Que Viva Puerto Rico Libre! with Giovani Roberto, is a Puerto Rican social justice activist and organizer for the Center for Political, Educational and Cultural Development (CDPEC) based in Caguas, Puerto Rico. Roberto is a former student leader of the militant 2010-2011 mobilizations and strikes at the University of Puerto Rico and is an organizer with Centro de Apoyo Mutuo - CAM (Center of Mutual Support), Caguas, who will be discussing how its projects and others, are creating alternative solutions to meet the basic sustenance needs of the Puerto Rican people after Hurricane Maria. and David Galarza, is a Puerto Rican labor and community activist who has worked with many of the frontline organizations in Puerto Rico including Comedores Sociales and Casa Pueblo de Adjuntas.
Giovani Roberto explains how implementing Centro de Apoyo Mutuo ~ Caguas (CAM) principles of "ayuda mutua y esfuerzo propio" (mutual help and self-effort) is a way of creating a new, regenerative Puerto Rico. CAM principles contrast to the neoliberal, colonial policies in Puerto Rico which seek to eliminate public services and infrastructure, and compromise natural resources for the benefit of private corporate interests. Roberto believes that the ethic of 'mutual help and self-effort' has already proven effective in creating a viable, alternative solution for the people of Puerto Rico to rejuvenate the Island.
CAM appeared 8 days after Hurricane Maria, occupying abandoned space, and began providing services such as meals, material resources, acupuncture and alternative therapies, and workshops to the public while receiving support from local community volunteers, and later from supporters outside the Island. Soon, CAMS were being organized across the Island. Currently there are 8 CAMs, some with a peoples kitchen, some with agro-ecological projects, workshops, alternative community educational projects, and acupuncture and therapeutic spaces.
Giovanni Roberto is calling upon us to offer support to the grassroots community organizing to rebuild a self-reliant Puerto Rico!
produced by Mimi Rosenberg and Ken Nash
please notify us if you plan to broadcast this program - knash@igc.org
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