August 24, 2020
City & State New York
94
Hernandez also helped found a charter school focused on health care training.
SAMELYS LÓPEZ
99
Former Congressional Candidate The quietly influential activist who co-founded the Bronx Progressives, a grassroots group aligned with Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns, Samelys López stepped into the spotlight with a 2020 congressional campaign to succeed Rep. José E. Serrano. The Puerto Ricanborn, South Bronx-raised López beat out her more established opponents for the support of the progressive left, including the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. She finished in a distant fourth place, but her next move will be closely watched.
95 NANCY GENOVA
President 100 Hispanic Women Since 2015, Nancy Genova has been amplifying the voices of Latina women around New York City as president of 100 Hispanic Women – a nonprofit devoted to the empowerment of Hispanic women. Among her other responsibilities, she is charged with increasing membership enrollment and establishing a membership program for young Latinas. Genova is also a playwright, having scripted the play, “The Death of a Dream.”
96 ROMINA HENDLIN
PATRICK CHARPENEL
Executive Director El Mu seo del Barrio After a series of executive directors who left before they truly settled in, El Museo
41
SHEILA GARCIA
Director Commu nity Ac tion for Safe Apartments
Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez leads Urban Health Plan.
del Barrio has found more stability in Patrick Charpenel. Since 2017, the curator has been attempting to improve the Manhattan museum by prioritizing the appointment of more Latinos to its board while striving to open the door for more Latino artists to display their works in the art capital of the world – although some activists are still pushing for deeper institutional changes.
97 EDUARDO VILARO
Artistic Director and CEO Ballet Hispánic o The chronicle of Hispanic diaspora and the diversity of Latin culture can only be told through dance, at least in the eyes of Eduardo Vilaro, CEO and artistic director of Ballet Hispánico. An accomplished dancer and choreographer, Vilaro worked under the 50-yearold group’s founder and CEO, Tina Ramirez, before ascending to the post and opening the door of
the dance world wider to communities of color.
98 PALOMA IZQUIERDOHERNANDEZ
President and CEO Urban Health Plan Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez has built Urban Health Plan into a leading community health care organization spanning parts of the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. A major employer, the network has also helped drive economic development in its coverage area. Along with father, Dr. Richard “Doc” Izquierdo, who founded UHP decades ago and recently died, Izquierdo-
No one will fight for tenants’ rights like Sheila Garcia, executive director of the Bronx-based Community Action for Safe Apartments, or Casa. As a member of the New York City Rent Guidelines Board, which passed a historic partial rent freeze this year, Garcia insisted on a COVID-19based reprieve for the poorest New York City residents. Her advocacy has helped bring even greater rights for renters, including right to counsel, another tool aimed at staving off eviction.
100 JUAN CARLOS “J.C.” POLANCO
Political Consultant If a journalist wants a memorable quote from a political analyst, they know they can turn to J.C. Polanco, an adjunct professor at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. Polanco also runs his own law firm, is the New York City regional director for Assembly Republicans, and founded the Polanco Organization, which specializes in management and marketing. Polanco is a regular guest on “Inside City Hall.”
Ramirez opened the door of the danc e world wider to c ommu nities of c olor.