The Domino Dialogues: Jugando con las Memorias

In this audio short from Episode 6 of The Domino Dialogues, Inez Ramos speaks about accountability in community leadership and the impact of machismo within movement spaces. She reflects on how women often carry significant responsibility in advocacy work while their contributions are sometimes overlooked, and why these conversations can be difficult but necessary for community growth. This short is part of Episode 6, The Courage to Fight Anyway, now available.

In this audio short from Episode 6 of The Domino Dialogues, Edwin Desamour reflects on identity, language, and what it means to belong when you feel caught between expectations. He speaks about the experience many Latinos face when they are told they are not “American enough” or not “Puerto Rican enough,” and how community acceptance often comes from lived relationships rather than cultural gatekeeping. This conversation explores how identity is shaped not just by language or labels, but by connection, presence, and commitment to community. This short is part of Episode 6, The Courage to Fight, now available. These conversations are part of Somos Society’s work to preserve the historical living archive of Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican community.

In this audio short from Episode 6 of The Domino Dialogues, Eddie Ramirez shares his experience of being wrongfully accused and spending nearly 28 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He reflects on being arrested at 19 years old, entering the prison system with fear and uncertainty, and the people who encouraged him to prepare for freedom through education, discipline, and planning for life after release. His story is one of survival, preparation, and the long road back to community after decades of incarceration. This short is part of Episode 6, The Courage to Fight, now available. Stories like this are part of the living history Somos Society works to preserve through The Domino Dialogues.

What does it mean to fight for what you believe in, even when the outcome is uncertain? In Episode 6 of The Domino Dialogues, Inez Ramos and Eddie Ramirez join the table for a conversation about advocacy, identity, and the personal cost of standing up for justice. Inez Ramos reflects on her experiences in community organizing, the women who shaped her political consciousness, and her connection to the Puerto Rican independence movement. She also discusses the importance of preserving cultural memory, including the Juan Antonio Corretjer mural in Philadelphia. Eduardo Ramirez shares his experience of being wrongfully incarcerated for nearly 28 years after being convicted without physical evidence. He speaks about entering the prison system at 19, preparing himself for freedom while incarcerated, and his work today around criminal justice reform and community engagement. The conversation also explores identity, belonging, cultural expectations, art, and the role of community memory in shaping future generations. Featured topics: Advocacy • Wrongful conviction • Puerto Rican identity • Community leadership • Cultural preservation • Philadelphia community history If this conversation resonates with you: • Follow The Domino Dialogues • Share this episode • Leave a comment or rating to support community storytelling If you have stories, photos, or community history you would like to share as part of this living archive, visit: https://www.somossociety.com/la-historia-colectiva These conversations are part of Somos Society’s mission to preserve the historical living archive of Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican community.

In this audio short from Episode 6 of The Domino Dialogues, Inez Ramos reflects on the women she watched growing up in Philadelphia’s Kensington and Norris Square communities. She shares how mothers, neighbors, and organizers shaped her understanding of advocacy and helped guide her toward learning her Puerto Rican history and identity. Her story is a reminder that many of the people who shape movements and communities are not always the most visible, but their impact carries across generations. Episode 6, The Courage to Fight, releases March 15 in recognition of Women’s History Month. If this story reminds you of women who shaped your own path, we invite you to share their stories and help us continue preserving the living history of Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican community.

In this short from Episode 6 of The Domino Dialogues, the conversation turns to a Philadelphia graffiti artist known as Spel, remembered for turning clothing into wearable art during the 1980s. His hand-painted jackets, shirts, and custom pieces became part of the visual identity of the community, with many proudly wearing his work as a form of self-expression. During the discussion, both Inez Ramos and Eddie Ramirez recall owning and wearing Spel’s designs, highlighting how art, fashion, and neighborhood culture often intersect in ways that aren’t always formally documented. After this clip was shared, community members began responding with photos of original Spel pieces, helping preserve a small but meaningful piece of Philadelphia’s cultural history. Episode 6, The Courage to Fight, releases March 15. If you have photos or memories connected to Spel’s artwork, we invite you to share them as part of this growing community archive at our website.

This audio clip comes from Episode 5 of The Domino Dialogues, titled “Breaking the Mold.” The episode features Captain Maria Ortiz-Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Police Department and Captain Cecilia Ortiz of the Philadelphia Fire Department. In this moment, Captain Cecilia Ortiz reflects on the importance of conversations that connect history, culture, and lived experience. She explains that what stands out about The Domino Dialogues is how accessible the conversations feel. Instead of presenting history as a lecture, the stories unfold naturally around the table. Captain Ortiz also reflects on growing up in an area that was once labeled the “Badlands” by media coverage in the early 1990s. Within the community, many residents see it differently and refer to it as the “Goodlands,” a reminder that neighborhoods are defined by the people who live there, not just by headlines. Moments like these show how storytelling can reshape narratives about place, identity, and community. As host Edwin often says, the goal of the show is simple: listeners and viewers should feel like the fourth player at the table. This clip highlights how conversation can become a way of preserving history while keeping it connected to the present.

This audio clip comes from Episode 5 of The Domino Dialogues, titled “Breaking the Mold.” The episode features Captain Maria Ortiz-Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Police Department and Captain Cecilia Ortiz of the Philadelphia Fire Department. In this segment, Captain Cecilia Ortiz shares a story from her work with the Fire Explorers youth program. During an EMT training session, the group began to lose focus and treat the training casually. Captain Ortiz made a decision that caught everyone off guard. She told them to pack up their things and go home. The message was simple: if the work isn’t taken seriously, the training stops. Captain Ortiz explains that in the fire service, the job is never about one individual. Firefighters operate as a unit, relying on each other in moments where lives are on the line. The discipline required in training reflects the reality of the job. The lesson worked. The group returned with a new understanding of what teamwork and responsibility look like. This clip highlights how leadership sometimes means setting clear expectations and holding the line. This short is part of the ongoing promotion for Episode 5: “Breaking the Mold,” a conversation about leadership, service, and the experiences of two women who rose to the rank of captain in Philadelphia’s police and fire departments.

This audio clip comes from Episode 5 of The Domino Dialogues, titled “Breaking the Mold.” The episode features Captain Maria Ortiz-Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Police Department and Captain Cecilia Ortiz of the Philadelphia Fire Department. The conversation begins with a joke from host Edwin: “Is there any way we could get your mom a pension with the police department?” The laughter opens the door to a meaningful story. Captain Maria Ortiz-Rodriguez shares that her mother once hoped to become a police officer herself but never had the opportunity. Years later, when Captain Ortiz-Rodriguez was working as a young detective in the Long-Term Missing Persons Unit, the work became emotionally exhausting and discouraging. At one point she considered stepping away from the assignment. Her mother reminded her why the work mattered. Families were calling the unit hoping someone would give everything they had to help find their loved ones. That perspective stayed with her and gave her the push to keep going. This short highlights how encouragement, especially from family, can shape the way someone carries responsibility in public service. This clip is part of the ongoing promotion for Episode 5: “Breaking the Mold,” a conversation about leadership, service, and the experiences of two women who rose to the rank of captain in Philadelphia’s police and fire departments.

This audio clip comes from Episode 5 of The Domino Dialogues, titled “Breaking the Mold.” The episode features Captain Maria Ortiz-Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Police Department and Captain Cecilia Ortiz of the Philadelphia Fire Department. In this moment, host Edwin reflects on an early experience in his career when he felt out of place in professional spaces. At the time, he was still learning how to carry himself, including how to dress for the rooms he was entering. One day, someone named Miss Maria pulled him aside, fixed his tie, and told him something simple but powerful: he belonged there. That moment stayed with him. Sometimes confidence begins with someone else recognizing potential before we see it ourselves. A few words of encouragement can shape how a person walks into every room after that. This clip captures a reminder about the power of mentorship, affirmation, and the small moments that can plant the seeds of leadership. This short is part of the ongoing promotion for Episode 5: “Breaking the Mold,” a conversation about leadership, service, and the experiences of two women who rose to the rank of captain in Philadelphia’s police and fire departments.

This audio clip comes from Episode 5 of The Domino Dialogues, titled “Breaking the Mold.” The episode features Captain Maria Ortiz-Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Police Department and Captain Cecilia Ortiz of the Philadelphia Fire Department. In this segment, Captain Cecilia Ortiz speaks about the responsibility that comes with answering emergency calls. When people dial 911 or reach out for help, it is rarely a routine moment in their lives. Something has gone wrong, and for many families it may be the worst day they will ever experience. First responders arrive in the middle of those moments. They witness crisis, trauma, and fear, and they are expected to show up ready to help. Host Edwin reflects on the emotional resilience required for that kind of work. The conversation highlights the human side of public service and the reality that first responders often carry the weight of those experiences long after the call ends. This short clip captures an important truth about the job: firefighters, police officers, and other emergency professionals regularly meet people at their most vulnerable moments, and that responsibility becomes part of the role. This clip is part of the ongoing promotion for Episode 5: “Breaking the Mold,” a conversation about leadership, service, and the experiences of two women who rose to the rank of captain in Philadelphia’s police and fire departments.

In this audio clip from Episode 5 of The Domino Dialogues, Captain Cecilia Ortiz of the Philadelphia Fire Department reflects on where she spent her afternoons growing up. Her family lived above Santos Cheesesteaks, but most days after school were spent at her grandparents’ homes while her parents worked long hours. Dinner happened there. Homework happened there. The day slowed down there. For many families, especially in Latino households, grandparents helped hold that in-between time together. The hours between the final bell and the evening routine. The quiet structure that shaped discipline, memory, and responsibility long before careers took form. This clip moves through those early routines and the role elders played in raising a generation that would later step into leadership. If this conversation resonates, follow The Domino Dialogues wherever you listen and leave a review. It helps more people find stories like this. You can also share your stories on our website, www.SomosSociety.com

“The worst thing you could do is be dead while you’re alive.” In this clip from The Domino Dialogues Episode 4: A Holiday at Centro Musical, Edwin talks about why community spaces like The Lighthouse exist. They exist so people can live fully, show up for one another, and stay connected to the work that came before us. At some point, responsibility belongs to all of us.  Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review!

Episode 5 of The Domino Dialogues brings Captain Cecilia Ortiz of the Philadelphia Fire Department and Captain Maria Ortiz-Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Police Department to the table. This conversation traces long arcs. Captain Maria shares how she began as a teen in the Police Explorers program in Philadelphia and later became Captain in the same district where she once volunteered. What started as exposure became direction. What felt like a possibility became a career. Captain Cecilia talks about starting the Fire Explorers program years ago. Her own children were part of the first group. Today, they serve as firefighters in the same department. That kind of continuity doesn’t happen overnight. It grows through mentorship, structure, and people willing to stay. We also move through memory. Growing up above Santos Cheesesteaks. After-school hours spent at grandparents’ houses while parents worked long days. Dinner there. Homework there. The TV on in the background. Then home later in the evening, only to begin again the next morning. For many families, especially in Latino households, grandparents helped hold the middle of the day together. That steady presence shaped discipline, identity, and responsibility long before uniforms or rank entered the picture. This episode is about women leading in spaces that were not built with them in mind. It is about youth programs that plant seeds early. It is about staying close to community while carrying real responsibility. Leadership here is not framed as achievement. It is lived as consistency. Pull up a chair.

A Holiday at Centro Musical is a warm, reflective conversation set inside one of Philadelphia’s most treasured Puerto Rican small businesses. A cultural cornerstone that has served the community for nearly 50 years. During the holidays, places like Centro Musical feel especially meaningful. The music, the instruments, the familiar sounds and symbols of home all come together to remind us where we come from. From vinyl records, tapes, and CDs to parranda kits, congas, timbales, trumpets, pasteles machines, domino tables, pava hats, Puerto Rican flags, and everyday items filled with cultural pride, Centro Musical carries the spirit of the season year-round. In this episode of Domino Dialogues, artists Danny Torres and Johnny Irizarry reflect on their journeys to Philadelphia; Danny’s move from Puerto Rico and Johnny’s move from West Harlem, and how art, migration, and community spaces shaped their lives. They share personal memories, their experiences as artists, and what Centro Musical represents as a place of connection, tradition, and continuity. As the holidays approach, this episode is a reminder that small businesses like Centro Musical are more than stores, they are gathering places, memory keepers, and living archives that help keep our culture alive. Centro Musical is located at 464 W Lehigh Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19133 and are open Monday through Saturday from 10AM until 7PM.

Danny Torres brings the laughter, Johnny Irizarry brings the recipe, and Edwin Desamour honors the legacy: Year 4 of the 4th Annual Johnny Irizarry Coquito Fest

Pat's or Geno's? Neither. In our neighborhood we had the BEST cheesesteaks right on 6th and Indiana, Santos Cheesesteaks. Kids would walk from Potter Thomas during lunch to eat there. Santos was a real one for us. What are your memories of Santos? How do you like to order your cheesesteak? Ours is #SPKFOTR. Watch: IYKYK: Santos Cheesesteaks

Episode 3, The Flavor of Home, celebrates Puerto Rican flavor and memory. Chef Ana honors her father, “The Pastelillo Man,” while Priscilla shares how she became the baker of her family. Together they revisit El Bloque de Oro, holiday dishes, and the traditions that keep our culture alive across generations.

It's pasteles season and we have a serious question. Ketchup or Pique? Full episode coming on 11/15.

If 9 out of 10 people around you aren’t doing anything… guess who’s next?