Veronica Ocasio

Thank you to all who said PRESENTE and showed Homeland Security what the power of community looks like ✊🏽To all the volunteers, attorneys, immigration advocates who helped ensure the safety of all guests not only in the park but surrounding the park, THANK YOU 🙌🏽! For all who stood in solidarity with us through messages, texts, calls, social media posts, THANK YOU! Please continue to stand in solidarity and show up to support the other cultural festivals, events and small businesses 🫶🏽 Seguimos!

Grateful for a beautiful night honoring incredible people that are beyond deserving @lizacolonzayas_lcz and @rodriguezramon 🇵🇷🙌🏽

Te amo con todo mi corazón y alma. Gracias por ser el mejor ejemplo en mi vida. ¡Feliz Día de las Madres, Reina! I love you with all my heart and soul. Thank you for being the best example in my life. Happy Mother’s Day, Queen!

Always a great vibe and incredible food at Virtue! This time with great company Chef Raul Correa @raulcorreapr , Guillermo, and special thanks to our friend and Virtue Owner/Chef the talented and humble Chef Eric Williams @cheferickwilliams 🙌🏽🔥

Grateful to the Lord for allowing us to celebrate and bless the union of my beautiful niece Tina @teeny_0 and her beloved Nick (nephew!) 💕Thank you both putting so much love and joy into every detail, we had an amazing time celebrating your love story with the familia. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. Cheers to your love and future 🥂Con mucho amor y cariño, we love y’all! 🙏🏽Bendiciones, Titi Vero and Tio Billy

My heart is full. ❤️ We are deeply grateful for the beautiful culminating gathering of the @national_pr_museum Virtual Boricua Book Club, celebrating “Puerto Rico: A National History” by Jorell Meléndez Badillo @jmelendezbadillo . What began in October as a shared commitment to learn, reflect, and grow—guided with care by my brother Anthony Milian @deffnotant —became something truly powerful: community building. To witness people travel from New York, Florida, Atlanta, South Carolina, and across Illinois reminded us that our history connects us beyond geography. More than 135 people filled the Museum, united in a moving and necessary dialogue between Jorell and Anthony—one rooted in truth, history and collective reflection. Presenting Jorell with the “Plantando Bandera Book Award” was a moment we will carry with us. A reminder that scholarship and cultural memory matter—and that our stories and history continue to shape the future. Billy, our staff, Board and I remain in awe of this community. Thank you to everyone who showed up (in person and online) who continues to believe in access, and who supports free cultural programming at our Museum. This is what collective care looks like. We can’t wait to announce the next Boricua Book Club’s read — stay tuned. ✨We also continue to manifest Benito @badbunnypr at our Museo. This program was made possible by the generous support of: The MacArthur Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago Park District, Terra Foundation, Angell Foundation, and our Museum Members. Special thanks to our ASL interpreters, Mosaic Interpreters, for helping ensure accessibility, and to Mayra Colon of 787 Catering for nourishing our community with such amor and sabor. 🤍 📸 credit: Elias Carmona Rivera @fotoboricua #PlantandoBandera #BoricuaBookClub #PuertoRicanHistory

Over the past 5 months ive been leading a book club with @national_pr_museum . The book we read was "Puerto Rico: A National History" written by Dr. @jmelendezbadillo . Last night Jorell joined us as I facilitated the final session and we had a 100% turn out and standing room only as we talked about Puerto Ricos history and the complexities of what makes the island ours. Thank you @veronica_ocasio and Billy for trusting me with this and opening your doors to us to talk about a place we belong to and love so much !

What an unforgettable Benito Bowl with @badbunnypr 🔥I’m still processing the powerful emotions and the intentional historical messages woven throughout the night 🥹🇵🇷 Feeling deeply blessed to be in Puerto Rico, witnessing history alongside dear friends and some of the top Boricua chefs in the world—Raúl Correa @raulcorreapr Chef René Marichal Chef Xavier Pacheco @chefecuajei of @bacoapr @aldeana_pr and Chef Enrique Piñeiro 🙌🏽 Your brilliance, hospitality, and love for our cultura y gente made this moment even more special. Thank you for welcoming us and for helping manifest Bad Bunny at @national_pr_museum 🙌🏽❤️🩵 ¡Seguimos Plantando Bandera!

Happy Birthday to our favorite Alder and friend @jessielfuentes ! We admire you so much and are grateful for all that you do to ensure our voices, community and cultura are not diminished, but celebrated and recognized. Thank you for defending all our human and constitutional rights and for fighting for those forced to live in the shadows. We are beyond proud of you and pray continued protection and blessings over you and Becky! Art Image: Beautiful work of art by Adrian Viajero Roman @viajero titled “Se Vende”

When people ask me how I feel about Bad Bunny winning his Grammys and performing at the Super Bowl - I’ll let my fit speak for itself 😉🇵🇷Manifesting him @badbunnypr in Chicago at our Museum @national_pr_museum 🙌🏽🇵🇷 WEPA! Have a beautiful and blessed day ❤️

Ladies, We have reached the maximum capacity for our event and look forward to meeting each and everyone one of you! 💙 See you Saturday! #mimosas#domino#ladiesonly#lafamilia#letshavefun