Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ivelisse Diaz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ivelisse , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is, without a doubt, La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón. It isn’t just an organization to me, it’s a reflection of my life, our roots, and our Puerto Rican community en Chicago. I always say I am a product of what I serve, of the very gardens that have existed before me and those that I’ve created.
The backstory is personal. I was raised in Chicago right in the heart of the Puerto Rican community: Humboldt Park! Raised by a PROUD Puerto Rican Family from Guayama. My family who worked and fought to keep our Puerto Rican traditions alive for the next generation. I watched them plant seeds in a city that often didn’t give us the resources yet they made magic and cultura from what little they had. That shaped me. I knew that identity and cultural values of who we are were non- negotiable. It was a necessity and a right.
When I founded La Escuelita over 15 years ago, it started from love, determination and commitment. What I wanted was a space where our people could see themselves reflected, where they could learn Bomba not just as music and dance, but as history, identity, a way of healing and claiming back our collective power and history.
What makes it meaningful to me is that I’ve seen those seeds take root. People stand tall con orgullo, drumming and dancing with knowledge of where they come from hand in hand with their chosen community. Parents who thought traditions were lost are reclaiming them alongside their kids. Elders see their knowledge honored and share amongst all generations. Makes us stronger as people and a collective.
La Escuelita is my life’s work, but it’s also my mirror , I’ve grown with my work, with my family ,community, and elders . We are vessels and we all have a story to tell.

Ivelisse , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Ivelisse Díaz, and I was born and raised in Humboldt Park, Chicago, though my roots are in Guayama, Puerto Rico. I’ve dedicated over three decades to Bomba, the oldest musical tradition of Puerto Rico. For me, Bomba isn’t just music, it’s a way of life, a language and a tool to explore identity. I grew up surrounded by cultural workers like my family, my elders who taught me that art, culture, history and community are inseparable. That foundation is what led me to create La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, a cultural arts and educational space that has been serving the community for more than 15 years. At La Escuelita, we provide classes, workshops, performances, and cultural programming that center Bomba as both a traditional art and a tool for transformation. Our work empowers children through our program like Bomba Kids, uplifts families, and creates intergenerational spaces where adults, youth, and elders learn side by side. We don’t just teach music we cultivate identity, pride, and discipline, while reminding our people that culture belongs to them too.

We are grassroots and community powered. We’ve survived and thrived because of the support of the people who believe in this work. We are more than performers we are a living reflection of Bomba in the Puerto Rican Diaspora: unapologetically proud of our roots.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe the first step is for society to truly recognize that artists and cultural workers are not extras or afterthoughts , we are essential. Our work holds memory, creates belonging, and carries the power to stick together. Looking back on my own journey, I’ve seen how much is possible when there’s heart and lived experiences, but I’ve also seen how challenging it can be without consistent support and lack of value towards arts and culture . What is really needed is steady investment, not just one-time opportunities , funding that sustains us for the long haul, access to be part of decision making tables, and policies that allow us to live and create with dignity and truth. I also reflect often on how important it is to respect the wisdom of cultural elders and grassroots practitioners. To many times society’s capitalist agenda and decision making power game bypasses the very people who do the deepest and most transformative work. That gap is something we have to address if we want a healthy ecosystem.
For me, it comes down to shifting how society values culture. It isn’t just entertainment, it’s education, survival, identity, and our collective well being. When we honor artists in that light, we create the conditions for creativity not just to survive, but to thrive.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part is seeing the impact of my work embedded in different communities and generations. That my work pours into my peoples, our patria and who we are as one! Being an artist, cultural organizer and a Bombera de corazon myself it allows me to create spaces where culture, history, belonging, social justice intersect. It’s a privilege to witness transformation and to know that the seeds I plant today will grow long after I’m gone. Someone taught me with much care, love and truth, it is a blessing to pay it forward the same way. I love what I do and I do what I love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bomberadecorazon.com
• Instagram: @ivelisse_diaz_ or @laescuelitabdc
• Facebook: La Escuelita Bombera De Corazon

Image Credits

Noele Contraras
Eduardo Rodriguez
Elias Carmona
Ivelisse Diaz