Judges and lawyers of Puerto Rican descent who work in New York’s courts will take part for the first time in the 'Día de Logros’ Recognition Ceremony, set for Friday, November 6 in the Samuel R. Quiñones Hall in the Luis A. Ferré building at El Capitolio in San Juan. The event brings together the Puerto Rico Delegation that travels annually to Puerto Rican Week activities in New York City, and will also gather mayors, legislators, business owners and leaders from the United States and Puerto Rico.
The organizing committee announced the participation after confirmation from the Puerto Rican Bar Association of New York (PRBA), chaired by attorney Lillian Mosley. Elba Torres Matundan, presidential delegate of CROEM ALUMNI, which coordinates the delegation and produces the awards event, confirmed six judges: Wanda Y. Negron (Bronx County Court), Lumarie Maldonado Cruz (Supreme Court of the State of New York, Judicial District), Karina Alomar (presiding judge, Queens Criminal Court), Carmen A. Pacheco (supervising judge, Unified Court System of New York State), Betty Lugo Martínez (Bronx County Civil Court) and Patrick Hayes Torres (Kings County Civil Court).
PRBA members joining include Olga Arandia, Yomaira Martin, Roberto Martínez, Ángel Cruz, Valeria Ortiz and Lissett Ferreira. Raúl Russi, a native of Patillas and chief executive of ACACIA Network, one of the largest Latino-led nonprofits in the United States, will also attend, along with National Puerto Rican Parade representatives including board president Lillian Rodríguez López and directors Melodie Maldonado, Dora Díaz and Rosa Gutiérrez.
José González Freyre, president of Pan American Grain, and attorney Ramón González Simounet, president of Grupo EMPIRE Gas, will be recognized for their dedication to the event. Executive director Wilson Nazario said participants may receive the official plaque and insignia identifying delegation members, granting lifetime membership in the group that represents Puerto Rico at the Hispanic cultural event held on Fifth Avenue in New York.