In RI’s Hispanic community, when someone says the name “Alfonso Acevedo,” you would immediately think of the journalist who founded the American News more than 34 years ago. Since its founding in 1992, the newspaper’s mission has been to inform its community. As of today, it is still the only Hispanic newspaper printed in Spanish in RI.
But that is only a small part of who he is and how he gives back to his community. As we sat and spoke, I learned quite a bit more about Alfonso Acevedo. He began his formal education in Colombia as a child, studying opera in Medellín at the Fine Arts Institute. He remembers creating art during those years as a student. He went on to study Public Administration in Colombia from 1984 to 1987. His creativity and love of communication never left him. He immigrated to the US and began working as a journalist, a reporter, and an event photographer. He wrote poetry. In 1992, Alfonso founded America News New England. He explained that he started the newspaper after his former employer refused to pay him a living wage, so he quit. It was a courageous move for a man with a family.
Alfonso worked hard at the newspaper. But in the late 1980s, he explained that images of men of questionable character like Pablo Escobar dominated the US news every night. This spurred him to change the public perception of Colombia and its people. Alfonso was proud of his heritage. He started painting scenes from his native Colombia: “The Colors of Colombia.” One by one, painting by painting, he created a show. There were twenty-seven paintings. The show traveled from place to place, gaining acclaim and informing people. The exhibit was shown in a solo exhibition at the Rhode Island Foundation gallery, as well as at Salve Regina and URI.
Alfonso is a very insightful man. He gives back and creates community in many aspects of his life. Alfonso told me he has realized two qualities are essential for change: community and confidence. Over the years, he has created a community of budding artists. After working with children, he realized that some of their parents were exceptionally talented yet very reticent. He decided they too could benefit from the program he was creating for children. Since 1995, when he founded The New Millennium Art Factory, his volunteer program has provided free fine arts instruction to the RI community.
This volunteer-run program runs on Saturdays from March through October at the Adams Memorial Free Public Library in Central Falls. It is designed for children as young as 4 and their families. The program’s curriculum includes drawing, painting, film, video, and photography, and serves to foster community integration and provide a creative outlet for families. A network of parents, artists, and former students volunteers as teacher assistants. The dynamic project serves children and families who may be underserved in the greater Blackstone Valley area, and is made possible through the support of RISCA and The Rhode Island Foundation.
More recently, the artist started the Mobile Mural project. This program gave rise to his new focus: mobile murals. Mobile murals withstand the elements and are made with strong acrylic paint and weather-resistant canvas. They can be permanently shown in public spaces as banners and easily stored if needed. The program’s Mobile Murals and Mobile Gallery are displayed in public spaces in our cities. This public art project has displayed two pieces by students at PVDFest. His murals are part of a permanent show at The Knight Memorial Library.
Plans for his art seem bright with the help of a new private patron. Alfonso volunteered that the subject of a new project is antique cars. Alfonso is always thinking and innovating, and is full of boundless energy. The RI community is fortunate that he devotes so much of that energy to helping families and children. According to Alfonso, two qualities that are so important to a person’s ability to change and grow are community and confidence. He has worked all his life building both. He believes that people are reluctant to try new things because of a lack of confidence. A sense of community can help build and nurture that confidence. Alfonso has done that all his life, giving back and innovating, creating, and building new pathways to confidence and community.
What does he see that he can pass on to the next generation of young Latinos? He reiterates, “It is confidence.” Alfonso is an optimistic and resourceful man with many talents. He said to me, “Art is feeling.” Even though there may be turmoil today, “Tomorrow is calm.” Life is about change. We should all have his energy and his optimism about the future.