AGP Executive Report

Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico: Ticket sales for the final two shows of his “Debí tirar más fotos” tour opened with a massive virtual queue for Aug. 22–23 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, with entry rules tied to Banco Popular cards and strict venue policies. Puerto Rican Pride in Sports: NORCECA’s Women’s Continental Championship starts Aug. 21 in Santo Domingo, with Puerto Rico in Pool B alongside Cuba, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic—part of the road to LA28 and the 2027 World Cup. Culture & Community: Elgin History Museum’s “Nuestras Historias” Hispanic culture documentary and exhibit premieres Friday at Elgin Community College, featuring interviews from civic, religious and community leaders, including Puerto Rican family ties. Local Talent Spotlight: Amanda Serrano defends her unified featherweight titles Friday against Lucrecia Manzur, with Serrano framing the fight as a boost for women’s boxing and Latina fighters. Science Education: Society for Science selected North Greene High School teacher Olivia Kuper for its 2026–27 Advocate Program, expanding student access to hands-on research and science competitions.

Bad Bunny Ticket Rush (Puerto Rico): Fans are lining up online for the final “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” home shows on Aug. 22 and 23 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, with reports of 1.5 million people in virtual queues and sales tied to Banco Popular cardholders. Volleyball & Regional Pride: NORCECA’s Women’s Continental Championship kicks off Aug. 21 in Santo Domingo, with Puerto Rico in Pool B alongside Cuba, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic—part of the LA28 Olympic qualification path. Culture Through Music: Filipino-Puerto Rican singer Kris Lawrence drops “Unlove You,” a love-lost collaboration with Lil Eddie, blending guitar-led pop with a bittersweet hook. Community & Learning: Alcorn State students spend two weeks in Puerto Rico studying sustainable farming with UPR Mayagüez, linking tropical agriculture lessons back to Mississippi. Kids’ Media in Spanish: Liberty Puerto Rico adds HITN’s Edye preschool platform as a $2.99 monthly add-on, aiming for ad-free Spanish content for ages 2–6. Arts Spotlight: Tripoli Patterson’s gallery highlights authenticity-driven art programming, with a new exhibition “Hail Mary” continuing its long-running, relationship-first approach to artists.

Puerto Rico & the Caribbean in the spotlight: A legal environmental group, Earthjustice, sued the U.S. government to stop a Trump plan to auction off huge water areas around American Samoa for deep-sea mining, arguing it could harm endangered species and critical habitats. Culture & identity: A new feature on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime choreography highlights how “every movement mattered” as Puerto Rican talent built a community-forward stage language. Pageants & representation: V&A Sherry hosted Uganda’s first Miss Universe Uganda winner, setting her up to compete globally in Puerto Rico this November. Sports with Puerto Rican ties: MLB unanimously approved José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones as the new principal owners of the San Diego Padres, a franchise with deep cross-border cultural roots. Community & activism: Antiwar groups in Puerto Rico continue pushing back against the reactivation of U.S. military bases, framing it as a threat to local life and autonomy. Local life: A Puerto Rican teacher training initiative at Fort Buchanan welcomed students for the first day of DoWEA classes.

Puerto Rico & Diaspora Culture: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime choreography spotlighted how “every movement mattered,” with Puerto Rican creatives building a community feel on one of the biggest stages in U.S. pop. Local Arts & Identity: Ritz Theatre Company’s “La Gringa” (by Carmen Rivera) lands in New Jersey this September, tackling diaspora identity, Spanish fluency, and what it means to belong. Music & Youth Culture: Fundación Música y País announced its 2026–2027 season, including free OSJPR opening concert Aug. 23 and new musical experiences for young Puerto Rican musicians. Faith & Community: St. Joachim Church in Philadelphia hosts Eucharistic adoration and live music Aug. 29 with Puerto Rican singer Angel Chaparro. Activism & Antiwar: Mothers Contra la Guerra renews its push against U.S. militarism in Puerto Rico as peace groups resist reactivation of bases. Education & Language: Parents raise concerns as Glenwood Elementary nears its last year, questioning the future of its Mandarin program. Health & Vaccines: A CDC report says childhood vaccine exemptions hit a record high, as measles risk grows. Human Rights Watch: A watchdog report urges the U.S. to reinstate a ban on Dominican sugar tied to forced labor.

Puerto Rico in the spotlight: Fort Buchanan welcomed about 1,100 students for the first day of DoWEA classes, with community partners and even a Spider-Man welcome to ease nerves. Local business & leadership: Bayamón attorney Cynthia Román Sánchez announced her candidacy for CUD presidency, pitching stronger support for small and midsize businesses ahead of the Sept. 13 election. Culture & media: The feature film “Puerteños” premiered in Puerto de Nutrias, celebrating Puerto Rican memory and regional folklore through cinema. Sports & identity: Ohio State’s basketball team shared a social-media recap of its Puerto Rico trip, mixing scrimmages with food, culture, and a kids’ camp. Community calendar energy: Puerto Rico’s Day at the Ballpark continues across U.S. cities, with upcoming Puerto Rico-themed events in Colorado, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Health & aging: A study on older adults with HIV links higher fall risk to cannabis use, with cigarette smoking changing the picture.

Puerto Rico Culture in U.S. Ballparks: “Puerto Rico’s Day at The Ballpark” keeps rolling with new in-stadium celebrations in Colorado (Aug. 18), Chicago (Aug. 22), and Los Angeles (Aug. 23), spotlighting Puerto Rican baseball legacy and players. Community & Faith Response to Crisis: American Baptist Churches USA joins humanitarian efforts as Puerto Rico battles life-threatening water shortages, following emergency measures and rotating shut-offs. Local Business Leadership: Cynthia Román Sánchez announces her candidacy for CUD presidency, pitching stronger support for small and midsize businesses ahead of a Sept. 13 election. Water, Culture, and Daily Life: A report highlights Puerto Rico’s water rationing and the missed chance to harvest rainwater—plus the broader power struggles behind the crisis. Music & Pop Culture: A weekly roundup spotlights fresh tracks from artists like 54 Ultra and Bellakath, while KCON LA 2026 features cross-cultural BTS tribute moments with Santos Bravos and &TEAM. Sports Spotlight: Puerto Rico’s national team is in the mix for FIBA World Cup 2027 qualification, with a public poll asking which teams advance.

Puerto Rican Pride in the Diaspora: Worcester’s Somos Boricuas festival returned after decades, with food, music, history, and education on the Worcester Common, reflecting how community organizers are rebuilding cultural space amid canceled Latin events. Puerto Rican Day Parade: Jersey City marked the 66th annual Puerto Rican Day Parade with music, pride, and big-name Latin influence, from local leaders to Bad Bunny fans. Caribbean Film Spotlight: CSIFF26 announced 47 films from 14 countries for its Oct. 9–11 celebration in New York, putting Puerto Rico and the wider Caribbean diaspora front and center. Mutual Aid & Resistance: A new docuseries, The Elements of Mutual Aid, explores how mutual aid evolved after COVID and what it takes to sustain it beyond burnout. Travel for Culture Lovers: Frontier added seasonal daily flights to San Juan from Dallas, Houston, and Cleveland, bringing more seats during a busy travel stretch. Faith & Community: Costa Rica’s Episcopal Conference donated 20,000 unconsecrated hosts to Cuba to help keep Eucharist celebrations going during production disruptions. Sports as Culture: The U.S. won the FIVB Girls’ U17 World Championship in Chile, while Puerto Rico’s presence continues to show up across regional sports coverage. Local Arts & Food: 8it’s Family Meal™ returns with a Puerto Rican Pool Party in NYC, spotlighting island flavors and Latin music for hospitality workers.

Puerto Rico Travel Boost: Frontier is adding seasonal daily flights to San Juan from Dallas, Houston, and Cleveland, bringing 15,624 extra seats for the holiday season—good news for a period when airport traffic has softened. Food & Community: 8it’s Family Meal™ returns with a Puerto Rican Pool Party in NYC, spotlighting island flavors and Latin hospitality with Top Chef winner Danny Garcia and more. Culture & Faith: EWTN explains how Catholic Communion hosts are made, with a look at production rules and the wider impact of power and supply issues—plus a regional solidarity effort sending 20,000 unconsecrated hosts to Cuba. Local Lifestyle & Resilience: A new report highlights Puerto Rico’s water crisis and how climate change meets “ineptitude,” while another piece spotlights community-led climate resilience projects that include Puerto Rico. Sports & Pride: Bad Bunny pays tribute to Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colón, keeping his legacy in the spotlight.

Puerto Rico Culture & Lifestyle: DISTRITO T-Mobile and Coca-Cola Music Hall marked their fifth anniversary with a three-day lineup of free music, family activities, and Puerto Rican talent at Popular Plaza, highlighting the venue’s growth since 2021 and its role as a hub for local artists. Puerto Rico Community & Service: Fort Buchanan held a Change of Responsibility ceremony, spotlighting leadership transitions within the Puerto Rico National Guard and the community impact of outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Kimberly D. Bergman Gándara. Puerto Rico Sports & Pride: Bad Bunny paid tribute to Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colón, whose death at 33 followed years after a brain injury left him unable to walk. Puerto Rico Health & Life: A Puerto Rico Army National Guard veteran received a kidney offer through the Iowa VA transplant program—then faced a setback when the donor kidney wasn’t viable, underscoring the long, emotional wait for lifesaving care. Culture Beyond PR: The International Puppet Fringe Festival returns to the Clemente Puerto Rican Latino Cultural Center, bringing global puppetry to life with performances, film, and art. Global Context: A Costa Rica church donated 20,000 hosts to Cuba amid ongoing production disruptions tied to shortages and power outages.

Puerto Rico in the spotlight: A new Travel And Tour World ranking puts Puerto Rico in the Top 30 solo travel destinations across the Americas and Caribbean for 2026, highlighting the island’s mix of culture and independent-friendly travel. Local culture & community: DISTRITO T-Mobile and Coca-Cola Music Hall mark their fifth anniversary with three days of free music and family programming at Popular Plaza, featuring major Puerto Rican acts like El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico plus Ana Isabelle and Christian Alicea. Arts & heritage: The International Puppet Fringe Festival brings global puppetry to life at the Clemente Puerto Rican Latino Cultural Center, blending performances, film, and artwork. Latin music with a mission: Romeo Santos launches Fundación Los Santos to support children with autism and their families, expanding access to resources and developmental programs. Sports & Puerto Rico ties: Fort Buchanan holds a Change of Responsibility ceremony, with community members and the Puerto Rico National Guard band celebrating new senior enlisted leadership. Health & life stories: A Puerto Rican veteran’s kidney transplant journey hits a hopeful moment—and a heartbreaking setback—showing how close relief can feel before it slips away.

Water Crisis & Climate Reality: Puerto Rico’s drought has pushed reservoirs to critical lows, with the government rotating water access on a 48-hour schedule and sending potable-water trucks islandwide as officials say they don’t yet know when rationing ends. Local Education & Community: The University of San Juan is reopening its next chapter with a $2.4 million investment, new student facilities, and new programs including a paramedic-firefighter associate degree and an accelerated criminal justice track for municipal police officers. Music & Sports Culture: Bad Bunny paid tribute to late Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colón, recalling how he followed Colón’s rise and honoring the impact of Puerto Rican boxing culture. Arts & Lifestyle Spotlight: DISTRITO T-Mobile and Coca-Cola Music Hall marked their fifth anniversary with a free, three-day lineup at Popular Plaza featuring major Puerto Rican acts like El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Ana Isabelle, and Christian Alicea. Culture & Identity in Public Life: Charles Barkley weighed in on the Sophie Cunningham transgender controversy by steering attention toward broader issues like water shortages and wildfires, arguing the debate shouldn’t crowd out real-world crises.

Puerto Rico Water Crisis: Drought has pushed the island into rotating 48-hour water shutoffs, with reservoirs critically low and trucks delivering potable water—critics say officials saw it coming and failed to act. University of San Juan Update: The renamed University of San Juan opens a new phase with $2.4M in upgrades, new student services, and new programs including a paramedic-firefighter associate degree and an accelerated criminal justice track for municipal police. Sports & Culture: Bad Bunny paid tribute to late Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colón, linking his music fandom to the fighter’s legacy after the 2015 bout that left Colón with severe brain damage. Community & Identity: The Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy tour spotlights how Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Chinese communities shaped the neighborhood’s evolving cultural map. Arts & Representation: Street-art icon Lady Pink discusses her decades-long fight against sexism and her barrier-breaking path from Queens to international galleries. Global Spotlight: A new Spanish-language vertical, El Alboroto, launches from The Rumpus to publish original work by writers including contributors from Puerto Rico.

Afro-Puerto Rican Youth Culture: Hyde Square Task Force wrapped its third annual immersion trip to Puerto Rico, bringing 10 youth to Old San Juan, Santurce, Loíza, La Perla and Río Piedras to learn Bomba Cangrejera, Kokobalé, and visit community spaces that keep ancestral traditions alive. Water Crisis in San Juan: An NPR report shows how drought-driven rationing and failing infrastructure are leaving a condo building with intermittent or zero running water—forcing residents to improvise with neighbors’ access to a garden hose. Care Tech for Elders: Caregivers of Puerto Rico launched an “Electronic Guardian Angel” remote monitoring service with fall detection and safe-mobility zones, aiming to help seniors stay independent while families get alerts. Community & Wellness Event: The Virgin Islands’ Purple Carpet Bash (Oct. 2) spotlights domestic violence awareness, trauma recovery, men’s mental health and veterans’ wellness, featuring Rob Malloy. Education Upgrade: 10 Puerto Rican public educators traveled to Washington, D.C. for AI, coding and virtual reality training through the Pilar Barbosa Education Internship Program. Music for Relief: Marc Anthony, Luis Fonsi, Chayanne, Feid and Jay Wheeler headline “Unidos por Los Nuestros” in Miami (Aug. 16) to support earthquake relief for Venezuela and Colombia. Basketball Spotlight: Denise Solis, a Puerto Rican forward and nurse, discusses her path and mindset as Puerto Rico eyes the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup roster.

Puerto Rico Education & Tech: Ten Puerto Rican public educators head to Washington, D.C. for the Pilar Barbosa Education Internship Program, training in AI, coding, and virtual reality through Aug. 21. Sports & Community: Ohio State men’s basketball is in Puerto Rico for exhibition games plus youth clinics in San Juan, Bayamón, and beyond, bringing big-college energy to local courts. Culture & Film: BlackStar Film Festival’s 15th anniversary spotlights “art and resistance,” with standout picks that keep liberation themes front and center. Music & Solidarity: Unidos por los Nuestros lines up a major benefit concert in Miami (Aug. 16) to support earthquake victims in Venezuela and Colombia, led by Marc Anthony and Luis Fonsi. Puerto Rican Pride in the Diaspora: Springfield Museums’ Latino Arts Festival (Aug. 28) celebrates Puerto Rican and broader Latino heritage with performances and artists ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month. Local Sports Loss: Boxer Prichard Colon, 33, dies after a brain injury that left him unable to walk.

Puerto Rico Water Crisis: With drought hitting hard, Puerto Rico is entering days of rationed tap water, with reports of up to 48-hour cut-offs in San Juan and nearby municipalities as reservoirs like Lago Carraízo run extremely low. Community Planning & Culture: In Buffalo’s Lower West Side, residents are shaping a neighborhood plan that centers housing, arts and culture, safety, and connectivity—while highlighting Puerto Rican food, Spanish-speaking community life, and youth support. Music & Solidarity: Latin superstars including Marc Anthony, Luis Fonsi, Chayanne, and Feid are set for a Miami livestream benefit, “Unidos por Los Nuestros,” expanding to help earthquake victims in both Venezuela and Colombia. Local Sports & Identity: Wayne State’s men’s basketball schedule includes a December trip to Puerto Rico for the “Puerto Rico Clasico,” framed as both competition and cultural experience. Volleyball Spotlight: South Korea’s U-17 women’s team advanced after sweeping group play, with Puerto Rico named among the teams they beat. Arts & Heritage: A historic Garifuna prisoners-of-war exhibition in the Caribbean spotlighted how Garifuna captives were taken across the Atlantic, including to Portchester Castle in the UK.

Puerto Rico Water Crisis: San Juan residents describe mandatory shutoffs every 48 hours after historic drought drained reservoirs, turning daily life into a scramble for tanker water and exposing deeper “leadership” failures. Sister-City Culture & Governance: Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía and Aguadilla Mayor Julio Roldán Concepción signed a twinning deal to boost trade, tourism, education, culture, and park restoration—building new municipal links between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Community & Learning: Austin Peay State University students volunteered in Puerto Rico with Centro Esperanza, helping hurricane relief and starting work on a revitalized outdoor learning space for youth. Youth, Food Systems & Education: A Puerto Rico–linked agriculture education push echoes through a USDA Farm to School greenhouse grant story, underscoring how hands-on learning can expand local food access. Latin Music Spotlight: Nicky Jam, Puerto Rico-raised reggaeton icon, joins 1win’s VIP community—another reminder of how island talent keeps shaping global culture. Sports & Pride: Puerto Rico appears in regional volleyball coaching support and international competition coverage, with Puerto Rican ties showing up across the Caribbean sports scene. ICE & Paperwork Pressure: ICE updated I-9 guidance, reclassifying many common paperwork mistakes as “substantive,” meaning employers face immediate fines—raising stress for workers and families.