HERNANDEZ, WHO HAS A FUN ASSIGNMENT TONIGHT.

SHE IS AN HUMBOLDT PARK FOR THE START OF PUERTO RICAN FEST.

GIVE US A PREVIEW.. LET ME FIRST TELL YOU THIS PARK GETS FILLED WITH PEOPLE.

AS YOU SAID, THE PUERTO RICAN FEST KICKS OFF TODAY RIGHT AT THE HEART OF HUMBOLDT PARK.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COME HERE TO ENJOY THEIR TIME.

BUT BEFORE THE FESTIVAL KICKED OFF TODAY, WE MET A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO GOT THE CELEBRATION STARTED A BIT EARLY.

THE PUERTO RICAN VIBES ARE IN FULL FORCE ALONG DIVISION STREET.

>> IT IS EXCITING FOR ALL THE PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER.

IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT THERE IS MORE OF US THAN THAT LITTLE ISLAND.

>> Reporter: THIS HUMBOLDT PARK RESIDENT CELEBRATED EARLY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

I COULDN'T RESIST JUMPING IN.

>> WE HAVE TO BE PROUD.

>> Reporter: THE FESTIVITIES IS YOUR HAVE MUSICAL GUESTS FROM PUERTO RICO AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS .

>> WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I GREW UP WITH THIS PARADE BEING OUR THING.

YOU WERE READY TO REPRESENT YOUR CULTURE.

>> Reporter: SOCIAL MEDIA AMBASSADORS WILL HOST A MEET AND GREET , A COOK-OFF, AND A FASHION SHOW.

>> THE TWO FLAGS MARK THAT SPACE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS AS FAR AS ARCHITECTURE THAT LOOK LIKE PUERTO RICO.

>> Reporter: HUMBOLDT PARK WASN'T ALWAYS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY IT IS TODAY.

IN THE 50s, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS PLAGUED BY POVERTY AND CRIME.

>> IF YOU WOULD HAVE COME HERE 50 YEARS AGO AND SEEN THE SLUMS THAT PUERTO RICANS LIVED IN, INFESTED WITH ROACHES AND RATS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN 50 YEARS, IT IS AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR THE PARADE HONORS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PUERTO RICAN CULTURE CENTER, A COMMUNITY GRASSROOT INITIATIVE THAT IS GROWN TO OFFER MULTIPLE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WE CAN SEE HOW MANY PROGRAMS WE GOT FROM HIV PROGRAMS, CASE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH , VIOLENCE PROGRAMS FOR TEENS.

WE ALSO ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM FOR WORKFORCE .

THAT IS ONE OF THE ONES I LEAD.

>> Reporter: THE CENTER WAS ALSO AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE HIV-AIDS EPIDEMIC IT HUMBOLDT PARK.

HIS PUERTO RICAN PRIDE IS EXPRESSED THROUGH HIS HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM, FROM ADVOCATING FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE ISLAND TO LGBTQ RIGHTS.

>> WHAT I WENT THROUGH AS A GAY PUERTO RICAN MAN, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT AGONY.

>> Reporter: FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, THE PARADE HAS HOSTED AN LGBTQ CORONATION.

THESE INDIVIDUALS REPRESENT THE FESTIVAL AS A KING AND QUEEN OF THE PARADE, A MOVE HIM AND A SAYS HELPS DISMANTLE THE STIGMA SURROUNDING LGBTQ PEOPLE IN LATINO CULTURE.

>> TODAY IT IS A TRANS WOMAN AND A GAY MAN.

NOWHERE IN UNITED STATES DOZEN ETHNIC PARADE DO THAT.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE GENTRIFICATION FACING THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE COMMUNITY HAS FOUGHT TO KEEP THE CULTURE THRIVE.

LAST YEAR THE PUERTO RICAN FLAGS ON DIVISION STREET BECAME CITY LANDMARKS.

>> FAMILY AND FUN.

I WANT THEM TO FEEL THEY ARE AMONG THEIR PEOPLE.

EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT PUERTO RICAN, COME OUT AND EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE, THE FUND, THE FOOD.

THERE WILL BE INCREDIBLE MUSIC.

>> Reporter: I CLEARLY HAD TOO MUCH FUN WITH THIS ASSIGNMENT.

THE FESTIVAL IS OPEN TODAY ONLY TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT TOMORROW IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC STARTING AT 4:00 P.M. PEOPLE THAT ENJOY GAMES, LIVE MUSIC,