Ponte tus moños, an organization founded by Dulce Ruby Flores and Andrew Castillo gains popularity through the media. Its main focus is to raise funds for people that have been affected by ICE and on bringing the community together by giving undocumented people opportunities to work the braids pop-ups.

When the first raids in Florida started in Jan. 2025, Flores felt that her community needed her and what started as a small gesture of selling bows to raise money for the families affected in Florida, a mutual aid for basic necessities turned into something bigger.

The ICE raids did not stop in Florida, it started to spread in all states and as of June 6 of last year it hit California. Not only affecting the undocumented community but those surrounding them, “the trauma came back to life” says Flores after witnessing how greatly her community in east LA was affected by these events.

The first fund raiser they did was at the No Kings first protest in LA and they raised around $1,000 dollars that were given to construction workers the next day.

Flore’s indigenous background inspired her to do traditional Mexican braids pop-ups to encourage others to embrace their heritage and Flores expresses how she wants to show the way hispanic culture expresses itself.

“I go a lot out of the word maximalism because we are like a lot you know? We should be proud of everything. So when you look at our bows and ribbons, it’s a lot right? Thats how you know its us” said Flores

Even though as a kid Flores hated wearing braids to school because of all the stereotypes surrounding her culture, she felt ashamed but now she stands with pride and channels all the anger she ever felt into something she is passionate about, helping her community.

A hundred percent of the funds raised go directly to the communities and are used to invest in more ribbons as well as free braiding community events for those who still want to get their hair done but can not afford it.

Gaining traction has opened opportunities for this organization to collaborate with other organizations and even coffee shops owned by small business owners that has allowed them to even make their first trip cross the country in Chicago.

On Mother’s Day this year they were able to raise $15,000 dollars to give to a single undocumented mother, showing transparency in how it may not seem like a lot but for someone who has to live in constant fear to go out every time they have to work, it truly brings relief.

Ponte tus moños plan on transitioning to an online flea-market to give the opportunity to undocumented braiders or upcoming hair-stylists so people can book an appointment online and get braided at home.

The bigger picture is to partner with bigger brands that invest in communities like these to keep the culture alive. By giving these communities more representation they hope that it also opens more opportunities for them and that they continue to help one another.