Michael D. Nieves will be honored as a special guest member of the board of directors of the XIX Festival de los Reyes Magos de Vieques for his activism and humanitarian work in support of Puerto Ricans in mainland United States

Brooklyn, NY – HITN, the largest non-commercial Hispanic network in the United States that offers educational and entertainment content to more than 44 million households across the country, confirmed the attendance of Michael D. Nieves, the network’s President and CEO, as a special guest member of the board of directors of the XIX Festival de los Reyes Magos de Vieques. Nieves was invited in recognition of his tireless efforts to defend the rights of Puerto Ricans on the mainland. The festival will take place on Sunday, January 7, 2018 in Esperanza Park in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

“It will be an honor to attend the XIX Festival de los Reyes Magos de Vieques this year on behalf of all of the Puerto Ricans who strive to uphold Puerto Rican values and traditions outside of the island,” Nieves remarked. “It is important to start 2018 with the certainty that we are capable of facing misfortune with the cheerfulness and persistence that characterize our people. Puerto Rico is reinventing itself in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria by doing what it does best: celebrating life through its music, values and traditions.”

Nieves was one of two boricuas unanimously chosen as honorees by the festival’s board of directors this year for their dedication to promoting the rights of Puerto Ricans in the mainland US. The organizers cited Nieves’s activism and humanitarian work.

“Ever since the Festival de los Reyes Magos de Vieques was founded in 2000, Michael has given us his unconditional support in the form of his participation and sponsorship,” noted Ramón Figuero Sorrintin, President and Founder of the Festival de los Reyes Magos de Vieques. “He supports the Vieques community in other ways as well through his collaboration with ‘Vieques en Rescate,’ a nonprofit organization that assists cancer patients on the island. For all of these reasons, we felt he deserved to
have the festival dedicated to him this year.”

Michael D. Nieves currently leads HITN’s general operations, making sure its programming is in line with the network’s vision and mission. These include educating viewers by providing relevant content that helps them understand their civic duties and responsibilities as useful members of society. Before joining HITN, Nieves held a number of city government positions in New York City, where he is known for his political activism and humanitarian work.