Latino Task Force of Monroe County

Promoting Civic Participation

Upcoming Events

Saturday, September 20th: Hispanic Heritage Month Noche de Gala: Scholarship Dinner, Dancing, Art Show, Honoring University of Pennsylvania President Dr. F. Javier Cevallos.  It will be held from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 20th at the Chateau Resort & Conference Center in Tannersville.  There are several levels of sponsorship including the purchase of group tickets, tables, or ads in the dinner journal. All businesses purchasing sponsor packages will receive seating for guests, an ad in the event journal, recognition during the program and on press releases, and a free listing on the organization’s  website for one month. The deadline for journal ads is Friday, August 15. To request a sponsor package or to place an ad in the Noche de Gala Journal contact: Journal Coordinator 

Hispanic Heritage Month 2008

   About Hispanic Heritage Month 

 

In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month long celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15).  Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

 

 

2008 Noche de Gala Honorees

 

Guest of Honor: F. Javier Cevallos, PH.D., President, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

 

  1. GACLA Commissioner Dr. Alberto Cardelle, member of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs for Monroe County and chairman of the Health Department at East Stroudsburg University.
  2. Billie Andrews, general manager of the Chateau Resort & Conference Center.
  3. Amilcar Arroyo, publisher of El Mensajero Newspaper.

 

Dr. Cardelle has distinguished himself for his efforts to promote collaboration and unity of effort among the local Latino leadership; Ms Andrews served as a major fundraiser for the 2007 event, and will also serve on the 2008 Gala Planning Committee; and Mr. Arroyo is the founder of one of the major Spanish-language weekly newspapers in the Greater Pocono area.

 

 

Funds will be used for a scholarship fund and to sustain the work of the organization.  There are several levels of sponsorship and an opportunity to showcase you business or organization in the Noche de Gala Dinner Journal. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.  Contact Journal Coordinator to receive a sponsor package.  Click here to see photos from the 2007 First Noche de Gala  Celebration.       

Events

Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration—  Annual event showcasing Hispanic talent and leadership. The 2007 First Noche de Gala Celebration, held October 13, 2007 at the Chateau and Conference Center, honored Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes and attracted over 100 guests, the largest crowd of both Latinos and friends of any of the Hispanic Heritage month celebrations held in the County.  The event also featured a successful silent auction by Latino fine artists Maria Ferreris, Lucia Alvarez, and  Mariana Russo, and dancing to the music of DJ Skandalez, Peter Barrera. September 15- October 15  

 

Cinco de Mayo— The Latino Task Force of Monroe County (LTF) celebrated the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo with an art exhibition, and a series of workshops conducted by Latino artists on Saturday, May 10th from 1p.m. - 5 p.m. at Clymer Library, Firehouse Road in Pocono Pines. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo (5th of May in English) is recognized as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry.  In Mexican history, May 5, 1862 commemorates Mexico's victorious battle against a French invasion in the town of Puebla. Some scholars believe that if the French had defeated México at the Battle of Puebla, the South would have won the Civil War, since France would have then provided military support to the South in order to lift the Union Blockade from Southern ports. Cinco de Mayo workshops included: Wood painting and Carving with Lucia Alvarez; Bilingual reading on the Cinco de Mayo; and Making Paper Flowers with Maria Ferreris. The art exhibition included works by Lucia Alvarez, Maria Ferreris, Armando Baez, and Mariana Russo. This project was supported by the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) the regional arts funding partnership of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency. State government funding comes through an annual appropriation by Pennsylvania’s General Assembly and from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. PPA is administered in this region by the Pocono Arts Council. 5 de Mayo 2008 

 

Activities

Scholarship Fund —Provides financial support for a Latino student residing in Monroe County. Ongoing

 

Latino Artist Series— Series of activities showcasing Latino artists and providing them with an opportunity to publicize and sell their work. Ongoing.

 

Legislative Watch— Monitoring of upcoming federal or state legislation of interest to the Latino community. Ongoing.

 

Public Policy Advocacy—  Visits with legislators and letter writing to educate on issues of importance to the Latino community. Ongoing.

 

Education— Writing of press releases discussing issues of concern and publicizing work of the organization.  Articles in the Pocono Record and appearances on WVIA, Blue Ridge Cable, and ABC television stations. Appearances by LTF members at area colleges and universities, including Bloomsburg University, Scranton University, and Rutgers University to discuss relevant Latino topics. Ongoing.