June is a special month for me with so many things to celebrate and remember. Many family and friends birthdays to celebrate like my youngest daughter Isabella, my Dad and my aunt Olga all have June birthdays. One of the most important memories for me is spending my summers in Puerto Rico with my family. Participating in New York City’s Puerto Rican Day Parades with my mom is also a special memory.
Celebrating Boricua culture for me is remembering and appreciating what our family has sacrificed in order to keep our tradition and culture alive. Abuela Santas’s cooking and kind advice, abuelo Andre’s toughness, laughter and jokes, Dads leadership and hard work, and Mom’s strength and compassion is what has taught me how to represent our culture.
I share with you a special Telemundo Noticias segment by Ana Ledo that explains how we continue to move the culture forward from New York City. El Barrio and Puerto Rico, this is our love letter to you.
A special thank you to Ana Ledo for your excellent reporting. Thank you Caridad de la Luz, Nitza Tufiño, Eliezer Berrios, Marcos Dimas and Taller Boricua, The Collective at the Rafael Tufiño Printmaking Workshop, James Gonzalez and the staff at La Fonda Restaurant, Nelson Mateo Gonzalez from Los Pleneros De La 21, the Members of Lydia’s Magic Garden and to my Mom Lydia Roman and Dad Everaldo Rios who have taught me to be proud of my Boricua Heritage. Palante!
Dedicated to those who fought for the struggle and are no longer with us. We continue to keep your spirit alive. Tengo Puerto Rico en Mi Corazon!
-Oliver Rios
Puertorriqueños preservan sus raíces en Nueva York
Ana Ledo con el reportaje especial.
https://www.telemundo47.com/noticias/puertorriquenos-preservan-sus-raices-en-nueva-york/2479535
