Cleveland Clinic diversity official to be Hispanic Heritage speaker

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Andres Gonzalez, director of the Office of Diversity at the Cleveland Clinic, will give the keynote address at Youngstown State University’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration scheduled for Friday in Kilcawley Center’s Chestnut Room.

Gonzalez oversees cultural competence and diversity training for the 37,000 employees that make up the Cleveland Clinic Health System. He also supervises the Hispanic/Latino–specific initiatives that include Hispanic/Latino talent acquisition and works closely with the Community Outreach Department to identify creative ways of providing services and resources to the community.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with light refreshments featuring Hispanic foods. Informational booths hosted by area businesses and organizations will be on display throughout the evening. Also included will be a ceremony featuring flags from 22 Hispanic countries, folkloric-dance performances, musical entertainment, a student-recognition ceremony, art exhibits and more. The evening will conclude with dancing to music disc jockey Kenny Reyes.

The event, free and open to the public, has the theme “Sharing in the Hispanic Traditions.”

Other local events for Hispanic Heritage Month include:

U“Temples Of Doom And The End Of The World: The Use, Abuse And Commercialization Of Ancient Maya Culture In Popular Media”: Today, 4:30 p.m., McDonough Museum of Art, Auditorium. For more information, contact Ana Bobby at (330) 941–1717.

UECHHO College Fair: Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m., OCCHA, 3660 Shirley Road, Youngstown. For more information, contact Maggie McClendon, ECHHO president, at (330) 941–3243.

U“Diversity, A Catalyst For Change:” — Friday, noon, Main Branch Public Library. For more information, contact YSU’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity at (330) 941–3370 or Deborah Liptak, Youngstown Library Development Director, at (330) 744–8638, ext. 118.

U“Three Spanish Masters: Picasso, Velezquez, and Dali” – Sunday, 2 p.m., Butler Institute of American Art, Zona Auditorium. For more information, call (330) 743–1107, ext. 123.

U“Through Immigrant Eyes” – Wednesday, Sept. 30, 5 P.M., YSU Kilcawley Center, Room: Bresnahan I. For more information, contact Ana Bobby at (330) 941–1717.

UOCCHA’s 37th Annual Fundraiser Gala: Oct. 2, 5:30 p.m., Antone’s Banquet Center. For more information, contact OCCHA at (330) 781–1808.

UGreat Latin Wine Tasting: Oct. 10, 3 to 6 p.m., Five Points Wine & Bar, 9065 Springfield Road, Poland Township. For information, call (330) 549–2932.

U“What Does It Mean To Be Hispanic?”: Oct. 12, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., YSU Maag Library, 5th floor.