Whittier College will host a benefit concert filled with Puerto Rican culture, energy, and passion on Tuesday, March 26 at 8 p.m. at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts.
The event will feature the world renowned musical talents of salsa and Latin jazz greats featuring recent Grammy Award-winning artist Oscar Hernandez, Danilo Lozano, Justo Almario, Eddie Resto, Oskar Cartaya, Jonathan Montes, Paul Gonzales, Joey De Leon, Leider Chapotin, Jimmy Branly, David Urquidi, Eliseo Borrero, James Zavaleta, Jhan Lee Aponte, Juan Cosme, Dan Tai Lopez, Carlo Lopez, and other special guests. Celebrate the culture of the island and enjoy Latin jazz, traditional bomba, and plena while supporting ongoing community efforts for hurricane relief.
In September of 2017, two hurricanes hit the island of Puerto Rico. Regarded as one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the island, Hurricane Maria claimed the lives of over 4,500 people, with estimates as high as 8,000. With over $91.6 billion in damages, the hurricane decimated the island and its infrastructure and resulted in one of the longest blackouts in history.
Over a year and half later, the people of Puerto Rico are still working tirelessly in order to rebuild their beautiful island. Their pride, dignity, and determination has turned the catastrophe of the hurricanes into a flowering of community and solidarity.
Whittier College Poets Por Puerto Rico and our sponsors, the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, Whittier College Department of Music, Whittier Scholars Program, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion, are raising funds to donate to Taller Salud, a 501(c)3 grassroots nonprofit organization working to rebuild by providing a wide range of resources in Loiza, Puerto Rico. Loiza, a home of Afro-Puerto Rican community, is located on the northeastern coast of the island, and was one of the most devastated and least supported areas of the island.
“We call on you to join our Whittier College community in helping with the ongoing efforts to rebuild Puerto Rico,” said Professor of Music Danilo Lozano. “We invite each of you as our extended family in commemorating the island and the beautiful people who are determined to thrive against all odds!”
Tickets can be purchased on the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts website.
