2004 Latino Heritage Celebration Set for Oct. 8

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- For the past seven years, the Oklahoma Latino Heritage Celebration, the largest state-sponsored event of its kind, has honored the contributions of Hispanic Americans to our state’s economy, history, diversity, faith and culture. With a new location and a program focusing on the beauty of Latino culture, this year’s event promises to be the biggest yet.
The celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 8 in the Oklahoma Capitol Rotunda. In honor of this year’s celebration, Gov. Henry has proclaimed October 2004 as Latino Heritage Month.

Scheduled to appear are Folkloric dancers from Columbus Elementary School, Salsa and Flamenco dancers from Everything Goes Dance Studio, Panamanian Folkloric Dancers Entre dos Mares and Mexican Folkloric dancers Las Estrellas and Jose & Elvira Munoz. Puerta De Oro and Mariachi Orgullo de America will play traditional Mexican music.

The keynote speaker will be Stephen Louis Cortes, deputy general council to Gov. Brad Henry. Honored guests include Rep. Debbie Blackburn and members of the Governor’s Latino Advisory Council, OKDHS Chief Operation Officer Farilyn Ballard and Director of the Latino Agency Civil Air Patrol Squadron William Fennell.

There will also be awards given to junior high school students from Oklahoma City who entered the Latino Heritage Essay Contest. Each child was asked to write about a different Latino country and describe what makes that country special to show the diversity of the Latino heritage. The essays will be on display at the Capitol during the celebration.

Admission is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted to help continue this annual event. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma Arts Council, Oklahoma City Public Schools, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, the Riverside Latino Community Development Agency and the Salvation Army Puerta De Oro sponsor this annual event.

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