The Paw Patrol was on duty during the event.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon on September 28 in the Bronx, the Hostos Community College’s C-building was transformed into a vibrant festival of music, health, and community spirit. Families streamed through the gates, greeted by the lively rhythms of Heavy Hitter DJ Enuff and the legendary Raúl Acosta with Oro Solido, their beats echoing against the walls of the College.
All participants were overjoyed throughout the afternoon.
(L-R) Colette Atkins, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and Idelsa Méndez, Development Officer, led this partnership with Somos’s Lidia Virgil, COO, and Anel Pla, Chief Communications Officer.
But this wasn’t just any concert: it was the Community Care Fest, a unique celebration co-hosted by Hostos and Somos. The goal of the event was clear: to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month while connecting Bronx families to essential health and social care resources in an engaging, accessible way.
Hostos’ Building C was packed during the Community Care Fest.
Children raced to the Kids’ Fun Zone, where Dora the Explorer and Paw Patrol characters posed for photos, while others lined up for face painting or clutched free backpacks filled with school supplies. Nearby, parents spoke with healthcare representatives about Somos’s new social care network, a program designed to support Medicaid families with resources such as housing, transportation, rent assistance, and wellness screenings. Nurses offered free check-ups, dentists taught children how to brush properly, and community tables provided information on mental health and nutrition.
Raúl Acosta (second, R-L), legendary master of Dominican merengue, brought in the heat with his band Oro Sólido.
The Bronx faces challenges as one of the poorest counties in the nation, but the festival demonstrated how joy, culture, and healthcare can come together to build resilience. By blending entertainment with access to vital services, the Community Care Fest showed families that help is available and that their well-being is a shared priority.
The event provided fun activities for all ages.
As music pulsed and raffle winners cheered, the energy of the day reflected the mission of Hostos itself: to serve as a hub where education, culture, and wellness meet. Families left with smiles, supplies, and valuable connections. The Community Care Fest was indeed a celebration with a purpose, ensuring that care and culture walk hand in hand in our home borough.
Everyone had fun with Paw Patrol and Dora!