| Dos Mundos Arts and Media, as part of its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, is proud to present five outstanding Latin Americans: Angelica Reyes Fraga, Ruben Esguerra, Fran Rawlings Quintero, Manolo Lugo, and Norma Garcia. These Latin Americans represent role models who embody the organization’s hopes and dreams for the next generation of Latino-Canadians. Read the bios below and visit Dos Mundos Arts and Media for more information. |
All photos taken by Gerson J Peña
Angelica Reyes Fraga
Born in Mexico, Angelica Reyes Fraga is an Administrative Assistant at the Regent Park Community Health Centre. She has an educational background in Sociology from York University with a focus on women and social justice studies. Angelica has extensive experience working with several non-for-profit organizations in Toronto and a real passion for community and arts. Angelica works with a number of Latin American Art organizations, including the Latin American Canadian Arts Projects where she currently serves as the treasurer on the board of directors.
Angelica has successfully lead workshops on Art and Health for people with chronic diseases, and organized the Aconsejate talk series for Latin American Artists. She has been involved in the Brasilian music scene since 2004 with bands including Maracatu Nunca Antes, Baque de Bamba and Batucada Carioca and has been playing frequently in the streets of Toronto. Also, Angelica has been part of the team that organizes the annual Día de los Muertos community arts event, held at Artscape Wychwood Barns since 2011. Angelica is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese.
Ruben Esguerra
Born in Colombia – Ruben ‘Beny’ Esguerra is a multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and arts educator. As a musician Ruben leads the 13 piece outfit New Tradition band created to accompany international artists with some of the most sought after musicians in Toronto, Canada. As a composer he has written original scores for the CBC, City Life Film, Amnesty International and the National Film Board of Canada.
As a lyricist and spoken word artist he has presented his pieces in festivals held in Canada; Cuba; Venezuela; Colombia and Chile. Highlights include being commissioned by the Remix Project and the Department of Canadian Heritage to create and perform a spoken word piece welcoming Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean to deliver the opening speech introducing the ‘Ignite the Americas’ conference.
As an arts educator Ruben has worked at York University teaching and lecturing since the age of 22. Ruben currently facilitates workshops through the Ontario Arts Council’s Artist in Education Program bringing drumming and storytelling as a healthy form of self expression to inner city school as well as schools in rural areas across Ontario. He is currently the Program Coordinator and instructor for the Palisades Media Arts Academy based in Jane and Finch Toronto. Ruben is a PhD (ABD) candidate in Musicology/Ethnomusicology specializing in traditional and urban music.
Fran Rawlings Quintero
Colombian-Canadian Fran Rawlings Quintero is currently the Executive Director of MUJER, a non-profit organization that promotes the integral development of Latin women and youth into Canadian society. Fran has developed and worked on projects to empower women of all ages through leadership training, gender analysis and violence prevention. She has overseen the production of a series of media campaigns entitled “Your Voice Counts / Tu Voz Cuenta” targeted at bringing attention to issues that affect Latina youth including bullying, healthy relationships, body image and sexual choices which garnered national attention.
Fran’s interests include reading, cycling and dancing. She is dedicated to projects that support community development and that empower female leadership.
Manolo Lugo
Manolo Lugo is Toronto based Mexican artist whose works investigates the implications of the presentation of experiential phenomena within the context of aesthetics. He received his BA in International Relations from ITESM, a BFA from Emily Carr University and has recently completed the Masters of Visual Studies at the University of Toronto, where he has also taught. His work has been shown in Mexico City, Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto.
Norma Garcia
Born in El Salvador and raised in Toronto, Norma Garcia is a documentary video maker and avid supporter of the arts. She has featured her short documentary videos at the National Film Board of Canada and recently at the Alucine, Latin American Media Festival in Toronto. Norma holds the position of the Senior Grants Assistant for the Toronto Arts Council.
She has worked and volunteered in Toronto’s arts community since she graduated from the Cultural Studies program at York University. Norma’s previous work experience also includes serving as a Program Coordinator for the National Film Board of Canada. In addition, Norma is involved in assisting with other projects in the Toronto Arts Foundation, among other community arts projects geared to support Latin American and Canadian artists in the city of Toronto.
Born in Mexico, Angelica Reyes Fraga is an Administrative Assistant at the Regent Park Community Health Centre. She has an educational background in Sociology from York University with a focus on women and social justice studies. Angelica has extensive experience working with several non-for-profit organizations in Toronto and a real passion for community and arts. Angelica works with a number of Latin American Art organizations, including the Latin American Canadian Arts Projects where she currently serves as the treasurer on the board of directors.
Angelica has successfully lead workshops on Art and Health for people with chronic diseases, and organized the Aconsejate talk series for Latin American Artists. She has been involved in the Brasilian music scene since 2004 with bands including Maracatu Nunca Antes, Baque de Bamba and Batucada Carioca and has been playing frequently in the streets of Toronto. Also, Angelica has been part of the team that organizes the annual Día de los Muertos community arts event, held at Artscape Wychwood Barns since 2011. Angelica is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese.
Ruben Esguerra
Born in Colombia – Ruben ‘Beny’ Esguerra is a multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and arts educator. As a musician Ruben leads the 13 piece outfit New Tradition band created to accompany international artists with some of the most sought after musicians in Toronto, Canada. As a composer he has written original scores for the CBC, City Life Film, Amnesty International and the National Film Board of Canada.
As a lyricist and spoken word artist he has presented his pieces in festivals held in Canada; Cuba; Venezuela; Colombia and Chile. Highlights include being commissioned by the Remix Project and the Department of Canadian Heritage to create and perform a spoken word piece welcoming Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean to deliver the opening speech introducing the ‘Ignite the Americas’ conference.
As an arts educator Ruben has worked at York University teaching and lecturing since the age of 22. Ruben currently facilitates workshops through the Ontario Arts Council’s Artist in Education Program bringing drumming and storytelling as a healthy form of self expression to inner city school as well as schools in rural areas across Ontario. He is currently the Program Coordinator and instructor for the Palisades Media Arts Academy based in Jane and Finch Toronto. Ruben is a PhD (ABD) candidate in Musicology/Ethnomusicology specializing in traditional and urban music.
Fran Rawlings Quintero
Colombian-Canadian Fran Rawlings Quintero is currently the Executive Director of MUJER, a non-profit organization that promotes the integral development of Latin women and youth into Canadian society. Fran has developed and worked on projects to empower women of all ages through leadership training, gender analysis and violence prevention. She has overseen the production of a series of media campaigns entitled “Your Voice Counts / Tu Voz Cuenta” targeted at bringing attention to issues that affect Latina youth including bullying, healthy relationships, body image and sexual choices which garnered national attention.
Fran’s interests include reading, cycling and dancing. She is dedicated to projects that support community development and that empower female leadership.
Manolo Lugo
Manolo Lugo is Toronto based Mexican artist whose works investigates the implications of the presentation of experiential phenomena within the context of aesthetics. He received his BA in International Relations from ITESM, a BFA from Emily Carr University and has recently completed the Masters of Visual Studies at the University of Toronto, where he has also taught. His work has been shown in Mexico City, Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto.
Norma Garcia
Born in El Salvador and raised in Toronto, Norma Garcia is a documentary video maker and avid supporter of the arts. She has featured her short documentary videos at the National Film Board of Canada and recently at the Alucine, Latin American Media Festival in Toronto. Norma holds the position of the Senior Grants Assistant for the Toronto Arts Council.
She has worked and volunteered in Toronto’s arts community since she graduated from the Cultural Studies program at York University. Norma’s previous work experience also includes serving as a Program Coordinator for the National Film Board of Canada. In addition, Norma is involved in assisting with other projects in the Toronto Arts Foundation, among other community arts projects geared to support Latin American and Canadian artists in the city of Toronto.