Plantando Bandera: Pre-National Puerto Rican Day Parade

When: June 7 @ 2-5 PM

Where: Grand Street Settlement, 80 Pitt St, NYC

Free & Open to the Public | All Ages Welcome

RSVP HERE!

Celebrate Puerto Rican culture, resistance, and legacy at this special pre-parade gathering honoring the 2025 cohort of artists, organizers, and cultural leaders. Co-organized with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Committee, this year marks the 130th anniversary of the Puerto Rican flag.

Featured guests include honorees Hermes Croatto and Mariana Reyes Angleró, who will speak about La Goyco, and Marcelo Matos of La Casa de la Plena, who will lead a youth-focused workshop. Libertad Guerra and Victor Rivera will offer reflections on Clemente Soto Vélez, and Mujeres con Sazón will lead From Jayuya to New York: Boricua Cuisine is Culture.

We especially welcome families and community groups with youth programs—join us for live music, hands-on activities, storytelling, and intergenerational celebration.

The afternoon will feature:
A hands-on community workshop
Short presentations by the honorees
Live music and celebration
Opportunities to connect and share stories

This is more than a tribute—it’s a space for intergenerational exchange, creative expression, and collective pride.

Come celebrate those who carry the legacy forward—before we take to the streets.

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SCHEDULE (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

• 2:00 PM – Doors Open
  Roy Brown Playlist
  Archival Image Projections
  Children’s Art-Making Table
  Refreshments Available

• 2:10 PM – Welcome Remarks
  

• 2:15 PM – Segment 1: Libertad Guerra + Victor Rivera: Clemente: Donde la Vanguardia Abraza al Pueblo

  Brief framing of Clemente Soto Vélez’s legacy and the Historias initiative
  Featuring excerpts from the CENTRO documentary: A Revolt Through Letters: Clemente Soto Vélez

• 2:55 PM – Segment 2: Hermes Croatto: Taller de Música Jíbara y nueva canción

  Musical exploration of Puerto Rican Jíbaro and Nueva Canción styles
  Live performance and interactive engagement

• 3:20 PM – Mujeres con Sazón: Desde Jayuya a Nueva York, Gastronomía Boricua es Cultura
  Coffee from Jayuya story

• 3:35 PM – Segment 3: Mariana Reyes & Marcelo Matos: Taller de la Plena

  Hands-on rhythms, percussion, and history of Plena and the history of La Goyco and Casa de La Plena. Community participation encouraged!

• 4:00 PM – Closing Celebration
  Final Remarks + Plena/Salsa/Roy Brown Playlist