The Work of Puerto Rican Poet/Writer Alberto O. Cappas

The World of New York Politics: Judge lectures Harlem families to take responsibility as he sentenced Drug Dealers. Did he go to far? Was he right on point?

2011-12-06T12:19:00.000-08:00

The World of New York Politics: Judge lectures Harlem families to take responsibility as he sentenced Drug Dealers. Did he go to far? Was he right on point?

The Educational Pledge Gift Bag

2011-06-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

Designed for students, parents and schools;

also excellent resource for juvenile correctional facilities.....

http://www.educationalpledge.com/

Please don't confuse me with a nigger!

2011-01-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

This poem is dedicated to the educational advancement of our young people
and to the elimination of ignorance in our communities:

Please don't confuse me with a nigger!

I'm a Black Man; I'm a proud African American;

I'm a Latino; I'm a proud Puerto Rican!

I plan to pursue an appropriate education based on my goals;

As I read years ago, Education is the passport to the future, for

Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.

Please don't confuse me with a nigger!

Beware of negative images and values,

For what so ever you sow, so shall you reap!

As I learned years ago from a man who reached the mountain top,

I know that today we are not judged by the color of the skin,

But by the content of the character that one displays.

I wear my clothes appropriately, especially my pants,

Let us not be compared!

Please don't confuse me with a nigger!

Black Men love their women with their heart;

Niggers love women for their bodies;

Black Men use money as an instrument to advance the race;

Niggers use money as a weapon to destroy the youth of the race.

Please don't confuse me with a nigger!

A nigger comes in all colors;

Take the time and discover the word in the books of history,

And not on the streets of ignorance!

Please, please!

My love ones are my friends, my brothers and my sisters;

They are not my niggers!

Educational Pledge, by Coral Caporale

2010-11-19T13:03:00.000-08:00

Life in Progress, Inside the Box

2010-05-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

I remember when poets were messengers of vision and information, not always positive, but always providing us a mirror to see clearly and get us to move forward… but now, all I see are evil spirits, rappers, and self-made entertainers passing as poets, penetrating their spells on the youth, and continuing to keep them inside the box.

But they never provide you answers to solutions or visions that will show you the light or guide you to your personal journey on this planet.

I don’t have all the answers, but I will try to remove some of the layers of bricks between us and see if I can leave you with some clues to your confinement inside the Box.

You should be happy to know that the box has no locks or chains. It is completely opened and you can walk or jump out any time your heart desires, and become the person you were born to be…the person you are supposed to be…..

You can do and be anything you want to be, just forward your dreams and aspirations into your hands and activate an action forward. Like the Congressman Adam Clayton Powell once said:

“What’s in your hands?”
"What's in your hands?”

After 60 plus years on this planet, the least you can do is listen to my crazy poems, full of people not able to get out the box, hit hard by not learning or applying the secrets of having balance in their lives, and consequently, were destroyed by self-conflict, lack of proper health, and lack of emotional control.

The following poems are about you and me, our family and friends, especially those that are in the box, manipulated into the box by invisible but strong forces, like our local community leaders, our so-called elected officials, our rapper poets, M-TV, Television, which I call the idiot box, especially when we watch too much of it…

Listen to these poetic stories:

Poetic Story #1: Borinquen
Doña Rivera, The one everybody comes to when
They run into unresolved situations
Was sold the Moon yesterday
She was very happy ‘cause the
Salesman gave her a break
Telling her she did not have to pay taxes on it
“It was tax free”
He told her
All her neighbors were surprised
That she accomplished such a big thing
So they assembled and celebrated her new fortune
They decided that Doña should
Keep it a secret or else the welfare department
Would come and take the Moon away from her
Time passed and Doña Rivera became a very proud woman
At night, especially when the
Moon was bright and in full view
Doña Rivera would stay up late and admire the beauty of her new possession
On weekend nights
She would invite her relatives and best friends over to share the experience with them….
“See”
She would tell her friends and relatives
“In this country
You have the freedom to buy anything you want”

Poetic Story #2: Doña Julia
Doña Julia Committed suicide last night cause the welfare department
Demanded too many documents she did not know existed
The utilities were removed
The landlord proudly gave her eviction papers
The friendly bodega accused her of trespassing
Holding on to hope
Doña Julia visited Puerto Rican leaders with fancy titles
Promising her things that never arrived
Doña Julia
Always made it a point to vote with the democrats,
The party of the poor, she used to say…
Doña Julia
Committed suicide last night because life was angry with her
Revealed to her by the spirits…
That is what she said…
And the people that didn’t know her
always found things to say about her….
With fancy titles
Her daughter Evelyn disappeared with this dude named Hector who promised her every thing he didn’t have
And her son Josè
Who dropped out of school at the age of 10
Always took money from Doña Julia
To pay his expenses and other things for the dead head
He too disappeared looking for his friends who were never around when he didn’t have anything
Doña Julia
Committed suicide cause life was angry with her
Her dead face had a smile that police officers did not understand
Someone that did not know how to read found a note and flushed it down the toilet thinking it had something
To do with the numbers
The note said something about
“One way or the other
I’m going back to Puerto Rico.”

Poetic Story #3: Maria’ Journey
She was sitting there
The lonely traffic passing by
Thinking of yesterday when Mommy
Used to cry in protest
The warm air freezing her body
Listening to broken down voices of edited confusion
Subway rides traveling to nowhere
The wino on the corner learning to read
The New York Times
The polluted smell of everything hanging around her body
Thinking of yesterday when Fernando told her
“If you love me – you have to prove it”
She was sitting there
Hating the endless hours of the night
Those that passed looked at her with inviting eyes
That wanted to come out after her
Black and Puerto Rican kids playing Cowboys and Indians
After dark in the backyard streets
Where all of them
The Rats, the Dogs, the Cats, and the Pushers
Hold their daily meetings
She was sitting there
Hating herself for accepting a defeat that loved her
The lonely traffic passing by
Bars and liquor stores on every corner conditioning the younger victims
While the drug dealers count their money of death
Thinking of yesterday
Her trip from Puerto Rico and her first introduction
To the New York cold that ravaged her body
Sitting there
Thinking of yesterday when Freddie played her wrong
Accusing her of being a Puta for no reason at all
He is now happily married to a girl
From Queens who makes love to the dog next door
Thinking of yesterday
The dances, the parties, and the James Bond movies
She loved so much
And now
Waiting for the overdose of everything to take effect…

Poetic Story #4: Letter for Iris
It was long ago yesterday
The oldies, the gangs, the wine
Trying to find definitions to everything
Everyone refusing to speak Spanish
Stupid heavy accents
Keeping our welfare secrets to ourselves
You didn’t reveal anything until years later
It was long ago yesterday
The oldies, the gangs, the wine
Going to sets during school hours
Drinking that terrible wine that you disliked so much
And the Ricans and Dominicans from downtown
Rapping to you behind my back
The Latin Knights against the Young Lovers
The Sinners against the Viceroys
The Dragons against the Assassins
Jitterbugging into oblivion
Willie a junkie on Columbus Avenue
Eddie a homo on 72nd Street
Carlos a revolutionary at Attica
Sara a community leader in Washington Heights
Jose a capitalist on Wall Street
Mimi a housewife in Puerto Rico
Carmen a Puta in the South Bronx
And Miguel
Demonstrating in front of the United Nations
With fifty buttons on his jacket
It was long ago yesterday
The oldies, the gangs, the wine
Remembering those wonderful nightmares
The playground, the backyard, the roof
The fire hydrant, the basement, and those
Silent trips to the park where we made
The plans that never came
I leave you now
The oldies, the gangs, the wine
Hoping you found your definitions without regrets
I only found new inventions of ignorance by many
Refusing to open the path to their growth and development

Poetic Story #5: Suicide of a Puerto Rican Jibaro (In Mainland Buffalo)
They didn’t understand.
They were all Americans now
He would smile sometimes
Thinking about his youth in Ponce
Carmen, Rosa, Teresa and Liza
Holding on to dreams
That helped him stay alive
The tropical music that was killed
By the new sound of “salsa”
But they didn’t understand
His children didn’t understand
A million times his body was raped
By the unfriendly cold
The farm he sacrificed
To pursue the American Dream
Trying to buy some dignity in the trade
Of the unemployment office
Shoveling the snow that invaded
His tropical existence
He would walk up Virginia Street
And down Hudson Street
Searching
For some clues of understanding
But
Only
Found
New inventions of nightmares
That wanted to destroy his dreams
The dead dreams
That helped him stay alive
Were too weak
For the American nightmare
They didn’t understand
They were
All Americans now

Poetic Story #6: Milagros – A Love Story
When she was born
Her mother named her Milagros.
Her father was never around.
The neighbors said she was beautiful
but it was sad that her hair was a little kinky.
When she was fifteen years old,
she had dreams to go after.
When she was seventeen,
she dropped out of school
’cause it was the groovy thing to do.
When she was almost eighteen
she opened her legs to Papo — who told her he loved her
The night after, he told her to get the hell away.
When she was almost eighteen
she was cool, she partied, she smoked
and got down a few times
hoping someone would tell her
‘I love you’ — and means it
but time passed (and no one ever did).
When she was nineteen
she had five abortions.
When she was nineteen
she was cool, she was beautiful
selling her wasted body on forty-second street
to buy American dreams
hating the ugly smell of polluted breath
and old men telling her:
‘I love you, you Spanish girl.’

And last but not least, a poem, a pledge to help us become magical and powerful, able to become what we are supposed to become, based on what we want to do with our journey in life. If you can buy into this pledge, at least introduce it to our students, and to our young kids so they can begin to understand at an early age the concept of setting goals, and understanding the essence of an education, and finally, understanding the system of values and standards.

The Educational Pledge

I pledge to maintain a
Healthy Mind and Body
Staying away from the Evil of drugs
I pledge always to try my Best to understand
The importance of Knowledge and Education
I pledge to paint a Positive picture of where
I plan to be tomorrow
Not allowing obstacles to stop the growth of my Plans
I pledge to seek Answers to Questions,
With the understanding that they
Will lead to other discoveries
I pledge to work diligently
With the Awareness and Confidence
That hard work today will serve
As the seeds for my strong tree tomorrow
A tree that no one will be able to tear down
I pledge to learn proper languages,
Beginning with my Mother's
Always prepared to appreciate others
I pledge to gain a better understanding of who I am
By understanding my Cultural roots
I pledge to fully accept who I am as a spiritual and human being
A Rainbow of many cultures and colors
I pledge to overcome any Personal misfortunes
Becoming Stronger from such misfortunes
Always striving to become
A wise person.

An Education and a Plan: A note for our Youth

2010-05-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Try to always remember that life is a game…

And the setbacks you experience are actual tools that try to educate you and teach you how to play the game.

However, if you are not aware of the game of life, you will not be able to understand the value of the setbacks and they will work against you, not for you.

Once you are born and able to think for yourself, you must understand your purpose for being here.

You should be able to find clues to your purpose by thinking of your Dreams. One has many dreams, but only one is a purpose. The right dream is the one that gives you a positive picture of where you see yourself in the space of the future.

A negative dream is a distraction to your purpose. Without an education, you may not be able to understand or defeat the distraction.

However, to make the purpose and/or the Dream a reality, you must take two very critical and important steps. These are steps that would give you all the power and magic you need to make the Dream come true, but you must take the steps!

One is Education.

And the second one is a Plan.

It is very simple! All you need to make a positive dream come true is an Education and a Plan.

Education is not what many people tell you it is. For example, you don’t go to school to get an education in order to find a job, or prepare for a job.

An Education is a journey! it is a lifetime trip you take as a human being. You meet new friends, friends who look different than you and think different than you, friends with different ideas and opinions. And some dress different and speak a different language then you.

If you keep your mind open, and if you listen to what you are hearing, and give vision to what you see, your education is on the way track! An education is a preparation for enjoying life, to open your mind to all the options available to you.

An education gives you a real vision to what you may like or not like, to prepare for a job or to prepare to have your own business or corporation; to become a consumer where you work for someone, or to become a provider where you have your own company and have people working for you. You can decide to be a worker, a supervisor, a manager, a president of your own company, and much more.

The main thing to remember is that an education introduces you to the world of possibilities and options. It gives you a realistic imagination to work with. To have an education is to have a system of values and standards, and you are not afraid to face hard and difficult challenges; as well as the ability to think and make right choices and decisions.

With an education, you should be able to have the discipline to have a plan to navigate, step by step until you reach the realization of your Dream. The plan is a roadmap of proper choices and decisions to get to your Dream.

Life is that simple, as well as magical and fun.

Life stops being magical and fun when you bypass and ignore the dream and the plan. Without the dream and a plan, you make choices and decision that has nothing to do with your purpose. You become lost in the world.

Take a look outside the window and you can see the number of misguided and unfortunate people who made wrong choices and decisions.

An Education and a Plan provides you an opportunity to appreciate and understand the spiritual value and gift of your presence on this planet.

You are a gift to this world. Make the right choices and decisions and make the marks, leave footprints for the generation following you.

I leave you with The Education Pledge which I hope you will embrace and use it as a guide in your journey. I dedicate The Educational Pledge to all the children and youth of the world:

The Educational Pledge, An instrument to help you defeat ignorance:

I PLEDGE TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY MIND AND BODY
STAYING AWAY FROM THE EVIL OF DRUGS
I PLEDGE ALWAYS TO TRY MY BEST TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION
I PLEDGE TO PAINT A POSITIVE PICTURE OF WHERE I PLAN TO BE IN THE FUTURE
NOT ALLOWING OBSTACLES TO STOP THE GROWTH OF MY PLANS
I PLEDGE TO SEEK ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WILL LEAD TO OTHER DISCOVERIES
I PLEDGE TO WORK FIRM
WITH THE AWARENESS AND CONFIDENCE
THAT FIRM WORK TODAY WILL SERVE AS THE SEEDS FOR MY STRONG TREE TOMORROW
A TREE THAT NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO TEAR DOWN
I PLEDGE TO LEARN PROPER LANGUAGES
BEGINNING WITH MY MOTHER'S
ALWAYS PREPARED TO APPRECIATE OTHERS
I PLEDGE TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ME
BY UNDERSTANDING MY CULTURAL ROOTS
I PLEDGE TO FULLY ACCEPT ME AS A SPIRITUAL AND HUMAN BEING
A RAINBOW OF MANY CULTURES AND COLORS
I PLEDGE TO OVERCOME ANY PERSONAL MISFORTUNES
BECOMING STRONGER FROM SUCH MISFORTUNES
ALWAYS STRIVING TO BECOME
A WISE PERSON…

DEALING WITH THE STATUS QUO IN THE INNER CITIES

2010-02-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

AN OBSTACLE BLOCKING EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR

I believe that it is time to bring the “status quo” up to date, as it is now working against the growth and development of our young people, especially in communities of color.

What is the status quo? The status quo is a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" - literally "the state in which" - is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are. The related phrase status quo ante, literally "the state in which before", means "the state of affairs that existed previously" (from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia on the internet)
During the 1950s and 1960s, the social movement served as a classic example of the status quo being challenged. The term frequently refers to the status of a large issue, such as the current culture or social climate of an entire society or nation.

Yes, it is time to bring the “status quo” up to date, and if not, we will be condemning our young people to another generation of failure and upheaval.

Case in point:

As a national policy, the status quo directs our young people that they must go to school in order to get a job; and based on this orientation, too many young people reject the notion of education, developing an anti-education mentality.

The fact is that “job opportunities” as a rationale or promotional tool for pushing young people to pursue an education has failed miserably in our urban and inner cities. Just look or study the statistics.

We need, very desperately, to change the status quo when it comes to the concept of pursuing an education. Pursuing an education is much more than just a job waiting at the end of the process. Pursuing an education is never an end, but an on-going process. The never-ending process leads to either one of two paths: conceptional awareness or conceptional ignorance -- two major roads affecting one’s journey in life.

We need to change this orientation and mindset. We need to inform and educate our young people that they should go to school, but not to prepare for a job, but to see education and school as a “essential key” that will open doors to unlimited possibilities: meeting new acquaintances, adding new friends and colleagues, other cultures, other spoken languages, and may lead to the realization that they want more than just a job, but an opportunity to become entrepreneurs, masters of their own companies, CEOs and Presidents, and much more – graduating as a provider, and not as a consumer.

Don’t misunderstand me! There is nothing wrong with being a consumer if that is what you know you are and want to be; however, it is a different story when one is conditioned, educationally and socially, into being a consumer without any direct personal awareness or knowledge.

Unfortunately, we have too many conditioned consumers creating policies for our young people. This is very dangerous. Just take a look at the makeup of our present elected officials and all the mismanagement and corruption that they are involved in.

And take a look at many of our leading community based organizations and leaders working together with these elected officials, in partnership, perpetuating the status quo in communities of color.

The insanity of all this is that, we now have a coalition of people, that created the problem in the first place, controlling the financial resources and public policies, involved in addressing how to solve the problems that they themselves continue to perpetuate.

Yes, it is time to address the obsoleteness of the status quo and save our young people from this orientation and mindset. When we seriously address this problem, the positive outcome will be:

a. Less young people walking around with their pants below their waistline;
b. Less young people walking around as human billboards (tattoos);
c. Less youth involved in youth violence;
d. More students of color graduating from higher education;
e. More students of color going into business; more creating their own corporations;
f. And a stronger economic base in communities of color.

Reference: From Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia on the internet: Clark Kerr is reported to have said, "The status quo is the only solution that cannot be vetoed," meaning that the status quo cannot simply be decided against; action must be taken if it is to change.

Quotations regarding the Status Quo:

1. John F. Kennedy: "Their political pledge is to the status quo, and today there is no status quo."

2. Clark Kerr: "The status quo is the only solution that cannot be vetoed."

3. Laurence J. Peter: "Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status."

4. Ronald Reagan: "Status quo, you know, that is the Latin phase for the mess we're in."

5. George Carlin: "The status quo sucks."

6. Richard Branson: "I love taking on the status quo, and trying to turn it upside down."

7. Barach Obama: "I will not accept the status quo as a solution."

I would appreciate your feedback and help advance the movement to defeat ignorance in our lifetime.

Time to Face Ignorance: Face to Face

2010-02-04T21:41:00.000-08:00

______________________________________________________

Click on picture to enlarge -- Your feedback is appreciated!

Book Review by Melisende's Online Library

2009-12-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

The Work of Alberto O. Cappas

By Melisende’s Library – an Online Library

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/melisendes-library

I have the pleasure of being an "i-friend" (i.e.: internet buddy) of Alberto. And as such, was honored when I had the opportunity to read some of his works.

A Little about Alberto: Alberto O. Cappas is both a poet and social observer. His works reflect the changing conditions of Puerto Ricans in both their homeland and mainland America. He is active in promoting self-empowerment among his local community and encouraging people to take life and the scruff of the neck and make something for themselves.

1. Dona Julia: A collection of poems that tell of life on the "other side of the tracks" - where life is both hard and cheap; where people struggle to eke out a living day by day; where violence dominates; and yet it is also a place of the home and family, of comfort and familiarity.

The language is not flowery and gossamer-like - it is harsh, sometimes brutal but always upfront and in your face. It is a reflection of reality - it is not something akin to the fantasy poetic worlds of Keats and Byron. It is poetry for today and for today's society.

Alberto provides a glimpse into the ying and yang of life.

2. Lessons for Myself: A work dedicated to young people who feel trapped by their environment; who feel that there is no possible way out of the day to day struggle with life; who feel nothing but despair and anger. Alberto's work compels young people to "think outside the box" - to not accept stereotypes, to take charge of their destinies, to make the change necessary themselves rather than sit wallowing in self-depredation. Life is there to be lived, enjoyed, and experienced to the fullest - and only you can make that detour on life's great journey.

3. Never Too Late To Make a U-Turn: "Never Too Late" was specifically written with students in mind, and has been accepted and utilized within the American educational system.

Alberto speaks of his own trials and tribulations in an attempt to help young people cope with their own. He is the voice of experience in a world where the lessons of experience can sometimes come at too late in life. He offers guidance and understanding to a youth that really needs a helping hand. A man dedicated to empowering our youth and thus the world we live in.

Visit: http://www.educationalpledge.com/

Melisende is the author of medieval biographies & history related articles, and enjoy writing about the achievements of women throughout time. She is also the author of Pages from History. Visit her at http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/melisendes-library

A message to young people: Passing The Torch to a new Generation - May the USA stay in good hands!

2009-11-09T20:31:00.000-08:00

From my old generation to your young generation,

Please keep passing the torch...

First, on behalf of my generation, I want to extend an apology to you for not passing the torch to you in the most proper way! We let you down and now we are paying the price for it! Too many students in your age group are falling through the cracks.

But I believe that it is never too late to make a U-turn and I want to share with you what we should be passing on from one generation to the next generation.

So please, listen to me as I try to reach out to you, so you can begin to set-up a personal foundation to help you along the way -- now and in the future. I firmly believe, because of your age that you have the maturity and spirit of emerging independence to appreciate what I am going to share with you. I want you to realize that you are a part of a very important generation and in a position to make a very big DIFFERENCE in what this great country is going to look like in the future. YOU ARE A PART OF A VERY HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR LIFETIME. The strength or weakness of this country’s TOMORROW is going to depend on what choices and decisions you make TODAY!

So please listen carefully – Points by Point:

1. Please stay in School, and work on getting an Education

2. Learn to read, but read to learn

3. Learn to write properly

4. Learn to speak properly

5. Learn your math and numbers

6. Learn Music

7. Learn to play a musical instrument

8. Learn to socialize by getting involved in school activities

9. Go to gym classes and exercise the body

10. Remember that school is not designed to prepare you for a job. You are in school to learn, to acquire the skills, Knowledge and awareness to decide what you want to do with your beautiful journey of life, to properly involve yourself in a positive movement for growth and development.

11. Go on to Higher Education; get a high school diploma and a college degree which is a great thing to do!

12. You may also decide to get a job, and work for someone the rest of your live, but you may also decide to run your own company, become an entrepreneur, creating your own product based on your own creations and ideas.

13. You can be a CEO (Chief Executive Officer), BE a President of a company; you can BE anything you want to be, but you must have the education to understand and have the vision to make it all happen! Education gives you the instruments and the tools to make right choices and decisions.

14. Open your eyes and begin to define things for yourself, and take accountability and create your own score and play your own game; and remember that the real ability to see comes from your education, not from what is on public display.

15. Reach out to your teachers and let them know that you want to learn, and let them know your weaknesses so they can work with you.

16. Stay away from groups that take away the real meaning and purpose of WHO you are. These groups will take away the promises of your dreams to be somebody and turn you into a drop-out or a gang member.

17. LADIES, learn to love yourself, first, before talking about loving any guy. If you don’t know how to have love and appreciation for yourself, people will take advantage of you, and the guy you give your love to will not be around to help you pick up your emotional pieces.

18. GET SMART! LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND LOVE THE IMAGE YOU SEE! Be #1 in your books!

19. Don’t allow anyone to program you. You must program yourself. Otherwise, you will stay inside the box and never realize the potential and excitement of your life.

20. And when so-called friends or family members put you down, walk away and don’t look back; because, if you do, this time, you are putting yourself down.

21. Remember that being different is beautiful. Don’t hate what is different; Embrace it!

22. Don’t be afraid to create an idea or a philosophy with the mind, a belief with the spirit, and health with the body, maintaining a balance so that one element does not control the other.

23. Make sure to create and draw the line that you won’t cross; otherwise, you will never stand for anything. Be a leader, not a follower. Be a Provider, not a Consumer!

24. Remember that you are composed of four important parts:

a. Spiritual – having a solid belief and faith in what you do not see; remember that you are not a human being experiencing a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being experiencing a human experience.

b. The Mind – having the ability and willingness to prepare yourself educationally and to think clearly, being able to think in a critical fashion, to make the right choices and the right decisions. Without an Education, you will have a hard time climbing the mountain.

c. Emotional Balance – You understand, respect and control your abilities to feel, for example, not giving up your dreams and aspirations for someone else, especially if that person is not in your best interest. Control your emotions, bring balance to your emotions, and stay true to YOURSELF!

d. Physical – having respect for the temple of your body. Eat proper food, exercise your body. Don’t take your body for granted. Take care of your medical and dental needs.

25. You must make sure that each part works together in harmony to ensure that you are maintaining a balance helpful to your growth and development as a human being on this planet. Without this balance, you will have a hard time in the journey of life.

With that said, I would like to read An Educational Pledge for you and if you truly love yourself and want to make something of yourself, you will make the decision to use An Educational Pledge as a road map and guide to help you navigate your plan for the great journey ahead of you.

I pledge to maintain
a healthy Mind and Body,
Staying away from the evils of Drugs
I pledge always to try my Best
to understand the importance of Knowledge and Education
I pledge to paint a Positive picture of where I plan to be in the future
Not allowing obstacles to stop the growth of my Plans
I pledge to seek Answers to Questions,
with the understanding that they will lead to other Discoveries
I pledge to work Firm,
with the Awareness and Confidence that firm work today will serve
As the Seeds for my strong Tree tomorrow,
a Tree that no one will be able to tear down
I pledge to learn proper languages, beginning with my Mother's
Always prepared to appreciate others
I pledge to gain a better understanding of Me,
by understanding my Cultural roots
I pledge to fully accept Me as a human being,
a Rainbow of many cultures and colors
I pledge to overcome any Personal misfortunes
Becoming Stronger from such misfortunes
Always striving to become
A wise person…

In closing,

Learn to be a Provider,

Not a Consumer!

And never stop climbing your Mountain,

One Step at a time!

May the Educational Pledge be with You!

A Basic Guide to Self-Development - 15 Questions to get you started!

2009-11-07T15:34:00.000-08:00

Please take the time to read the following as a preparation to appreciate the essence of your presence on this planet and move forward to become a Provider in your community:

The following fifteen (15) questions are designed to help with your self-development process.

The questions also will work to develop clarity of vision of who you are in relation to your presence on this planet. It is not enough to live from day-to-day without examining one’s life’s journey of choices and decisions. Take the time and provide answers to the following questions. If addressed seriously, these fifteen questions will help to enhance your purpose and quality of Life.

Learn to truly appreciate why you are a living creature on this planet!

Get out of the “Box” – and be you!

From the Book:

"Never Too Late to Make A U-Turn:

An Educational Pledge & 15 Questions to Self-Development

by Alberto O. Cappas

1. Who am I? Use this question to challenge yourself to truly examine what you have become since your day of birth. Begin to see how you can carve out the real you…

2. Why am I here? Give thoughts to the reason why you were born. Is it an accident, or is there a spiritual or divine purpose for your existence? Are you here to give or to take? Take a good look at the events of the world and how you are linked and connected to them.

3. Am I living out my dreams? Do I have dreams? If not, why? Are you working as a doorman but want to be a painter? Are you living in Buffalo but want to be in New York City? Are you employed in a job that you dislike but stay just to collect retirement benefits after twenty years on the job? Do not let your dreams pass you by. Get on your skates and move on! Take the risk!

4. Am I doing what I want to be doing with my life? Instead of saying: “I hope my dreams come true”, why not say: “I will work and plan to make my dreams come true.” There is a reason for dreaming. Dreams are like blueprints and designs. Do not let your dreams remain dreams. Bring them to life.

5. Am I living a life based on other people’s expectations? Do what you need to be doing, and not what others want you to do. Remember that the expectations must come from you, and not from anyone else. You are the gatekeeper of your aspirations on this planet. The expectations are yours to design and navigate.

6. Am I happy? If yes, why am I happy? If not, why? Make up your mind to be happy. Do not allow or give power away to others to direct and control your emotions. Control your ego, understand the influence of family, and appreciate your association with the Universe. Smile with the Sun, not at the Sun. Dance with the Moon, not at the Moon. Be happy!

7. Is my present situation based on a risk taken or on an opportunity provided? Are you cruising in life, taking anything that comes your way without an honest examination of yourself in relation to these opportunities? Take the time to think about things you would truly like to be doing and what you need to do to get there. You need to enjoy the element of Risk and let go of what you now have so you can move forward with your real purpose and mission.

8. Where do I expect to be in the next 10 to 15 years? Stop cruising and begin to see yourself 5, 10, and 15 years from now. What do you see? What would you like to see? At this very moment is the right time to plan seeds for your Tree so you can enjoy the Fruits of your labor tomorrow. Begin investing today. Tomorrow never comes for those that don’t take the time to design it.

9. Have I maintained a system of values and standards to govern my life? How do you live your life from day to day? Is there something inside of you that stops you from doing something you don’t want to do? How do you arrive at making important decisions or choices? Have you taken the time to examine your inner constitution and amendments?

10. Am I a consumer or a provider? Do I know the difference between the two? A consumer consumes (takes). A provider provides (gives). You need to address this question very seriously if you want to move to a higher level of awareness and consciousness. The answer you find will be a big step in formulating the way you decide to live your life.

11. What are my strengths and weaknesses as a human being? You need to seriously look at yourself and determine the strengths and weaknesses of your human tools. For example, if you hate or dislike reading, you would not want to take a job as an editor or proofreader even if the pay is great. Use your strengths to get where you need to go, as well as to understand your weaknesses. As human beings we all have them. The more we learn about ourselves, the sooner we get where we want to go. Read, use the computer, attend lectures, and ask questions. Just get started.

12. What are my hobbies? Do I have any positive hobbies? If not, why? Take the time to understand the origin of your interest in hobbies. Hobbies can be an extension of your purpose and mission on this planet. Properly utilized, hobbies can help you with your personal growth and development as a person.

13. Have I explored the potential of my hobbies? Hobbies are sometimes hidden treasures that can lead to a career or business enterprise. Get to understand the value of your hobbies and examine how they can help you grow and develop spiritually and economically.

14. Do I understand the difference between being religious and being spiritual? Many people believe in God. They attend church for their religious guidance. Others do not attend a church but also believe, taking upon themselves the need to reach out and talk directly to God or the Supreme Being. What about you? Are you a religious person? Are you a spiritual person? Can you be both?

15. When I look in the mirror, what do I see? Am I able to honestly verbalize that image? If not, why? Be happy with who you are. Understand your mind and your body; look into the spirit and the soul of your being. Use this question to confront the real you and work to obtain the highest level of self-awareness about the person you are capable of becoming. Have the courage to say goodbye to your negative associations as well as to negative habits. As long as you are alive, you are still in the game of life. Play by the rules, and use your inner constitution and amendments to guide you in the journey.

Poem: Gentrification

2009-11-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

Pepe looked

Across the street

And noticed

Something good

Happening in the neighborhood

“Look across the street,”

He screamed out to Carmen,

“The building is being fixed-up

Maybe now they will fix-up

The

Whole neighborhood.”

“¡Que chevere!”

Said Carmen to Pepe.

It was

The beginning of something

Called gentrification

Moving in

Next door to all the next doors

Of the neighborhood

Leaving no trace of its obvious presence.

Pepe and Carmen

Are now

Very

unhappily

Residing

Somewhere

Poem: Stickball

2009-11-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Summer screams

where half-naked bodies dance

In the shadow of despair

Where streets become playgrounds

And fire hydrants become beaches

And rooftops the place to get closer to the Sun

Summer screams where half-naked bodies dance

In the shadow of despair

Watching Joselito playing cowboys and Indians

Eddie in the corner talking about the

Viceroys against the Sinners

Angel and Junior

Creating a baseball field in the backyard

Bobby the Junkie committed a robbery

The solution to his problem

Carmen with Pete

Under the stairs

Losing innocence

And Juan

Playing stickball in the middle of the street

Killed by a driver who didn’t understand

Recreation on this side of town.

Poem: Hide and Seek

2009-11-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

When

I first encountered

your existence,

'Under the Stairs',

I was able to sense,

spiritually,

and please don't ask me how,

a person hiding inside herself.

Layers of protective weight.

That night I saw the pain,

in your eyes,

'the mirror of your soul.'

And now,

after years of self-exile,

in my solitude,

hiding inside myself,

learning to feel again,

I became a newborn,

craving for attention.

I need you to understand,

I need you to forgive.

Poem: Milagros - An American Love Story

2009-11-03T11:33:00.000-08:00

When she was born

her mother named her Milagros.

Her father was never around.

The neighbors said she was beautiful

but it was sad that her hair was a little kinky.

When she was fifteen years old,

she had dreams to go after.

When she was seventeen,

she dropped out of school

'cause it was the groovy thing to do.

When she was almost eighteen,

she opened her legs to Papo (who told her he loved her).

The night after, he told her to get the hell away.

When she was almost eighteen,

she was cool, she partied, she smoked

and got down a few times,

hoping someone would tell her

'I love you' (and mean it).

But time passed (and no one ever did).

When she was nineteen,

she had five abortions.

When she was nineteen,

she was cool, she was beautiful,

selling her wasted body on 42nd Street

to buy American Dreams,

hating the ugly smell of polluted breath

and old men telling her,

'I love you, you Spanish girl.'

Poem: Maria - An American Journey

2009-11-03T11:30:00.000-08:00

She was sitting there

The lonely traffic passing by

Thinking of yesterday when Mommy

Used to cry in protest

The warm air freezing her body

Listening to broken down voices of edited confusion

Subway rides traveling to nowhere

The wino on the corner learning to read

The New York Times

The polluted smell of everything hanging around her body

Thinking of yesterday when Fernando told her

“If you love me - you have to prove it”

She was sitting there

Hating the endless hours of the night

Those that passed looked at her with inviting eyes

That wanted to come out after her

Black and PuertoRican kids playing Cowboys and Indians

After dark in the backyard streets

Where all of them

The Rats, the Dogs, the Cats, and the Pushers

Hold their daily meetings

She was sitting there

Hating herself for accepting a defeat that loved her

The lonely traffic passing by

Bars and liquor stores on every corner conditioning the younger victims

While drug dealers count their money of death

Thinking of yesterday

Her trip from Puerto Rico and her first introduction

To the New York cold that ravaged her body

Sitting there

Thinking of yesterday when Freddie played her wrong

Accusing her of being a puta for no reason at all

He is now happily married to a girl

From Queens who makes love to the dog next door

Thinking of yesterday

The dances, the parties, and the James Bond movies

She loved so much

And now

Waiting for the overdose of everything to take effect

Poem: Suicide of a Puerto Rican Jibaro in Mainland Buffalo

2009-11-03T11:28:00.000-08:00

They didn’t understand

They were all Americans now

He would smile sometimes

Thinking about his youth in Ponce

Carmen, Rosa, Teresa and Liza

Holding on to dreams

That helped him stay alive

The tropical music that was killed

By the new sound of “salsa”

But they didn’t understand

His children didn’t understand

A million times his body was raped

By the unfriendly cold

The farm he sacrificed

To pursue the American Dream

Trying to buy some dignity in the trade

Of the unemployment office

Shoveling the snow that invaded

His tropical existence

He would walk up Virginia Street

And down Hudson Street

Searching

For some clues of understanding

But

Only

Found

New inventions of nightmares

That wanted to destroy his dreams

The dead dreams

That helped him stay alive

Were too weak

For the American nightmare

They didn’t understand

They were

All Americans now

Poem: Doña Julia

2009-11-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

Doña Julia

Committed suicide last night

Cause the welfare department

Demanded too many documents she did not

Know existed

The utilities were removed

The landlord proudly gave her eviction

Papers

The friendly bodega accused her

Of trespassing

Holding on to hope

Doña Julia visited Puerto Rican leaders

With fancy titles

Promising her things that never arrived

Doña Julia

Always made it a point to vote

With the democrats, the party of

The poor, she used to say

Doña Julia

Committed suicide last night cause life was angry with her

She told her spirits

And the people that didn’t

Know her always found things to say about her

With fancy titles

Her daughter Evelyn disappeared with this

Dude named Hector who promised her every thing he didn’t have

And her son Josè

Who dropped out of school at the age of 10

Always took money from Doña Julia

To pay his expenses and other things for the dead head

He too disappeared looking for his friends who were never around

When he didn’t have anything

Doña Julia

Committed suicide cause life was angry with her

Her dead face had a smile that police officers did not understand

Someone that did not know how to read found a note

And flushed it down the toilet thinking it had something

To do with the numbers

The note said something about

“One way or the other

I’m going back to the island”

Poem: Her Boricua

2009-11-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

Doña Rivera

The one everybody comes to when

They run into unresolved situations

Was sold the Moon yesterday

She was very happy ‘cause the

Salesman gave her a break

Telling her she did not have to pay taxes on it

“It was tax free”

He told her

All her neighbors were surprised

That she accomplished such a big thing

So they assembled and celebrated

Her new fortune

They decided that Doña should

Keep it a secret or else the welfare department

Would come and take the Moon away from her

Time passed and Doña Rivera

Became a very proud woman

At night, especially when the

Moon was bright and in full view

Doña Rivera would stay up late

And admire the beauty of her new possession

On weekend nights

She would invite her relatives and best friends

Over to share the experience with them

“See”

She would tell her friends and relatives

“In this country

You have the freedom to buy

Anything you want”

Poem: A Letter for Iris

2009-11-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

It was long ago yesterday.

The oldies, the gangs, the wine,

Trying to find definitions to everything,

Everyone refusing to speak Spanish,

Stupid heavy accents,

Keeping our welfare secrets to ourselves.

You didn’t reveal anything until years later.

It was long ago yesterday,

The oldies, the gangs, the wine,

Going to sets during school hours,

And drinking that terrible wine that you disliked so much.

And the Ricans and Dominicans from downtown,

Rapping to you behind my back.

The Latin Knights against the Young Lovers,

The Sinners against the Viceroys,

The Dragons against the Assassins,

Jitterbugging into oblivion.

Willie, a junkie on Columbus Avenue,

Eddie, a homo on 72nd Street,

Carlos, a revolutionary at Attica,

Sara, a community leader in Washington Heights,

Jose, a capitalist on Wall Street,

Mimi, a housewife in Puerto Rico,

Carmen, a puta in the South Bronx,

And Miguel,

Demonstrating in front of the United Nations

With fifty buttons on his jacket.

It was long ago yesterday,

The oldies, the gangs, the wine,

Remembering those wonderful nightmares.

The playground, the backyard, the roof,

The fire hydrant, the basement,

And those silent trips to the park where we called

For the plans that never came.

I leave you know,

The oldies, the gangs, the wine,

Hoping you found your definitions without regrets.

I only discovered new ignorance and stupidity

By many that refuse to open a new path

To our growth and development.

Book Review

2009-11-03T11:03:00.000-08:00

Another Book By Puerto Rican Poet /Writer Alberto O. Cappas
Doña Julia and other Selected Poems
http://www.educationalpledge.com/
From City Limits Magazine Review: "The standout poem in this collection is the title piece, "Doña Julia।" The poem is about a woman who commits suicide, and leaves a note that baffles police, stating, "One way or the other, I'm going back to Puerto Rico।" The poem starkly describes what led the woman to this place. "Do--a Julia/Committed suicide last night/Cause the welfare department/ Demanded too many documents she did not/know existed." It's quite the indictment coming from an employee of HRA. In a city used to low voter turnout in most elections, where people feel increasingly alienated from their political and community leaders, it is refreshing to find someone working in the system who is sympathetic to the lives of ordinary citizens. Cappas' poetry, never overly sentimental, demonstrates both a talent for the written word and a deep understanding of people, their communities and the larger institutions that influence their lives. The next time you go to the polls, don't elect a politician; elect a poet.

A Pledge for our Children and Youth

2009-11-03T10:50:00.000-08:00

An Educational Pledge

(Except from the book: Never too late to make a U-turn)

AN EDUCATIONAL PLEDGE

I pledge to maintain a

Healthy Mind and Body

Staying away from the Vice of drugs

I pledge always to try my Best to understand

The importance of Knowledge and Education

I pledge to paint a Positive picture of where I plan to be in the future

Not allowing obstacles to stop the growth of my Plans

I pledge to seek Answers to Questions

With the understanding that they

Will lead to other discoveries

I pledge to work Firm

With the Awareness and ConfidenceThat firm work Today will serve

As the Seeds for my strong Tree tomorrow

A Tree that no one will be able to tear down

I pledge to learn proper languages, Beginning with my Mother's

Always prepared to Appreciate others

I pledge to gain a better understanding of Me

By understanding my Cultural roots

I pledge to fully accept Me as a human being

A Rainbow of many cultures and colors

I pledge to overcome any Personal misfortunes

Becoming Stronger from such misfortunes

Always striving to become

A wise person.

2009-11-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

A Rose in Spanish Harlem

Three Characters in One:

East Harlem - Spanish Harlem - El Barrio

(http://www.educationalpledge.com/)

There is a Rose in Spanish Harlem

Hiding in exile until it becomes all clear

A community

Divided unto itself by itself with itself

While other cultures make themselves at home

We stay inside

Like Lobsters in a barrow

Managed by a social service over-dosed mindset

Cultural Centers keeping Boricua in the past

Preaching a strategy of outdated liberated emotions

Perpetuated by poets with words that erase

Possibilities of moving a new generation forward

Colonial chains still in full operation

A living electronic field of rappers and poets

Adding confusion to the meaning

A community consuming, not providing

Electing misguided egos into public policy positions

Cementing the fate with physical evidence:

Babies coming from babies

The young echoing the "N" word as a daily sweet diet

Tattoos carved on human bodies transformed into walking billboards

And slacks placed below the waist line as something very cool

As the poet Pedro Pietri said,

"It is time to visit

Sister Lopez again

The number one healer"

And pray that the spirits

Would heal and guide us out of

Ignorance and bondage

Giving us the wisdom to build A new Spanish Harlem

And Liberate the Rose

Rise Puerto Ricans

Rise!

____________________
About AOC:
A published poet, author of several books of poems, including a self-help book, Never too late to make a U-turn: An Educational Pledge and 15 Questions to Self-Development. He is the founder of Nubian Speakers Bureau, Don Pedro Cookies, and www.aneducationalpledge.com website. AOC is also the director of Community Affairs for the New York City Human Resources Administration. AOC was the student leader that led to the development of Puerto Rican Studies at SUNYAB in 1971. During this same period, AOC was invited to Attica Prison as an Observer to help negotiate prison reform with Governor Rockefeller.

Comments about Cappas' Work

2009-11-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

El Boricua Magazine (www.elborocua.com/BookReviews.html)

A self-help and development book, where Cappas, the author, writes encouraging words to inspire and motivate our youth into taking a closer look at themselves and embolds them to change those things that can be changed. Cappas writings encourage the reader as if it was an inspiration speech and rallies the reader into action. He uses an easy to read and understand style of writing and gets down to the basic core of human behavior using lists of fundamental steps to change for the better. This is an excellent book for teachers of students at risk and for troubled youth.

Great book for our youth -- Angelica Aquino

Never too late to make a U-turn is a reflective tool to help anyone, both young and old. It allows one to take a step back to move on and to understand the impact of actions and omissions. Give someone the gift of self-empowerment and self-realization by sharing the questions and the ultimate answers that come with such quest. It is a life time gift, it truly transcends generations. I encourage parents, educators, young people and everyone to share the book with their friends and loved ones. I think this book makes a wonderful staff development and parent and pupil, student and teacher conversation facilitator. It is a conduit for personal growth. – Angelica Aquino, Attorney, Washington Heights, NY

A Challenging Book – Rafael Rodriguez
An Educational Pledge is a most read book for all. I truly recommend it, and Mr. Cappas insightful and clear message is one that will motivate everyone to start "thinking outside the box”. If you are looking for your next book to read or as a gift, this would be a great and lasting investment. -- Rafael Rodriguez, President of the July 4th, 1899 Foundation, Queens, NY

Anthony Camacho, Educator, Higher Ed Counselor, NYC
I could feel the force of the waterfall in your words.Words are the most constructive or destructive instruments to nurture or discourage the potential in every child. I really appreciate the gift that God has given to you to express this truth. I could almost feel the force of the waterfall in your words. I can relate to the feeling - so overwhelming."

Pedro Cordero, Child Care Administrator and Educator, Bronx, NY
’ve used the educational pledge on many occasions. Cappas’ writing comes from the heart and the soul. Cappas truly captures the everyday people's hopes, dreams, and fears. I ’m fortunate to know him - as a friend and as a poet"

Elaina Silva, Writer, California
Your writing is a reality check! You are a very deep and thought provoking writer - a reality check as well. Your talent shines through your work. I intend to read many more. Thank you!"

Beverly, Poet/Writer, from the starlitecafe.com website
Right Feelings into your words... I'm a teenager in today's society. It's not easy to always keep your goals in front of you. I've lost touch with some of my goals; thank you for reminding me of them. You put the right feelings into your words. Keep it up!"

Writer’s Digest
….I have seen first hand how many students fall through the public-school cracks and the best way to insure against this is to empower each student to become more accountable for his or her own education and commit to it well beyond the classroom. In essence, Cappas establishes a great deal of credibility in relating his own story and how he pledged himself not just to education and learning as a way of life, but the importance of balance, commitment, and courage as one of the surest paths to personal fulfillment…..

Review by Jaira Placide, New York University
Clear, Natural and Poignant. These words accurately describe Alberto O. Cappas’ work. Cappas understands the suffering and struggles of Puerto Ricans living in Mainland America as well as in Puerto Rico. His poetry traces their hopes, problems, and misconceptions from the island to the mainland where they discover dreams do die hard. In the poem “Suicide of a Puerto Rican Jibaro,” one need not be Puerto Rican to identify with the alienation faced when entering a cold, foreign, and jungle-like world. Cappas successfully explores what such a drastic change can mean for a Puerto Rican away from his island, where he is the majority. In “Jibaro,” for the Puerto Rican man who comes to the United States, “A million times his body was raped by the unfriendly cold... to pursue the American Dream...” Cappas is a relentless observer and commentator of what happens when a people leave their homeland, or forget where they come from, to pursue the uncertainties of the American Dream. His poetry, ironic at times, questions whether this dream does exist.

In “A Spoken Secret,” “Light skin Puerto Ricans forget to speak Spanish... and dark skin Puerto Ricans adopt hot combs to straighten their hair.” In “Doña Julia,” a woman is trapped like a mouse in America and so commits suicide as a last attempt to return to her homeland. And in “Maria,” a young girl sits patiently thinking about her experiences in New York since leaving Puerto Rico and now waits “for the overdose (of a drug) to take effect.” Of course this is not to say that all Puerto Ricans moving to the United States end up killing themselves but it does show that Cappas is keenly aware of a sort of cultural and spiritual death that happens to Puerto Ricans when they leave the tropical scenes and adopt certain American values. In the ironic humorous poem, “Her Boricua,” a woman buys the Moon, tax-free, and invites her relatives and friends on weekend nights to “admire the beauty of her new possession.” She tells them that in America, “you have the freedom to buy anything you want.”

“Haiti in Puerto Rico” explores the death theme even further. “I recited useless words of a poem to an audience of Puerto Ricans, turned into zombies, refusing to break the spell of all the misfortunes.” Doña Julia is a poetry book filled with poetic stories, forceful and powerful imagery and messages that will stimulate all minds that come into contact with it.

Cappas’ language is original and refreshing, which makes his writing very natural and uncluttered with abstractions. Cappas is correct, knows what he needs to say and clearly makes his point.

About Alberto O. Cappas

2009-10-31T14:52:00.000-07:00

AOC Background and Community Contributions

Born in Yauco, Puerto Rico in 1946 and arrived in New York City in 1953. Alberto Oscar Cappas is a poet and entrepreneur in several diverse areas. He is the author of Never too late to make a U-Turn: An Educational Pledge & 15 Questions to Self-Development, a motivational book for parents and youth-at-risk; and author of The Pledge: A Guide for Everyday Living, published in 2001. He is also the author of the following poetry collections: Doña Julia & Other Selected Poems, Author House Publishers, 2002; Disintegration of the Puerto Ricans, Don Pedro Enterprises, 1997; and Echolalia, Carlton Press, 1989. His poetry has been included in many publications and anthologies in the United States and Canada.

Cappas is the recipient of the “Keepers of Our Culture” Award for Literature, presented to him by the New York State Hispanic Heritage Month Committee -- on September 15, 1994. His talents and skills as a writer, interest in the human condition and concern for those socio-economic issues which impact the Puerto Rican/Latino community, have served to foster in him an active interest and involvement as a journalist. This has led to his role as co-publisher and co-editor of The New Tomorrow (TNT) and the Latino Village Press (LVP), two monthly publications designed to educate and inform the Puerto Rican/Latino community about the importance of going into business and developing Latino economic institutions and infrastructures. His accomplishments and achievements list him as the founder and Chairperson of the AOC Speakers Bureau, the only Latino and African American speakers’ bureau in the country when founded in 1992. He is founder and Chairperson of Don Pedro Cookies, the makers of Don Pedro Cookies; and he is co-founder of A Place for Poets, a national publication which featured aspiring Latino and other emerging writers and poets.

Further, his works have achieved wide interests, growing appeal and numerous accolades. It should be noted that his work has been featured and preserved in the City of Buffalo’s new Metro subway system, with a commissioned work by the Niagara Frontier’s Transportation Authority of an artistic “vignette” with two other Latino artists. The work is a thirty-foot steel tile mural that reflects the search for a sense of belonging in this city. Also, his early works have been included in the renowned Schomburg Library’s archives.

Alberto O. Cappas is an alumnus of the State University of New York at Buffalo and a recipient of the NYC Urban League’s Charles Evans Hughes Award for Creative Writing -- presented to him by Harlem Preparatory School in 1967.

AOC has been featured in the following publications

Youth Today (National youth publication)
Quisqueya Life (Dominican American)
City Limits Magazine
Latin Beat Magazine
Buffalo News
Buffalo Courier Express
Buffalo West Side Times
Buffalo Hispano News
Advista
Syracuse Impartial Citizen
Vista Carib News
Canales Magazine
New York Press
Noticias del Mundo
Buffalo Challenger
Buffalo Good News
People's Weekly World
Brownstone Magazine (NYU)
Downtown Press
Vision: El Periodico del Barrio
La Voz Hispana
Conciencia (NYU)
Crane's NY Business Magazine
The New York Times
La Ultima Hora
Guild Press
New York Newsday (Manhattan Profile)
Vista Monthly Magazine
Saludos Hispano Magazine
El Boricua Magazine
El Boricua.com (Magazine)
National Hispanic Voice
National Council of Latina Women Newsletter
Puerto Rican Connection Magazine

Poetry Recitals/Cultural Presentations

Buffalo Parents Association (Keynote Speaker, Buffalo, NY)
Stritch University (Leadership Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
New York State School Attendance Officers Association (Monticello, NY)
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
NYS Department of Health/Office of Minority Health’s Diversity Forums (Albany, NY)
Baruch College, NYC
Schenectady Community College (Schenectady, NY)
Buffalo State College (Buffalo, NY)
PODER, State University of NY at Buffalo
Undergraduate Student Conference/New York University (NYU)
Buffalo Community Partnership
Ithaca College
Manhattan Community College
Black Arts Forum/Brooklyn
Hispanic Heritage Month/Albany
Attica Correctional Facility (Attica, NY)
North Collins Correctional Facility
Buffalo Masten Park Secure Center
Bronx Youth Development Center
Nuyorican's Poets' Café (New York City)
NYS Liquor Authority (Hispanic Heritage Month Activity)
New York State Division for Youth
New York Public Libraries
Harlem Hospital Center (Puerto Rican Heritage Month Activity)

Publications

1. Lessons for Myself, for young people and teens, a guide to spiritual discovery

2. Never too late to make a U-Turn: An Educational Pledge & 15 Questions to Self-Development, December 2008, Nubian Voices, 2nd Printing

3. Doña Julia and other selected poems, November 2002, Nubian Voices, 2nd Printing (2008)

4. Roots to Reality, from a poetry recital and cultural presentation, Cultural Diversity Series, sponsored by the New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, 1997

5. The Disintegration of the Puerto Ricans, a collection of poems, published in 1997, Don Pedro Enterprises, USA, Ltd., New York, NY. The book was reprinted again in 2007.

6. Echolalia, Verse & Vibrations, a collection of poems, published in 1989, Calton Press, New York, NY

7. Echoes, six poems, published in 1987, A Place for Poets, New York, NY

8. Guild Press Anthologies, featured in over eight (8) anthologies published by Guild Press, publisher of Black, Asian and Latino poets and writers, 1987-1996

For more information visit the author's website: www.educationalpledge.com