HOLLAND — Advocacy, celebration, education.
Those are the pillars behind Holland nonprofit Latin Americans United for Progress.
The nonprofit’s history dates back to the 1950s and 1960s, officially forming in 1975 with the merging of four Latino organizations.
In keeping with their mission, LAUP hosts an annual Fiesta, full of unique activities and events. This year’s celebration runs Monday-Sunday, July 15-21.
LAUP President and CEO Johnny Rodriquez, who grew up on 14th Street, said the weeklong celebration is about recognizing and acknowledging Holland’s Latino community and its impact.
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“For 58 years, LAUP has celebrated Fiesta,” he said. “It means everything, not only to LAUP as an organization but also to the Latino community. It celebrates the contributions of the Latino community, it celebrates its diversity, and is a time to welcome all community members to celebrate with us.”
This year’s Fiesta kicks off Monday, July 15, with three showings of the film “First Voice Generation,” which follows three local Latinx high schoolers through the pandemic.
Throughout the week, LAUP will partner with the Holland Farmers Market and the Holland Street Performers Series, and will also hold a concert at Kollen Park at 7 p.m. Friday, July 19.
The week culminates with an actual fiesta on Saturday, July 20, and a car show at 12 p.m. Sunday, July 21, both at Holland Civic Center Place.
LAUP was recently given the Nonprofit Champion Award by the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Rodriquez acknowledged the importance of the recognition, saying it shows the organization is moving in the right direction.
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“We want to be part of the solution,” Rodriquez said. “We’re not going to just stand here and acknowledge the problems.”
Learn more at laup.org/fiesta.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
