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LatinoSolEl October 2014
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Presencia 2014 por MANUEL FRAU RAMOS Presencia , the 2n Annual Celebration of Hispanic Heritage in Western New England event was held on September 26 at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Presencia. a flavorful fiesta aimed to celebrate the broad diversity and richness of the Hispanic culture and the community gathered at the Basketball Hall of Fame in an evening of music, culture, food, and dance was presented by WGBY Latino Advisory Board. This event reaffirms WGBY’s commitment to engaging the Latino community and it benefited WGBY’s Community Engagement programs, Latino Youth Media Institute (LYMI), the Digital Storytelling Workshop (TOLD) and the North End Center for Literacy and Learning (NECLL). Ross Peotter, WGBY General Manager, Vanessa Pabón, Community Engagement and Education Director, Marie Waechter, Director of Community Relations and Events, and the WGBY Latino Advisory Board event committee with the generous support of Baystate Health Diversity, MassMutual Financial group and Health New England made possible the celebration of this unique event.
Photo MFR. Bachata contestants. From left to right – Thaddeus Miles, Damaris Pérez- Pizarro, Alejandro Cameron, Keisha Ibarra, Dr. Arlene Rodríguez, DJ Jerry, Valeria Zenteno, Rus Peotter
One of the most awaited events of the celebration was the Latin Dance Challenge with the participation of program sponsors and donors in one of three Latin dance contests – merengue, bachata and salsa. This year winners were: Salsa - Kara Herman (Freedom Credit Union) and Joseph Krupczynski (UMass and WGBY Latino Advisory Board), Merengue - Milta Franco (Baystate/ Brightwood Clinic and WGBY Latino Advisory Board) and Dr. Mark Keroack (President and CEO of Baystate Health), and Bachata - Dr. Arleen Rodriguez (Dean of the School of Arts and Hummanities, STCC) and DJ Jerry (WSPR Radio). Live music was one of the highlights of the night with The Presencia All Star Ensemble under the direction of renowned musician Heshima. The Presencia All Star Ensemble featured Jesús Pagán, and Ray Cruz. The members of the WGBY Latino Advisory Board event committee are Dr. Arlene Rodríguez, STCC; Lucila J. Santana, Springfield Public Schools; Manuel Frau-Ramos, El Sol Latino; Gaddier Rosario, Gaddier Fine Art Studio; Verónica García, WGBY; Lynn Page (WGBY); Alejandro Cameron, WGBY-LYMI; and Zydalis Zayas, WGBY-LYMI. Dancer Instructor was Sasha Jiménez, a professional Salsa dancer with over 10 tears of experience. She had a pleasure of working with Presencia last year and she was excited that be back this year.
Photo MFR. Salsa contestants. From left to right – Henry East-Trou, Agma Sweeney, Abner Meléndez, Zydalis Zayas, Kara Herman, Joseph Krupczynski, Ana Sánchez, William Dávila
Photo MFR. Dr. Miguel Rodríguez, Jenney Dávila, Dr. William Dávila, Zoraida C. Rodríguez
Photo MFR. Merengue contestants. From left to right – Cynthia Claudio, Harold Wolfe, Dr. Mark Keroack, Milta Franco, Dave Frazer, Karla Santiago, Gaddier Rosario, Mari Castañeda
Photo MFR. Dr. Patricia Romney and Paul Wiley