Portraits of Puerto Rico

Commonwealth in the Caribbean

Portraits of Puerto Rico: Commonwealth in the Caribbean is a production of the School of Journalism at Northeastern University. Twelve students, under the direction of Professor Carlene Hempel, reported these stories in the spring of 2022 from Boston and Puerto Rico. Their work and the range of topics covered here showcase the people, places and issues facing this beautiful unincorporated U.S. territory.

Puerto Rico in focus:

Police, pageants and the love of chinchorreo on the Island of Enchantment

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Through Puerto Rico’s next generation of boxers, the island’s storied boxing history lives on

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Strike at the root: the fight for sovereignty through locally grown food

Invasive species threaten Puerto Rico’s natural biodiversity

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Scientists and surfers unite to protect the island’s reef

Marked by poor health and lack of healthcare, islands residents demand better services

Indigenous identity crisis: Who has the right to claim they are Taíno?

Lack of transportation affects tourism as destinations struggle to recover

Brain Drain: A worker exodus afflicts the island as its brightest leave for better opportunities

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Medicaid on the island: A story of chronic underfunding

‘Speaking with the drum’- Bomba, a celebration of history and community

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Tourism-fueled rent hikes force out Old San Juan creatives

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Mental health providers face burnout and other struggles amid Puerto Rico’s crises

Fed up with cut pensions and frozen pay, teachers in Puerto Rico quit by the thousands and flood the streets

Watch

Puerto Rico in focus:

Through Puerto Rico’s next generation of boxers, the island’s storied boxing history lives on

Strike at the root: the fight for sovereignty through locally grown food

Invasive species threaten Puerto Rico’s natural biodiversity

Scientists and surfers unite to protect the island’s reef

Marked by poor health and lack of healthcare, islands residents demand better services

Indigenous identity crisis: Who has the right to claim they are Taíno?

Lack of transportation affects tourism as destinations struggle to recover

Brain Drain: A worker exodus afflicts the island as its brightest leave for better opportunities

Medicaid on the island: A story of chronic underfunding

‘Speaking with the drum’- Bomba, a celebration of history and community

Tourism-fueled rent hikes force out Old San Juan creatives

Mental health providers face burnout and other struggles amid Puerto Rico’s crises

Fed up with cut pensions and frozen pay, teachers in Puerto Rico quit by the thousands and flood the streets

Faced with chronic power failures, the people of Puerto Rico look to the sun for their energy needs

Puerto Rican-Palestinian identities create an unlikely robust community

‘The beaches belong to the people’ – Inside locals’ fight to keep their beaches open to all