On Saturday, April 5th, beneath a soft drizzle and that unmistakable Philly chill, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women (NACOPRW Philly) brought the comunidad together at ASPIRA Educational Campus for “Making HerStory”—a day rooted in «cultura, propósito, y acción colectiva».
“HerStory” was more than just a theme, it was a call to action. A sacred space for journaling, reflection, sisterhood, and vision. A forum where Boricua and Latina women could gather to share thoughts, dreams, and aspirations of what it means to be us, in Philadelphia, in the diaspora, and on the island. Each journal, pen, and question held the intention of creating sacred space for Puertorriqueña and Latina women to pause, dream, and write themselves into the future. Prompts like “Mi Isla, Mi Barrio” and “Seeds of Change” were created to ignite a vision of a future guided by intergenerational strength, where abuelas, madres, hijas y nietas come together to support one another, preserve ancestral roots, and push forward toward lasting change.
In a powerful show of unity, Philly Boricuas, Keystone Health, and ASPIRA joined NACOPRW Philly to co-host the day rooted in comunidad and collective care, one part reflection, one-part direct service, all heart. While one side of the room offered space for visioning, the other buzzed with activity for the prom wear giveaway, showcasing stunning gowns, fancy suits, sparkling jewelry, rows of shoes, lively music, and pure joy.
Teens lit up as they tried on prom wear, standing taller in their reflection, beaming under the love of their families and comunidad. It wasn’t just about the clothes, it was about confidence, visibility, and knowing they matter. This is HerStory in motion, where leaders meet people where they are and remind them of their worth and potential to walk the very same path.
At the heart of it all were Charito Morales of Philly Boricuas, Joanne Esquilin of ASPIRA, and LuzSelenia Loeb of NACOPRW Philly—three Puertorriqueñas ponderosas, whose names are synonymous with grassroots leadership in Philadelphia. Together, they’re the kind of leaders this city craves—las que trabajan con alma y sin pausa. Whether it’s passing out prom dresses, delivering resources, or simply reminding someone they matter, their impact runs deep. It’s not about the photo op, it’s about real transformation, powered by love and purpose, and wrapped in an unshakable belief in the power of comunidad and preserving cultura day in and day out.
The ultimate highlight? The delicious food, filling the air with scents familiar to so many Boricuas. Catered by Chef José “Caballo” Santiago, the typical tastes of the island brought everyone together around the table, a hug from our culture in the form of arroz con gandules, pollo guisado, and ensalada de papa. Each plate told a story of tradition, rooted in pride and sabor.
LuzSelenia Loeb, President of NACOPRW Philly, explained, “Philadelphia is home to the second-largest Puerto Rican population outside of Puerto Rico, but there are still too few spaces dedicated to the empowerment of Puerto Rican women and girls. Like many in our community, we’re working fiercely to rebuild post Hurricane Maria and the Pandemic, to fill that gap—with joy, justice, and generational impact.”
Loeb further detailed how NACOPRW Philly plans to help that goal come to fruition, “As we look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary this August, NACOPRW Philly’s focus is to build a leadership pipeline rooted in mentorship and culture, where Boricua women rise to the highest levels of leadership, from city government to global spaces. As our chapter has done for the last 40 years, we’re working hard to create opportunities for women to access tools in financial wellness, civic engagement, education, wellness, and entrepreneurship at all stages of life with an intergenerational approach, from elementary school to retirement, and everything in between. We’ve also made great strides to be in touch with new groups of Puertorriqueñas thanks to technology expanding our reach exponentially for recruitment and interaction with other Boricuas around the world. Our virtual presence is growing daily on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn—and we’re turning those online connections into real-life impact by showing up in local neighborhoods, hosting events, and building coalitions across the Greater Philadelphia region. La sazón Boricua runs deep—and we’re just getting started.”
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of Philadelphia, nuestras hermanas Latinas stood in solidarity at the “Hands Off!” protest at City Hall, defending dignity and autonomy, which are values that align with all of the organizations present.
Eso es poder colectivo. Somos fuertes. Somos cultura. Somos HerStory en acción.—con alma y sin permiso. Ahora más que nunca, this is how we rise.
