Friends of Puerto Rico

09/04/2026

🇵🇷 Creating more pathways for Puerto Rico’s rural communities and entrepreneurs.

On September 2, Friends of Puerto Rico was honored to receive a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG), supporting our continued work with small businesses through training, technical assistance, business guidance, and access to capital.

We extend our special thanks to USDA Rural Development State Director Nelson Albino for his leadership, support, and commitment to advancing economic development and entrepreneurship across Puerto Rico.

We are grateful to USDA Rural Development for investing in our mission and in the communities we serve.

We remain committed to turning resources into opportunity and helping more entrepreneurs and communities grow and thrive in rural communities.

08/28/2026

We’re proud to join the 3rd Grupo 21 Professional Development Bootcamp as a Co-Host and Sponsor! 🎓🚀

At Friends of Puerto Rico, we believe in creating opportunities that prepare the next generation of leaders to learn, connect, and thrive.

We’re excited to support Grupo 21 and all the partners making this experience possible. Together, we’re opening doors and building pathways for the future.

🚨 IT’S OFFICIAL! 🚨

We’re excited to unveil the official promo poster for the 3rd Grupo 21 Professional Development Bootcamp! 🎓🚀

A special THANK YOU to our amazing co-hosts, sponsors, venue partner, and media partner for believing in our mission and helping us create opportunities for the next generation of leaders. 🙌💙

🏫 Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Recinto de Carolina — thank you for hosting us for a third consecutive year! 👏
📻 Radio Isla 1320 — thank you for supporting us for a second consecutive year! 👏

Due to a technical glitch, we ask you to use the following links for registration:

📝Virtual: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7QSIOZEcQPatKuyURbFMrA
🏫 In-Person: https://forms.gle/bteSNJoxtEWihyzMA

Together, we’re opening doors, building bridges, and preparing the next generation to lead. 🌉🚪💼

🇵🇷 Let’s make this our best Bootcamp yet!

08/26/2026

En Friends of Puerto Rico creemos que fortalecer a nuestro equipo también fortalece nuestro impacto.

Dedicamos un día de capacitación para nuestros miembros de AmeriCorps, enfocado en aprendizaje, coordinación interna y conexión como equipo. Agradecemos al Instituto Socio-Económico Comunitario, Inc. (INSEC) por recibirnos y brindarnos el espacio para crecer, compartir y seguir construyendo juntos.

Seguimos aprendiendo para servir mejor y ampliar nuestro impacto en Puerto Rico.

08/24/2026

On September 29, we’re taking SEEDS to Capitol Hill.

Our SEEDS entrepreneurs from Flor de Loto Montessori will travel from Puerto Rico to Washington, DC for the Capitol Hill Summit, where they’ll pitch their businesses to Congress, build advocacy skills, and grow as young leaders. 🇵🇷

But getting there takes a community.

Swipe to discover how your support can make a difference at each giving level. ➡️

🌱 $20 — Plant the Spark
🌱 $50 — Grow the Vision
🌱 $100 — Build the Voice
🌱 $250 — Send Them to the Hill

Choose your level. Support their journey. Help them reach Capitol Hill. 🇵🇷

Donate today https://friendsofpuertorico.salsalabs.org/seedstothehill

08/22/2026

Seven young entrepreneurs. One Capitol Hill Summit. 🇵🇷

Our SEEDS youth from Flor de Loto Montessori are heading to Washington, DC to pitch their businesses to Congress, represent Puerto Rico, and grow as young leaders.

Support their journey. 🌱 Every contribution, starting at $20, brings them closer to Capitol Hill.

Want another way to support? Purchase a handmade bookmark from — 100% of the proceeds go toward the Capitol Hill Summit.

Donate https://friendsofpuertorico.salsalabs.org/seedstothehill/index.html bio or visit Beads By Zoe to get your bookmark.

08/20/2026

Time is running out! There are only a few days left to vote for Friends of Puerto Rico at SXSW 2027. 🚨

Vote for our proposal, “From Coffee to Comeback: A Climate Blueprint,” and help us bring this important conversation to the SXSW stage. Through the SXSW PanelPicker, our proposal highlights three key areas that are essential to Puerto Rico’s sustainable development:

🌱 Climate resilience: How to transform local agriculture into an engine of economic recovery.
🤝 Strategic alliances: The impact of connecting vulnerable communities with new markets.
🚀 Youth leadership: Real opportunities for new generations to become entrepreneurs and stay on the island.

A vote for Friends of Puerto Rico is a vote to position the Puerto Rican entrepreneurial ecosystem in front of leaders, investors, and innovators from around the world.

🗓️ Deadline: August 23.
🔗 Voting link: https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw27/community-voting-sxsw/page/community-voting

Take 2 minutes for your island today and help us make this happen!

08/19/2026

Meet Our Partners | Capitol Hill Summit 2026 🤝🇵🇷

We’re proud to partner with organizations and institutions committed to advancing entrepreneurship, education, innovation, culture, and economic development for Puerto Rico.

Meet the partners joining us on September 29 in Washington, D.C.:

🇺🇸 America250
🎨 SeriouslyCreative
💼 Katch Skills
🎭 Puerto Rican Arts Alliance
🎓 Fordham University
🤝 National Minority Supplier Development Council
🏫 Flor de Loto Montessori
📚 Instituto Socio-Económico Comunitario, Inc. (INSEC)
💼 Centro Unido de Detallistas
🌱 Panorama Farm
✅ RDF

📅 September 29, 2026
📍 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, D.C.

Register now https://www.friendsofpuertorico.org/capitol-hill-summit

Together, we’re creating meaningful connections and conversations that open doors to new opportunities for Puerto Rico.

08/14/2026

Gracias a todas las personas que nos acompañaron en Fortalece las Finanzas de tu Negocio, un taller del Programa RESPOND de Friends of Puerto Rico. 💼📊

Agradecemos especialmente a nuestra facilitadora, Yazmín Irizarry Cruz, por compartir sus conocimientos, experiencia y herramientas prácticas para ayudar a nuestros participantes a tomar decisiones financieras con mayor confianza y fortalecer sus negocios.

También agradecemos a cada persona que se tomó el tiempo de participar y seguir apostando por el crecimiento de su negocio. 🙌

¡Seguimos creando espacios para aprender, conectar y construir un futuro empresarial más sólido en Puerto Rico! 🇵🇷

08/13/2026

Puerto Rico has a history of resilience, entrepreneurship, and innovation that deserves to be heard globally. 🌍

We are proud to announce that Friends of Puerto Rico, with Café AMA and Panorama Farm, is applying to participate in SXSW 2027 through the SXSW PanelPicker.

Our proposal, "From Coffee to Comeback: A Climate Blueprint", seeks to demonstrate how sustainable agriculture and community leadership can transform local economies and serve as a model facing climate change.

Voting for this project means supporting the impact of our entrepreneurs and positioning Puerto Rico in the global conversation.

📩 Your vote counts: Support us by accessing the SXSW voting panel https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw27/community-voting-sxsw/page/community-voting and giving our proposal a ❤️.

08/13/2026

Meet the speakers joining us for Capitol Hill Summit 2026. Swipe to discover them.

On September 29, 2026, we’ll gather in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), for a day of conversations bringing together leaders and key voices to advance economic development, entrepreneurship, workforce innovation, and strategic partnerships for Puerto Rico.

📍 Rayburn House Office Building | United States Congress | Washington, D.C.

Connect with leaders, discover impactful initiatives, and be part of the conversations creating new opportunities for Puerto Rico.

👉 Register today at https://www.friendsofpuertorico.org/capitol-hill-summit.
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Conoce a los speakers que serán parte del Capitol Hill Summit 2026. Desliza para conocerlos.

Este 29 de septiembre, nos reuniremos en Washington, D.C., en conjunto con el Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), para una jornada de conversaciones que reunirá a líderes y voces clave en torno al desarrollo económico, el emprendimiento, la innovación de la fuerza laboral y las alianzas estratégicas para Puerto Rico.

📍 Rayburn House Office Building | United States Congress | Washington, D.C.

Conecta con líderes, descubre iniciativas de impacto y sé parte de las conversaciones que están creando nuevas oportunidades para Puerto Rico.

👉 Regístrate hoy en https://www.friendsofpuertorico.org/capitol-hill-summit.