“Puerto Rico’s National treasure Punta Ventana destroyed by 6.4 magnitude earthquake. People sleeping on the streets afraid of their homes falling on them. Two thirds of Puerto Rico without power.”
These headlines blaze the internet and I feel powerless. Powerless over Mother Nature, powerless over the human condition, powerless over helping “la Isla del encanto.” Three years after the rains, wind, and ocean devastated the island, Mother Nature wasn’t done with Puerto Rico. 2020 came in with a literal bang and sitting in Southern California, hearing and seeing the turmoil of my ancestral home in Puerto Rico, is heart breaking.
What's even more heartbreaking is the fact that the U.S. government is sitting on aide meant for Puerto Rico, but not sending it when the island is in its most dire need. So, what do we do? Share the message. Give a voice to those who can’t. One person matters. You caring, making a donation, sharing a blog, even sending out a prayer or positive energy, matters. Do it today. Now is the time to help this beautiful island that has given so much to the world. Here’s a short list of what Puerto Rico has done for the world: - Puerto Rican’s have supported the United States and fought in every conflict since World War 1.
- Puerto Rico has paid taxes to the federal government.
- Puerto Rico’s natural resources have been used by the United States for over a century.
- Individual Puerto Rican’s who have made a difference like:
1. Marc Anthony is an actor and singer, a television producer, and currently the top-selling tropical salsa artist of all time.
2. Olga Albizu was an abstract expressionist painter and a leading figure in the New York arts scene.
3. Roberto Clemente was a Hall of Fame baseball star and a humanitarian.
4. Lin Manuel Miranda, writer and award winner for the musical, "Hamilton" and other various musical endeavors.
5. Jennifer Lopez is a star as a dancer, singer, and actress.
6. Ricky Martin is a singer, actor, and author known for bringing salsa music into the U.S. mainstream.
7. Rita Moreno is one of few performers to have won all four of the major entertainment awards: the Oscar, the Tony, the the Emmy, and the Grammy.
8. Antonia Novello served as Surgeon General of the United States, the first Hispanic woman to do so.
9. José Enrique Serrano is a U.S. Congressman representing the South Bronx.
10. Sonia Sotomayor is a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Puerto Rico has given so much to us, let us give back to them and send relief to "la isla del encanto."
How can I help?
Contact Your Representative (https://www.house.gov/)
Hispanic Federation ( https://hispanicfederation.org/)
American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/)
Together we are stronger and it is in times of struggle and heart break that we create a community to help each other.