What began as an idea between partners in 2021 now reaches more than 10,500 daily listeners.
Elio Piedra and his partner, Charlie Delatorre, envisioned a radio station that would bring together the Hispanic community — one that would go beyond the booth. Tu Fiesta Radio 95.7 FM offers not only Latin music and entertainment, but also local news and cultural programming for the Hispanic community.
The station, which began broadcasting in 2021, will mark its fourth anniversary Nov. 1.
Thelma Cruz, a 53-year-old Puerto Rican with more than 24 years of broadcasting experience, is known to listeners as La Bandida, which translates to “The Bandit” in English. She recalls the station’s early days and the debut of El Vacilón del Mediodía, a midday radio show, broadcast from a small studio where the team worked on their feet instead of around a conference table.
The unconventional setup allowed hosts and guests to dance and wave Cuban and Puerto Rican flags throughout the show, Cruz said.
For Cruz, the radio goes beyond its four walls, as her work is also reflected in the streets.
“When someone comes up to me and asks, ‘Are you La Bandida?,’ I know I’m not alone,” she said.
Her role, she says, is to be there in moments of joy but also in times of hardship.
She also acknowledged the importance of addressing sensitive issues on air. The radio opens space for conversations about topics that reflect the everyday realities of Hispanic communities in Florida, Cruz added, and these discussions connect with broader Latin American experiences, bringing attention to concerns that resonate across the region.
“In these times we’re living in, I feel the responsibility to sit in front of the microphone and say what’s wrong and what’s happening in Puerto Rico,” Cruz said.
Between laughs, she said she wants to be La Bandida until the day she dies.
A new generation at the mic
Dianelys Torres, a 25-year-old Ecuadorian, joined the station as a multimedia specialist in September 2024. The UF alumna said Tu Fiesta Radio’s visible impact on the Hispanic community drew her to the station.
“Delivering the news is not just informing, it’s also saying,‘This is what happened, and we’re here to lend a hand,’” she said.
She recalls a family who lost their home during hurricane season and reconnected with its community through the station.
For Torres, radio fosters a reciprocal relationship with listeners.
“Local media and the city are not separate worlds,” Torres said.
The listener’s voice
José Rafael Castillo, president of the Dominican Association of North-Central Florida, said the station keeps him connected to his roots.
“It’s not a radio station; it’s a community, it’s a family,” he said. “We’re neighbors, friends, brothers, and they’re always open to supporting all Latinos.”
Gainesville cosmetologist and business owner Alexandra Blanton also highlighted the importance of the Spanish-language station. Blanton said she’s listened to the station since it first began in 2021.
She also expressed how the station not only provides her with news and community updates in Spanish, but also gives her and other local entrepreneurs a valuable platform to share and promote their businesses.
“There was a very large Latino community that had been underserved for a long time,” she said. “I think it’s fantastic to have this kind of support, especially for those of us with businesses.”
The station will host its third Tu Fiesta Radio Festival Nov. 1 at the Alachua County Sports & Event Center. The event will bring together Latino audiences and residents with music, dancing and food. Headlining will be renowned salsa singer Luis Enrique, known as El Príncipe de la Salsa.
From the station, the invitation is clear: “Esta es su casa” said host Cruz.
Contact María José Cordero mcastillo@alligator.org. Follow her on X @marprofundo___.
María José Cordero is a contributing writer and a political scientist currently in her first year of a master’s program in Women’s Studies, Gender and Sexualities. She has a keen interest in feminist perspectives and the intersections of politics and social change. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, soaking up the sun and spending time in nature.
