In this episode of Spirit & Liberation, host Francisca Porchas-Coronado speaks with Melanie Maldonado—a Boricua bombera, artivist, independent scholar, and cultural preservationist whose work spans performance, history, and genealogy. Melanie is the founder of the Puerto Rican Organization for the Performing Arts (PROPA) in Chicago and the longtime organizer of the Bomba Research Conference. She has contributed to the Smithsonian Latino Museum Studies Program, conducted research for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and published extensively on Afro-Puerto Rican music and dance. Since 2011, Melanie has led the Lugares Históricos project, highlighting Black historical sites in Puerto Rico—including those tied to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Her work includes community tours, historical marker placements, and ongoing efforts to preserve sacred ancestral spaces. She is also a genealogist and member of the United Confederation of Taíno People, working to help Afrodescendant families reconnect with their roots through projects like Mis Ancestres en la Bomba, África Habla en Mí, and Mapping Africa in Puerto Rico. In this episode, we explore: Her journey as a bombera and cultural worker, The importance of Black historical sites in Puerto Rico, Her genealogical work connecting Afrodescendants to ancestral memory, The mapping of African legacy across Borikén and why reclaiming physical spaces matters for spiritual and political liberation. This conversation is an offering for all those committed to remembering, honoring, and preserving our roots. Spirit & Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions. Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.
Latinx Therapists Action Network - http://ltan.org