OPEN Friday

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by Provost and Vice President for the Office of Academic Affairs Dr. Andrea Fabrizio, and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Julie Gafney to discuss the Hostos Community College Foundation’s upcoming 2026 Annual Scholarship Benefit Gala. Then, actress and producer Paige Hapeman  joins the show to talk about her performance in Thoughts & Prayers happening at New York City’s Fringe Festival. After that, Director Joel Alfonso Vargas and actress Nathaly Navarro share details on the release of their new film, Mad Bills to Pay. Finally, the Open Artist Spotlight shines on singer, songwriter, and founder of Built Two Last Media, Tieasha Baker, who closes the show with her song, "Rejoice".OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education Artistic Director Gail Heidel along with digital artist and illustrator, Ebony Bolt. They join us to talk about their upcoming exhibition Remember. Then, educator, human rights activist, and ceramic artist Esperanza Martell is here to share the inspiration behind the exhibition Arte De Terra Y Mar currently on display at Boricua College. After that, we are joined by a husband/wife duo and founders of Uptown Royalty NYC, Jodi Music and Ron Renaissance. Here to share their season of touring. Finally, our Open Artist Spotlight shines on Uptown Royalty who will be closing out the show with a 13-piece band performance. OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by choreographer, entrepreneur, and social justice advocate Rhiannon Murphy. She is here to talk about her new book, A Citizen's Handbook: Who to Call for What!? Then, filmmaker, visual director, and creative entrepreneur Dante Hillmedo joins us to tell us about his film Butterfly and his new line Lunessence Parfum. After that, the Bronx Vegan Bazaar joins us again to highlight the founder of Botanical Moment, Leticia Robinson. Finally, our Open Artist Spotlight shines on Rhiannon Murphy, who's closing out the show with a blessing and a Native American Fancy Dance.OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by artist and philosopher, Dr. Jessica Rodríguez-Colón, who is here to talk about her new book, Displacement of (M)others in Twenty-First Century US films: Impact On Maternal Identities Of "Other" Subjectivities. Next, we welcome photographer Nicole Tung to discuss her new exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center. This exhibition, presented in conjunction with Foundation Carmignac, is titled Overfishing in South East Asia: An Ecological and Human Crisis. After that, dancer and actress Ilda Mason joins us to share her role in the 5-time Tony Award-winning musical Buena Vista Social Club. Finally, our Open Artist Spotlight shines on songwriter, poet, and actor, Marcus Stokes, who closes out the show with a performance of one of his original poems titled Nostalgia Ultra.OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by husband and wife duo Zalo and April Castillo, founders of Lion Chaser Media.  They're here to talk about their mission to create media with purpose, power and impact. Then, the founding partners of Santu Beauty, Alicia Nogales and Angelique Van Wyk, join Rhina to talk about their sustainable beauty line.  Finally, the Open Artist Spotlight shines on clown and executive director of Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Keith Nelson, who shares his insights about life under the big top. Then, Keith also closes out the show with a top spinning and sword swallowing routine. OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by the 13th Commissioner of The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Rossana Rosado. Here to talk about her new book Bronx Attitude. Then, founding partners of Freedom Studios Julia Carias-Linares and Meiling Macías-Toro join Rhina to talk about their new bilingual unscripted lifestyle series Fix Mi Casa. After that, she is joined by two representatives of The Red Carpet For Social Justice Women’s Coalition to discuss this year's event. Finally, the show closes out with a tribute for Women's History Month, featuring some of The Red Carpet For Social Justice Women, representing four different countries and their cause.OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

First, we welcome Raidirys "Ra" Rivas Mccray, founder of The Bronx Vegan Bazaar, to discuss the highly anticipated return of the event. Next, actress and talent manager Susan Rybin joins us to break down the "ins and outs" of the industry for aspiring young performers. Then, photographers Emily Sujay Sanchez and Lex Kim stop by to highlight their new exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center. Finally, today’s Open Artist Spotlight shines on Evolution—a storyteller, visual artist, and social worker—who closes the show with a powerful performance of her poem, "Iatrophobia."OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin welcomes Gregory Hernandez, Executive Director of The Bronx Independent Cinema Center, and Social Media Manager Bernadette Mahoney. Then, actor, writer, and director Juan Carlos joins us to discuss his role in Stranger Things on Broadway. We also sit down with visual artist and high school teacher John Vasquez Mejia, who shares the unique storytelling style of his novelette, The Puerto Rican War. Finally, today’s Open Artist Spotlight shines on the artistic directors, choreographers, and master instructors of Spirits N Motion 3.0, who close out the show with a special spiritual dance performance.OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

First up is producer and filmmaker Anthony James Faure to talk about stories that center cultural identity, migration, and the power of language. Then, we're joined by yoga/fitness instructor and owner of Ofrenda Yoga Studio, Jazmin Tejada, who is here to enlighten us about the transformative power of yoga. After that, award-winning voiceover and film actor, Summer Rose Castillo is here to talk about her recent success as the voice of Alma in Alma’s Way. Finally, today’s Open Artist Spotlight shines on director and founder of Musicians Teach Music, Holley Bartlett. Closing out the show is Annie Chester singing "Always".OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this Valentine’s Day episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin welcomes explorer and Fulton Fish Market Events host Justin Fornal, who shares his picks for the Bronx’s top romantic hotspots. Next, we meet Rodney Johnson, producer of the new BronxNet show Spin to Match, to discuss the art of building intentional relationships. Then, Calvert Crary, Executive Director of FlowerSchool New York, joins us with expert tips on floral design. Finally, our Open Artist Spotlight shines on Talia Castro-Pozo, who closes the show with a vibrant salsa performance celebrating the 20th anniversary of Latin Mondays.OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by Nurse Practitioner Roxanna Garcia, PhD and Adult Nurse Practitioner Hilda Haynes-Lewis, here to explain why the nurses strike is so important to our essential healthcare system. Next up, we are joined by writer, author and spiritual healer Zayda Rivera to talk about her new book, Being Bruja. Then, we are joined by host of the Garifuna Experience podcast, Jose Francisco Avila, who is here with a powerful message for the Garifuna community. Finally, today’s Open Artist Spotlight shines on actor, singer, dancer Joshua Garcia, closing out the show with a Ran Can Can dance performance.OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by printmaker, photographer and filmmaker Marisol Diaz Gordon, who joins us with associate professor of neurology at Montefiore Einstein Dr. Jonathan Gursky. Then Javier Valencia, designer-in-residence of the SoHarlem collective, will be sharing some of his creations with an in-studio mini fashion show. Finally, today’s Open Artist Spotlight shines on spoken word artist, author, and teacher Jrose, who closes out the show with a performance of her poem "Masterpiece".OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by veteran actor and writer Lou Mustillo to talk about his latest projects. Next, we're joined by Ya Ve tequila founder, Joe Cruz Jr. who is here to share his journey and unite like-minded latino, black, and brown entrepreneurs. Then, multiple Emmy award-winning icon, author, and tv producer Sonia Sanzano stops by to talk about the third season of her creation, Alma’s Way. And finally, today’s Open Artist Spotlight shines on singer-songwriter, actress, and public speaker Sophia Angelica, who closes out the show with her song Volvernos A Ver.OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

On this week's edition of OPEN Friday, host Rhina Valentin sits down with Carlos Rosario from 100 Men Rising and Lethy Liriano from Brides March, here to talk about their efforts to end domestic violence. Then Rhina is joined by Executive Director Margarita Guzman and Director of Special Programs, Katia Amaya-Salinas from Violence Intervention Program. They are here to talk about VIP's ongoing projects to help Latina women who are victims of domestic violence. And finally, Rhina is joined by Senior Curatorial producer Suzanne Rust and Marine Corp Vet and Storyteller, Diego Aguirre from The Moth. Here to talk about The Moth and their upcoming New York show. OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.