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Tag: Hispanic Heritage Month 2025

  • First Hispanic Polk commissioner shares journey to position

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    TAMPA, Fla. — This Hispanic Heritage Month, Spectrum News is shining a light on leaders in the community who are making a difference and inspiring others.

    That’s the case for the first Hispanic Polk County commissioner, Martha Santiago.

    What You Need To Know

    • Commissioner Martha Santiago is the first Hispanic elected to the Polk County Commission
    • Santiago ran twice before securing her position as District 4 commissioner
    • Santiago says since being elected, she’s seeing more Hispanics


    Santiago likes to stay in the know.

    “I read a lot because there’s just so much going on in our county,“ she says.

    She’s in her office a few times a week, but she says the real work is done out in the community.

    She first started connecting with the public through her work in education. Santiago was with the Polk County School District for several years and then became provost at Polk State College.

    “I was very much involved in helping our community, especially our Hispanic community, our children,“ she said.

    Her interest in helping others led her to get involved in politics. She first ran for county commission in 2004. She lost that race and ran again in 2006, but again she didn’t win.

    “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, people are going to remember me as the person who ran twice and didn’t win, but you know, I gave it everything,’” she said.

    And she didn’t quit. Santiago ran for the third time in 2017, and she won, becoming the first Hispanic to take a seat on the Polk County Commission.

    Since then, Santiago says she’s seen just how impactful her election to office has been for other Hispanics too.

    “Because I did, now other Hispanics, female and male, are doing the same thing; that’s absolutely awesome.”

    Over the past seven years, Santiago says she’s had to step out of her comfort zone to be a leader in her own way.

    “I branch out in the community, and I think Latinas need to do that, sometimes we hold ourselves back because we just don’t dare, it could be our language, it could be that we just don’t have the experience,“ she said.

    She hopes to inspire more Hispanics to take a chance on themselves and get involved in government and leave their mark on the community.

    Since being elected to the commission, Santiago has served as both chairwoman and vice chairwoman.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Hillsborough Schools supervisor honored for Hispanic heritage advocacy

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    TAMPA, Fla. — As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, Hillsborough County Public Schools’ English language supervisor, Jessica De La Prida, is being recognized for her decades of helping multilingual students succeed in the classroom.

    De La Prida received the 2025 Hispanic Advocacy Award from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council for her leadership and community engagement.

    A proud daughter of Cuban and Peruvian immigrants, De La Prida has spent more than 25 years in education — first in Broward County and now in Hillsborough — supporting English learners and the teachers who serve them.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jessica De La Prida received the 2025 Hispanic Advocacy Award from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council for her leadership and community engagement

    • A proud daughter of Cuban and Peruvian immigrants, De La Prida has spent more than 25 years in education — first in Broward County and now in Hillsborough — supporting English learners and the teachers who serve them

    • Her work comes at a crucial time — according to the National Center for Education Statistics, English learners accounted for 10.6% of all public school students in 2021, up from 9.4% in 2011. That number is expected to rise significantly by 2030


    “We want to ensure that as our students are learning how to speak English,” De La Prida said. “They’re also learning how to read and write, how to do math and other content areas.”

    Her work comes at a crucial time.

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, English learners accounted for 10.6% of all public school students in 2021, up from 9.4% in 2011. That number is expected to increase significantly by 2030.

    Education experts say the growing population of English learners has created a nationwide shortage of ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) teachers, leaving schools struggling to meet demand.

    De La Prida said collaboration among teachers, families and community partners is key to ensuring that students learning English don’t fall behind in other subjects.

    Beyond the classroom, she works closely with organizations like the Greater Haitian Chamber of Commerce of Tampa to help immigrant families understand their rights and navigate the school system.

    “The Haitian community is very close to my heart,” De La Prida said. “Collaboration is key to helping families understand how vital their role is in their child’s education.”

    For De La Prida, education remains the foundation of the American dream her parents sought when they came to the United States.

    “My parents came to this country so that I could have an education,” she said. “Education opens doors — it’s what connects families, cultures and communities.”

    Her recognition during Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates not only her career, but also her commitment to ensuring that language is never a barrier to success.

     

     

    Jessica De La Prida received the 2025 Hispanic Advocacy Award from the Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council. (Courtesy: Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council.)

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • Charlotte food truck owner shares Mexican culture through food

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman’s food truck is not only serving food, it is putting her Mexican culture on a plate.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Kimberly Bazan opened El Veneno in 2023

    •  She specializes in serving food from Mexico City

    •  Bazan’s food truck travels around Charlotte


    “My family is from Mexico City,” Kimberly Bazan said. “We would visit Mexico City every year when I was younger.”

    Bazan has no formal culinary training but learned to cook by watching her father and grandmother in the kitchen. In 2023, she opened her food truck, El Veneno, where she puts her own spin on her family’s recipes.

    “We take a lot of time to put in the effort to do different specials that highlight other foods from different regions,” Bazan said.

    Bazan specializes in serving food you can find on the streets of Mexico City.

    “We do moles,” she said. “We do ceviche. We do a whole bunch of other street food that’s not super popular.”

    Bazan is known for serving black al pastor, a marinated pork used in tacos that is typically red.

    “The marinade that we use for it is not anything new,” she said. “It’s a prehistoric recipe. It’s called recardo negro. We’re the only ones who do it on the East Coast and in the Carolinas.”

    These dishes have built a community that now follows Bazan as she takes her truck around Charlotte.

    “It feels nice that people feel like we’re paving the way for a new way of dining in the city,” she said.

    As Bazan forges her own path in Charlotte’s culinary scene, she holds her family’s roots close and hopes to honor her culture in every dish. 

    “I feel like it’s our job as people in the restaurant industry and as chefs to show people how to dine, show them new things and how things should be eaten as opposed to just catering to their every want and need,” she said. “It is history. It’s culture. I feel like if we change every little thing about food just to make people happy, then we’re going to lose part of our culture.”

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    Chloe Salsameda

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  • Judge shares thoughts about Hispanic Heritage Month

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Myriam Irizarry was appointed as the first Hispanic judge in Pinellas County in 2015 and served in her position until 2020.

    What You Need To Know

    • Myriam Irizarry was the first Hispanic judge in Pinellas County 

    • She said Hispanic Heritage Month is a way to celebrate achievements and add to what makes our country great

    • Irizarry still serves as a senior judge


    She then retired but still serves as a senior judge. That means she serves part-time when the courts need help.

    “The judicial system should represent the makeup of their community. And so, although I was the first, I hope not to be the last,” Irizarry said.

    Now she is using her free time for some of her other passions like writing poetry.

    Irizarry is currently writing a book with her daughter, “The Fragrance of Jesus.”

    “Jesus, my Lord, your fragrance revives my soul and purifies my heart,” she said while reading from her notes. “Your essence fills me with your presence from which I shall never part.”

    It means a lot to Irizarry that she was able to reach her goals and credits her mother for believing in her.

    She wrote her first book, “The Power of Perseverance,” about growing up in a shack in Puerto Rico, hardships in New York City, and eventually becoming a lawyer, then a judge.

    Irizarry said her mother raised her and her siblings with a dream for each of them to achieve.

    “Her tenacity, her grit, her faith in each and every one of us, we were able to overcome,” she said. “So this is a tribute to her as well.”

    Though Irizarry is retired, she sees Hispanic Heritage Month as a way to celebrate achievements and add to what makes our country great.  

    “We get to bring out our culture in such a way that we can showcase how we integrate into the American culture and the richness in our diversity, what it brings to this country,” she said.  

    Irizarry hopes that her story can inspire others to follow their dreams and achieve what they desire.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Haines City nonprofit helping Hispanic students with scholarships

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    HAINES CITY, Fla. — This year’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.”

    In Haines City, one organization is doing that by providing scholarships to generate funds. It is hosting the second annual Hispanic Festival Celebration on Oct. 11.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hispanic Empowerment Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Haines City

    • It is collecting funds for scholarships from its annual Hispanic Festival Celebration

    • The event is taking place on Oct. 11


    Placing pen to paper, Alondra Ortiz-Colon is the first person in her family to pursue a degree in nursing.

    She is currently an undergrad at Polk State College.

    “It means stability, and it means that you have a lot more opportunities in life,” she said.

    Ortiz-Colon was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Polk County when she was 9 years old. Her mom went to college and served as her role model to follow in her footsteps.

    “A lot of our parents don’t have education, and I feel like our parents really want us to be the best,” she said.

    Getting a higher education can be particularly difficult financially, and that’s where the Hispanic Empowerment Foundation stepped in for her.

    Ortiz-Colon was one of 11 students to receive a scholarship through the foundation.

    Elyci Gonzalez is a representative for the foundation.

    “We come in and make sure that they don’t stay back and they can continue moving forward,” she said.

    The foundation says the scholarship money helps fill in those gaps for students, whether it’s paying for classes or learning materials.

    The scholarship funds are collected through the Hispanic Festival Celebration. Haines City Commissioner Omar Arroyo said the festival is important for the community.

    “The purpose is to empower the Hispanic community, to show unity,” he said..

    For Ortiz-Colon, the scholarship has put her on a path toward earning her Associate of Arts early next year.

    She said this will make her family proud and help her reach her goals in life.

    “You have to put in the work in order for your career and your future to go the way you would like it,” he said.

    In this case, she said her hard work and earning the scholarship will pay off with a degree.

    The scholarships are awarded to students who are currently enrolled at Ridge Technical College, Travis Technical College and Polk State College. The recipients will be announced at the nonprofit’s gala in April.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Service and culture on display this Hispanic Heritage Month

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Here in the Bay Area, a veteran is using shared history to help groups who have lived long enough experience some of the struggles of past generations.

    What You Need To Know

    • Carlos Rodriguez said he is using creative ways to show how important Hispanic culture is

    • Rodriguez said after retiring he wanted to do more, so he followed in his mother’s footsteps

    • He said his father was a social worker and that both of his parents were devoted to helping others

    • More Hispanic Heritage Month headlines


    He is reminding them of how leadership in the Hispanic community is helping shape the future during Hispanic Heritage Month.

    Carlos Rodriguez said he is using creative ways to show how important Hispanic culture is.

    One of the tools he uses is laughing yoga with elderly participants in assisted living facilities.

    It’s not exactly what he said he thought he would be doing after moving from Colombia 35 years ago, becoming a citizen and joining the military after 9/11.

    Rodriguez said after retiring he wanted to do more, so he followed in his mother’s footsteps. First, he said he was looking to volunteer, but he eventually joined the Empath Health team, working in some of the same places his mother volunteered.

    “She was a volunteer before she became a patient, and that inspired me to continue that legacy,” he said. “She was always ready to serve somebody in need, and what a better way to help someone through their passing.”

    He said his father was a social worker and that both of his parents were devoted to helping others. It’s the kind of service he said is at the heart of what Hispanic Heritage Month is all about. He went from serving as a hero in uniform to a hero in small meaningful ways in the community — something he says is always a commonality no matter age or background.

    “Being a Hispanic, I am very proud that we contribute to the mesh of our beautiful nation. Not only through culture but through our service, through the nation, we get to live the American dream,” he said.

    If you ask him, making the world better whether he’s in uniform, spending time with veterans in a coffee shop or laughing yoga is just part of what makes his work so great. Rodriguez said some of the main things he helps veterans and seniors with are benefits, quality of care at the end of life and any language barriers that prevent them from getting the services they deserve.

    “I have the perspective not only as a veteran but as a Hispanic, and if anyone needs help in Spanish, English, I speak German because I also lived there. I’m not only an ambassador for my culture, I’m an ambassador for the United States wherever I go,” he said.

    “Talking to people, getting to get their trust so when those questions about quality of care and end of life, those hard conversations about your family, your loved one arise, I am able to answer the questions with the relationship we built, answer their questions and come to their aide.”

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • More Latino-owned businesses open in Curry Ford West Main District

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Hispanic Heritage Month is not only a time to celebrate culture and traditions, but also to recognize the impact Hispanic-owned businesses have in our community.

    One business owner in the Curry Ford West area has created a space where everyone is welcome, can feel at home and can embrace their roots.

    What You Need To Know

    • Stephanie Ziglar, executive director of Curry Ford West Main Street, says they’ve seen an increase in the number of Latino and Hispanic-owned businesses in the area

    • Benjamin Colon lives and works in Curry Ford West, where he opened The Commission Beer Chamber with the goal of creating a welcoming environment to share his roots

    • Colon described himself as a proud Nuyorican, with Puerto Rican roots 

    • From the Puerto Rican flag to the Medalla beer, you can find pieces of the island anywhere you look at Colon’s business


    For the last five years, Benjamin Colon has poured his heart and soul into his business.

    “Mom and dad are both from PR, Puerto Rico, and I’m a proud Nuyorican,” he said.

    After being in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, Colon decided to start his own business and started looking for a spot.

    “And I found this place and decided this is what I wanted. And we bought a house across the street. So, we said, ‘Uh, why not just open right here?’” Colon replied.

    Colon opened The Commission Beer Chamber with the goal of creating a welcoming environment to share his roots.  

    “Puerto Rican households, Latino households, everyone is very family forward. Come on in. Mommy’s always cooking food no matter what time you go,” Colon said.

    From the Puerto Rican flag to the Medalla beer, you can find pieces of the island anywhere you look at Colon’s business.

    “All the things. If you come in here, everything has a story and it’s 100% genuinely and authentically me,” Colon said.

    And if you look closely, you will also find “Abuela’s Sala,” which means Grandma’s living room in Spanish.

    Colon says he really wanted this space to reflect his culture growing up, from family pictures on the wall, to a VCR and a full collection of VHS tapes.

    “I wanted people when they come in here to feel like they’re home, feel like, you know, this is not a typical bar. And they can be comfortable no matter what, where you come from, who you are,” Colon said.

    As a member of the Curry Ford West Main Street, he’s gotten the support of executive director Stephanie Ziglar, who has seen an increase in the number of Latino and Hispanic-owned businesses in the area. 

    “The composition in our district is dramatically different than it used to be. So, we’re running at somewhere between 20% and 30% Hispanic and Latino. Back in the eighties, that was 4% or 6%,” she said.

    Ziglar says one challenge they are facing as they continue to see more Latino owners open their businesses is ensuring they can help them succeed with the right resources.

    “Making sure that we can consistently support them in the ways that they need, supporting beyond making sure that our communications are in both Spanish and English,” Ziglar said.

    And that continued support has paid off. “Our Hispanic business owners are some of the most successful in our district,” Ziglar said.

    She said about 25% of the businesses in this district also called the district home, as they live within a mile.

    “A lot of our businesses are owner-operators. Meaning when you walk into the business, you’re going to see the owner generally behind the counter helping out, cooking, cleaning, whatever. But they’re also living here,” Ziglar said.

    For Colon, it’s more than a business, it’s a home away from home.

    “You’re safe here. This is comfort. It’s an easy spot to come to. And everyone is welcome,” he said.

    According to data from the City of Orlando, Hispanics and Latinos make up 34.9% of the city’s population, with Puerto Ricans being the largest Hispanic origin group in the Orlando metro area.

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    Massiel Leyva

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  • Hispanic Festival returns despite ICE fears

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    HAMILTON, Ohio — During this Hispanic Heritage month, recent ICE raids and fears of immigration enforcement nearly shut down a popular Hispanic festival in only its second year of existence.  

    What You Need To Know

    • This is the second year for the Hamilton Hispanic Festival. Last year organizers estimate more than 2,000 people showed up to celebrate 

    • After recent ICE raids, organizers are conerned their event could be targeted and they nearly called it off 

    • Organizers decided the importance of heritage was more important to keep the festival going, but they are encouraging people to only come if they feel comfortable 

    Organizers of Hamilton’s second Hispanic Festival say recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the area almost led them to cancel the second annual event. But community determination — and a desire to preserve cultural pride — pushed the festival forward.

    “There’s a lot of raids, there’s a lot of fear within the community,” said Mitzi Hernandez, the festival’s event chair.

    The festival, which debuted last year with more than 2,000 attendees, is coming back this Sunday to Marcum Park in Hamilton. But this year, organizers faced a very different challenge.

    With recent ICE raids in nearby areas and the presence of an ICE detention facility at the Butler County Jail — just down the road — some feared that immigration enforcement could overshadow the event or discourage attendance.

    “It’s rough in the immigrant community right now,” Hernandez said. “Not just the Hispanic community, but the whole immigrant community. So many people live in the shadows.”

    Adriana Reyes, who founded the festival, said organizers seriously considered calling it off. But the community — and the importance of heritage — changed their minds.

    “We need to still be able to celebrate, just like people of Irish or German descent have their own festivals,” Reyes said. “I’m from Mexico, and I want to celebrate where I come from.”

    For Emily Wooden, a first-time organizer, the stakes were personal.

    “I think about my daughter,” she said. “What example am I going to leave behind? What legacy? I want her and the next generation to see women like Adriana, Mitzi, and myself moving forward in the community.”

    The event, held during Hispanic Heritage Month, now includes heightened security measures and coordination with local police to ensure safety. Organizers are encouraging attendees to celebrate in any way they feel comfortable — even from home.

    “We’re asking that if you feel unsafe coming to Marcum Park, please celebrate from the rooftops, from your patio — wherever you are,” Hernandez said.

    The Hamilton Hispanic Festival will take place Sunday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Marcum Park, featuring live music, cultural performances, food vendors, and family-friendly activities.

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    Sheena Elzie

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  • Hispanic Outreach Center director of community engagement hits career milestone

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — For two and a half decades, the Hispanic Outreach Center has been helping people with resources and life skills in Pinellas County.

    And Director of Community Engagement Andrea Vendetti has been there since it all began.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Hispanic Outreach Center in Clearwater has been helping people for decades

    • Andrea Vendetti has been with the nonprofit since it began 25 years ago

    • After decades with the nonprofit, Vendetti said she is considering retirement


    “I feel grateful that I had this opportunity because I met so many incredible people, and I was able to help so many people,” said Vendetti.

    Vendetti has been working for the nonprofit since it began 25 years ago. 

    “God put me here for a reason, I think I should stay. I never thought of leaving after I started working,” she said.

    Vendetti started out as a bilingual assistant, helping non-English speakers access resources. She was also an interpreter who worked in partnership with Clearwater Police to help victims of crime work through the legal process.  

    “I really like to help the victims because like, they were so helpless. They didn’t know where to go, and they had so much need and were scared.”

    The nonprofit started with just three employees in 2000, including Vendetti. The staff has now grown to 17. As the director of community engagement, Vendetti said, they are always finding new needs. The organization recently added a health navigator program. It also coordinates monthly food distributions.

    “We’re a key partner in our community to bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and the mainstream, to integrate them into the community and provide access to services,” Vendetti said.

    Vendetti said some of the biggest challenges facing the Hispanic community today are immigration, health care navigation, affordable housing and childcare

    “We really love our community, and we want to support the Hispanic community. We want it to be successful,” she said.

    Vendetti has been there through it all, and after decades of service, she said she is considering retirement. 

    “It’s really hard. I can’t imagine myself and not being here and not working with the community. I probably will still be involved, maybe with the Hispanic Leadership Council,” she said.

    No matter what her role is, Vendetti will always be a staple in the Pinellas County Hispanic community.

    The Hispanic Outreach Center is moving locations in the next several weeks, from Franklin Street to Woodlawn Street in Clearwater.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Teen honors Hispanic heritage using jewelry

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A family tradition in Charlotte is shining this Hispanic Heritage Month.

    Valentino Patria, a 13-year-old jewelry maker, is using tagua seeds from palm trees in South America to honor his Latin American roots while helping children thousands of miles away.

    What You Need To Know

    • Valentino Patria uses tagua seeds from palm trees in South America to create brightly colored jewelry 

    • Patria says he learned the craft from his mother and grandmother when he was 4 and that his pieces tell his family’s story

    • A portion of proceeds from Generation Jewelry go toward feeding children in Peru 



    “I normally try to mix the pieces and then see what colors match what colors,” he said.

    Patria designs brightly colored necklaces and bracelets and says the colored seeds are not just beads used for jewelry, they’re also pieces that tell his family’s story.

    “My grandma and my mom used to do this jewelry business, so I said, ‘well, why not continue it, right?’ Because my mom and my grandma had expertise,” Patria said, “and that’s why I called it Generation Jewelry, because it was passed down from my grandma to my mom to me, and now my brother joined.”

    Patria first learned the craft at 4 years old and says his favorite memory was helping his grandmother carry the supplies and learn how to make the jewelry.

    “I love it because I think it kind of feels like a family tradition,” Patria said.

    Patria’s mother, Paola Vargas, carried on the family’s craft and says teaching Patria has been about more than jewelry.

    “Many years ago, my mom had started it in Colombia. Part of me passing it on to them is experiences that I’ve had in life, that they can learn from and they can continue until it’s time for them to live through them,” Vargas said.

    With Venezuelan, Peruvian and Colombian roots, Patria threads his family’s past into the future and says every piece carries his culture and his heart.

    “In my heart, it feels it feels like I’m continuing the legacy. You know, it feels like the next generation. And I really want to be that next jewelry maker for my family,” Patria said.

    Part of the proceeds from Generation Jewelry helps feed children in Peru, a mission that connects Patria more deeply to his heritage.

    For more information about Generation Jewelry, visit the website here.

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    Claudia Puente

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  • Lisset Hanewicz first Hispanic St. Pete city council member

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For Hispanic Heritage Month 2025, Spectrum News has spotlighted Lisset Hanewicz, the first Hispanic to ever be elected to the St. Petersburg City Council.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lisset Hanewicz was the first Hispanic to ever be elected to the St. Petersburg City Council in 2021

    • She has served more than half of her first term which expires in January 2027 

    • Hanewicz credits her family for leaving Cuba and putting her on a path to make history in St. Petersburg

    • The 2025 Hispanic Heritage Month theme is “collective heritage: honoring the past, inspiring the future”


    “I truly did not know that there had never been a Hispanic male or female city council member in the City of St. Petersburg,” she said. “It’s overwhelming to think that you actually are the first elected official in our city that represents the Hispanic community, and it’s an honor.”

    Hanewicz was elected to the city council in November 2021 and has served more than half of her first term, which expires in January 2027. Her fellow city council members elected Hanewicz to serve as vice chair this year, further cementing her leadership in the city.

    “You want to show, no matter where you’re from, that any child can go and be a city council member, be the next governor or be the next President of the United States,” she said. “Even if you are a child of immigrants.”

    Hanewicz said her family fled Cuba in the 1960s during the Freedom Flights. She was born in Tampa but was raised in Miami by her mother and grandmother. Hanewicz finished high school at night so she could work during the day to help her mom pay the bills and went to law school at the age of 30.  

    “They wanted to make sure that I got an education because education was the path for a better life,” she said. “My mom passed away right before I took office and the lessons that both her and my grandmother… taught me in terms of hard work and perseverance always are with me.”

    In 2006, Hanewicz moved to St. Petersburg’s Crescent Lake neighborhood. She worked as a Pinellas County prosecutor and then as a federal prosecutor before deciding to leave her career to start a family. Hanewicz became the president of the Crescent Lake Neighborhood Association in 2016, which launched her career in politics.

    “I had my daughter, and I was staying home, and I wanted to get involved in the community,” she said. “The timing was perfect.”  

    Hanewicz is proud to represent District 4 and knows its history well. She has stories about Huggins-Stengel Field, which was the spring training site for the New York Yankees beginning in 1925.

    “When Babe Ruth played, and he hit a homer so hard, there used to be alligators, and people didn’t want to go get the ball because there would be an alligator sunning in the field,” she said. “It’s on the national register.”

    Hanewicz’s personal story fits well with this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme, “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.” She credits her family for putting her on a path to make history in St. Petersburg and hopes to serve as a role model to inspire future civic leaders.

    “When you’re a child, a lot of times you don’t see people that represent you in elected government,” she said. “It’s the best way I can honor my family and what they did to come to our country for freedom.”

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    Josh Rojas

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  • Food and music take center stage during Hispanic Heritage Month

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    PAINESVILLE, Ohio — National Hispanic Heritage Month is an anomaly when it comes to heritage celebrations. 

    What You Need To Know

    • National Hispanic Heritage Month begins in the middle of September to honor countries’ independence days

    • Central American countries celebrate freedom from Spain on Sept. 15

    • The month celebrates contributions of Hispanic culture in the United States

    It starts on Sept. 15 each year instead of Sept. 1.

    History helped determine that date.

    Central American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, all celebrate their independence from Spain on Sept. 15. Mexico celebrates on Sept. 16.

    Over the next month, festivals across the country will showcase some of the influence and contribution the Hispanic culture has had on the United States. But it’s also a month to celebrate freedom.

    “History is very complex of these countries. You had indigenous peoples who were basically colonized, conquered by Spain,” said Veronica Isabel Dahlberg, founder of Hola, Ohio — an organization that advocates for farm workers, immigrants and Latino families.

    She said the countries share a common thread, including culture, history and the language.

    Despite colonization, the culture endured for thousands of years, according to Dahlberg.

    “I would start with the corn tortilla. Corn, which was domesticated in Mexico from some grasses. By creating this corn, that then was harvested and used for a tortilla starting 10,000 years ago,” said Dahlberg. 

    Cities across the country will ring in the month with traditional music, dance and food.

    “We’re celebrating a taco festival in Ohio. I mean, that’s proof right there of the enduring and the resilient part of our culture,” Dahlberg said.

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    Kimberly Perez

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