SCRANTON, Pa. — Nay Aug Park in Scranton is coming alive with traditional dances and food from Latin American countries. It’s all for the 3rd annual Latino Fiesta.
Jennifer Reed is here to try her favorite Puerto Rican foods. “I get to celebrate my heritage. It’s great, it’s amazing, and the vibes that you get here. Everybody is dancing; they’re loud, well, we all dance and we’re loud, and it’s happy, and it just feels good. The food is amazing,” says Reed.
Vendors were serving up Puerto Rican cuisine, including empanadas, flan, and tres leches cake. There were also Mexican treats like a chamoy mango on a stick. Flags were seen all around, highlighting the diversity within the Hispanic culture.
Danielle Rodriguez is on the committee for the Latino Fiesta. “It’s amazing how we could all come together, and we don’t judge by your ethnicity, your skin tone, nothing like that. We’re all human, and we’re all here to help each other out, grow together, and just make everyone feel welcome,” says Rodriguez.
Elizabeth Rodriguez, founder of the NEPA Latino Fiesta, shared that many in the community have been reaching out to ask whether the celebration would still take place as planned despite the political turmoil stirring within the community. Recent events involving federal agents clashing with protesters during an immigration raid in southern California bring worry to the Latino community. Rodriguez says they won’t allow these fears to stop the community from coming together.
“Very simple. To showcase and highlight the great culture that the Latinos and everything they bring to our communities, and stand by them,” says Elizabeth.
The Recovery Bank, one of the groups standing by members of the community, helps support addiction recovery. Daniel Saenz, a recovery coach, says the organization is especially proud to finally offer Spanish-speaking staff.
“Addiction it really happens to all nationalities, all ethnicities at the same level, so the Hispanic, Spanish-speaking community is more of an underserved community,” says Saenz.
Despite what some of the Latino community is experiencing around the country and right here, the NEPA Latino Fiesta is the closest thing many have to the sounds, flavors, and memories of home.
“Very much. Very much. It’s just like being around family,” says attendee Joan Maturkanitch.
