37th ANNUAL THREE KINGS DAY HONOREES KING EMERITUS Jesús “Papoleto” Meléndez: Poet, Playwright, Performance Artist and long-time El Barrio resident Long considered one of the original founders of the Nuyorican Movement, Meléndez addresses political, intellectual and linguistic topics in his work that remain relevant today. A New York-born Puerto Rican award-winning poet, playwright, teacher and activist, he began his career nearly 40 years ago as a poet-facilitator in public schools, working at workshop programs in California and New York. In 1974, Meléndez’s play, “The Junkies Stole The Clock,” was the first Latino play produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival, The Public Theatre’s Nuyorican Playwright’s Unit. Over the years, Meléndez has performed his poetry with his musical group “Exiled Genius,” with Eugene Mingus on piano, and M’Chaka Uba on bass, a trio that combined the tradition of jazz spontaneity and precision with the natural melody of the poetic voice in poetry/jazz collaboration. Poem: Healthy, Be by Jesus Papoleto Melendez Love Be the healer of the pain that be; Health Be the wealth of the Soul on Earth as he That keeps the Fruit of Life alive bright, wholesome, as a child’s wide open eyes, And finds the Will within the Bein to fight the good fight against dis-ease Allows for kisses, and the hugs of Lov That's what good health does. 1230 Fifth Avenue 212.831.7272 New York, NY 10029 www.elmuseo.org KINGS Dr. Harold Fernandez, Professor of Surgery, Co-Director of the Stony Brook University Heart Institute, and Deputy-Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Notable medical professional, Fernandez received national publicity for his story as an undocumented immigrant who has made his childhood dream of helping others a reality. As a teen, he arrived in the United States from Medellin, Colombia in an epic journey to reach the coast of Miami, and later travel to New York to meet his parents. As an undocumented immigrant, he received a degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton University, where he was also awarded the Moses Taylor Pyne Honor Prize (the highest general distinction at Princeton), Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude. Following his Princeton years, he was accepted into the highly selective Harvard Medical School—MIT program in health sciences and technology. After graduation from Harvard, he underwent training in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at the New York University (NYU) Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital. Most recently, Fernandez published a memoir entitled “Undocumented: My Journey to Princeton and Harvard and Life as a Heart Surgeon,” and has been featured in national media stories, including the New York Times, and the Daily News. He also developed a web-based program, "Show del Doctor Fernandez: Su Salud en Espanol", to inform the Hispanic community about a wide variety of health-related topics. In addition, for the last several years, Fernandez has been selected by Castle-Connolly as one of the top thoracic surgeons in New York. Bobby Sanabria, Multi-Grammy-nominated Percussionist, Producer, and Educator A seven-time Grammy-nominated drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, and bandleader, Sanabria has 1230 Fifth Avenue 212.831.7272 New York, NY 10029 www.elmuseo.org performed and recorded with legends such as Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaría, Ray Barretto, Cándido, Henry Threadgill, Larry Harlow, and the Godfather of Afro-Cuban jazz, Mario Bauzá. Among his many recordings, his 2008 Grammy nominated, Big Band Urban Folktales was the first Latin jazz recording to ever reach #1 in the national Jazz Week charts. He is an associate producer of documentaries, The Palladium: Where Mambo Was King, winner of the IMAGINE award for Best TV documentary of 2003, and PBS’ From Mambo to Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale. Most recently, Sanabria was recognized as Percussionist of the Year (2013) by the prestigious Jazz Journalists Association. Carmen Vasquez, Housing, Health, Education and Environmental Advocate El Barrio native, Vasquez is an active member of the community and an active contributor to organizations that address issues dealing with quality of life, health, education, and self-empowerment. Beginning her career as a successful Textile Industry Executive, she went on to do volunteer work at Metropolitan Hospital with the ‘border babies,’ which eventually inspired her to work with Hope Community Inc., a not for profit Developer and Property Management organization of affordable housing. She entered as Community Relations Manager, and soon became Deputy Executive Director and Director of Community Affairs, a position she held until her recent retirement. Vasquez now serves on the board of the Violence Intervention Program, Co-Chair of the East Harlem Diabetes Prevention Task Force, the East Harlem Holiday Tree committee, and others. MADRINAS Aurora Anaya-Cerda, Owner of La Casa Azul Bookstore A dynamic and passionate supporter of literacy, Anaya-Cerda is the founder of one of El Barrio’s most popular bookstores, La Casa Azul Bookstore, East 1230 Fifth Avenue 212.831.7272 New York, NY 10029 www.elmuseo.org Harlem's only independent bookstore, and the only bookstore in NYC that specializes in books and art by Latino artists and promotes children’s literature, educational programing and literature by Latino writers. Following a successful and noteworthy crowd-funding campaign, the bookstore opened its doors on June 1, 2012 in El Barrio. Formerly Family Programs and Cultural Celebrations Manager at El Museo del Barrio, Anaya-Cerda, organized major cultural events in East Harlem, including the annual Three Kings Day Parade and the Dia de los Muertos celebration. In addition, she is the founder of the East Harlem Children’s Book Festival, a one-day family event that features authors, storytellers and music for young children and their families. Most recently, The White House recognized Anaya-Cerda as a Champion of Change based on her experience as an entrepreneur who is pioneering the use of crowd-funding, and has been awarded the Juanita Centeno Leadership Award, the UCLA Women for Change Leadership Award, and the Casa Atabex Ache Women Warrior Award for outstanding dedication and service to her community. Sonia Guinansaca, Poet and Activist Born in Ecuador and raised in Harlem, Guinansaca has been involved in the immigrant rights movement through direct actions, civil disobedience, campaigns to end deportations of undocumented people, culture organizing, and organizing undocumented youth in New York. As a very public undocumented immigrant since 2007, she joined the New York State Youth Leadership Council (NYSYLC), the first undocumented youth led and membership led organization that empowers immigrant youth to drop the fear and challenge the broken immigration system in 2008, where she currently serves as a Board member. In 2011, Guinansaca launched the Dreaming In Ink creative writing workshop for undocumented youth and performance spaces known as UndocuMic’s. Most recently, she joined CultureStrike as coordinator of the UndocuWriting Project. 1230 Fifth Avenue 212.831.7272 New York, NY 10029 www.elmuseo.org Yasmin Hernandez, Artist Born and raised in Brooklyn, Puerto Rican artist Hernandez’ work is rooted in struggles for personal, political and spiritual liberation. Basing much of her work in East and West Harlem, she drew inspiration for her art, sharpened her activism and served as an artist educator with both El Museo del Barrio and the Studio Museum in Harlem. Her mural Soldaderas (2011), in the Modesto Flores Community Garden, honors painter Frida Kahlo and poet Julia de Burgos, and celebrates solidarity and the common histories of the Mexican and Puerto Rican communities in East Harlem and beyond. Most recently, Hernandez was invited to participate in another East Harlem-based project, organized by the Caribbean Cultural Center—Mi Querido Barrio, which utilizes augmented reality technologies to re-envision the historic and cultural significance of East Harlem. She also has several on-going projects currently underway, including Bieké: Tierra de valientes combining oral histories, painting and video to explore the struggle for peace and justice in Vieques; Linea Negra, inspired by the midwife-assisted homebirths of her two sons, reclaims birthing as natural, sacred and women-centered; and Fluido, inspired by the tradition of espiritismo, she was raised in. For more information visit www.yasminhernandez.com. Josephine Mangual, Educator Born and raised in NYC, Mangual was taught early on by her mother the importance of education. Recently retired, she has both taught and learned in the New York City Public School system for more than 25 years, where her classroom was a place where students learned two languages - Spanish and English and where they shared rich experiences that transcended cultural differences. Ii is Mangual's belief that being a teacher was to create 1230 Fifth Avenue 212.831.7272 New York, NY 10029 www.elmuseo.org community. She has facilitated shared classroom experiences that incorporated and unified the diverse backgrounds of students. In this way children find their voice and realize that it is valuable. She engaged young students in common experiences that celebrate diversity. She used her role as a teacher to explore social issues relevant to language, race and culture. The key, or "la clave" to social justice teaching is how to promote conversation in the questions you ask. Norma Ojeda, Community Activist Born in Puerto Rico and raised in El Barrio, Norma Ojeda worked for nearly 30 years with New York Life Insurance. Since 1997, she has worked as a community associate for Manhattan Community Board 11, where she serves the community of E Barrio as a public servant, assisting people with their housing needs, social services and improving their quality of life. She has maintained her roots and affection for the local community, which has been her home for over 50 years, and remains dedicated to assisting those who need it the most.