Metro Philadelphia Latino Power Players

Dr. Evelyn Nuñez is a proud product of the school district of Philadelphia and first generation graduate. Dr. Nuñez’s career has spanned 29 years, beginning as a Bilingual Elementary Teacher. As a servant leader she focuses on supporting leaders to impact the lives of children in the same community that raised her – Philadelphia. With a “students first” focus, she is committed to ensuring all students receive a high quality education, working collaboratively with all stakeholders.  

What makes the Philadelphia Latino community unique?
The LatinX community continues to grow in Philadelphia. We continue to see an increase of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican, and other populations from North and Central America. With the increase of the LatinX community brings richer diversity and more LatinX cultures.  Philadelphia LatinX communities are now filled with a variety of restaurants that offer exquisite recipes, and expanded opportunities to learn and partake in LatinX art and music experiences. Our schools are becoming much more diverse as well.

What more do you think could be done to support the Latino community in Philadelphia?
More opportunities to support learning English as a second language are needed. We need to continue to hire more bilingual staff at all levels and industries across the city to be able to better serve this growing population. We need to provide greater opportunities for engagement of the LatinX community with other communities to share and learn more, and celebrate the richness of diversity that exists in Philadelphia.

If you were taking someone on a tour of your neighborhood, what would be your first stop?
The first stop would be what is referred to as El Bloque de Oro (The Block  of Gold) in North Philadelphia. At El Bloque de Oro, you will be surrounded by Taller Puertorriqueño, Centro Musical, Julia de Burgos Elementary School, all beautiful murals that represent the Philadelphia  LatinX Community, as well as dozens of LatinX businesses and restaurants. 

Do you have any local Latino heroes you look up to?
Dr. José Lebron, Joaquin Rivera, Leticia Egea-Hinton, Maria Quiñones-Sanchez, Quetzy Lozada, Dr. Deborah Carrera, Pedro Rivera, and the countless everyday superheroes – principals, leaders, teachers, and other school staff who serve the LatinX students and communities each and everyday.

Erlina Ortiz is a Dominican-American playwright, performer, and theater maker from Reading, PA. Her heartfelt and humorous plays ranging from topics of gentrification, women’s rights, and cultural preservation have been presented across the United States and with Power Street Theatre in Philadelphia where she is proud to be co-artistic director. Erlina believes being an artist is a superpower; she believes in using her powers for good. 

What makes the Philadelphia Latino community unique?
It is a mix of lots of different kinds of Latinidad. I don’t know if that is super unique to Philly, but I know there are a lot of cities that have predominantly Mexican communities, or Dominican communities etc. Philly still has a lot of segregation, but if you go on a ten minute walk in North Philly you will see a lot of different kinds of flags. 

What more do you think could be done to support the Latino community in Philadelphia?
Resources and investment. Not displacement. All the turmoil and discord that we see in our communities, the violence, comes from the rage and desperation of being marginalized and disinvested in for so many generations. We need to move from a capitalist community that only sees human beings as dollar signs, to a culture of care. And the first place that investment should go (beyond basic needs, like food and housing) is the arts. 

If you were taking someone on a tour of your neighborhood, what would be your first stop?
I want to say La Esquina del Bronco on Howard and Dauphin by the York Dauphin Station. The food there always hits the spot. And I always have a little left over for later, too.

Do you have any local Latino heroes you look up to?
I look up to my co-artistic director Gabi Sanchez (even though she’s a little younger than me). I like to think that we look up to each other (well, she has to, because I’m taller than her) and that’s why we always push each other to be ourselves. I also really admire Tamanya Garza, who is a great director and a person who is always at the forefront of helping people be their best selves. 

Gabriella is a community organizer and activist whose mission is to fight for environmental justice in Philadelphia. Her work has included developing and leading programs to revitalize the neighborhood of Hunting Park, advocating for the first-ever bilingual PHS Tree Tenders training, and advocating for language access to programs such as Green City Clean Waters. Gabriella holds a BS in Biology from Eastern University and an MS in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

What makes the Philadelphia Latino community unique?
The Philadelphia Latino community is unique in its vibrance, its resilience, and the way it gives back to this city. I admire the way our community unites to fight injustices and create opportunities for future generations. Whether that’s a mentor encouraging a child to get an education, or an organization like Esperanza fighting to provide the necessary resources for that to happen, our community does not stay cross-armed in the face of challenges.

What more do you think could be done to support the Latino community in Philadelphia?
While our community fights to thrive, there are still many gaps in resources to help us succeed. This includes more support for entrepreneurs who want to start their businesses, more language access to existing programs, and more opportunities for professionals who have studied abroad to use their knowledge in skilled work. Philadelphia, for example, has a robust community of Dominican physicians who could be a great asset to the city, given the right opportunity.

If you were taking someone on a tour of your neighborhood, what would be your first stop?
If I was to take someone to Hunting Park, which I still consider to be my neighborhood, I would take them to the 5th Street community garden and to the 400 block of Cayuga Street. These two places hold a special place in my heart and are proof of what can be done in our communities with the right support. Cayuga Street received the first round of tree plantings through the PHS Tree Tenders program.

Do you have any local Latino heroes you look up to?
I always look up to my former boss and mentor, Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr. Rev. Luis has an admirable trajectory in Philadelphia, identifying and combating the pressing issues facing the Latino community. His work has impacted many thousands and has paved the way for the younger Latino generations to thrive in this City. His actions have blessed our community in Philadelphia and beyond. His grit and determination are motivating factors in my own work.  

Pedro A. Ramos is president and CEO of the Philadelphia Foundation. Pedro is a collaborative leader with a proven track record of forging next-level partnerships in his roles serving and leading legal, business, government, and nonprofit organizations. Under Pedro’s leadership, Philadelphia Foundation has become an engaged, go-to partner, doubled its assets, and launched large-scale initiatives, including the Regional Foundation, the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, PHLCOVID-19 Fund, and most recently The Civic Coalition to Save Lives.

What makes the Philadelphia Latino community unique?
The Latino community is resilient, multicultural, multi-racial, young, and accounts for the bulk of new Philadelphians. In short, as goes the Latino community, so will go Philadelphia.

What more do you think could be done to support the Latino community in Philadelphia?
Much of the Latino community is compacted geographically and often the most under-served and overlooked by institutions across sectors. Leaders need to become better informed and better engaged directly with Latino community residents and leaders at all levels, build relationships, and invest.

If you were taking someone on a tour of your neighborhood, what would be your first stop?
SEPTA’s Route 47 Bus Northbound. On it you will see a vibrant, diverse, Latino community spanning a fair amount of geography, and a 70+ year history of displacement.

Do you have any local Latino heroes you look up to?
Growing up in North Philadelphia, most of my family, friends, and neighbors were heroes. I wouldn’t be here without them.

Jasmine Rivera has been organizing since 2009, working on campaigns such as passing Philadelphia paid sick leave & “sanctuary city” policies in Philadelphia and Norristown. As a co-founder of the Shut Down Berks Coalition she celebrated the closure of the Berks County Detention Center, an immigrant prison that incarcerated families, then adult women. She is the Civic Engagement Director at Pennsylvania Voice, where she has coordinated statewide voter registration, education, and turnout programs since 2016.

What makes the Philadelphia Latino community unique?
I view the Latino community in Philadelphia as a microcosm of the country. On one end of the spectrum, we have a part of the community that goes back generations, while on the other side of the spectrum, we have new immigrants and migrants from all over the world. I have seen first-hand how our people have revitalized certain neighborhoods and industries; we are so powerful. All while establishing new Philly traditions!

What more do you think could be done to support the Latino community in Philadelphia?
There is so much more that the city government can do to increase language access. I have worked with way too many people who were denied it, or an untrained friend was asked to interpret. Like every other community, we need higher paying jobs, more affordable housing, bigger investment in our public schools, and greater access to healthcare. With that foundation established, our community can thrive.

If you were taking someone on a tour of your neighborhood, what would be your first stop?
Just right outside of my neighborhood is Cantina la Martina, which has become one of my favorite restaurants in the city. My go-to spot in my neighborhood is Pupuseria Sabor Latino #2, the best pupusas I’ve had in Philly. Citywide, for a great brunch and community programming, Alma de Mar will always be a hit. And my all-time favorite tacos in the city are Philly Tacos, they are the absolute best!

Do you have any local Latino heroes you look up to?
As a former community organizer, the people I admire most are my members, most of whom are undocumented. But despite all of the risk they were taking to fight for their and their communities’ rights, they spoke truth to power and they did it in Spanish, no less. Together, we passed the sanctuary city policy, got people out of detention centers and back to their families, and shut down an immigrant prison.

For over 20 years, Jennifer has worked to support economic development, wealth creation, and empowerment of underrepresented groups at the city, regional, and national levels. As President and CEO of GPHCC, and as Region 5 Representative at the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she focuses on “closing the gap” for Latinos in the economy. She advocates for the 22,000+ Hispanic-owned businesses in the Philadelphia region and the advancement of Latinx professionals in the corporate sector.

What makes the Philadelphia Latino community unique?
Our community is diverse, welcoming, and embedded in Philadelphia since they were first documented as residents in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many migrations later, we have added to the rich culture of Philadelphia through our celebrations, cuisines, and contributions on the business front, first as traders and now as business owners.

What more do you think could be done to support the Latino community in Philadelphia?
Do business with us. Visit our store fronts, our restaurants, hire our contractors and architects. Hire us. We are an educated, adaptable workforce, and an asset to any company. All of these actions have a direct effect on the economic impact of the community.

If you were taking someone on a tour of your neighborhood, what would be your first stop?
A tour of North Philadelphia would begin with a classic! Tierra Colombiana is an institution in the Hispanic community. The restaurant has over 30-year history and it is where all manner of events and social occasions are celebrated. It is also the preferred meeting place for Hispanic leaders… Lunch is a favorite, and don’t be surprised if you run into executives, elected officials, and local celebrities.

Do you have any local Latino heroes you look up to?
A local Latino leader I look up to is Judge Nelson Diaz. He advocated for the advancement of Latinos at a time when it was not popular to be one of us. He has broken barriers in education, public service, and the law and to this day his name is often at the top of Latino achievers locally and nationally. Most recently Temple University Law School named a professorship after him.

Lou Rodriguez is the CEO of Rodriguez, a Philadelphia-based engineering firm focused on urban infrastructure and site design. As a civil engineer, Lou oversees the company’s commitment to developing resilient infrastructure. Lou is also dedicated to developing the local community through Rodriguez University, a workforce development program focused on providing job training for positions that don’t require a college degree. He also serves on the boards of Hopeworks, Widener University, and the Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber. 

What makes the Philadelphia Latino community unique?
The Philadelphia Latino community is unique because of its diverse composition. While the community was initially shaped by the influx of Puerto Ricans in the 1950s, it has since evolved to include people from all over Latin America, including Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Each group brings its unique culture, traditions, and history, contributing to the rich tapestry of Latino culture in Philadelphia. 

What more do you think could be done to support the Latino community in Philadelphia?
In addition to access to capital, I believe that providing contracts and opportunities for Latino-owned small businesses in Philadelphia is crucial. Furthermore, it’s essential to support organizations like the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and consider creating a statewide chamber. By increasing visibility and representation of Latino-owned businesses, we can help bridge the gap and empower the community. This will create a more prosperous economy in Philadelphia.

If you were taking someone on a tour of your neighborhood, what would be your first stop?
If I were taking someone on a tour of my neighborhood, my first stop would be the National Shrine of St. John Neumann. As a member of St. Peter the Apostle Church, I have grown to love the church and free museum. The story and impact of Saint John Neumann on Philadelphia and the region are remarkable, and the museum provides an excellent opportunity to learn about his contributions.

Do you have any local Latino heroes you look up to?
My grandfather, Marcelino Rodriguez, served in World War II as a member of the 296th Infantry and came to the country in 1951 to provide a better life for his family. His sacrifice and dedication to his family inspire me every day. My father, Louis Rodriguez, Sr., also embodies the spirit of hard work and dedication to education. He was the first in our family to attend college, graduating from Widener University.

Jacqueline C. Romero was sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on June 21, 2022. Ms. Romero is the chief federal law enforcement officer responsible for all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which is one of the nation’s most populous districts with over 5 million people residing within its nine counties. Ms. Romero supervises a staff of approximately 140 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and a similar number of non-attorney support personnel at offices in Philadelphia and Allentown.

PhillyTacos is the brainchild of Juan Carlos Romero and Lluli Pilar, owners of a successful and authentic Mexican restaurant in the heart of the South Philadelphia Italian Market for nine years, called “Los Taquitos De Puebla.” Juan Carlos is the original chef and founder of Los Taquitos, which is known for its unique flavor and taste, and people from all over the city talk about the Tacos Al Pastor he originated. Philly Tacos aims to bring the same vision and great taste that made Los Taquitos De Puebla such a success. 

On March 15, 2005 Nilda Iris Ruiz took the helm of Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha as only its second CEO since its inception in 1970. Under Ms. Ruiz’s leadership, APM has soared to one of the most prominent Latino founded agencies in the nation, receiving awards for its transformative work helping thousands of families lift themselves from poverty, and bringing over a billion dollars of investments into Eastern North Philadelphia.