Why Obama Presidential Center picked this superhero

The Obama Presidential Center is beginning to showcase the type of community focused cultural programming visitors can expect, and one of its earliest events celebrated the lasting impact of an independent comic book hero. As part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s inaugural Every Child Thrives Festival, graphic novelist Edgardo Miranda Rodríguez led a hands on workshop centered on his Afro Latina superhero, La Borinqueña, marking the character’s 10th anniversary.

Held shortly after the center’s grand opening, the event welcomed participants from different cities and countries who gathered to create original superheroes inspired by their own lives, communities and personal values. The workshop also offered an early glimpse into the center’s broader vision of combining art, education and civic engagement through public programming.

A superhero created to reflect culture and community

Unlike many comic book icons introduced by major publishers, La Borinqueña was independently created by Miranda Rodríguez, a Brooklyn based writer, graphic novelist and philanthropist. Although the character has since appeared alongside well known DC Comics heroes, she began as a personal project celebrating Puerto Rican identity while highlighting issues that affect diverse communities.

Throughout the session, participants explored the origins of the character while working on their own superhero concepts. Tables were stocked with paper, colored pencils and character templates as attendees considered questions about their strengths and the people or causes they wanted their heroes to protect.

Miranda Rodríguez designed the workshop to encourage creativity while helping people reflect on their own identities and the positive impact they hope to make within their communities.

 Participants drew inspiration from their own experiences

Among those attending was Rai Elle Ingram, a college student originally from the Bronx who was spending time in Chicago working with the gun violence prevention organization Chicago CRED. She developed a superhero named Ultra Rain that represented empathy, emotional awareness and encouragement during difficult moments.

The event also attracted visitors from outside the United States. Zenaida Pérez traveled from Oaxaca, Mexico, to represent the COPERA collective, an organization focused on addressing racial discrimination. Her participation reflected the international interest surrounding both the Every Child Thrives Festival and La Borinqueña’s anniversary celebration.

Pérez joined Liz Torok, director of marketing and development for the Hispanic Development Fund in Kansas City. Torok attended the festival to better understand the experiences and challenges facing young people today, particularly first generation Latino students. The two shared ideas while creating their superhero characters and appreciated the opportunity to participate together.

A decade of growth for La Borinqueña

The anniversary celebration extends beyond the workshop itself. To commemorate 10 years of La Borinqueña, the series is releasing 10 special edition covers created by different artists. One featured design comes from Marvel Studios artist Nik Virella, whose artwork draws inspiration from Puerto Rican skipper butterflies.

Since debuting more than a decade ago, the comic has steadily expanded its reach. Miranda Rodríguez later collaborated with DC Comics on a graphic novel that united La Borinqueña with legendary heroes including Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman in a story centered on rebuilding Puerto Rico. The project also explored environmental issues by making climate change the central threat facing the island.

The popularity of the series has also led to a traveling museum exhibition that has appeared in several cities across the United States, including Chicago’s National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.

Early signs of the Obama Presidential Center’s vision

The workshop demonstrated how the Obama Presidential Center plans to combine creative expression with conversations about identity, leadership and community engagement. Festival visitors experienced interactive programming that encouraged collaboration while highlighting stories from different cultural backgrounds.

Although portions of the campus remained closed during the private festival, those inside the Forum building experienced one of the first examples of the center’s educational and artistic programming. The event encouraged guests of all ages to reconnect with their creativity while imagining heroes shaped by compassion, resilience and service to others.

As the Obama Presidential Center continues expanding its schedule of public events, programs like the La Borinqueña workshop signal an emphasis on storytelling, cultural celebration and opportunities for visitors to actively participate rather than simply observe.

Source: WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.