The Eisner Journal

Puerto Rico’s ARECMA Wins The 2020 Eisner Prize

October 7, 2020

We are thrilled to announce this year’s Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence winner: The Recreational and Educational Community Association of Barrio Mariana de Humacao, known as ARECMA. The Prize includes a $150,000 cash gift in recognition of an exceptional individual or non-profit organization that unites multiple generations to bring about positive, lasting changes in its community.

ARECMA focuses on community self-management, cooperation and solidarity, and individual and collective social responsibility across generations. It serves the residents of the Mariana neighborhood in Humacao, Puerto Rico, by providing services and facilities that bring residents of all ages together. In particular, ARECMA promotes education and economic development through a summer camp, health and job fairs, recreational activities, and community events including the annual Breadfruit Festival.

ARECMA’s 38-year legacy shows how intergenerational solutions create connected, resilient communities that can mitigate the effects of natural disasters and other challenges. After Hurricane Maria in 2017, existing social connections and infrastructure allowed this relatively isolated community to recover quickly, despite not having water or power for months in the aftermath. During the Covid-19 pandemic, ARECMA staff and volunteers distributed food to residents in need, deployed social work students to address mental health concerns, and implemented safety guidelines to reopen community facilities as quickly as possible.

Watch the video above to learn more about this year’s winner.