For Immediate Release: Philadelphia, PA – On Sunday, July 24, 2016, the historic African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), and nationally recognized Latino nonprofit organization, Esperanza, Inc, have come together in partnership, along with sponsor Wells Fargo, and hosts: The League of 1789, UPPN, and Alist Events Marketing, to present Afro-LatinX: An Evening of Art & Music (#AfroLatinXPHL); celebrating AAMP’s 40th year anniversary, Esperanza’s 30th year anniversary and the Democratic National Convention (DNC), by uniting Black and Latino communities in the City of Philadelphia. This event celebrates the shared history of Black and Latino communities and serves as a symbol of unity going into the November elections.
“The Black and Latino experience in the Americas converges in Philadelphia where Esperanza proudly serves our community of African American, Dominican, Puerto Rican and many more,” says Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr. Founder, President and CEO of Esperanza, “We share many struggles and triumphs in our fight against poverty and injustice, and it is our hope that both communities find political efficacy in this unity so that we can leverage this power to bring transformative measures to Philadelphia and beyond.” City Councilman At-Large, Derek Green shares this same view, as he states, “Philadelphia has a rich history and lineage of dynamic institutions which, through their collective work, have developed the diverse cultural landscape that illustrates the beauty of our City.”
Afro-LatinX will have special appearances by international musician Jeff Bradshaw and world-renowned artist, philanthropist and creator of Def Poetry Jam, Danny Simmons; view the museum’s premier exhibition “Arresting Patterns: perspectives on race, criminal justice, artistic expression, and community” presented in collaboration with Artspace. The exhibition gives voice to the impact of pervasive patterns of racial bias in the judicial system, giving visual form to the notion that the sentencing policies over the past 40 years have transformed the nation’s prison system into a “modern equivalent of Jim Crow”; relative to the current state of mass incarceration affecting many minority communities throughout the nation.
Afro-LatinX is free to the public with RSVP, and held at the African American Museum from 4pm – 7pm (an invite only VIP program honoring Senator Vincent Hughes and Rev. Luis Cortés will take place from 3pm – 4:30pm). There will be live musical performances by Artístas y Músicos Latino Americanos (AMLA) Latin Jazz Ensemble and entertainment by Estilos Dancers, DJs in two galleries, complimentary hors d’oeuvres served, and cocktails for purchase. For more information about the event and exhibition, please visit: www.aampmuseum.org
African American Museum in Philadelphia – Founded in 1976 in celebration of the nation’s Bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. Throughout its evolution, the museum has objectively interpreted and presented the achievements and aspirations of African Americans from pre-colonial times to the current day.
Esperanza – Esperanza, Inc., is a national community-based organization founded in 1986 by Rev. Luis Cortes & the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity. What began as a local initiative, with programs targeted to address the unmet needs of North Philadelphia’s Hispanic community, Esperanza has grown from a small, 20-person operation to a more than 300-employee, $40 million organization. Because of its success in bringing people from poverty to mobility and transforming North Philadelphia’s Hunting Park neighborhood, Rev. Cortes is now sought by national and international leaders alike on issues of economic and workforce development, housing, immigration, and education. For more information, please visit www.esperanza.us.