Star-studded PRBA GALA 2014

Star-Studded PRBA Gala 2014

The annual PRBA gala was held at Tribeca 360 with a star-studded presence, including

• Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez  She has made history several times during her tenure in Congress. 
• 1992- first Puerto Rican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
• 1998- first Hispanic woman to serve as Ranking Member of a full House committee
• 2006- she was named Chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, making her the first Latina to chair a full Congressional committee.

• Ruben Diaz, Jr., Bronx Borough President, previously served in the New York State Assembly.  Díaz was elected to the Assembly at the age of twenty-three, which made him the youngest person elected to the legislative body since Theodore Roosevelt.

• Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez, former Secretary of State of New York, the first Hispanic to serve in that role.  Currently she's an Executive VP at AARP and also Board member of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade

• Carol Robles-Roman, former long-standing Deputy Mayor of New York,  now appointed President and CEO of Legal Momentum, a defense and education fund dedicated to ensuring economic and personal security for women and girls. With former first deputy mayor Patti Harris, Robles-Román, 51, was the longest serving deputy mayor in the city’s history 

• and of course the keynote speaker, Melissa Mark Viterito, Speaker of the New York City Council, the first Puerto Rican and Latina to hold a citywide elected position

Scholarships were given to worthy law students.  A silent auction helped raise more funds for the scholarship fund.  And the evening ended as any other Puerto Rican fest, gala or not, with dancing on the dance floor!

Attorneys dancing salsa...

bet you don't see that everyday!

Here are some pictures of the evening of the Puerto Rican Bar Association Gala by photographer Becky Yee from Around Digital Media.:

See them by here....

Betty Lugo as New President-Elect of the PRBA

Packed house of members of PRBA

Few would disagree that last week's PRBA general meeting and election is probably the most spirited meeting of any bar association meeting ever! The reason: an election between two very talented and well-respected members running for position of President-Elect. This position means the person has been elected President, but has not taken over the role officially yet.  In the PRBA, the President-Elect takes office the following year.  

Read more here-> 
http://www.torresandurbaez.com/2014/04/betty-lugo-as-new-president-elect-of.html

Teaching The Children About A Career in Law

We participated in Career Day at Bronx Academy of Promise Charter School.

J. Torres and Chris Baez roleplayed with the 2nd grade classes "A Day in Court".

The children played the role of Judge with a black robe and a gavel and some students played the role of the client.  We roleplayed 3 different scenarios.

1- Student was told he/she received a ticket for texting and driving.  We gave the child a real ticket! They loved that! Then Baez represented them in front of the Student-Judge asking the child:  Isn't it a fact that.... At the end the Student-Judge rules in the child's favor because he/she was texting in his car but he/she wasn't driving at all. He/She was parked! The Student-Judge slammed down the gavel and declared: "DISMISSED!"

2- Student sees this beautiful house and wants to buy it.  We gave the child a glossy magazine picture of a house. We explained you need a a lawyer to buy a house.  But instead of a Judge they need a Banker.  Baez this time represented the would-be home buyer in front of the Student-Banker and the Student-Banker slammed the gavel and declared "APPROVED".

3- Students (2 of them) are professional baseball players.  We gave each child a baseball glove.  We explained you need a lawyer to sign the baseball contract.  Not only that but now the managers don't want to pay you. <gasp!>  We handed over a contract and explained: You need a lawyer.  Baez cross-examined the children-major-league-players in front of the Student-Judge, asking such questions like:  Isn't this your signature on this contract?  Doesn't this contract say you are supposed to play baseball?, etc.  Finally the Student-Judge slammed down the gavel with the decision: "PLAY BALL!"

We had a wonderful time teaching the children about what it's like if they choose a career in Law.

Thanks to Effie Karrabas from the Bronx Academy of Promise Charter School for this wonderful opportunity!

Long Island Hispanic Bar Association Gala 2013

LIHBA held its 12th Annual Gala in commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month at Villa Lombardi's.

Justice Jenny Rivera (NY Court of Appeals) was the keynote speaker.   The LIHBA was the first of all the Latino bar associations to honor and have her as a keynote speaker since her elevation to the bench.  

This year’s gala honorees were Bethpage Federal Credit Union and Jane LaCova, Executive Director of the Suffolk County Bar Association.  

With Judge Jenny Rivera at LIHBA Gala

Nassau County Democratic Committee Gala

We had a wonderful time at the

Nassau County Democratic Committee Fall Gala

With special Guest Tom Souzzi for County Executive

And Honoring Don Monti CEO of Renaissance Downtown Business Leader of the Year

At the Crest Hollow Country Club, in Woodbury, NY/

Super Lawyers

We had a great time at the Super Lawyers event at Bryant Park Grill.

We celebrated our colleagues accomplishments.

Congrats to Camelia Mitchell from Baron & Shelkin, P.C. for being a Rising Star.

Congrats to Kenneth Anand from Vandenberg & Feliu, LLP for being a Super Lawyer.

Congrats to Liane Fisher from Serrins&  Fisher LLP for being a Super Lawyer.

Congrats to David J. Hernandez from David J. Hernandez and Assoc for being a Super Lawyer.

Puerto Rican Bar Association's GALA 2013

The PRBA 56th Annual Gala was a great success!

There was great food, drinking and dancing!  

oh yeah... and the honorees were...

• Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels
• Raul Russi, CEO 
• Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, Nahins & Goidel, PC
• Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, LLP
• Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodríguez
• Goya  Foods,  Inc.

Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels

• native New Yorker
• first Latina Justice in NYS Appellate Division, First Department

Raul Russi

• Chief Executive Officer of Acacia Network, Inc. 
• the largest Puerto Rican-founded organization in New York
• annual budget of more than 130 million in revenue and 200 million in asset dollars
• Buffalo’s first Hispanic police officer and ultimately awarded the department’s Purple Heart when he was shot in the line of duty

Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, Nahins & Goidel, P.C.

• represents landlords in residential and commercial actions and proceedings related to all aspects of real estate law  

Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, 

• one of the largest litigation firms in the country, represents clients in high-stakes lawsuits involving antitrust, banking, class actions, complex financial products, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy, employment practices, and the list goes on...

Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez

• President of Hostos Community College    
• former Secretary of the Department of the Family for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico managing an annual budget of $2.2 billion
• Cum laude graduate of Yale University
• published extensively in the fields of migration, women's, Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Latino studies
• his expert commentary has appeared in leading publications including New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Congressional Quarterly, Diario/La Prensa, list goes on...
• social scientist

GOYA

ahhh!  What can you say about GOYA?  Si es bueno, tiene que ser Goya!

Well, did you know that GOYA is

• the only company  to ever be honored by The President
• During Hispanic Heritage Month, President Barack Obama honored Goya  for its continued success and commitment  to  the Hispanic community
• The  following year, Goya collaborated with First Lady Michelle  Obama  and  the  USDA  to  launch MyPlate/ MiPlato  campaign,  a  national health initiative to help educate Americans on how to eat healthy. 
• America’s  largest  Hispanic‐owned  food company  and  the  premier  source  for  authentic  Latin  cuisine
•  over  2,200  high‐quality  and  affordable  food  products  from  the  Caribbean, Mexico, Spain, Central and South America
• over 15 facilities throughout the United  States,  Puerto  Rico,  Dominican  Republic  and  Spain

Some trivia, see if you can answer...

Who founded GOYA back in 1936?

Where, in what city, was the small storefront this family opened?

Click to see the answers:

Latinas Con Vision

A special discussion and network reception for professional women, honoring the achievements of latinas in our community.  

Come learn from their inspiring stories, including out very own, Jennese Torres, network with other area professionals, and learn about career opportunities at New York Life.

Wednesday, May 29, at 5:30pm

Westchester Ballroom 

at DoubleTree Hotel Tarrytown

455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY

Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

RSVP to Monica Martinez-Hess

914-373-1636 

monica_martinez@newyorklife.com

Seating is limited!  Call to reserve your spot today!

Puerto Rican Bar Association Recognizes Latino Judges

The Puerto Rican Bar Association held JUDICIARY NIGHT and honored Latino judges at the Bronx Supreme Court Rotunda.

Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr. stopped by to express his support and pride in the Latino judges, especially those of the Bronx.




Many judges were in attendance and gave quick 2-3 minutes thank you speeches.

Judge Robert Torres accepted his recognition humbly and said:

I am blessed to have this job because I can have a positive impact on the community. 

Here is the list of judges honored:


Hon. Rita Mella, Surrogate, New York County
Hon. Nelida Malave-Gonzalez, Surrogate, Bronx County
Hon. Joseph Zayas, Administrative Judge for Queens County - Criminal Matters
Hon. Manuel Mendez, Supreme Court, New York County
Hon. Fernando Tapia, Supreme Court, Bronx County
Hon. Llinet Rosado, Civil Court, Bronx County
Hon. Lizbeth Gonzalez, Acting Supreme Court, Bronx County
Hon. Robert Torres, Deputy Adminstrative Judge Civil and Criminal Matters, Bronx County
Hon. Leslie Purificacion, Supreme Court, Queens County
Hon. Jeannette Ruiz, Supervising Family Court Judge, Queens County
Hon. Julio Rodriguez, III, Civil Court, Bronx County
Hon. Ruben Martino, Family Court, Bronx County
Hon. Jeannette Rodriguez Morrick, Civil Court, Bronx County

Are You a Comadre???

At a COMADRES meeting in NYC

If you're not a COMADRE then you should be!

Las Comadres Para Las Americas, a 501(c)(3) organization is an informal internet-based group that meets monthly in many US cities to build connections and community with other Latinas.

There are no membership, fees, no mandatory meetings, just a relaxed atmosphere to meet, greet and network with other Latinas.  Once you go to your 1st meeting, you're a COMADRE!

http://www.lascomadres.org

PRBA Honors Past Presidents of the Puerto Rican Bar Association

Platanos and Filet Mignon at PRBA event

The Puerto Rican Bar Association event: Honoring our Ex-Officios As We Lead and Look to the Future was held at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres, & Friedman last week.

Past Presidents of the PRBA were honored.  Judge Eduardo Padro spoke about the history of the legal community and its affects on Puerto Ricans.  He visualized it as a Broadway show with ACTS 1, 2 and 3. Act 1 recalled the past and the dearth of Puerto Ricans in the the practice of law.  Act 2 was about more modern times, culminating with the appointment of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a former member of the PRBA, to the Supreme Court of the United States.  Act 3, Judge Pardo, said is yet to be written, but offered an aspiring realm of possibilities as to how far we can go!

Judge John Carro as well gave an inspiring speech as he recalled his mother, a "jibarita", who came to New York with a grammar school education.  Calling her his "hero" because she came to this country with so little.  He recalled when the PRBA was only about 30 members and now its close to 3000 members.  He shared that he initially wanted to be a police officer, but there was a height requirement of 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall, which he did not reach.  Subsequently after becoming a lawyer he went on to sue the police department for the discriminatory practice and ultimately won. Hence, police officers now come in all shapes and sizes.

The evening then ended with presenting the past presidents, "ex-officios", with a small gift.

The evening was also quite appetizing with empanadillas, papas rellenas, and my favorite- platanos with filet mignon.


EX-OFFICIOS/PAST PRESIDENTS INCLUDE: Rosevelie Márquez Morales, Esq. Catherine Torres, Esq. Hon. Roberto Ramírez Maria Matos, Esq. Edgardo A. Flores, Esq. David Hernández, Esq. Janet Alvarez, Esq. Edgar de León, Esq. Dolly Caraballo, Esq. James Castro-Blanco, Esq. Ellie Jurado-Nieves, Esq. Damaris E. Torrent, Esq. Roberto G. Lebrón, Esq. Carmen Rita Torrent, Esq. Hon. Nelson S. Román Telesforo del Valle, Esq. Ramon Cintron, Esq. Sandra Otero, Esq. Hon. Mary-Ann Brigantti-Hughes Roberto Laracuente, Esq. Franklyn Pérez, Esq. Hon. Anthony Suárez Hon. Gloria Sosa-Litner Hon. Peter Rivera Hon. Nicholas Figueroa Demonstenes Santiago-Rogue, Esq. Roberto Lebron, Sr., Esq. Austin Torres, Esq. Hon. John Carro

Long Island Hispanic Bar Association Gala Event

Long Island Hispanic Bar Association

The Long Island Hispanic Bar Association held their annual Gala Event this month.

Present among the Latino legal community was also the ambassador of El Salvador.

Dave Mejias, President of the LIHBA led the event which included short speeches and awards to Latino leaders in the community.

One of those award went to Judge Hector LaSalle, Suffolk County Supreme Court Judge for his efforts with new legal talent and as a Hispanic judicial leader.

Congrats!  It was a wonderful evening!

Trailblazers: Their Journey, Their Story

The 4 speakers of the 100 Hispanic Women of Westchester Latino Leadership Forum

The 100 Hispanic Women of Westchester held their annual Latino Leadership Forum: Trailblazers,Their Journey, Their Story at Doubletree  Hotel in Tarrytown, New York on Friday, October 12, 2012.

The panel of four speakers were moderated by El Diario La Prensa's Rosana Rosado were:

• Paula Garces –Colombian American film and television actress, known for her appearance in films such as Clockstoppers and The Harold and Kumar Series, and on TV shows such as CSI: Miami, The Shield, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, The Sopranos, Oz and Warehouse 13.
• Norma Mejia Boccobella - Co Owner of Natural Necessity, Freelance Writer at Sleepy Hollow / Tarrytown Patch, Talk Show Host at Telemundo
• Maribel Cruz-Brown  - Engineer and Program Manager - Market Development & Customer Initiatives at New York Power Authority 
• Jennese Torres aka "La Diva" Torres from Torres and Urbaez, PC - A “stiletto-wearing attorney” and entrepreneur who launched the website LaDivaLatina.com 

100 Hispanic Women of Westchester Latino Leader Ship Forum

100 Hispanic Women of Westchester
Latina Leadership Forum
Trailblazers- Their Journey & Story

The Latina Leadership Forum is an annual event comprised of several educational forums designed to inspire and challenge women of all ages to maximize their strengths and achieve their leadership potential.

The panel of four speakers were moderated by El Diario La Prensa's Rosana Rosado were:

• Paula Garces –Colombian American film and television actress, known for her appearance in films such as Clockstoppers and The Harold and Kumar Series, and on TV shows such as CSI: Miami, The Shield, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, The Sopranos, Oz and Warehouse 13.
• Norma Mejia Boccobella - Co Owner of Natural Necessity, Freelance Writer at Sleepy Hollow / Tarrytown Patch, Talk Show Host at Telemundo
• Maribel Cruz-Brown  - Engineer and Program Manager - Market Development & Customer Initiatives at New York Power Authority 
• Jennese Torres aka "La Diva" Torres from Torres and Urbaez, PC - A “stiletto-wearing attorney” and entrepreneur who launched the website LaDivaLatina.com