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Flag event kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month in Youngstown
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
A ceremony that included 22 multicolored flags, each representing a Hispanic country, kicked off the start of Youngstown State University’s Hispanic Heritage Month.
As the flags demonstrate, there are many Hispanic cultures, and they’re not all the same, said Yulanda McCarty-Harris, director of YSU’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity.
“When you really want to understand a culture, the way you do it is immerse yourself in it,” she said at Thursday’s event. “So if you really want to know someone, get out of your comfort zone, get out of your work zone, get out of your workplace and get to know who they are.
“Don’t go by stereotypes, don’t go by what you see on TV, don’t go by what you even read, because some of the things you read may not even be right. Get to know the people.”
Hispanic Heritage Month includes many activities to do so, she added.
The theme of this year’s heritage month is “Sin Fronteras: Uniendo Nuestras Culturas,” which translates to “Without Boundaries: Connecting Our Cultures.”
It’s a theme close to her heart, said the event’s main speaker, Dr. Consuelo Mendez.
Dr. Mendez, a Canfield internist, was born in the Dominican Republic. She moved to New York City when she was 10, later moving to Puerto Rico before settling in the Mahoning Valley.
She learned at an early age to embrace different cultures without sacrificing her own identity, she said.
In looking at the audience, she said, “I don’t see a melting pot in which everything is a blur.”
Instead, she sees a beautiful mosaic or quilt, in which each piece complements the others but maintains its own uniqueness.
“It’s a beautiful masterpiece,” she said.
She encouraged those in the audience to participate in the heritage month activities.
“Visit the art exhibits; listen to our speakers; dance to our music and eat our food,” Dr. Mendez said.
“We will take you on a fantastic cultural journey that will for sure put a smile on your face.”
Luis Rodriguez of Youngstown has attended Hispanic Heritage Month events in the past, but this was the first time he attended the kickoff event.
“I wanted to see what it is that they’re going to do,” he said.
He was interested in the presentations and the speakers.
He said it’s exciting.
“It’s important because we have a large [Hispanic] population here in Youngstown, and it’s important that they take part in the community,” he said.
The event was beautiful and very well put together, he said.
The opening ceremony, in the rotunda of the Mahoning County Courthouse, included musical performances and refreshments.
For information on other Hispanic Heritage Month activities go to www.ysu.edu/div_ysu/.