.”

The full results of the food security survey are available here:

http://frac.org/Press_Release/food_hardship_report_jan2010.htm

Serrano’s letter to Secretary Vilsack is available here: http://serrano.house.gov/Media/PDFs/vilsack_hunger.pdf

Serrano’s letter to Mayor Bloomberg is available here: http://serrano.house.gov/Media/PDFs/bloomberg_hunger.pdf

###

Bronx Latino Top 100 List

Are you a Bronx Latino?

Were you born, raised or still live in the Bronx? Are you doing empowering, inspiring work? Are you a mover and a shaker?

Are you a proud Bronxite?

Bronx Latino is compiling its Top 100 Bronx Latinos list.

Come visit and add your site for consideration. Share the love with your Bronx familia. Who knows you may be added to our Top 100 Bronx Latinos list.


http://bronxlatino.gotop100.com/in.php?ref=101

New movie giveaway: 'The Wolfman'

You know how it goes. The promoters of the new movie "THE WOLFMAN," starring BENECIO DEL TORO AND ANTHONY HOPKINS, reached out to Bronx Latino for a giveaway to an advanced screening in Manhattan in February.

Here's the link for the trailer: http://www.thewolfmanmovie.com/

Movie's description: Universal Studios resurrects this classic tale of an American who experiences an unsettling transformation after returning to his ancestral home in Victorian-era Great Britain and being attacked by a rampaging werewolf. His brother having recently vanished without a trace, haunted nobleman Lawrence Talbot Benecio del Toro returns to his family estate to investigate. What he discovers upon reuniting with his estranged father Anthony Hopkins, however, is a destiny far darker than his blackest nightmares. As a young boy, the untimely death of his mother caused Talbot to grow up before his time. Though Talbot would attempt to bury his pain in the past by leaving the quiet Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor behind, the past returns with a vengeance when his brother's fiancée, Gwen Conliffe Emily Blunt, convinces him to return home and aid the search for his missing brother. But something monstrous has been stalking the residents of Blackmoor from the nighttime shadows, something not quite human. Not even recently arrived Scotland Yard inspector Aberline Hugo Weaving can dream up a rational explanation for the gruesome spell that has been cast over Blackmoor, yet rumors of an ancient curse persist to this very day. According to legend, the afflicted will experience a horrific transformation by the light of the full moon, their animal rage becoming far too powerful for their human bodies to contain. Now, the woman Talbot loves is in mortal danger, and in order to protect her he must venture into the moonlit woods and destroy the beast before it destroys her. But this isn't your typical hunt, because before the beast can be slain, a simple man will uncover a primal side of himself that he never knew existed.

To apply for the giveaway, e-mail bronxlatino (at) puertoricosun.com. Winners will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners.

New movie giveaway: 'From Paris With Love'

Movie promoters are inviting Bronx Latino readers to an advanced movie screening in Manhattan of the upcoming Lionsgate film, FROM PARIS WITH LOVE, starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers – in theaters February 5.

The screening date will likely take place the evening of February 3 or 4.

Below please find more information on the film, including a link to the trailer:

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE

Studio: Lionsgate

Release Date: February 5th

Genre: Action

Rating: R

Trailer: frompariswithlovefilm.com

Starring: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers

Synopsis: A low-ranking intelligence operative (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) working in the office of the U.S. Ambassador in France takes on more than he bargained for when he partners with a wisecracking, fast-shooting, high ranking U.S. agent (John Travolta) who’s been sent to Paris to stop a terrorist attack.

To apply, e-mail bronxlatino (at) puertoricosun.com your full name. Passes will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

UPDATE: Giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners.

Volunteers wanted to give Bx students 'the leg up they need'

The Phipps Volunteer Tutoring Project is looking for a few good volunteers to serve in the West Farms community. Bronx Latino is helping to spread the word on this important project for the betterment of our residents.

Bronx Latino speaks with Samantha L. Koller, VISTA - NYC Civic Corps, Volunteer Tutoring Program Coordinator, The Phipps CDC and BronxWorks Group.

Here's the Q&A with Samantha:

Q: What is The Phipps Volunteer Tutoring Project and why did you want to bring it to the West Farms community?
A: The Phipps Volunteer Tutoring Project is an educational community service program that will bring students, seniors, and professionals into Phipps centers to tutor youth and adult learners. Our volunteers will serve in small groups at a scheduled time for about an hour and a half each week, covering middle and high school subjects, as well as pre-GED and ESL material.

Q: What do you look for in your volunteers? What skills should they have?
A: Volunteers can be from all walks in life—volunteers don’t need any tutoring experience. But we do ask that volunteers have a strong academic record so that they can support our students. Volunteers also need to make a commitment to working with their students for the duration of the semester.

Q: Why should community members consider volunteering in this project?
A: Volunteering as a Phipps tutor is a great way to contribute to the community and to help improve educational advancement in the South Bronx , where nearly 40% of residents live below the poverty line. Volunteers will help to open doors for young people and adults so they can achieve their education and employment goals. Opportunities to tutor ESL, pre-GED, and high school material will also help volunteers gain valuable experience as a tutor.

Q: How is this project unique from other tutoring programs?
A: Phipps Volunteer Tutoring Project is unique in that it has a collaborative, community-based structure in which volunteer tutors get to know each other, work together and benefit from each others' skills and support. Volunteers are welcome to serve with friends, partners, or family members (over the age of 16)--it’s a great, free way to spend time together.

Q: What are the goals of bringing this project to the West Farms community?
A: Phipps Community Development Corp. provides free classes and programs for youth and adults, and students and instructors asked for tutoring as a way to help provide one-on-one support. We are calling on volunteers to help give these students the leg up they need to achieve success. The goal of the program is to help Phipps students learn English, get their GED, or go to college, and to accomplish their goals in life.

Q: What are some of the challenges?
A: The biggest challenge so far has been getting the word out and attracting volunteers to our program. There aren’t a lot of visible volunteer programs dedicated to serving the Bronx , and we’re excited about the opportunity that we are able to provide. We’ve been tutoring this past semester, and it has been such a wonderful experience!

Q: What is the student population in West Farms and what are their needs?
A: We will be working with youth involved in after-school and Bridge to College programs, and with adults in pre-GED and ESL classes. Our students have diverse backgrounds—many are Latino, African-American, and West African. One thing our students have in common is that they are motivated and overcome obstacles every day to obtain their education. Many of the adults support their families or have jobs, and we have designed tutoring groups to fit in their daily schedule and accommodate irregular attendance when they can’t make it.

Q: What is the history of this program in West Farms?
A: The Phipps Volunteer Tutoring Project has been developed by members of the New York City Civic Corps. This is a first-year program, and we want to make it successful so that it can thrive here for years to come. This Corps is an NYC Service initiative dedicated to creating and supporting volunteer programs throughout the city. The goal of NYC Service is to make New York City the easiest city in the world in which to volunteer.

Q: Are there any other Bronx communities with this project? What are the future plans of this program in the Bronx?
A: Phipps has a vast array of programs supporting residents in West Farms, Melrose, Mott Haven, and other South Bronx communities, and we’d like to make tutors available to these programs, as well. But the program’s growth depends on recruiting enough volunteers!

Learn more at www.phippsny.org/tutors.html
or contact the Phipps Tutor Recruitment Team:
tel: (347) 329-3929 x227
email: volunteers@phippsny.org

New movie giveaway: 'The Book of Eli'

Movie promoters invite Bronx Latino readers and visitors to participate in NYC screening of the new movie "The Book of Eli." Winners will be selected on a first come, first served basis. The screening will be at a Manhattan theater prior to the movie's release date.

Here are details about the film:

Film: BOOK OF ELI

Studio: Warner Bros

Release Date: January 15, 2010

Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama

Rating: R for some brutal violence and language

Trailer: http://thebookofeli.warnerbros.com/

Cast: Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, Gary Oldman

Directed by: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes



Synopsis: In the not-too-distant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once America . Empty cities, broken highways, seared earth—all around him, the marks of catastrophic destruction. There is no civilization here, no law. The roads belong to gangs that would murder a man for his shoes, an ounce of water…or for nothing at all.
But they’re no match for this traveler.
A warrior not by choice but necessity, Eli (Denzel Washington) seeks only peace but, if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. It’s not his life he guards so fiercely but his hope for the future; a hope he has carried and protected for 30 years and is determined to realize. Driven by this commitment and guided by his belief in something greater than himself, Eli does what he must to survive—and continue.
Only one other man in this ruined world understands the power Eli holds, and is determined to make it his own: Carnegie (Gary Oldman), the self-appointed despot of a makeshift town of thieves and gunmen. Meanwhile, Carnegie’s adopted daughter Solara (Mila Kunis) is fascinated by Eli for another reason: the glimpse he offers of what may exist beyond her stepfather’s domain.
But neither will find it easy to deter him. Nothing—and no one—can stand in his way. Eli must keep moving to fulfill his destiny and bring help to a ravaged humanity.

To participate in the giveaway, e-mail bronxlatino (at) puertoricosun.com. Please e-mail your full name. Winners will be able to take a guest.

Update: Giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners.

New giveaway for BL readers: 'The Spy Next Door'

Start off the new year with an outing to the movies.

Promoters of the new movie "The Spy Next Door" are giving away tickets for a screening in New York City at 10 a.m. January 9th. The giveaway is only good for this screening.

The trailer can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5TvFI7rdwM

Bronx Latino will pick three winners and forward the information to the promoters. Winners will be able to bring guests.
Runners up will win a prize pack including a mini poster, a branded laser keychain, an ID wallet and a pair of binoculars.
Here are additional details about the movie:

Film: THE SPY NEXT DOOR

Studio: Lionsgate

Release Date: Friday, January 15, 2010

Rating: PG

Trailer: www.thespynextdoorfilm.com/

Synopsis: Lionsgate’s family action comedy THE SPY NEXT DOOR stars Jackie Chan as Bob Ho, an undercover CIA superspy who decides to give up his career in espionage to settle down with his next-door neighbor and girlfriend, Gillian (Amber Valletta). But Bob has one more mission to complete before Gillian agrees to marry him: winning over her three opinionated kids.

When Gillian suddenly has to leave town, Bob volunteers to babysit the children so he can earn their approval. But when one of the kids mistakenly downloads a top-secret formula from his computer, Bob’s archenemy, a Russian terrorist, moves in for the attack, forcing Bob to juggle the roles of spy and prospective stepfather in the most challenging mission of his career!

Martial arts superstar Jackie Chan is joined by an talented supporting cast featuring Amber Valletta (PREMONITION, TRANSPORTER 2, HITCH), George Lopez (BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA, SWING VOTE, "George Lopez"), Billy Ray Cyrus ("Hannah Montana"), Magnus Scheving (LAZYTOWN), Madeline Carroll (SWING VOTE), Will Shadley ("Dirty Sexy Money"), and Alina Foley. THE SPY NEXT DOOR is directed by Brian Levent (ARE WE THERE YET?, SNOW DOGS, THE FLINTSTONES) from a screenplay by Greg Poirier (NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS). The film is produced by Robert Simonds and Ryan Kavanaugh.

To enter, e-mail your name and mailing address to bronxlatino (at) puertoricosun.com. Winners will be selected on a first-come first-served basis.

Good luck.

UPDATE: Giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners.

Merry Christmas from Bronx Latino

Here's a holiday greeting to Bronx Latino readers and visitors:
http://www.mypunchbowl.com/ecards/share/f594a9894dbd8479d28b

Bronx Latino is a project of Puerto Rico Sun Communications. --Clarisel

PRSUN TV: Parranda!!!! at Coqui Mexicano

Get a taste of Parranda!!!! at Coqui Mexicano, a small fusion shop in the South Bronx. The community parranda was held in celebration of Coqui Mexicano's first anniversary as a business in Melrose. It was held on the day after Thanksgiving as a way of thanking the community for the support and kicking off the Christmas season.

Parranda!!! @ Coqui Mexicano from Clarisel Gonzalez on Vimeo.

Felicidades from Puerto Rico Sun Communications, which produces PRSUN TV and publishes Bronx Latino.

Bronx Latino tweets...

You are invited to follow Bronx Latino at Twitter to stay connected.

http://twitter.com/bronxlatino

Bronx Latino is moving...

Bronx Latino readers, I have decided to discontinue this blog at Blogger because of technical problems. I plan to open a new blog using another service (most likely WordPress). I am also considering making some changes to the project. TBA.

Thanks for your support of Bronx Latino.

UPDATE: By popular demand from Bronx Latino readers and visitors, I have decided to continue using Blogger for now. This may change in 2010, but Bronx Latino is staying here at this time. Those on Twitter may also follow me @bronxlatino. Thanks for your feedback.

WNYC - WNYC News Blog » Puerto Ricans in New York Struggling…Still

WNYC - WNYC News Blog » Puerto Ricans in New York Struggling…Still

GrogNews: Minority Recruiting and US Military Academies

GrogNews: Minority Recruiting and US Military Academies

Puerto Rican Artisan and Health Fair @ Hostos

Community calendar

The Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture at Hostos Community College will be transformed into a typical Puerto Rican plaza this weekend, with fountains, palm trees, piragua and coquito carts and artists, sculptors, vejigante mask makers and artisans selling traditional wares.

The transformation will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21, for Comité Noviembre’s fourth annual artisans fair. Over 30 artesanos puertorriqueños from throughout the United States and Puerto Rico will showcase their unique and traditional art at the fair. Musical and cultural acts will entertain throughout the day, and children and adults will have the opportunity to take part in workshops on mask-making, the history of the Three Kings Celebration, and the music of Puerto Rico and the Taíno Indigenous People. This year’s event also features a health fair to educate people about the chronic diseases that have a disparate affect on our community, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity.

The event is free to the community and will be held at the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture at Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, at 450 Grand Concourse, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. It is a great opportunity to kick-start the holiday shopping season and kick off a healthy New Year.

Each year the fair attracts thousands of people from across the New York metro area.

The event’s workshop schedule is as follows:
Artisans Workshops
11AM – Noon
• Taíno Storytelling
• Three Kings Celebration

Noon – 1PM
• Taíno Petroglyph Symbols
• Vegigante Mask Making

1PM – 2PM
• Taino Spirituality

4PM – 5PM
• Historical Overview of Boricua Music

Health Workshops
Workshops hosted by sanofi-aventis US

12Noon – 1PM
• Health & Flavor in the Latino Kitchen

1PM – 2PM
• Power Over Diabetes

2PM – 3PM
• Stay in Touch


The charge of Comité Noviembre is to promote, acknowledge, create awareness and take ownership of our rich culture, language, and history. Comité Noviembre is the collective effort of ten key Puerto Rican organizations: the Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, ASPIRA of New York, the Association of Hispanic Arts, El Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños, El Museo del Barrio, Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights– Justice Committee, the National Institute for Latino Policy, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration which plan and coordinate el mes de la herencia puertorriqueña.

source: CN press release

LLADRÓ Celebrates Puerto Rican Day with launch of Our Lady of Providence

As a photographer, one of my favorite subjects to shoot are religious icons. The Virgin Mary is on top of my list. Our Lady of Providence, the patroness of Puerto Rico, is, of course, one of my favorite images to photograph. Actually, I have introduced several people in New York City to Our Lady of Providence through my photography. One of my most popular photographs is an image I shot of Our Lady of Providence at St. Jerome's Church in the South Bronx, and one of my photos will be published in an upcoming religious book (TBA) and is currently on display at an art exhibit at the Bronx Blue Bedroom Project in the Bronx.
As you could imagine, I was so happy to learn that Lladró will launch a sculpture in her likeness at an event in New York City during Puerto Rican Heritage Month. I hope to be there.

Here's the press release:

Lladró, the world renowned Spanish producer of exquisite porcelain works of art, will launch a sculpture in tribute to the patroness of Puerto Rico, Our Lady of Divine Providence, at its boutique in New York City on November 19. The unveiling coincides with Puerto Rico’s celebration of Discovery Day.

The Spanish company honors Puerto Rican traditions and culture with this faithful depiction of the image of the Virgin with the Christ Child in her lap. Ángeles Lladró, member of the Lladró Board of Directors and daughter of one of the three founding brothers, explains that the company decided to create this sculpture during her last visit to Puerto Rico.

“I was so enthralled by the open nature of its people, very similar to the Spanish character in so many ways, and their appreciation of our brand, that we thought of making a piece to show our gratitude,” she says. “This faithful depiction of the image of Our Lady of Divine Providence is our best way to honor the Puerto Rican culture, tradition and religious devotion. It is a very touching scene, in line with other Lladró maternities, and I loved it right from the beginning.”

With this magnificent porcelain depiction of the Virgin, Lladró not only pays tribute to the people of Puerto Rico, but also celebrates two rich cultures united by the same roots.

Created in glazed porcelain and decorated with Lladró’s traditional spectrum of colors, the piece is noteworthy for its size, 16 1/2" x 7", considerably larger than other Lladró Virgins. The combination of white and blue, the colors symbolizing the purity of the Madonna, with ocher tones, further reinforce the splendor of an image venerated mainly by the order of the Servants of Mary.

The Latin phrase on the porcelain base, "Tu honorificentia populi nostril," or "You are the glory of our people," is taken from Tota Pulchra Es, the 4th century anonymous “canto” that includes texts dedicated to the Virgin from biblical books.

Worship of Our Lady of Divine Providence originated in Italy in the 13th century. It was a very popular devotion that later passed to Spain, where a shrine was built in her honor in Tarragona, Catalonia. When Gil Esteve Tomas, a Catalan priest, was appointed bishop of Puerto Rico in the mid 19th century, he brought this devotion with him to the island. In a decree signed in 1969, Pope Paul VI declared Our Lady Mother of Divine Providence as the patroness of the island of Puerto Rico.
During the reception, the sculptor of the piece, don Nacho Aliena, will demonstrate the techniques that he employs in executing his work. He will be available to answer questions about the design of the Virgin of Divine Providence.

The suggested retail price is $1,500. Lladró will donate 10% of all sales during the New York City celebration to the Puerto Rican Family Institute (PRFI), a non-profit organization responding to the needs of the growing Latino population both on the U.S mainland and in Puerto Rico since 1960.

“We are so proud to join with Lladró in launching this Virgin,” says María Elena Girone, President and CEO of the PRFI. “The Virgin not only symbolizes devotion and faith in Puerto Rico, but also reminds us of our mission to help the needy, the essence of our organization.”

About Lladró
Lladró was established by the brothers Juan, José and Vicente Lladró in 1953, and has a presence in more than 120 countries. Lladró has proprietary shops in the most important commercial centers in the world: London, New York, Beverly Hills, Singapore, Hong Kong, Moscow, Tokyo, Miami, Las Vegas, Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, where the company is headquartered. For further information on Lladró visit www.lladro.com.

About the Puerto Rican Family Institute
The Puerto Rican Family Institute, Inc. (PRFI) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the functioning and self-sufficiency of diverse marginalized communities, and to prevent the disintegration of families. It is a humanitarian services agency that promotes programs dealing with families, provides cultural services to children, youth, adults and families, and that respects all races, cultures and personal identities. The identify and community of each individual, independently of how they define themselves, serve as the foundation for the cultural services offered by the Institute. The principal services include psychological care, preventive care, education, mental health, care for AIDS sufferers, case management programs, home care, crisis intervention, and Head Start. PRFI operates about 48 programs throughout New York, Jersey City, New Jersey and Puerto Rico.

(NOTE: I was having problems with Blogger and hope to upload the image of the sculpture soon.)


source: CapitalWirePR press release

To view some of my photos, visit my "Our Lady" photo set at http://flickr.com/photos/clarisel.