Explore the grassroots and on-the-ground organizations/movements that are defending public education and our communities in Puerto Rico.
Support the reclaimed School spaces
Parceleras Afrocaribeñas (PATBA): La Conde
In December 2020, after more than three years of advocacy, Parceleras Afrocaribeña – a group of intergenerational Afro-Caribbean women, community leaders, activists, & artists – was granted legal custody of the Carlos Conde Marín School. They are currently in their first phase of renovating the space to serve as a multi-purpose community hub which they’ve named La Conde.
La Conde was designed in community participatory process and will function as a public space with an anti-racist, decolonizing and entrepreneurial perspective that integrates ecology, emancipatory education, the arts and health. Doors are expected to open before summer of 2021.
Movimiento Al Rescate de Mi Escuelas (MARES):
MARES or Movement to Rescue Our Schools operates out of the Lorencita Ramírez de Arellano School located in the community of Levittown in Toa Baja. Pre-pandemic a diverse buffet of workshops for children and the growing elderly population in the area were hosted at least twice a week.
In 2020, MARES - a group of residents that reclaimed the abandoned school - continued to upkeep the space, and responded to COVID-19 by delivering food and basic needs to families in need. Additionally, community consensus was reached to utilize the space to train nurses interested in supporting bed-ridden elders and for dance and art classes for the youth. MARES hopes to resume plans stalled as a result of the global pandemic in the near future.
Other facts:
Sports events, tutoring, Bomba and Plena dance and art workshops were held weekly pre-pandemic. Panels and meetings,too.
The community is made up of mostly elders - common theme for communities without schools/ families leave, thus, no children left in neighborhoods
Centro de Apoyó Mutua: Las Carolinas
CAM Las Carolinas is a mutual aid center made up of local volunteers operating out of Escuela María Montañez Gómez and is located in the town of Las Carolinas, Caguas. Since the passing of Hurricane Maria – after reclaiming the campus – the group has functioned primarily as a community kitchen providing daily meals to close to a hundred residents.
In 2020, their region was impacted greatly by COVID-19 and as a result their efforts have doubled. To date, CAM Las Carolinas has served over 65,000 plates of food and is experimenting with agriculture thanks to the support of local initiatives. They are currently in a legal battle to reclaim the space and hope is to continue their efforts while expanding to support young entrepreneurs who want to start micro-enterprises.
Other facts:
Partnering with agricultural groups like Departament de Comida and Sembrando Al Compost de Alegria to grow their own food on the property
Most of the community residents are elderly
They bought an oven before pandemic to bake pizzas
Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico (FMPR)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/federaciondemaestrosdepuertorico/
In 2019, the arrest of the former Secretary of Education, Julia Keleher, was a pivotal moment for the The Teachers Federation of Puerto Rico (FMPR) who opposed and fought against her plans to close and privatize schools. Keleher faces fraud and money laundering charges and is currently awaiting trial.
At the start of 2020, FMPR – the students, teacher and parents in their network – were met with earthquakes and a global pandemic. Currently, the Federation is pushing back against the reopening of schools closed as a result of COVID-19 until the Department of Education produces a comprehensive and just plan that meets the needs of everyone they represent.