Taller Puertorriqueño celebrated Feria Del Barrio on September 7th. This year marks the 41st anniversary of the celebration where Taller organizes and calls together organizations and individuals to showcase resources, culture, and celebrate community in Philadelphia. The event took place on Centro De Oro right along Taller’s main hub in Fairhill.
Organizations across the Philadelphia area were invited to vendor for their cause. The core coalitions that made this celebration possible were HACE, Congreso de Latino Unidos, Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas, and Asociación de Puertorriqueños en Marcha otherwise known as APM. Other vendors included local artists and creatives, social groups like the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Photography Without Borders, City of Philadelphia representatives, and Rumba Philadelphia‘s’ most popular Reggaeton radio station.
At the main stage, is the corner of 5th Street and Lehigh. Here is where everyone gathered to celebrate the unveiling of the new street name: Jesse Malpica Bermudez Way.
Jesse Bermudez was a pillar of joy for the community, a creative who advocated for Latin artists bridging the wage gap, ensuring there was inclusion of these artists, and contributed to the richness of Latino culture in the area.
Bermudez passed away September 2022 at age 79, but his legacy is far from over.
Malpica-Bermudez was a co-founder of the Asociación de Músicos Latino Americanos (AMLA) and Philly’s Latin School for the Performing Arts (LSPA). The community after his passing gave tribute to the late artist by creating the Jesse Bermudez Fund. This fund echoed his purpose of focusing on spreading music education and community throughout the city.
His daughters, Sara Bermudez-Evans and Del Bermudez were present at the unveiling of 5th Street. Both were pleasantly overwhelmed by the display of strength and community born out of the spirit of their late father.
“This is a recognition that is beyond our imagination, it would have been beyond Jesse’s imagination.” says Bermudez-Evans
“We called him the Duke of Earl, if he had an ailment or if he was tired, he would not stop. And so, we would always say ‘We can’t stop the duke.’” Bermudez continued.
The renaming of the street was in the making for a year or so after Bermudez-Evans had written to Council Member Quetcy Lozada to pass this resolution. “Then there were other community members that were asking for the street to be renamed.” Lozada introduced the resolution and the vote was unanimous.
Bermudez on her father and this token of appreciation, “It is bittersweet because my dad is not here, but it is amazing because my dad worked so hard in his career and with the community to be able to get such an accomplishment”
The community gathered to celebrate the environment of the neighborhood and to highlight the uniqueness of said community. Taller Puertorriqueño is a resource that prides itself on building up the community and is committed to evolving.
“Que trista un pueblo sin musica.” is what Malpica-Bermudez often said that Bermudez- Evans explained that encapsulated her father’s every move. This quote translates to “How sad a town without music is.” which encapsulates Feria Del Barrio, which translates to Neighborhood Festival.
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