Jesus ‘Tato’ Laviera Way (Manhattan)
Present name:None
Location:At the intersection of East 123rd Street and Second Avenue
Honoree: Jesus Laviera (1950-2013) was one of the best-known representatives of the Nuyorican school of poetry. He published books, plays and poems, and made hundreds of appearances at colleges and literary events. He was involved with the University of the Streets, which helped adults obtain a high school diploma and attend college; was an administrator at the Association of Community Services; and directed the Hispanic Drama Workshop. His most famous book, La Carreta Made a U-Turn, earned him an invitation to the White House by President Jimmy Carter to an event for distinguished American poets. His second book, Enclave, made him the first Hispanic author to win the American Book Award of the Before Columbus Foundation. Poems from his third publication, AmeRican, have been included in more than 30 anthologies. (Mark-Viverito)
LL:2017/110