10 minute read
Engaging the Latinx community in Kalamazoo with music
from Ed.504
Contributions and Challenges of the Latinx Community in Kalamazoo
By Michelle Herrera
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Editor's note: This story is part of the New/Nueva Opinion's series Contributions and Challenges of Latinx Community in Kalamazoo series. The Kalamazoo Community Foundation founds this series.
Kalamazoo, MI - One thing that most, if not everyone has in common with one another is that we all listen to music. Music has been a form of art that has had the ability to connect people from all backgrounds and cultures. Music in the Latinx community has been an influential aspect in the lives of many, specifically those within the local Kalamazoo community.
The vast talent ranging from radio host personalities, singers, pianist, and those working on the business side of the music industry in the Kalamazoo area have not only been able to showcase their talent throughout the community but have also been able to utilize their gifts to inspire, encourage, and teach the Kalamazoo and surrounding areas the beauty of music.
Leslie Baron is the Education and Community Engagement Manger at The Gilmore and has contributed to enrichening the community by introducing them to a vast variety of global Latinx talent as well as providing a space to young aspiring pianist to learn and play with talented lab instructors.
“I have been working at The Gilmore with the Director of Education, our goal was to reach the families that live here. We wanted to provide an opening for kids and families to experience music and to try to help create a music going culture by helping kids participate and learn about music and inviting families to The Gilmore where they can experience this and expand their horizons,” says Baron.
The program Piano Labs has been a part of local elementary schools where children take piano lessons with instructors from The Gilmore. Piano Labs is currently part of a student’s daily routine at Woods Lake Elementary, Spring Valley Elementary, and Ann J Kellogg Elementary School. Piano Lessons is also available to the community at the YMCA on Maple Street in Kalamazoo.
Leslie Baron es la encargada de la educación y el compromiso con la comunidad en The Gilmore y ha contribuido a enriquecer la comunidad presentándoles una amplia variedad de talento Latinx de talla internacional .
Foto: Juan Grillo - New/Nueva Opinión
The efforts to have these lessons accessible do not stop there. The Gilmore has also partnered up with El Concilio in hosting musical nights for the community as well as outreaching the Latinx community for the piano lessons currently offered.
“We started to open the door to work with the Latino community and help bring musical experiences that way. Additionally, we have connected with the Battle Creek Latin Heritage Initiative to bring in artist for Latin American Heritage Month,” says Baron.
The love for music and efforts in expanding it to the Latinx community does not stop there. Latinos in Kalamazoo and surrounding areas are also able to tune into two local radio stations where culture and awareness come together for anyone to experience.
Alvaro Paz is the Community Development Specialist for El Concilio as well as the Founder of M.I. Gente Radio in Kalamazoo. MI Gente Radio was initiated in March of 2020, with the purpose of connecting audience with entertainment, music, news, engaging the community with current events/topics around the Kalamazoo and neighboring communities.
“The primary objective is for the Latin community to know that El Concilio and M.I. Gente Radio is here in Kalamazoo as backup for them”, say Álvaro Paz.
“The primary objective is for the Latin community to know that El Concilio and M.I. Gente Radio is here in Kalamazoo as backup for them, so they do not feel alone. My purpose with radio is to reach various people and let them know we can assist them with any necessity they may need, as I have noticed that many members of the Latin community don’t execute their objectives due to the lack of help and support,” says Paz.
M.I. Gente Radio consist of five shows that air Monday through Friday covering various topics. From Cumbia Mas where host Daniel Oropeza enriches the community with music and culture to Sanemos Juntos (Healing Together) where the audience engages with psychological topics such as depression and anxiety. Other shows include Romances, Plática de Amigas, and Que Suave
The love for music and radio has allowed Paz to bring members of the community together as listeners and artists. Connecting the community together has been possible with outreach tactics such as Facebook, where M.I. Gente Radio has been able to gain followers without having to pay seek outside promotional assistance. Not only has Paz connected the community as listeners but has also given the space to people to come together and share their love and passion for radio at M.I. Gente.
“The beauty behind this is that no one who has here came with previous experience. Everyone has come to M.I. Gente Radio and has discovered their passion and hidden talent. I am not looking for skills. I am looking for commitment. I am interested in those who commit to M.I. Gente Radio where in the long run we can impact our community with what we do,” says Paz.
M.I. Gente Radio has already reached the homes of many Latinx community members in the area and aspires to continue growing despite the difficulties it comes across as they celebrate their second year on air.
“A challenge we have been currently facing is COVID as it has reduced us from hosting in person events that would allow us to gain more followers and expand our outreach within the community. We have volunteers at M.I. Gente Radio, however, I think that is a challenge within itself as we need more in order to grow as an outlet,” says Paz.
However, despite the challenges of balancing various tasks at a time, the outreach to the community has allowed for various collaborations and the ability to promote local businesses and artists throughout the time at M.I. Gente Radio.
Daniel Oropeza is one of the hosts at M.I. Gente Radio where he hosts Cumbia Mas. Oropeza is also the Co- Host of Alma Latina at WMUK for the past seven years and hosts his own show, Adelante. Being involved in music has also allowed him to be an active community member who strives to serve the Latinx community in Kalamazoo and surrounding areas, through his love for music, radio, cultural awareness, and activism.
“This is something I do voluntarily, but it has defiantly opened doors for me, working with WMUK, The Gilmore, and KIA (Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts), talking to DJ’s, top Hollywood artists, as well as local Latino artists, where we get to learn about different cultures and where we all came from,” says Oropeza.
Daniel Oropeza is one of the hosts at M.I. Gente Radio where he hosts Cumbia Mas. Oropeza is also the Co- Host of Alma Latina at WMUK for the past seven years and hosts his own show, Adelante.
The purpose of Alma Latina, M.I. Gente, and Adelante all come back to the shared principles, to connect people through music, culturally enrich each other, inform one another, and meet the needs of the Latinx community in Kalamazoo and its surrounding areas.
One commitment that Oropeza strives to do for the community it to expose the entire community to the rich Latinx music talent. Although it may be viewed as a challenge, Oropeza has been able to navigate and cast a change through collaborations with organizations throughout the area. These efforts have allowed artists to obtain the exposure for their talents to be showcased to the public, while enriching the community.
“What we do is beautiful. I then have musicians messaging the station or directly to me to play their music, to conduct interviews, all that has allowed us to open many eyes, open many hearts, and doors to our community. It’s a beautiful feeling, all the work is paying off,” says Oropeza.
Daniela Peña is the Festival Operations Assistant at The Gilmore. Peña is an artist herself but has been playing a major role in exposing the community to classical musicians from Latin America.
Daniela Peña and Pablo Valladares Abad, a Dominican-born soprano artist and Ecuadorian-born pianist, respectively, collaborate with The Gilmore to bring music to Kalamazoo's Latinx community.
Photo: Juan Grillo - New/Nueva Opinión
“My ideal is to support the Latinx community and become the bridge in-between the opportunities and resources for the arts,” says Peña.
Peña shares her gratitude for the arts and its contributions to the Latinx community as well as to The Gilmore for supporting the Latinx community through various programs such as free piano lessons, music education, and shows for the public to engage in and attend.
“I always wanted to start my career at The Gilmore, for being internationally known and for being very supportive of diversity within piano performances and performers,” says Peña.
In 2021 The Gilmore was able to invite Nachito Herrera to Kalamazo, as well as Sergio Tiempo | Pablo Ziegler Trio in 2022.
Every day is different and presents its different obstacles. One challenge that comes to mind for Peña involves the planning of the piano festival, however, The Gilmore has provided its team with the necessity support to overcome any obstacle.
“Having to overcome the daily to do list within the festival, involving back-to-back concerts with high level performers that required this level of commitment for us to provide that beautiful audience for them to perform to and for the audience to enjoy the performance,” says Peña.
Pablo Valladares Abad is a Piano Lab Instructor for The Gilmore. His love for music and piano has been shared with students from local Elementary schools in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, as well as community members. Valladares has shared his talent both in person and virtually as the pandemic disrupted traditional learning.
“When the pandemic started, group sessions became more challenging to do on zoom, so The Gilmore needed more instructors to teach students one on one and meet their individual needs,” says Valladares.
Although not the ideal way to teach students piano, the ability to continue to inspire the youth to do something they love at home was the one of the things The Gilmore strived for. To keep students engaged through these times, The Gilmore was able to lend keyboards to students to continue their lessons at home.
“Even though music is an art, learning to play an instrument is more than that. It involves motor skills, decision making, connecting you fingers with you mind, with your mouth,” says Valladares, as he mentions the takeaway for his students. Music and playing an instrument has allowed student to develop their skills and confidence both in and outside of the music world. The Gilmore has provided the educational and musical resources to both children and their families so they can expand their horizons in the music world.
Music is the form of art that has been passed down from one generation to another. Ranging accessibility from vinyl records to online radio platforms, music continues to be a part of people’s lives within the Latinx community. Those working within the music industry around the area continue to expand their outreach and building relationships through music as well as teaching community members to play their own music and showcase their talent for others to enjoy.
Michelle Herrera studies Film/Media and Advertising/Promotion at WMU.
