Events & Expos

Series of events set to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month in Reading and Berks County

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Hispanic Heritage Month will be celebrated in Berks County with a variety of events.

The nationwide celebration, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, spotlights the contributions to the history, culture and achievements of the U.S. of those Americans who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean.

“The Hispanic Center will be partnering with various community organizations to promote and highlight our local Latino communities’ contributions to Reading and Berks County,” said Michael Toledo, president and CEO of the Daniel Torres Hispanic Center in Reading.

The annual observance began in 1968 when Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to issue a proclamation designating National Hispanic Heritage Week. Two decades later, legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan expanded the commemorative week to a month-long celebration.

The starting day was chosen because Sept. 15 is the anniversary of the start of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810. The war ending in 1821 resulted in independence for the New Spain Colony, now Mexico, and the Central American nations of Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua.

“Many different organizations (are) coming together and celebrating and lifting up the contributions of the Latino community here in greater Reading,” Toledo said.

These include the Goggleworks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington St.; Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce, 237 Court St.; the WCR Center for the Arts, 140 N. Fifth St.; others.

The events kicked off Thursday with a program by actor JW Cortes of the TV show “Gotham” at Penn State Berks Perkins Student Center Auditorium and the opening of RIZE’s new exhibit, Las Caras, meaning Faces, at the GoggleWorks.

The youth organization, based at the former-factory-turned-arts-center, fosters the arts to raise awareness of conflict resolution and social justice.

“It brings me great joy to work on passion projects such as leading the collective initiatives to preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that strengthens our community,” Edna Garcia-Dipini, RIZE founder and CEO, said in a news release. “Let’s celebrate in love and arts for Hispanic Heritage Month in Berks County.”

In a phone interview Saturday, Garcia-Dipini, a New York native of indigenous Puerto Rican descent, said she is looking forward to participating Sunday in the Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival on Penn Street.

The parade is just one in a series of events that range from family-friendly activities to serious panel discussions.

“With all the special programming planned, our community will be able to participate, educate, and commemorate this month-long celebration of our beautiful and diverse local Latin culture,” Toledo said.

The Hispanic Center, he noted, will hold two signature events this year.

The first will be an official ribbon cutting, celebrating the organization’s move to 25 N. Second St. and the grand opening of its new Wellness Center, which also is home to Mami Angie’s Casa de la Amistad “Friendship House” Senior Center.

The center will close the month-long commemoration with a panel discussion on the state of Latino affairs in Reading, Berks and beyond.

Upcoming Local Events

• Sept. 18, 12 p.m., Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival on Penn Street.

• Sept. 24, 12-7 p.m., Berks Cultural Diversity Fest, City Park.

• Sept. 30, Time to be announced, Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Olivet Boys and Girls Club, 677 Clinton St.

• Oct. 8, 7 p.m., Screening of the film “TAKEOVER” and panel discussion, WCR Center for the Arts, 140 N. Fifth St., tickets required.

• Oct. 12, Time to be announced, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Hispanic Center’s Casa de La Amistad, 25 N. Second St.

• Oct. 14, 9:30 a.m., Latino Forum, Penn Stake Berks Perkins Student Center Auditorium, 1801 Broadcasting Road, Spring Township (live stream available).

• Oct. 15, Time to be announced, State of Latino Affairs: Reading, Berks County and Beyond, Hispanic Center, 25 N. Second St.

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