Media | Vieques Events - May, 2005

 

Vieques – Martha’s Vineyard Youth Exchange: 2005

The Vieques Youth Leadership Initiative recently hosted its first cross-cultural exchange with students from Martha's Vineyard. On April 14, nine Vineyard students (ages 15-18) and twelve young Viequenses shared their dreams and stories about what it's like to live on an island. Viequenses from the VYLI Cultural Arts Initiative include Maria de los Angeles Alvarado, Yesenia Camacho, Ibis Raquel Casanova, Kassandra and Vanessa Castillo Cruz, Jose Bayron Garcia, Clara Marie Goméz, Julie Ledesma, Carmen Rosa, Ivan and Valerie Serrano, Mara Olivieri Ventura and project coordinator Kutasha Silva.

Accompanied by Spanish teachers Lynn Ditchfield and San Juan native Sheila Fridman, Vineyarders were eager to practice their Spanish. Vieques was their first stop in a week-long field trip which also included San Juan, Aguadilla, and Fajardo.

While waiting for La Lancha to arrive, Viequenses youth learned about Martha's Vineyard by reading a story about young farmers who rallied their community to rebuild their beloved Ag Hall -- from the book, Stone Soup for the World (Pan Y Vino Para El Camino), written on the Vineyard in 1997.

They arrived bearing gifts of the Vineyard's famous Black Dog T-Shirt. In return, they received the new T-Shirt designed with Vieques youth. Looking at local maps, everyone was fascinated to discover that both islands are about the same size and shape with a similar number of year-round residents.

Vineyard youth were impressed how young Viequenses expressed their dreams for their future. Duncan Pickard, 17-year old editor of the Vineyard school newspaper, is writing a feature story – and exploring ways to continue the exchange. Maybe someday Vieques youth will travel to the Vineyard.

This cultural exchange was especially meaningful, since Martha's Vineyard was the original home of the Stone Soup Leadership Institute (the international educational organization that initiated the Vieques Youth Leadership Initiative). Young people enjoyed looking at photo albums from sharing stories about Vineyard events with Walter Cronkite, President Clinton as well as the award-winning Make a Difference Day community service projects.

Tito Auger, lead singer for Fiel a la Vega helped to royally welcome the Vineyard students by traveling to Vieques to rehearse the new VYLI theme song, Sueños . It was a fascinating musical exchange. Ruby Hoy, 15-year-old daughter of the Vineyard's top band singer even has her own youth band. The new VYLI theme song was premiered on March 5 at the Taste of the Island benefit hosted by Roberto and Ileana Cacho. In April, Vieques youth professionally recorded it at Danny Rivera's studio. Leslie Mason, Equinox Productions, captured precious moments for their new video.

Tito thrilled fishermen and neighbors in Bo. Morrapo by spontaneously joining the young people, marching down to the sea, singing the song. The next morning, they were still talking.