(Washington, DC –) – Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen will host a Capitol Hill screening of the Johanna Bermudez-Ruiz documentary Sugar Pathways on Tuesday, June 9, 2009.  “I am proud to present the work of a young Crucian, who at the beginning of her career as a filmmaker, has already produced works of note that are helping to illuminate our history and our culture for ourselves and for the entire country,” Congresswoman Christensen said today.  Christensen, along with her colleagues Congressional Black Caucus Chair Barbara Lee, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nydia Velasquez and Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi will host the film which tells the story of the migration of Puerto Rican families from the island of Vieques to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bermudez, who was born on St. Croix is the descendant of the families who migrated to St. Croix and as a filmmaker has told the story of survival, integration and contributions to the political, economic and social fabric of the modern Virgin Islands.  Bermudez Ruiz has received recognition for her work as the winner of MAAFA Film Festival Best Short Documentary, San Juan Film Festival Hummingbird Best Short Documentary and the IMAGENATION Special Award.  She is the executive director and owner of Cane Bay Films, LLC which is dedicated to the preservation of the stories of ordinary citizens.

The screening of Sugar Pathways will celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month in conjunction with the DC Caribbean Film Festival.  “I have invited my colleagues on Capitol Hill and their staff to come and view the film in support of Bermudez Ruiz and as a way for them to understand a little bit more about our territory,” Congresswoman Christensen said.  The screening will take place on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at the Capitol Visitor Center South Orientation Theatre from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.  For more information contact Shelley Thomas in Congresswoman Christensen’s office at 202-225-1790.