What motivated you to do a film project on Pantoja? Why is her story important?
Toni was an extraordinary person precisely because she was so human – like many of us she had her challenges but she overcame the obstacles in her path. She was resilient and focused. I was motivated to produce/direct this film because she was the embodiment of the best of our community – the Puerto Rican/Latino community. She institutionalized the working class values of reciprocity, sharing, consideration of others and giving back. She created a leadership of commitment to community as opposed to the acute individualism that we see touted in this society today. Her story is our story, and it’s part of the hidden history of New York and the US that we have to tell to dispel the stereotypes and negative myths about poor people, about Puerto Ricans. We contributed to the life and blood of this society, and the civil rights that many immigrants and citizens take for granted were won through blood, sweat and tears of Puerto Ricans on the front lines against discrimination, racism and apat
