Around the early 1970s, the growing number of Puerto Ricans that moved into the neighborhood began identifying themselves with a new wave of art, poetry, music and culture that ultimately paved the way for the Nuyorican Poets movement and the renaming of Manhattan’s lower east side to “Loisaida” (thanks to Bimbo Rivas). The production team of “LL de Loisaida” (Frank Bello & William Millán) have established a new website at to highlight the many contributions made by the diverse community of artists from the enclave to the cultural/art scene in New York and beyond.
Take A Virtual Journey, Relax & Enjoy Time With Us!
Because people are social beings with an inherent need for community, it is imperative that they understand and honor culture. Their ability to share and value individuality as productive members of their group is vital for the peaceful and healthy co-existence of humanity. If you are interested in expanding your learning about people, culture and the village of Loisaida, be sure to check-in regularly and spend some time relaxing as you feed your mind. It is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge base and take virtual trips to New York’s Alphabet City via the Loisaida peace-engine.
The LL de Loisaida logo was developed by William Millán and symbolizes the neighborhood’s housing projects (New York City Housing Authority – NYCHA), in particular the Lillian Wald housing projects (red) and the Jacob Riis housing projects (blue). The word Loisaida (which was coined by poet Bimbo Rivas) appears under a rainbow (which represents the various ethnic groups in the neighborhood). The double Ls [LL] represent the middle letters of the project founders’ last names, Millán (William) and Bello (Frank).
Throughout the course of a person’s life, a delicate equilibrium exists between the individual’s development of personal expression and the need to belong to a group. When the person starts out as a child, their initial identity is shaped by gender, age, and the influences introduced by family and community ties. As they get older (and change family/friend affiliations and geographical locations), identity begins to mature and solidify, shifting and conforming to the accepted norms and mores of the wider community to which the person is a part of. Attending school, learning a trade, or engaging in a professional activity helps mold the individual’s identify. All of the new experiences that impact the individual, coupled with their history, can ultimately affect the stability of the person’s identity.
Lacking clarity of this balance can result in much confusion for those who are in the developmental and transitional stages of their lives. That is why the knowledge of both Boricua and American culture to a New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent is of crucial importance for the healthy development of their identity. Rita Moreno, who has been the talk of the entertainment world for more than 70 years and has experienced such challenges, is a perfect example. She has had to come to terms with her dual culture and past ancestral history. The showcasing of multi-cultural achievements and support of local talent is exactly what the “LL de Loisaida” project has set out to do.
Human beings have always struggled to protect their territorial rights and safeguard their cultural practices. As native beings, people born on land that is administered by ever-changing governments and countries. So, historically, the culture of our time has always been geographically tied on a continuum. Due to modernization, technological advancements, money, and modern travel, the current global nomadic lifestyle is having a great impact on the new definition of norms in shifting cultures throughout the world. Loisaida, New York is but a tiny dot on that amazing continuum of people and history.
Establishing Community to Express Culture
The area of New York City commonly known as the East Village/lower east side was originally occupied by the Lenape Native Americans. It went through many different stages throughout its history, accommodating groups from all over the world. Around the early 1970s, the growing number of Puerto Ricans that moved into the neighborh
