



Participant application: Richie Perez Puerto Rican/Latino Youth Community Leadership Program - 2026-2027
Still available: 2 Colgate Palmolive Scholarships 2026 for $1000.00-
This scholarship will be awarded to a dental student. Any Puerto Rican student who is in a dental program can apply for this scholarship NOW!!
This scholarship is intended to help students with the cost of their dental kit.
For more information please email: gigireis1963@gmail.com or call 520-252-7150
Scholarship Overview
The Colgate-Palmolive Company Scholarship for Oral Health and Dentistry
supports Dental Hygiene students by helping offset the cost of dental kits and required class equipment.
Awardees will use the scholarship funds to purchase their dental kit for their classes or tuition payment.
Three scholarships will be awarded of $1,000 each.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be of Puerto Rican descent.
Applicants must have a minimum of one year of volunteer community service experience.
Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate degree program in an accredited college or
university upon receipt of the award for the Fall of that year.
Applicants must be enrolled in or pursuing Dental Hygiene studies.
Applicants must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or better.
Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
Applicants must undergo a virtual interview with the Selection Committee in English or Spanish.
Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 25.
Applicants cannot be former recipients of any Comité Noviembre scholarship.
Required Application Materials
Completed application form Essay
Biographical sketch
Volunteer community service statement
One letter of recommendation
Academic transcript for college students
High school transcript for high school students
Headshot photo
A one-to three-minute testimonial explaining
how the scholarship will help, or has helped, the
applicant achieve academic goals
Letter of Recommendation Guidelines
The letter of recommendation may be requested from a teacher, counselor, mentor, clergy member,
community leader, or another individual familiar with the candidate's character. The letter should
highlight the applicant’s academic journey, explain how long the recommender has known the
applicant, and describe the applicant’s specific qualities. The letter must be written on organizational
letterhead and include the recommender’s email and cell phone number.
Applicant Information
Full Name
Date of Birth
Age
Address
Phone Number
Email Address
Puerto Rican Descent Yes / No
Academic Information
College Name
Dental Hygiene Program Yes / No
Current Degree Program
Expected Graduation Date
Current GPA
Full-Time Enrollment Yes / No
Essay Prompt
Please submit an essay describing your academic goals, your commitment to oral health or dentistry,
your volunteer community service, and the importance of your Puerto Rican cultural roots in your
educational journey.
Applicant Certification
I certify that the information provided in this application is true and complete to the best of my
knowledge. If selected, I understand that the scholarship award is intended to support the purchase of
my dental kit, required class equipment, or tuition. I also understand that awardees may be featured
in Comité Novembre and Colgate-Palmolive Co.’s publications, social media platforms, and website
materials celebrating scholarship recipients.
Applicant Signature
Date
Please email completed application to: Georgina Santiago Reis,
gigireis1963@gamil.com.
Applicant Information
Full Name
Date of Birth
Age
Address
Phone Number
Email Address
Puerto Rican Descent Yes / No
Academic Information
College Name
Dental Hygiene Program Yes / No
Current Degree Program
Expected Graduation Date
Current GPA
Full-Time Enrollment Yes / No
Essay Prompt
Please submit an essay describing your academic goals, your commitment to oral health or dentistry,
your volunteer community service, and the importance of your Puerto Rican cultural roots in your
educational journey.
Applicant Certification
I certify that the information provided in this application is true and complete to the best of my
knowledge. If selected, I understand that the scholarship award is intended to support the purchase of
my dental kit, required class equipment, or tuition. I also understand that awardees may be featured
in Comité Novembre and Colgate-Palmolive Co.’s publications, social media platforms, and website
materials celebrating scholarship recipients.
Applicant Signature
Date
Photos from the 2026 CN PR Trip: Buscando Nuestras Raices





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For more pictures, click here
Cultural Development | Comite Noviembre
Photos from the Traveling Poster Open Reception at the White Plains Public Library on July 16, 2026












Celebrating Comité Noviembre’s 40th Anniversary
40 FOR 40 Campaign
For 40 years, Comité Noviembre has been a pillar of culture, advocacy, education, and community power—uplifting Puerto Rican and Afro-Puerto Rican history, honoring our elders, and opening doors for future generations.
To mark this historic milestone, we invite you to stand with us in a powerful way.
40 FOR 40 is more than a membership drive—it’s a declaration of commitment to our past, present, and future.
Why Join Comité Noviembre?
Because our history must be protected.
Because our culture must be celebrated.
Because community strength is built together.
When you become a card-carrying member of Comité Noviembre, you are investing in a 40-year legacy of impact—and helping shape the next 40 years.
This is not just a membership—it’s a statement.
Why Now?
As we celebrate 40 years of service, Comité Noviembre is expanding its impact:
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Cultural and historical programming
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Youth and community education
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Afro-Puerto Rican visibility and advocacy
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Intergenerational leadership
Your membership helps ensure this work continues—stronger than ever.
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Join the 40 for 40 Campaign Today
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Become a card-carrying member of Comité Noviembre
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Help carry our legacy into the future
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Join the Movement
Be counted. Be visible. Be proud.
Because Legacy Matter
ZEFFY.COMs!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/comite-noviembre-40-for-40-campaign
$40 – 40 for 40 Associate Member Benefits: Official Comité Noviembre Membership Card Recognition as part of our 40th Anniversary movement, Pride in sustaining cultural, educational, and justice programs
$75 – Comunidad Member Benefits: Membership Card 10% discount on ticketed Comité Noviembre events., Exclusive Red Comité Noviembre Tote Bag: Carry the culture. Represent the movement.
$100 – Legacy Member Benefits: Membership Card, 15% discount on ticketed events, Red Comité Noviembre Tote Bag. Limited-Edition 40th Anniversary Commemorative Pin.
$200 – Heritage Circle Member Benefits: Membership Card 20% discount on ticketed events, Red Comité Noviembre Tote Bag, Comité Noviembre Coffee Cup, Limited-Edition 40th Anniversary Commemorative Pin.
Comité Noviembre Member Organizations
ASPIRA of New York
Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños/Hunter College/CUNY
El Museo del Barrio
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/NY Chapter
NCPRR: Justice Committee
National Puerto Rican Agenda/NY Chapter
Puerto Rican Flags Up
White Plains Puerto Rican Cultural Committee

SAVE THE DATES FOR UPCOMING COMITE NOVIEMBRE EVENTS
40th Annual Puerto Rican Heritage Month Kick-Off Event
CENTRO de Estudios Puertorriqueños/Hunter College, CUNY
Silberman School of Social Work, 1280 Third Avenue, NYC
Saturday, October 24, 2026 (To be confirmed)
Benefit Dinner
Celebrating 40 Years of Puerto Rican Culture & History
The Glen Island Harbour Club 52 Glen Island Park, New Rochelle, New York , Wednesday, November 18, 2026
CN's National Puerto Rican Artisans & Authors Fair
In partnership with the Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts,
Boricua College, Location to be Determined
Saturday, November 21, 2026
CN Day of Community Service & Social Responsibility
Various locations throughout NYC & Westchester
Sponsors: Precision Concierge & GOYA Foods, Inc.
Sunday, November 22, 2026
Three Kings Celebration
Distribution of Toys to Children In Transitional Homes, Various locations in NYC
Wednesday, January 6, 2027
Three Kings Celebration in Westchester County
Arts Workshop for Children White Plains Library, White Plains, NY
To be determined
Trip to Spain
Madrid. Sevilla, Cádiz
April 2027
More information to follow
For more information, email gigireis1964@gmail.com ortascommunicationsllc@gmail.com
Photos from Puerto Rican
Women's Legacy Award 2026 Event
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






Videos reated by Iris Soto and photos contributed by board members and event participnts

Three Kings Celebration January 6, 2026





Summary of 2025 CN Events
Pictures from CN's 2025
Community Service Day

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Comite Noviembre Puerto Rican Artisans and Author's Fair with PRIDA @
Boricua College
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Photos from the Comite Noviembre Benefit Dinner 2025








2025 Poster Theme: Dignity: Puerto Rico at the Crossroads of Survival and Renewal

Click her for more information on 2025 Artisan's Fair
Click on Picture for more about the 2025 CN PR Trip
Comite Noviembre representing at the White Plains Puerto Rican Cultural Committee Flag Raising 2025 and Fair in White Plains, New York. We received lots of love from the fairgoers.






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2025
Comite Novembre's Three Kings Celebration
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The Three Kings arrived at Carmen's Residence in the Bronx to distribute over 300 toys and gifts to children and teens. Special thanks to our Three Kings Julio Santiago, Teresa Santiago, and CN scholar Danny Chicon Ramirez.

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The Three Kings also traveled to Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York to deliver toys to the wonderful children there. Thank you again to our Kings Julio Santiago, Evelyn Santiago, and Teresa Santiago.
Special thank you to Partner and donors for the Three Kings Celebration:
Corporate Sponsor: UFT
Individual Sponsors: Claudia Hernandez, Maria Roman, Maria Almanzar, Jose Rodriquez, Ada Medina, Carmen Rivera, Nilda Ruiz, Carmen Vasquez, Sandra Talavera, Teresa Santiago,
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