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Tag: celebrating hispanic heritage

  • Embrace Massó ‘¡Con Salsa!’ International Music Festival returns

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    In celebration of the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, Embrace Boston will host the international music festival Embrace Massó ¡Con Salsa! on Saturday on the Boston Common.

    The festival, which is described as an exciting celebration of music, culture, and social justice, is scheduled to begin at noon. You can watch a livestream of the festival from 3-7:30 p.m. in the video player above.

    Embrace Massó “¡Con Salsa!” represents Embrace Boston’s commitment to social change through the universal language of community and music. Organizers say the event showcases the rich diversity of Latin and international rhythms, melodies, and traditions, uniting artists and audiences from around the world in a spirit of harmony and solidarity.

    In addition to the music, there will be domino games, plenty of food, and community celebrations in a space where organizers say culture, activism, and joy come together.

    This festival is named after activist, leader, and community icon José Massó III, whose pioneering work has inspired generations of artists and activists and who embodies the spirit of resilience, advocacy, and inclusion that defines the festival.

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    Aixa Sepúlveda

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  • San Jose’s Mexican Heritage Plaza celebrates 25 years

    San Jose’s Mexican Heritage Plaza celebrates 25 years

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    The Mexican Heritage Plaza, home of the School of Arts and Culture and gateway to East San Jose, is now 25 years old.

    As the cultural center marks another milestone, new leadership is taking it to the next level.

    The center sits on six acres on the same property where Cesar Chavez held his first grape boycott outside the old Safeway. Now it’s home to a slew of community programs, including free or low-cost music and art classes for children.

    Pete Carrillo and Fernando Zazueta were part of a team that founded the plaza 25 years ago. They had to fight skeptics, their own community members and some inside city hall who didn’t believe such a center should be on the east side.

    “There’s no way to describe the pride that we all feel for what we ultimately achieved,” Zazueta said.

    It would eventually become the first redevelopment project outside of San Jose’s downtown corridor.

    Together, the Mexican Heritage Corporation raised $3 million in seed money for the idea – an idea that’s now become a beacon.

    “It exceeds anything that we had planned,” Zazueta said.

    The plaza still hosts weddings, concerts and fundraisers.

    “I am so proud of this facility,” Carrillo said. “Even more proud that my daughter got married here.”

    New leadership is taking the business plan to the next level, as the School of Arts and Culture. They’ve purchased the building across the street on Alum Rock Avenue. It will house a new health center, a community café and a black box theatre – all in the heart of the Mayfair community.

    “We also recognize that Mayfair has gone through advanced stages of gentrification and if we are not informing to build the environment, we are part of the problem,” co-executive director Jessica Paz-Cedillos said.

    Paz-Cedillos said it’s not just about cultural programming anymore. It’s about standing up for the neighborhood, about owning the moment, and reminding everyone it can be done.

    “If we really want to address the challenges of our community, we need to be able to work at the systemic level, which means addressing policies, championing laws and regulations that ensure that our community does have access to assets like the plaza,” Paz-Cedillos said.

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    Damian Trujillo

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  • Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations held across the Bay Area

    Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations held across the Bay Area

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    Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations in the Bay Area are well underway.

    Sept. 16 marks the day the Mexican people rose up and took up arms to fight for independence from Spain. The moment is known as El Grito – the cry of Dolores – and it was heard throughout downtown San Jose on Sunday.

    Earlier in the day, San Jose hosted Fiestas Patrias filled with music, dancing and charros on horses.

    In San Francisco, there was a flag-raising ceremony along with food and music. Next Saturday, the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District will continue the celebration with the annual Fiesta de las Americas.

    Redwood City also celebrated Mexican independence and the contributions of other Latin American countries as well.

    NBC Bay Area kicked off its own celebration with mariachi music in studio with the son of strawberry farmers Omar Alejandro. While he’s backed up Andrea Bocelli, these days you’ll find him using social media to bridge generations of families through music.

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    Kris Sanchez

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