By Jessica Dillon
Food, music and community resources came together at Jordan Creek Park as residents gathered for the annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, an event designed to celebrate Hispanic culture while connecting families with local organizations and services.
Hosted by the Southside Survivor Response Center, the festival welcomed people from across the community. Food vendors included Tacos y Tortas Hernández LLC and Asador El Verge, both of Collinsville.
The event was organized with the help of Tracy Vasquez, director of emergency services for the center.
“This is Tracy’s baby,” Tamika Whitfield, executive director of the center, said of the event. Vasquez “has been super proud of the work that she’s done this last year, as well.”
Vasquez said the festival is intended to serve both the Hispanic community and the community at large.
“Once a year, we hold this Hispanic heritage event. It is part of our agency,” Vasquez said. “We love to do it to bring the community together. It is targeting the Hispanic community, but not only the Hispanic community, it is targeting the whole community.
“It brings our local organizations and our local businesses together. That way we can share resources and share a wealth of information with the community,” she said.
Vasquez said she was pleased with attendance and participation throughout the day.
“I feel good,” she said. “I feel that individuals are stopping by, coming. They’re getting food, they’re stepping by and visiting the tables, hopefully getting information that they are able to utilize for themselves, but not only for themselves, share with others that may have the need.”
The festival featured a variety of community organizations and service providers. Some participants returned after taking part in last year’s event, while others joined for the first time.
“We invited them back, but we have also reached out to other community partners that have joined,” Vasquez said.
Among the participating organizations was Piedmont United Family Services, along with other local groups offering information and assistance.
Vasquez said one thing that stood out was the effort organizations made to ensure materials were accessible to Spanish-speaking residents.
“They have all prepared their literature in Spanish,” she said. “And that says a lot about the support that is offered our way.”
She said the availability of Spanish-language resources reflected the event’s commitment to inclusivity.
“We try not to leave anybody feeling as if they don’t have any support,” Vasquez said. “Even as we’re in an English-speaking city, town, community, we do not discriminate. We do not eliminate. We’re all inclusive, and it is also evident by the vendors that we have on today.
“The resource tables that we have are in Spanish, and that just made my heart warm,” she said.
The Southside Survivor Response Center also used the event to raise awareness about services available to survivors and families in need. The organization has Spanish-speaking staff available to assist clients.
Anyone seeking assistance from the center, whether they speak Spanish or English, can call 1-877-934-3576.
