Community Foundation grants $5,000 TO PROJECT for cultural awareness “EDUCA cORTéS”.”
(San Juan, Puerto Rico)- The Puerto Rico Community Foundation (PRCF) made a donation to the Educa Cortés Casa Cortés Foundation to provide an opportunity for 400 students and community leaders, including the schools with which FCPR collaborates, to provide them with an educational experience through art, writing and reading. Caribbean artwork is used as a vehicle for learning and socio-cultural enrichment. Students will acquire skills related to core academic subjects while learning about art and having fun.
“The FCPR has supported the strengthening of education since its inception, we have always sought to support programs and projects that address the issue of education in a creative and relevant way for students. Educa Cortés represents an oasis of learning that at the same time raises awareness through the arts.”, expressed Dr. Nelson I. Colón Tarrats, executive president of the FCPR.
The program Educa Cortés uses the works of art from the Chocolate Cortés Collection located in its two exhibition halls as classrooms through which it seeks to promote dialogue, reflection and the brotherhood that should prevail in our society and with our Caribbean brothers in order to achieve a better coexistence and a better quality of life for all.
“We have injected into this program all of our passion, as well as the accumulated learning representative of several years working to strengthen education in our schools. The program also incorporates professional educators who, because of their knowledge in art and pedagogy, can support the teaching-learning process guided by the teacher in the school,” said Adelisa González-Lugo, executive director, Casa Cortés Foundation.
The two-hour workshops are co-designed with teachers to complement the academic standards and expectations of the core subjects. In addition, they integrate creative activities, activation of the senses and reflection in a unique space of peace. During the workshop, they are also presented with a documentary about the process that takes place to obtain the chocolate we consume, starting by exposing them to the cocoa fruit, which they can smell, touch and taste presenting a whole sensory experience.
Recently, fourth grade students from the Science class at the Daniel Díaz Santana School in Gurabo participated in Educa Cortés. The students and their teachers had the opportunity to tour and appreciate the works in the “Corporalities” exhibit, while identifying the Caribbean countries they were marking on a map. They then participated in a workshop on plant reproduction, using pre-selected artwork containing seeds, plants, flowers and fruits, and culminated with the creation of artwork inspired by their assigned artwork. They then practiced public speaking skills by presenting their final artwork and received feedback from their peers.
“This workshop focused on works by Caribbean artists, in which science topics (plant reproduction) were integrated. The students were able to appreciate the different works of art and relate them to concepts already studied. They also had the opportunity to create their own artistic works and orally express the experiences of their work. The educational experience obtained by my students was exceptional and, as they themselves said, unforgettable,” said Professor Diana M. Ferrán.
Educa Cortés has received up to 2016, 3,000 participants from 45 schools, institutions or associations. The island-wide impact is summarized in seventeen towns, including Ponce, Caguas, Comerío, San Juan, Arecibo and Las Piedras. It is important to mention that several schools have shown interest in bringing other groups, but have not been able to do so due to the significant expenses involved.
Established in 2012, La Casa Cortés Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose primary mission is to educate and inspire with our passion for the Caribbean arts. It is an initiative that through art and humanities, seeks to promote the strengthening of the values of our people. It should be noted that all our activities and programs are free of charge. This alliance will allow students and teachers to enter a learning scenario different from the one they are used to in schools.
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