Article Contributed by
YWCA Jamestown
Every year the nation celebrates Latino/e (Hispanic) Heritage Month from September 15th through October 15th. Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month grew from a commemorative week created in Los Angeles in 1968 to celebrate and spread awareness of the contributions of the Hispanic and Latino/e community. By 1989, Hispanic Heritage Week was officially extended, and the 31-day period from September 15 to October 15 was declared National Hispanic Heritage Month.
To celebrate the month, YWCA Jamestown, with the support of the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, is hosting a Latino Heritage Celebration on Saturday, September 30, 2023, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.
The community is invited to the Winter Garden Plaza on Main Street in Downtown Jamestown and YWCA Jamestown on 401 N. Main Street, Jamestown, NY for music by Synergy Entertainment of Jamestown and food vendors including 3Cs Catering, El Rincón Criollo from Dunkirk, and St. Luke’s Colombian Food. Families can enjoy free popcorn (provided by Dipson Theatres), cotton candy, games, and a car show!
YWCA Jamestown’s Book M.A.R.K. program will read a bilingual story and do a follow-up activity with young children. Organizations from the Jamestown area will be available to provide information about their business, community programs, and job opportunities.
The community is welcome to stay at the Winter Garden Plaza following the Latino Heritage event for a Shakespearean performance by Madness Most Discreet Theatre Co. from Jamestown.
Latino, Latine, or Hispanic? How ever people wish to identify is okay. The term Hispanic has been used to identify people whose immediate ancestors descend from a country that was formerly colonized by Spain; therefore, the term does not include all Latin American countries. Currently, younger generations tend to prefer using Latino/a or Latine because the term Hispanic linguistically maintains a tie to its difficult colonial past and is a term that was not chosen by the community. Hispanic can be a suitable term when a group’s language is the most important factor (i.e., describing a Spanish-speaking population). If a person or group’s origin (especially if from Latin America or the Caribbean) is most important, Latino and its variations are the preferred term.
Please visit ywcajamestown.com/events or https://fb.me/e/6X7qEylef for more information. If you have questions, you may directly contact Indo Quiñones at iquinones@ywcajamestown.com or by calling 716.488.2237. Your organization is invited to volunteer your time to make this event a success. Please contact Rebekah at officecoordinator@ywcajamestown.com if you wish to volunteer.
