OMAR TORRES- KORTRIGHT
W
DAMEN ARTS PLAZA E
Also out on the plaza is Omar Torres-Kortright. He directs the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, a hub for the city’s Puerto Rican community for almost 45 years. “We have a presence in all these neighborhoods that The 606
unites,” Omar says. No surprise, then, that the cultural center was among the community groups asked to join the trail’s grand opening celebration back in June. Omar helped organize a colorful proces- sion of performers in handmade masks and vibrant costumes, who danced the length of the trail to the infectious rhythm of Latin music. It was a highly visible celebration of Puerto Rican culture, Omar says, “and of what The 606 means for our community.”
38 · LAND&PEOPLE · FALL/WINTER 2015
“Even though I’ve been here for 15 years, I still consider myself very close to the island and also to the newer generation of Puerto Ricans moving to Chicago. The 606 is a way for us all to stay connected. Commuting by bike has gotten a lot easier—I can actually get all the way from home to the cultural center on the trail. Our procession at the grand opening was an oppor- tunity to show how alive our culture is. We invited the Puerto Rican community in these neighborhoods to come out and celebrate, and they showed up in big num- bers. It just gave us another perspective on our presence in Chicago, and how much our culture is appreciated.”
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