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City of Cleveland
celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
By Arooj Ashraf, La Prensa Corespondent
City of Cleveland
Community Relations Board hosted a celebration for Hispanic
Heritage Month at the City Hall Rotunda on Sept. 15, 2011. Two
hundred and fifty guests joined Mayor Frank G. Jackson to
honor the ‘Many backgrounds, Many Stories… One American Sprit’.
Mayor Jackson thanked the
Latino community for its contributions to the city and presented
Deputy Chief of Police Hector Luis Cuevas with
recognition for outstanding service in the Cleveland Police
Department. Jackson in the past six years as mayor said he could
always turn to Cuevas for stability: “I believe Cleveland is a
better city, safer city and that the command staff in the police
decision is a better and more respected division for the work
that DC Cuevas did.”
Cuevas began his
association with Cleveland Division of Police in 1986 and became
in charge of Police Division’s Internal Affairs Unit in 1999.
Commander Harold Pretel praised Deputy Cuevas for his
leadership and eye for detail, and said the department and
officers serving under him are better for it. Pretel said Cuevas
best demonstrated his leadership after the September 11, 2001
attacks and helped the department improve and move forward
through challenging transitions.
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Meenakshi Singh, Jacqueline Muhammad, and
Shari Clouds
Lucy
Torres (Hispanic Liaison to the Mayor) with Nano Cabrera
(International singer from Puerto Rico) and Eduardo Romero (Master
of Ceremony).
Lucy Santiago sings the National Anthem for
Photos by Arooj Ashraf. |
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Keynote speaker,
Bernardo García, Commissioner of Water Department City of
Cleveland, recently arrived in Cleveland from Kansas City, MO.
He praised Mayor Jackson for his leadership in Cleveland and the
reputation and respect he has earned within the community.
García said in celebration Hispanic Heritage Month it is
critical to remember the diversity within the community that is
rich in culture, ethnicity, and language. He said Latinos are
unique in their preservation of language and culture through
third generation immigrants and their pride of their roots is an
asset, worn as a badge of honor.
The celebration included
musical performances by Lucy Santiago and Puerto Rican
singer and guitarist Nano Cabrera. Imaris Rivera,
a student at John Hayes High School, pleased guests with a
beautiful performance of the national anthem. Norka’s Kitchen
provided scrumptious authentic Peruvian lunch.
Lucy Torres,
Hispanic Liaison to the Mayor, thanked sponsors and City Council
members, and the planning committee for their dedication to
celebrating Latino culture.
The main sponsor for this
year’s event was Cleveland Hopkins Airport Department of Port
Control, which launched off Hispanic Heritage Month with “A
Salute to Hispanic Heritage: Latinos Going Places,” on Sept. 14.
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández, Secretary of State, Puerto Rico, was
the keynote speaker for that Sept. 14 event, with artists Rafaél
Ana Luisa Sánchez, Hector Castellanos Lara, and Rafaél
Valdivieso Troya recognized. Music by The Latin Fair Trade
Trio created a perfect event ambiance, with the catering by
Christina Bermudez satisfied the appetite. Jacqueline
Muhammad, Community Relations Manager for Cleveland Hopkins
International Airport, said the Latino community is an integral
part of the airport’s family and recognizing their contributions
was important. |
