Press
Community projects that strengthen climate resilience and sustainability receive awards
Four local initiatives were recognized for their impact on sustainability and adaptation to climate change, transforming spaces and promoting conservation in vulnerable communities. Among the winners was Caras con Causa, led by its executive director, Michael Fernández Frey, who has been instrumental in projects such as the creation of a community laboratory for the restoration of the Ciénaga Las Cucharillas Nature Reserve.
Fundación Rimas opens the doors of "La Academia" and this is what we saw
The Rimas Foundation, in collaboration with the Escuela con Causa Rosalina C. Martínez in Guaynabo, has launched "La Academia," a project that offers at-risk students the opportunity to learn about the music industry. Under the direction of teacher Aramis Rivera Rivera, eleventh graders participate in hands-on music classes in a recording studio equipped at the school. Michael Fernandez, director of Caras con Causa, noted: "We believe in the youth and they are showing a lot of potential.
To continue the transformation agenda in Education
In his opinion column, Michael Fernández Frey emphasizes the need for the new government of Puerto Rico to continue with the initiatives to transform the public education system, focusing on decentralization and the allocation of a student-based budget. These actions, contemplated in the Puerto Rico Education Reform Act, seek to ensure that children and young people are at the center of educational management, promoting their development and future prosperity.
Episode #111-T3: Michael Fernandez | Faces with a Cause
In this episode of the "Para Servirle" podcast, Michael Fernández, founder of Caras con Causa, shares the trajectory of the organization that, for more than 14 years, has promoted sustainable community development in Puerto Rico. With projects in seven communities in Guaynabo and Cataño, Caras con Causa focuses on community empowerment, education and the environment. Fernández also highlights the creation of Escuela con Causa, a recent initiative that seeks to improve education in the area.
Michael Fernandez: "I recognized and accepted that I had a vocation to serve others".
From a young age, Michael I. Fernández Frey felt a call to service and decided to orient his career towards social justice. He founded Caras con Causa, an organization that promotes community development in Guaynabo and Cataño, focusing on education and the environment. Fernández stresses the importance of perseverance and collective effort to achieve systemic changes that break the cycle of poverty in Puerto Rico.
Social innovation competition awards more than $1.6 million to community projects
Fundación Banco Popular and Hispanic Federation announced the winners of the Puerto Rico Big Ideas Challenge, awarding more than $1.6 million to community projects. Caras con Causa and the Yaguazo Corridor won the first prize of $450,000 for their initiative focused on community development and ecological restoration. This competition seeks to foster alliances and innovative proposals that generate social change in the communities.
Ford awards environmental grants to community projects in Puerto Rico
Ford has distributed donations to various organizations in Puerto Rico to support environmental and sustainability initiatives. Among the beneficiaries are projects that promote the conservation of natural resources and environmental education in local communities. These initiatives seek to strengthen resilience in the face of climate change and promote sustainable practices on the island.
Urgent need to implement a student-centered education budget
In his opinion column, Michael Fernández Frey highlights the need for the Puerto Rico Department of Education to adopt a student-based funding model, known as "per pupil," a practice common in more than 30 U.S. states. Fernández Frey points out that currently only 52% of one of the programmatic allocations goes directly to students, while the rest is lost in the agency's central bureaucracy. Implementing this approach would allow for a more equitable and efficient distribution of resources.
In search of successful educational models
Officials from the Fiscal Oversight Board visited Escuela con Causa Rosalina Caraballo de Martínez in Guaynabo to learn about its educational model. This charter school has achieved outstanding academic results, including second place in national speech competitions and above-average scores on College Board tests. Michael Fernández Frey, executive director of Caras con Causa, explained to the officials how charter schools operate under Education Reform Law 85.
Creating smiles in our community
MCS Foundation has reached a historic figure of more than $6.1 million in donations to non-profit entities in Puerto Rico. These contributions support projects in areas such as health, education and economic development in vulnerable communities. Among the beneficiary organizations is Caras con Causa, which works in sustainable community development in Guaynabo and Cataño.
A school standing despite earthquakes
Following the earthquakes that affected Puerto Rico, the Rosalina C. Martínez School in Guaynabo suffered structural damage that prevented the use of its facilities. However, the school community, led by Caras con Causa, did not sit idly by and reactivated the educational offerings in alternative spaces. This effort demonstrates the commitment to education and the well-being of the students, despite the natural and structural challenges.
Caras con Causa: Innovations in ecological health and environmental education
Caras con Causa is a non-profit organization in San Juan, Puerto Rico, led by Michael Fernández. The organization offers educational programs that teach children about the interdependence of ecosystems and supports them in their school performance. They also develop mangrove restoration projects and promote sustainable community development, seeking to empower communities towards self-sufficient economic prosperity.