“UNAPOLOGETICALLY & UNCOMPROMISING”

This month I am shining the spotlight on a woman whom I met a few years ago. When I met her, I remember it was the first time I had seen a Bomba performance – live, in person, with a front-row seat. It was at the former Pucho Olivencia Community Center. 

I am writing about none other than Beatriz Flores. At the time, I had never seen her before, and I was not sure if she was new to the area or if she was invited to come during Latino Heritage Month from another area. Her performance, along with the other teens and youth performing by dancing or drumming, was intriguing!

I had my son there with me, who might have been 5 or 6 years old. He was getting into the performance, and he even tried to drum when there was a brief break.

Since then, Beatriz has acquired a space that many of you know as El Batey at 175 Reno, Buffalo, NY. At this location, and on any given day, you will find the buzzing of Latinos communicating in Spanish, Spanglish, and English.  You will find young girls flaring skirts; young boys beating the congas; or people on the mats being trained under her husband – Jose Flores, the founder of El Batey’s Takeover Jiu-Jitsu program. 

You might also find community meetings taking place. The most recent one I attended was Voz y Vota (Voice and Vote). One that I sadly had to miss was Women’s Night.  They have also incorporated “La Placita” where our community members are invited to vend and buy from budding entrepreneurs. I like the diverse offerings of the vendors. They are good for taking my money – that is for sure! Lol.

My most memorable time invested at El Batey was my first time at the Puerto Rican Center to see and meet former political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera. The next memorable time was when they hosted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) to speak on the importance of women in politics and her full support of the nominee for Mayor for the City of Buffalo, NY – India Walton. And FINALLY, the casting call AND subsequent rehearsals for the successful “Gala Navideña, 2022.”

Behind all this activity, if you take a moment to quietly observe – you will get the most beautiful glimpse of Beatriz. She is taking it all in and just looking like she has made it. You see her smiling & glowing as she watches her dreams for this community center slowly turn into the reality she is helping to create! 

Seeing her like that, you KNOW without a doubt that Beatriz loves what she does AND who she is doing it for. She loves her people, community, culture, and deep roots! And she will never apologize for any of it! 

Cheers to you Beatriz Flores… Continue to be uncompromising and unapologetic for YOU, US, THE CHILDREN, and OUR FUTURE!  Visit the Center in person and/or Follow El Batey on Facebook & Instagram. And get the youth involved in the summer camp and other events and offerings.