Afternoon Tertulia: Celebrating Antonia Pantoja

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 6 PM ET

Exploring the Life and Legacy of the Iconic Puerto Rican Leader

An iconic figure in the Puerto Rican Diaspora, Antonia Pantoja reigns as one of the leaders in community development and as a key figure in the founding of several seminal Puerto Rican institutions. Best known for the inception and creation of ASPIRA, Pantoja was dedicated to the self-determination of the Puerto Rican community.

Join CENTRO and ASPIRA as we celebrate the life of this iconic leader with Lillian Jimenez, director of the film on Pantoja’s life, Antonia Pantoja ¡Presente!, her life partner, Dr. Wilhelmina Perry, and Dr. Lourdes Torres, with CENTRO Research Associate, Jose Laguarta, moderating the conversation on Pantoja’s professional and personal life. We’ll grow to understand the evolution of Pantoja’s consciousness as a black and queer Puerto Rican woman, and the subsequent contributions of these identities to her professional development.

After the panel, join us for the unveiling of the Antonia Pantoja Exhibition housed in the CENTRO Library & Archives Reading Room!

This is part of our Antonia Pantoja Centennial Celebration. Learn more about other upcoming events on our website.

Watch the film, Antonia Pantoja ¡Presente! here!

This event will have simultaneous English to Spanish translation for virtual participants.

Missed this event? Watch the recording here?

Main image: Antonia Pantoja Papers. Antonia Pantoja and friend in front of Hunter College. Center for Puerto Rican Studies Library & Archives, Hunter College, CUNY.

This event is produced in partnership with ASPIRA of New York, the Hunter College AFPRL Department, BronxNet, The LGBTQ Policy Center at Roosevelt House , and the Antonia Pantoja Centennial Group.