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On a night dedicated to honoring the pioneering Puerto Ricans whose tireless work has set the standard for Hispanics, defining the image and perception of the Hispanic community in the United States, HITN held its second awards ceremony as part of

Puerto Rican Heritage Month

 

Puerto Rican and Hispanic Community members, elected officials, and special guests gathered at the Hunter College Center for Puerto Rican Studies auditorium to celebrate those pioneers whose careers have exemplified dedication and service to the community.

 

“We, Puerto Ricans, have been an integral part of various sectors in this country. And this year, our goal is to continue paying tribute to the contributions of Puerto Rican pioneers, acknowledging individuals whose historical impacts have enriched society and their respective communities,” said Michael D. Nieves, President and CEO of HITN, in his opening speech.

 

The tribute included the presentation of a series of reports dedicated to each of the recognized individuals: Hon. José Rivera, Dr. Lourdes Ramos Rivas, Billy Ocasio, Ramón Figueroa Sorrentini & Irmgard Iglesias, and Olga Méndez (posthumous award). Although each honoree resides in a different city, they all share Puerto Rican roots. These videos will become part of the VOCES series, integrated into the channel’s regular programming and digital platforms.

 

Attendees also enjoyed the social aspect of the event, featuring traditional music and hor d’oeuvres from the island’s cuisine. It was an opportunity for them to interact with the honorees as well.

 

This recognition of Puerto Rican pioneers during Puerto Rican Heritage Month has become an annual HITN-sponsored event to highlight the presence of the Hispanic community.

The 2023 HITN Honorees

José Rivera, New York

José Rivera, born on July 30, 1936, had a distinguished political career. He started in the New York State Assembly from 1983 to 1987, then served on the NYC Council from 1987 to 2000. He later represented the Bronx’s Fordham-Bedford, Kingsbridge Heights, Bedford Park, and Belmont sections in the New York State Assembly from 2000 to 2022.

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Lourdes Ramos-Rivas, Los Angeles

Lourdes I. Ramos-Rivas, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Museum of Latin American Art or MOLAA. Dr. Lourdes Ramos-Rivas, the first Puerto Rican and Latina president and CEO of MOLAA has initiated ambitious plans to grow the museum into a first-class institution with international clout. A native of Puerto Rico, Dr. Ramos has led the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico in San Juan, one of the largest and most prominent Latin American cultural institutions.

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Billy Ocasio, Chicago

Billy Ocasio has served as the President and CEO of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture for the past nine years. A former politician who served as 26th Ward Alderman for 15 years. He left the Chicago City Council in 2009, appointed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to serve as an advisor on social justice issues.

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Ramon Figueroa Sorrentini and Irmgard Iglesias, Puerto Rico

Ramon and Irmgard, both retired educators, have organized the Comité de Trabajo y Apoyo a Vieques and the Festival Reyes Magos de Vieques for the past 25 years. The Festival has benefitted thousands of Vieques, Puerto Rico, schoolchildren by raising money for school supplies and a children’s festival.

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Olga Méndez, New York (Posthumous award)

Olga Aran Méndez (February 5, 1925 — July 29, 2009) was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to a state legislature in the United States when, in 1978, she became a member of the New York State Senate.

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Gallery of the 2023 event

The 2022 HITN Honorees

Click to View a Gallery of the 2022 event

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, New York

Schomburg was a historian, writer, collector, and activist who was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico and moved to the United States in 1891. He researched and raised awareness of the contributions that Afro-Latin Americans and African Americans have made to society. An important intellectual figure in the Harlem Renaissance, his collection became the basis of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, in Harlem.

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José E. López, Chicago

José E. López, born in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico has written and lectured extensively on the political and social reality of Puerto Ricans in the United States. He co-founded The Puerto Rican Cultural Center Juan Antonio Corretjer in Chicago, in 1973.

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Rev. Luis Cortés, Philadelphia

The Reverend Cortés is the Founder, President and CEO of Esperanza, one of the leading voices for Latinos in America and the premiere Hispanic faith-based Evangelical network in the United States. Rev. Cortés founded Esperanza in 1986.

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Rep. Minnie González, Connecticut

González was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives inl 988, serving the 3rd district in Hartford. She has been the Deputy Majority Leader since 2017.

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Rep. Nydia Velázquez, New York

Nydia Margarita Velázquez has served in the United States House of Representatives since 1993. A Democrat from New York, Velázquez is the first Puerto Rican woman to serve in the United States Congress.

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Gallery of the 2022 event