South Williamsburg’s Roebling Street came alive on Sept. 27, as hundreds of neighbors, artists and elected officials gathered for El Puente’s annual ¡WEPA! Festival.
A day-long block party rooted in culture, resilience and collective action, this year’s theme, “Defend! ¡Pa’lante!” centered on preserving cultural identity and pushing back against federal funding cuts, gentrification and political attacks on immigrant and Latine communities.
“Our work at El Puente is grounded in a powerful and beautiful tradition of joy and resilience and a long history of creativity and transformation," said El Puente’s new Executive Director Dianne Morales.
The festival spotlighted El Puente’s long legacy of community power, with local leaders joining residents to affirm support for the organization and its work in Los Sures.
Highlights included the unveiling of a new mural, Defend! ¡Pa’lante!, a bold artistic response to the loss of more than $3 million in federal funding.
A giant puppet sculpture of the BQE towered above the stage, symbolizing ongoing environmental justice struggles in the neighborhood.
Music and performances filled the block from start to finish, with salsa queer band Las Mariquitas, Los Soneros de City Lore, bomba groups BombaYo and Bomberx NYC, DJ Mira Mira plus KARLALA Soundsystem carrying the rhythm.
Over 30 community partners hosted resource tables offering immigration, housing, health, education and environmental justice support, while the Cadre Market showcased more than 20 local food, art plus wellness vendors.
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez reminded the crowd about El Puente’s history and how the organization fought for the community when people were fleeing the area some forty years ago.
"El Puente was here fighting the good fight," she said. “So we are going to be fighting to make sure that you get the resources that [El Puente] needs, so it continues to do great work.”
Children and families flocked to the Brooklyn Museum’s “Museum on Wheels” for hands-on arts and crafts, including building their own instruments. By evening, Los Sures had been transformed into a vibrant celebration of joy and resistance.
