By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The tamales were hot, the Salsa dancing was sizzling, and a decade of success was celebrated Saturday evening during the annual Hispanic heritage event held by La Conexion of Wood County.
Staffing the kitchen at the Junior Fair Building on the Wood County Fairgrounds were Roy and Marina Hernandez. The buffet tables were full of Mexican rice, fajitas, tacos and refried beans.
“Some people bring their grandma’s favorite dish,” Roy Hernandez said. And some of the food was donated by local Mexican restaurants.
The annual event is important for those of Latinx heritage, he said, including his wife, who was dressed in the national colors of Colombia.
And it’s important to remind local residents of the services offered by La Conexion, he said, like translation, transportation, help renewing passports, and help with immigration court dates and attorneys.
“It’s a sad situation,” he said. “But it means that we’re going in the right direction with immigration.”
And it’s an opportunity to remind local residents that they have rights – even if they don’t have documentation, Hernandez said.
“You still have Constitutional rights if you are stopped by police,” he said.
But most of the evening was about celebrating heritage through music, dance, language and food.
On the large dance floor, people lined up for free Salsa lessons.
“One-two-three. Cha-cha-cha,” said the instructor as the novices tried to get their bodies to mimic the professionals.
Lorenzo Zamora had never been to the La Conexion event, but as a student at Bowling Green State University, he has been volunteering with the organization.
“It’s a really great organization. I brought my parents with me,” he said as they dished up food from the buffet line.
Gloria Enriquez-Pizana, one of the founding members of La Conexion, said such festivities are important.
“It’s about getting together. I think this is the only Latino event in Bowling Green,” she said. “It’s Hispanic awareness month. It’s important to celebrate. We do it with food, music and camaraderie.”
Liloyanny Nunez looks forward to the festivities every year.
“I come from a Spanish American family. I love Spanish music and food,” she said, pointing to the big bowl of Puerto Rican rice she brought to share.
“We have this once a year as a way to connect with our heritage and people from all over,” Nunez said.
The official program for the evening began with the annual Parade of Languages, with people carrying signs saying “welcome” in many languages of the world.
Bowling Green Mayor Mike Aspacher and City Council member Bill Herald both attended, with the mayor welcoming those gathered at the event.
“We’re really thankful you are here,” he said, congratulating La Conexion for all it has accomplished in the last 10 years.
Aspacher recognized the work of Beatriz Maya, the retired executive director of the organization, and said he looked forward to working with the new director Rosalinda Contreraz-Harris.
“We need to make sure we are doing what we can to create opportunities and make sure we are inclusive,” the mayor said.
Maya spoke about the accomplishments of La Conexion over the last decade.
“It’s really exciting to think about the last 10 years, what we’ve been able to do,” she said. “We started with nothing.”
Contreraz-Harris recognized how Maya grew the organization.
“It was grassroots, nada, nothing,” she said of Maya’s starting La Conexion from scratch. “Without her, there is no La Conexion.”
Also at the event, the organization continued its tradition of recognizing individuals or groups every five years who have contributed to the work of La Conexion and the Latino community of Northwest Ohio. Honored this year were Linda Lander, Tom and Dianne Klein, Sisters of St. Francis, and Bowling Green Independent News.
