“Even one year after the hurricane, the streetlamps that line the freeway to Yabucoa are still twisted around, lighting the plantain fields instead of the road. Locals tell us that the government attitude is, ‘Why fix the stuff before the next hurricane season is over.’ It makes you wonder, how long can they keep saying that?”
-Molly Shannon, performing artist
Tour Overview
In September, 2018, CWB – USA returned to Puerto Rico shortly after the the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria. CWB first toured to Puerto Rico in February, 2018, when much of the island infrastructure was still devastated by the hurricane. It was especially poignant to return—CWB visited schools and communities that couldn’t be accommodated in February, and three of the five original artists joined the tour. Because the Hurricane Maria tour occurred during hurricane season, CWB closely monitored the weather, ensuring the safety of all volunteer artists.
Tour Context
Though time has passed, the healing process is far from complete. Many Puerto Ricans have left the island, never to return. The astronomical increase in confirmed deaths sparked political grandstanding, rather than support, while FEMA continued to accumulate unsympathetic headlines. CWB – USA was honored to work with the warm, resilient people of Puerto Rico.
CWB – USA follows United Nations naming conventions for all countries, nations, and territories, along with the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To read more about our Code of Ethics, click here.
