Gricel Martinez Ocasio, Publisher

Gricel Martinez Ocasio is the Publisher, Co-owner and Co-founder of The Rainbow Times. She is a former journalist, Editor-in-Chief, Assistant Editor and Business Consultant, for various media, including the Springfield Republican, and has worked in the publishing industry for more than 20 years. Gricel was also the visionary and sole-owner of a bilingual newspaper, El Reportero, which served the Hispanic Spanish-speaking community in the state of Alabama. As a result of the newspaper’s success, Gricel was featured on the special broadcast, “Hola Alabama.”

She has served on the board of directors for various organizations such as Northampton Pride, Connecticut Pride, Moonshot Inc., the Aids Action Coalition, amongst others, and has participated in various community-based programs to better assist marginalized communities. Her relentless dedication has earned her titles such as the Gilmore Volunteer of the Year Award (AIDS Action Coalition) and other community-based awards such as the Boston Latino Pride 2010 Honoree-LGBT Community Member. As a fully bilingual and bicultural individual, Gricel was also the original visionary and co-founder of the LGBT Coalition of Western Massachusetts. When her schedule permits she has been a guest speaker at higher institutions of learning such as Williams College and Girls Inc.

Gricel earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications from Temple University in Philadelphia PA in 1991. Additionally, she holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Marylhurst University, with concentrations in Non-Profit Management, Business Law, and E-commerce.  She is also a member of the International Honor Society in Business, Management, and Administration, Sigma Beta Delta, in recognition of high scholastic achievement (summa cum laude). She can be reached at publisher@therainbowtimesnews.com