parade honorees

Puerto Rican Parade
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Olga Rosado, Grand Marshal 

​Olga Rosado is a bilingual professional from Puerto Rico, who has been living and serving the Cleveland community for over 25 years.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Management & Administration from the University of Phoenix, Cleveland Campus. She started her career as a volunteer with Catholic Charities, serving as a Spanish Interpreter with the Federal Court for Immigration Services, specifically with Unaccompanied Children who crossed the border between Mexico and the United States. She has also provided interpretation services to refugees and asylums coming from various Latin-American Countries whom are new to the city, and seeking a better future free of violence. 
Her experience working with under-served, marginalized, oppressed and discriminated populations brought her to connect with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, homeless families, and the immigrant community.
Olga now manages the Hogar Consuelo Team, a program under the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center which advances education, awareness and the prevention of sexual violence and human trafficking within our
community through local educational institutions and organizations. This program now is being emulated by other organizations across the nation. Furthermore, she has helped individuals and families to find emergency shelter, employment, housing, medical care, legal services and many other community services. During her leisure time, she enjoys participating in arts and culture activities, by playing percussion instruments and loves to dance! She is an active member of a Brazilian music group and for more than a decade, Olga is the one whom has been leading the parade of Dia De Muertos in Cleveland.  
Olga is a mother, grandmother and a great-grandmother and a friend and support to many in the community. 

Ruben Estremera, Padrino

For 36 years, Ruben Estremera has been the owner of Westown Tire-Auto Repair in Cleveland, Ohio. Ruben says that the business was started by John Cupedro in 1946. He started to work for John in 1976, graduated from Lincoln-West High School in 1980, and then assumed ownership of Westown Tire in 1983.
In 1986, Ruben married his high school sweet heart, friend, and business partner Jean. The couple had two children, Eileen who graduated from Kent State with a teaching degree and began her career at the new Max Hays High School. Their son, Dominic Jose Estremera serves in the U.S. Marine Corps. 
​In 2013, Ruben celebrated 30 years in business, receiving a proclamation from City of Cleveland and in 2016, Ruben was recognized by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce when he received the Chamber’s Pillar of the Community Award. Ruben states, “Running a business is a lot of work and commitment” and gives credit to his late father Enrique Estremera for his work ethic and many others who have influenced his values and career. 
You need not go far to hear a positive story of Ruben.
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A recent online review shares the story of a family traveling across the country to New York. After a fender bender on the highway, the family was led by police to Westown Tire who told them they would be taken care of there. The review continues saying, “Boy, were they ever right! Ruben helped us in every way possible. He let us use his phone number for the insurance claim details, he let us use his tools, he told us about local repair shops to call, he helped us with the radiator, and lots of other things. We hung out at his place for a couple of hours waiting for our insurance issues to be resolved, and he checked on us several times to see how we were doing. He made a lousy situation into a pleasant experience with his kindness and concern”. On April 8th, 2019, Ruben moved his Westown Tire business to its new location at 3620 Pearl Road where he looks forward to continuing to service the Greater Cleveland community for years to come. ​
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Elizabeth Román, Madrina

Elizabeth “Lisa” Guzmán-Román grew up in Cleveland, Ohio to her parents George and Maria Guzman who were adamant that Lisa would speak Spanish and know about their Puerto Rican culture. At an early age, Lisa developed a passion for music and has been a singer since. She is married to Ruben Román, a local musician, and have 4 children together. Lisa proudly serves as a Certified Minister, Director of Ladies Ministry, Ladies Retreat Coordinator, and worship team member at Faith Fellowship Church in Macedonia, Ohio where she's been a member with her family since 1991. 
Lisa came to work at the City of Cleveland by first becoming a volunteer with the Department of Community Relations in 2015 to help with the Hispanic Heritage Month events.  That led to a part time position as the receptionist in 2017. Working alongside the Hispanic Liaison awakened a passion to help the Hispanic community. When the position became available, upon the retirement of the Liaison, Lisa took the baton 
and continued in providing the resources and being an advocate.​  A few months later, with the transition of Executive Directors, Lisa was offered the position of Assistant to the Director which she felt was divine intervention. From this platform she could be of greater assistance to the Hispanic residents and so her new journey began in 2018 and a new Hispanic Liaison was hired.  One of her duties is to respond to Hispanic families in distress and crisis due to violence, providing a presence of comfort and peace by offering resources and even a prayer. After a short tenure, the Liaison vacated the position and Lisa once again took the helm as Interim Hispanic Liaison performing double duty, and did so without complaint, answering many calls, and always willing to lend a hand and making sure that the Hispanic community did not fall under the radar. She continues to be a strong advocate and supporter not only for the Hispanic Community but to Hispanic agencies and organizations alike.  

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Nayseth González​,

​Miss Teen Puerto Rico 2019
Nayseth González was crowned Miss Teen Puerto Rico 2019. 
She is the first to hold the title which will continue with the tradition of recognizing a Puerto Rican Parade Queen.
She represented the city of San Juan in the Miss Puerto Rico Image program having one of the highest scores. Nayseth excels academically at Normandy High School, volunteers for the Latina Image Program, and is youth leader at St. Michael Archangel. She is a young lady who is highly disciplined and represents all that is positive in a young Puerto Rican.    


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