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La Alternativa was a collaborative community organization that helped in the prevention of substance abuse with educational programs. It later became one of the three organizations that merged together to form what is today Hispanos Unidos de Búfalo…

In 1985, the Hispanic community decided to dedicate American Legion Post 1928 in the honor of Gabriel A. Rodriguez who served in military during Vietnam but later took his own life due to untreated PTSD. The community has always remembered Gabriel as…

Herman Badillo Community School was the location of the first bilingual education program in Western New York and began in 1971. It was named after the first Puerto Rican to be elected as New York City Borough President of the Bronx and as a United…

The Hispanic Women's League was formed in 1979 by a group of professional Latinas who wanted to provided financial assistance to younger Latinas to be "more than just housewives". At this time women were becoming more involved in professional careers…

The Pentecostal Church is one of many sects of Christianity practiced by Hispanics in Western New York. In 1952, the first Pentecostal Church was established in Buffalo under the Concilio Latinoamericano. The Pentecostal Church provided structure and…

The Agustín "Pucho" Center was organized on the East Side of Buffalo. It was constructed by its own members in 1969. The center provided a venue for community events such as dances, weddings, funerals and other gatherings. The center was named after…

PODER is a university sponsored civic group that was formed in 1969. They originally formed the group to bring a greater awareness to the Hispanic population within the university. At this time, there were few Hispanic students represented at this…

The Puerto Rican Cultural Community Center was established by community member Stephanie Berrios on Swan Street in Buffalo, NY. Stephanie Berrios started this center because she loved the community and wanted to provide a community venue for children…

The Unión Puertorriqueña de Ayuda Mutua was an organization formed to help newly arrived Hispanics/Latinos to the region. They provided translation services as well as assistance going to places such as the doctor's office or governmental entities…

This interview with Dora Esplugas and her sister Rosa (last name unknown) was conducted on August 21, 2013 in Orchard Park, NY and was conducted by Stephanie Bucalo. Dora and Rosa were born in Havana, Cuba and we exiled by the Castro regime for…