Editorial
Front Page - Friday, May 21, 2010
La Feria Hispana to promote awareness of Latin American culture
David Laprad
Of all the ways to experience a new culture, perhaps none are as enjoyable as a festival, especially when music, dance and food are involved. Residents of Chattanooga will have an opportunity to get to know their Latino neighbors during one such celebration when local nonprofit La Paz hosts the sixth annual La Feria Hispana at the Chattanooga Market on June 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors can expect live music, Latin American dancers and ethnic food cooked on the spot. La Paz also plans to offer activities for children. Admission will be free.
The money La Paz collects from the sponsors of the event will enable the organization to continue offering programs intended to empower and engage Chattanooga’s Latino population through advocacy, education and inclusion.
La Paz director of development and communication, Laurie Cook, says the organization advocates on behalf of the Latino community by creating awareness and building relationships with partner organizations and individuals working to serve the Latin American community. These relationships are built through presentations, cultural training seminars and monthly networking luncheons open to the public.
For example, through its book club, La Paz highlights Latino contributions to society through literature and the cultural discussions that arise as a result. La Paz also offers training to businesses, churches and schools on the Latin American population in the U.S. and Tennessee, the Latino community in Chattanooga, common myths and facts, cultural and language barriers and how to work with, live beside and serve the Latino community.
“Although most people think Latin Americans come from Mexico, the majority of the Latino community in Chattanooga came from Guatemala,” Cook says.
Many people also assume all Latin Americans speak Spanish, but Cook says that’s not the case.
“A girl who used to work here was trilingual because of the various dialects she spoke in Guatemala,” she says.
There are also misconceptions about the size of the Latino population in Chattanooga. While some say there are about 12,000 Latin Americans in the city, Cook says she believes the number is closer to 20,000. “We encouraged members of the community to take part in the (2010) census so we could get an accurate count,” she says.
La Paz also seeks to educate the Latino community in Chattanooga to become self-sufficient members of the community. For instance, through a program called Entre Nostras, La Paz strives to empower Latin American women by way of classes ranging from cooking lessons to prenatal care.
La Paz also works with youth to educate them on the legislation process, human and civil rights, communicating with the media, team working strategies and effective leadership.
In addition, La Paz encourages members of the Latino community to take control of their health by teaching them how to access appropriate health care and community services. Modeled after similar programs in other cities, Promotores de Salud serves as a permanent link between the Latin American community and healthcare providers. Volunteers work toward bringing needed cases to medical attention, assure that prescribed diagnoses and treatments are understood and provide follow-up attention.
Finally, La Paz endeavors to integrate Latinos into the larger Chattanooga community by introducing them to organizations and businesses that typically fall outside their cultural boundaries and comfort levels, such as banks (where they might open an account), the public library (where they might apply for a card and check out books), parks, restaurants, stores and museums. While experiencing all the city has to offer, the Latin American community is simultaneously exposing the non-Latino population to the rich diversity within the Latino culture, Cook says.
“Walls come down when people meet face to face,” she says. “When you keep to yourself, you don’t feel motivated to contribute. That would be unfortunate because the Latino community has a lot to offer.”
The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga recently awarded La Paz a $20,000 grant that will allow La Paz to expand its programs. La Paz Executive Director Stacy Johnson says the organization was thrilled to receive the grant. “This funding will allow us to focus even more on providing our clients not only with the skills needed to actively participate in this community, but also the opportunity to talk about their lives and issues with those who understand and can help if needed. This builds community.”
The presenting sponsor of La Feria Hispana is Volkswagen Group of America. Additional sponsors include Bell Development, Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, Tennessee Valley Authority and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
Since its inception in 2004, La Paz has worked to build tolerance, opportunity and mutual understanding so as to create an environment in which cultural acceptance can thrive. Events like La Feria Hispana attempts to accomplish those goals in a way that’s fun for everyone.
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