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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PUERTO RICAN ARTS ALLIANCE
WHEREAS, founded in 1998, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance was created to increase awareness, knowledge and access to the arts by its immediate Puerto Rican community. Initially serving the Northwest Side of Chicago, PRAA's service area expanded to include Metropolitan Chicago. PRAA now draws legions of visitors and artists from the East to West coasts; and
WHEREAS, spearheaded by Carlos Hernandez, Founder and Executive Director, PRAA remains dedicated to preserving Puerto Rican culture by upholding their traditions, advocating their arts and administering educational opportunities in these arts, encouraging the cultivation of pride in the heritage of future generations to come; and
WHEREAS, guided by four core principles of: preserving and promoting the traditions, culture and art of Puerto Rico, advocacy of intercultural understanding and appreciation, reinforcement of Puerto Rican intergenerational understanding and instilling ethnic pride within the Puerto Rican community, PRAA remains dedicated to promoting the richness and diversity found in its native Ta?no Indian, Spanish and West African roots; and
WHEREAS, now a major broker of Puerto Rican arts, through performances, art exhibits and other arts-related educational programs, PRAA has become a beacon to hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans in Chicago. PRAA strives to secure donations so that their high quality, impactful programs remain free to all underserved youth; and
WHEREAS, remaining true to their core principles, PRAA students may participate in the Latino Music Project, teaching students how to play violin, the cuatro or the Spanish guitar. Historical and cultural traditions are taught in the Ta?no Project and The Three Kings Project. Experimentation with various types of media and art forms can be learned in the Studio Arts Program. An integral part of PRAA, Carlos Hernandez recently completed PRAA's $2.5 million capital campaign...
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