March
News & Updates

Casita Maria One Year Reflection

March 2024 marks one year since I joined Casita Maria as executive director. This has been a 12-month journey of learning, reflection, long hours, and amazement. While I first came to the Hunts Point/Longwood community in 1996 and have worked in and around the Bronx ever since, what I found in 2023 astonished me.

The community, while still vibrant as ever, was far more under duress than I remember just a handful of years ago. Emerging out of the Hunts Point or Simpson Street train stations, one is immediately bombarded by major construction and pedestrian disruption, congestion and highly stressed motorists, noise and environmental pollution, reckless individuals on scooters and electric bikes, and the hustle and bustle of thousands of people navigating everyday life despite these daily challenges.

What most concerns my colleagues and I at Casita Maria is the impact that these conditions are having on the mental wellbeing of so many of our children, youth and families. In many respects, we are a large family of survivors who have endured one trauma after another and are just simply trying to cope and make the best of each day. Our staff pick up children at local elementary schools and bring them for after-school services in our safe space. What they see and experience is simultaneously disheartening and uplifting. Many of our families are struggling economically and socially. It shows in the appearance and behaviors of our participants. They are also full of energy, curiosity, and a desire to play, learn, and find happiness and peace in their lives. This is where Casita Maria comes in.

90 years ago, we were formed to address the needs of thousands of Puerto Rican migrants coming to New York City to work, learn, earn, and raise families. We were the first charity dedicated to serving Latinos, who are now the largest minority group in the United State. Here we are in 2024, continuing our mission to enrich and elevate the lives of marginalized people through arts, culture, and education. We have not forgotten our purpose and commitment to struggling families of all backgrounds and we never will. We are now evolving to respond to the changing needs of our youth, families, and community residents.

Over the course of the 2024 spring and summer months, Casita Maria will be intensifying our efforts to realize a Creative Youth Development program model that focuses on expressive arts and social emotional learning while introducing comprehensive therapeutic recreation services. Our goal is to create a space where we can engage our youth, families and local residents in activities that alleviate their stress, focus their energies on positive outlets, and allow them to express themselves freely. We want our entire community to feel love for itself, what we do, and how we live together. Our aims are simple, but they are not easy. With the support and buy-in of staff and local partners, and financial backing from government, foundation, and individual donors, Casita Maria will continue to be that little oasis on Simpson Street.

Finally, Casita Maria is challenging itself to launch our refreshed Creative Youth Development program model by the start of our fall 2024 after-school program. It will require a full commitment by highly motivated and trained staff and leadership that will not yield in the face of adversity. Our expectations of staff, parents, children, and residents will be high, but so will be our drive to succeed. At Casita Maria, we are motivated by the fact that we were born in East Harlem, but were raised in the Bronx. We are Bronx Strong!

If you believe in Casita Maria, please donate here.

Felix A. Urrutia Jr.

Executive Director

YOUNG ARTISTS THEATER PERFORMANCE

In the Acting and Scene-Study workshop series, participants collaborated to devise scenes that were staged and scripted by them, ultimately leading to Wednesday's ensemble performance for the Casita Maria community. Improv, speech and movement techniques were essential for generating ideas and imagining new worlds. No previous theater experience was required, but all participants worked together beautifully to make scenes that we shared out earlier this week.

Thanks to all the Public Works staff that made this program possible: Jennifer Haley, Pablo Hernandez Basulto and Laurie Woolery. We are also in gratitude to Teaching Artists Dahlia Lopez Ramsay & Esperanza Rosales for leading the Acting & Scene Study classes each week.

UPCOMING EVENTS

ATTEND THE GALLERY OPENING ON MARCH 21
Leftovers by Alexis Marie Montoya

Casita Maria presents the solo exhibition Leftovers by Bronx-based Puerto Rican and Peruvian multidisciplinary artist and food writer Alexis Marie Montoya on view in the Casita Maria Gallery March 21-August 16, 2024. The exhibition features a series of 14 artworks collaging imagery from food, fashion and lifestyle magazines to explore the connection between food, culture and Latinx identity.

A free opening celebration will take place on Thursday, March 21 from 5:30-8:00pm in the Casita Maria Gallery at 928 Simpson Street, 6th floor. Attendees from across New York City and beyond are welcome to meet the artist, view the work, enjoy refreshments and music by DJs Uptown Vinyl Supreme.

The exhibition will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. To schedule a visit or tour, email [email protected].

LEARN MORE

JOIN THE BOOK CLUB

This month we are reading, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez. The novel involves the complexities of identity, family, and culture. In the book you will delve into a journey of self-discovery while confronting the challenges of adolescence. This novel offers an authentic portrayal of the immigrant experience in America.

We also have a Young Readers Circle for 5-8 year olds. This month they are reading

In My Family by Carmen Comas Garza.

Registered readers will receive free books in English & Spanish available for pick up at Casita Maria. We can welcome 25 adult readers and 10 children per session. Pre-registration is required.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, March 27 from 6pm to 7:30 pm at Casita Maria.

REGISTER

SAVE THE DATE: May 31-June 2
LINE UP ANNOUNCED!

Since 2011, Casita Maria’s South Bronx Culture Festival has celebrated the vibrant cultures and communities of the South Bronx through an annual performance series anchored by a new theme each year. This year’s theme, Born in El Barrio & Raised in the South Bronx celebrates Casita Maria’s 90th anniversary and our enduring commitment to serve the community. The 2024 Festival line-up includes music, art and dance from the diasporas of the Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the confluence of cultures that is New York City. Visit our website to view the full line-up.

Headliners include:

BronX BandA featuring Arturo O’Farrill

Bobby Sanabria MULTIVERSE Big Band

Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra

LEARN MORE

THANK YOU CASITA MARIA DONORS FOR
90 YEARS OF SUPPORT!

Did you know that Casita Maria is the first and oldest Latino-serving charitable organization in New York City, and that we’re celebrating our 90th Anniversary? We are proud that we have served youth, families and communities in the South Bronx and East Harlem for 9 decades through arts, education, cultural and social programs and services. We would not have been able to reach this milestone without the generosity of our donors, who share our vision of a dynamic and thriving community, celebrating arts and culture as integral to its vitality and success. As we commemorate turning 90, we hope that you also feel proud of YOUR contributions that have helped benefit the wonderful people we serve, and that you will continue to support us by making a donation today! No amount is too small and we truly appreciate your kindness. Together we can continue to build a legacy of positive change in our communities through the transformative power of the arts!

PLEASE DONATE HERE