Blanca Vazquez
Revson Fellow 2002-2003
Viewing Race Project Coordinator and Web Site Editor
National Video Resources (NVR)
At the time of selection, Blanca Vazquez was the Viewing Race Project Coordinator and Web Site Editor at National Video Resources (NVR), a non-profit organization that assists other nonprofits and libraries and schools to better utilize independent media. Ms. Vazquez is a long-time activist focusing on issues in the Puerto Rican/Latino community, and in areas of race and policing. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City, she holds a B.A. in Psychology from the City College of New York, a Master of Education from Richmond College, and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University. She is the founding editor of CENTRO, Journal of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, CUNY. She has been a consultant with Third World Newsreel, a researcher for the independent documentary series “Policing in a Democracy,” and a facilitator for the Seeing Through AIDS video discussion project. Ms. Vazquez has been active in community organizations ranging from her local housing cooperative to the Boards of the Museo del Barrio, the Anthony Baez Memorial Fund, and Manhattan Neighborhood Network Since the fall of 2000, Ms. Vazquez has worked on the Viewing Race Project (http://www.viewingrace.org), a curated collection of films and videos that promotes dialogue on issues of race and ethnicity in US life. NVR recently compiled “After 9.11: Videos that Promote Knowledge, Understanding and Tolerance,” a collection geared for use by nonprofit and community organizations to address crucial issues the nation faces in the wake of the Sept. 11th attacks. Blanca is currently putting together a collection of human rights titles that will be distributed free to 300 libraries nationwide. All the collections assist schools and nonprofit and community organizations to use quality independent media to advance their work. Ms. Vazquez is a resident of Manhattan’s Upper West Side. During the academic year, Ms. Vazquez has explored issues of race and media by taking courses in African-American studies, history, journalism, and film.
Ms. Vazquez is currently an Adjunct Professor of Film and Media Studies at Hunter College, City University of New York.
(The Revson Fellow’s biography that appears above was last updated in 2007. Revson Fellows may update their biographies on this site by sending email to: revson@columbia.edu)
My effectiveness in my current position owes a great deal to my experience as a Revson Fellow. First, of course, was the superb academic instruction I received. But equally important is the way I learned to truly appreciate the full range of other people’s perspectives and insights. As a Fellow, I was presented with such a diversity of opinions on issues that bore directly or indirectly on my work that I gained enormous skills in working with people of different viewpoints. I continue to see Revson Fellows regularly and rely on the informal Revson network when I need new information or insights.
