The National Puerto Rican Day Parade, which has been in existence for 67 years, is more than just a celebration of cultural identity, delicious food, and lively music. It is hailed as the biggest demonstration of cultural pride in the country by its organizers.
The board of directors for the parade places a strong emphasis on education.
The board’s main focus is to empower and uplift the upcoming generation of Puerto Rican leaders. They strive to provide opportunities and support to help these individuals reach their full potential and achieve their goals. Their mission is to inspire and encourage young Puerto Ricans to become leaders in their communities and make a positive impact on society. Through their initiatives and programs, the board aims to create a brighter future for Puerto Rico by investing in its youth and cultivating a new generation of leaders.
The program is specifically designed for high-achieving high school and college students of Puerto Rican descent.
Alexis Contes, an 18-year-old who is starting her sophomore year at Rutgers University in the fall, also has a history of volunteer work and community service, just like all the other winners.
Alexis Contes shared that she was a member of the leadership committee of ALFA, an association of Latino business students. She proudly recalls being a part of the team that established a platform for Latino professionals at Rutgers.
Every year, the board grants 100 scholarships, and each scholarship is worth $2,000. The initiative started in 2014, and since then, it has committed over $1.6 million in scholarships to students who are pursuing higher education.
Louis Maldonado, a board member of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, expressed his admiration for the students participating in the event, saying “Every year, we see an improvement in the caliber of these students. It’s truly impressive to see their diverse range of studies and the fact that they attend top-notch schools.”
In celebration of the 3.5 million residents of Puerto Rico and over 5 million individuals living in the United States, the parade is held along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, stretching from 44th Street to 79th Street.
The broadcast for the event will commence on Sunday, June 9 at Noon, and can be viewed on Channel 7 as well as streamed on abc7NY.
David Novarro, one of our own, will co-host the parade alongside Joe Torres and Sunny Hostin. Sonia Rincon will provide on-site reporting along the parade route.
