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COMITÉ
NOVIEMBRE |
MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF
COMITÉ NOVIEMBRE 1999
This year marks the thirteenth
anniversary of the celebration of Puerto Rican Heritage Month in this
country. Established in 1987, Comité Noviembre brings together the strengths and
talents of seven key Puerto Rican organizations: ASPIRA of New York, Inc.; El
Museo del Barrio; Eugenio María de Hostos Community College; the Institute for
the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly; the National Congress for Puerto Rican
Rights; the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, and the Puerto Rican
Legal Defense and Education Fund which plans and promotes this monthlong
event.
Comité Noviembre is proud of
its ability to bring together the Puerto Rican community by preserving,
educating and promoting Puerto Rican culture and history, encompassing the
diverse political ideologies within our community. Thanks to Comité Noviembre,
November has become a time to discuss all aspects and issues of the Puerto Rican
community from the cultural, social and civic to the educational, economic and
political with respect, objectivity and pride.
The 1999 theme: "Puerto
Ricans for the Millennium ... Facing the Dawn of a New Age," reflects the
anticipation of a community ready for action. For the first time in recent
years, the concerns of the Puerto Rican people are being heard. The
acknowledgment of Puerto Ricans such as Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Marc
Anthony by mainstream America and the achievements of athletes like Bernie
Williams and Juan Gonzalez recognizes the talents and skills of the Puerto Rican
people. One thing is clear: our community's achievements of this past year could
only have been accomplished by a unified community. The human rights campaign
for Vieques, the clemency of the Puerto Rican political prisoners, and a better
understanding of Puerto Rico's relationship to the United States have brought to
light our strength and power as a community. Our history is being told, written,
and acknowledged for the next millennium, and Comité Noviembre urges you to take
part in the development and creation of this new era.
In order to secure
that our children have better educational opportunities, the Comité Noviembre
Scholarship Program will once again award scholarships to exceptional Puerto
Rican students. The proceeds from the Comité Noviembre Gala supports the
scholarship program. The gala dinner will be held on Wednesday, November 17th at
the Copacabana in Manhattan. Salsa sensation, Tito Nieves will be the evening' s
entertainment.
Each year, Comité Noviembre selects a spokesperson who has
played a pivotal role in making a unique imprint on this country. Not only by
shaping the image and future of Puerto Ricans, but of all Americans. Comité
Noviembre is proud that its 1999 national spokesperson is Welterweight Champion
of the World Félix "Tito" Trinidad. Excellence in his chosen profession and his
support of peace in Vieques and of numerous children's charities exemplify his
commitment to the continued development and well being of our
community.
Through "Lo Mejor de Nuestra Comunidad," Comité Noviembre
recognizes outstanding individuals who are the unsung heroes of our community.
Puerto Ricans whose pride in their heritage and strength of character have
empowered themselves and inspired others to make a significant impact on the
community. Eight men and women were chosen by Comité Noviembre from the
nominations that were submitted by you, the community. Since its inception,
Comité Noviembre has placed special focus on educational excellence as the key
to the future. This year, four young people are being highlighted for their
leadership and commitment to their community.
On Saturday, November 20,
1999, at El Museo del Barrio, Comité Noviembre will once again sponsor its Day
of Social Responsibility and Community Service. We urge you to participate.
Comité Noviembre wishes to thank the many organizations, civic groups, schools,
sponsors and individuals that have contributed to the success of this monthlong
celebration. Comité Noviembre invites everyone to share our culture, our
heritage and our language as we move into the next millennium.
For Comité
Noviembre
Teresa A. Santiago, Chairperson
Member Agencies
ASPIRA of New York, Inc
El Museo del Barrio
Eugenio María de Hostos Community
College
National Congress
for Puerto Rican Rights
Institute for
the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly
Puerto Rico Federal Affairs
Administration
Puerto Rican
Legal Defense and Education Fund
HISTORY AND
MISSION
In 1987 five of New York City's
most established Puerto Rican organizations joined forces to preserve the
richness of the Puerto Rican culture and acknowledge the numerous contributions
Puerto Ricans have made to mainstream America. The vision of these
organizations: the Association of Hispanic Arts, the Association of Puerto Rican
Executive Directors, ASPIRA of New York, Inc., El Centro de Estudios
Puertorriqueños
(Hunter College), and the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs
Administration (then known as the Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico)
gave birth to Comité Noviembre.
Comité Noviembre is a non-profit
volunteer organization that brings together the collective talents of ASPIRA of
New York, Eugenio María de Hostos Community College CUNY the Institute for the
Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, El Museo del Barrio, the National Congress for
Puerto Rican Rights, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense
and Education Fund, and
the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration.
Comité Noviembre's
mission is to promote awareness of the social, cultural, economic and political
contributions of the Puerto Rican community to this nation. This monthlong
celebration provides an important opportunity to applaud the contributions of
those who came before, recognize the pivotal impact made by Puerto Rican leaders
of the present, and provide examples and cultural grounding to our young people
who represent the emerging Boricua leaders of tomorrow.
Comité Noviembre
Mes de
la Herencia Puertorriqueña
Fourth
Annual Gala
Wednesday, November 17,
1999
All Images © 2000 Manny
Segarra / NYBoricua. All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized use is a violation of
federal copyright laws.
National Spokesperson
Félix "Tito" Trinidad
Welterweight Champion of the
World
Honorees
Carlos M. Morales,
Esq.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Merrill Lynch &
Company
Angelo Figueroa
Editor-In-Chief
PEOPLE en
Español
Dr. Antonia C. Novello
Commissioner
NYS Department of
Health
The Young Lords
Party
The
Copacabana
Wednesday, November 17, 1999
617 West 57th Street,
New York City
between 11th and 12th Avenue)
New York City Wednesday, November 17, 1999
617 West 57th Street, New York
City
between 11th and 12th Avenue)
New York City
Entertainment
Tito Nieves & Orquesta
Cocktails at 6:30 PM; Dinner at 8 PM
Black
Tie
Tickets: $300 per person
Non-profit rate available at $
150, 501 C-3 letter required
For more information contact: Miranda Y Mas at
(2 12) 808-022 1
The proceeds of the gala go towards the Comité Noviembre
Scholarship Awards Program
COMITÉ NOVIEMBRE SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM
Since its inception, Comité Noviembre has
placed special focus on educational excellence as the key to the future of the
Puerto Rican community. To this end, at its first gala dinner in 1996, Comité
Noviembre announced that it would create a scholarship awards program in
celebration of its tenth anniversary. This year, the Comité Noviembre
scholarship program will award fifteen $1,000 scholarships to exceptional Puerto
Rican youth. The proceeds from the Comité Noviembre Annual Gala supports the
scholarship program.
The 1999 Comité Noviembre
Scholarship Recipients are:
Mila I. Bello, Cardinal
Spellman High School
Jason Cosine, Arts & Design High
School
Emma Jane Cruz, St. Joseph High School
Saul Cruz, Jr.,
Cardinal Hayes High School
Elisa Delvalle, St. Jean Baptiste High
School
Jennifer Fernández, Preston High School
Elena German, St.
Joseph High School
Gabriel González, Xaverian High School
Denise
Irizarry, Vanderbilt University
Melissa Ortiz, Utica College of Syracuse
University
Nataisha Pérez, University of New Haven
Gabrielle L.
Rivera, Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Denise Rodríguez, University of
Hartford
John Serrano, Hunter College
Mario Vargas, Grover Cleveland
High School
The 1998 Comité Noviembre Scholarship
Recipients were:
Karen Almodovar, College of Mt. St.
Vincent's in Riverdale, NY
Judy Calderon, Wagner College in Staten
Island, NY
Lollie Guadalupe, Middlebury College in Vermont
Dialma
Miranda, Boston University in Massachusetts
Rosyln Vallejo, Brandeis
University in Massachusetts
Joe Vázquez, Haverford College in
Pennsylvania
Leah Graniela, Wellesley College in Massachusetts
Osvaldo
Febo, College of New Rochelle
To be eligible for a Comité Noviembre
Scholarship, applicants must be of Puerto Rican descent; have community service
experience and extracurricular activity; be enrolled in an accredited college or
university by the fall of each year and have a B average or better. The
application process includes: an application form, a written essay, two letters
of recommendation, academic transcripts, a short biographical sketch and a
personal interview for finalists.
Comité Noviembre selected leaders from
various sectors in the community who have demonstrated genuine interest in the
educational excellence of our youth to serve on its selection committee. The
members are: Lourdes R. Torres, director of development, Eugenio María de Hostos
Community College; Lorraine Cortés Vázquez, president, Hispanic Federation of
New York City, Inc.; Debbie Medina, vice president and director of ethnic
publications and sales, New York Daily News; Edwin Lopez, Business
Representative, Local Union 3; Nereida Andino, deputy borough president of
Manhattan, Office of the Manhattan Borough President; Rafael Toro, director of
public relations, Goya Foods, Inc., and María Rodríguez, MSW,
educator.
To receive a copy of the Comité Noviembre Scholarship
application form and guidelines, please call Lourdes R. Torres, co-chair of the
Comité Noviembre Scholarship Award Selection Committee at Eugenio María de
Hostos Community College, (718) 518-4150.
Click Here for Comité Noviembre - 2000
