LADB Aliados/ladb allies
We are proud to introduce our LADB Aliados/Allies who are instrumental to the success of our organization. They are community shareholders who support and are intimately involved in LADB Buffalo operations. LADB Aliados/Allies volunteer during events and are invited to share input and ideas during general meetings. LADB Aliados/Allies are non-paying members with no exhibiting influence or voting rights but are invited to participate in select exhibits as guest artists.
William Rodriguez
William is born and raised in Buffalo, NY, starting his career in the visual arts at Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts.
William is the founder of Creative Zenith and creator of the graphic novels and comic books that celebrate Puerto Rican superheroes, all of which are developed and illustrated by William.
William also enjoys other artistic outlets that include Graphic Design, Painting, Deejaying, and Music.
Currently, William is LADB’s primary graphic designer, creating the logo for LADB Buffalo, which is adorned on all of our marketing products, such as T-shirts, buttons, and posters.
William is a co-founder of Los Artistas del Barrio Buffalo. Although he has stepped away as a primary driver of the organization, he still lends his support to our mission and vision.
Dr. Craig Centrie
Craig received his Ph.D from the Department of Social Foundations, SUNYAB, is a specialist in ethnographic data collection teaching Latinx Studies since 1981, he has been an instructor in Transnational Studies/Latinx Studies. His work explores the identity formation and experiences of immigrants and refugees to the United States and has published on issues of Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia. Craig is the co-founder of El Museo Francisco Oller y Diego Rivera in Buffalo New York, a WNY arts visual arts organization dedicated to the exploration of art of underrepresented communities.
Gloria Pagan-ALvarado
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Tracy Rose
Tracy is an art teacher for the Buffalo Public Schools who is currently in the role of Arts Coordinator for the Arthur O. Eve School of Excellence #61. She is a tireless advocate for the arts and is often seen volunteering with us when Los Artistas sponsors or participates in a community arts event, especially if it involves young people. Tracy is also one of our main grant writers. She recently secured a grant through the Arts Services Initiatives of WNY, where we are partnering with Buffalo Niagara Water Keepers on a temporary environmental community arts installation called Agua Flow.
Diana santiago
After a few years into her 30+ career working with underserved communities, Diana needed an outlet.
Art was it.
Except, she felt she knew very little about the scope of what art could be. What she did know was that she loved music and dance. That was it. It has been a journey of learning throughout the years, where Diana has enjoyed learning about the different forms and genres of art; especially those shared with her Michele Agosto, her niece and co-founder of Los Artistas del Barrio Buffalo.
Diana now enjoys all types of art mediums and events, frequenting those in the New York Metropolitan area as much as possible. Diana especially enjoys those with a cultural focus.
Diana is a New York City native raised in Washington Heights, born in The Bronx, and working in The Bronx. I have lived in North Jersey for half of my life. My vision is to be a conduit for Los Artistas del Barrio Buffalo and expose the creative works of Los Artistas del Barrio Buffalo with those Artists Downstate in the NY/NJ region and beyond.
Drew Stella
Drew is a creative and an artistic individual, attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC for fashion design. Drew’s talent sought the attention of fashion designer Geoffrey Beene, who he Interned for .
From there, Drew went into the beauty industry. Esthetics was his selected area of study. His expertise and love of esthetics lead him to teach as an esthetics educator for private and public institutions.
Drew has worked with groups and individuals to promote enrichment in their lives through whatever form allows them to cultivate that expression.
Currently, Drew is developing his creativity in the business world with implementation of his creative ideas to present to the Western NY, region, New York State, and ultimately, the world.
Son BoriKua
Manny Perez,
Band Leader
Son Borikua has been with Los Artistas del Barrio Buffalo from Day One, sharing their music during many of our community arts events. Son Borikua integrates their own interpretation and subtle, yet powerful, influence into the traditional Afro Cuban - Puerto Rican musical genre. Never straying away from the tropical Caribbean, Plena, Bomba and Salsa groove heritage, Son BoriKua brings a vibe of life and authenticity that many artists can not match.
https://www.instagram.com/son_borikua/
https://www.facebook.com/sonboriKuabuffalo/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1X2Ck0n1jF18BYkyWnYTrA?view_as=subscriber