Artist Aims To Honor Revolutionary Puerto Rican Women With Paseo Boricua Portraits

Melissa DuPrey, a Humboldt Park artist and activist, is launching Las Flores del Paseo Boricua to honor Puerto Rican women who shaped the community's history. The initiative will feature 20 portraits of women who excelled in arts, culture, and politics, including figures like Lolita Lebron and Ana Roque de DuPrey. DuPrey quickly surpassed her initial fundraising goal of $10,000 with support from 3Arts and the city’s cultural affairs department. The portraits will be installed near the neighborhood’s steel flags, with plans to incorporate QR codes for augmented reality experiences. Collaboration with local artists and cultural institutions will ensure community involvement in the selection process.

DuPrey’s family history of activism, including her grandmother's contributions to bilingual education, inspires her work. The project aims to address the historical neglect of women in Puerto Rican narratives. DuPrey's vision represents a broader effort to revitalize and honor the contributions of women within the diaspora.