New Hispanic Heritage Celebration Is Just The Beginning

Hjarman Cordero excitedly told me “The Hispanic Heritage Celebration is going to be spectacular!” As the Senior Neighborhood Resources Coordinator for the City, he would know. Rockville is the perfect place to discover Latino culture.

During the Memorial Day Parade, the crowd always enjoys the Latin dancers and now several dance troops will fill Rockville Town Square with their energy this Saturday, September 18, 2010. Look for Caporales Universitarios San Simon, Café Caribe, Caminito Amigo, Fraternidad, Diablada Boliviana, Arte Flamenco, and Ballet Ritmos del Peru from 4 PM to 7 PM. Café Y Caribe and The Calpro Group will perform the music for this free community celebration.

The event is co-sponsored by the newly-formed Rockville Latino Alliance. Mr. Cordero explained about the group’s formation.

About six months ago I decided that it was the right time for our division to implement a strategic outreach to minorities. For a while I have been in contact with one of our Rockville University graduates who was from Uruguay. She was very interested in doing something for the Hispanic community in Rockville, so we got together with another Rockville University graduate to work out a plan of action for the creation of the Rockville Latino Alliance. This is the first event the group is helping to organize. The event is for the whole family and it will be filled with lots of beautiful and colorful costumes, incredible music, and the benefit of learning more about Countries from Central and South America……More than just an event this is gateway to culture and to the magic of exotic lands right here at our door step.

The Rockville Latino Alliance will meet regularly to connect the City with the Latino community and the Latino community with the City. Many groups are already working with the community and understand the issues. The Alliance will help everyone share resources. They are reaching out to establish strong relationships to help the Latino community be successful and become better citizens.

In addition to the music and dance, booths will provide information about services available for families from the City of Rockville, Priority Partners, Kaseman Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Casa de Maryland, Community Ministries of Rockville, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County, Montgomery County Federation of Families, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Montgomery County, and Revista Buena Gente.

The event is co-sponsored by Capital One Bank. This week all the Chevy Chase Banks officially changed their signage over to Capital One. The Bank has publically announced its interest in continuing the financial support of these types of Latino initiatives.

Hispanice Heritage week was authorized by Congress in 1968 and President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed the first one. In 1988 by Congress changed it to a month-long celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) which started in 1989. During this month, America celebrates the cultures of Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

Other Hispanic Heritage Events Planned for the Rockville area include:

September 16, Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-off Panel Discussion on Latinos in Montgomery County: Understanding our Past, Present and Future; Executive Office Building Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville, 4 PM to 6 PM. County Executive Isiah Leggett and County officials will present a proclamation commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month in Montgomery County and honoring Montgomery County’s Latino Parents and Students in Action (Padres y Alumnos Latinos en Acción- Grupo PALA). A panel titled Latinos in Montgomery County: Past, Present, and Future will feature Dr. Jorge Hernandez-Fujigaki with Montgomery College; Dr. Mark Hugo Lopez with the Pew Hispanic Center; and Kate Garvey, co-chair of the Latino Youth Collaborative and Chief of Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Health and Human Services. Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez will make closing remarks. The event will conclude with a musical performance by Tambores de San Juan, a Venezuelan drum ensemble. The free event is co-hosted by the County Executive’s Office of Community Partnerships and the Montgomery County Government Hispanic Employees Association and is open to the public.

September 23, Bilingual Lecture and Book Discussion of “Malinche” (written by Laura Esquivel) Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave., 6:30 PM. A bilingual lecture and discussion of the book, a retelling of the legendary love affair between the conquistador Hernan Cortes and his interpreter, Malinalli. Hosted by Montgomery County Public Libraries, in partnership with the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships and Montgomery College, the program is part of a month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the library. Registration is not required.

October 2, Cantaré, Songs and Rhythms of Latin America, Aspen Hill Library, 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville, 10:30 AM.

October 7, From Storyteller to Advocate: Transforming Experience into Political Change. Student Activity Center, Montgomery College Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee St., Advocacy session,11 a.m.; storytelling session 1:30 PM.

October 7, Origem- Concert of Brazilian Jazz, Montgomery College Music Recital Hall, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville, 7:30 PM.

October 9, Family Day / Día de la Familia, Theatre Arts Arena, Montgomery College Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee St., 1 PM.

October 9, Community and Job Fair, Legacy Hotel, 1775 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 10 AM.

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