Staten Islanders celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with food, dancing, and more
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It was a day of celebrating independence among the Staten Island Hispanic community.
On Sunday, hundreds of borough residents gathered in Port Richmond with friends and family to feast on traditional food, listen to music, enjoy performances, and take part in activities as part of a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The colorful event, hosted by El Centro del Immigrante alongside an array of community groups, was held at Our Lady Mt. Carmel-St. Benedicta R.C. Church.
It was also an opportunity for approximately 600 people to come together and meet their neighbors as many celebrate independence days this month.
Many Latin American countries celebrate their independence on Sept. 15, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.
“We’re here to celebrate Port Richmond’s Hispanic heritage,” said Andres Garcia, co-executive director of El Centro del Immigrante. “There are a lot of countries that celebrate their independence and their heritage and so we’re taking a moment out of our year to honor all the different cultures that make Staten Island, that make Port Richmond so great.”
Attendees were greeted with colorful decorations, many tents to hide from the blazing sun, plenty of food vendors, information tents and tables, flags, a DJ, and an area for performances, including a mariachi band and dancing.
Garcia said the day was filled with national pride and an honoring of cultures that residents might feel separated from.
“It’s our hope that people feel at home, that they see themselves in the people around them, that they’re able to eat delicious food and watch amazing performances and really enjoy their time together. Not just as immigrants, but as members of the Port Richmond community,” he explained.
It is the second year that El Centro is hosting the event.
El Centro and Port Richmond is a predominantly Mexican community, Garcia explained — but the event hopes to recognize and make space for all new immigrants and new families moving to the neighborhood that are becoming a part of the community. That includes inviting ambassadors of different cultures and countries to have their own tables during the event that attendees can connect with.
Located on Port Richmond Avenue — in the heart of the Hispanic community — El Centro has, for years, sponsored large-scale celebrations of arts and culture that share pride in Hispanic heritage with the borough. Sunday’s event also helped to kick off El Centro’s 25th anniversary on Staten Island, including a gala and cultural celebration to be held Oct. 26 at the St. George Theatre.
“We are here for the community, in every way imaginable,” said Michelle Molina, co-executive director.
Molina accepted a service award from Mayor Eric Adams on behalf of El Centro’s staff and volunteers and longtime work in the community. El Centro del Immigrante was honored with the Community Impact Award for its innovative strategy to address community needs during the pandemic.
El Centro was the first organization in the borough to recognize the needs of immigrants and continues to serve people from Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as native-born Americans.
Over 25 years, El Centro has been a trusted resource for tens of thousands of Staten Islanders as they navigated a constantly changing immigration landscape, periods of economic downturn, housing shortages, the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Hurricane Sandy and other events of recent history.
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