Help Us Build Cultural Equity Through Art & Education
The Afro-Latino Education & Arts Collective creates educational, cultural, and community-centered experiences that celebrate Afro-Latino identity while increasing visibility, representation, and access to resources through the arts.
AFRO-LATINDAD (Puerto RICO)
This short series featuring our founder Sharon Cruz; explores what it means to be Afro-Puerto Rican and embrace your Black identity. Through stories, traditions, and personal reflections, it celebrates the pride, resilience, and cultural richness that keep Blackness alive.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Our Services
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We produce immersive cultural experiences that bring communities together through music, food, art, dance, storytelling, and live performances that celebrate Afro-Latino and Caribbean culture.
Thousands of attendees engaged through annual festivals
Increased visibility for Afro-Latino artists, performers, and vendors
Free public cultural programming for families and youth
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We provide educational workshops, presentations, and Afro-Latino ethnic studies resources designed for schools, universities, and organizations seeking culturally inclusive programming.
Youth-centered learning experiences
Culturally responsive educational materials
Greater awareness of Afro-Latino history and identity
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We collaborate with artists, educators, performers, filmmakers, and cultural workers to create platforms that amplify Afro-Latino voices and storytelling.
Opportunities for emerging creatives
Artist showcases and exhibitions
Community-centered creative collaborations
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Through partnerships, events, and outreach initiatives, we connect communities with free resources, cultural programming, and meaningful conversations around identity, equity, and representation.
Accessible community programming
Cross-cultural dialogue and engagement
Support for underserved communities
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We use film, photography, interviews, and digital storytelling to preserve Afro-Latino narratives and share stories that are often overlooked in mainstream media.
Educational video content
Community storytelling initiatives
Increased online visibility for Afro-Latino experiences
LATEST EVENTS
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
“Being Afro-Latino is distinct and exists along a person’s racial identity, national origin and includes culture, ancestry and physical features… it is much more than just a label and much more than just a race.”
— Ana Gonzalez-Barrera, Researcher“Afro-Latinxs had a poverty rate of about 23 % in 2019,a higher than both non-Black Latino and overall U.S. rates.”
— UCLA Latino Policy & Politics InstituteAbout 6 million adults in the United States identify as Afro-Latino, making up roughly 2 % of the U.S. adult population and about 12 % of all Latino adults — highlighting the size and presence of Afro-Latino communities nationwide.
— Pew Research Center
Visiting San Basilio de Palenque, the first free Black town in the New World, is a journey into a rich and resilient history of Afro-Colombian heritage. Founded in the 17th century by escaped African slaves (Maroons) led by Benkos Biohó, this village became a stronghold of freedom long before slavery was abolished in the Americas.
Visiting San Basilio de Palenque, the first free Black town in the New World, is a journey into a rich and resilient history of Afro-Colombian heritage. Founded in the 17th century by escaped African slaves (Maroons) led by Benkos Biohó, this village became a stronghold of freedom long before slavery was abolished in the Americas.
Today, Palenque preserves its unique language, Palenquero (a blend of Spanish and African languages), vibrant music, traditional medicine, and deep-rooted cultural practices. Visitors can explore the town’s history through guided tours, experience traditional drumming and dance, taste authentic Afro-Caribbean cuisine, and learn about the town’s UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage. A visit to Palenque offers a powerful glimpse into the enduring spirit of resistance, culture, and identity of the African diaspora in Colombia.