Be part of the change we aim to lead
in our communities!
CONFIRMED GUESTS
.jpg)
2024 HONOREES
Hermanas Mirabal Family Center & Child Care Network, Inc. - Founder & Executive Director; Philanthropist, Humanitarian, Women’s Rights Activist, & Advocate for Children.
Rosalba Polanco, was born in Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic during turbulent times, born June 13th, 1960. Rosalba's story is one of resilience and perseverance as she was raised by a single mother.
Rosalba immigrated to the United States on the 25th of August of 1980, this is where her true story begins. To relieve the stress she felt as an immigrant she joined her relatives and participated in the Dominican Social Club “30 de Marzo” that had cultural activities, and sporting events, they also advocated for the rights of immigrants. In 1982 she started her activist role when she was the co-founder of the first Dominican Day Parade in New York alongside Mr. Miguel Amaro and other activists. In 1984 she started to work for the Inwood Coalition of North Manhattan where she worked offering immigration Services; in that same year she participated in the creation of the Center for Immigrant Woman’s rights of Hostos Community College working with Dr. Martha Rivera & other colleagues. In 1992 she started working for the Dominican Development Center “El Centro Desarollo de la Mujer Dominicana.” She worked there for ten years, where she worked and fought to fix the problems of Latinas such as housing, education, self-esteem, good quality of child development, and incentives for economic security.
In 2001 Rosalba Polanco founded Hermanas Mirabal Family Center & Child Care Network Inc. which she created to find the solutions of problems Latina’s face. Rosalba’s institution was one of the pioneer institutions in the Bronx, to directly help Latina’s become economically independent, and politically empowered. Rosalba believed that the key to ending the issues that face Latina’s was to get these women economically independent by finding and creating small business, and these women becoming entrepreneurs. She felt that as they became economically independent their self-esteem and self worth increased. She also felt that if we get the Latina’s families involved and found solutions to their issue’s she would be helping to create a better society, and a better world, with strong family ties and values. As the Directors of Hermanas Mirabal Family Center & Childcare Network, Inc. her staff and volunteers change the lives of the community through: job training, educational & quality child care programs, immigration services, violence prevention, social services, and community activities. Unfortunately, Rosalba’s life was cut short when on March 13th of 2011 she passed away from a heart attack, while she was in the Dominican Republic to receive an award of recognition for her hard work and dedication to Dominicans both in & out of the Dominican Republic by the international television program titled “Ser Mujer (Being a Woman).”
Press
