2020 is coming to an end, and what a year of unexpected challenges it was! Nevertheless, in the midst of these challenges – the organizations with which we co-create –showed more than ever their commitment and dedication to fighting for the dignity and rights of the people on our archipiélago. Because of this, we want to share and celebrate some of the victories of the social justice movements in Puerto Rico:

1. Agitarte: This organization of working class artists and cultural organizers, restructured its organization by establishing a team of leaders under the co-direction of Sugeily Rodríguez Lebrón. Additionally, they acquired two properties which will allow them to expand their support: one in Santurce, Puerto Rico – “Casa Taller Cangrejera”, home of the community center of the cultural organization, and another property in Boston, Massachusetts.

2. Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico (AYLPR): Implemented a rapid response to COVID-19 on housing and employment issues and managed to legally accompany +6000 people. Much of their efforts were focused on making the mortgage and eviction crisis visible with analysis, articles, and advocacy through directly affected voices. ALPR also offered 300+ hours of free legal education to attorneys and students, among other initiatives.

3. Bartolo Mutual Support Center Despite the numerous challenge they faced due to earthquakes that continue to impact their region and later, a crippling pandemic, this mutual aid support group inaugurated the Finca Mi Sueño, an agro-tourism project. The group also activated health and wellness locations with medicinal plants and collaborated with the Community Architecture Workshop of the UPR on a household project, Las Bartoleñas. 

4. Caminando la Utopía continued to offer “Spaces of Relaxation and Wellbeing” to intergenerational volunteers from CAM Las Carolinas en Caguas in order to support them during the essential community work they carry out. In turn, they trained 10 colleagues from 5 self-management projects in the 5NP ear acupuncture protocol. This promotes and expands the healing culture we aim for inside the social movement organizations in our country. 

5. The young volunteers of Centro de Apoyo Mutuo Las Carolinas (CAM) worked hard to renovate the room that will be used for Movement and Training, which they are about to inaugurate soon. They were also trained on how to make pizzas and even acquired an oven to make them in order to generate new income. Moreover, the young CAM volunteers utilized Relaxation and Wellbeing Spaces to alleviate any symptoms of anxiety and depression.

6. Construyamos Otro Acuerdo: In 2020, this organization organized a historic assembly of more than 1,000 pensioners who came together to introduce and receive input on a legislation drafted to protect pensions. Since then, more than 60 current officials and/or candidates running for House of Representatives, Senate and governor have signed this legislation.

7. Editorial Casa Cuna: Alleviated the economic challenges of trans, queer, and intersex persons as a result of the crisis generated by the pandemic through the creation of the TRANScomunidá Grant fund. This initiative was able to distribute a total of $5,200 thanks to the cooperation of groups such as Vaiventura, HASER, PROTESTAmos, Editora Educara Emergente and other private donors.

8. Fideicomiso para el Desarrollo de Río Piedras: Managed to increase the stock of real estate properties in the community of Rio Piedras. After longtime advocating, this year The Municipality of San Juan successfully transferred to the Ruth Hernández Cultural House the following: two lots in the urban center, the complex La Milagrosa and the apartment building in García Ubarri.

9. Huerto Vida: Created and maintained spaces for healing, wellness, relaxation and support for a diverse group of people. These spaces have been primarily held in the southern region of the regions affected by the ongoing earthquakes and for activists and organizers in the metropolitan area. Despite all the challenges, the work was changed from in-person to virtual in order to accommodate diverse ages and populations, and cuir and femme communities.

10. Kilometro 0: Worked on the documentation, public advocacy and accompaniment of victims who brought forward multiple lawsuits against the PR Police due to the use of excessive force and civil rights violations during the island-wide enforced curfew due and continued their support in the case of Francisco Marrero Noa, who died at the hands of two policemen on September 2019. They were also able to create, raise funds and run the project Evidencia la Violencia, Spanish for Evidence of Violence, which documents violations and violent interventions by the police.

11. Mujeres de Isla: Responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, from April to December 2020, distributing biweekly groceries to the 650 families in their community. The group also prioritized food security, hiring the first agronomist in the island of Culebra to strengthen consistent and nutritious harvests, invest more resources in their intensive compost project, and lastly, developed their community educational center.

12. Puerto Rico Teachers Federation (FMPR): Established a "School Without Walls" following earthquakes in the southern region and, despite being confronted by the many hurdles of the pandemic, FMPR has continued to prioritize ensuring that the rights of public school teachers, students & their families are upheld. In recent months, FMPR achieved the government’s commitment to deliver laptops and internet vouchers to all students, facilitating better accessibility throughout  this digital semester. Lastly, the group continued to play an integral role in the fight for a dignified retirement and managed to stop cuts to pensions this year, in collaboration with other groups.

13. Revista Étnica: In collaboration with the anti-racist organization Colectivo Ilé, this platform for Afro-Boricuas began the year developing a campaign that encouraged people of Puerto Rico who identified as Afro-descendants to indicate it on the 2020 Census. The campaign gained the endorsement of more than 45 organizations in the social justice ecosystem. Revista Étnica also stood out this year for its voice and positions on the issue of racism in Puerto Rico while simultaneously launching its third edition on ethnicity, featuring Afro-descendant activists that fight for social justice across the island in July. Lastly, developed and implemented workshops on strategic communications and creative writing with different programs and organizations including Pangea and Taller Salud, among others.

14. Semillero de las Artes Inc.: A cultural organizing and arts collective which expanded its work offering workspaces, scholarships and fiscal sponsors to artists in the west of the island.

15. Taller Salud: Expanded their capacity to confront the gender-violence pandemic that increased during 2020 in Puerto Rico. They have also successfully activated a free of cost 24/7 guidance and support hotline called ‘Tu Paz Cuenta’ where thousands of survivors of sexual or domestic abuse have accessed services and legal representation. To add to their menu of accomplishments, Taller Salud also worked to strengthen the leadership of women through their Afro-Caribeñas and Narradoras programs, the latter pushing women to be better represented in the teachings of community and national history. 

Thank you for being a part of our community.

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