Message from the Executive Director
Sandy Flores
Director, Guam CAHA
Sandra.flores@caha.guam.gov
671 300-7583/671 482-8902
Hafa Adai Todo Hamyu,
Today is a time of challenges and opportunities. As I talk to friends and family, I hear the strain in their voices as they struggle with the unpredictability of life. I can’t help but want to find ways that our agency can respond and be a resource for our community at this time.
I recently participated in meetings around the federal recovery efforts. They helped me to realize the importance of resilient plans and programs. Our Plan A needs to include reaching people in times of the most restrictive conditions, meeting them where they are through the media, online and at home in their villages. Our Plan B can be an expansion to include in-person gatherings, workshops, and events as they are considered safe.
Right now, CAHA is in the process of granting funds to a new round of artists and organizations. The projects we see are inspiring, and many address the community needs under the restrictive conditions that may exist in the coming year. I feel proud to support these artists and these projects to serve our community when it needs it most.
CAHA is also making plans to partner in creating education content, enhancing our folk arts program, and providing more online access and resources. We are further exploring how we can bring the arts and humanities to communities in an interactive way using technology; virtual exhibits, Facebook Live broadcasts, and bringing more art into homes through online instruction.
Our motto is, “Weaving the arts and humanities into our daily lives.” This is what we strive to do, and this is important. Creativity in the production of art and in our way of thinking is vital to staying creative in managing daily life with all its challenges. Not to mention that the arts are signatures of our culture and help to define us. It is this unique identity that adds special appeal for visitors to our island, which has significant economic impacts.
We offer the arts as a tool to cope, to find relief and to build the future we desire. Today more than ever, we want the people of Guam to keep in touch with Guam CAHA through social media or browsing our website, www.guamcaha.org as we build more ways to access the arts. If you are an artist, please join our artist’s directory and become a registered resource for our island’s arts and humanities.
Dankulu na si Yu’us ma’ase,
Sandra Selk Flores, Executive Director
Guam Council for the Arts and Humanities
Sandra S. Flores
(Sandy)
Executive Director
sandra.flores@caha.guam.gov
Jacqueline (Jackie) G. Balbas
Program Coordinator IV
jacqueline.balbas@caha.guam.gov
Angie R. Taitague
Program Coordinator III
angie.taitague@caha.guam.gov
Mark Anthony Duenas
Program Coordinator I
mark.duenas@caha.guam.gov
Joey A. Manibusan
Program Coordinator I
joey.manibusan@caha.guam.gov