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Heriberto
Oquendo, Jr. graduated from Morris High School in 1996. He is
a self-proclaimed history maker. He became the ASPIRA Club President
of Morris High School in 1995 and served two consecutive terms.
In doing so he made history: He was the first junior to be president
of the local ASPIRA Club. He also made history in High School
when he was selected to go to a Navajo Reservation in Arizona
for one week and was selected to go to the ASPIRA Cultural Exchange
trip to Puerto Rico in the same year. Consequently he was asked
to serve on the Board of Directors of ASPIRA
of NYC. He was then asked to serve on the National Board
of Directors for the
ASPIRA Association.
In
college, he continued making history when he was recognized as
the first non-theatre major that has done more work for the Theatre
department than actual Theatre majors. Additionally, he was one
of the first non-theatre majors to have his play “Adroit Enough”
produced by the department. Consequently, his play made history
when Repetorio Espanol selected his play a winner for the playwriting
competition: his play was written in English and not Spanish.
Furthermore, they did not translate his piece because they felt
that it would jeopardize the integrity of his piece. He is a Cum
Laude graduate with a Bachaloreate Degree in Liberal Arts &
Sciences with a concentration in Biology and Theatre from The
City College (CUNY) Center for Worker Education. He is the first
college graduate in his family.
At
the age of thirteen, he was devastated by the AIDS epidemic and
its impact on his community. He decided to take matters into his
own hands: He became EDUCATED. He was the youngest participant
in HIV Training seminars. He received trainings from many AIDS
organizations that ranged from HIV 101 to Sexuality. He has created
workshops for both adults and young people both locally and nationally.
He has also conducted DNA research, as well as formative research.
He also helped with the development of national survey instruments
for research studies. He incorporates theatre and comedy in most
of his workshops. He belongs to the speakers beaureu of
Love Heals where he conducts HIV Prevention seminars to New York
City High School students. He currently is a Health Educator
with Love Heals and is
a New York City Teaching
Fellow.
Heriberto
is a versatile character actor. He was trained at the New
Federal Theatre Program at Henry Street Settlement. There
he learned theatre techniques and how to use his voice for singing
and acting. He is a lyric tenor. He has performed
classical pieces and contemporary pieces. Theatres that
he has performed include: Aaron Davis Hall, Theatre for The New
City, HERE Theatre, Harlem Reporatory Theatre, The Nuyorican Poets
Cafe, and Pregones. He also does backstage work as a scene
painter, set designer and dresser, stage manager, light and sound
board operator.
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