AGP Executive Report

Puerto Rico Culture & Community: Ricky Martin marked a milestone at home, celebrating his twins Matteo and Valentino’s 18th birthdays in Puerto Rico, with the singer reflecting on fatherhood and how each twin’s personality has taken its own path. Puerto Rico Arts & Identity: A new documentary moment is coming for Latin-Jewish audiences: “Re-Emerge: Puerto Rico,” featuring a little-known Jewish community in the mountains of the island, will be screened during a Sept. 15 conversation with Dr. Analucía Lopezrevoredo and filmmaker Dani Rotstein. Puerto Rico Sports & Youth: Puerto Rico’s presence in regional basketball continues to ripple outward as the island is listed among teams already qualified for the 2027 AmeriCup, alongside the Dominican Republic and others. Puerto Rico Lifestyle & Daily Life: Puerto Rico is set to begin water rationing amid a historic drought, with San Juan and other major cities preparing for scheduled limits. Caribbean Culture Spotlight: The 10th annual Puerto Rico Festival of New Haven kept the Puerto Rican flag flying with music, food, vejigante traditions, and a packed lineup featuring La India. Culture & Heritage Watch: Miss Universe Canada faced backlash over contestants wearing Indigenous regalia in a costume segment, prompting a public response from the pageant.

Puerto Rican Pride: New Haven’s 10th annual Puerto Rico Festival kept the Green packed with music, food, vejigante tradition, and a big flag-waving crowd—an easy reminder that community culture travels well. Water Crisis: Puerto Rico is starting water rationing in San Juan and other major cities as drought drains reservoirs, pushing daily life into a new, tighter rhythm. Sports & Identity: Cuba’s Santo Domingo 2026 run ended with a sharp decline in key sports—men’s boxing finished without a single title, while Puerto Rico’s women’s volleyball beat Cuba 3-0 for bronze. Culture & Debate: Miss Universe Canada faced backlash after contestants wore Indigenous-inspired items in the “national costume” segment, with a former Indigenous winner saying it caused real harm. Family & Belonging: AOC shared her egg-freezing journey, spotlighting how personal choices and long-term relationships shape identity conversations. Policy Shockwaves: Trump’s renewed push to restrict birthright citizenship is back in the spotlight, with supporters arguing narrow exceptions and critics warning about territories and families.

Water Crisis: Puerto Rico’s drought-driven water rationing is hitting homes with rotating restrictions, exposing deeper infrastructure and water-management strain as reservoirs run low. Hip-Hop Culture: Soul Cinema Sundays screens Dave Chappelle’s Block Party with a post-film conversation on creative community and Hip-Hop’s evolution. Afro-Latino Scholarship: Meyby Ugueto-Ponce discusses Afro-Venezuelan ancestral knowledge, structural racism, and restorative justice in everyday life. Sports Spotlight (PR at CAC): Puerto Rico’s women’s volleyball team beats Cuba 3-0 for bronze at Santo Domingo 2026, while Puerto Rico’s broader CAC campaign continues to draw attention. Global Youth Sailing: Ora Cup Ora 2026 brings nearly 600 young sailors from 44 nations to Lake Garda, blending competition with family culture. Tech + Culture: A White House TikTok removed Bad Bunny’s music after backlash, reigniting debate over politics, pop culture, and Puerto Rican identity. Puerto Rico in the World: A profile looks at Puerto Rico’s path and odds heading into the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin.

Water Crisis: Puerto Rico’s drought has pushed San Juan into rotating 48-hour water outages, with tourists and residents scrambling as taps run dry and the underlying infrastructure strain comes into focus. Local Culture & Community: Ora Cup Ora 2026 kicked off at Circolo Vela Arco in Italy, bringing nearly 600 young sailors (and their families) into a week of sport, discovery, and Puerto Rican-style family energy on the water. Latin Music Spotlight: Premios Juventud is taking Marc Anthony and Yandel to Europe for a Sept. 3 debut in Marbella, honoring their “Agents of Change” work tied to social causes across Latin America and beyond. Puerto Rico in the Spotlight: Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the island’s Olympic 100m hurdles star, announced the birth of her baby daughter—pausing her track career for motherhood. Media & Culture Clash: The White House removed Bad Bunny’s music from an Iran-themed TikTok after backlash, reigniting debate over politics, pop culture, and who gets to set the soundtrack. Sports Watch: Puerto Rico’s women’s basketball World Cup run gets a closer look as the team aims to top expectations in Berlin.

Puerto Rico Basketball on the World Stage: Puerto Rico’s women’s team is heading into the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin after a dramatic qualifying run in San Juan, where they surged from 0-3 to clinch wins over Senegal and New Zealand—now they’ll face a brutal group and need something “seriously special.” USA Basketball Women’s Roster: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers are set for World Cup debuts alongside veterans like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, with pool play against China, Italy, and the Czech Republic. Water Crisis at Home: San Juan is starting 48-hour water rationing as drought deepens, with 180,000 customers facing alternating outages—already stirring anxiety among travelers planning trips. Citizenship Rights in the Territories: A new Trump executive order targets birthright citizenship for children born in U.S. territories, drawing sharp criticism from advocates who say it escalates fears for Puerto Rico and other islands. Culture & Folklore: Dark Horse’s Beast of Boriken #2 drops Aug. 12, continuing a Puerto Rican folklore mystery tying el Chupacabra to the island’s history. Media & Diversity: An FCC vote loosening TV ownership limits is criticized for risking fewer local jobs and less diverse ownership.

Puerto Rico Water Crisis: Water rationing begins in San Juan and other major cities after a historic drought drained reservoirs, with residents preparing for a 48-hour schedule. Arts & Community: Mission Hill Arts Festival keeps rolling with “Rhythm,” pairing performances with audience dialogue and community connection, with two shows left this month. Sports & Pride: Cuba’s women’s handball team defended its Santo Domingo 2026 crown, beating hosts 35-15, while Puerto Rico’s teams kept pushing in the medal rounds. Culture Through Music: Bronx event “Salsa Under the Stars” drew about 300 people for Latin jazz and salsa, highlighting salsa as a community-building force. Citizenship Fight: New U.S. executive orders renew pressure on birthright citizenship and “birth tourism,” raising fresh fears for migrants and families, including in Puerto Rico. Local Business & Jobs: Medplus Solutions says it invested over $5M to expand tech and staff in Puerto Rico, boosting specialized roles and international growth. Youth & Economy: A new Youth Misery Index finds Puerto Rico’s ages 20–24 hit worse economic conditions than the general population, tied to unemployment and lost purchasing power.

Water Crisis & Daily Life: San Juan and nearby municipalities are set for a 48-hour water ration starting Aug. 7 as drought worsens, with possible extension to 72 hours—an immediate hit to households across the capital region. Local Business & Financing: Hecho en Puerto Rico and the Economic Development Bank signed an MOU to expand loans and lines of credit (up to $3M) plus training for local entrepreneurs. Education & Language Culture: Lake Tahoe Community College’s Intensive Spanish Summer Institute wrapped up its 33rd year, bringing hundreds of teachers into immersive Spanish language and culture learning. Community Teaching & Compassion: Sharina Maíllo-Pozo reflects on how family love shaped her classroom approach—turning education into a space of care. Sports & Youth Talent: Puerto Rico’s U-17 volleyball program is in the global spotlight as the FIVB Girls’ U17 World Championship opens in Chile, with Puerto Rico facing Korea. Culture & Faith in Focus: A centennial celebration is underway for Christ Church Episcopal, marking 100 years of community-built worship. Civic Environment: A coalition of U.S. territories groups filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to protect environmental review and public participation in Guam’s hazardous waste open burning plans.

Puerto Rico Politics & Community Resilience: Rep. Blas Jonathan “BJ” Tenorio Attao and House Speaker Edmund Joseph Sablan Villagomez opened a new campaign HQ in Puerto Rico after Super Typhoon Sinlaku damaged their first location, and they told supporters how Category 5 storms forced them to rethink outreach. Culture & Education: Chef David Talavera launched “Gastronómicamente 360,” a podcast exploring how gastronomy connects science, culture, education, and everyday life across southern Puerto Rico and the wider Caribbean. Youth Leadership: Henry County High School FCCLA students headed to the 2026 National Leadership Conference in Washington, with Cadence Crosser earning bronze and Valeria Cervantes taking silver in competitive events. Sports & Pride: Puerto Rico’s beach volleyball duos and other Empowerment-backed teams brought home medals at zonal and regional events, including gold for Maria Gonzalez & Allanis Navas. Latino Identity in Daily Life: A new Pew study finds Latino immigrants and U.S.-born Latinos experience identity differently, shaping everything from belonging to how people see their place in America.

Puerto Rico Culture & Community: Ponce Mayor Marlese Sifre Rodríguez welcomed a $30 million Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino renovation, pitching it as a tourism and jobs boost with design touches inspired by the Caribbean and Puerto Rico’s heritage. Diaspora & Identity: Ricky Martin’s twins, Matteo and Valentino, turned 18 with a low-key day in San Juan, a reminder of how Puerto Rico stays central even as families move through global fame. Arts & Storytelling: Lincoln Center announced a 2026/27 season highlight: a long-awaited reunion for “Shuffle Along” at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, tied to the legacy of San Juan Hill. Community Pride: Buffalo’s Lower West Side is leaning into its Puerto Rican roots with “Loweisa,” a new nickname meant to revive Latino presence around Niagara Street. Sports & Youth: Little League Softball World Series umpire Hiram Rivas—Puerto Rican by way of Hurricane Maria—shares how the tournament keeps “hola” and community at the center. Local Governance & Safety: Fort Buchanan kicked off Antiterrorism Awareness Month with a proclamation and outreach aimed at keeping the installation secure.

Water Crisis in San Juan: Puerto Rico is starting rotating 48-hour water cutoffs for 180,000+ customers as drought worsens, with officials warning the situation is beyond local control. Community & Culture: BlackStar Film Festival spotlights “West Side Familia,” a documentary tracing Puerto Rican community building and housing activism on NYC’s Upper West Side. Music & Identity: Cypress Hill’s B-Real talks cultural pride and spirituality behind the Spanish-language album “Dios Bendiga,” framed as solidarity amid anti-immigrant crackdowns. Sports (Regional Pride): Jamaica won gold in the 4×100 mixed relay at Santo Domingo 2026 after disqualifications; Puerto Rico took bronze. Local Life & Infrastructure: A firsthand account of moving to Puerto Rico highlights everyday struggles like power outages and potholes. Immigration Spotlight: A report details ICE using shared local information to detain a Dominican woman in Puerto Rico, raising due-process concerns. Energy Growth: KMB Design Group acquired Hurricane Hill Development, expanding solar, battery storage, and data center engineering capacity with a Puerto Rico footprint.

Puerto Rico Healthcare Policy: Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón signed an executive order to strengthen clinical research and expand Puerto Rico’s capacity for controlled trials in emerging therapies, aiming to boost scientific infrastructure without routine use. Drought Response: The Puerto Rico National Guard hit 505,000+ gallons of water distributed by July 31 under Mission Clear Source, supporting PRASA across multiple municipalities as a drought emergency looms. Arts & Community: Zimmerli Mobile keeps bringing bilingual art workshops and storytelling to underserved communities, including Puerto Rican Action Board early childhood centers, reaching nearly 2,000 people across dozens of programs. Culture & Identity: Ramel and Ellia Ana Hill use comic books and cut-paper art to celebrate Black and Puerto Rican cultures and pass stories to their six children. Music Spotlight: Premios Juventud 2026 will honor Marc Anthony and Yandel with “Agents of Change,” recognizing impact beyond the stage. Immigration Rights: Civil rights groups in Puerto Rico say ICE has increased enforcement targeting Haitian migrants, raising fears about profiling and deportations amid ongoing legal fights. Travel: American Airlines expands Miami–San Juan service to up to eight daily flights this winter.

Healthcare & Research: Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón signed Executive Order 2026-037 to strengthen Puerto Rico’s clinical research capacity, promote controlled clinical trials for emerging therapies, and assess a pilot program—aiming to position the island for innovation without routine clinical use. Immigration & Civil Rights: Civil rights and immigrant groups in Puerto Rico denounced a reported increase in ICE operations targeting Haitian migrants, warning about profiling risks and the impact of deportations amid legal fights over TPS. Arts & Community Education: The Zimmerli Art Museum’s “Zimmerli Mobile” keeps bringing bilingual art workshops and storytelling to underserved communities, including Puerto Rican Action Board early childhood centers in New Brunswick. Legacy & Scholarship: Johanna Fernández, a leading Young Lords and Latinx freedom movement scholar and prison abolitionist, died at 55, leaving behind major archives and exhibitions. Sports & Puerto Rican Pride: Lucia Nash helped Puerto Rico shine at the Women’s Lacrosse World Championship, while Heliot Ramos’ Yankees trade spotlights another Puerto Rican chapter in pro sports.

Puerto Rico Sports Spotlight: Desireck “Dessy” Nieves helped Puerto Rico go 5-0 and win women’s basketball gold at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, beating Mexico 57-44. CAC Games Weather Fallout: Heavy rain forced the cancellation of the gold-medal softball game in Santo Domingo, awarding Puerto Rico gold and giving the U.S. Virgin Islands silver anyway. Track & Field: Bouwahjgie Nkrumie won men’s 100m silver at the CAC Games with 10.17 seconds, while Puerto Rico’s Gladymar Torres took second in the women’s 100m. Baseball & Identity: Heliot Ramos—Puerto Rican star—was traded to the New York Yankees, calling it a proud “new chapter.” Culture & Community: The PBCHBA launched “CLE in Paradise,” bringing Florida Hispanic Bar members into Puerto Rico’s courts and Capitol for a culture-and-law learning exchange. Music: Hinterland 2026 leaned hard into Latin and Asian artists, with Puerto Rican hip-hop standout Young Miko among the highlights. Pageantry: Miss Universe 2026 is set for San Juan’s Coliseo de Puerto Rico, with multiple countries already naming their delegates.

Puerto Rico in the spotlight: Puerto Rico is set to host Miss Universe 2026 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, with the pageant expected to bring 130+ delegates and multiple countries already naming their queens. Culture & identity: A New York exhibition, ¡Te Amo Porque S.O.S. Pueblo!, brings together immigrant artists (including Puerto Rican and other Latin roots) to honor motherhood through music, verse, and community storytelling. Sports with local ties: West Point’s men’s basketball team visited Puerto Rico for preseason training plus leadership and community engagement, including a youth clinic and games against a Puerto Rican select team. Community & youth: The U.S. Military Academy trip also included hands-on programming with children at Fort Buchanan, blending athletics with cultural immersion. Policy ripple: Kamala Harris floated revisiting the Electoral College, expanding the Supreme Court, and supporting statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C., signaling major political reform talk ahead of 2026.

Puerto Rico Baseball: Puerto Rico rallied to beat Curaçao 8-4 in the Central American and Caribbean Games, turning the tide with a big sixth inning and tightening Group A hopes. CAC Games—Softball: In Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico was awarded gold in women’s softball after heavy rain and wind forced the gold-medal game to be cancelled; the USVI women still earned silver. CAC Games—Basketball: The Dominican Republic women won bronze at the CAC Games after defeating Panama 66-53, with Leyla Núñez leading the offense. Culture & Community: Rochester’s Puerto Rican Festival dominoes into local life again—this time with a community spotlight on dominoes as a family tradition that brings neighbors together. Local Sports Culture: Windsor High School students earned national FCCLA honors in business, food innovation, leadership, and fashion design—showing how classroom skills travel beyond the island. Food & Lifestyle: A new downtown speakeasy-style lounge opens with a code-only entry vibe, adding to the “hidden” nightlife trend. Music & Politics: The White House TikTok used Bad Bunny’s “LA MuDANZA” over an ICE deportation montage, sparking backlash as the audio was later disabled.

Puerto Rico in the spotlight (politics + culture): The White House posted a TikTok using Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny’s “La MuDANZA” over an ICE deportation montage, then disabled the audio after backlash. Community culture: South Jersey’s “Fiesta Borinqueña” brought generations together to keep Puerto Rican heritage, family, and faith front and center. Sports with Puerto Rican ties: At the Central American and Caribbean Games, Puerto Rico’s Ruth Jiménez won bronze in women’s freestyle wrestling (68kg). Culture & identity beyond the island: A LitNet storytelling event spotlights immigrant voices, including Puerto Rico, with true stories shaped through free adult education. Local lifestyle moment: A new downtown speakeasy-style lounge opened quietly with code-only entry—no big signage, just atmosphere. Health watch: Miami-Dade confirmed a locally acquired dengue case as mosquito season ramps up.