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YSU event showcases Hispanic heritage
YOUNGSTOWN
Marisol Rodemoyer loves to showcase her origins to the community.
The South Side resident, who has lived in the city for nearly four decades, is originally from Peru. She has made a display of the arts, crafts and other items from her home country for the past five years at community events such as the Canfield Fair.
She also made an appearance at the Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Youngstown State University Saturday afternoon.
“[I] just want to show the diversity of our culture,” she said.
More than 200 people attended the free event at the Kilcawley Center. It featured musical and dance performances, cultural displays and ethnic refreshments. Several people who came listened to the variety of music and watched different dance performances. It’s one of several coordinated events by the YSU Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee to observe Hispanic Heritage Month, which started Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15.
“I think it’s important to showcase the diversity of the Hispanic community,” said Ana Torres, YSU interim library co-director and committee member. “The presence of Hispanics in the [Mahoning] Valley is important.”
William Blake, YSU director of the Office of Student Diversity Programs, said the event has gone on for nearly two decades. The events, which take a year to plan, show the ability of the university and the community to work together, he said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanics make up 5.4 percent of Mahoning County, with about 12,593 people. Hispanics also make up 1.6 percent and 1.5 percent in Trumbull and Columbiana counties, respectively.
“I’m just glad they put it together,” said Phillip Gonzales, director of the Trio Riqueno band that performed at the celebration. The band performs a variety of music from several Latino countries, including Colombia, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
“We do it with a lot of pride and joy,” he said.
Gonzales said Hispanic culture is very influential in the United States. More Hispanics are coming to the area because the quality of life is high and the cost of living is affordable. The celebration takes place while the issue of illegal immigration and its ties with the Hispanic community come under scrutiny during the campaign season to elect the next president next year.
Though the committee is not political, Torres said they bring in several speakers to counteract misconceptions and stereotypes about such issues. Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien spoke at the university in mid-September. Youngstown native Rob Alter will speak about his experiences working for the U.S. State Department on Oct. 12.
“We want to educate everyone,” Torres said.
The next YSU event to honor Hispanic Heritage will be the “5th Annual Non-Violence Parade and Rally” at 3 p.m. today . The final event will be the Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana Inc.’s 43rd Annual Fundraiser Gala on Oct. 16.