Below you will find a series of videos that tell the story of Iniciativa Comunitaria’s work and the services we provide.

DOCUMENTARY FILMS

Moriviví – June 2014

This documentary film presents testimonials of substance abuse survivors, their challenges, their successes and their reintegration process into the community. It was produced for PITIRRE, Iniciativa Comunitaria’s Comprehensive Substance Treatment and Rehabilitation Program. PITIRRE is a clinic that offers outpatient health services to persons 18 years of age or older with or without health insurance who are active substance users. Services offered combine medical, psychological, spiritual and medicalization support.

The film was produced by students of the University of Sacred Heart’s Communications Department: Eduardo Colón, director; Mariangelis Vega, camera operator; Ana Rodríguez, editor; and Mónica Sánchez, producer.

The Forgotten Faces – February 2013

This special program produced by Inside Media and local radio station Radio Isla 1320 AM features one of Operation Compassion’s nighttime street rounds. It was directed by acclaimed journalist Julio Rivera Saniel, who won the Puerto Rico Journalists Association (ASPPRO, by its Spanish acronym) special report award for this work.

Health and Solidarity: Iniciativa Comunitaria’s Nighttime Street Rounds – 2010

This short documentary film highlights Iniciativa Comunitaria’s nighttime street rounds, featuring interviews with Dr. José A. Vargas Vidot, university students and program participants. This project, selected to be part of Micros 2012 – a short film series of the Puerto Rico Film Corporation – was produced by José Martí and Alfredo Richner and directed by Alfredo Richner.

Body Maps: Individual and Collective Map Making – December 2009

A collaborative project between the University of Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program on Cultural Agency and Administration at the Rio Piedras Campus and Iniciativa Comunitaria’s residential rehab center for women Hogar Compromiso de Vida I. This project was lead by Mayra Rivera Rivera and Pedro Adorno Irizarry, who belong to the research team of art project Where? For Who?

25 Years of Challenges: The HIV story in Puerto Rico – 2008

This short documentary film presents the history of HIV in Puerto Rico from 1981 to 2006. Participants of the following local organizations are featured in the film: Iniciativa Comunitaria, PR CoNCRA, COAI, Inc., Pacientes Pro Política Sana, Centro de Estudios Materno Infantiles CEMI, ACTU, Sida Pediátrico, among others. Directed by Paul Millán, photography by Leslie Colombania and Susan Rivera, production and script written by Michelle Robles Torres.

Campaigns and special programs

I Feel I Have Arrived In Heaven (A story) – September 2015

Video produced by mainstream newspaper El Nuevo Día as part of the story written by journalist Osman Pérez Méndez and published in the newspaper. This video captures the testimony of Cheo, a PITIRRE program participant. He has received program services and is at an early recovery stage of his treatment, which includes Buprenorphine, an opioid medication used in the treatment of other opioids addiction such as morphine and heroine. Watch the entire story.

Needle exchange for life – July 2014

Video produced by mainstream newspaper El Nuevo Día as part of the story written by journalist Mildred Rivera Marrero and published in the newspaper. It depicts a daytime needle exchange street round route, done weekly by Iniciativa’s Punto Fijo program. Men and women with average age of 39 years old, who inject drugs on average seven times daily, arrive at the selected point where Iniciativa’s team exchange used needles for new syringes, paraphernalia and condoms. The purpose is to prevent transmission or to become infected again with HIV and Hepatitis.  View report.

Global Action Day “Support. Don’t Punish.” – June 2014

Iniciativa Comunitaria joined more than 100 cities around the world in this global advocacy campaign calling on the decriminalization of drug users. On June 26, 2014, photos of thousands of drug users in Puerto Rico were shown.

Suspended Coffees Puerto Rico – May 2014

Press Conference held by Iniciativa Comunitaria at the Bodeguita de Manolo in Río Piedras to announce the organization’s Suspended Coffees initiative. This social effort started in Naples, Italy and is supported by coffee shops around the world, including cafés in Puerto Rico. The idea is that you buy one coffee for yourself and one for someone in need. It can be used for other food items as well.

Barrio Vivo’s Underage Drinking Campaign – 2015

As part of Barrio Vivo’s social marketing campaign, this radio ad was created. Barrio Vivo is an alcohol prevention program for minors, which also benefits relatives, neighbors and members of the community through prevention and educational workshops. Learn more about our program.

Barrio Vivo’s Alcohol Prevention Council of Vega Baja  – 2015

The Alcohol Prevention Council (APC) of Vega Baja was established in February 2012, and together with Iniciativa’s Barrio Vivo program team, delineated an action plan with the goal of reducing underage drinking and strengthening the prevention infrastructure of the town of Vega Baja.  The role of APC’s members is not only to advise the organization in the decision-making process but also to collaborate in the implementation of the project.

Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign – March 2014

A public service announcement done by Iniciativa Comunitaria in collaboration with Telemundo television network. Saudy Rivera, a well-known TV presenter and campaign’s spokesperson, calls on women to be screened for HIV during March: Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Month. Watch the video.

Brega Bien presents TEDx Youth@Santurce – November 2012

Event presented at the Ana G. Mendez Metropolitan University’s Muñiz Souffront Amphitheater. Eight inspirational short presentations in TED-style format were given that morning to youths. We joined more than 70 cities around the world that were holding TedxYouth conferences also. Presentations by: Nuria Sebazco (journalist); José Vega “Remi” (renown clown); Bettina Mercado (entrepreneur); Laura OM (entrepreneur and hair stylist); Luis Salazar (Luis Salazar Foundation); Milton Vélez (Brega Bien participant); and René Nieves (PITIRRE Wave project)

Brega Bien presents TEDx Youth@Santurce – November 2013

Event presented at the Victoria Espinosa Theater in Santurce and organized by Iniciativa’s Brega Bien program.  Eight excellent and inspirational short presentations in TED-style format were given that morning to youths. We joined more than 80 cities around the world that were also holding TedxYouth conferences. Presentations by: David Rodríguez “Sie7e” (singer, composer and Grammy winner); Sofía Maldonado (artist, muralist); Matilsha Marxuach (designer, social entrepreneur); Kurt Schindler (financial planner); Daniel Rivera (barista, creator of coffee-bike); Ramón González (computer engineer and co-founder of Stography & Kytelabs); and Ana Elisa Pérez Quintero (eco-activist and co- founder of GAIA).

TEDx Youth@Santurce 2014 – November 2014

Event presented at Punto Fijo Coffee Theater in Santurce and the third time Iniciativa’s Brega Bien program presents. With Brains over Brawn as the underpinning topic, presenters gave inspiring talks to the kids. They were Antonio Morales (Theater Director), Rafael Joglar (herpetology professor), Melissa Frontera (social worker and artisan), Dulce Coco (poet and singer), Betty Medina (backpacks of hope), Bon Marie (youth mentor), and Héctor “Indio” Resto (surfer and muralist).

Brega Bien Program – August 2013

A short video that explains Iniciativa’s Brega Bien program and the need for its new working space, the Jose Berrocal Comprehensive Development Center.

The center is the program’s new headquarters that will allow us to serve more kids and expand our service offering. Brega Bien serves children and youth who are exposed to at-risk behaviors or high-risk social environments.

Woman:  Love yourself, take care of yourself, and educate yourself about HIV – Testimonial – March 2013

A video testimonial for Iniciativa’s campaign March: Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Month.  This video is part of a larger island-wide campaign, lead by Iniciativa’s former program PROGRESAH, calling on women to know themselves better and be screened for HIV.

Humberto: Keep a Soul Warm this Christmas – 2015 Campaign

A public service announcement produced by Nostrom Moving Images for our annual Christmas campaign Keep a Soul Warm this Christmas.  This annual fundraising campaign is done in collaboration with Wal-Mart Puerto Rico stores that help us enhance service to the homeless with the purchase of blankets, food and basic needs items. It also leverages funding to support other populations we serve.

Human trafficking in Puerto Rico – July 2013

A special program for ‘Jugando Pelota Dura’ (TV Show) that seeks to educate the Puerto Rican people about human trafficking, a crime unknown to many but very real in Puerto Rico. It was produced by Playing Hard Ball in collaboration with the Ricky Martin Foundation. The voices of Iniciativa Comunitaria and SER de Puerto Rico, organizations that have seen the face of human trafficking in Puerto Rico, are integrated in this segment. Children with disabilities are also vulnerable to abuse and manipulation.

Iniciativa Comunitaria: 20 years of community building  – April 2013

This video campaign was launched to celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary. This public service announcement was selected to be part of the public TV ads rotation of all major local television channels.

Flash Mob: Keep a Soul Warm this Christmas – November 2012

A group of young dancers from Legendary Smash performed a flash mob as part of the launch of our sponsor-a-blanket-campaign Keep a Soul Warm this Christmas. It’s an annual fundraising campaign done in collaboration with Wal-Mart Puerto Rico stores that help us enhance service to the homeless with the purchase of blankets, food and basic needs items. It also leverages funding to support other populations we serve.

Nourish the Spirit – 2011 (Supermarket commercial / Breakfast commercial)

A commercial created for the Nourish the Spirit campaign, an initiative done in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Food Marketing, Industry and Distribution Chamber (or MIDA, by its Spanish acronym). The campaign generated a donation with each select product purchased at participating grocery stores. It was produced by Nostrom Moving Images.

Javi doesn’t sleep here anymore: A public service campaign – 2007

A public service announcement created to promote Iniciativa Comunitaria. It was produced by Nostrom Moving Images and directed by Jochi Melero.