Maritza Cruz remembers the days when, growing up in the 1970s, she would attend the parades and festivals that marked Puerto Rican Week in Worcester.
Cruz, whose organization, Casa Borikén of Worcester, promotes Puerto Rico’s culture and history in Worcester, said having been born on the island and raised in Worcester, celebrating her culture in the parks and streets of her city was a formative experience.
“As a kid, you look at that and feel seen. You’re not invisible. I think that’s really important, especially for young people and for anyone who’s been here a long time and is not always acknowledged,” Cruz said. “If you know who you are and where you come from, that gives you strength and courage to fight.”…