My name is Michael Aquino (Aquino for short) and I'm a Cuba-Rican singer-songwriter from New Jersey.

The current academic year will be a difficult one for primary, secondary, and university students across Puerto Rico. One hundred and seventy-nine public schools will close and more than 27,000 students will be displaced in an effort to help reduce the $73 billion in public debt the U.S. territory faces. After reading this article* back in May, I reflected on my own educational experiences. I attended public institutions from pre-K through college. I can’t imagine where I’d be today if any of these schools had unexpectedly shuttered its doors.

I believe that every student in Puerto Rico deserves an opportunity to learn without the looming uncertainty that the government’s economics will upend their educational circumstance. Their only limitation should be their own ambition. I felt the need to take action and raise awareness about the state of public education on the island, but I wasn’t sure what I could do. Then a thought struck me as I was finishing my upcoming album, City Stars, an ode to my hometown and neighborhood. At the heart of that Latinx urban community were the local public schools. I have fond memories of attending Jefferson School, an arts magnet school that nurtured every student that came through its doors. So I decided to turn the release of City Stars into a crowdfunding campaign and donate the proceeds to a public school that offered similar support to students in Puerto Rico.

I first reached out to ConPRmetidos, a social ventures incubator, whose mission is "connecting people in order to foster commitment with the personal, social and economic development of the Puerto Rican communities." They put me in touch with El Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, a public institution of higher learning located in the historic Miramar section in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Singer-songwriter + Conservatory of Music = A perfect match!)

El Conservatorio focuses on providing a, "...leading role in the musical and cultural life of Puerto Rico," and they, "...are committed to preserving and disseminating the Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Latin American musical heritage, thus developing future generations of cultural leaders."** I spoke to Maria Firpi, Vivian Lopez, and the conservatory chancellor, Pedro I. Segarra, about my fundraising plan and they are excited about the campaign!

YOU can help ensure that the talented students of El Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico receive the quality public conservatory training they deserve.

No donation is too small! And you'll be rewarded!

For donations under $5 you'll have the gratitude of the students at El Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico!

For $5 you'll receive a social media shout out from me!

For $20 you'll receive one of the first CD copies of my new album, City Stars.

For $35 you'll receive two of my albums: City Stars and my debut album, Giants Will Fall.

For $75 you'll receive one of five beautiful 8 1/2" x 9 3/8" artist prints of the City Stars album art created by Gene-Manuel Whirling. They are signed and numbered. They are not matted and framed.

For $300 you'll receive a customized song created by me. Thinking of a theme song for your business or podcast, song for your loved one, or a song for your wedding? Let's get it done. We'll consult to make sure you get what you want! Here's a sample of a commissioned theme song I wrote for Gene-Manuel:

And visit here for more of my music: https://michaelaquino.com/music/

All proceeds (minus shipping charges) will be donated to El Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico. Remember that no donation is too small! I'll be sure to update here on the progress of the campaign.

Please help students of El Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico continue to contribute their art to the fabric of Puerto Rico and the United States of America. Thank you!

www.MichaelAquino.com

A photo from my 1,300 mile cross Puerto Rico trip back in 2014.

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*https://apnews.com/ef5de9ccefe4419aaadc8ba7b791...

**https://cmpr.edu/cmpr/mision/

Campaign photo by Dalisa Robles Iglesias