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| Brian Flint - Art Work |
BOSTON LATINO HERITAGE PROJECT
DVD Release Announcement
BOSTON, MA – Executive Producers, Eva and Digna Gerena Rivera are set to unveil the Boston Latino Heritage Project in a private reception hosted in collaboration with Verizon and the Verizon Hispanic Support Organization to honor participants and backers who made this production possible.
Early this summer, Eva Gerena, an ESL elementary school teacher in the Boston Public Schools, sought out to create an adequate tool to help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month for her elementary social studies class. The idea expanded to a 30-minute documentary that will be also available to schools in the BPS system. She enlisted the help of community leaders, public officials and friends to produce the film. Completion of the project was possible with donations received though Kickstarter. In just thirty days, Individuals and corporate bakers: State Street’s LAPG, Boston Scientific and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, as well as supporters such as Vanessa Calderon-Rosado and Dr. Gonzalez on behalf of the Latino Initiative Committee at MGH came forward to fund this initiative.
Currently, 40% of the Boston Public School System’s student population is Hispanic. This video will reach an audience that will benefit from learning that others with similar backgrounds have positively impacted the Boston community. Furthermore, it will serve as an important resource to assist administrators in leading the conversation about diversity in the city. Highlighting fifteen Latinos from diverse backgrounds and occupations, as well as, seven landmarks; this video aims to inspire future generations to view their own possibilities for leadership as limitless.
ABOUT THE PRODUCERS:
Eva Gerena, ESL teacher at the Boston Public Schools with ten years’ experience in education and earned a M.Ed from Cambridge College and B.A. in Political Science from UMass Boston.
Digna Gerena, Public Relations and Ethnic Media Consultant at Boston Latino Media with over 15 years experience in video production and earned a B.S., in Communication from Boston University.
Participants by alphabetical order:
1. Alex Alvear, Professional Musician/Performance and Production Manager for I.B.A.
2. Felix G. Arroyo, Chief of Health and Human Services at Boston City Hall
3. Dr. Joseph Betancourt, Physician and Program Director of Multicultural Education at MGH
4. Senator Sonia Chang Diaz, Massachusetts Senator for the 2nd Suffolk District
5. Keylin Chicas, Miss Salvadorian/College Student
6. Junot Diaz, Author and MIT professor
7. Tim Estiloz, Cartoonist/Actor/Film Critic
8. Yvonne Garcia, Senior Vice President, Investment Manager Services at State Street Corporation
9. Isabel Lopez, Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur/Editor in Chief of Original Living Magazine
10. Angelica Ochoa Lopez, Athletic/Zumba Instructor
11. Amanda Martinez, Global I.S. Contracts and Vendor Manager at Boston Scientific
12. Nivia Piña Medina, Boston Public Schools Teacher, Restaurant Owner
13. Captain, Jonathan Rodriguez, Boston Fire Department
14. Sara Suarez, Anchor and News Director, Noticias Univision Nueva Inglaterra
15. Alberto Vasallo III, WHDH-TV Producer, CEO of El Mundo Newspaper
Additional Participation:
Mayor Marty Walsh, Mayor of Boston
Dr. Eileen de los Reyes, Deputy Superintendent of Academics at the Boston Public Schools
Production Team:
Executive Producers, Eva and Digna Gerena Rivera
Writers, Eva and Digna Gerena Rivera
Script Editing, Evelyn Reyes Beato, Jorge Grajeda & Gabriel Grajeda
Translation, Eva Gerena Rivera and Jorge Grajeda
Directors, Digna Gerena and Albeet Linares
Videographers, Albeet Linares and Coco Rodriguez
Narrators, Rosi and Brian Amador
Video editor, Albeet Linares
Cover Art, Brian Flint
Music, Rey Barreto
ABOUT HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
www.hispanicheritagemonth.org/about
About National Hispanic Heritage Month: Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30-day period.
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