{"id":229,"date":"2019-05-17T11:01:53","date_gmt":"2019-05-17T16:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/?p=229"},"modified":"2019-05-31T14:11:21","modified_gmt":"2019-05-31T19:11:21","slug":"this-community-organizers-lifelong-legacy-of-service-stretches-from-puerto-rico-to-syracuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/this-community-organizers-lifelong-legacy-of-service-stretches-from-puerto-rico-to-syracuse\/","title":{"rendered":"This community organizer\u2019s lifelong legacy of service stretches from Puerto Rico to Syracuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"649\" src=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/Chris1-1024x649.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/Chris1-1024x649.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/Chris1-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/Chris1-768x486.jpg 768w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/Chris1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide has-2-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Rita Paniagua came to Syracuse and didn\u2019t think she would stay. Sixteen years later, she has firmly entrenched herself in the city\u2019s civic life by serving its Latino community.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:17.5px\">Sixteen years after leaving Puerto Rico to join her sister in Syracuse, Rita Paniagua is engaged in more than half a dozen community organizations and firmly rooted in a city that she now considers home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/CHRISAUDIO_FINAL.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>By Christopher Sacchi<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">As a high school junior in Puerto Rico, Rita Paniagua decided to fulfill a civic engagement requirement by teaching English to schoolchildren in an impoverished village west of San Juan, where she lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paniagua knew that speaking a second language could open new worlds for the children so she committed herself to spending hours with them in the classroom. She would go on to arrange field trips to Old San Juan, where the young students could interact with English-speaking tourists. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The class time and trips would take Paniagua away from her life as an aspiring dancer. But it didn\u2019t matter. These kids had found their way into her heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s about the love,\u201d Paniagua said. \u201cIt\u2019s about the love you can share because ultimately as a human being, the state that we all look for is love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi01-700x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-238\" width=\"350\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi01-700x1024.jpg 700w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi01-205x300.jpg 205w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi01-768x1124.jpg 768w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi01.jpg 1025w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><figcaption>Rita Paniagua sits in her Strathmore neighborhood home where she resides with her parents and extended family from Puerto Rico. (Christopher Sacchi\/NextGenRadio)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Discovering that connection to education and helping children set Paniagua on a lifelong path of service to others. Since 2003, she\u2019s tapped into that love as an advocate and activist in Syracuse\u2019s Latino community. She\u2019s had numerous roles, including a decade as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laligaupstateny.org\/\">Spanish Action League<\/a> executive director and more recently as a commissioner with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.syracusecityschools.com\/\">Syracuse City School District<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Paniagua looks back at many moments in her childhood and early career in Puerto Rico as stepping stones to her civic engagement today in Syracuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While helping with the marketing for the Puerto Rican baseball team her father owned, Paniagua organized a promotion, for which local companies would give away free tickets to school children to see the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/santurcecangrejeros.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Cangrejeros de Santurce<\/a> (Santurce Crabbers). She helped shuttle the children to the 20,000-seat ballpark, handed out free hot dogs and drinks and gave them an unforgettably fun experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThose were the first steps into community work, which ended up leading the rest of my career and my life,\u201d Paniagua said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"698\" src=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi04-1024x698.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi04-1024x698.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi04-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi04-768x523.jpg 768w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi04.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Rita reminisces on her upbringing in Puerto Rico as she flips through a family photo album. (Christopher Sacchi\/NextGenRadio)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The rest of her life started to unfold 1,800 miles away from Puerto Rico in Upstate New York, where her older sister, Tere, relocated for a job at Syracuse University. In 2003, Paniagua visited to help her sister\u2019s family settle in for just a few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the meantime, she started volunteering at the Spanish Action League, also known as La Liga. And within weeks, Paniagua was offered a full-time job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote alignfull is-style-solid-color\"><blockquote><p>\u201cWorking with the Hispanic community is how I wanted to stay in Syracuse because I felt a connection with the need of my people here,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I just started doing things and I said, \u2018Well, when I finish this, I&#8217;ll go back home.\u2019 And then 16 years later, I&#8217;m sitting here.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Within four years, she became La Liga\u2019s executive director, a job that spanned the next decade during a time when Syracuse\u2019s Latino population was steadily growing. From 2010-2017, the number of Hispanic and Latino residents increased by 24 percent, including a 38 percent jump in people originally from Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<script id=\"infogram_0_5668df7b-2e2b-42b6-a727-e8050535b69a\" title=\"Syracuse Hispanic Population 2010-2017\" src=\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed.js?TSs\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>With that growth, Paniagua said La Liga has aimed to help newcomers transition to Syracuse by providing and connecting them with job opportunities, medical services and English language programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, Paniagua was helping build a sense of community for Latin Americans in Syracuse through events such as the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.syracuselatinofestival.com\/\">Latino American Festival<\/a>. The late summer event draws thousands to Clinton Square to share their music, food and heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c[At the festival], there are people and the happiness of carrying their flag,\u201d Paniagua said. \u201cIt&#8217;s amazing. It just fills you with joy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"747\" src=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi07-1024x747.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi07-1024x747.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi07-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi07-768x560.jpg 768w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi07.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Delaware Elementary School students surround Rita where she participates in a Spanish-language reading program. (Courtesy of Rita Paniagua)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Paniagua didn\u2019t shy away from taking on more responsibilities. She joined the board of directors for New York State Council of the Arts, CNY Arts, Interfaith Works and Cancer Connects among others. In 2016, she shifted to local politics and successfully won a seat on the Syracuse City school board, despite not having the support of the local Democratic Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI had to work very, very hard to get to be elected,\u201d Paniagua said. \u201cWhen we have these challenges, it just incites you to do better. It&#8217;s a motivator for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paniagua left her role at La Liga in 2017 to join Molina Healthcare as a community relations and engagement manager. She said the job has provided her a new perspective on issues facing underserved populations and yet another way to push herself forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHealthcare is something that is so variable,\u201d she said. \u201cChallenging is the word, but again, when you have a challenge, you have a motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One more challenge lies ahead for Paniagua: she\u2019s making a bid to join the Syracuse City Common Council later this year. Her election would formalize her transformation from community activist to community leader in Syracuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi02-1024x728.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi02-1024x728.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi02-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi02-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/ChrisSacchi02.jpg 1347w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Rita shares an embrace with her older sister Tere Paniagua who originally invited her to visit Syracuse in 2003. Tere introduced Rita to the Spanish Action League, a.k.a. La Liga, which set her on a path to eventually becoming executive director for 2007-17. (Christopher Sacchi\/NextGenRadio)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There seems to be little that will slow down the 56-year-old from trying to make a difference in many of Syracuse\u2019s communities. That always-on-the-go attitude is not lost on Paniagua\u2019s older sister, Tere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSomething that amazes me is her energy \u2013 the capacity to keep up that energy level in everything she does,\u201d Tere said. \u201cIt&#8217;s exhausting just to hear how many things she&#8217;s involved with and the hours that she keeps.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rita Paniagua came to Syracuse and didn\u2019t think she would stay. Sixteen years later, she has firmly entrenched herself in the city\u2019s civic life by serving its Latino community. Sixteen years after leaving Puerto Rico to join her sister in Syracuse, Rita Paniagua is engaged in more than half a dozen community organizations and firmly &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/syracuse2019.nextgenradio.org\/this-community-organizers-lifelong-legacy-of-service-stretches-from-puerto-rico-to-syracuse\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;This community organizer\u2019s lifelong legacy of service stretches from Puerto Rico to Syracuse&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":218,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[9],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>This community organizer\u2019s lifelong legacy of service stretches from Puerto Rico to Syracuse - 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