The Jordan Journal Radio Show
NiLP's 30th Anniversary: From "Young Lords with Computers" to Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Fri., Jan. 11 at 3pm on WBAI-99.5FM New York
On Friday, January 11th, WBAI-FM's The Jordan Journal will be focusing on a review of the three decades of the work of the National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP, formerly the Institute for Puerto Rican Policy) in commemoration of the organization's milestone 30th anniversary. The Institute is celebrating this milestone at a Friday, January 25th benefit reception in NYC, which will feature the roasting of NiLP President, Angelo Falcón.
The show's popular host, Howard Jordan, was at one point the Editor of the Institute's legendary publication of the mid-199os, Critica: A Journal of Puerto Rican Policy and Politics. He will be reminiscing with special guest, the outspoken El Diario-La Prensa columnist and NY1 News/Noticias commentator Gerson Borrero. As part of the program, listeners will be asked to share their Institute and Angelo Falcón stories as well, as a "pre-roast" (the show's call-in number is 917-580-6020 ),
To review the 30 year history of the Institute, visit http://www.latinopolicy.org.
You can listen to this show on Friday from 3-4pm (EST) on WBAI-99.5FM and live online by clicking here. If you miss the show, you can download it from the station's archives any time afterwards by clicking here.
What are they saying about the
National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP)?
I rely on your service to keep me up-to-date on issues I won't necessarily find in the national press. I rely on NiLP to offer a range of viewpoints on a range of issues relating to a huge geographic range of Latino communities. What would I do without you??
---Lorrin Thomas, PhD, Associate Professor of History, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
I count on NiLP to serve me with all news related to Latino policy, with a healthy side of Mr. Falcón's witty commentary and analysis. As someone who works in the weeds on a specific set of issues, it's great to step back and keep track of the broad range of issues that matter to our community.
---Jessica J. González, Vice President for Policy, National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)
I got hooked to NILP when I took a literature course of the Puerto Rican diaspora with an amazing UPR professor, Carmen Haydée Rivera. She asked us to sign up with NILP for the duration of the course, but after that, I couldn't disconnect. Ever since, I've tagged a few friends and family members. NILP works for me, because it connects me to the ideology that defines stateside Latinos, who I find that are more representative of who we are down here, than of how the Puerto Rican elite fathoms who we are as a nation. NiLP is a good mirror to look into, and it doesn't matter what one's political preference is, PNP, PDP or PIP; NILP could help us understand whoever we are.
---Rafael Ortiz-Sanoguet, Urb. Antonsanti, San Juan, Puerto Rico
I always open NiLP's emails expecting to learn something new about events, debates, movies, politics related to Latinos. Getting the updates - - often several times a day - - feels almost like being in an office next to Angelo's and being able to poke your head in every time he says "Hey! check this out." Alternately insightful, provocative, intriguing, funny, informed, smart, and controversial, they are usually a lot of fun and sometimes essential reading.
---David Dyssegaard Kallick, Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute's Immigration Research Initiative
When I think of the work NiLP does, I think of all that it must have taken to get a group of world class political analysts and organizers together to sustain a foundation of political activity that continues to this day, not as a luxurious option, but as a way out of poverty, out of despair, out of a dilemma of living one place while being displaced from another and the silent crisis so many lived through for so long. I have always said to anyone who heard me, pay close attention to what happens to Puerto Rico and to Puerto Ricans stateside, how they participate politically, how trends are identified, what is communicated through the organization NiLP representing great courage, determination, effort, compassion and love in its effort to unify around progressive political agendas.
---Luciana Polney, founder and CEO of Tindari Productions International
Over the years I have come to rely on NILP emails to inform me on those issues and developments that critically impact on the Latino community. As a Puerto Rican, I am especially happy that NILP issues up to date info on developments specific to Puerto Ricans in the diaspora and in Puerto Rico.
---Digna Sanchez, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Department for the Aging
Your work has greatly contributed to our communities understanding the changing role of media, and the advocacy work that is taking place.
---Beni Matias, Acting Executive Director, National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP)
I'll go back to the early 1990s for a key contribution of the then-IPR: helping in the founding of the Puerto Rican Studies Association (PRSA). You folks were instrumental in launching PRSA's first conference, which took place in White Plains, New York. Just recently, PRSA celebrated its 20th Anniversary. We are grateful for NiLP's assistance over the years. Somewhere in my file cabinets are early newsletters and "IPR Datanotes", remnants of a time before everything went virtual. Not too many Boricua/Latino organizations have passed the 30-year mark, and fewer still have adapted so successfully to the cyber sphere and the "Total Noise Culture."
---Andrés (Andy) Torres, Distinguished Lecturer, Lehman College (CUNY)
[In reaction to a Thanksgiving story from Angelo Falcón]: Thanks for bringing some good information "carved" out of important events and issues concerning Latinos. You always get to the "gravy" of the problems facing our community. I like how you look to get many of our elected officials caught in a "yam" exposed for what they really are: a bunch of real "turkeys" that deserve to be "carved up" and fed to the dogs or better yet to your old high school buddies.
---Peter Fontanes, Owner, The Fontanes Group
Keep up with good work!
---David M. Reimers, Professor Emeritus of History, New York University