Based in East Harlem, Los Pleneros de la 21 (LP21) is a traditional arts performing group & community leader that fosters awareness & appreciation of Puerto Rican cultural expressions-namely Bomba & Plena-as essential to maintaining a healthy community. For forty years we have organized & given continuity to cultural & educational programs that highlight roots music, dance & other cultural expressions as shared languages common to all, encouraging people from all walks of life to create their own bonds with these. Our MISSION: to present accessible public traditional music programming; to expose inner city youth & others to the cultural heritage of Puerto Rico, encourage their active participation in these traditions; and to perform a repertoire of works embedded in the rich tradition of Puerto Rican music to audiences everywhere. Founded in 1983 by NEA Heritage Fellow Juan Gutiérrez, touring efforts have labeled us as NYC's Bomba & Plena ambassadors, sharing our mission with tens of thousands in 200+ cities worldwide, breaking performance barriers & creating new avenues for cultural arts learning, sharing & creation for 40 years. Our critically acclaimed discography includes a 2006 Grammy nomination, yet we remain rooted in promoting cultural equity & community stewardship through an active schedule of performances & cultural and arts-education programs for NYC youth, schools & local residents. LP21’s landmark community-based cultural and educational programs have created a common space for the recognition, education and practice of Puerto Rican culture and identity, educated thousands of individuals, young and old, and inspired dozens of performing groups and aspiring musicians to become leaders in their own right, as they carry bomba and plena into the future for generations to come. Speaking to our mission and vision, our programs embrace an audience as equally evolved as LP21, yet with a high sense of the cultural legacy and identity inherited from our predecessors.