[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12179]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        THE 20TH ANNUAL 116TH STREET FESTIVAL AND ITS ORGANIZERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2005

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
the 109th Congress the hard work of Mr. Nick Lugo, Mr. David Acosta, 
Mr. Robert Acosta, and Mr. Peter Spinella in planning the 116th Street 
Festival in East Harlem, El Barrio community.
  The 116th Street Festival is designed to highlight, embrace, and 
celebrate the cultural experiences of Hispanic families in the United 
States, the Caribbean, and beyond. This is the largest Latin Street 
Festival in North America and is nationally acclaimed as one of the 
three major Hispanic events in the United States. It draws our 
collective consciousness to the beauty, love, and familial bonds of 
Hispanic culture as well as the rich historical backgrounds of Hispanic 
people.
  The 20th annual Festival will be held this Saturday, June 11, 2005. 
It will span 20 city blocks in the heart of El Barrio, have three 
entertainment stages and hundreds of venders and corporate attractions, 
and draw crowds of hundreds of thousands of people from around the 
world. It is one of New York City's largest and most popular 
celebrations and has provided over 40 scholarships to local high school 
students in East Harlem.
  The celebration promises to be a remarkable experience and 
enlightening exposure to the culture of an often-unappreciated but 
important group of Americans. Major corporations such as Disney, Home 
Depot, and Fisher Price now join long-time sponsors Telemundo 47, Coca-
Cola, and SBS Communications in supporting the success and goals of 
this Festival.
  The success of the Festival is largely thanks to the work of Nick 
Lugo, David Acosta, Robert Acosta, and Peter Spinella of Abrazo 
Fraternal organization. They brought the event to the East Harlem 
community in the 1980s and have tirelessly worked to make it a premier 
event for hundreds of thousands of Hispanic families and top 
entertainers.
  Nick Lugo is a prominent community and business leader within the New 
York City Hispanic community. His career spans over three decades and 
includes pioneering numerous events and activities that have enhanced 
the lives of Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics within the city. He was 
born in New York and is a graduate of Inter-American University of San 
German, PR. With his wife and their daughter at his side, Nick has 
published La Voz Hispana, a weekly newspaper, and Canales Magazine, a 
monthly publication dedicated to the Latino arts and entertainment 
industry. He is also the president of National Hispanic Expositions, 
Inc, Nick Lugo Travel, and Hispanic Impact Marketing, Inc. He has been 
a dedicated and inspiring role model for the Hispanic community in 
particular and this country in general.
  Immediately after graduation, Robert Acosta enlisted in the United 
States Air Force and served there for the next 4 years. He was trained 
as a jet aircraft fighter mechanic and received an honorable discharge. 
He joined his brothers in a lifetime career as a prominent and 
successful businessman. While helping his wife raise their son and 
three daughters remained an important mission in his life, Robert was 
also committed to the improvement of his community. He chaired the 
Local Development Corporation del Barrio for 10 years and helped to 
develop the economic and political capital of the community. Robert has 
been an active contributor to local organizations and events and an 
important voice on the future of the community.
  Like his brother Robert, David Acosta was raised in East Harlem and 
has become a major community leader and one of its strongest advocates. 
Starting with El Barrio Hardware in 1970, Robert and David, along with 
their brother Frank, became promising entrepreneurs in the community. 
They were part of the influential reactivation of the Third Avenue 
Merchants Association and helped to revitalize the struggling business 
community in the area. When David became the president of the 
Association, it accomplished its goals and provided opportunities for 
local merchants to advance political agendas and decisions in the 
interest of the community. David would further apply his 
entrepreneurial skills to the creation of the Local Development 
Corporation del Barrio and secured grants to enhance the image and 
economic base of the Third Avenue. He has and continues to be an active 
and influential member of the community.
  Peter Spinella served this country as a member of the military police 
corps of the United States Army. He holds a bachelor's degree of 
science in marketing from New York Institute of Technology and is an 
Executive Vice President of the Hispanic Marketing & Advertising Group, 
Inc. He has honorably served on the boards of several organizations 
including the National Puerto Rican Forum and the Korean American 
Grocers Association. A member of the board of the New Bronx Chamber of 
Commerce, Peter brings a cultural awareness and sensitivity to economic 
development projects. He is also the CEO of ``A Taste of East Harlem, 
Inc.'' which produces a magazine, a Web site, and a restaurant/tourism 
campaign. Peter brings a talented marketing portfolio to East Harlem 
and has worked to build an active and involved community.
  I would like to thank Nick, David, Robert, and Peter for their hard 
work in putting together these important community-building events 
surrounding the 116th Street Festival. I join their families, friends, 
and community in being proud of their accomplishments and success.

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