JUNTA Comes Full Circle For 50th Anniversary

Alicia Caraballo spoke of her mother and her role as one of the founders of Junta for Progressive Action and so much more as she stood proudly by her side on the deck of Amarante’s Saturday evening for the pioneering Latinx agency.

“She is one of the activists who in 1969 at the height of civil unrest helped create services that provide for our community. I grew up with this,” Caraballo said of her mother, Pura Delgado.

Caraballo went on to serve a stint running the organization herself — and at Saturday night’s event won JUNTA’s Pura Delgado Leadership Award.

Caraballo and Delgado joined a sold-out crowd of family, friends, and supporters under a blazing summer sunset at Amarante’s Sea Cliff to celebrate the Fair Haven organization’s legacy and continued involvement in assisting the advancement of the Latinx community in New Haven. The night would not only celebrate the agency’s golden anniversar;, it would also pay homage to its founders with four awards named in their honor.

Dominic Woolfrey — who joined as a volunteer and has now been board chair for the past four years — spoke of the organization’s importance in his life as well as the community’s. ​“JUNTA exists to lift up families in need and crisis. I’m glad to be a part of it,” he said.

Partygoers steadily filled the elegantly decorated room, many stopping for a photo opportunity outside the entrance against a JUNTA-themed backdrop, beginning the evening out on the back deck overlooking Long Island Sound and city skyline in the distance. The energy level was high. Everyone had a connection and a story to tell.

Master of Ceremony Hugo Balta spoke of the growth of TNP aka The Neighborhood Place — Junta’s after school program — from 30 to 75 students . He spoke of the Hurricane Maria evacuees who continue to rebuild their lives in New Haven two years later. Founding community member Genny Palmieri spoke of the beginnings of JUNTA as well as the ​“JUNTA of today” that continues to serve the ​“diverse Latino community in New Haven making sure their needs are met.” Executive Director Daniel Reyes also spoke about honoring the history of the organization while moving forward. He spoke of ​“returning to our multi-service roots” and the continued ​“dedication to youth enhancement, social services, and economic advancement” as well as ​“celebrating what makes each Latino community unique.”

Four leaders — ​“committed to advancement of the Latinx community,” according to Woolfrey, who introduced the presenters — were honored with awards named after four principal founders of JUNTA. Rafael Ramos was presented the Gumercindo Del Rio Legacy Award by Kica Matos, who spoke lovingly of both men, calling Del Rio a ​“titan of the New Haven community” and Ramos ​“one of the people who makes New Haven the great city that it is” and ​“a Renaissance man.”

“I came to New Haven from the Bronx to work for six months and I’m still here. I love it” said Ramos, founder and director of Bregamos Community Theater, after he accepted his award. ​“I’m a firm believer that we are responsible for our neighborhoods and making it happen.” He also dedicated his award to his mother, a poet, and read a poem he wrote in honor of her and this night.

Aida Ortega spoke of her ​“larger than life” friend and colleague Pura Delgado before presenting the Leadership Award name in her honor to Delgado’s daughter Alicia Caraballo. Delgado was called up to the podium to speak, escorted by Reyes, while the room thunderously clapped and chanted her name.

Next Caraballo – former vice chair of the New Haven Board of Education and interim executive director of JUNTA in 2017 – 2018 — acknowledged her mother and the other leaders. She also called the room to action: ​“We are in different times facing some of the same issues as 50 years ago. We need your leadership. Do what you can, each one of you, to make this world a better place.”

Maritza Rosa presented the Marcos Ocasio Partner Award to Danny Diaz, co-founder of ARTE, Inc, who she said ​“puts his all into everything he does.”

Diaz accepted his award and said it was for everyone, thanking those who answered when he asked ​“help me to help JUNTA”.

The final honor of the night, the Carlos Rodriguez Trailblazer Award, was presented by Michelle Rodriguez, who spoke of her father Carlos who ​“never stopped blazing trails throughout Connecticut.” She presented the award to Adriana Rodriguez, executive director of Spanish Community of Wallingford, who said she began volunteering there at age 13 and ​“as you can see I never left.”

She told a story of how she had performed with her dance troupe at one of these events as a child. She recalled that ​“everyone looked like celebrities” and how she left that night inspired. It was difficult to not be inspired by the stories as well as the displays of affection, honor and gratitude that filled the room Saturday night as well.

“For tonight’s theme we decided to go back to our roots,” Woolfrey said when I spoke to him and Michelle Rodriguez after the ceremony was over.

“My father taught me to serve” said Rodriguez . ​“We have to honor him and the elders.”

“We’ve come full circle,” added Woolfrey.