Centro Cultural Hispano celebrates and embraces Hispanic culture

CENTRO CULTURAL

celebrates and embraces Hispanic culture

By Brittany Anderson

Being able to not just embrace your own culture but have it be recognized, appreciated and celebrated is incredibly important, and one local organization aims to do just that, through every facet of their outreach.

Nonprofit San Marcos-based organization Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos has been a fixture in the community for over a decade, since it opened in September 2010.

Located in the heart of one of the first Mexican-American “barrios,” or neighborhoods, of San Marcos, Centro consists of four components: an art gallery, a library, a museum, and various educational and culturally-enriching programs.

Centro’s programming includes curriculum in visual arts, theater, dance, literature, music, multimedia and culinary arts. From Ballet Folklórico and Mariachi classes to art classes and piano lessons, the goal is for youth to celebrate, learn about and have a better understanding of the culture and country of where they are from.

“Awareness brings more of an acceptance and recognition of what these countries bring to us,” Dr. Gloria Martinez of Centro said. “The sooner children can be exposed to that, to other countries’ cultures and understand they’re not trying to harm you. … Every country has its beauty.”

Centro strives to provide a space for the community to learn about and share their Hispanic Heritage with others, notably through their many events.

After collaborating with Lucy Gonzalez, who serves as the Outreach and Recruitment Specialist at Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas, Centro planned and held its inaugural Hispanic Heritage Exhibition Walk on Sept. 17.

The event was the first for the community, intended to recognize people that come from “all of the countries” and bring attention to the “vibrant Latin American countries and bring awareness of the diversity of Hispanic Heritage to the local community.”

“In our community, everyone automatically thinks you’re Mexican, but you might be Peruvian, Colombian, Salvadoran — we have tons of people from all over,” Martinez said. “We need to recognize and appreciate all that they have done within our community.”

The flags of 21 Latin American countries, from Argentina to Mexico to Venezuela, were displayed at Centro. Then, following a half-mile walk to the Historic Hays County Courthouse, community members gathered for music, food, market vendors, family-friendly activities, words from various community leaders, and Folklórico and Mariachi performances, celebrating the kick-off of Hispanic Heritage Month.

On top of bringing awareness to Centro and their mission, all of the proceeds from the walk will go towards granting local students with scholarships.

Gonzalez’s personal experiences helped shape this event, saying that she lived abroad in Mexico for about eight years and found people there to be

very warm and welcoming — something that might be lacking stateside. “What I feel here in the U.S. is we’re not very warm and welcoming to immigrants from other countries. [It’s] ‘I have to fit in’ instead of ‘I belong,’” Gonzalez said. “Or that I have to watch from the outside,” Martinez added. “With something like this [exhibition walk], it’s, ‘I am a part of this community; I see my flag represented; I see my people here to celebrate,’” Gonzalez said. With such a prominent and important Hispanic population in Hays County, Centro will continue the mission it has served for years: being a beacon for the preservation, development, promotion and celebration of Hispanic arts, culture, heritage and values. Be sure to keep an eye out for 2023’s Cultural Exhibition Walk, and visit Centro at 211 Lee St. in San Marcos.

Contributed Photo

“The preservation of one’s own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures.” – Cesar Chavez