Cuatro Puntos Cardinales @ Holocaust Museum Houston

The HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a special screening of the Salvadoran film Cuatro Puntos Cardinales by filmmaker Javier Kafie.

This was the first time a Salvadoran film was screened at the museum and guests were treated to a welcome reception by filmmaker Javier Kafie, who traveled to Houston for the occasion. According to the U.S. Census Bureau as of 2017, there area  total of 129,000 Salvadorans in the Houston Metropolitan area. Salvadorans make up the largest group in the Central American community residing in the city.

Michelle Tovar, the Associate Director of Education – Spanish Outreach and Latin American Initiatives at the Holocaust Museum Houston opened the evening discussing the museum’s Latin Initiatives Advisory Committee (LIAC) and it’s aim to highlight untold stories promoting responsible individual behavior, cultivating civility and pursuing social justice. Through collaboration with institutions and scholars throughout Latin America, dedicated to human rights, genocide, and Holocaust education, as well as to contemporary challenges, Holocaust Museum Houston will develop curriculum and resources that will be accessible for educators throughout the United States and Latin America.

Maria Vilma Duran, LIAC member and founder of the Central American Collective (CAC), shared the vision of CAC along with a partnership with Javier Kafie for his upcoming project.

Cuatro Puntos Cardinales took the audience on a beautiful trip immersing everyone into the stories from the northern, southern, eastern and western parts of El Salvador. The film showcased the cultural, social and ecological diversity of the Central American region after the Salvadoran Civil War through the lens of the filmmaker.

Everyone enjoyed a delicious spread of Salvadoran antojitos by catering sponsor Little Casita Mexican Restaurant 2 prior to the movie.

The evening ended with a very special Q&A with filmmaker Javier where he shared stories about his life, the inspiration behind the film, and the impact it continues to have with audiences across the world.

 


This event was possible thanks to:

Event Underwriter:

Holocaust Museum Houston

Community Partners:
Pan American Round Table of Houston | Consulado General de El Salvador en Houston | Consejo de Comunidades Salvadoreñas de Houston | Camara de Comercio Centroamericana 
Catering Sponsor:
Little Casita Mexican Restaurant

 


Photos from the event courtesy of ATurcios & MDuran

 

 

 

Central American Happy Hour

What a night! For the first time ever in Houston, young professionals, business owners and community leaders of Central American descent gathered to celebrate their culture & art at the Central American Happy Hour.

The evening marked the kickoff of the Central American Collective (CAC), an initiative that celebrates and advocates Central American culture, art and it’s people. According to the Migration Policy Institute, in 2015 there were approximately 3.4 million Central Americans residing in the US and 213,000 of them in the Greater Houston Area. CAC’s goal is to highlight, connect and support the Central American community – artists, businesses & individuals.

The Central American Collective platform will work to facilitate funding & resources for projects by Central Americans and/or that showcase our experience.

 

Guests networked to the beats of 104FM KRBE’s DJ Noel On The Mix, and house DJ at Anclamar’s W. Reception Hall, while enjoying lite bites catered by Little Casita Restaurant featuring the bold flavors of Central American cuisine.

The Happy Hour featured special guest, Javier Kafie, the filmmaker of the Salvadoran film Cuatro Puntos Cardinales, who extended a special invitation to everyone to the film screening on Monday at the Holocaust Museum Houston.

Other notable guests included Consul Nancy Guevara, Consulate General of El Salvador; Judge Esmeralda Pena Garcia; Percy Pelaez, President of the Cámara de Comercio Centro Americana; and Andres Guevara, President of the Consejo de Comunidades Salvadoreñas de Houston.

This celebration took place thanks to the generous support from all of our sponsors: Toros Lifestyle Soccer – Arts District | Anclamar’s W. Reception Hall A,B,C | The Law Office of Edwin E. Reyes, PLLC | Duran Concepts | Atlantida Connect

Official event photographer Carolyn Marie Photography
Social media coverage by Leticia Hernandez

The following photographs are by


 

Welcome Filmmaker Javier Kafie

On Thursday, October 11, 2018, the Consejo de Comunidades Salvadoreñas en Houston (Council of Salvadoran Communities in Houston) welcomed Central Americann filmmaker Javier Kafie to Houston during their special meeting held at Agente Atlantida USA. The occasion served as an opportunity for Javier to meet the leaders of the various Salvadoran communities and organizations that make up the council and showcase his film Cuatro Puntos Cardinales . The meeting marks a significant milestone for the Salvadoran community in Houston, one fo the largest Central American groups in the Houston Metropolitan area.

The film depicts the art, culture, and people of El Salvador bringing to the light the natural beauty of the country.

Everyone enjoyed an evening filled with music, delicious Honduran food catered by Honduras Maya Restaurant and prizes raffled by the event sponsor, Agente Atlantida USA.

 

 


 

 

The Central American Collective

We have launched the Central American Collective, an initiative that celebrates and advocates Central American culture, art and it’s people.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, in 2015 there were approximately 3.4 million Central Americans residing in the US and 213,000 of them in the Greater Houston Area. Our goal is to highlight, connect and support the Central American community – artists, businesses & individuals.

The Central American Collective platform will work to facilitate funding & resources for projects by Central Americans and/or that showcase our experience.

We will be kicking off this initiative on October 12 at the first ever Central American Happy Hour taking place at Toros Lifestyle Soccer – Arts District.

The celebration will continue over the weekend at multiple events and culminate on Monday, October 15th at the Special Screening of Cuatro Puntos Cardinales at the Holocaust Museum Houston.

The film’s director, Javier Kafie, is traveling in from El Salvador to be in attendance for a special Q&A immediately following the film. Arrive early for a small reception catered by Little Casita Mexican Restaurant, a Salvadoran owned business in SouthWest Houston.

 

This documentary that aspires to portray four moving stories from northern, southern, eastern and western parts of El Salvador. This film showcases the cultural, social, and ecological diversity of the Central American region after the Salvadoran Civil War – distancing itself from media discourses characteristic of the region often monopolized by violence. From communities near the sea where surf is practiced up to coffee fields, from former guerrilla zones all the way to craft towns.

 


Follow the Central American Collective on these social media platforms and stay tuned for other upcoming events.

FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  TWITTER

 

 

 

 

Exito Centroamerica

From the desk of MDuran:

I’m excited to serve as the co-host of a new online radio show called Exito Centroamerica. The weekly Spanish show is produced by the Camara de Comercio Centroamericana (CCCA) and will be transmitted on CBBA Radio on Wednesdays at 10am.

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It’s an honor to co-host this show alongside Percy Pelaez, President of CCCA, and help elevate the voice of Central Americans in our region. Each week we will talk about important and relevant business issues that affect the Central American community, provide information and resources about business opportunities on both sides of the border, invite successful Central American community leaders to share their stories and highlight positive news in our community.

As a proud Salvadoran I look forward to sharing my knowledge and resources with my community on this incredible platform.

If you are looking to align your brand or expand exposure for your services or products, contact me at info@duranconcepts.com to learn about advertising opportunities on this show and the powerful Central American consumer market.