It would be hard to tell the full story of Emporia’s history without shining a spotlight on its proud and diverse Hispanic culture, which is exactly what the final Latino Awards Adelante did this weekend.
The third and final event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration of a new exhibit at the Lyon County History Center, which showcased more than 60 panels of photographs highlighting the history of Latinos in the community since their arrival in the early 1900s. The panels not only told the stories of Hispanic families, but also of business owners, community organizations and various athletic teams.
The special display has been in the works for several years in cooperation between the Emporia Brown Express, Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow, the history center and several other community partners. While reviewing the display, Gilbert Rodriguez of the Brown Express says that seeing the images spread throughout the center’s main floor evoked a wide range of emotions and a tremendous amount of pride.
Lyon County History Center Deputy Director Lisa Soller says they are very proud to play host to the exhibit, noting the important role the Hispanic community has played in the area’s long and rich history.
The exhibit is just the latest installation in the community detailing Latino culture over the last three years, with other efforts including a mural in Las Casitas Park, the establishment of a Latino Vietnam Veterans Memorial unveiled earlier this year and much more. While the event itself is coming to an end, Rodriguez says the work that inspired it is far from done.
Rodriguez says it will be on the next generation to continue this trend of highlighting the history of local Latinos, a charge that has been taken up in earnest by HOTT President Mike Torres since he took over leadership of the community organization. Torres says this is a mission that will never truly see an end, as history is something that happens every day and he and others are dedicated to ensuring they capture and preserve it for the generations to come.
The new panel display is just one of the activities scheduled over the next few weeks to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through mid-October. Next up will be a Hispanic Heritage Art Show opening reception during the Emporia First Friday Artwalk on October 3. The art show is open to all artists, both of Hispanic descent and not, with the reception including snacks, live entertainment, personal stories from members of the Hispanic community and more.
The reception will run from 5 pm to 8 pm, with more information available on the Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow Facebook page.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE NewsÂ
