FELIPE LUCIANO          

     "Failure is not an option. Rather than accept it as an impediment, you should derive inspiration and motivation from the fact that something hasn't been done before." Born and raised in New York City, Felipe Luciano is the man for the millennium, with expertise in fields ranging from community activism to media. "The success of my career comes from reaching new and emerging markets, by being goal-oriented and process driven. Clearly identify what you want to achieve and navigate the road to its achievement by focusing and learning from history's lessons."

On the cutting edge, Luciano has broken down barriers and pioneered new ground throughout his entire adult life. As founder and chairman of the Young Lords Party, Luciano's commitment to community empowerment, Ethnic pride and civil rights was pivotal in changing the color and complexion of politics, culture, and society from New York to Puerto Rico. Luciano's impact is so lasting and vital that he is continually asked to advise leaders of state and local governments and corporations on issues affecting growing markets, the Latino community, coalition building, diversity, and multiculturalism.

                                                                                                                                                                                            Beyond his work in the community, Luciano is an acclaimed success in all areas of entertainment and media including television, radio, lectures, music, poetry, journalism, and stage productions. From being the first Puerto Rican news anchor for WNBC and continuing on CBS-TV's Channel 2's The People and Fox-TV's Good Day New York and Street Talk with Ed Koch, Luciano has not only successfully challenged stereotypes, but also predicted changing trends and tastes in the industry and their related markets. Luciano is one of the founders of the rap/hip hop movement having performed and traveled extensively in the 60's as a member of the Original Last Poets.

His extensive knowledge of the inner workings of mainstream, Spanish, and African American entertainment venues serve as a reservoir of information from which he can draw, and stems from his volume of experience in the industry. However, more cherished and telling than his two Emmys, his ACE, and Silurian Award, is the love, respect and following he enjoys from those listeners, viewers or readers that he touches.

Today, Luciano, continues his community activism, having served as a commissioner on the NYC Mayor's Task Force on Police and Community Relations, and having run for NYC Councilman in 2001 in East Harlem while continuing to lecture for Fortune 500 companies, colleges, universities, unions, and fraternal organizations.  He regularly contributes articles for New York area newspapers and magazines, such as The New York Times and Essence while continuing his Spoken Word poetry, performing for HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, and Tropijazz and RMM Records. For more information please visit www.apbspeakers.com.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

·         Multicultural Diversity in the Workplace: Debunking the Myth

·         The Plight of Latinos on College Campuses: Problems & Solutions

·         The Young Lords Party: From Street Gangs to Urban Power Players

·         Cultural Amnesia: The Growing Epidemic

·         The Magical Musical Journey: From Mambo to Hip-Hop