FLINT, MI – The Flint community enjoyed the summer heat on Lewis Street at the Latinx Community and Technology Center on Saturday afternoon.
The community center hosted the Latinx Celebración event from 2 to 5 pm on August 6. It was a time for kids to cool off on the water slides and for local vendors and small businesses to make new connections.
Water slides, bounce houses, music, dancing, Latin American food and children’s activities were all free to attendees. Executive Director Asa Zuccaro, who has been a part of the event for four years, was excited about the turnout.
“Every year it’s gotten a little bigger and bigger,” Zuccaro said. “This is the first year we’ve applied with the City of Flint to close Lewis Street as we’ve only outgrown our little Hamilton Court. It’s exciting to see it get bigger every year.”
Jennifer Padilla, a recent graduate of Michigan State University, was a vendor at the event for her eyelash company, Ishashe. In addition to promoting her new business at the event, she wanted to feel at home with her cultural roots.
“I just moved back to Flint and lost touch with the Latinx community. I want to know more Latinos in Flint,” Padilla said. “My goal for today is to sell some of my items and also meet new people I’ve never met. I’ve already seen a lot of new faces that I’ve never seen before.”
Latinx Celebración was community driven for Zuccaro, volunteers, vendors and attendees.
“We’re a community center, and I think what we see here at a community event is really that celebration of the community,” Zucarro said.
Particularly pleasing to watch was the youth program’s performance, Zucarro said.
“Our youth had been here all summer, participating and learning more about the culture and learning more about the language, and learning more about leadership for our high school students,” Zucarro said. “So for them to be able to present and talk about what they’ve done over the summer and then showcase the cultural arts as well. I think it’s beautiful.”
The cultural food vendors and businesses and volunteers who help and donate also make this event special and possible, Zucarro said.
“It’s always great to be able to provide a platform for those small businesses, especially when they’re from our community,” Zucarro said. “We want to promote them properly and that’s important.”
