On Saturday, April 19, 2025, the Mural Arts Program’s CAICU project officially launched its Philadelphia 2025 event series with the dedication of one of the city’s newest murals at the corner of Front and Susquehanna Streets. Titled Nunca Olvides de Dónde Vienes (Never Forget Where You Come From), the mural transforms an everyday corner into a vibrant celebration of the Norris Square community’s rich history and Caribbean heritage.

CAICU is a socially engaged public art series that interweaves culturally and historically significant Puerto Rican-themed gardens in the Norris Square neighborhood—originally established by community organizers in the 1980s. The project serves as a cultural bridge between Norris Square, Philadelphia, and Loíza, Puerto Rico, using public art, cultural exchanges, and grassroots organizing to connect communities.

The event began with a stirring performance by local poet and storyteller Maya Angelique (@mayaisangelique), who debuted an original piece, «For CAICU,» written specifically for the project. Her moving words matched the mural’s dynamic energy, standing two stories tall against the backdrop of the Frankford El:

“Bridges build at midnight, as a cool breeze from Loíza lulls us all to sleep. It caresses a secret garden in the heart of Norris Square, rocking scaffolded fragments in the dreams of its people, while hot cups of Bustelo beckon the artist hard at work to craft a legacy of their own. ‘Round here we cultivate caicus and conversations that go from ‘¿De dónde eres?’ to ‘mi casa es su casa’ siempre in the blink of an eye. We gather around the vibrant greenery of our stories and watch the dance between promise and history weave a tapestry ‘cross a city that needs it the most.…From el barrio to la isla, it’s our collective vision and resilience that will always, always keep us.”

The colorful and emotionally resonant mural features a woman in hair rollers juxtaposed with a young boy wearing a pava hat—an homage to all the stages of our presence and contributions here – past, present and future.

Community members enjoyed traditional Puerto Rican food provided by Amy’s Pastelillos while listening to remarks from guest speakers, including Councilwoman Quetcy Lozada, State Representative Danilo Burgos and Jane Golden of the Mural Arts Program. All spoke about the significance of the mural and the community partnerships that made it possible. Special thanks were given to the project’s sponsors: the City of Philadelphia, the National Endowment for the Arts, the William Penn Foundation, and PNC Arts Alive.

Visionary project curator and community activist Marángeli Mejía-Rabell expressed her deep pride in CAICU’s mission and gratitude to the many contributors and artists involved. She explained that CAICU—meaning «land bridge» in Taíno—symbolizes the effort to tie communities together across cultures and geography.

“This project, and others to come, are a bridge between Philadelphia and Loíza, built through the artists and the communities working together to connect, to learn from and understand one another,” Mejía-Rabell said.

She introduced the mural’s lead artists: Celso González of Loíza, Puerto Rico, and Omar García («Angurria») of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, along with collaborating local artists Dan One, Calo Rosa, and Vane Vega of the Taína Sisters. Each artist shared brief reflections on their inspiration for the project.

The highlight of the afternoon came with lively performances from the Norris Square Senior Community Center’s Grupo Alegría, who delighted the crowd with a traditional plena dance in colorful skirts. They were followed by a high-energy drumline from students in the Mad Beatz afterschool program, whose electrifying performance attracted curious onlookers from blocks away.

Throughout the event, DJ Bobby Flowers kept the energy high, encouraging attendees to dance and celebrate. Guests were also invited to sign up for tours of the Norris Square gardens to experience the neighborhood’s cultural and historical significance firsthand.

To learn more about the CAICU project and murals across Philadelphia, visit www.muralarts.org.  

*LuzSelenia Loeb, NACOPRW Greater Philadelphia Chapter President and Community Activist.