Posts Tagged ‘New York’

NPC: Tell us a little bit about your organization, R.Evolución Latina. Why was it started?

R.Evolución Latina: R.Evolución Latina is a collective of artists and activists committed to empowering the artistic community in order to inspire growth within the Latino Community through collaboration, productions, and educational support programs.

Our motto:  DARE TO GO BEYOND

R.Evolución Latina was created out of the need to let our Hispanic community know that Latinos can also be seen on a Broadway stage.  Founders Luis Salgado, Michael Balderrama and Gabriela Garcia are all Broadway dancers that felt the need to share their passion and accomplishments with the Latino community.  Being an example of how art can motivate you on a daily basis and how difficult it is to continue to grow as an artist both emotionally and financially, R.Evolución Latina  was created to help our aspiring Latino artists continue to grow by providing free workshops for them in various disciplines taught by some of the best teachers and performers in NYC.  Our children are our future and due to the lack of art programs in schools, R.Evolución Latina found itself being a vehicle to bring art to under served schools and communities with a high Latino population, to inspire their daily lives through art, daring it’s audience to “Go Beyond”, work hard to achieve their goals, collaborate and give back to their community.

NPC: Who does it serve?

R.Evolución Latina: We serve Latino and under-served communities throughout the 5 boroughs of New York as well as some areas of New Jersey.  Our reach also includes the New York artistic community and has recently expanded to include artists in Peru, Spain, and India. Our mission is carried by activists who reside throughout the United States and Puerto Rico as well as in countries such as Panama, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and Germany.

NPC: How long have you been in operation?

R.Evolución Latina: R.Evolución Latina was founded in 2007.  We are currently entering our 4th year in operation.

NPC: How many people did you serve your first year? And, this year?

R.Evolución Latina: Our founding team consisted of just 10 volunteers and has grown to include over 50 active members and over 100 volunteers today. We impact around 500-750 students per year and have a rotating team of teaching artists made up of 40 performers from the Broadway, Film, and Television industries.

NPC: What is your most difficult challenge as a nonprofit?

R.Evolución Latina: Our current challenge is keeping up with the continued growth and expansion of our organization. We are continually made aware of the growing needs of our community and our goal as an active organization is to keep up with and provide for these needs. We are proud of the reach that we have achieved thus far, but at times find it difficult to fulfill the multitude of requests that we get on a monthly basis from organizations, schools, artists, and communities seeking our guidance, involvement, and service.

NPC: What was your most difficult challenge starting out?

R.Evolución Latina: Our first challenge was getting our community to embrace our mission and our motto of daring to go beyond. R.Evolución Latina is about collaboration and taking action. In our early stages we found that other organizations were reluctant to jump on board with programs and events, but after proving that we are an ACTIVE organization, we now find ourselves fielding multiple requests from organizations throughout New York and and across the country.
NPC: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a nonprofit?

R.Evolución Latina: Know your mission and make sure this is the forefront for everything you do. The mission informs every decision, program, collaboration, event, and step that the organization takes.

It is a commitment no matter how small your nonprofit may be. It takes a lot of hard work but the reward is wonderful. Make sure you have a good support group to help you out, as well as advisers and people who can see you through the process.
NPC: How can people get involved?

R.Evolución Latina: First they can take a look at our website, www.revolucionlatina.org and familiarize themselves with who we are and what we do.  Those interested in getting involved can contact us at: info@revolucionlatina.org.

NPC: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

R.Evolución Latina: Dare to Go Beyond! Atrevéte a Más!

Collaborative interview with Gabriela Garcia, Co director; Alison Solomon and Denisse Ambert, Executive Management Team of R.Evolución Latina. For more information, please visit the website at www.revolucionlatina.org.

I lost my heart to Savannah! I can’t remember going anywhere and feeling more comfortable. I didn’t feel
like a stranger in Savannah, and yet it was my
very first time ever setting foot in Georgia. One
thing I learned about me, while I’m from the District of Columbia, I’m
definitely not a southern girl; I’m city through and through.

Savannah
is a quaint place full of ghosts.
Every house tells a tale of a haunting, or the prevention of such a thing.
There’s one house that is said to have been mailed ordered, and was assembled
with every single window installed upside down (see picture). This was done to ward off evil
spirits.

I took the trolley tour
around town several times, and spent hours hearing different renditions regarding
the same historical sites. Each trolley driver had their own unique way of
telling a story. The St. Patrick’s Day
was my favorite. One driver said, “The St. Patrick’s Day parade is the
second in the country to New York.
Everything in Savannah
turns green: the river, the water fountains, the beer, and the next day the faces
of the people turn green.”

The food in Savannah
was by far the best I ever had! I ate at the Olde Pink House,
Lady and Sons, and I
cooked my favorite meal at the 700 Kitchen Cooking School.
We made Low Country cuisine, and it was further proof that I’m not a southern girl. Every other dish started with
biscuits and grits both yuck in my personal opinion. Yet, when in the South one
must try it out. So, I ate enough (a very little) to at least be able to say
that I tried them. I know my former mean coach would’ve
been proud of me!

However, I do love fried green "tamadas"!