The Garifuna Experience Podcast

Episode 47: The Garifuna Caucus: The Case for Garifuna Representation

• Jose Francisco Avila • Episode 47

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In this hard-hitting investigative episode, host José Francisco Ávila pulls back the curtain on the political reality of the Garifuna community in New York City. For nearly a century, the Garifuna people have enriched the fabric of the Bronx and beyond with vibrant culture and resilience. But as we approach the 2030 centennial of the Garifuna establishment in NYC, a glaring question remains: Where is our seat at the table?

We move beyond the "Three Cs"—Costumes, Cuisine, and Celebrations—to demand Accountability. Despite a population of 250,000 in New York State, why has there been only one Garifuna individual elected to local office in 94 years?

In this episode, we explore:

  • The Congressional Garifuna Caucus: An investigation into the first-ever caucus of its kind. Is it a powerhouse for change or a committee in name only?
  • The Gatekeepers & Allies: The roles of Congressman Ritchie Torres and Assemblymember Karines Reyes, and the tireless advocacy of Bronx icon Mirtha Colón.
  • The Road to 2030: A direct call to action for Millennials and Gen Z to move from the sidelines to the ballot box.

It’s time to shift the strategy from being "celebrated" to being a "represented" in the budget deliberations. Join us as we map out the journey from visibility to true political empowerment.

Resources:

Books by José Francisco Ávila

Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride:: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identity




Soundtrack

Intro: The Shift

HOST: Welcome back to The Garifuna Experience Podcast. I’m your host, José Francisco Ávila. For years, the Garifuna community in New York, has operated on a strategy of Advocacy—gracefully asking for a seat at the table and politely requesting recognition.

But as previously announced, We are shifting from Advocacy to Accountability.

For decades, Garifuna Heritage Month has been defined by the "Three Cs": Costumes, Cuisine, and Celebrations. But these vibrant masks often hide a stark, structural reality: the Garifuna community remains one of the most underserved and politically invisible groups in New York City. We have raised awareness; now, we want equity. We’re moving beyond being "celebrated" to being "represented."

Today, we go behind the proclamations to look at the hard numbers, the gatekeepers, and the roadmap to the year Garifuna Centennial in New York City.

Reality by the Numbers: The Investigation

HOST: Let’s look at the evidence. New York City is a global hub of power, yet for the Garifuna, that power has been a ghost. Despite a community estimated at a quarter of a million strong in New York State, let’s check the historical record.

In 94 years of Garifuna presence in New York... how many of our own have held local political office in this state?

HOST: Exactly one. Gustavo Santos, a Town Board Member in Guilderland, serving only since January 2024. One person in nearly a century for 250,000 people.

Think about that. The Bronx is the "Garifuna Capital of the World" outside of Central America.  We are a massive voting bloc, yet, in districts where our people live in the thousands, we are politically invisible, we see zero Garifuna staff members in legislative offices. No interns. No community liaison. No District Leaders. No State Committee Members. No Garifuna staff in the rooms where the budget is decided.

HOST: Why the disconnect? Because for decades, the New York City has been a city of power, resilience, and cultural leadership, yet political influence has too often been concentrated in the hands of a few. 

Furthermore,  we have not developed  the framework and roadmap, we need to position the Garifuna community as a credible, data-driven political force in the Bronx. True political influence begins with representation; the Garifuna people deserve political visibility. 

To understand how we break through, we have to look at those who have been holding the line.

Enter Mirtha Colón. A Honduran-born powerhouse who has spent 30 years in the trenches—from founding Hondurans Against AIDS in 1992 to being named in City & State Magazine’s "2026 Bronx Power 100." She is the President of Organizacion Negra Centroamericana (ONECA).

ONECA is the only Network of Afro-descendant organizations in Central America. They work to combat racism and discrimination. Colón is also the Chair of Casa Yurumein, a home for the borough’s Garifuna community. Her work isn't just cultural; it's a lifeline. And according to the record, she was the primary inspiration for a major political milestone: The Garifuna Caucus in Congress. Colon highlights shis achievement in digital ad, Paid For by Torres for Congress.

The Congressional Landscape: A Caucus or a Committee?

HOST: Here is where the "Accountability" piece comes in.On April 13, 2023, Teofilo Colon, a community reporter for the Being Garifuna website flagged a speech by Congressman Ritchie Torres. Torres mentioned a "Garifuna Caucus"—the first of its kind.

Teofilo wrote, in his speech introducing Garifuna Activist, Mrs. Mirtha Colon for Women’s History Month in March 2022, U.S. Congressman Rtitchie Torres, mentioned something that apparently went unnoticed. Mr. Torres talked about how Mirtha Colon was the Inspiration for the creation of a Garifuna Caucus. The first of its kind.

Say what? A Garifuna Caucus?

He began to do some research to try and get a sense of what is a Caucus and what would having one mean for Garifuna people in New York.

He called the Primary Contact listed for U.S. Congressman Ritchie Torres’s Garifuna Caucus and left a message asking for more information. However, he didn’t get a reply.

There is not much information as to The United States Garifuna Caucus. On the website I visited, it states that the Garifuna Caucus is a committee, Teofilo colon concluded.

HOST: Here is what our investigation shows: Three years later, A review of the the "Garifuna Caucus"  membership lists exactly two members: Representative Ritchie Torres of NY-15 as Chair, and Representative Adriano Espaillat of NY-13, as Federal Caucus Member.

Key Figures and Support 

HOST: Our investigation found that the caucus works alongside organizations Casa Yurumein and Alianza Americas. Alianza Americas is a Chigago  based, Pan-American non-profit organization based in Hispanic and Latino American and Caribbean immigrant communities in the United States.  

According to a post in Alianza Americas’ website, the Garifuna Caucus,  is a congressional caucus focused on addressing the needs of the Garifuna Afro-indigenous community, particularly regarding immigration, human rights, and land rights in Central America and the US. It advocates for Temporary Protected Status for Honduran and Guatemalan Garifuna and promotes cultural recognition.

The caucus is involved in promoting initiatives such as a resolution, which seeks to establish April as National Garifuna Heritage Month in the U.S. 

Members of Alianza Americas in New York include, Casa Yurumein, Hondurans Against Aids, Organización Negra Centroamericana and Hijos de Livingston, Inc.

The Garifuna Caucus has sponsored Casa Yurumein and Hondurans Against AIDS’ annual National Garífuna Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., to visit congressmen and senators, to recruit for membership in the Garifuna Caucus and garner support for a resolution to establish National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month.. 

HOST: But here is the "Accountability" check: Interviews with community members indicate that while the Caucus exists on paper, the internal machinery is missing Garifuna representation. There has been exactly one Garifuna staff member in the Congressman’s office, and their tenure was short-lived. Currently? There are no Garifuna interns. No permanent pipeline. If we are the inspiration for the Caucus, why aren't we the ones staffing it?

For more on this, go back and listen to Episode 43: The Fight for Visibility at the Congressional Afro-Latino Roundtable.

The State Legislature: The "Somos" Connection

HOST: Moving from the Federal to the State level, we see a different dynamic. Mirtha Colón has built a bridge to Assemblymember Karines Reyes in the 87th District, which includes West Farms, a neighborhood that is a vital part of our Garifuna Corridor.

Assemblymember Reyes, currently chairs the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force and works hand-in-hand with Hispanic legislators to spearhead issues such as immigration reform, inadequate Census representation, and criminal justice reform. 

Together, Somos Inc. and the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force collaborate to organize the  annual Somos Albany and Somos Puerto Rico Conferences, the largest gathering of Hispanic civic and political leaders in the Empire State. Mirtha Colón sits on that board of Somos, Inc..

HOST: Assemblymember Reyes has been a champion, sponsoring Garifuna Advocacy Day in Albany. She continues a tradition started by former Assemblymember Michael Benjamin (AD-79) in 2010 and carried by leaders like former Assemblymember Luis Sepúlveda.

But even here, the "Accountability" lens reveals a gap. A review of the staff directory shows no Garifuna staff members or Judicial Delegates in the office or as interns.

HOST: We must remember the milestone of 2014. Rosemary Ordonez-Jenkins became the first Garifuna person elected to a political position in New York State as a Democratic Judicial Delegate. She was nominated by former Assemblymember Luis Sepúlveda. She proved it could be done. So why, twelve years later, are we still looking for the second?

Our Path to 2030: The Torch

HOST: We are no longer content with being a "cultural highlight." By 2030—the centennial of our establishment in New York City, we must be a unique voting and power bloc.

To establish ourselves as a unique voting and power bloc, we are focused on: Recruiting the next generation of Garifuna staff, interns, and candidates to ensure our flame burns brighter for the next century.

Host: This is a call to action for our Millennials and Gen Z. The Baby Boomers have held the line. They started the advocacy. They built organizations like Casa Yurumein and Garifuna Coalition. But now, we need the next generation to take that torch.  

We need you. We need you running for Judicial Delegate. We need you applying for those legislative internships. We need you in the State Committee. We need Garifuna names on the ballot for Elected positions.

The path is there. We just have to walk it. By the time we hit that hundred-year mark, we cannot still be asking for proclamations. We need representation.

HOST

True political influence begins with data and representation. We cannot be a "represented" community if we are not the ones in the seats. The roadmap is clear. The history is 94 years long. The time to wait is over.

Outro

(Audio: Punta drums swell to full volume—energetic and defiant)

HOST: And that wraps up another illuminating episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast

HOST: Thank you for joining me for this investigative look into our power.  

Thank you for listening. Remember: The future of the Garifuna people is in our hands.

Until next time, stay united, stay proud. Sungubei Lidan Aban. Ayo!

HOST: Find new episodes of The Garifuna Experience Podcast every Tuesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, or wherever you find your favorite shows.

Please rate and review The Garifuna Experience Podcast —it helps our history reach the world 

Soundtrack

Head Shot

José Francisco Ávila

Host