From Broadway Struggles to Community Power: How Two Immigrant Artists Are Building a New Home for Latine Talent

Ten years ago, Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca arrived in New York City with big dreams but faced the harsh realities of being immigrant artists. Today, they are channeling that experience into The Familia, an organization dedicated to supporting Latine and immigrant artists navigating the complex world of American theatre.

Born from a Personal Mission

The spark for The Familia ignited last year while Cuenca was making her Broadway debut in Real Women Have Curves. She noticed a gap: the Latine and immigrant audiences she desperately wanted to see the show weren't attending due to financial barriers. Taking matters into her own hands, Cuenca used her own paycheck to buy tickets for those who couldn't afford them.

"I started doing that, and that inspired other artists to be like, 'Hey, I can give $400. Hey, I can give $500,'" recalls Cuenca. This grassroots effort sent 50 audience members to the show and laid the foundation for a larger movement.

A Grand Launch with "Dreamer"

In time for Hispanic Heritage Month, Lozano and Cuenca officially launched The Familia with an ambitious project: a 100-person music video featuring Broadway stars singing "Dreamer," a song written by Lozano and Georgie Castilla. The star-studded lineup includes:

• Eva Noblezada
• Melissa Barrera
• Daphne Rubin-Vega
• Diego Rodriguez
• Brian Quijada (who also contributed rap lyrics)

You can stream "Dreamer" via Concord Theatrical Recordings.

More Than Just a Music Video

While the launch is high-profile, The Familia has been working behind the scenes for months. Key initiatives include:

• A Songwriting Contest: Which received over 200 entries and culminated in a concert at Joe's Pub.
• "A Conversation en Familia": A series of intimate discussions led by theatre artists, partnered with the Dramatists Guild Foundation, exploring creative processes.

Navigating Systemic Barriers

Lozano and Cuenca’s journey mirrors the struggles many face. They moved to NYC full-time in 2015, after Lozano proposed to Cuenca at the Richard Rodgers Theatre during a trip in 2014. However, the path wasn't easy. For five years, Cuenca could not get a work visa. Now green card holders, they still cannot incorporate as a non-profit because they are not U.S. citizens, limiting their ability to secure large-scale donations.

"As an immigrant, the sad thing is that you're always behind—in opportunities, in networking, in figuring out the systems," says Cuenca. "We want to create something to make it easier for the next generation that are immigrating here."

Fighting for Community Strength

Despite these hurdles, the couple is actively seeking a fiscal sponsor to facilitate tax-deductible donations. Their vision extends beyond just the Latine community; they aim to support anyone who feels marginalized.

"If one person is not safe, no one is safe. Or the opposite, if one of us does good, everyone is gonna do good," says Lozano. "It's not about something exclusive for one community. So we are fighting for opportunities for our community, but at the same time for other underrepresented communities... that if we get together, we can really be stronger."

Visit TheFamilia.org to learn more or support their mission.