THEME

Our theme this year, “Fewer Words. More Action. Enough is Enough! Equality & Justice for Puerto RicoNow!” is a clear call to action to all Puerto Ricans but especially to the Diaspora around the world, who have the power to affect change. Enough of the rhetoric, enough of the broken promises, enough of the second-class citizen treatment. It is time to leave our egos at the door and, as one unified nation, demand action. Obtain equal SSI benefits for all Puerto Ricans, abolish the archaic Jones Act, stop the selling of our protected lands to developers, give Puerto Ricans a real opportunity to buy their homes, and not sell to bitcoin billionaires who don’t care or respect us or our country. 

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ARTIST
Each year Comité Noviembre commissions a Puerto Rican artist to design the annual poster to promote and inform the public about Puerto Rican Heritage Month and to create an artistic expression of the annual theme.

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ISMAEL CARRASQUILLO

Ismael Carrasquillo grew up in the Bronx, NY as the first of five children, taking pride in his Puerto Rican heritage from a young age. After leaving college, he worked his way to a sales position in a major corporation.

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Carrasquillo contemplated going to art school but then life happened, and he took a different path. He always maintained an interest in art over the years and painted when he had the opportunity. Although he has taken art courses occasionally, he is mostly self-taught. Now in his retirement he finds enormous pleasure to be able to dedicate more time to his art. But even while working full-time, Ismael wanted to remain active in his community. He sponsored events such as the Hispanic 116th Street Festival and worked with his company to sponsor Latino scholarships and arts programs. After retiring, Ismael continued to find new ways to broaden his impact—most recently by becoming involved with the mental health organization NAMI. After seeking help from them when his son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, he became President of his local chapter. From there, he’s established the Grupo de Apoyo Familiar—the first support group in North Carolina to provide NAMI resources entirely in Spanish. He continues to lead the charge in ensuring that mental health services and education are available to his local community.

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ABOUT THE POSTER

My interests in art began when I was very young. I always was able to color with crayons within the lines in the coloring books. When I was growing up, Marvel comics was all the rage. I used to spend hours doodling comic characters, making up villains and comic book adventures. When I was informed by that I was a candidate to produce this year’s Comíte Noviembre’ poster I was deeply moved and honored to be part of that process. I want to thank Comite Noviembre’s Board of Directors not only for the opportunity to produce the poster but for choosing my piece to represent this year’s theme.

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This year’s theme “Less Talk, More Action…..Enough is Enough, Equality and Justice for Puerto Rico Now!" brought back memories of the Movements of the 60’s and 70’s for social change. I remember the Young Lords taking to the streets to bring food to children, medical care to the sick and cleaning the streets which the city had neglected, that’s where social change happened. Of course, there were other social change pioneers like Evelina Antonetty who championed bi-lingual education. Teresa Ortiz Fernandez who successfully sued the Board of Elections to have voter’s information in Spanish. We have a rich history of many heroes and activists dating back to our national hero Albizu Campos. Today we have a new generation of heroes and activists that continue the fight to make a difference and create change. This was my inspiration for the poster. The fight is not over, Despierta Boricua!!