>About Us
About Us
Mission
The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance is dedicated to preserving Puerto Rican culture by maintaining our traditions, promoting our arts, providing educational opportunities in arts programming, and cultivating pride in our heritage for future generations.
History
PRAA was founded in 1998 to increase awareness, knowledge and access to the arts by the Puerto Rican community and to provide a venue for emerging artists and musicians to showcase their talents. Initial programs served the near northwest side, an area whose population is 75% Latino, 15% African American and 10% White and other races. Today, PRAA programs serve metropolitan Chicago and the Midwest and draws audience members from as far away as New York and California.
Over its ten year operating history, PRAA has consistently delivered high-quality programs and events to Chicago’s neighborhoods. Each experience has been crafted to promote the following four principles:
-
Preserve and promote the art, culture and traditions of Puerto Rico
-
Promote Inter-cultural understanding and appreciation
-
Reinforce Puerto Rican intergenerational understanding
-
Instill ethnic pride within the Puerto Rican community
Vision
Since its humble beginnings in the home of a volunteer, PRAA has become a major broker of Puerto Rican arts by organizing art exhibits, performances and arts-related educational programs.
PRAA is more than a symbol of cultural expression for hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans in Chicago. It is a not-for-profit multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to promoting the richness and diversity found in the Puerto Rican culture and its native Taíno Indian, Spanish and West African roots. PRAA prides itself on presenting a wide variety of art forms and educational services including music, dance, visual arts and theater produced by local Puerto Rican talent. PRAA actively promotes the artistic expression of the Puerto Rican community and seeks to preserve it for future generations. Through a wide variety of programs, PRAA reaches out to the Puerto Rican community and beyond.
The PRAA strongly encourages and promotes cross cultural connections among other ethnic groups and diverse audiences throughout the city and nearby states. We accomplish this through our programs and various organizational partnerships and collaborative efforts.
Leadership
Carlos Hernandez, Executive Director 
Carlos R. Hernandez holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Southern Illinois University.
Carlos is a founder of the PRAA and assumed the executive directorship in September 2002. Presently, Carlos directs all cultural programming, office operations, fundraising, board development and volunteer recruitment for the PRAA. Moreover, he presently leads with his board of directors, PRAA’s current $2.5 million capital campaign drive to establish a new and expanded Puerto Rican/Latino cultural center in the Logan Square/Avondale community of Chicago. The center will continue to focus on promoting its nationally recognized Cuatro and Taino Project programs, among others. Under Carlos’ leadership the PRAA has established a reputation of extending its regional arts program outreach and collaboration with other ethnic communities such as the Columbian, Venezuelan, Dominican, Cuban and Mexican communities. The inclusivity of PRAA programs has led PRAA to become known as a unique culturally specific organization that promotes diversity while maintaining its mission and core values.
Carlos’ past experiences include working for McCormick Tribune Foundation as a Program Intern Officer, Coordinator of Economic Development for the City of Chicago Treasurer’s Office, and Director of the National Museum of Mexican Art’s $7.3 million expansion. He has also served as a consultant for non-profit community development projects.
Carlos has participated on numerous community boards and committees among them: The Chicago Community Loan Fund, Bickerdike Redevelopment, Humboldt Park Economic Development Committee, State Treasurer Latino Affairs Advisory Board, Northern Trust Bank Community Advisory Board. Currently, Carlos serves as a member of Ravinia Festival and the Logan Square Neighborhood Association Advisory Committees. Carlos is a Northwestern University Kellogg Executive Scholar and in 2007 completed Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Training Program for Nonprofit Leaders- Arts.
Carlos is the recipient of the “2005 Dr. Jorge Prieto, Sr. Humanitarian Award” a prestigious award bestowed during the Hispanic Heritage Month. In 2006, Mr. Hernandez received the “Citibank Hispanic Heritage Award” for his contributions in the art field. Other community awards have included Los Cocineros Recognition Award (2007), El Rican Magazine Puertorriqueños del Año (2007-08) and City of Chicago Mayor Daley’s Community Award for his civic contribution to the City of Chicago (Puerto Rican Parade, 2008).
Juan Mendez, Board Chairman 
Born in Puerto Rico and married to Gladys for 37 years. They have two daughters Tanya & Laura who are involved in the family business. Juan is the President of Tara /Jordan Management, Ltd. which operates five McDonald’s restaurants. Prior to becoming a McDonald’s franchisee, he was the principal for the law offices of Juan M. Mendez & Associates. He received his Juris Doctor Degree from De Paul University, College of Law in 1975. Juan is a veteran having served in the U.S. Army during the years of 1969-1970.
Throughout his career he has been actively involved in the service to our community. Amongst his many contributions, he has been the National Chairman for the McDonald’s Hispanic Owners Association, Member of the Board of Trustee for Northeastern Illinois University, President of the Puerto Rican Chamber of commerce of Illinois, President of the Latin American Bar Association, Member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Chairperson of Los Amigos del Cuatro, Panel Chairman of the Hearing Board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, President of the HACER Scholarship Program for the Chicago land and Northwest Indiana, as well as Board Member of Aspira.
His love for our culture and its people are well documented. He has mentored many. The only request he makes is that when the opportunity arises, they assist others. According to him, “there is no greater gift than helping others.”
