Ceremony in the Bronx Botanical Garden celebrated strong notable women improving lives in the Bronx.


In a lively, music-filled event on a bright spring-like day at the Bronx Botanical Garden, Congressman Ritchie Torres marked Women’s History Month with a Celebration Breakfast honoring strong, accomplished women of the Bronx who continue to 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 gratefully acknowledged by the Congressman and all the attendees.
 
 
Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis with Congressman Ritchie Torres and NYBG Associate Vice President for Community Relations Elizabeth Figueroa.
The event began with a breakfast with beautiful jazz accompaniment from the Celia Cruz High School Jazz Band, who flawlessly performed interesting 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.

Congressman 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 President Cocco De Filippis. “This remarkable woman runs an institution that has long been the heart of the Bronx. 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.”  
 
 
Congressman Ritchie Torres, one of the youngest members of the US House of Representatives,
credited his mother for his success.
Then, as she took the stage accompanied by merengue music, President 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!” she quipped.

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.
 
Congressman Torres poses with all the honorees.
The event was a joyous celebration in a beautiful setting, and left all the attendees feeling uplifted and grateful for the strong women who were honored on the day.  

Among the attendees was NY1 Noticias, who filed this report.


About Eugenio María de Hostos Community College
 
Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities for over half a century. Since 1968, Hostos has been a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs.
 
Hostos offers 28 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate secure transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. A two-time Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence finalist, the College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos also boasts both men's and women's basketball teams, which have won multiple CUNY Athletic Conference championships, with the women's team making history in 2024 as the only team ever to secure seven consecutive titles in the conference's history. The College is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 25 colleges.
 
For inquiries, email publicrelations@hostos.cuny.edu.
 
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