By The Star Staff
The II Book Fair, “Confluence of Art, Literature, Education, and Technology: Exploring Creative Synergies,” will be held this Wednesday and Thursday at the University of Puerto Rico Carolina Campus.
The event is dedicated to alumnus Marcos Santana Andújar, founder of the Network for the Rights of Children and Youth of Puerto Rico.
Over 30 exhibitors will showcase a wide selection of books for sale, offering attendees the opportunity to explore and purchase books spanning various genres and styles.
“The Second Book Fair is an opportunity to get close to academic investigations and promote a dialogue related to education and research,” said Mayra R. Encarnación, a poet, editor and professor who is organizing the event.
Experts in literature, education, African descent, neuroscience, marginalized communities in Puerto Rico, gender violence, addictions, and more will engage in discussions and presentations, including book launches. Notable guests include writers Mayra Santos-Febres, Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro, Yvonne Denis Rosario, Elithet Silva Gutiérrez, Romenlinda Grullón, Noelia Delgado Rodríguez, Delia Figueroa Ocasio, Fernando Abruña Charneco, Edwin Quiles, José A. Santiago, Irmaris Santiago, Pablo L. Rivera, Angela Valentín, Laura Trinidad Olivero and Luis Enrique Romero, among others.
There will also be interactive activities and readings specifically designed for children and young people to promote a love of reading from an early age and celebrate cultural diversity.
Several workshops will be available to the general public, including “Creation of Siglemas,” led by writer Patricia Schaefer Röder, and a narrative and science fiction workshop by writer Dr. José Rabelo.
Santana Andújar is a social leader and human rights activist specializing in issues affecting children and youth, particularly those in poverty and violence. An Afro-Puerto Rican from Juncos, he founded the Network for the Rights of Children and Youth of Puerto Rico in 2012, with the mission of preventing and eradicating child abuse through innovative programs, changes in public policy, and training and technical assistance.
Born in Caguas and raised in Juncos, Santana Andújar experienced living in a shelter for survivors of domestic violence as a child, which motivated him to pursue a career as a licensed social worker. He holds a master’s degree in family and child law from the University of Barcelona and received an honorary doctorate from Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Santurce in 2018, along with a group of volunteers who played a vital role in the recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria.
He is also a co-founder of the Domestic Violence Shelters Network of Puerto Rico and the Inter-American Shelters Network. Santana Andújar has initiated several innovative projects through the Network for the Rights of Children and Youth of Puerto Rico, including Casa Ramón, the first specialized program in Puerto Rico for homeless youth aged 18 to 24, named in honor of his adoptive father.
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