54th Annual Herbert H. Lehman Memorial Lecture at Lehman College with Fat Joe and Ruben Diaz Jr.

 

On Tuesday, March 26, former Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr. joined famous rapper Fat Joe, to headline the 54th Annual Herbert H. Lehman Memorial Lecture at Lehman College. Diaz Jr. worked his way up from being an alumnus of Lehman College to become a successful elected official, while Fat Joe worked his way up in the streets of the South Bronx to become famous in the music industry and to become a rich entrepreneur, the two being friends as they both grew up.  

This sit-down by the two recanting moments from their history was to show no matter how big you get, do not forget the beginnings where you came from. The two friends would look up into the audience at the middle school, high school, and even Lehman College students in the audience to say look at us, you too can be like us if you try. Ruben Díaz, Jr., began by saying, “I’m so honored and thrilled to be here, speaking with my good friend Fat Joe and I hope we can provide some insight, advice and encouragement as you begin to shape your futures.”   

Díaz Jr. Who currently works as the senior vice president of Strategic Initiatives at Montefiore Einstein Hospital, welcome his friend the hip-hop legend, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Fat Joe who said, “I don’t know if people really, truly understand it when I say that my family was poor — I mean, we were dirt poor, even with my mom working three jobs at the same time.” Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, grew up in the Forest NYCHA projects in the South Bronx.  

Fat Joe and Diaz Jr. spoke of how Fat Joe donated computers to PS 146 and had a contest between classes in four schools where each student in the winning class that improved the most in their grades, attendance, and citizenship would win a pair of Air Jordan sneakers. It worked so well that all four classes participating had major improvements in all areas. The two then spoke of providing food and other essential items to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, where Fat Joe called his friend P-Dity to help pay the cost of $255,000.00 to fly the three cargo containers to Puerto Rico. Fat Joe also intends to provide assistance to improve the current crisis in Haiti.   

Fat Joe said, “Our students need proper tools and resources to be able to compete, “that is the reason I’m all about philanthropy because I came from a family of giving — even when we were poor ourselves and didn’t have much to offer.” Díaz, Jr. and Fat Joe, whose friendship stems more than 25 years, co-named this year’s lecture, “Hip Hop with a Heart / The Civic Mind of the Bronx.”  

The talk was followed by a question-and-answer segment where students and others in attendance were given the opportunity to ask questions about Ruben Díaz, Jr. and Fat Joe’s life paths to success and their experiences of growing up in the South Bronx. 

There was musical entertainment provided by DJ Sam before and after the Lecture. 

Fat Joe and Ruben Diaz Jr. were talking about how they grew up in the South Bronx, and how they both made their mark in their own way.

Fat Joe explains "we had this much food and other items to send to Puerto Rico that we needed a plane to fly everything down there."

During the question and answer period of the lecture Ruben Diaz Jr. led the conversation of his friendship with Fat Joe.

Students were invited backstage to take a photo with Fat Joe and Ruben Diaz Jr.

Another group of students got their picture with Fat Joe and Ruben Diaz Jr.

This lucky woman got Fat Joe to autograph his book for her.