WHEREAS, Philadelphia is a City of the arts, and the birthplace of incredibly talented individuals. These individuals contribute to the arts through their work, their educational legacies, their culinary talents and the role they play in representing their community; and
WHEREAS, Places like Taller Puertorriqueño provide spaces for Hispanic and Latino art to be displayed, as well as making space for education, the community and local events; and
WHEREAS, We honor Argenis Figueroa, a journalist based in Philadelphia who has spent his entire broadcast career reporting local and national news to Philadelphia’s Latino Community; and
WHEREAS, As a reporter, Figueroa has been recognized for work informing and supporting the development of the Hispanic community in the tri-state area for over 4 years. In his reports he highlights and investigates information and resources that federal, state and local governments have available for communities to improve their quality of life; and
WHEREAS, We honor the works of Clotilde Jiménez, who was born in Philadelphia and grew up to become a world-renowned artist who had the privilege and honor of being commissioned to design posters for the Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, respectively. Clotilde is a multi-disciplinary American artist who works with ceramics, collage, painting, printmaking, and sculpture; and
WHEREAS, Clotilde Jimenez committed to a life as an artist when he was a teenager living in Philadelphia, the first major step in his career was when he enrolled at Charter High School for Architecture and Design (CHAD), a school that granted opportunities for at-risk children with creative ambitions; and
WHEREAS, Geisha Torres is a journalist based in Philadelphia and an immigrant who made a major career shift from being a national broadcaster back home in Venezuela to focusing on uplifting and supporting her new community in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Torres was born and raised in Venezuela and has worked in the broadcast news industry for over twenty years. Back home she was a sports reporter and anchor for Meridiano TV and a trailblazer as the first woman in her country serve as a play-by-play commentator for the NBA and anchor the most popular sports program in the country; and
WHEREAS, We honor Nitza Rosario, a self-taught Caribeña ceramic artist born in the Bronx and raised in North Philadelphia. Nitza is from la Isla del Encanto, Puerto Rico, and her practice has allowed her to rekindle a sense of deep and meaningful ancestral connection; and
WHEREAS, As an artist, Nitza Walesca creates innovative vessels based on traditional forms and adorns them with Taino symbols. Her indigenous Puerto Rican, Taino heritage serves as a strong inspiration. Nitza was introduced to ceramic art by her high school art teacher, and then continued her education through The Clay Studio. She is a Claymobile Teaching Artist and Community Engagement Assistant at The Clay Studio, as well as a resident of South Kensington; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes and honors remarkable Latino and Hispanic Philadelphia artists and journalists during Hispanic Heritage Month. Congratulations!
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be sent to Clotilde Jiménez, Geisha Torres, Argenis Figueroa and Nitza Walesca Rosario
as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
End