April Serfoso, owner of Trolls Under the Bridge Shaved Ice and a teacher at Westwood College, set up an ice machine to provide shaved ice to students during the Oct. 6 festival. Brought it in. (Lauren Hoffman — Morning Journal)
Students at Westwood Middle School in Illyria are to be commended for their role in celebrating the school’s first-ever Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week.
The event followed National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is recognized from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Students were introduced to local people who contributed to Hispanic culture.
Some young people wore their favorite sports jerseys featuring Hispanic athletes during the week.
When it comes to Hispanic Heritage Month, it is an opportunity to highlight the unique voices and experiences of Hispanic/Latino Americans and recognize their history, journey, and accomplishments.
It is the duty of others to inspire young generations and unite communities through these celebrations.
Westwood Middle School Vice Principal Michelle Nimene, who is Puerto Rican, wanted to do just that by hosting Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week at her campus, located at 42350 Adelbert Street.
Students who volunteered in the community learned how to make salsa and learned a variety of dance skills.
This was a great opportunity for students to gather knowledge about Hispanic culture as a whole, especially since the Illyria School District has seen a 30% increase in Hispanic students over the past year.
National Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded this recognition to a 30-day period, which became law on August 17, 1988.
The Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week held at Westwood Middle was just one of the notable events held in Lorain County during National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Eileen Torres, chair of the Hispanic Foundation Board, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Lorain County, president of Eileen Torres Productions, and director of the Roberto Ocasio Foundation, said this month’s sentiments are a reflection of the Hispanic community’s We believe in strengthening diversity. And it is the strength that comes from unity through language, culture, values and customs.
The theme for Hispanic Heritage Month in 2023 is “Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We Are All, We Are One.”
Mr. Torres has been involved in activities and events in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Spain. It is done.
Several events were held over the past 30 days in Lorain, which has the highest percentage of Latino residents in Ohio.
On Sept. 16 at Oakwood Park along Police Chief Ser Rivera Memorial Highway, also known as Route 57, in south Lorain, the Latino Lorain Veterans Association, in collaboration with the Lorain Historical Society and local officials, held a Latino Lorain Veterans Story Walk. .
The purpose of the Latinx Lorain Veterans Story Walk is to shine a light on the military experience for those who have never served in the military.
Another event is the return of the Puerto Rico Day festival and parade on October 7th.
The parade began at the intersection of East 31st Street and Pearl Avenue, and the entourage made its way down Clinton Avenue and into Oakwood Park, where the festival will be held.
Lorain 6th Ward City Councilman Ray Carrion and the Puerto Rico Day Festival and Parade Committee are bringing back the one-day festival to south Lorain after a seven-year hiatus.
The main purpose of the festival was to connect, engage, and educate the Puerto Rican community by promoting and preserving the deep roots of Puerto Rican history through culinary literacy, financial literacy, civic engagement, education, and music. .
The last event scheduled for National Hispanic Heritage Month will be held on October 15th.
“Loran’s Latin Music Legacy” is a video presentation and panel discussion where the public can bring mementos to the Loran Public Library System South Branch, 2121 Homewood Drive in Loran.
But before National Hispanic Heritage Month begins, another noteworthy event occurred in Lorain.
Gustalo “Gus” Nunez was honored with a posthumous ceremony at the corner of East 32nd Street and Grove Street on September 1st to honor his historic accomplishments as the first Hispanic judge and the first sitting Hispanic judge in the Loran Municipal Court. The award was given at a street dedication ceremony. Located in Lorain County.
Mr. Nuñez passed away on March 1, 2022. He was 87 years old.
Loran Mayor Jack Bradley held a formal dedication ceremony to commemorate the new sign and recognize Mr. Nunez’s first position as attorney.
Bradley credits Nunez and his partners with inspiring him to start practicing law, and Nunez gave him his first clients.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is off to a very strong start and will end in a similar fashion.
