Articles & Videos
Identidades en Tránsito
POR CARLOS JOSÉ PÉREZ SÁMANO EL JULY DE 22 DEL 2021
Vine a lo que ustedes llaman América, un lugar en donde no tener una identidad definida te arrincona a solo poder expresarte en espacios de indefinición como la poesía. El espacio de la dislocación y la transmutación. Estados Unidos no genera identidades, las destruye. Las absorbe en generalizaciones, las disuelve.
Identities in Transit
BY CARLOS JOSÉ PÉREZ SÁMANO ON JULY 22, 2021
When I arrived in the United States I was surprised by the Mexican people who identify with ancestral cultures and even practice Mesoamerican dances. Now, I am one of them. But, sometimes I am not. Over time, one accepts one's demonym, especially when abroad. And one finds in pre-Hispanic cultures a way to share identity with those who come from the same place. Even when one knows that label doesn’t present the whole picture either.
The Virtual Evolution of Burlesque in Philadelphia
BY GABE CASTRO ON JULY 15, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected art programs and performances throughout Philadelphia quite drastically. Burlesque performers evolved their numbers to fit on screen.
Recognizing, understanding, and navigating guilt with immigrant parents
BY ERICKA CONANT ON JULY 08, 2021
Second generation immigrants have at least one parent who left their homeland. To be raised by an immigrant means that a portion of their shaping and molding of us as a person heavily references their immigration story — their exodus — and the constant comparison of their upbringing from our own.
Moving to North Philly from São Paulo taught me about Black and Latinx resilience
BY GABRIELA WATSON-BURKETT ON JULY 01, 2021 | PUBLISHER: PLAN PHILLY
¡Presente! Media Co-Founder Gabriela reflects on her time living in North Philly coming from São Paulo, Brazil.
“Luchando por un futuro mejor” - Behind Gen Z Latinx motivation to give back to the community
BY CELIA ALVES AND MICHELLE MYERS ON JUNE 24, 2021
Whether it is by protesting in the streets to support Black Lives Matter, better climate change policies and gun control, or undermining former president Trump’s Tulsa rally using their Tik-tok accounts, Gen Z members have proven themselves a force of change.
What is Fulton v. City of Philadelphia?
BY LAURA ANAYA-MORGA AND KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON JUNE 17, 2021
After years of dispute the case now awaits the Supreme Court decision. The main question is whether or not the government violates religious agencies First Amendment rights by requiring them to consider same-sex couples applications to become foster parents. This is the rundown of how Fulton v. City of Philadelphia got here and what its outcome could mean.
A Timeline of Arts & Culture Advocacy in 2020 Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
BY MELISSA BEATRIZ ON JUNE 10, 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact communities in the United States, in early March 2020, it became clear that the arts sector was being gravely economically affected. This is a timeline of what the arts had to face during the pandemic, from budget cuts, closed offices, emerging media, canceled grants to a refunding budget allocation.
The documentary ‘40 Years a Prisoner’ reveals the story of one man's fight for justice and details the history of police violence in Philadelphia
BY LAURA ANAYA-MORGA & KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON MAY 20, 2021
40 Years a Prisoner, from filmmaker Tommy Oliver, lays out the story of Mike Africa Jr., a man who spent his entire life fighting to free his parents, members of the MOVE Organization, from prison.
First time’s a charm: What I learned as the first intern for ¡Presente! Media
BY LAURA ANAYA-MORGA ON MAY 17, 2021
Before joining ¡Presente! Media as an intern last fall, it is safe to say that I felt lost as a senior in college, unsure of what my next step would be to start my journalism career.
Documentary ‘40 Years A Prisoner’ features Mike Africa Jr.’s decades long fight for justice
BY LAURA ANAYA-MORGA & KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON MAY 13, 2021
Mike Africa Jr. spent most of his life fighting to free his parents from prison. Both were incarcerated and convicted as members of the MOVE 9. The HBO Documentary, 40 Years a Prisoner, outlines the stark similarities between policing in Philadelphia today compared to the 1970’s.
La coalición Shut Down Berks reflexiona sobre acciones desarrolladas el año pasado y expresa esperanza para 2021
POR LAURA ANAYA-MORGA EL 1 ABRIL 2021
La coalición Shut Down Berks continúa abogando por la liberación de las familias inmigrantes que buscan asilo en los Estados Unidos; siguen esperanzados por un cambio positivo con la administración Biden.
Los refrigeradores comunitarios en Filadelfia refuerzan una larga tradición de ayuda mutua en la ciudad
POR LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Y FOTOS POR BECCA HAYDU EL 25 MARZO 2021
Filadelfia tiene una larga tradición con las sociedades de ayuda mutua que han servido como catalizador para recursos modernos, y han inspirado la creación de The People's Fridge por dos hermanas en West Philly y de South Philadelphia Community Fridges en South Philly.
“Allow the right to mobility for all” - a young Latina advocates for immigrants’ access to driver’s licenses
BY JULISSA ON MARCH 11, 2021
Julissa, a young daughter of two immigrant parents, is a member of MILPA (Movement of Immigrant Leaders in Pennsylvania) and fights for a standard driver's license for all, regardless of their immigration status.
Philly educators protest against reopening schools emphasizing unsafe conditions
BY BECCA HAYDU ON FEBRUARY 18, 2021
On Monday, February 8, public elementary schools in Philadelphia were set to reopen. Teachers, students and the community came together to protest against unsafe conditions in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Shut Down Berks Coalition reflects on the past year and expresses hope for 2021
BY LAURA ANAYA-MORGA ON FEBRUARY 11, 2021
The Shut Down Berks Coalition continues to advocate for the release of immigrant families seeking asylum in the U.S. — they are cautiously hopeful that positive change will come with the Biden administration.
“Arts are essential” - An interview with Philly-based multidisciplinary artist Daniel de Jesús
BY GABRIELA WATSON-BURKETT, MELISSA BEATRIZ AND LAURA ANAYA-MORGA ON FEBRUARY 9, 2021
In this interview, Philly-based multidisciplinary artist and performer Daniel de Jesús shares their inspiration behind making art and its importance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel de Jesús, intérprete y artista multidisciplinario de Filadelfia, habla acerca de qué les inspira a producir arte y su importancia durante la pandemia del COVID-19.
Ser mujer en México durante la pandemia: Cuando quedarse en casa no significa estar a salvo
POR ANA LAURA PEREZ FLORES EL 2 DE FEBRERO DEL 2021
En México hay una guerra contra las mujeres y la situación no parece mejorar. Vivimos en un país donde tres feminicidios[1] ocurren cada día y, de acuerdo con fuentes oficiales, 40% de estos crímenes son cometidos en casa.
Community fridges in Philadelphia reinforce a long standing tradition of mutual aid
BY LAURA ANAYA-MORGA & PHOTOS BY BECCA HAYDU ON JANUARY 21, 2021
Community fridges have popped up all across Philadelphia in a time where Mutual Aid resources have become more crucial than ever. Philadelphia's long standing history with Mutual Aid societies has served as a catalyst for these modern resources, and has inspired the creation of The People’s Fridge by two sisters in West Philly and South Philadelphia Community Fridge.
The 10-mile SEPTA bus route que conecta las comunidades latinas de Filadelfia
BY EMMA RESTREPO AND JANE M. VON BERGEN ON DECEMBER 9, 2020 | PUBLISHER: PLAN PHILLY
The SEPTA bus line connects newer, growing Mexican and other Central American communities in South Philadelphia to more established Puerto Rican and Dominican communities in North Philadelphia, an area represented by Maria Quiñones-Sanchez, the city’s first Latina City Councilmember. There are many stories along Route 47 — stories of commerce, love, work, families, friendships, struggles, success and joy.