In the Eye of the Storm - The Puerto Rico Series (Part 1 of 3) | Nelson Colón on Disaster Recovery and Building Strength Through Community
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Episode Description
When all is smooth sailing, community is something that we often take for granted. But when the waves get rocky, there’s truth in the saying “it takes a village” -- after all, difficult times are made easier when we know we have others to lean on.
Today, we sit down with Nelson Colón, CEO of the Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Community Foundation) and Honorary Recipient of the 2014 Martin Luther King and Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” Awards for his work in social responsibility and justice. In his 20-year role as President of the Puerto Rico Community Foundation, Nelson has effectively spearheaded disaster-relief strategies throughout Puerto Rico, from community restoration in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and María, to providing critical medical response during COVID-19.
Tune in now as we have a candid conversation with Nelson about the racial and socio-economic challenges he faced growing up as a black Puerto-Rican; how his upbringing in a protective, tight-knit family inspired a lifelong dedication towards helping others in need; the experiences that continue to mold his passion for community-service-oriented projects in afflicted, at-risk areas of Puerto Rico; and personal advice on how we can each foster stronger communities in times of trial through continual provisions of compassion, support, and hope.
Show Notes
[Sequence 1] Hidden gem: Nelson chronicles his family history, from his father’s upbringing as the illegitimate son of a Puerto Rican sugar-cane plantation owner, to how he ended up becoming the manager of an urban factory. And the secret behind his success? Diamonds.
[Sequence 2] Unbelonging: Nelson recalls his childhood and the racial and socio-economic barriers that came with growing up on ‘the wrong side of the tracks.’
[Sequence 3a-b] Clan mentality: How did Nelson’s experience in a tight-knit family foster an early appreciation for community and mutual protection?
[Sequence 4-5] Low point: How did Nelson deal with his father’s heart attack and the growing unrest in Puerto Rico’s political climate as he prepared for university?
[Sequence 6] Prosperity through peace: Going into university, what inspired Nelson’s pacifistic worldview, and how did his extracurriculars enrich this ethos of strength through compassion?
[Sequence 7] Jamaican paradise: Key takeaways from Nelson’s trip to Jamaica, from studying theology to meeting his future wife.
[Sequence 9] Strength in numbers: Nelson discusses the tenets behind his passion for community service and the urban-development projects that he undertook outside of university.
[Sequence 10] Finding foundation: What motivated Nelson to join and eventually lead the Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico (aka Puerto Rico Community Foundation)? How did he increase the organization’s reach, and what types of projects has he spearheaded?
[Sequence 11] Eye of the hurricane: Nelson describes the FCPR’s disaster-relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and María, as well as his personal experience in witnessing their aftermath.
[Sequence 12-13] Bare necessities: Nelson goes into the FCPR’s strategies for providing damaged communities with the bare necessities for survival: water, light, and above all, hope.
[Sequence 14] COVID-19 relief: How has the FCPR provided resources and medical attention to Puerto Rican communities amidst the COVID-19 crisis?
[Sequence 15] Parting advice and recommended reads
Relevant Links
Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico website: https://www.fcpr.org/
Nelson Colón Full Biography from the FCPR website: https://www.fcpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Biografi%CC%81a-Nelson-Colo%CC%81n-Tarrats.pdf
About the FCPR - published in Harvard Review of Latin America - written by Nelson Colón:
https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/book/puerto-rico-community-foundation
FCPR - Collective Response to COVID-19: https://www.fcpr.org/covid-19-2/
Hurricane Irma lashes Puerto Rico with rain, historic winds - Youtube (9/6/2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWxtxNDgazY
Puerto Rico Battered by Hurricane Maria - The Guardian, 9/21/2017: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/21/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-storm-floods
FCPR Donations Forum:
https://www.globalgiving.org/donate/61211/puerto-rico-community-foundation/
A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches - written by Martin Luther King, Jr (4/29/2003): https://www.amazon.com/Testament-Hope-Essential-Writings-Speeches/dp/0060646918
For Further Study
Puerto Rico: A U.S. Territory in Crisis - Council on Foreign Relations (2/13/2020):
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/puerto-rico-us-territory-crisis
Puerto Rico's Protest Art Calls for the Island's Independence - Youtube (7/19/2017):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXyKBp3t9ow
The Last Colony - FULL FILM - EMMY Winner Juan Agustin Marque - Youtube (10/6/2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP5Jcvke_es
