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Hermano Joe Ficalora Brings Together Artists for Neighborhood Transformation

Brooklyn, NY — September 2014

Hermano Joe Ficalora

Lifelong Bushwick resident Joe Ficalora, 35, runs his family’s steel business, and always thought art was “this [bourgeois] rich s–t for museums.”

But after losing his mother to a brain tumor in 2011, a devastated Ficalora threw a neighborhood party the following year to raise money for children with brain tumors, and asked some prominent street artists to paint a few local walls.

This evolved into the Bushwick Collective, Ficalora’s landscape-changing effort to turn Bushwick into a diverse, massive outdoor art gallery. “When I see something I love, and I see how the artists live their lives,” says Ficalora, who refers to himself as an “accidental curator,” “I’m inspired by it.” This is his Bushwick street art New York.

Work by Buff Monster, The Yok, Sheryo, Tristan Eaton, Nychos and L’Amour Supreme, 444 Jefferson Street, at Wyckoff Avenue

Work by Buff Monster, The Yok, Sheryo, Tristan Eaton, Nychos and L’Amour Supreme, 444 Jefferson Street, at Wyckoff Avenue

Many artists, like rappers, work under invented monikers. This work was a one-day collaboration between six of them.

“This was like an impromptu hangout — we had food, and people were skateboarding and playing soccer. It was like a family barbecue,” says Ficalora. “Nychos did his [separated skull art] in two hours. The others were still laying out colors, and one of them said, ‘Where’s Nychos?’ And someone else said, ‘He’s giving us time to catch up.’ If you look at The Yok’s work [smoking skull art], look where the spine comes from — the Piña Colada glass. That’s a collaboration. There was no sketch for this — it was start here, start there.”

Work by Case Maclaim and Pixel Pancho, 447 Troutman Street, between St. Nicholas and Cypress Avenues

Work by Case Maclaim and Pixel Pancho, 447 Troutman Street, between St. Nicholas and Cypress Avenues

“Case Maclaim is from Germany, Pixel Pancho from Italy. They were both in town the weekend of the Bushwick Block Party. They talked for five, ten minutes, and one said, ‘I’m gonna do a hand. You wanna do something inside it?’ ‘Sounds good.’ No sketches. They started on Saturday, and next day was the block party. I told them to leave some parts [to do on Sunday], because I wanted them painting live during the party. I wanted people to meet them, get to know them, see that these things don’t just come from a printer and get thrown on a wall.”

Work by Mike Makatron, 1850 Troutman Street, at Onderdonk Avenue

Work by Mike Makatron, 1850 Troutman Street, at Onderdonk Avenue

“Makatron visited from Australia. When I see this, it’s like a breath of fresh air. Look at the drips inside the fire hydrant — these things pop with water coming out of them. Growing up right here, two blocks away, that’s what it reminds me of — it’s like the end of a summer day.”

 

 

 

Work by Sexer, 454 Troutman Street, between St. Nicholas and Cypress Avenues

Work by Sexer, 454 Troutman Street, between St. Nicholas and Cypress Avenues

“This is ‘Love Conquers All’ — that’s the love hammer, busting through it. Sexer is a great example of diversity and passion. He taught himself how to paint like this. He’s 40-something now, from the Bronx, and he’s been doing it since he was a teenager.”

 

 

 

Work by Nychos and Smithe, 414 Troutman Street, between Wyckoff and St. Nicholas Avenues

Work by Nychos and Smithe, 414 Troutman Street, between Wyckoff and St. Nicholas Avenues

The artists on this collaboration knew each other solely by reputation. Ficalora introduced them and they had one day in town together — Nychos is from Austria, Smithe from Mexico — so they decided to create this.

“It’s very hard to find people with the same styles,” says Ficalora. “They had never met, never had a sketch — there was no planning behind this. They had always looked forward to meeting each other. I’m grateful that the Bushwick Collective was able to provide that.”

– Larry Getlen
This article originally appeared on http://nypost.com/

Honorary Hermano Eduardo Peñalver Named Dean of Cornell Law School

Ithaca, NY — March 2014

Eduardo M. Peñalver ’94, an expert in property law and land use, and Cornell faculty member from 2006 to 2012, has been named the next Allan R. Tessler Dean of Cornell Law School. Currently the John P. Wilson Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School, Peñalver will become dean July 1.

In this 2012 file photo, Eduardo Peñalver speaks at a celebration at Cornell Law School for the publication of his and Gregory Alexander's book "An Introduction to Property Theory."

In this 2012 file photo, Eduardo Peñalver speaks at a celebration at Cornell Law School for the publication of his and Gregory Alexander’s book “An Introduction to Property Theory.”

Peñalver succeeds Stewart J. Schwab, who has been dean since 2004. Schwab, a faculty member since 1983, plans to return to teaching at the Law School after a sabbatical in the 2014-15 term.

“Eduardo’s extraordinary academic pedigree, deep love for Cornell, personal warmth and engaging vision make him ideally suited to build upon the excellent work of Dean Schwab and to further advance the pre-eminence of the Law School,” said Provost Kent Fuchs.

“I am excited and honored to return home to Cornell Law School as its next dean. My most formative intellectual experiences have been at Cornell, both as an undergraduate and, more recently, as a member of the law school faculty,” said Peñalver. “Cornell Law School is a remarkable community of scholars and students. It is diverse, intellectually rigorous and exceptionally collegial, and I look forward to working with our faculty, students, staff, alumni and the university leadership to guide the law school into the future.”

Peñalver, who received his B.A. from Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences in 1994 and his law degree from Yale Law School in 1999, joined the Cornell faculty in 2006 and the Chicago faculty in 2013. He taught at Fordham Law School from 2003 to 2006 and has been a visiting professor at Harvard and Yale law schools.

Upon completing law school, he clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Between college and law school, Peñalver studied philosophy and theology as a Rhodes scholar at the University of Oxford.

Praised by colleagues as an important, passionate and brilliant scholar, Peñalver has had his work on property law published in scholarly law journals at Yale University, the University of Michigan, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania. He is considered to be a leading voice in the “progressive property” movement. His research explores how property law creates or reinforces communal bonds and how property rights mediate the relationship between individuals and communities.

Peñalver’s book “Property Outlaws” (co-authored with Sonia Katyal), published by Yale University Press in 2010, explores the role of disobedience in the evolution of property law. His most recent book, “An Introduction to Property Theory” (co-authored with Gregory Alexander), was published by Cambridge University Press in 2011.

Described as an eloquent, engaging and provocative instructor, Peñalver has taught courses on land use, law and religion, property law, and theories of property, among others. In addition, he has delivered more than 60 academic presentations all over the world.

From 2009 to 2011, Peñalver was director of faculty research at the Law School. From 2007 to 2010, he was faculty adviser to the Cornell Law Review. In 2010, Peñalver received the Provost’s Award for Distinguished Scholarship.

Peñalver and his wife, Sital Kalantry ’94, met as undergraduates at Cornell. She will be returning to the law school as a clinical professor; currently Kalantry is a clinical professor at the University of Chicago Law School and founder and director of its International Human Rights Clinic. Together they have two children.

Chris Brouwer (Cornell Law School Writer)
This article originally appeared on http://www.news.cornell.edu.

Hermano David Tinta Recognized By Local News Station

Charlottesville, VA — February 2014

Hermano David TintaA University of Virginia student is being called, a role model, mentor, and hero. In this week’s Stephanie’s Heroes, CBS19’s Stephanie Satchell is featuring David Tinta, who’s mentoring children in Albemarle County. He’s helping them with school work and boosting their confidence.

Watch the original video here.

David Tinta is a busy 4th year student at UVA but still finds enough free time to give back in between classes.

Once a week, he volunteers in the Southwood community in Albemarle County.

“These kids are just looking for someone to give out a hand and to help them out in their time of need. This is the time to enlighten themselves and feel excited about education and I just want to be a part of that,” said David Tinta.

Tinta is a member of the Latino Student Alliance at UVA. Members of the organization mentor and tutor children in the primarily Hispanic community.

“We saw a need. There were so many children in the Southwood neighborhood that come to Cale school that needed extra help,” said Gloria Rockhold, Community Engagement Manager, Albemarle County Public Schools.

Tinta spends most of his time reading and working on math problems with 1st grade student Brayan Chico Esteban.

“The best part about working with David is that at the end, we get to do another homework and play games,” said Chico Esteban.

Tinta says it’s important for him to be a role model to children here.

“I would look to the television and see people just like me doing successful things like going to college and being a lawyer or whatever it might be. As a child, I never found these role models and I felt that because i’m going to college and because I’m in the place that I am, that it’s my duty to go and be a role model to these kids,” said Tinta.

Cale Elementary School principal Lisa Jones says the mentoring program is making a big difference for lots of students.

“When students get any extra support at home, it’s going to show in the classroom. If you are coming in the classroom ready to learn, you are more confident. So, any help that you can get outside of school, I feel that it’s going to have a positive impact on how you perform inside of school.

Although David Tinta doesn’t think “hero” is the right word to describe him, many others in and around the community do.

Stephanie Satchell
This article first appeared on http://www.NewsPlex.com.

Hermano William Genova Creates Higher Education Initiative For High Schoolers

Brentwood, NY — February 2014

Luchando por la educación universitaria
Ex alumno de Brentwood crea iniciativa para motivar a jóvenes a continuar con sus estudios
Rise-Up-Brentwood

Los panelistas y ex alumnos de Brentwood: Ashley Crespo, Noman Hamlani, William Genova, Elissa Olivera y Richard Loeschner, director de la Escuela Secundaria de Brentwood.

¿Porqué solo unos pocos estudiantes que se gradúan de la Escuela Secundaria de Brentwood continúan con sus estudios universitarios? La respuesta a esta pregunta la encontró William Genova durante su primer año de estudios postsecundarios, cuando se dio cuenta que conocía muy poco de los recursos que la universidad a la que asistía ofrecía. Él, como muchos otros estudiantes de su escuela secundaria, apenas había recibido información relacionada con los estudios universitarios.

Genova, de 20 años, estudió en el distrito escolar de Brentwood desde el kínder hasta su graduación en el 2011. Actualmente el joven de origen puertorriqueño estudia Estudios Étnicos y Educación en la Universidad Yale.

Aunque en la escuela secundaria de Brentwood ofrecen programas y eventos para que sus estudiantes continúen con sus estudios universitarios, la información proporcionada es muy básica, por lo que no promueve ni concientiza a los estudiantes sobre la importancia y el valor de la educación universitaria en sus vidas.

Con el fin de cambiar las cosas, Genova creó la iniciativa “Rise Up Brentwood” o “Levántate Brentwood” cuyo objetivo es cultivar la importancia de la educación universitaria en la comunidad de Brentwood, a través de la facilitación de discusiones en torno a diversos temas de educación.

“Con esta iniciativa quiero ayudar a éstos a cubrir ese vacío, ya que hay mucha información que conozco y se las puedo ofrecer”, expresó

Mediante asambleas, debates y paneles, ex alumnos de Brentwood que atienden diversas universidades en el país comparten sus experiencias y cuentan los obstáculos que han librado, con el propósito de motivar a los jóvenes a luchar por sus sueños y continuar con sus estudios.

Varios de los panelistas son los primeros miembros de sus familias que van a la universidad, otros son inmigrantes, o trabajan desde muy jóvenes para ayudar con la economía de sus familias. Esto hace que los estudiantes se identifiquen con ellos y se den cuenta que existen mejores oportunidades, depende de ellos mismos aprovecharlas. “Les contamos lo satisfactorio que es ir a la universidad y que es una oportunidad que ellos también pueden tener”, dijo Genova.

Esta iniciativa también ofrecen un programa después de la escuela para ayudar a los estudiantes a aplicar a universidades especiales. “Aunque estas universidades son altamente competitivas, cuentan con los recursos y la ayuda financiera que muchos de estos jóvenes necesitan. Buscamos que los estudiantes piensen de manera diferente, para que tomen el control de sus vidas a través de su educación”, enfatizó.

Genova considera que la información sobre educación postsecundaria debe proporcionarse a los alumnos desde más temprana edad, por ello compartirá este programa con los estudiantes de la escuela media de ese distrito escolar.

Para mayor información sobre esta iniciativa puede contactarse con William Genova en la página de Facebook: Rise Up Brentwood; o escribir al correo electrónico: william.genova@yale.edu

Gloria Robles
This article was originally posted on http://noticiali.com/.