About Us
portoluz — meaning harbor of light — was incorporated in Chicago as a non-profit, 501c3 organization, in 2007. portoluz was formed to provide sustainable environments for innovative artistic exploration, community development, and a wide range of cultural discourse.
We are interested in reclaiming and developing sustainable urban environments for progressive culture and are currently working toward the development of a performing arts center, restaurant, artist’s residence, and community gardens.
In the interim portoluz presents performances, exhibitions and other cultural and humanities events that build diverse audiences, foster international exchange and support grassroots development and social justice activism throughout the region.
We are also interested in facilitating dialogues, building alliances and exchanging practices with similar initiatives worldwide. To that end we envision initiating an internet project that will become a vehicle for posting a variety of content including live music in cyberspace.
Mission Statement
portoluz achieves its mission by: instigating and facilitating participatory multi-disciplinary events that create opportunities for high caliber artistic practices; that extend our collective resources into underserved communities and foster the international exchange of ideas and methods within the context of progressive social change praxis.
Vision Statement
portoluz is an internationally recognized hub for rich cultural expression and a catalyst for progressive social activism driven by multiple physical and cyber venues.
Our Core Values
- Education and advocacy for social justice via cultural and humanities programming
- Utilizing our resources for the inclusion of traditionally marginalized and disenfranchised voices
- Expanding the definition of culture to include high-quality artistic innovations and explorations
- Promoting international dialogue and the understanding of differing artistic traditions
- Modeling sustainable and progressive business practices throughout the enterprise
- portoluz cites its origins in the successful evolution of HotHouse.
The current membership of portoluz includes the following:
Board of Directors
Jerry Harris
Hannah Hayes
Peter Kuttner
Marguerite Horberg
William James
Monica Murphy
Advisory Board
Irene Sherr
Camile Odeh
Helen Shiller
Don Meckley
Guy Nickson
Robyn Gabel
Barbara Engel
Susan Gooding
Bruce Robbins
Regina Sant'anna and Doug Skites
Jennifer Moran
Sheldon Baskin
Committee Members
Dennis La Gory
Joel Berman
Irene Sherr
Matthew Meltzer
Barbara Koenen
Roger Klich
Kavitha Maradadu
Paul Elitzik
Cathy Shanley
Ayanna Contreras
Gina Gamboa
Uche Omoniyi
Jaime Garza
Neil Tesser
Jaclyn Rodriguez
Holly Hutto
Beth Westphal
Pat Bingue
Carol Friedman
Susan Kaplan
Brenda Sawyer
Paul Wozniak
Mary Paton Wozniak
Susan Thompson
Beatriz Badikian
Christina Obregon
We remain eternally thankful to these heroes and heroines who contributed early on to portoluz and helped fund our first web-site
Jane Wells
Bronzeville Adventure And Events/ Rushia Butler
Theodore Pearson
Mary Diaz
David Pavkovic
Lesa Ukman
Jennifer Tompkins
Barbara Koenen
Bruce Robbins
Peter Kuttner
Arlene Crawford
Floyd Mittleman
Joe Shanahan
Stephen Tappis
Carole Travis
Michelle Leblanc
Sheldon Baskin
Noma Richardson
Robin Wold
Ted Oppenheimer
portoluz has received support from the following foundations
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
The Joyce Foundation
The Pokagon Fund
The City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs
The ArtsWork Fund
The Illinois Arts CouncilThe Puffin Foundation
The Benjamin J. Rosenthal Foundation
The October Fund
The John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
as well as many individual donors. We appreciate everyone's support.