Timeline of the Puerto Rican Community in Chicago
IPRAC groundbreaking
2006 The Institute for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC) celebrates its official groundbreaking in May. This follows IPRAC’s 2001 establishment to provide quality community arts and culture programs. IPRAC will be the only self-standing cultural institution in the nation devoted to showcasing and preserving Puerto Rican arts and historic..Read More
PRFAA Midwest Office inaugurated
2006 On April 10th, the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration’s (PRFAA) Midwest Office is inaugurated by the Governors of Puerto Rico and Illinois, Anibal Acevedo Vila and Rod Blagojevich, respectively; they are joined by 4th District Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez, 26th Ward Alderman Billy Ocasio, and elected officials and representatives..Read More
Teresa Roldán Paseo Boricua Apartments open
2005 Teresa Roldán Paseo Boricua Apartments open on Campbell and Division Streets. The $11.6 million yellow facade, reminiscent of Viejo San Juan, contains 59 one-room units for elderly residents displaced by gentrification. The building’s Caribbean appearance is designed to further claim Division Street and Humboldt Park as Puerto Rican spaces,..Read More
Film “Urban Poet” released
2004 New Films Production’s Antonio Franchesi releases “Urban Poet,” the first feature-length movie filmed in Humboldt Park. In addition, director Marisol Torres began filming “Boricua,” which was released the following year. These two films mark the beginnings of a Puerto Rican film industry in Chicago.
Café Batey Teatro Urbano is created
2002 Café Teatro Batey Urbano, an initiative of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, is open to offering young Puerto Ricans a space to develop their artistic talents through hip-hop, poetry, and other cultural expressions. Run by college students and area youth, Batey Urbano became the hub of Chicago’s Puerto Rican/Latino..Read More
Puerto Rican Political Prisoners released
1999 After twenty years of struggle, on September 10, Alejandrina Torres, Alberto Rodríguez, Edwin Cortés, Ricardo Jiménez, Luis Rosa, Elizam Escobar, Dylcia Pagán, Ida Luz Rodríguez, Alicia Rodríguez, Carmen Valentín, and Adolfo Matos are released from federal prison. The group served 19.5 years in federal prison.