10/01/2026
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH | DAY 16 - NUESTRA GENTE
Today, the Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County is proud to recognize Janet Ortiz and Al Ramirez, two people whose work reminds us that strengthening a community starts with investing in the people who call it home.
Janet Ortiz is Bridgeport through and through. For more than three decades, she has dedicated herself to children, families, and people who sometimes need someone in their corner. Her service has included 20 years with the Nehemiah Commission, her leadership with Urban Impact, and her work with the Center for Children’s Advocacy, where she helps Bridgeport families connect with resources and support. Her years of service were recognized in 2025 when Fairfield University honored her with its Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leadership Vision Award.
Janet’s impact is not just in the positions she has held. It is in the young people she has mentored, the parents she has helped navigate difficult situations, and the families who have had someone willing to listen, guide, and advocate alongside them.
Al Ramirez has also made investing in Bridgeport residents a central part of his work. Through Build Bridgeport From Within, his focus has been on creating pathways and opportunities within the community, including workforce development, mentorship, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, neighborhood improvement, and service to residents.
There is something powerful about the words “Build Bridgeport From Within.” It speaks to recognizing the talent, strength, experience, and potential that already exist in our neighborhoods and giving people opportunities to grow.
Janet and Al represent different areas of service, but there is a common thread between them: people. Children. Families. Young adults. Workers. Neighbors. And a belief that stronger people help create stronger communities.
On Day 16 of Nuestra Gente, we celebrate Janet and Al for the time, heart, and energy they continue to pour into Bridgeport.
Building opportunity. Strengthening neighborhoods. Investing in people.
