By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Joan Medina was a little intimidated by portraying his character during the Celebrate Dia! literacy program Monday evening.
Medina was called on to portray Cesar Chavez, “an icon in the culture.”
Nerves or not, the 17-year-old Penta student, dressed in a white shirt, stood up and told the farm labor leader’s story, first in English and then in Spanish.
He was proud to do it. Chavez fought for the rights of farm workers, but he did so non-violently, inspired by the methods of Gandhi. “He showed that people are people, and they deserve to be treated fairly.” Medina said.
He was one of eight young people, portraying seven notable Latino figures at the Wood County District Public Library. El Dia de los Ninos/El Dia de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Dy) is a national event initiated by the American Library Association.
From left, Jessica Jurka and Francis Chavez present the story of librarian Pura Bulpre.
Children’s Librarian Maria Simon said she was grateful the library could hold its own celebration in partnership with La Conexion.
This is the fifth year the library has hosted the celebration. Each year a book is selected to build the program around. This year it was “Bravo!” written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez.
Beatriz Maya, the director of La Conexion, said the event was a way to help young people learn more about their Hispanic heritage and then to share it with the community.
Also, some may be encouraged to learn or maintain their Spanish when they see their peers using it in their presentations, she said.
The figures offered a wide range of characters from a diplomat to a baseball star to, fittingly given the setting, a librarian.
Beside Medina’s portrayal of Chavez, other presentations were:
- Adolfo Martinez Alba portrayed Juan de Miralles, a Spanish messenger to the early American Congress.
- Shanaia Cellis portrayed Juana Briones, a Mexican rancher and healer.
- Jonathan Ortega portrayed Louis Agassiz Fuertes, an ornithologist and painter.
- Eduardo Matta portrayed Arnold Rojas, who chronicled the life and lore of the California vaquero, or cowboy.
- Ivan Ortega portrayed Baseball Hall of Famer and humanitarian Roberto Clemente.
- Francis Chavez and Jessica Jurka who portrayed Pure Bulpre, the first Puerto Rican librarian in the New York Public Library.
Cellis, a 13-year-old student at St. Aloysius School, said she was excited to present the story of Juana Briones. She was inspired how Briones was able to endure despite hardships.
When Briones’ soldier husband was abusive, she left him and started her own ranch. When northern California came under US control, she had to fight a prolonged legal battle to maintain ownership.
“She was independent,” the teen said.
This was Cellis’ third year participating in Celebrate Dia! Previously she danced and sang.
Medina, who was participating for the first time, said he enjoyed the event. There were cookies afterward, but more importantly, ‘there is such a sense of community.”
