By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Staff Writer
The Paul Robeson Center in Princeton transformed into a "Mercado Cultural" with colorful wares celebrating diverse Hispanic heritage on Sunday.
Latin American music filled Hinds Plaza and Latinos danced the salsa and other South and Central American dances during the Hispanic Heritage celebration, which spanned the center and the Princeton Library, across the street from each other on Witherspoon Street.
The Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) organized the event with the help of the Arts Council of Princeton and the Princeton Library. LALDEF is a grass roots nonprofit organization formed to defend the civil rights of Latin Americans, and facilitate their access to health care and education, as well as to advance cross-cultural understanding in the Mercer County regional area, according to Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, chair of the event and president of LALDEF.
"LALDEF was formed 10 years ago by local activists concerned by the growing hostile national climate faced by immigrants," Ms. Fernandez-Kelly said. "There were a significant number of deportations."
LALDEF has since built a solid reputation as a staunch advocate, an effective referral center and trusted provider of support and civic education for Latino immigrants, according to Ms. Fernandez-Kelly.
Area artists, weavers and crafters filled Paul Robeson Center.
"We wanted to give more visibility to our vendors and artisans," LALDEF Executive Director Maria Charo Juega said. "We also wanted to bring together members of the Latino community and wanted the non-Latino public to take part in the richness of this community."
Author Alvaro Lopez, who came to this country from Guatemala, gave poetry readings and there were performances by local groups throughout the event.
"I wanted to give to the community what I’m doing and what I love," Mr. Lopez said.
Mr. Lopez said he is a businessman by profession who writes in his free time about the immigrant experience and advice to young people.
"I’ve been writing since I was 8," he said.
Master Weaver Armando Sosa said the celebration is a way to share his heritage and customs.
"It makes me happy when people see and appreciate what we do," he said, adding that he is from a part of Guatemala where 90 percent of the men are weavers.
Artist Marlon Davila said participating in the event meant a great deal to him.
"It’s important for the younger generation to see the Latino community capable of doing these things," he said. "It’s up to you what you can do if you put yourself to it. I want to be an example to the younger generation."
Children learned how to make paper flowers and had their faces painted.
LALDEF also distributed gently used children and adult books in Spanish free of charge.
The band "Eco de Sur" performed favorites from their Latin American repertoire in Hinds Plaza outside the Princeton Library.
Proceeds from the event will go to LALDEF’s Fair Chance Fund, which provides legal immigration assistance and representation to migrant youth.
