Johavany Nieves Kurokawa

Johavany (Jovy) Nieves Kurokawa was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and grew up in the Sabana neighborhood of Vega Baja. A proud mother, grandmother, aunt, and godmother, she passionately advocates for Puerto Rican culture. Jovy has dedicated her life to teaching her children and everyone around her the importance of their roots, language, culture, history, and traditions, regardless of where they live. Jovy has taken on many roles throughout her life. With a doctorate in business entrepreneurship, she has worked as a manager, chef, life coach, entrepreneur, and writer. However, she considers her most important role to be that of a mother. Inspired by the stories, adventures, and curiosities of her children, grandchildren, and godchildren, Jovy has created children’s stories that pass on the rich cultural heritage of Puerto Rico to new generations. She is also the creator of Bori-Bingo, an educational game that honors Puerto Rican roots by incorporating the history, traditions, and culture of the Island. Additionally, she is the mastermind behind Lola la Jíbara Viajera, a doll that proudly represents Puerto Rican identity and travels the world, sharing the essence of Boricua roots. Her greatest dream is for Bori-Bingo and Lola la Jíbara Viajera to become ambassadors of Puerto Rican history, culture, and traditions. Currently, Jovy lives in California with her husband and family, working at Bori-Rican Publishing, a company she founded to connect children with Puerto Rican culture through stories, games, and family activities. With every story, Jovy invites her readers to discover the magic of being Puerto Rican because, as she says: "No matter where we are, we must always carry our culture in our hearts."