HERE TO EXPLAIN THE VITAL ROLE OF MILITARY POLICE, IS SERGEANT FIRST CLASS RAUL LOPEZ, A U-S ARMY RESERVE MILITARY POLICE INSTRUCTOR.

GUEST BIO:

SFC Lopez is originally from Naranjito, PR. and enlisted in the United States Army on 17 November 2009. He completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, SC in April 2010 and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO in July 2010 which included Heavy Equipment Construction Repairer training. SFC Lopez’s’ assignments include: 448th FSC Co, Ft. Buchanan, PR; 301st MP Co, Ft. Buchanan, 215th MP Det, Ft Buchanan, PR, 166th RSG, Ft. Buchanan, PR, 368th MP Co, Guam. He is currently assigned to The Army School System as a ALC Instructor, Jolon, CA. SFC Lopez assignments include, Gunner, Driver, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Section Leader, Operations Sergeant, Protective Services Agent and currently ALC Instructor.

SFC Lopez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ. SFC Lopez military education includes: Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Senior Leader Course, Heavy Equipment Construction Repairer Course, Basic Military Police Course, Interment Resettlement Course, Protective Services Training Course, Basic Anti-Terrorism Officer Course, Conventional Physical Security Course, Unit Movement Officer Course, Combatives Level 1, Common Faculty Development Program Instructor Course, Master Fitness Trainer, Company Leaders Course, Battle Staff NCO Course, Unit Training Plan Course, Master Resilience Trainer.

SFC Lopez’s awards and decorations includes, ARCOM (4OLC), AAM (1SLC, 1OLC), MUC, AGCM, ARCAM (2OLC), NDSM, AFSM, HSM, MOVSM, GWOTSM, GWOTEM,

NOPDR (Numerical “3”), ASR, OSR (Numerical “2”), AFRMM ((Numerical “2”), NATOMDL, ASUA, ACM-CS, Drivers Wheeled Mechanic’s Badge, Army Basic Instructor Badge.

SFC Lopez is working towards getting the Army Senior Instructor Badge as well as completing his master’s degree within the next 24 months.

#military #army #protectnserve #soldier #police #armyreserve #naranjito #pr #puertorico #unitedstates #fortjackson #lopez #sfc

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The Army Reserve story cannot be told without reflecting on the remarkable impact made by Hispanic Soldiers. Hispanic Americans have a proud legacy of military service dating back to the Civil War. Whether their heritage can be traced to Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, or one of dozens of other Spanish-speaking countries or cultures, they’ve answered the “call to duty,” defending America with unwavering valor and honor. The theme for the 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month, “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation” underscores the Army’s celebration of diversity and commitment to building high performing and cohesive teams.

Today, more than 17% of America’s Soldiers are of Hispanic or Latino descent, making this the fastest growing segment of the Army. Thousands of Hispanic American Soldiers fulfill vital roles supporting Army Reserve operations around the world, continuing a legacy of professionalism, selfless service and courage that will inspire generations to come.

Battalion Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Anthony Taylor as he discusses notable achievements of Hispanic Americans in the Army Reserve. He will also talk about his Peruvian heritage, his family’s proud history of service and his dedication to helping Soldiers reach their potential.

Interview courtesy: U.S. Army Reserve

#battalioncommandsergeantmajor #anthonytaylor #hispanicheritage #usarmyreserve #strongernation #americans #society #culture #soldiers #achievements #embodiment #values #military #spain #cuba #puertorico #mexico

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#bekah #singer #songwriter #new #york #city #puerto #rican #rico #hawaiian #hawaii #indian #india #music #producer #andrew #lane #light #me #up

https://youtu.be/54RbKWZCQ4E

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4eXu66vfppcjRHnsFqqYtu?si=g-MN9ilgQq2VFGuchuNzJg

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Thursday, February 20th at 6:00 p.m.

Harlem, N.Y., January 30, 2020 — Today the Apollo Theater announced it will screen the award-winning documentary Bakosó: Afrobeats of Cuba on Thursday, February 20th at 6:30 p.m., as part of ImageNation’s Cocktails & Cinema series. This screening marks the second installment in the Theater’s partnership with Harlem-based non-profit and will continue to be an ongoing quarterly event, which will highlight films that showcase the global Black experience. Bakosó: Afrobeats of Cuba, winner of the Best Feature Documentary at Belize International Film Festival, was directed by Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi, curator of the Annual Fist Up Film Festival and co-founder of Defend Puerto Rico. The screening will be preceded by a reception and live DJ set by Bembona beginning at 6:00 p.m., followed by a post-film Q&A with director Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi; producer Khalil Jacobs-Fantauzzi; and Mai-Elka Prado Gil, founder of the Afro-Latino Festival of New York.

Bakosó: Afrobeats of Cuba follows DJ Jigüe to his hometown of Santiago de Cuba as he searches for new inspiration in the form of sound. Through his discovery of Afrobeats, DJ Jigüe ushers in an original sound creating a new genre called Bakosó, celebrating the connection between Africa and Cuba. The film’s score, created by the founders of the genre, and stunning visuals highlight the technology, culture, and landscape that shape this Afro-Caribbean fusion.

For more information, or to view the trailer for Bakosó: Afrobeats of Cuba, please visit: https://www.apollotheater.org/event/imagenations-cocktails-cinema-bakoso-afrobeats-of-cuba/

Ticket Info.
Tickets begin at $25 and includes appetizers and one beverage (wine or beer). A cash bar will be available. Tickets are available at the Apollo Theater Box Office: (212) 531-5305, 253 West 125th Street, and Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

About ImageNation
ImageNation Cinema Foundation is an innovative Harlem-based non-profit created to develop cinemas and audiences for independent films and music, that depict the global Black experience. ImageNation’s goal is to empower Black communities by presenting a variety of public programs that foster media equity, media literacy, solidarity, cross-cultural exchange and highlight the humanity of Pan-African people worldwide.

Led by Moikgantsi Kgama (Founder & Executive Director) and her husband Gregory Gates (Executive Producer), ImageNation has hosted film screenings, live music performances and other cultural events for more than 200,000 people worldwide since its inception. ImageNation is a founding partner in AFFRM, a national film distribution collective, founded by Ava DuVernay. ImageNation has presented internationally in South Africa, Scotland and Canada and domestically at Harvard University, MASS MOCA, Lincoln Center and in Dallas, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Baltimore, MD, Chicago, Ill, Indianapolis, IN, and Washington DC. Programs have featured appearances by luminaries such as Spike Lee, Lee Daniels, Ava DuVernay, Stanley Nelson, Ruby Dee, Erykah Badu, Chuck D, Raoul Peck, India. Arie and many others. In line with its commitment to Black cinema, ImageNation’s RAW SPACE, will be developed into the Sōl Cinema Cafe, a boutique cinema highlighting global Black film and culture.

About the Apollo Theater
The legendary Apollo Theater—the soul of American culture—plays a vital role in cultivating emerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding, the Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world.

With music at its core, the Apollo’s programming extends to dance, theater, spoken word, and more. This includes the world premiere of the theatrical adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me and the New York premiere of the opera We Shall Not Be Moved; special programs such as the blockbuster concert Bruno Mars Live at the Apollo; 100: The Apollo Celebrates Ella; and the annual Africa Now! Festival. The non-profit Apollo Theater is a performing arts presenter, commissioner, and collaborator that also produces festivals, large-scale dance and musical works organized around a set of core initiatives that celebrate and extend the Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens, including the Women of the World (WOW) Festival as well as other multidisciplinary collaborations with partner organizations.

Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at the Apollo are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, H.E.R., D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly and Miri Ben Ari; and the Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy.

In fall 2020, the Apollo Theater will mark its first ever physical expansion with the theaters at the Victoria, part of the vision for a future Apollo Performing Arts Center. The theaters at the Victoria will support the growth of the Apollo’s artistic programming as it continues to provide a home to artists of color, create an expanded 21st century American performing arts canon, and provide additional educational and community programming in Harlem and beyond. For more information about the Apollo, visit www.ApolloTheater.org.

Support
The Apollo’s 2019-2020 season is made possible by leadership support from Coca-Cola, Citi, Ford Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, Jerome L. Greene Arts Access Fund in the New York Community Trust, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Public support for the Apollo Theater is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

# # #

For more information, please contact:
press@apollotheater.org

#apollo #bakosó #afrobeats #cuba #cinema #bakoso #belize #international #film #festival #eli #jacobs #fantauzzi #jacobs-fantauzzi #defend #puerto #rico #producer #khalil #afro #latino #founders #visuals #technology #culture #caribbean #fusion #theater #apollotheater #pan-african #pan #african

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Hurricanes can be extremely unpredictable, as can be the recovery from the storms. Months have passed since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, and nearly 200,000 families and businesses — 16% of the island — remain without power.

It is incumbent upon those living in areas at highest risk of being impacted by hurricanes to take storm preparations into their own hands. Taking small steps before the storm hits and knocks out your power can save a lot of headaches and heartache when it’s too late. Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters.

Some important tips include stockpiling enough emergency supplies to last you, your loved ones and your pets for at least three days. The emergency kits should include bottled water, non-perishable food, prescription drugs you are taking, emergency radio and a DIY phone charger.

Experts also advice to keep handy changes of underwear, comfortable shoes and clean wool socks.

Our guest who will be available to discuss emergency planning methods will be Mark McGinnis, an authority in forensic meteorology and an expert in weather hazard planning and weather analysis. His depth of experience in weather preparedness as it relates to increasing safety and reducing associated losses is highly relevant to both home owners as well as local businesses.

Mark will provide tips on how to best prepare yourself for the coming hurricane season and avoid the troubles that can accompany these storms.

The post Video & Podcast – DON’T LEAVE HURRICANE PREP, appeared first on Good News!.

The governor has warned that this is “the worst hurricane in a century,” and that rebuilding will be a tremendously difficult undertaking.

UNICEF USA is mobilizing to get immediate, critical support — Emergency Relief Kits — to the children of Puerto Rico.

A donation of just $28 will provide a kit containing basic, essential supplies such as water purification tablets, a water bucket with lid, water containers, soap, toothpaste, detergent and sanitary pads. The supplies will help children and their families keep clean and healthy, protecting them from diseases that can occur after the loss of equipment and infrastructure and the disruption of a safe water supply.

UNICEF is a global leader in emergency response, last year reaching children in 344 humanitarian emergencies across 108 countries. We stand ready to provide aid before, during and after a crisis.

90% of every dollar spent goes directly to helping children.

www.unicefusa.org/Hurricane/Donations

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This must-see musical “Temple of the Souls” is set at the time when the Spanish conquered the native Taínos of Puerto Rico in the 1500s, as the backdrop of a star-crossed love story reminiscent of “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story.” The play will move you to your soul! Limited performances are in the New York Musical Festival, July 19-23. See: www.nymf.org/festival/2017-events/temple-souls/ or call (212) 352-3101.

In the play, the lovers, Guario, a young Taíno runaway, and Amada, the daughter of a Spanish Conquistador, meet by chance during a raucous Fiesta, but their union is thwarted by the intolerant world around them. The star-crossed lovers escape to the Temple of the Souls, to blend their two worlds with their forbidden love stronger than death.

The play is timely, given the present administration’s stance on immigration, and cultural clashes leading to tragedy that have repeated in history, whether it is the siege of Masada, the Holocaust, the Puerto Rican Taínos, or today’s crisis in Syria and the Middle East. “Temple of the Souls” highlights the urgency to decrease prejudice and increase acceptance for peace.

Interestingly, the “Temple of the Souls” production is a “family and friends affair,” as it was originally written by noted Puerto Rico poet, actress and performer Anita Velez-Mitchell (who recently died at 99 years of age), and developed to its present-day form by her granddaughter, Lorca Peress, noted Director and founder of Multistages, with her other granddaughter, Anika Paris, a noted composer with many Hollywood credits. Further, the play is produced by Anita’s daughter, famous television investigative reporter Jane Velez-Mitchell, and Executive Produced by family friend and Jane’s BFF from their days starting in the 1980s as reporters together at WCBS-TV News, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, who is a well-known clinical psychologist who knows about the love theme in the play from being the “love expert” hosting radio advice shows for years, and who knows about the culture issues in the play from producing many events at the United Nations including “World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development” and books she;s authored including “Beyond Bullets and Bombs: Grassroots Peacebuilding between Palestinians and Israelis.”

TIMES: Performances are July 19-23.
· Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at 8:00 pm
· Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 5:00 pm
· Friday, July 21, 2017 at 1:00 pm
· Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 9:00 pm
· Sunday, July 23, 2017 at 5:00 pm
PLACE: the Acorn Theatre at theatre row, 10 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

See: www.nymf.org/festival/2017-events/temple-souls/ or call 212-352-3101. Press contact: Katie Rosin Katie@Kampfirefilmspr.com, or 917-562-5670

Dr. Judy helps Puerto Rican Taínos Take Center Stage In New Musical
Popular Sex Therapist and UN Advisor, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, is the Executive Producer of the upcoming world premiere musical Temple of the Souls at the New York Musical Festival (NYMF).

“The virtual extinction of the native Taíno people by Spanish colonizers in 16th-century Puerto Rico serves as the background for the new musical, Temple of the Souls… Using a “Romeo and Juliet” love affair between a Taíno man and the daughter of a conquistador to depict the tragic consequences of that cultural collision.” (Backstage)

The theme of cultural-divide in Temple of the Souls – with the Taíno natives persecuted by the conquering Spaniards — is a passion of Dr. Judy’s as she has produced multiple events at the UN, such as the “World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development” and “Interfaith Harmony Week,” as well as her books on the Middle East crisis, including “Terror in the Holy Land” and “Beyond Bullets and Bombs,” and her work for peace, in her “Stand Up for Peace Project” and “Global Kids Connect Project.”

In the play, set in the 16th Century Puerto Rico, the lovers, Guario, a young Taíno runaway, and Amada, the daughter of a Spanish Conquistador, meet by chance during a raucous Fiesta, but their union is thwarted by the intolerant world around them. The star-crossed lovers escape to the Temple of the Souls, to blend their two worlds with their forbidden love stronger than death.

The theme of cultural divide is exceptionally relevant in today’s world. Says, psychologist Kuriansky, a professor at Columbia University Teachers College, who is popularly known as “Dr. Judy” from her years giving top-rated call-in advice on the radio, “The success of this romance is imperative to show the world today about the power of blending culture and race, and in turn, to decrease hatred and increase social tolerance and peace. This is the hope for our present and future.”

Dr. Judy is available to talk about her involvement in the play and her expertise on the subject of cultural differences, both internationally and in interpersonal relationships, evident in her book, “The Complete Idiots Guide to A Healthy Relationship.”

I’ve enclosed the press release for your perusal, and look forward to speaking to you about this idea and can be reached at this email and 917-562-5670. Please let me know if there is a performance that you can attend, and I will happily reserve you a ticket.

MULTISTAGES, in association with Dr. Judy Kuriansky and Jane Velez-Mitchell, is pleased to announce the award-winning musical, TEMPLE OF THE SOULS, co-written by poet Anita Velez-Mitchell, platinum-winning composers Dean Landon and Anika Paris, and MultiStages Artistic Director Lorca Peress. Peress will also direct, with musical direction by Bruce Baumer, choreography by Enrique Brown, and visual design by Obie-winner Jan Hartley. TEMPLE OF THE SOULS will play a limited engagement as part of the New York Musical Festival at Off-Broadway’s The Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd St., NY, NY 10036). Performances begin Wednesday, July 19 and continue until Sunday, July 23. Press are invited to all performances.

TEMPLE OF THE SOULS is a time-traveling love story set in the mystical El Yunque rain forest, caves, and valleys of Puerto Rico. We open on a present-day tour through an ancient cave known to be inhabited by Taíno Souls, the indigenous people who once ruled the island. Two tourists become entranced by a Taíno cave drawing of legendary lovers, and are magically transported back in time to the 16th Century as the lovers, Guario, a young Taíno runaway, and Amada, the daughter of a Conquistador. They meet by chance during the raucous San Juan Bautista Fiesta, but their union is thwarted by the intolerant world around them. To escape, they run to the Temple of the Souls where nightmares and dreams come true. With a forbidden love that is stronger than death and the blending of two worlds, they change the face of Puerto Rico forever.

The production features Noellia Hernandez* and Andres Quintero* as Amada and Guario; Danny Bolero* (Broadway In The Heights) as Conquistador Don Severo, Lorraine Velez*

#dr #judy #kuriansky #anika #paris #puerto #rico #taino #natives #musical #play

The post Do you want peace between all peoples? Do you believe that “love conquers all”? Then you must see an amazing new play with selected performances off-Broadway in New York City . July 19-23, Video and Podcast are Here… appeared first on Good News!.

TALENT: Jourdan Urbach – 2010 Huggable Hero & Jefferson Awards National Director

ORIGINATION: New York City

Jourdan Urbach
2010 Huggable Hero & Jefferson Awards National Director

For additional information and Huggable Heroes nomination forms listeners can log onto www.buildabear.com/huggableheroes

Note:
Nominations will be accepted through the website, www.buildabear.com/huggableheroes or by mail until February 28, 2013. Nomination forms are also available at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

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