‘Iluminando la Comunidad’ series brought to you by ComEd

By: Ashmar Mandou

Sixteen years ago, Carlos Hernandez had a clear vision of how he wanted to redefine the musical and cultural contributions of Puerto Rico. “I knew we had to repackage, rebrand, and redefine the Puerto Rican culture. We saw too much negativity in our community, too much negativity around our culture. So the only way to change our image was to do it through the arts, culture, and music.”

Out of the basement of his own home, Hernandez founded the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA), a non-profit arts organization that hosts an array of art and musical programs that benefit students across the city. With six other board members, Hernandez developed creative ways to bring Puerto Rican arts to the mainstream while still preserving the organization’s cultural identity. “We had to really come together as an organization and hit the refresh button to figure out what the community would like to see.” So with just over $400 raised through a small fundraiser, Hernandez and his board orchestrated their first ever music production which generated enough interest to elevate PRAA onto the mainstream cultural scene. “There’s no greater feeling than seeing people not just in our community, but outside of the Logan Square and Humboldt Park, respond to the kind of shows we are producing. It’s amazing. It’s important we continue to hit the refresh button and bring programs that fit the needs of the community. It’s important we partner with other organizations so we continue to grow.”

Under Hernandez’s leadership, PRAA received national recognition for its Cuatro and Taino Project programs and has established a reputation of extending its national arts program outreach with other ethnic communities such as, the Columbian, Venezuelan, Dominican Republic, Cuban, and Mexican communities. Prior to founding PRAA, Hernandez worked for McCormick Triune Foundation as a Program Intern Officer, Coordinator of Economic Development for the City of Chicago Treasurer’s Office, and Director of the National Museum of Mexican Art’s $7.3 million expansion. Hernandez also served as consultant for non-profit community development projects.

Hernandez participated on numerous community boards and committees among them: The Chicago Community Loan Fund, Bickerdike Redevelopment, Humboldt Park Economic Development Committee, State Treasurer Latino Affairs Advisory Board, Northern Trust Bank Community Advisory Board. Hernandez is also the recipient of the “2005 Dr. Jorge Prieto, Sr. Humanitarian Award” a prestigious award bestowed during Hispanic Heritage Month. In the fall of 2010, Hernandez was awarded the Chicago Community Trust Experienced Leader Fellowship seeking to build his knowledge while building an active network of Puerto Rican and Caribbean cultural leaders. “Nothing gets me more excited; more motivated than to be able to learn about my own culture and share it with the masses through the programs we have here at PRAA. With all the experiences we have garnered over the years we hope future generations will look to our institution, the legacy we are leaving behind, and continue to be a part of it.”

ComEd supports art in the community by sponsoring events such as the “Day of the Dead” exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art. The exhibit is open now through December 15.