Throw, throw, throw your junk

By Marlene McTigue 

Capital Region Independent Media

COXSACKIE — Celebrated Latina vocalist Bronte Roman will once again be the featured performer at Capital Region Independent Media’s Top 5ive Changemakers awards this year. 

Roman, who grew up in Brooklyn, studied pop/rock voice at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Her performances feature a wide variety of musical and vocal styles from jazz to swing, to well-known favorites. She is also known to highlight her Puerto Rican heritage as she performs Latin-infused Latin-pop, merengue, salsa, bolero and Bachatas with her 15-piece party band to the delight of all. 

Roman’s performance last year at the Top 5ive event was so well-received she was asked to return again this year.

The awards ceremony honors the top five community changemakers in southern Albany, Greene and Columbia counties. The program was started last year by Capital Region Independent Media, which publishes the Ravena News-Herald, the Greenville Pioneer and The Columbia Paper, as well as the media company’s website, TheUpStater.com, and community guidebooks geared to specific communities. This year’s event will again be held at The Wire event center in Coxsackie. 

“It really means a lot to me to be a part of the Top 5ive again this year,” said Roman. “The ceremony really acknowledges and brings forth a lot of folks who really made a huge difference.” 

“Everyone makes a difference in all that they do,” she added. “But when you have those few that go above and beyond and really make an impact, it’s wonderful to see how that’s brought to fruition and for folks to acknowledge it and to cheer in that way to give them that extra support. Sometimes we’re not aware when we’re going above and beyond and how it impacts other lives. So, it really is wonderful when folks take some time to show and really acknowledge someone’s efforts.”

There are four categories in the annual awards ceremony — business/not-for-profit, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), women and youth. Winners were nominated by people in the community and then the top five in each category were selected by a panel of judges.

“When I think back to the award ceremony last year, so many folks were surprised and they gave speeches about how they love what they do,” Roman said. “And they were a little bit surprised and taken aback to see the impact that they had made. It’s heartwarming and it feels very rewarding to have that acknowledgement, especially being a Hispanic Latina and a small business owner. It sometimes is a little bit of a challenge when you’ve got larger established organizations that are marketing businesses in the same field that you are and see that your efforts really are rewarded nicely from folks that you would never expect to even be observing.”

The inaugural awards ceremony in 2023 was a blast, Roman said.

“Last year, folks were dancing and they had a great time and the award ceremony was so moving,” she said. “It was just a really special evening of connecting and networking and I thought everyone did a fantastic job and it was a great turnout. I’m excited to be there again.”

You can check out all of the Top 5ive winners of the year at www.TheUpstater.com. And if you would like to join in on April 26 to help celebrate with the local changemakers, you can purchase tickets to join them at https://thetop5ive.ticketmambo.com/index.cfm?e=event&eventId=35769.