Senator Serrano Sponsors Resolution Honoring the Life of Dolores Prida

(Albany, NY)- A Senate Resolution sponsored by State Senator José M. Serrano (D-Mahattan/Bronx) honoring the life and accomplishments of long-time East Harlem community advocate, journalist and writer, Dolores Prida, passed the New York State Senate today.

“The East Harlem community, and the City of New York, has experienced a huge loss in the passing of Dolores Prida,” said Senator Serrano. “Dolores Prida distinguished herself in her profession through her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of her community. In addition, she was also one of the most active, as well as one of the first, female playwrights that brought acclaim to the New York  Latino  stage during the 1980s and 1990s,” continued Serrano. 

Dolores Prida began writing short stories and poetry as a teenager in Cuba. In the United States she published  her  first book, "37 Poems," in 1967. Prida also quickly established herself as a playwright, completing works such as “The Beggars Soap Opera,” “Pantallas,” and “Botanica.”

Throughout  her  career, Dolores Prida  received several distinctions: the Cintas Fellowship Award for Literature,  the  Creative Artistic Public Service Award for Playwriting and the Excellence in Arts Award. Due to her community involvement and activism, Prida was granted a Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Mount Holyoke  College in 1989. In addition, after years of distinguished service within her field, Prida became Director of Information Services for the National Puerto Rican Forum, managing editor of the Spanish publication El Tiempo, and head of publications for the Association of Hispanic Arts (AHA).

“Dolores Prida was a woman with a humanistic spirit that soared with a sense of compassion, and she will forever be considered a leader and visionary within her field,” said Senator Serrano. “My thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this time of grief, and I know that her legacy is one that will stand the test of time and live on through the many lives that she touched and left a lasting impression upon.”