Open arms, open minds

RALEIGH — One language isn’t spoken more than any other at La Fiesta del Pueblo.

Spanish accents colored English phrases as the two languages blurred the conversation and two peoples came together to lend a hand and try to forge a deeper understanding.

“Obviously, this gives the Americans a better point of view of who Hispanics are,” said Marcia Espínola, associate director of El Vínculo Hispano, or The Hispanic Liaison, an advocacy group in Chatham County.

Hosted by El Pueblo Inc., a Latino advocacy group in Raleigh, La Fiesta is an annual celebration of Latin food, music and arts at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Tens of thousands of people were expected to attend the weekend event.

La Fiesta del Pueblo is 16 years old, and as more Latinos come to the Triangle, this festival of cultural awareness and advocacy has grown in terms of what it offers.

The festival is designed to help the Latino community, many of whom are recent immigrants, take advantage of support and services that the Triangle offers but that can often be hard to find because of language barriers and difficulty accessing the Internet.

Espínola stood at a booth in the Jim Graham Building where hundreds of tables hosted health and advocacy groups, including bilingual accountants and dance groups.

El Vínculo Hispano boasted a youth group, classes on subjects from sexuality to painting, help with legal issues and even a food bank.

But mostly, Espínola said, El Vínculo Hispano is — like La Fiesta — about creating a community.

“Oftentimes, immigrants, we don’t feel part of the community. We can feel very lonely,” Espínola said, who emigrated from Chile eight years ago.

La Fiesta is trying to assuage that loneliness, she said. But groups at La Fiesta weren’t limited to health and social services.

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences was present, volunteers holding reptiles for children to exclaim about — all in the common language of squeals and giggles.

“Fiesta is great because there are a lot of people that are new to this area, and it’s a great way to introduce them to the animals they might see in their backyard,” said museum curator Stephanie Bohr.

The museum hosts bilingual wildlife classes and considers itself a free resource like any other.

“It’s great to be able to reach out and give them the same quality education we would for people who speak English,” said Kevin Durso, an N.C. State University student who works at the museum.

Other groups focused on providing equal opportunity in more obvious ways.

At an official El Pueblo booth, one N.C. State student petitioned for immigration and health care reform.

“El Pueblo is trying to make sure that reform is even an issue,” Lyly Galarza said. “I’ve seen a lot of families get taken apart because there isn’t an effective system in place. People just need to remember that there are a lot of people struggling.”

Sixth graders from Rogers-Herr Middle School in Durham came with their social studies teacher to seek services for themselves and to find volunteer opportunities.

“I feel like I want to help other people,” said sixth grader Evelyn Toro, originally from Mexico.

“Sometimes I get sad when I see people in the streets. I just want to help somebody — do something.”

The festival is also held for people to be able to experience Hispanic culture.

“Obviously, this gives the Americans a better point of view of who Hispanics are,” Espínola said, referencing the music, dance and food that comes from across Central America, the Andean region and Mexico.

Espínola also said La Fiesta is a compassionate event where people come to learn about all cultures.

“Almost the majority of people think that everyone is Mexican, that I’m Mexican. But I’m not Mexican, I’m Chilean,” she laughed.

“La Fiesta is mind opening.”



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