In Partnership with Philly NBHRN
On Saturday, September 27, 2014, Philadephia’s Taller Puertorriqueño also known as El Corazón Cultural del Barrio hosted NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito in a benefit for their new Cultural Center. a $12 million project. Over 100 supporters passed through the doors of El Taller to the meet and greet with Melissa, who was introduced by Dr. Carmen Febo- San Miguel, the Executive Director of the Taller. During the meet and greet, Melissa was introduced to several of Philadelphia’s Latino Elected Officials, including Councilman Maria Quiñonez, Councilman at large Greenlee, State Rep. Angel Cruz, former City Councilman Angel Ortiz. Luis Sanabria, of the Philly National Boricua Human Rights Network Chapter, was the co-emcee. Philadelphia prominent personalities Rev. Luis Cortés President of Nueva Esperanza, Rev. Roger Zepernick and artist Betsy Cazañas were also present to support the Taller.
Among the distinguished guests attending the event was Iris Camacho, Dean of Students at Interamerican Law School in Puerto Rico and Alicia Rodríguez. ex-political prisoner. The Puerto Rican Cultural Center from Chicago was in attendance in the persons of Luis Rosa, ex-political prisoner and Alejandro Luis Molina, Secretary of the Board of Directors. The PRCC also gave a small donation towards the building the new Cultural Center campaign, which aims to raise $12,000,000.00. The Taller has already raised close to $7,000,000.00 and needs to raise $170,000.00 to qualify for the $3.9 million tax credit.
From the meeting and greet, the crowd moved down the block to attend the screening of “El Antillano”, the documentary by filmmaker Tito Roman about Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances. The standing room only crowd listened to Melissa Mark Viverito as she exhorted the crowd to give generously to help the Taller meets its goal of building the New Cultural Center.
