Across the country, celebrations are underway to recognize the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. In North Carolina, the Hispanic and Latino population now makes up 11.4% of the state's residents, up from 10.7% in 2020.
At the La Fiesta de Pueblo celebration in Raleigh, attendees enjoyed music, dancing, art, and traditional cuisine. Trifonia Suryana, a Bolivian immigrant, shared her excitement about the event: "To show where we are coming from and to show my culture, my traditions, and tell the world we are here."
On this breezy day, flags from various countries flutter energetically, symbolizing the passionate and diverse communities in NC. "it’s important more than ever just to be accepting of people and just understand where everyone comes," Jamie Tchernykh said.
Tchernykh, a Russian immigrant, brought her daughter to the event. "Well, she’s so young and I’m an immigrant myself. I came from Russia moved in 97. I think it’s very important that she gets to know all the cultures," Tchernykh said.
La Fiesta de Pueblo, which began 30 years ago with only 1,000 attendees, now attracts over 25,000 people. Melissa Cervantes, a digital organizer with El Pueblo, emphasized the event's significance.
"When this event first started, it was one of the few events where the Latina community could come together and now it’s really just shows that we make up a vibrant part of North Carolina," Cervantes said. "There’s so many diverse groups of people in North Carolina, and that keeps growing and growing."
For those who left their home countries seeking a better life or those born in the U.S. wanting to connect with their heritage, attendees find a sense of belonging. "When you’re living in another country where you were born and raised, you don’t really know so much about your families roots or anything and when there’s events where it belong to your parents, it belong to your descendents you start to feel like passion inside," Mildreth Gomez said.
For many attendees, the event provides a safe space to connect with their heritage and find resources for employment, healthcare, and more.
"We also want make sure that this is a great opportunity for people to get these free resources and information and some people may not have health insurance, or may just know the language. So here we have it in a culturally specific way," Cervantes said.
As the upcoming election approaches, organizers are encouraging attendees to get out and vote and participate in civic engagement. Tchernykh stressed the importance of hearing from marginalized communities.
"A lot of people feel underrepresented and not being heard, so I think the first big step before we try to do anything more is just hear the real people out," she said.
La Fiesta del Pueblo: A Celebration of Culture and Community
La Fiesta del Pueblo is a vibrant celebration of Hispanic heritage, attracting over 25,000 attendees each year. This year, the event will take place on Sunday, September 15, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Raleigh, NC.
The festival, hosted by El Pueblo, Inc., is a free and open event that welcomes attendees from across North Carolina and beyond. It promises an afternoon full of live music, dance, art, educational resources, food, and activities for the whole family. This year's event will highlight voting and civic engagement, offering free Spanish-language voter guides and non-partisan information about candidates.
Iliana Santillan, Executive Director of El Pueblo, expressed her excitement: "This is a moment for us to be proud of our heritage and to encourage people to come and learn about our community. We're really excited about bringing the festivities and also about providing important resources to the community this year."
A History of Celebration and Growth
La Fiesta del Pueblo began in 1994 at the Lincoln Center in Chapel Hill, NC. A year later, El Pueblo became a non-profit organization to support the Latin American community in the state. The festival was created to build community, celebrate Latin American culture, and share resources. From an initial attendance of 1,000, it has grown to draw about 25,000 people annually, becoming the Triangle's largest and most diverse celebration of Latin American culture. It serves as a celebration of pride and resilience for both immigrants and U.S.-born Latinas.
Voter Registration: Empowering the Community
El Pueblo partnered with Includus Fund, a national nonprofit, to host a nonpartisan voter registration campaign at this year's festival, aiming to register between 300 to 500 voters. The campaign, titled "Grita. Canta. Vota." (Shout. Sing. Vote.) targets areas with rapidly growing Hispanic populations. The campaign is closely affiliated with Latino musical groups, including the festival's headlining act, Grupo Control.
Monica Sibri, a senior advisor for the Includus Fund, stated: "We are the middle people, the ones who are integrating what they care about with the resources directly, so we are not taking stands on issues. We’re going to see a higher number of people voting for the first time in North Carolina."
Veronica Aguilar, El Pueblo's communications director, emphasized the importance of empowering the Latino community to participate in the electoral process: "Grita. Canta. Vota. has been a great partner in making sure that the Latino community knows that an election is happening this year and that voting is really important and that we have the power as Latinos to make a difference."
La Fuerza NC: Amplifying Latino Voices
La Fuerza NC, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing Latino political representation in North Carolina, sent volunteers to the festival to register voters. Gaby Garcia-Vera, the organization's Deputy Executive Director, highlighted the importance of ensuring Latinos are heard and represented in government.
"When we look at the people in power, they don't look like us. They don't sound like us," she said. "For us, it's about doing our part to make sure that our people are not only seen but counted and heard in the same way that they want to listen."
Alberto Hernandez, a La Fuerza NC volunteer, emphasized the importance of voter participation, even in the face of political challenges: "A lot of our community is scared to vote just because (of) some of the local repercussions of what's been going on with the political, future of everything but it is super important to anybody listening to make sure that if you can get to the polls, get to the polls."
A Powerful Symbol of Community
La Fiesta del Pueblo is a powerful symbol of community and resilience. It showcases the rich culture and heritage of the Hispanic and Latino community in North Carolina, while also serving as a platform for civic engagement and empowerment. The event serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing the contributions of marginalized communities and ensuring their voices are heard in all aspects of society.
