BRYAN

Pu-Folkes
FOR ASSEMBLY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Nydia Portilla
646.270.3915
bpf2010@gmail.com

Candidate for State Assembly Bryan Pu-Folkes Kicks-Off “Latinos

for Pu-Folkes”
Queens, New York, May 18, 2010 —Democratic candidate for New York State Assembly Bryan
Pu-Folkes joined with leaders from the Latino community today in Corona to announce the
formation of a Latino-based coalition of supporters from across the 39th Assembly District.
Those showing their support and participating in the newly formed “Latinos for Pu-Folkes”
group include: Eduardo Giraldo, President of the Citizens Alliance for Progress; Freddy
Castiblanco, small business owner and civic leader; Jorge Hernández, President of Comite
Fiestas Patrias; Lucy Mas-Harris, President of Feria Internacional de Peru; Orlando Tobón,
Colombian community leader; Oswaldo Guzmán, President of the Ecuadorian Civic Committee;
Ruben Peña, President of the Corona Community Action Network; and Walter Sinche, President
of Alianza Ecuatoriana Internacional.*

“It is a great honor to be here today as I stand with my wife Larisa Ortiz, a proud Latina, my
mother-in-law Migdalia Romero, and a number of leaders in the Latino community whom I
deeply respect. Those here today truly represent the great diversity of the Latino community
and include folks from South America, Central America and the Caribbean. You are here
because you have seen my deep commitment to the community as an immigration attorney and
as the leader of two local non-profits. And you know just how important it is to elect a
community-minded leader to represent us in Albany who has a track record of fighting on behalf
of our concerns. If elected to the Assembly, I pledge to continue fighting to improve our
schools, strengthen our small businesses community and clean up our streets,” said Pu-Folkes.
Ruben Peña, President of the Corona Community Action Network stated, “too many politicians
believe that they are high and mighty. They make secret deals that help themselves while the
community suffers. Bryan has been fighting against this dysfunctional system and on behalf of
our communities for a long time. I have seen how hard he has worked as fighter for immigrants
and how he has benefitted our community by sponsoring English language courses and
leadership training for our students. We need someone to reform Albany – that is why we need a
fighter like Bryan.” Eduardo Giraldo also commented, “Our communities are tired of
unfulfilled promises and talk and no action. We are now judging our candidates not by what
they say, not by what they promise, but by what they have done. Bryan is the only candidate
with a record of accomplishments in the community. He is the community’s candidate and I am
proud to endorse him.”

Bryan Pu-Folkes, a community leader and immigration attorney in Jackson Heights, is running to
represent the 39th District in the New York State Assembly. In 1999, Pu-Folkes founded the
grassroots non-profit organization New Immigrant Community Empowerment, Inc. (NICE), one
of the leading non-profit immigrant service and advocacy organizations in New York City. Pu-
Folkes also founded the Community Journal, a nonprofit economic and community development
initiative in Northwest Queens. The Community Journal’s programs include the annual Jackson
Heights Film and Food Festival and the Jackson Heights Clean Streets initiative. A product of
New York City public schools, Pu-Folkes graduated with a B.A. in political science from CUNY
Queens College and later received a law degree from New York University School of Law.

*Organizations are listed for identification purposes only.

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