¡Hola! I'm Irisneri!
I'm Irisneri Alicea Flores, a proud Puerto Rican, professional genealogist, and founder of Descubre Tu Historia.
With over 14 years of experience and a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University, I specialize in Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Latin American ancestry.
What began as a personal journey to discover my own family's history grew into a passion for helping others reconnect with their roots.
I believe genealogy is about so much more than finding names and dates. It's about discovering the people behind those records, honoring their experiences, and understanding how their stories have shaped our own.
Because our ancestors were here too, and their stories deserve to be told.
My Story
The Roots Behind Descubre Tu Historia
My story begins in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, where I was born. In 1988, my family moved to the United States, settling in Western Massachusetts. Although I grew up between two places, Puerto Rico remained an important part of who I was.
Eventually, life brought me back to the island, where I attended and graduated from the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico. I later returned to Massachusetts, carrying with me experiences that shaped my understanding of family, culture, and identity.
But there were still pieces of my own story I didn't fully understand.
The Search That Changed Everything
My journey into genealogy began with a woman I never had the opportunity to meet: my paternal grandmother, Faustina Maldonado de Jesús.
I wanted to know who she was. Not simply when or where she was born, but who she had been as a person. What was her life like? What experiences shaped her? What stories had been left untold?
I began searching for answers, one record at a time.
What started as a search for my abuela became a journey through generations of family history. With every document, every discovery, and every connection, I began piecing together not only her story but also my own.
I discovered that understanding where we come from can help us make sense of who we are. The people who came before us lived through experiences that shaped our families, our traditions, and sometimes even the questions we carry without realizing why.
And although I never had the chance to meet my abuela Faustina, genealogy gave me an opportunity to get to know her in a way I never thought possible.
Along the way, I also helped my grandfather uncover information about the father he had lost at a young age. These discoveries reminded me that family history isn't just about the past. It can bring answers, understanding, and meaningful connections to the people living today.
From Personal Discovery to Professional Purpose
The more I researched, the more I realized that genealogy was about so much more than collecting names, dates, and documents.
Behind every record was a person. Someone who loved, struggled, made difficult decisions, experienced joy, and lived a life worth remembering.
After twenty years working in Human Resources, I decided to pursue my passion for genealogy professionally. I continued developing my research skills and earned a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University.
Eventually, I founded Descubre Tu Historia, with a mission to help others uncover their family histories, reconnect with their roots, and preserve the stories of those who came before them.
Today, I specialize in Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Latin American genealogy, helping individuals and families navigate historical records, verify family connections, and discover stories that might otherwise remain forgotten.
Through my research, presentations, and educational programs, I also hope to make genealogy more accessible and encourage others to begin their own journeys.
More Than Names and Dates
One of the things I often say is:
"When we connect to our past, we better understand our present and get prepared for the future."
That belief is at the heart of everything I do.
Genealogy doesn't change what happened in the past, but it can change how we understand it. It can give us perspective, help us recognize the resilience of those who came before us, and allow us to see our own lives through a different lens.
My journey began with a grandmother I never knew. What I discovered along the way was so much more than I ever expected.
And that is what I hope to help others experience through Descubre Tu Historia.
Because our ancestors were here too. Their lives mattered. Their stories matter. And they deserve to be remembered.
Mi gente estuvo aquí también.