Latino leaders announce new initiative

Latino leaders announce new initiative

By Andria Y. Carter , Business Editor

05/17/2003

TransCultural New Jersey: Diverse Artists Merging Cultures and Communities is a new initiative created by a continuing partnership between New Jersey Network and Rutgers University.

NJN and Rutgers announced the initiatives formation at a celebration held at NJN’s studios for over 150 Latino business, civic and community leaders honoring their community’s statewide achievements.

Daniel Jara, president/CEO of Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, stated that everyone can learn from each other because each communities is made up from many nationalities.

TransCultural New Jersey: Diverse Artists Merging Cultures and Communities initiative will be spearheaded by Rutgers through its Office for Intercultural Initiatives and the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum. The initiatives partnerships involve NJN and Rutgers in association with the New Jersey State Museum, the Jersey City Museum, The Newark Museum and 12 other art institutions.

The new initiative will explore the cultural impact of emerging and older Hispanic, Asian, African American, Caribbean, and Native American communities within the state. Activities planned for 2004 include exhibitions, interpretive cultural programs, digital education programs and televised broadcasts designed to promote cross-cultural awareness of and appreciation for diverse artists who are shaping culture in New Jersey and merging communities across ethnic, racial and religious boundaries.

Latino leaders not only celebrated the initiatives announcement but also the strong community partnership NJN has with the Latino community. For over 30 years, NJN has been broadcasting "Images/Imagenes," the nation’s longest running Hispanic public affairs program, and NJN’s 17-year-old "Hispanic Youth Showcase."

Everyone stood up an applauded and cheered when Elizabeth G. Christopherson, executive director of NJN, announced that Images/Imagenes’ producer Willie Sanchez was promoted to executive producer. Christopherson commended Sanchez’s commitment to the show.

"I am very proud of Willie. So many people care about the program and both Rutgers and myself feel very strongly in the program’s continuation," Christopherson said. "The exciting part is to watch so many individuals discover their voice and talents through the program and in broadcast and then go on to remarkable careers."

NJN and Rutgers were also honored at the celebration by New Jersey Assistant Secretary of State Lizette Delgado who presented Christopherson and Dr. Richard McCormick, president of Rutgers, with a proclamation recognizing and commending their "two great state institutions for their contributions to a new understanding of New Jersey’s rich cultural diversity."