Since the strike of Hurricane Fiona on September 19th, the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) has made many efforts to raise relief funds for artists and cultural workers. The hurricane left nearly 1.4 million residents without power and running water. While many have been affected, artists and cultural workers have found it hard to get access to relief needed.

On Thursday, October 6 the CCCADI held a benefit in hopes of raising funds to provide relief for artists and cultural workers. However, this is not the only effort the organization has made towards accruing funds.

Since the CCCADI understands the importance of artists and cultural workers as essential agents for the sustainability and empowerment of communities they have provided multiple resources. In the wake of Hurricane Fiona, and in accordance with their mission, they created the CCCADI Emergency Relief Fund for Artists and Cultural Workers. This fund has been designed to aid Caribbean-based cultural workers and artists, primarily those racialized as Black, who are struggling after the impact of Hurricane Fiona.

Since the launch of CCCADI’s emergency relief fund, the organization has raised $11,916 to provide for artists. However, with a goal of $250,000 the work is far from over.

The View From Puerto Rico

We are in Puerto Rico. We’re fine, but many people lost everything in the mountain heartland and the South. Much of the damage is worse than Hurricane Maria. 

Ponce, the main city in Southern Puerto Rico, is the original home of many Bomba, Plena and Salsa legends, and continues to produce important cultural figures. Think Barrio San Anton in Ponce, Héctor Lavoe, Sonora Ponceña, and many others.

This help is important because many rural Puerto Ricans do not have legal title to their homes. That’s how it has always been in Puerto Rico (we are Jíbaro mountain farmers), but without paperwork, FEMA and other agencies will not help. Artists and cultural workers in this situation are completely abandoned in their time of need. Without art, who are we?

Sources:

• https://www.newyorklatinculture.com/cccadi-hurricane-fiona-puerto-rico-benefit-features-great-rock-plena-bomba-jazz-at-city-winery/
• https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/09/19/local-puerto-rican-artist-reflects-her-time-eye-storm/