SPRINGFIELD— Many western New Englanders underestimate the significance of the region’s sizeable Puerto Rican population — and what Hurricane Maria’s impact on the Caribbean has meant for the community here.
A new half-hour joint Connecting Point / Presencia special, “Hurricane Maria: One Year Later” from public television station WGBY will reflect on the disastrous hurricane, which led to the worst blackout in U.S. history. Hosted by Presencia’s host Veronica Garcia, the special episode will also explore the ways in which western New England is assisting evacuees of Puerto Rico — and how the community is coming together to support ongoing recovery efforts.
Local PBS station WGBY will air its special this Thursday, Sept. 20, at 8 p.m. and make it available for subsequent streaming (along with additional Hurricane Maria coverage) at wgby.org/maria.
Guests will include local evacuees Carmen Romero and Luis Robles, National Emergency Grant Job Developer Frank Martinez, Betty Medina Lichtenstein of Enlace De Familias Inc., Lydia Martinez from Springfield Public Schools, Dr. Steve Zrike From Holyoke Public Schools, Masslive/The Republican reporter Elizabeth Roman, and WGBY’s own Vanessa Pabón-Hernandez.
MARIA’S LOCAL IMPACT
According to the most recent U.S. Census (2010), more than 50,000 self-identified Puerto Ricans reside in Springfield alone, making it among the most Puerto Rican cities in the country. Other nearby cities, such as Holyoke and Chicopee, also feature large Puerto Rican populations.
As residents fled hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico late last year, many opted to house with loved ones here in the Pioneer Valley and surrounding areas. This has brought hundreds of new students to the region’s public schools.
“What Hurricane Maria shows us,” says Connecting Point Executive Producer Tony Dunne, “is how interconnected our world really is. What may seem to have happened many miles away nevertheless affects us right here at home.”
Pabón-Hernandez is executive producer for WGBY’s Presencia, a weekly bilingual series focusing on the stories from the region’s Latino community. She believes this 30-minute special, along with other related WGBY initiatives, will create awareness of the current situation and help bring the community closer in the wake of Hurricane Maria, especially as it supports Puerto Rican evacuees who have relocated here.
“Public broadcasting shares the diverse stories and ideas found right here in our region to create a more connected community. With so many Puerto Rican families in western New England, the impact of Hurricane Maria has been profound. It has been impressive to see our community stepping up, working together, and helping the recovery effort. I’m proud of WGBY’s work in telling these stories and helping our Puerto Rican community rebound from this tragic event.”
As local municipalities welcome and accommodate relocating families, many questions remain. Is there enough available housing? Are schools prepared to handle increased student populations? Are employment assistance programs in place? “Hurricane Maria: One Year Later” will ask these critical questions.
This special report is supported, in part, by the Community Foundation of Western Mass. and Mass Humanities.
