On October 11th, Community Foundation of Puerto Rico president Nelson Colón delivered a major address at the City Club of Cleveland on the future of Puerto Rico and the need for an equity-based approach to recovery.
A year after Maria, it is clear that the federal response in Puerto Rico has been in large measure inadequate. One sign: To date, the median grant given to repair homes in Puerto Rico has been $1,800, compared with about $9,127 paid out to survivors of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
Days before Hurricane Florence hit the Carolinas, one nonprofit group had already set up major kitchen operations in two cities to feed those working or sheltering in harm’s way.
In counties with over $10 billion in damage from natural disasters, a new study finds that white household wealth climbed an average of $126,000 following recovery efforts. Yet wealth among Black, Latinx, and Asian households fell by $10,000–$29,000.
A 400-page draft outlines the Puerto Rican government’s recovery vision for the next 10 years. While the report does an admirable job of outlining the damage done by Hurricane Maria and the infrastructure recovery needs, the plan fails to tap into the creativity of the island’s own people.
All proceeds from January’s performances of the musical “Hamilton” in Puerto Rico will be donated to the Flamboyan Foundation’s new arts fund. The award-winning actor-playwright explains why.
While we often focus on direct storm fatalities, far more die in the aftermath, as care for the vulnerable is disrupted. Community preparedness in advance of storms can prevent many such deaths.
The large amount of informal housing in Puerto Rico has resulted in almost as many FEMA claims being denied as are approved.
Thousands of Puerto Ricans march to protest government austerity measures in a context where austerity makes recovery from the damage wrought by Hurricane Maria cruelly absurd.
Art is omnipresent in Puerto Rico. It’s not defended or extolled as important; it just is. Art is also a significant site of social discourse—even more so for a nation struggling with colonialism. At Crearte, it’s described as a potent form of self-creation.
