Congressman Ritchie Torres Delivers $700,000 to Transform Hostos Library, Fueling Opportunity for Thousands of Students

 
Congressman Ritchie Torres joined Hostos Community College President Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis, students, faculty, and staff on Tuesday, April 7, in the College’s A-Atrium to celebrate a $700,000 federal investment in renovations to the Hostos Library, a major enhancement that will expand access to modern learning spaces, strengthen academic support services, and benefit thousands of students.
 
The event underscored the library’s central role in student success and highlighted Hostos’ enduring mission as a driver of educational opportunity and upward mobility in the Bronx.
 
Dr. Cocco De Filippis opened the program by expressing gratitude for Congressman Torres’ continued support of the College.
 
“Congressman Torres has been so good to us,” she said. “He understands that a top-of-the-line library is a vital part of fulfilling our mission. Thanks to his efforts, we are able to better achieve our goal, helping our students achieve theirs.”  
She noted that the investment will help ensure students have access to the modern resources, technology, and collaborative spaces necessary to thrive in an evolving academic environment.
 
Representing the student body, Student Government Association (SGA) President Tyler Woods spoke to the renovation’s direct impact on student life.  
“This $700,000 investment means everything to our students, from those who need a quiet place to decompress to those working together in study groups before exams,” Woods said. “This is a seed that will bloom into a garden of opportunities for generations to come.”  
In his remarks, Congressman Torres praised both the institution and its leadership. “An institution is only as strong as its leadership, and Hostos has one of the strongest leaders in higher education,” said Torres. “President Daisy Cocco De Filippis is a trailblazer, and it is an honor to partner with her in building a stronger future for Hostos and its students.”
 
He also emphasized the broader significance of the investment. “The percentage of Hostos students who move from the bottom 20 percent to the top 20 percent is four times the national average,” said Torres. “So, as far as I’m concerned, $700,000 for Hostos is not an expense; it’s an investment in the future of the Bronx, and the return on that investment is the realization of the American dream.”
 
Torres also described Hostos as “the crown jewel of upward mobility in the CUNY system” and said, “If there is one institution that embodies the spirit of the Bronx – immigrants, working families, dreamers, and strivers – it is Hostos Community College.”  
Calling Hostos “a bridge to the American dream,” Torres noted that the renovation will mark the first major upgrade to the library since 1990 and said the improved facility will serve a student population that has grown to more than 6,000 per year.
 
The press conference was moderated by Eric Radezky, Ph.D., Director of Governmental and External Affairs. Following the formal presentation of the check, Congressman Torres toured the library with Chief Librarian Madeline Ford to discuss the scope and impact of the planned improvements.
 
The new funding builds on Congressman Torres’s longstanding support for Hostos, including a previous $1 million investment in the College’s Building Transfer Pathways and Pipeline Initiative, which helps students pursue advanced studies in fields including public health, engineering, and the arts.  
Together, these investments reaffirm a shared commitment to expanding access, strengthening student success, and creating lasting educational opportunities for the Hostos community and the Bronx.