Puerto Rico: Notes
 July 22, 2018 at 10:46 AM
 I don't normally tweet on Sundays.
 But today is special.
 I'm flying to Puerto Rico right now, where we'll
 announce the effort we're making on behalf of
 artists all over Puerto Rico. Taking Hamilton to
 Puerto Rico in January 2019 allows us the
 opportunity to raise resources for art
 organizations and individual artists on the
 island. Today we're launching the Flamboyán
 Arts Fund and announcing the first five grants.
 Many artists and arts organizations on the island
 are under resourced, others are barely making it,
 but they do what they can to survive, in spite of
 the economic situation in Puerto Rico before and
 after Hurricane Maria. My dad says that in
 Puerto Rico, "la gente hace de tripas,
 corazones." The Hamilton team, my family and
 the Flamboyán Foundation have joined forces to
 do whatever we can in supporting the arts, and
 all our proceeds from Hamilton's PR run will go
 towards this effort.

 Notes
 Of course, we continue our efforts on behalf of
 the long term recovery of Puerto Rico. Hundreds
 of thousands of you, from all over the world,
 have helped Puerto Rico through our work with
 the Hispanic Federation, which we started when
 Hurricane Maria hit the island almost a year
 ago. Many other organizations and individuals,
 on the island and abroad, have been working
 hard as well. It has taken all of us, and it will take
 even more: last week we learned in a report from
 FEMA itself that they had nothing on the ground,
 back in September 2017, when Puerto Ricans
 needed the Federal assistance the most.
 Soon, this plane will reach the island, and we'll
 still see a checkerboard of blue tarps dotting the
 landscape. Temporary tarps instead of roofs, 10
 months later. Another painful example of the
 work ahead.
 No shortage of bad news. But also no shortage
 of ways to do some good.

 < Notes
 We are encouraged that this week a report called
 Reimagina set 97 recommendations, that if
 implemented, will create a more resilient Puerto
 Rico. The report was launched by three major
 foundations after consultation with many voices
 on the island and in the diaspora. We are proud
 of the advocacy work that so many have done
 and will continue to do through Power for Puerto
 Rico.
 Amidst all these essential efforts, our arts and
 culture cannot be forgotten. This is the island
 gave us Raul Julia and Lucecita Benitez, Oller,
 Tufiño and Campeche, Rafael Hernández and
 Julia de Burgos, Rita Moreno and Luis Fonsi and
 Residente, and the list goes on and on.
 Artists entertain, inspire, heal, give voice to the
 voiceless, call out injustice, and keep us in touch
 with our humanity.
 So we're gonna have their backs.
 Happy Sunday.
A Sunday tweet
From 35,000 feet https://t.co/P0PW5RakEQ