ABOUT
ABOUT — APPRECIATIONS
“Working with AFROTAINO is a pleasure on many different levels. Principally because their devotion to Latinx culture in all forms is beyond measure. And they do it with such a warm and loving approach to both artist and audience that you can’t help but want to be part of everything they do.”
“AFROTAINO is an invaluable partner and friend of the African American Museum in Philadelphia and a trusted, essential part of the fabric of Philadelphia’s cultural sector. Marángeli and Rahsaan approach every partnership with thoughtfulness, unwavering cultural authenticity, and incredible heart. Through our work with AFROTAINO the museum has realized several incredible programs exploring the intersection of Black and LatinX cultures, including sold out engagements with renown international artists like Daymé Arocena (Cuba), ÌFÉ (Puerto Rico), and Betsayda Machado (Venezuela). I am continually grateful for the opportunity to work with AFROTAINO to highlight the history, culture, art and music of black and brown artists from around the globe, and to present these world-class creative experiences for audiences across the Greater Philly region.”
“Few teams understand, celebrate, and amplify the diversity and intersections of Latinx identity, culture, and art like AFROTAINO does. Their events and programming constantly reexamine and expand what Latinx culture — and multicultural — means.”
ABOUT — FOUNDERS
Rahsaan Lucas
A NYC-born, Philadelphia-based arts/culture resource building bridges in the 21st Century via cross sector strategic partnerships. Through his intercultural marketing & entertainment solutions agency AFROTAINO, he has developed expansive promotional strategies for brands & corporations, produced large scale events, and presented international talent in concert halls & venues in the US & Caribbean. AFROTAINO’s work has been spotlighted & praised by renowned media publications & platforms like NPR, NBC Latino, Univision, Telemundo, VEVO, Latido Music, to name a few.
His experiences in the music, arts & entertainment industries, and niche marketing, combined with vision & drive have shaped him into a resourceful creative professional, always adaptable in our ever-changing business landscapes. He has worn many hats as part of his work, and continues to evolve within it.
Rahsaan has always explored new ways of melding artistic expression, progressive cultural trends, and win-win business opportunities into fun, unforgettable moments that make us all better people.
Marángeli Mejía Rabell
Marángeli Mejía Rabell is is a Puerto Rico-born, Philadelphia-based connector, cultural organizer & producer, arts & culture curator and programmer whose work is centered on co-creation, capacity building, leadership development, cross sector collaborations and honoring our roots as a tool for social change and community self actualization.
Marángeli’s practice is focused on community media practices, cultural organizing, intersectionality, accessibility and diversity. As Director of the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival and Co Founder/Partner of AFROTAINO she co-curates, designs and executes arts and culture programming, collaborations and multidisciplinary projects. She has served as the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival Director for eight years supporting the groundbreaking work of Latinx filmmakers. Throughout Marángeli’s career, she has centered Latinx creators, stories and culture to bring about positive change and representation. She brings strong skills in developing and leading projects, campaigns and programs that combine business and community objectives and over three decades of experience establishing systems and metrics to measure collective impact. Marángeli also serves as a Leadership Coach with the National Arts Strategies Coaching Collective. She also served as part of the inaugural DOC NYC’s Documentary New Leaders cohort. Marángeli received a 2021 Arts & Business Council for Greater Philadelphia Leadership Award and a 2021 Leeway Foundation's Transformation Award.
Collaborations include: Pepon Osorio’s reForm at Tyler Contemporary, BrideNext, a Building Audience Demand project with Marty Pottenger and serving as a Guest Curator and Project Manager for the Mural Arts Program.