Honorees

Dolores Batista
Owner, Operator Allstate Insurance Company
President, Karma Business Group, Trailblazer,
Business and Community Leader

Raesha Cartagena
President, Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts
Cultural Advocate and Puerto Rican Arts Community Leader

Carmen V. Cruz
Founder, Silent Procession NYC4PR
Activist and Community Organizer

Shihan Candy Warixi Soto
Founder, Taino Awards, Advocate, Activist, Preserver, Leader in the Taino and Indigenous community in New York and beyond

Presentation & Reception
Thursday, March 26, 2026

6 PM - Presentations
7:30 PM - Reception

Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños
Hunter College, CUNY
The Silberman School of Social Work
2180 Third Avenue, New York City

The Comité Noviembre’s Puerto Rican Women Legacy Awards honors Puerto Rican women whose pride in their heritage and strength of character have empowered and inspired others to make a significant impact on the community.

RSVP by emailing Georgina Santiago Reis at gigireis1963@gmail.com

Invitation image by Ray Rosario, 2003 Comité Noviembre Poster

"Nuestra Herencia Cultural el Camino al futuro…Our cultural heritage, the path to the future.”

"The Taína woman in the center represents life, rebirth, energy, and enlightenment — a symbol of balance and survival. Her flowing hair radiates powerful energy, reflecting the deep roots of our past, present, and future. Her serene yet proud expression embodies the strength and beauty that define us as Boricuas. In her hands, she holds beams of light symbolizing faith, hope, technology, and the promise of our collective future — a future shaped by resilience and grounded in our rich history. Her garment, adorned with the cemí, honors our Taíno ancestors, the gorge of caracoles, the vejigante mask, and the conga drum reflect the African influence and our spiritual expression through music and dance. Rising behind her is the Puerto Rican flag, a universal symbol of our identity — a vibrant fusion of Taíno, Spanish, and African heritage."



COMITÉ NOVIEMBRE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

ASPIRA of New York, Inc.

Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños/Hunter College, CUNY

El Museo del Barrio

Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, CUNY

Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, Inc.

Fundación Nacional Para la Cultura Popular

La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña

National Conference of Puerto Rican Women

National Puerto Rican Agenda, NY Chapter

NCPRR: Justice Committee

Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts

Puerto Ricans Flags Up

White Plains Puerto Rican Cultural Committee