Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Pedro Pablo DeLaRosa took the responsibility of documenting the 2012 Sunset Summer Cookout attendant comments, by asking them to write something about how they felt being participant of the event, and in the following pages youll read the collection of their comments. I have added the history of the cookout at the end, as well as an article published in Providence En Espaol about last years event. Thank you Pedro Pablo for your unconditional support and friendship. Toms vila
5:00 PM - Til
Bring yourself, family, friend and your favorite food or drink and join us along with other friends in celebrating friendship and human relation.
Ni la lluvia detiene la gozadera del Sunset Summer Cookout!!As always a great time!! Love, Manuela Rapozo
Hola, Soy Nicholas y estoy muy orgullozo de estar aqui!! Nick Fontecha Toms y Eva Muchas bendiciones, que Dios los proteja siempre. Con cario Mildred Rodriguez
Another time of relaxation at Toms and Evas cookout. Lets enjoy it!! Franklin Solano
Hola Toms y Eva Gracias por mantener la comunidad tan unida!! Son una bendicion, nunca me lo pierdo. Gracias!!! Sandra Cano
Toms & Eva The Sunset Summer Cookout is stepping it up with a committee and Banana Yellow T-Shirt. Love it! Always here for you, supporting and nurturing our Friendship. Juan and Janet Pichardo
Para la Familia Avila Es un honor ser parte historia, humana y civilista de integracion. Gracias!! Adan Tanan
La Familia Hispana tiene un punto de encuentro!! El Cookout de Toms y Eva Avila. Elvys Ruiz
Toms y Eva Gracias por todo lo que hacen para la comunida. Raquel Batista
61 Tappan Street!! Epicentro de la paz y cofraternidad en Providence!! Gracias Toms y Eva. Gonzalo Cuervo
Desde que lo conoci en 1998, soy de La Familia!! Felicidades. Julio Cesar Ramos, Sr.
I believe All the community has the ability to share in becoming stronger and more positive. Pedro Pablo DeLaRosa.
Toms & Eva Thank you for such a great community party!! I enjoy everything!! Reina Taracena & Kids
Que Lindo encontranos de Nuevo y tomarles sus fotos!! Carlos La Fuerza Martinez
Toms & Eva Thank you both for all you do!! Anthony Gemma
Great Gathering!! Thank you for inviting Me!! Sara Nuez Logan
Mis Queridos Eva y Toms Gracias por juntar tanto Amigos a compartir en su casa. Dios los bendiga siempre. Carolina Pichardo
Toms & Eva Thank You, Gracias, Seremein!! Jos Francisco vila
Toms y Eva Este uno de los mejores momentos de mi vida!! Cuando estoy en su casa. Ernesto Figueroa!!
Amazing time spent with Old and New friends, excited for 2013!! Kiara J. Pires
Muchisimas gracias por todos estos aos Memorables y recibidos por parte de ustedes Mr & Mrs Avila!! Jos Castillo
Toms y Eva Gracias por abrirnos siempre su casa y corazn. La comunidad se enriquece con personas bondadosas como ustedes. Maria Cecilia Cano e Hijos
Hi Guys This was my rst time here and I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks to Papi Ajo who invited me. A job well done y Buena Suerte!! Yaya K Mara
Estimados Toms y Eva Gracias nuevamente por una tarde de alegria y compartir con los Amigos!! Dios los bendiga y les de siempre mucho mas!! Wilfredo Y Jamine.
Toms y Eva Gracias por la invitacion!! Cada ao este evento es ms exitoso. Felicidades a ustedes y su comite y que Dios los bendiga!! Marianela vila.
La Mujer Latina es unica! Es amable y sincera y le encanta sonreir. Hoy en este evento de Toms, esta bella criatura se destaco y se notba la alegria de todos porque estaba a sus alrededores.. Gracias por creer tanto en la Mujer Latina Toms y Eva! I Love you Guys! Angie Espinal
Toms y Eva Les cuento que regrese a Rhode Island solo para poder compartir esta ocacion especial. Los quiero, admire y respeto. Luis Leon Tejada
Toms y Eva Son muchos temas importantes que tocamos aqui es esta actividad. Felicidade!! Xiomara y Agustin Diaz
Toms y Eva Gracias por otro ao de union en nuestra comunidad y felicidades! Neri Garcia
Gracias Amigos. We had a Wonderful time, the music was Muy Fantastico, the New Friends were Muy Apreciados, My Spirit was __. However, we so appreciate the experience of a Wonderful night with New Friends and a
Pedro Pablo DeLaRosa
Sunset Diary, Page 9
Great Community that You were so Gracious to share with Us. Muchas Gracias. Roland & Lupita.
Connecting with Friends! What a Wonderful feeling!! Thank you for allowing this to happen, We Love you Toms & Eva. Many Blessings today and always. Claudia Cardozo
Sunset Cookout signica para me la palabra UNO todas las nacionalidades se convierten en una a traves de la Gran Amistad que nos une!! Adriana Vargas
Toms y Eva Muchas gracias por su hospitalidad ene este dia tan especial. Rulla Nehme
Toms y Eva My Dear Friends, I love your hospitality and your company. Thank you for everything!! Doris, Ronnie & Andrew Blanchard
Toms y Eva Son las sinceras y gratas personas de tener como amigos. Este es mi primer ao participando en el Sunset Summer Cookout y que tremendo placer y grata experiencia!! Con mucho cario y Amor. Fiordaliza Then.
Nos vemos en el 20013!! Solo un cero mas pero compartido con Toms y Eva.
Gonzalo Cuervo, Miguel Luna, Ricardo Patio, Alido Baldera Sabina Matos to name a few. Since the start of the event, it has attracted a long list of aspiring candidates and elected officials throughout Rhode Island political scene, some of whom have become elected to lead our state such as: U.S. Senate Candidates Lincoln Chafee, Robert Weygand and Richard Lich, State General Treasurer Paul Tavares, State Senate Candidate Juan Pichardo District 10, District 2, State Representative Candidate Gonzalo Cuervo, State Representative Candidate Luis Tejada, City Councilman Candidate Miguel Luna, City Councilman Candidate Ricardo Patio, Democratic Party Executive Director Melba DePea, Representative Grace Diaz, Ward 15 Council Candidate Liandra Martinez, Congregational Candidate Angel Taveras, State Senator Candidate Pedro Espinal, State Senator Candidate, State Representative Candidate Leo Medina, State Senator Candidate Andrew Galli, Gubernatorial Candidate Myrth York and Sheldon Whitehouse, Attorney General Candidate Patrick Lynch, Secretary of State Edward Inman, Secretary of State Candidates Matt Brown, Secretary of State Candidate, Mayoral Candidate David Cicilline, Mayoral Candidate Solis, State Senator Frank Ciccone, Congregational Candidate Ed Morabito, Guillaume deRamel, Secretary of State Candidate, United State Senate Candidate Carl Sheeler, United State Senate Candidate Sheldon Whitehouse, United State Senate Candidate Matt Brown, State Representative Candidate Wilbur Jennings, City Council Candidate Nicolas Narducci, Cranston Mayor and United State Senate Candidate Steven Laffey, City Council Candidate Jose Brito, City Council Candidate Eulogio Acevedo, City Council Candidate Pich Choun, Sheldon Whitehouse, United States Senator, David N. Cicilline, Candidate for 1st District U.S. Congress, Anthony Gemma Candidate for 1st District U.S. Congress, David A. Segal Candidate for 1st District U.S. Congress, Frank Caprio Candidate for Governor, Patrick Lynch, RI Attorney General, John Robitaille, Candidate for Governor, Elizabeth Roberts Candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Ralph Mollis Candidate for Secretary of State, Leonidas P. Raptakis Candidate for Secretary of State, Peter F. Kilmartin Candidate for Attorney General, Joseph Fernandez (RIP) Candidate for Attorney General, Stephen Candidate for Attorney General, Gina Raimondo Candidate for General Treasurer, State Representative John McCauley, Jr., Senator Maryellen Goodwin, District 1, Anastasia Williams House of Representatives, District 9, Juan M. Pichardo, Senator, District 2, Harold Metts, Senator, District 6, Scott Slater House of Representatives, District 10, Ana Quezada Candidate for House of Representatives, District 10, Angel Taveras Candidate for Mayor, City of Providence, John J. Lombardi Candidate for Mayor, City of Providence, , Steven M. Constantino Candidate for Mayor, City of Providence, Nicholas Narducci City Councilor, 4th Ward, Luis Aponte City Councilor, 10th Ward, James Diossa City Councilor, Central Falls, Edwin Pacheco Chairman, Rhode Island Democratic Party to name a few. I became aware that the idea of the cookout was the right one in 2001, when I decided that I wasnt going to organized the event any longer, and I was flooded with calls and emails from members of the community requesting that the cookout must go on, because they had become accustomed to it and couldnt be cancel and taken away from them. After so much pressure, my friend Betty Bernal convinced my beloved wife that if I wasnt going to organize it, she was going to partner with and organize it and I agree to allow them to organize it during the first week in August. Even with the delayed scheduling, the community responded and thanks to the Pedro Pablo DeLaRosa Sunset Diary, Page 16
community insistence and Bettys determination, the Sunset Summer Cookout has become an annual tradition. During the 2002 election season, there were so many political candidates present with their campaign entourage and media material, that many individuals baptized the event with title The Latino Political Convention, which still cause the biggest attendance turnout during the electoral years. This tradition continuo during the 2010 event, which saw a record breaking attendance of thirty five candidates covering the complete range of elected positions across the state of Rhode Island. The cookout further became a networking opportunity to members of the Latino community that allowed them the opportunity to meet and socialize with future and elected officials and obtain employment opportunities and developed business relationships as well educational opportunities to many youngsters in the community, contributing to the increase rise of young Latino professional among elected officials staff and other industries across the state. Many past attendants have obtained employment through connections established at the event, and many love relationships have bloomed throughout the years with an indirect contribution to formation of new households and the continuous growth of the Latino demographics. The other landmark of the event that has become a measurable yardstick, are the many children born to friends and acquaintances during the last 11 years, and witnessing many of their children reached adulthood and become productive and contributing members of the improvement of the Latino community and the state of Rhode Island. My biggest satisfaction co founding the Sunset Summer Cookout with my Wife Eva, has been the opportunity to achieve our mission to provide a forum to integrate our community and allowed it to socialize without the social while celebrating friendship and human relation in the harmony of our residence regardless of socio economic status, and providing accessibility to Latinos from all walks of to life changing opportunities through the networking with many individuals whom they would had never met otherwise and a forum for social adversaries to network with each other in a social setting conducive to harmonious relationships for a few hours that in many cases have transcend the Sunset Summer Cookout, and allowed them to the understating of collective collaboration in moving our community forward. All of this for the admission price of their favorite food or drink, but most importantly their presence. The event has also been the attention grabber of the growing Latino media throughout the years, such as the social pages of the fledging Providence En Espaol 2000-2004, Siglo 21 2002-2003, RILatino.com, RIMix.com, Tiempo Social 2004 that have played an important chapter in the institutionalization of the event. During the 2010 cookout a large number of the candidates in attendance approached me during the event to thank me for being so inclusive and allowing them to be part of the cookout despite their campaign opponents being part of the event and treating them with respect and making them feel comfortable and welcome in a harmonious setting, that gave me the opportunity to Pedro Pablo DeLaRosa Sunset Diary, Page 17
rebrand the event tagline to A Rhode Island Moment of Inclusive Harmony & Diversity to capture their comfort and the legacy of the Sunset Summer Cookout of inclusivity and diversity. In conclusion, the biggest value added for the success of the Sunset Summer Cookout, are the thousand of Rhode Islanders of all walks of life, friends and family members from New York and Massachusetts, that have honored us with their presence for the last 11 years. You are the reason for the success of the event and place it into a classic tradition across the state, and Eva and I are forever grateful for your support and commitment to our event. Lastly I must conclude paying my deepest respect to many supporters and friends that became part of the cookout network, who are no longer with us such as Robert Bob Graziano (2011), Joseph Joe Fernandez (2010), Raymond (Tailor) Ogando (2009), Tony Marcella (2008). May God have them in his glory and may they rest in peace as we shall never forget them. I closing I look forward to you joining us Friday June 22, 2012 5:00 11:00 PM 12th Annual Sunset Summer Cookout: A Rhode Island Moment of Inclusive Harmony & Diversity.