Nuyorican poet Tato Laviera left an indelible mark on Paseo Boricua and the Puerto Rican nation. On November 21, members of the Paseo Boricua/ Humboldt Park community gathered at the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture to pay homage to this literary giant, author of three plays about the history of Puerto Rican Chicago. The tribute, organized by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Batey Urbano, and La Respuesta Magazine, began with a City Council Resolution about Tato introduced by Alderman Roberto Maldonado. Download a PDF of the resolution.
Following this, several individuals read poems and reflected on Tato, his work, and his impact on their lives and our community. A central theme that ran through the evening was Tato’s mentorship and his commitment to the Puerto Rican people. The event concluded with heartfelt reflection by David Sanchez, the nephew of Tato Laviera. More on Tato Laviera.
