About La Directora

IVELISSE “BOMBERA DE CORAZÓN” DIAZ

Multi-dimensional Artist • Educator • Cultural Organizer

Ivelisse “Bombera de Corazón” Diaz is dynamic performer, educator, and cultural organizer in Puerto Rican Bomba. She was born and raised in Humboldt Park and is deeply rooted in the traditions of her ancestral home : Puerto Rico. For over three decades, she has amplified Afro-Puerto Rican culture to inspire, educate, and unite communities, using Bomba as a tool for community building, cultural preservation, education and social change.

She is the founder and director of La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, a pioneering music and cultural arts school established in 2009 that blends intergenerational arts education with social justice, based in Humboldt Park. Ivelisse also directs the longest standing all-women’s Bomba y Plena ensemble Las BomPleneras, Bomberxs D’Cora and is a founding member and former lead vocalist of Bomba con Buya and Grupo Yuba.

Known for her resilience, visionary leadership, and fierce love for her culture, Ivelisse has taught and performed across the globe, uplifting and evolving Bomba for new generations, all while honoring the elders and those who paved the way. With a family legacy that spans 3 generations and a commitment to cultural continuity, she is a living bridge between tradition and transformation in Puerto Rican Bomba, always guided by familia, resistance, and community. Ivelisse remains deeply rooted in her culture as a proud Boricua de Chicago, Guayama and a devoted mother to her daughter, Amaya.