01.
In 1948 Luis Muñoz Marín became the first elected Puerto Rican born governor of the island. A poet, journalist and politician, he sought to transform the country’s economy and sense of itself. He created government programs that pledged to work toward improving living conditions throughout the island, especially for the majority who lived in the rural, mountainous interior and maintained a close relationship to the United States despite intense conflict on the island surrounding the ties between the two.
Among the governor’s first projects was the formation of the División de Educación de la Comunidad (Division of Community Education), commonly known as DIVEDCO.
By the late 1960’s, Puerto Rico’s economic project began to falter and by 1968 Muñoz Marín was voted out of office. When reflecting on this, he wondered if Puerto Rico remained “a house half built.”
02.
DIVEDCO grouped together prominent local artists, authors, composers, and filmmakers to produce films, posters, and booklets to educate Puerto Ricans about health, public safety, democracy, literacy, and civic participation.
The group produced documentaries, public service films and narrative works that won international acclaim, telling stories that raised up rural voices. Through their storytelling, the films emphasized equity, democracy, ending patriarchal attitudes and encouraged dialogue between all members of the community. Over its 40 plus year existence, DIVEDCO produced nearly 100 films that were shown in communities across the island.
Marisel C. Moreno and Thomas F. Anderson
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