Contributor

Julio Pabón

Community Activist/Intrapreneur

Native of Guayama, Puerto Rico / raised in the South Bronx, New York City, community and political activist since the early 1970’s. He has labored towards issues affecting the Puerto Rican/Latino community in human rights, education, employment, equality and the future of every community – its youth. • Co-Founder of the Coalition in Defense of Puerto Rican & Hispanic Rights • Founder of the Herbert H. Lehman College Latino Alumni Association • Founder of the Young Caciques Youth Leadership Program • Participated on the Board of Director of: United Bronx Parents, Bronx Museum of the Arts, Pueblo En Marcha, Promesa Foundation, Inc., Martin Luther King Health Center & NAICA. • Co-Founder National Puerto Rican Business Council • Co-Founder of the Rainbow Push Latino Sports Project • Co-Founder of “La Hora Deportiva” first bi-lingual radio sports talk show in NY • Founder of the Latino Sports Writers & Broadcasters Association (LSWBA) • Co-Founder of the Latino Sports Initiative • Founder of the Retire 21 Campaign • Co-Founder of the South Bronx Congress • Co-Founder South Bronx Community Association ! Has served in senior level capacities in the private and political arena. • NY Congressman Jose Serrano’s 1986 campaign for Bronx Borough President • Executive Director for Assemblyman Serrano’s Constituent Office • Educational Director, South Bronx Job Corps • Director of Latino Affairs for NYC Council President Andrew Stein • Adjunct Professor of American History, Boricua College • Press Consultant and Bronx Coordinator on Liz Holtzman’s campaign for Comptroller. • Media Consultant on Mayoral campaign for David Dinkins and co-founder of Latinos for Dinkins ! Founder of Morivivi Language Services, one of the first Latino owned Professional Interpreting and Translations firm in New York. ! Founder of Mi Casa Tu Casa Guesthouse. The first Bread & Breakfast in the South Bronx. ! Founder of the nations fastest growing Latino sports marketing firm Latino Sports (LS). Today LS, LLC, is recognized as a leader in promoting positive Latino role models and assuring equal coverage for Latino athletes. The company has developed the prestigious annual Latino MVP Award. Julio has served as a consultant to many major league baseball stars. As part of his company, an exclusive apparel line has been developed along with the first Latino oriented sports specialty shop specializing in Latino sports memorabilias and collectibles established in the South Bronx (now on line). The very popular Internet web site www.latinosports.com, offers on-going information on Latino’s in sports. ! Mr. Pabón has been an innovator in bi-lingual sports promotion. He is the founder of one of the nation’s first bilingual (Spanish-English) sports talk show “La Hora Deportiva” He was also a columnist for El Diario La Prensa and Hoy Spanish daily newspapers. ! 1 ! ! Pabón Bio Page 2 ! Mr. Pabón is an established writer who has published his first book in 2016, Knockout: Fidel Castro Visits The South Bronx. He has also been published in the Daily News, New York Times, El Diario – La Prensa, Periodico HOY, ViVa magazine, the Huffington Post and a host of community newspapers. He presently writes a blog: www.nycLatinopolitics.com ! Mr. Pabón is an popular motivational speaker. He has spoken at numerous universities throughout the country and at several corporate and community functions. ! Received coverage on his achiements in: the New York Times, El Vocero, Visiones, Telemundo, Univision, Impacto News, Daily News, Eyewitness News, Good Day New York, Sporting News, NY Post, Craines, San Juan Star, NY 1 News, BronxNet and News 12. ! Received significant awards and recognition: • 1991 - NY State Federation of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award • 1993 - The American Dream – Community Service Academy IS 218 • 1995 - Shining Stars of the Community Award – Bronx Chapter Red Cross • 1996 - Appreciation Award, Promesa, Inc. • 1997 - Hispanic Entrepreneur Award given by the Mutual of New York • 1998 - Yankee Doodle Award - One of New York’s 10 Most Concerned Citizens given by the New York Post • 1998 - Lo Mejor de Nuestra Communidad Award – Comite Noviembre • 1999 - Hostos Community College – For Devoted/Loyal Service to the Betterment of the Hispanic community • 2000 - One Hundred Most Influential Hispanics – Hispanic Business Magazine • 2001 One Hundred Moving Companies by Impacto Magazine. • 2002 National Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Betances Award • 2003 Clemente Community Award • 2004 Awarded the Bronx Borough President’s Community Achievement Award for service to youth. • 2005 Inducted into the Latin – American International Sports Hall of Fame • 2006 Named one of the most influential Latinos in Sports by NY Post • 2007 Named the #1 most influential Latino in sports by LatinTempo magazine • 2008 Nuestros Illustres Award NJ State Puerto Rican Parade • National Hispanic Heritage Community Service Award by Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. • 2009 Community Service Award – South Bronx Community Coalition • 2010 Reconocimiento Exemplar – Municipio de Guayama, PR • 2013 Proclama del Alcalde de Guayama • 2016 National Advocacy Community Award - LULAC Mr. Pabón has three grown children and is a proud grandfather of seven. 2