Archives - E-Newsletter

Summer 2007

                                          Briefing: August 2007
 
azteca dancer
The Arizona Latina/o Arts & Culture Network
"Together as servant-leaders our vision strengthens our Spirit & Builds our commitment to create a Latino Cultural Center and to establish a Legacy of Arts & Culture for the Community and for generations...to come."
   Quote: ErLinda Torres
 
Next Meeting: September 24, 2007-4:00-6:30 pm 
Host: 
Jose Cardenas, Lewis & Roca LLP
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

Arizona Latina(o) Arts & Culture Network Meeting

Minutes & Summary Report: (Draft until approved)
August 24, 2007-4:00-6:00 pm, lst Floor Assembly Rm. B
Phoenix City Hall-City of Phoenix
Host: Ruth Osuna, Deputy City Manager, City of Phoenix
 
 
Bienvenidos and Welcome extended to all!
Meeting was called to order by Carmen de Novais-Guerrero at 4:05 PM asking all to sign the check in list with name, organization, address, e-mail and phone no. 
 

Carmen acknowledged ErLinda Torres, Co-facilitator for the gathering. She

then thanked and introduced Ruth Osuna, Phoenix Deputy City Manager.  Ruth reinforced her commitment to the ongoing dialogue that was generated by the group from the first meeting at the Arizona Commission on the Arts office on June 29th.  Ruth also stated that Phil Jones, Director of the Office of Arts and Culture would be attending this meeting.

 

8.24MtgArtesCul
 
Identifying our Commonalities and our Core values. 
Comments by participants:

1.      Preserving our arts history - for future generations.

2.      How do we present our arts history to the greater public to offset the obvious negative political agendas?

3.      We need to work together as one unit even with our different artistic agendas.

4.      We need to give political and economic voice to our arts that communicate our values, ideas and beliefs.

5.      We need to create a United Front!  We are invisible!

6.      How do we come together as one with a stronger voice (with similar talking voices) and connect.

7.      We expect a strong advocacy voice for our priorities

8.      We need to establish a political goal and have a flag to waive as a goal for our community;

9.      We need to become visible with a political voice

10.   We already accomplished a few things.  The Phoenix Arts Museum opened their doors to the Immigrant Community last week.  Our goal is to promote Latino Arts and Culture through social justice

11.   We need to become an extended family and lend each other a hand

12.   We need to mobilize and form partnerships with other sectors of the community, i.e. English speakers and Spanish speakers.  We need to overcome the language gap.

13.   We should become a clearing house for information and connect gaps

14.   Our diversity is our strength and our challenge

15.   Arts is the universal tool, the common denominator

    16.  Just
coming together is part of the process like what we are doing tonight.
 photo8.24

Defining our expectations.

Comments by participants:
 
§   The main political goal is to have a cultural center, this is what we are all about!
§    Agree on one big event that goes out to the public.
§         First develop the political voice; step # 2 is the securing of a cultural space.
§         Advocating through the local media as a presence with the profile out front.
§         Present a forum for dialogue in the greater Phoenix area and representatives from these    The main political goal is to have a cultural center.  This is what we are all about!
§         Agree on one big event that goes out to the public.
§         First develop the political voice; step # 2 is the securing of a cultural space.
§         Advocating through the local media as a presence with the profile out front.
§         Present a forum for dialogue in the greater Phoenix area and representatives from these areas.
§         We need a physical space and technology - a web site is a must
§         All need to do a better job of interacting with one another.
§         We need to involve young people and have a physical meeting center
§         Artists represent the Souls of the people
§         As a producer I need bricks and mortar.
§         Further the cause by contributing to the diversity within the Latino community.
§         Create a web site with information that gets out to the community (develop our technology)
§         Physical space and define a united voice that reflects the differences
§          Define goals, work with youth, collaborate
        Research already available space and get city to redefine its purposefulness to the community.
§      There are spaces that don't meet the needs of our community, i.e. Museo Chicano.
§     Create a Clearing House of Information that mobilizes a political voice and establishes resources and collaborators.
 § Create art in the public that responds to community needs
 §   Design a cultural center that meets community needs
§         Present workshops and events that reflect and reinforce the Latino people and educate them about their own culture.
§         We need to endorse a vision, mission that encompasses everything said so far and a space that represent the undocumented workers as well.  We need an independent place open to our community
§         We want a positive force with a united front.  We need:  Leadership and Commitment, come ready to work, these are essential by all participating persons.  We need to promote ourselves.
§         We need to meet with legislators and governmental officials
§         We need to assess the community of artists' needs first.  Have a political and economic plan
§         Have a physical space for the persons of the West Valley so they do not forget their cultural legacy.  No one is currently helping to preserve the stories.  We need partners to assist us.  A space to help the artists come together and reinforce one another.  This is NOT to be a site of segregation!  This is to be space for true cultural respect.
§         Need to bridge that gap to connect all parts of Arizona.
§         Need to educate through the arts of the Latino artists.  Again present community workshops and recognize that as a coalition we have a stronger voice.
§         Everything that has been talked about so far fits into a Cultural Center.  That's what we need.
§         We are all starved for something to grow in our Arts Community
§         We need a place to teach music and dance to youngsters
§         Attend events of other artists including the gallery event September 15th   Martin Y. Moreno has opened a new gallery and we all need to be there:Cuervo Studio & Gallery  1505 E Thomas Rd.
§         We have an exceptional opportunity to go beyond with different components for our community.  We need a political voice with an educational plan.  We expect a lot!
§         It's been 30 years since some of us started a few organizations of our own; we are still doing the same thing today:  dreaming of a cultural center, pouring our energy into our dreams for our cultural legacy.
§     I believe, we need to rally around and focus our priority on a Cultural Center; it's time and we can build it together; we have the synergy and we can find the funding.

  

8.24MTG 
 
 
 
Discussion: A formal Name for our Group
A brainstorming session generated lots of ideas and proposed names for the group.  It was agreed that the facilitators would make a list of the proposed names and create an email survey to provide each attendee during the last two meetings to reply with their preferences and/or suggestions.  It was also acknowledged that the current name is a "working title."
The following is a short list to be considered & voted upon by submitting two names:
1st Choice & 2nd Choice

Arizona Latina/(o) Arts Network - ALAN

Alianza Latina de Arte y Cultura - ALAC

Cultural Advocacy for Latino Org - CALO

Nuestras Artes y Cultura = NAC

Supporting Arts and Building Organizations - SABOR

Fusion Hispano Americana - FHA

Hispanic American Fusion - HAF

Alianza Hispano Americana - AHA

American Latin Alliance - ALA

Coalition Hispano Americana - CHA

American Latin Coalition - ALC

Supporting Arts by Building Organization and Merging Interests - SABORAMI

Serving Arizona Leadership in Supporting the Arts - SALSA
Milagro  Movimiento Latina(o) Arts growing organizations
Artes de Nuestra Gente Latina en Legacy -Angeles
 
Committees & Volunteers: 
The following committees were identified and volunteers are listed below each catagory.   It was agreed that each committee preferably meet before the next meeting and that part of the agenda for the September 26, meeting would include specific time to have each committee convene briefly before reporting to the group. All Committees are open to all attendees.
 
Technology/website:  Yvonne Jimenez, Ruben Hernandez and Dan Cortez
Research & Development:   April Bojorquez, Donna Valdes and Jose Benavides
Political Action:   Jose Benavides, Ruben Hernandez, Ana Romero, Dan Cortez, Eva Ortiz, ErLinda Torres
Cultural Center:  Gerardo Bru, Marco Albarran, ErLinda Torres, Eva Ortiz, Maria Teresa Feliciano, Jim Covarrubias
 
 
 8.24photo
 
 
 
 
Mission statement:
It was acknowledged and voted upon that before committees can meet a Mission Statement needs to be defined and drafted.  All members who wish to to draft or contribute to the development of the Misson Statement were encouraged to do so.
 
The mission statement would be drafted within the context of the individual comments.  The draft  would be reviewed by participants via an email and voted upon at an upcoming meeting.
Upcoming Arts & Culture Network Meetings:
It was agreed that meetings would be held throughout the community to promote, educate and generate new partnerships.  
September 26, 2007
4:00-6:30 pm 
Lewis & Roca LLP
Lewis and Roca LLP
40 North Central Avenue
15th Floor
Phoenix, AZ  85004
Conference Room: 
Just off the elevators on the 15th floor. 
 Parking Garage: 
Below the building with the entrance off First Avenue just after the intersection of Adams Street and First Avenue.  Turn left into the parking garage.  Please bring parking ticket up for validation.

  October 24, 2007  

November 28, 2007
 
         LTorres8.24
 
 
 
(left) ErLinda Torres and Carmen de Novais-Guerrero, Volunteer Facilitators;
August 24, 2007 Meeting.
 
Please Contact us for details on  upcoming meetings:
 
 
Gracias!
Az. Latina(o) Arts & Culture Network Meeting: August 24, 2007
 
Host: 
Ruth Osuna, Deputy City Manager, City of Phoenix 

Volunteer Facilitators: Carmen de Novais & ErLinda Torres "Linda"

                                                    Minutes & Summary 
Judy Butzine
Contributors: Carmen de Novais & ErLinda Torres

 Photos Courtesy of:  Juan Olalde

Note Taker:  Chris Ibarra
 
E-Communiqué Design & Newsletter 
ErLinda Torres
 
Sponsored by:
City of Phoenix
Cultural Coalition, Inc. and Calaca Cultural Center
 
 
For more information, please contact us:   
                            Carmen de Novais:                  culturalcarmen@msn.com
                            ErLinda Torres "Linda"            LindaTorres7@aol.com  
                            Marco Albarran:                       marco.albarran@calaca.org
                            Ruben Hernandez:                   ruben.hernandez@calaca.org
                                                                 
 

August 24, 2007 Meeting: Attendees "artists, advocates, activists, actors, muralists, sculptors, musicians, composers, poets, writers, students and  organizations participated to continue our network, dialogue and promote the development of a Latina(o) Cultural Center and preserve "Artes & Culturas" in Arizona. List in  Alphabetical order by first name:

Ana Romero

Annie Lopez

April Borjoquez
Carmen de Novais-Guerrero
Chris Ibarra
Dan Cortez
Donna Valdez
Dorina Bustamante
Eva Olivas
ErLinda Torres "Linda"
Francisco Garcia
Gerardo Bru
Guillermo Saenz 
Jim Covarrubias
Jose Benavides
Jose Cardenas
Juan Olalde
Judy Butzine
Maria Teresa Feliciano 
Marco Albarran
Phil Jones
Roberto Reveles
Ruben Hernandez
Ruth Osuna
Terrance Bailey
Yvonne Jimenez
 

Briefing: July 29, 2007
A Historical Meeting
 
The Arizona Latina(o) Arts & Culture First Network Meeting. 
Art by Martin Moreno, Jim Covarrubias & Zarco Guerrero,
three of the artists that attended the first meeting.

                    Artes Y Culturas... 
                                 Passion, Soul & Spirit

 JCovarrIMage 
 
                                                                                                                        Frida Kahlo

KhaloJimCovarrubias.Artist

       by Jim Covarrubias                  azteca dancer

 

    

 

 

Robert Kennedy/Cesar Chavez

 

by Zarco Guerreroazteca dancer

Cesar Chavez/Sculpture

ZarcoImage Duality azteca dancer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
July 29, 2007
Arizona Latina(o) Arts & Culture Network
More photos of Meeting...

azteca dancer

 
 
 
 
From Left center: Ruben Hernandez & back fow: M.Moreno,
PDimas, JCovarrubias, 
SMoratto, FGutierrez

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CnovaisRichard
 

 
Carmen de Novais  & Richard Trujillo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
azteca dancer
                                                                                                             

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bob Booker, Ex. Director, Az.Commission on the Arts speaks
to group.