It is time to demand our rights
as American citizens.s.
Our history
The 47% of Puerto Rico's population lives in poverty. This is one of the highest percentages in the world. Our organization arises from this concern: How can we eradicate poverty in Puerto Rico?
In 2014, we became convinced that one of the main causes of poverty on the island is unequal treatment by the federal government; a low-income American citizen in the United States has greater benefits available than in Puerto Rico.
More information here
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that Puerto Ricans have all the benefits and protections guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution to its citizens. We are not affiliated with any political party, ideal or candidate.
To obtain equal rights for all Puerto Ricans, creating awareness of injustices and legally claiming what rightfully belongs to us.
Vision
Achieve the same constitutional rights for all U.S. citizens, regardless of where they reside. If we achieve equality in the social and economic aid programs that citizens receive in the United States, poverty levels in Puerto Rico would decrease and a better quality of life would be achieved.
Board of Directors
José E. Fernández
For 40 years, José E. Fernández has been at the center of Puerto Rico's economic development as an innovator of financial planning investment strategies and an aggressive force in the island's banking industry. During these years, he also focused his efforts on supporting talented low-income students by providing them with the necessary resources to overcome economic limitations in order to achieve excellence at the highest academic levels.
Mr. Fernandez, has stood out for being a philanthropist of diverse causes. He was honored in 2004 with the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifices" Medal awarded by Pope John Paul II, recognizing his service to the Roman Catholic Church. In 1998, he received the Alexis de Tocqueville Humanitarian Award from the United Way.
Among its recent awards are the Chamber of Commerce's 2019 Zenith Award for Institution of the Year to Kinesis, the 2019 Youth Engagement Award from the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, the 2019 Platinum Star Guide Seal also awarded to the Foundation, the Sales Marketing and Executive Association award and the 2019 Recognition by the Department of Education of the University of Puerto Rico.
For his inspiring career of achievement and service to Puerto Rico, Fernández is considered a transcendental figure in Puerto Rico's education and economy.
Dolly Garcia
Ms. Dolly García Caballero became the first Executive Director of the Por Paridad Foundation in February 2022. She leads the foundation's efforts to transform the lives of the neediest Puerto Ricans living in poverty. The Foundation has invested over $2 million in advocating for the rights of U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico. Her experience includes more than 32 years in executive planning, organizational development, fundraising, communications and marketing. Most recently, Ms. Garcia served as Director of Marketing and Communications for the Kinesis Foundation, a charity that has awarded $11.5 million in scholarships to help Puerto Rican students achieve their college goals. She later served as Director of Marketing and Liquor Promotion for B. Fernandez & Hnos.
Ms. Garcia holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics with a second concentration in business administration from Sweet Briar College in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Antonio Escudero-Viera
Mr. Escudero-Viera holds a B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in economics and a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
Mr. Escudero's practice includes advising on the structuring of commercial transactions, purchase and sale of businesses, as well as corporate reorganizations. He also advises companies and individuals in the operation, expansion and transfer of businesses.
Mr. Escudero was a member of the drafting committees of the General Corporations Law of Puerto Rico in 1995 and 2009. He currently teaches pro bono courses in Corporate Law and Legal Research and Writing at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
He served as Firm's Managing Partnerfor twelve years at McConnell Valdes LLC, and is Treasurer of McV Consulting, Inc. an affiliate of the firm dedicated to real estate and hospitality consulting services.
He has been recognized as a Senior Statesman in the corporate - commercial field by the international publication Chambers & Partners at an international level. He has also been recognized in the field of Corporate Law and M&A by the Tthe Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico.
He is currently a member of the Board of the UPR School of Law and of the Puerto Rican Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation of Puerto Rico, chairs the Corporate Law Committee and co-chairs the Legislation Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Community Foundation.
Cyril Meduña
Cyril Meduña holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute and a master's degree in business administration from George Washington University. Eis a founder and member of Advent-Morro Equity Partners, the first and largest private equity firm in Puerto Rico. Over the past 25 years, Advent-Morro has partnered with more than 60 companies, many of which have become industry leaders in Puerto Rico, such as MCS, Centennial, ICPR Junior College, La Familia and AquaVentures, among others.
As of December 2018, Advent-Morro's active portfolio companies generated more than $3.5 billion in annual sales and employed more than 3,500 people, making a significant contribution to Puerto Rico's economy.
In 2015 Mr. Meduña, led the effort to form Parallel18, which today has become a global tech startup accelerator based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2018, he founded Morro Venture, a $20 million early stage tech fund focused primarily on companies graduating from Parallel18 with the goal of deepening the tech ecosystem on the island.
Mr. Meduña began his career at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York and later led the formation of Chase's Investment Bank in Puerto Rico.
For 6 years he served as Board Member and Treasurer of the Sor Isolina Ferré Centers, a charity based in Ponce. He is currently a member of the Board of Parallel18. He is also a founding member of the committee established to raise funds for the restoration of Iglesia San José in Old San Juan, the second oldest church in this hemisphere and selected by the World Monuments Fund for historic preservation. Meduña is also Honorary Consul of the Republic of Chile in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Joaquin Rodriguez
Mr. Joaquín Rodríguez is a businessman, lawyer, administrator, philanthropist and lover of fine arts. In 1961 he completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Puerto Rico. In 1963 he completed his master's degree in finance from the School of Business Administration at the University of Michigan. In 1984 he obtained a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
He served as executive director of the Homeland Security Administration office in Puerto Rico from 1975 to 1977. During that same period he chaired the Board of Directors of New San Juan Center Corporation.
In the private sector, the health field has always been a constant in his business and public life. With 30 years at the helm of Centro Médico del Turabo, Inc. which he founded, he now fulfills the same leadership role with Grupo HIMA.
He currently chairs the Board of Grupo HIMA San Pablo, is a member of the Board of AIREKO, Inc. and is a member of the Board and treasurer of the Fine Arts Corporation of Caguas. He is a partner of Taller Lírico, Inc., partner of Cleanergy, Inc. and member of the Boards of Fundación Música y País, Fundación Oncológica HIMA San Pablo and Fundación Académica HIMA San Pablo.
Cecille Blondet
Trained as a lawyer and with experience in communications, she serves as Executive Director of Espacios Abiertos. An organization that aspires to achieve a more democratic, fairer and equitable society for all in Puerto Rico, and to this end promotes transparency, accountability and citizen participation, with emphasis on the use of public funds and resources.
Entrepreneur of ideas. Passionate about the arts.
