We are writing you from an unprecedented time of growth as we transition to new leadership.
It is with pleasure that we announce the appointment of Alejandro Epifanio Torres as Loisaida's next Director. Alejandro, a resident of Lower East Side and integral part of the Loisaida Inc. team for six years builds on his past achievements at the organization with a continued commitment to Loisaida's legacy.
Below you will find updates on upcoming programs and events.
- 2020 Census Count - Learn how Loisaida is contributing to the decennial census and making sure #LoisaidaCounts.
- Artistic Residencies - Updates from Loisaida's current Artists in Residence and opportunities for interested persons to apply to the program.
- Senior Day - Our monthly day of celebration for our most cherished guests, download the full 2020 calendar.
- Loisaida Basketball Tournament - Our second annual youth basketball tournament open to players 12 - 14 years.
- The Loisaida Festival - Become a vendor, exhibitor or patron of the largest Latinx celebration in the lower Manhattan area.
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Join Us in Welcoming Alejandro E. Torres, Loisaida's New Director
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Through his interdisciplinary expertise, intergenerational engagement, and creative approach to media production as well as his problem solving skills, Alejandro has been a catalyst for many of Loisaida's successful programs, such as the Loisaida Artistic Residency Program, acclaimed Loisaida Exhibitions various featured in the New York Times, and most recently, the Loisaida Digital Learning Lab, the organization's new multimedia technology and audio-visual arts production center. In 2019, Alejandro created the first ever Loisaida Basketball Tournament, which positively engaged over 400 LES youth and their families. For the past six years Alejandro managed IT, Media, Marketing, Tech Programming and Operations at the Loisaida Inc. center facility. Alejandro is well known on the streets of the Loisaida Avenue (Avenue C) as the co-producer of the historic Loisaida Festival, which doubled its yearly attendance since 2014, to now more than 28,000.
Since affiliating with Acacia Network, Loisaida Inc. has had a remarkable renaissance. We are extremely proud to have a foundation of programs and accomplishments built upon a legacy of community service that now provides a strong platform to expand Loisaida's impact in the Lower East Side and Lower Manhattan.
"¡Enhorabuena! we are more than proud to have Alejandro ascend to the position of Director, where he will assume a significant leadership role in this community to ensure success for its brilliant emerging change makers, artist citizens, youth, and cultural workers in this new age of information technology, and changing workforce demands,"
says Raul Russi, CEO of the Acacia Network. "We congratulate Alejandro as he accepts this next challenge with confidence to move Loisaida's vision forward. He does so with my total support and that of the Acacia Network, its Chief Administrative Officer, Maria del Carmen Arroyo, and Angel Santini, Vice President of Special Projects," concluded Russi.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Loisaida Inc., a truly iconic institution with a mission to empower youth and all residents to realize their full potential as creators in this digital age, and acknowledge, celebrate, and integrate the rich traditions, arts, and culture of its Puerto Rican founders,"
says Alejandro, adding, "I look forward to furthering our mission and to be inclusive of the great diversity of this neighborhood through a cross cultural and disciplinary approach to civic engagement at the intersection of technology, media, and invention that champions the Arts and Culture as key to social and economic development."
Alejandro was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He earned a BFA, Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting, Sculpture, and Printmaking in 2006 from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. His family is part of this community where his four-year old son attends the local P.S. 63, where Alejandro volunteers as a parent member of the STEM, Arts and Special Events Committees.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS AT LOISAIDA
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photo credit: Melvin Audaz
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photo credit: Andre Cirilo
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2020 Artistic Residencies Update
This year we began the AIR program with hosting two residencies:
EPHIMERO; a Dominican Graffiti Digital Archive and
MELVIN AUDAZ who aspires to write through a multimedia exhibition, a "love letter" to Loisaida.
Our unique and innovative residency program is a platform for contemporary and emerging artists and cultural producers working in a variety of disciplines. Application are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
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The Loisaida Basketball Tournament
Open to young men and women between the ages of 12 to 14 and their families. The tournament provides an opportunity for our youth to gather and compete in a friendly community environment through the game of basketball. Our emphasis is upon mental and physical development, health, wellness and growth through teamwork. We hope to positively impact their lives and broaden their connections within their community.
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Loisaida's Monthly Senior Day
Loisaida, Inc. is committed to providing programs that help our community members improve their mental & physical health. For adults of advanced age (65+), staying active and engaged in meaningful activities can boost their energy and increase their health and well-being. At every #Loisaida Senior Day we aim to offer a variety of enrichment classes to improve cognitive health, imagination, creativity at a safe place.
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2020 Census - #LoisaidaCounts
The overarching Complete Count goal seriously aligns with our mission to address the disenfranchisement of the Puerto Rican and Latinx population of the Lower East Side. It is critically important for all New Yorkers that a complete count be executed in 2020. At Loisaida in order to adequately serve our aging and continuously evolving im/migrant community and catchment area, we must make sure that #LoisaidaCounts.
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The Loisaida Festival
We invite you to participate in the
33rd Annual Loisaida Festival, a historic event which will take place
Sunday, May 24th, 2020 along Avenue C - Loisaida Avenue in Lower Manhattan
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This year's theme is "¡Cuenta con Nosotros! - Count on Us!" and highlights the upcoming 2020 Decennial Census
and the urgency for all New York to participate and be counted in this critical time.
In many ways this year's Census count will define how Hispanics and many of minorities will fare over the next decade at all levels from our local neighborhoods to the City, State, and Nation.
The 2020 Census will be a major benchmark in acknowledging our growth and development as a people and our contributions at all levels, generating benefits, investments, and opportunities that enhance our social and economic empowerment.
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Liderar a Loisaida Inc. será para mí una tarea que por supuesto me enorgullece tremendamente.
Ahora me toca enfocar en nuestra comunidad, la cual cuenta con una organización de raíces fuertes que mira hacia el futuro bienestar de toda nuestra gente
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To lead Loisaida Inc. now will be a task that makes me extremely proud. It is my responsibility to focus on our community and bring forward an organization that has strong roots in this city. I humbly look towards charting a positive future for the Loisaida center and for the well-being of all our neighbors.
I look forward to hearing from you!
With colorful regards,
Alejandro E. Torres
Director
Loisaida, Inc. Culture and Arts Center
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710 E. 9th Street New York, NY 10009
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Your financial support keep our programs and our community thriving!
Help support expand the services of the
Semillero,
your contribution will advance our next big expansion; TV Loisaida, Loisaida Records and Open Labs Project
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Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved, Loisaida Inc.
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Loisaida Inc. is an affiliate of Acacia Network
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