Hispanic Festival Celebrates Hispanic Heritage

I checked out the Hispanic Festival in Huntsville this year and was amazed at what I saw. The Hispanic Festival is an annual celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 each year. The Huntsville Depot Roundhouse and grounds was filled with colorful flags, Latin music, dancing and food. The announcements over the loudspeaker were in Spanish, and then sometimes, repeated in English. There was a carefree and joyous spirit among the participants.

Booths lined the room with information for festival goers: housing info, health screenings, financial and educational displays, crafts, voter registration, and of course, entertainment and food. There were dance demonstrations, door prizes, motivational speakers and pinata breakings, plus clowns, games, and magicians. Margarita Pena was named Outstanding Citizen of the 2004 by The Alabama Hispanic Association.

The Hispanic Festival began in 1999 when Rosie Douglas realized that it was important to make the residents of Huntsville aware of their cultural diversity. This was a part of Huntsville that I, for one, was not familiar with, although I knew that over 103 languages are spoken in our community. The Alabama Hispanic Association (AHA) was established as a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization in September, 2002. It's mission is to provide needed services to the Hispanic community in North Alabama.

Some of the Events and Programs that the organization provides are:

• Tutoring & mentoring programs, language skills training, translation services, medical and legal information.
• Dissemination of literature to help Hispanic families purchase homes, obtain information on insurance, college for children, and adult education.
• Awards scholarships to Hispanic high school students with good grades and limited economic resources.
• Partners with local businesses to make summer job opportunities available for Hispanic high school students.
• Organizes community drives for Hispanic families in need.
• Organizes annual Hispanic Festivals to share the Hispanic culture with the Huntsville community.
• Hosts Latin dances throughout the year to bring Hispanic and non-Hispanics together to share the dance, music and hospitality of Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Margaret Rotger, a native of Puerto Rico, is the president of the Alabama Hispanic Association. She has lived in Huntsville for 20 years. Membership is open to anyone interested in helping the Hispanic Community.

Annual membership is only $15 per person or $25 per couple. If you would like to volunteer or find out how you can assist the Alabama Hispanic Association, you can write them at 1595 Slaughter Rd., Suite A, Madison, AL 35758 or call 256.325.4242.

Photos of the Hispanic Festival
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