In a lively, music-filled event at the Bronx Botanical Garden, U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres marked Women’s History Month with a celebratory breakfast honoring accomplished women of the Bronx who impact the lives of the people in the borough. Hostos Community College President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., was among the honorees whose tireless work on behalf of the people was acknowledged at the event.
The event began with a breakfast with jazz accompaniment from the Celia Cruz High School Jazz Band, who performed arrangements of standards from the classic American songbook. They were followed by a rousing performance by the high school’s step team. Both the band and step team were fittingly composed almost entirely of girls, setting the tone for this celebration of female accomplishment.
Torres then took the stage to introduce the day’s honorees, pointing out that many of the Bronx’s most notable institutions were led by powerful women, and praising the achievements and dedication of Cocco De Filippis.
“This remarkable woman runs an institution that has long been the heart of the Bronx,” he said. “I always say, ‘if you don’t have a seat at the table, then you’re probably on the menu!’ And Hostos Community College is helping to make sure that the people of the Bronx can claim their seats at the table by providing education and social mobility to those who most need it.”
Then, as she took the stage accompanied by merengue music, Cocco De Filippis delighted the crowd by dancing joyfully to the irresistible rhythms of her native Dominican Republic.
“I am honored to be among so many talented and accomplished women here today,” she said. “And I truly believe that Congressman Ritchie Torres, who reminds me of my own son, represents the best of the Bronx. We at Hostos Community College are all so grateful for his support, especially the million-dollar earmark that has funded a transfer pipeline for the students of Hostos, enabling them to continue their studies at Columbia, City College for Engineering, and Queens College for Art Administration. So, the Congressman can expect another funding proposal from us soon!”
The other honorees were Jennifer Berstein, CEO of the New York Botanical Garden; Denise Rosario Adusei, executive director of the Bronx Children’s Museum; Asha McKenzie, morning anchor at News12; and Julie Gafney, assistant vice president for Strategic Mission Initiatives and Surey Miranda-Alarcón, director of Campus and Community Engagement, both from Fordham University.
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