ProsArts Celebrates More than 30 years in Pilsen
Jaime Guzman
Published: November 18, 2009
ProsArts Studio held their Annual Benefit this past Saturday at the National Museum of Mexican Fine Art. It is the third of its kind, but similar events have been held since ProsArts' inception in 1978. More than 100 attendees enjoyed live music and dance performances by AfriCaribe, which is a mix of Caribbean and African music, and Tarima Son, a mix of Southern Mexican and African music. Both were fitting of one of the event’s themes: “Part of the focus was to raise the awareness of the African presence in the Latino community,” said Elvia Rodriguez, director of community programs at ProsArts Studio.
Awards for New Technology
Two community partners/organizations were honored at the event, “for their support of the work, really a reflection of collaboration,” according to Rodriguez. Maria Codina, director at the Arturo Velasquez West Side Tech. Institute, and Alvaro Obregon, director of the New Communities Program at The Resurrection Project, accepted the awards.
With support from The Resurrection Project and the Arturo Velasquez West Side Tech. Inst., ProsArts recently received a digital divide grant from the State of Illinois and has purchased nine new laptops and wireless hubs to set up a wifi network at Dvorak Park (ProsArts’ current residence), and are looking forward to providing senior citizen classes with new equipment. A lab monitor was also purchased that will support media kids classes and a teen digital media studio on Thursdays.
Silent Auction
The event also included a silent auction of items including original artwork from artists associated with ProsArts, gift certificates for local restaurants, Graceland cemetery tour tickets, vases, perfumes, training and organizational certificates, i.e., people that have offered to give their time for Microsoft trainings, organizing winner’s home or office.
Giselle Mercier, executive director at ProsArts, thanked both award recipients and emphasized the importance of collaboration. Giselle is of Panamanian decent, and the food she ordered for the event reflected her heritage. Platanos en tentacion or temptation bananas were one of the highlighted desserts – bananas and a brown sugar-based glaze. Also, there was ciril – flower based sweetened drink, Panamanian tamales, which are softer and flatter than Mexican tamales, and have the fillings mixed in to the dough rather than used as a filling.
“It was a lot fun being there, we appreciated the keynote speaker, Abel Ochoa, alumnus, participant and intern during high school and college,” added Rodriguez. Now an assistant director of admissions at Northwestern University, Ochoa said that “ProsArts helped me stay out of trouble and stay focused.“
Rodriguez said that they appreciate all of the support from friends and allies, and look forward to the coming years, “thank you all that came out especially considering the economic climate, we look forward to continuing our work together.”
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