By Cynthia Burgos Lopez | Executive Director
In 2017, Puerto Rico declared bankruptcy, becoming the largest municipal bankruptcy in the history of the United States. This event brought a series of consequences, including significant cuts to essential services and a decline in local production to prioritize the payment of an unsustainable debt. As part of austerity measures, between 2016 and 2021, more than 600 schools were closed, leaving thousands of children and communities without educational centers and essential spaces for community services. Without an adequate reuse plan, many of these schools have become abandoned spaces, prone to issues such as illicit activities and illegal dumping.
The community of Guayanés, in Yabucoa, has been no exception. To address this situation, the community has organized to transform this closed school into a community service center. The remote location of Guayanés, far from the urban center, makes access to basic services extremely difficult, making this project essential to improving the quality of life for its residents. Through participatory design processes, we support the community in its efforts to rehabilitate the school and restore it to its role as an essential community space, as it once was.
In response to Puerto Rico’s overwhelming reliance on food imports—currently at 85% of consumed food—an innovative agriculture project led by agroecological farmers has emerged as a beacon of hope and resilience. This initiative aims to establish a center for distribution, education, and organization within the agricultural sector. The center will not only serve as a hub for coordinating the production and supply of locally grown, sustainable food but will also create a space for knowledge sharing, resource pooling, and collective action.
The challenges faced by Puerto Rico—stemming from economic austerity, school closures, food dependency, and the abandonment of critical community spaces—highlight the urgent need for grassroots initiatives and collaborative efforts. Through participatory design, we empower communities like Guayanés in Yabucoa and agroecological farmers to reclaim their spaces, rebuild their systems, and create sustainable solutions tailored to their unique needs. These efforts not only address immediate challenges but also lay the groundwork for long-term resilience and self-sufficiency, proving that community-driven projects are key to rebuilding a stronger, more equitable Puerto Rico.
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