Hispanic Heritage Month is coming!

Hispanic Heritage Month is coming!
By David Triana
Each year, the period of 15 September to 15 October is celebrated throughout our nation as “Hispanic Heritage Month”. A period we use to recognize the contributions that individuals of Hispanic descent have made to our nation since its beginning. Hispanics have had a profound and positive influence on our country through their strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service.
This year’s theme is “Shaping the Bright Future of America” and there is no doubt that, based on our current population (58.6 million), the current birth rates and expected population in 2050 (103 million), we will surely have a say in what the future holds for the United States of America.
I have no doubt that the impact we have as a whole will be a positive one.
We live in an area of the United States that is not yet considered one that Hispanics make a big difference in, I say this in comparison to places like Miami, Tampa, or even larger cities like Houston, Dallas, and/or Los Angeles to name a few.
Just the same, I thoroughly believe that we ARE MAKING a positive difference in this area proudly displaying our love for the United States first, but also not shy to show pride in our varied ethnicity, our culture, our music, etc.
Those Hispanics who recently arrived to this area need only to speak to persons who have been here for longer than 10 years to understand that what they see now in entertainment, businesses, and other areas of our community, was not as prevalent a decade ago.
Conexión Media Group (CMG), along with others leaders in different fields or community projects, have been at the vanguard of making many of these things happen, especially in the media and culture aspects of it. I take this opportunity to acknowledge what in my observation since my arrival in 2004, have been leading and are still leading the way in helping with the Hispanic growth, in a positive way, of this area: Jose Garcia (founder/leader of the NWF Boricuas Ausentes and the Latin Salsa Festival), entrepreneur Mario Jimenez, DJ/Promoter Vasco Milord, Grace McCaffery (founder of La Costa Latina / Latino Media Group), Maria Mata (Ritmo Latino / AM 980/106.9 FM), JR Corraliza and David Collado of Pensacola, Erika Rojas, Maria Ortiz, Rudy Saez, Tallahassee, and Estela Elias, Irma Horlacher and the current overall leadership of United for a Good Cause Inc. (www.unitedforagoodcause.org). I am sure I’m forgetting a few others, and for that I am sorry, but, I think that without those individuals mentioned above, what everyone now sees as “common stuff” would not exist. Thanks also to all the Hispanic business owners who have worked tirelessly to create their companies and who are currently still out there working countless hours making a difference to their employees and our community.
In closing, we invite everyone to support all the HHM related activities that will take place in our area of coverage. CMG is a proud sponsor of the Hispanic Fest 2017 (see ads in this edition) and we also will organize two events this year. We invite everyone to participate.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH KICK-OFF FUNDRAISING EVENT: Friday, 15 September from 6:30pm – 9pm, Brooks-Beale Center in Fort Walton Beach. $20 donation / person includes Latin FOOD, FUN Entertainment, a silent auction, a presentation about OHP and a brief keynote speech by internationally renowned entrepreneur Dan Vega. Indeed, this also will be a great opportunity to network among FRIENDS. Proceeds will benefit One Hopeful Place. Corporate sponsors, silent auction items, and food catering sponsorships welcomed. Contact me at 850.368-3505 or [email protected]
FIESTA en el PARQUE: Sunday, October 15, 12pm – Sunset, at The Landing Park in Fort Walton Beach. The Fiesta will be a family friendly, Latin-flavored party with food vendors, music, games, piñatas, contests, and door prizes! This event is a collaboration of Conexión Media Group and David Collado’s Gulf Coast Latino (www.gulfcoastlatino.com) The event will raise funds to benefit United for a Good Cause Inc. Corporate sponsorships are available. If you want to perform or be a vendor at this event, contact David at 850.368.3505 or [email protected]