Community to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month despite pandemic restrictions
By Eric Valentine
There’s a saying in Spanish: “No hay mal que por bien no venga.” Translation: “There is no bad that doesn’t come with some good in it.”
When it comes to the dark damper COVID-19 restrictions have placed on Valley events in 2020, Herbert Romero has found a number of ways to shine some much needed light. With Hispanic Heritage Month fast approaching, the organizer for what will be the third annual local celebration accepted he would not be able to hold the event at Roberta McKercher Park the way he did in its first and second iteration. So, rather than one big party there, Romero has organized several smaller parties elsewhere.
“This year we’re going to bring the celebration to them rather than making them come to us,” Romero said.
Events with, in some cases, food and music and aimed at recognizing members of the community positively impacting Hispanic culture and heritage will be ongoing throughout the Valley from Sept. 15 to Oct. 16, as Hispanic Heritage Month nationally overlaps both months.
“It’s that way because Independence Day is Sept. 16 and that way it can get a good kick-off,” Romero explained.
Attention all gringos, if you don’t know now, now you know: Mexican Independence Day is not Cinco de Mayo (May 5); that’s a day celebrating a victorious battle over the French. Sept. 16 is the date marking the moment when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, made the first cry for Mexican independence from Spain.
¿Dónde es la fiesta?
The events slotted between mid-September and mid-October across the Valley will be carried out in a COVID-safe manner, so they won’t be topping the 300-person and 1,000-person respective turnouts in years one and two. But food, music, dancing and a few tips of the sombrero to folks who’ve been instrumental to Hispanic culture and community will take place.
On Saturday, Sept. 12, from 3 to 5 p.m., La Cabanita in Ketchum will host the first of the mini-celebrations. On Saturday, Sept. 19, from 4 to 8 p.m., Lago Azul in Hailey is where the fiesta will be. And from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, Chapalitas Market in Bellevue plays host.
Sept. 26 will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside Jane’s Artifacts in Hailey alongside the building and right in front of the brand new mural painted there just last week. The colorful artwork depicting elements of Valley life through the lens of Hispanic men, women and children is something the store’s owner, Jane Drussel, advocated for, Romero said.
“Jane has been a proponent when it comes to the inclusion of other cultures,” Romero said. “Jane is a perfect example of what we’re asking for. She was so impressed (the mural effort) was youth-led.”
¿Quién es Herbert?
Romero, originally from Long beach, Calif., moved to the Valley with his family in 2015. In California he worked as a community organizer and by 2018 he found himself doing similar work here as a mentor to youth in the Hispanic community and a planner of various cultural events here.
In recent years, he has led the high school civic group called Nosotros United, which welcomes both Hispanic and non-Hispanic students so they can share and explain their cultural backgrounds and advocate for particular changes in society, politics and culture. Romero says he misses the regular interaction with the group but they still meet virtually or in a socially-distant capacity when possible.
Romero has been spending the last few weeks getting himself on the meeting agendas of Valley city councils, the county commissioners, and the school district. He says in some cases there will be proclamations made official calling the 30-day period as Hispanic Heritage month in the particular jurisdictions and bringing attention to other issues impacting the Hispanic community.
During the COVID pandemic, Romero was also instrumental in developing the program called Vecinos Apoyando Vecinos (Neighbors Helping Neighbors), which acts as a resource for people seeking financial, emotional or legal help in these trying times.
“That’s one positive about COVID. We’ve created something new,” Romero said. “Maybe you’ve seen the yellow signs around town?”