AGP Executive Report

Puerto Rico in the spotlight: Dorado opened a new Teresa Préstamo Bermúdez Head Start and Early Head Start center with a $6.3M investment, adding classrooms and family support services for local working families. Music & identity: Ricky Martin wrapped his Europe run and is teasing a big return to Puerto Rico, with new music and more U.S. dates ahead. Culture on the move: The BlackStar Film Festival is set to debut “West Side Familia,” a Puerto Rican-led biker gang story that ties neighborhood culture to NYC history. Community & safety: The Rochester Puerto Rican Festival kicks off with an enhanced safety plan, including street shutdowns and overnight gathering restrictions. Sports & pride: Puerto Rico’s Kristen Romano set new national records at the Central American and Caribbean Games, winning gold in the 200m IM and 400m IM. Lifestyle: Little Sister, a Puerto Rican cafe in Providence, announced it’s closing after seven years.

San Juan Culture & Community: San Juan is set to welcome back a major classic-car weekend, with La Gran Feria de Autos Antiguos bringing 500+ vehicles to Hiram Bithorn Stadium Aug. 8–9, plus family activities, artisan vendors, and a Concours d’Elegance judged by Mexican TV host Martín Vaca. Early Childhood Education: Dorado opened a new Teresa Préstamo Bermúdez Head Start and Early Head Start center with a $6.3M investment, adding classrooms and family services for hundreds of children. Arts & Identity: Atlantic Works Gallery in East Boston debuts “We Find Ourselves in Shape of Home” (Aug. 1–29), featuring Puerto Rican diaspora art that links architecture, migration, and community design. Music & Cultural Fusion: Toyota is partnering with Puerto Rican artist Álvaro Díaz on OMAKASE-inspired artwork and a special Toyota Music Den performance at Lollapalooza, blending Japanese and Puerto Rican influences. Local Heritage Spotlight: A new historical look at a barn behind 404 Ransom St. traces the Fenelon family story and Ripon’s changing landscape. Youth Leadership: Seton Hall welcomed NHI’s American Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session, bringing students from across the U.S. and Latin America, including Puerto Rico, into public-policy leadership training.

Puerto Rican Festival in Rochester: The 56th annual fest returns Thursday–Saturday with a clear mission to reach younger Latinos, teach kids about Latino culture, and bridge generational gaps. Community Arts & Culture: Banesco USA awarded grants to five Puerto Rico nonprofits supporting education, affordable housing, health, entrepreneurship, and vulnerable populations, including a therapeutic music program for children. Education & Identity: A new Connecticut law requires educators to develop curriculum materials for Islamic and Arab studies, joining existing state mandates that already include Puerto Rican and Latino studies. Civic Debate: Democratic Socialist-backed nominee Claire Valdez says Puerto Rico’s public debt should be canceled and the federal oversight board abolished, framing it as part of ending colonial status. Local Lifestyle: Marshalls is set to open in Arecibo on Aug. 13 at Plaza del Atlántico, with community festivities and a new shopping option for the area. Sports & Youth: Prairie View A&M professor Dr. Ali Fares served as a judge for the Presidential AI Challenge, which included K-12 students and educators from Puerto Rico. Arts Opportunities: New open calls and residencies are listed for artists, including Nuditas 2026 and Arch Enemy Arts.

Puerto Rico & Education: Fort Buchanan launched a survey to identify and support military families home-educating on the island, filling a visibility gap since Puerto Rico has no official registry for homeschoolers. Culture & Community: The 56th annual Puerto Rican Festival is set to bring thousands to Rochester, with organizers emphasizing kids’ culture activities and outreach to younger Latinos. Sports & Opportunity: Puerto Rican baseball associates visited San Quentin’s “Field of Dreams” to observe and help the San Quentin Giants program, highlighting how baseball academies can open college and pro pathways. Travel & Lifestyle: ESA Pet rolled out an airline pet travel route finder for San Juan travelers, letting people compare pet rules, fees, and documentation by origin and destination before booking. Policy Debate: Rep. Morgan Griffith defended a push to limit birthright citizenship in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, framing it as a response to “birth tourism.” Arts & Heritage: Harlem Week’s CCCADI marks its 50th anniversary with Afribembé on Aug. 16, spotlighting Caribbean and African diaspora roots through music and dance.

Puerto Rico Travel & Culture: Alma San Juan, a 56-room boutique hotel in Old San Juan, has officially joined Marriott’s Autograph Collection—bringing more walkable, city-centered stays to travelers who want culture on their doorstep. Music & Youth Culture: Carín León leads the 2026 Premios Juventud nominations with nine nods, with PJ Fest details unveiled and a new Spain-focused “Creator de España” category as fan voting opens. Community Learning: A Puerto Rico experiential-learning collaboration is giving students an immersive week connecting classroom discussions to community, environment, and sustainable development. Sports & Representation: Puerto Rico clinched a quarterfinal berth in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship after a 2-1 pool run, keeping the island in the spotlight on the global stage. Local Lifestyle: A new daily flight links San Juan and St. Thomas in just 35 minutes, adding an easy Caribbean hop for residents and visitors. Afro-Boricua Slow Travel: Puerto Rico is highlighted as a top slow-travel destination for Black travelers, spotlighting San Juan wandering and Loíza’s Afro-Boricua history.

Puerto Rico–St. Thomas Air Link: Fly the Whale launches a new daily San Juan (Isla Grande) to St. Thomas (Cyril E. King) flight on Aug. 3, cutting the trip to about 35 minutes, with a morning departure and afternoon return. Afro-Boricua Slow Travel: A slow-travel guide spotlights Puerto Rico for Black travelers, pointing to San Juan wandering and Loíza’s Afro-Boricua culture, plus nature stops like El Yunque and Vieques. Local Culture & Entertainment: RaiNao announces her North American “Marcriá Tour,” with Puerto Rican dates and stops across the U.S., Spain, and Mexico City. Community & Arts: A new Mural Practice Wall in Asbury Park gives emerging artists a place to paint large-scale murals before permanent installations. Policy Watch: Puerto Rico’s single-use plastics law is still moving through final recommendations for implementation, with DACO and lawmakers coordinating the report timeline. Sports Spotlight: Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” tour reportedly tops $467.5M and 3.1M tickets worldwide. On the Stage in PR: Venezuelan comedian Angelo Colina returns to Teatro Tapia Aug. 7 for a stand-up show recorded as a comedy special.

Puerto Rico Tourism & Dominican Republic: Seven months after Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic signed a multi-destination tourism alliance, both sides are pushing joint campaigns in Spain to boost air connectivity and sell the “discover both islands” idea to Spanish-market travelers. Media Industry: Nielsen says it will stop Puerto Rico audience measurement services by the end of 2026, raising fears of a major advertising and ratings “currency” gap heading into 2027. Citizenship & Politics: A new push targets birthright citizenship in U.S. territories, with Puerto Rico named in proposed legislation tied to the long-debated Insular Cases. Culture & Community: Aurora’s Puerto Rican Heritage Festival returns with street dancing, music, food, vendors, and family activities—another reminder of how island culture travels and thrives abroad. Sports & Pride: Carlos Beltrán’s Hall of Fame induction brought a wave of Puerto Rican flags and hometown pride, as fans celebrated his legacy from Manatí to Cooperstown. Faith & Heritage: St. Rose of Lima is remembered on Aug. 23 as the first saint of the New World, with her Puerto Rican family roots highlighted. Local Lifestyle: A weekly music roundup spotlights new releases from Los Primos del Este to roro, keeping the island’s broader Latin soundscape in motion.

Media & Money: Nielsen says it will stop its Puerto Rico audience-measurement services by end of 2026, raising fears of a 2027 advertising “currency” gap for local media and brands. Community & Faith: St. Matthew Parish’s Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive is expanding aid to Haiti, India, Venezuela—and Puerto Rico—aiming to pack 300,000 meals and raise $400,000+. Culture & Music: Pabllo Vittar announces her album Lost In Lust (Oct. 1), with Puerto Rican rapper Villano Antillano on the lead single “Rockstar.” Puerto Rico Pride in the Spotlight: Carlos Beltrán’s Hall of Fame weekend doubled down on his Manatí roots, waving a Puerto Rican flag as he credits the island for his path. Local Growth & Learning: Fort Buchanan’s education center highlights Army Tuition Assistance support for Soldiers in Puerto Rico, including guidance through ArmyIgnitED. Arts & Dance Film: Third Coast Film launches casting for One Breaker, One Move, a dance drama inspired by B-boy Alex Ponce. Sports & Talent Pipeline: Puerto Rico is represented at the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo by Ruby Montanez and Liz Kerr.

Baseball & Identity: Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Kent were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, with Beltrán’s Puerto Rico pride standing out as fans waved flags and he even quoted Bad Bunny to honor his parents. Caribbean Culture & Community: Boston’s annual Puerto Rican parade brought street dancing, flags, and a big sense of home for local families, while a Puerto Rican pop-up and other Bayonne/Jersey City/Hoboken events keep the island vibe going across the region. Sports Spotlight: Australia’s Opals named their final 12-player FIBA Women’s World Cup squad for Germany, and Puerto Rico’s presence is on the schedule as they face Australia in Group C. Food & Lifestyle: A Puerto Rico-born Napa baker is turning global flavors into multicolored fortune cookies, and “Salsa Under the Stars” returns with free lessons and live classic salsa in San Diego. Politics & Rights: Caribbean leaders push for slavery reparations and decolonization talks, while a new U.S. lawmaker proposal to end birthright citizenship in territories like Puerto Rico faces backlash. Public Health: A food-safety warning on Cyclospora highlights how case counts are still climbing as reporting lags behind illness.

Miss Universe Puerto Rico spotlight: Miss Universe 2026 will be held in Puerto Rico, with the Miss Universe Panama 2026 road to the crown now set (Runway Aug. 9, Viva Panamá Sept. 4, final Sept. 5), turning the pageant into a platform for Panamanian art, folklore, tourism, and creative industries. Puerto Rico business & community: La Pachanga launched its first franchise program as it marks five years, aiming to expand to markets like Caguas, Ponce, and Mayagüez, with support for site selection and a timeline of three to nine months. Energy resilience in the diaspora: A UMass Amherst project is connecting Puerto Rico and Western Massachusetts through community-led conversations on energy resilience and climate justice, building on lessons from Hurricane Maria. Home care tech (Puerto Rico): MK Care rolled out new digital tools for families managing home care, including real-time monitoring and shared access for multiple relatives. Culture & faith history: A new PBS-focused documentary episode revisits Puerto Rico’s forced sterilization era, framed as reproductive coercion and its long shadow.

Baseball & Puerto Rico Pride: Carlos Beltrán’s Hall of Fame moment in Cooperstown hit hard when reporters asked what it means back home in Puerto Rico, with tears and a lifetime dream finally landing. Community Music: Free Music Mondays returns at Ralph Wilson Park with a lineup that includes La Krema (Aug. 17) and Puerto Rican/Hispanic Day Parade ties—music, food trucks, and easy family nights. Local Business & Food Culture: La Pachanga launches its first Puerto Rico franchise program as it marks five years, aiming to expand to places like Caguas, Ponce, and Mayagüez. Family Care Tech: MK Care rolled out new home-care digital tools in Puerto Rico, including shared access for relatives to track updates and caregiving records. Immigration Policy Debate: Guam and CNMI leaders urged U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith to drop a birthright citizenship bill, warning it could create stateless children. History & Faith: A Puerto Rico-linked reflection on Isaías 55 and Mateo 14 spotlights “abundance” and ecological reading through EcoPreacher.

Birthright Citizenship Fight: U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith’s bill to end automatic citizenship in territories like Puerto Rico is getting pushback from Guam and CNMI leaders, who warn it could create stateless children and argue the issue needs enforcement, not removal of rights. Puerto Rico Food & Community: La Pachanga launched its first franchise program on the island, aiming to grow to new towns like Caguas, Ponce, and Mayagüez—plus a Pachanga Fest 5K to mark its fifth anniversary. Diaspora Energy Resilience: A UMass Amherst project is connecting Puerto Rico and Holyoke through community conversations on energy resilience after Hurricane Maria, spotlighting climate justice and local leadership. Home Care Tech: MK Care rolled out new digital tools in Puerto Rico for families managing home care, including shared access for multiple relatives to track updates and caregiving reports. Culture Through Music: People of Earth brings a Latin-Caribbean groove to classical spaces, with Puerto Rico and Cuba among the ensemble’s roots—music built for cultural bridges and social change. Sports & Pride: Puerto Rico’s presence continues at the Central American and Caribbean Games, with tennis and other events drawing attention across the region.

Local Business & Food Culture: La Pachanga, the Puerto Rico restaurant chain celebrating its fifth anniversary, just launched its first franchise program—five initial franchise spots, with support from site selection to opening, plus a $30,000 fee and an estimated $140,000–$450,000 investment. Community, Energy & Climate Resilience: UMass Amherst’s Puerto Rican Power project is connecting Puerto Rico and Holyoke through energy resilience and climate justice conversations, building on lessons from Hurricane Maria and community-led solutions. Immigration & Rights Debate: A new push to limit birthright citizenship in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico is back in the spotlight, with critics warning it could create a “subclass” of people and deepen the island’s political inequality. Culture & Media: PBS is featuring Vieques in “Farmers of the Sea,” a documentary on how climate change and contamination are reshaping local fishing life. Music Roundup: New Music Friday spotlights releases from Anitta, KATSEYE, GIULIA BE, Lunay, and more—fresh sound for the weekend. Sports (Regional Pride): Puerto Rican tennis player Marko Mesarovic and other athletes are competing at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.

Birthright Citizenship Fight: Rep. Morgan Griffith’s new push to end automatic citizenship for children born in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico is drawing fresh backlash, with Puerto Rican legal scholar Efrén Rivera Ramos saying the bill would create a “subclass” of people and spotlight PROMESA’s ongoing democratic failures. Local Culture & Community: Chamoriken, a Puerto Rican-Chamorro fusion pop-up in Seattle, is using food as cultural storytelling—serving plates with history, identity, and pride. Music & Youth Arts: La Casita’s Summer Tour 2026 keeps Puerto Rican music and dance moving through Central NY, with a call for quinceañera stories for a 15th-anniversary exhibition. Public Health: CDC says the moringa leaf powder Salmonella outbreak is officially over, but warns some recalled bottles may still be sitting at home—relevant for Puerto Rico’s supplement shoppers. Coastal Resilience: UPR’s Coastal Research and Planning Institute (CoRePI-PR) got a $1.39M grant extension to expand erosion education and planning support for Puerto Rico’s coastal municipalities. Food Shopping Habits: A new Puerto Rico study finds online supermarket purchases keep climbing, led by Millennials and Gen Z seeking convenience.

Puerto Rico Culture & Community: The 56th annual Puerto Rican Festival is set to return to downtown Rochester, running July 30–Aug. 1 at Parcel 5, with live music, authentic food, cultural performances, and family-friendly activities. Local Research & Resilience: The University of Puerto Rico’s Coastal Research and Planning Institute (CoRePI-PR) received a $1.39M grant extension to expand coastal erosion education and planning, boosting a Puerto Rico-wide effort to help municipalities and partners prepare for climate-driven impacts. Workplace Life: Puerto Rico employers received new, detailed lactation accommodation guidance from the Office of the Women’s Advocate, covering remote work and third-party work locations. Pageantry & Pride: Miss Universe 2026 will be held in Puerto Rico at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on Nov. 24, with the island spotlighted for the pageant’s 75th anniversary week. Sports & Talent: Puerto Rico’s presence in regional competition continues as women’s water polo and badminton events kick off at the Central American Games in Santo Domingo.

Pageantry & Puerto Rico: The Miss Universe Organization confirmed its 75th coronation show will be held in Puerto Rico at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on Nov. 24, with the Miss International final in Tokyo on Nov. 25—making the two major pageants overlap across time zones. Banking Leadership: Banco Popular CEO Javier Ferrer will retire at the end of August after just 13 months in the top role, with CFO Jorge Garcia stepping in Sept. 1 and Chief Risk Officer Lidio Soriano moving to CFO. Women’s Work Culture: A FlexJobs report says women more often prioritize remote work, flexible schedules, and work-life balance in job searches, while men lean more toward compensation. Immigration & Community: U.S. CBP and Border Patrol, with local partners, intercepted two maritime smuggling attempts around Puerto Rico, detaining 37 migrants and one U.S. citizen. Sports & Youth: Puerto Rico is listed among teams competing in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo (July 24–Aug. 2). LGBTQ+ Culture: Pole performer Templo is set to light up WorldPride 2026 at Tryst Hotels in Puerto Vallarta, highlighting queer Latin American performance art.