Organizers talked about recent challenges such as climate disasters, food shortages and housing crises that have affected New Haven’s Latinx residents, and celebrated heritage and community ties.
Natasha Kazam
Contributing reporter
Natasha Khazzam, Contributing Photographer
Fair Haven comes to life with musical performances and traditional cuisine from Latin American countries during the annual ‘Fiesta Latina’ on Saturdays.
Junta For Progressive Action, a local Latinx-led social service organization, held its annual “Fiesta Latina” Saturday afternoon in Fairhaven.
The event was hosted by Junta For Progressive Action, in partnership with Yale Peabody, to provide “culturally responsive social services to the Latinx community of Greater New Haven.”
The event featured live music by Orquesta Afinke, as well as performances by the Peruvian Marinera Dance Academy and Ballet Folklórico, a Mexican folk dance troupe from Yale University. About 100 attendees enjoyed Chilean empanadas and Salvadoran pupusas in the backyard of Junta’s Fair Haven location, which event coordinators consider to be the “heart” of New Haven’s Latino community.
“This is a really great occasion to celebrate Nuestra Latinidad Enjoy live music with community members. The last few years have been difficult,” said Junta Bruni Pizarro FES ’19 Executive Director.
Attendees highlighted how ‘Fiesta Latina’ provided the moments of joy the community so desperately needed amidst the many challenges they faced over the past few years. Most notably, they discussed the eviction crisis and food shortages following the Covid-19 outbreak, and the influx of immigrants to New Haven due to natural disasters across Latin America.
Pizarro highlighted the surge in immigrants from Puerto Rico to New Haven after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, and outlined Junta’s past efforts to serve the city. Since then, the organization has helped more than 2,000 migrants find jobs and housing through direct advocacy with social service providers. Case managers are working with immigrants on an individual basis to provide them with the resources they need to resume life in New Haven.
Volunteers Cheila Serrano and Juancarlos Soto highlighted the community’s ongoing efforts to help areas heavily affected by natural disasters. After the devastation caused by Hurricane Fiona in late September, the military government disaster relief fund We are providing aid to Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries affected by climate disasters. Soto also highlighted the role of another New Haven-based organization, Puerto Ricans United. donated for puerto rico In light of recent events.
With renovations underway at the Yale Peabody Museum, this year’s Fiesta Latina was held in Junta for the first time in its 20-year history, and organizers were able to bring the event directly to Fair Haven’s Latino community.
Soto touched on the importance of seeing the younger generation, who previously participated in Junta’s youth programs, organize this year’s Fiesta Latina.
“We get to meet young leaders… literally planning this event,” Soto said. “I think it’s amazing and needs to be celebrated.”
Pop-ups at Fiesta Latina with representatives from each of the event’s sponsors, including Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven Promises, Better Life Home Care, New Haven Pride Center, Cricket Wireless, New Haven’s Puerto Rican Festival・A booth also appeared. New Haven Health Department and New Haven Board of Education Dropout Prevention Department.
Rory Rodriguez, a representative of both the military government and the New Haven Public Schools District, led an “Attendance Matters” booth that sought to boost attendance for New Haven Public Schools students. 46.7% of them are reported to be Hispanic Or Latino. Attendance dropped significantly after the Covid-19 outbreak, Rodriguez said. This is because young students lacking socialization during the pandemic have developed negative attitudes towards school. On the other hand, older students who started working during the virtual learning period preferred to drop out of high school in favor of working full time. time.
“We are working to ensure that they are reintegrated into the school system and are able to attend school every day,” said Rodriguez.
Other booths, such as the New Haven Department of Health, sought to raise awareness of issues that disproportionately affect New Haven’s Latinx community. These include increased susceptibility to lead-contaminated water sources and disproportionately high rates of COVID-19.
Despite the challenges that continue to affect New Haven’s Latino community, Fiesta Latina serves as a way to celebrate Junta’s recent accomplishments and highlight its steps toward improving the city’s Latino community. did.
“This is a way to show the community that we love them,” Pizarro said.
Fiesta Latina was held on the final day of the National Hispanic Heritage Month, which ran from September 15th to October 15th.
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