Buffalo, NY - Mayor Byron W. Brown today hosted a celebration of Hispanic music, dance and art in the lobby of Buffalo City Hall to close out the city’s observance of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Cultural diversity is one of the key elements that is fueling Buffalo’s rebirth as one of America’s great cities. My Administration continues to work to ensure all our residents have the opportunity to thrive, and our Hispanic community has excelled at starting new businesses, creating jobs, and becoming a key player in our economic growth,” Mayor Brown said.
Mayor Brown paid special recognition to Caz Rodriguez, President, of the Hispanic Heritage Council, Eugenio Russi, Executive Director of Hispanos Unidos De Buffalo, (HUB), who was the recipient of the 2018 NFL Hispanic Leadership Award by the Buffalo Bills, and Dr. Luis Taveras, the first Hispanic to serve as Commissioner of Management Information Services for the City of Buffalo.
Over the last four weeks, numerous events were held across the City of Buffalo to mark Hispanic Heritage Month, starting with the unveiling of an outdoor mural titled “From One Home to Another.” Created by more than 200 Buffalo Public Schools students, with the help of local artists, it depicts the journeys of immigrants and refugees to Buffalo. The 44 foot long, eight foot high mural is painted on the side of Mangione Hardware, located at 448 Niagara Street.
Other Hispanic Heritage Month events included: Latino cooking classes at the Buffalo Museum of Science, a Hispanic-themed exhibit at the Buffalo History Museum, and an evening of Latino music and dance with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at Kleinhans Music Hall.
Today’s celebration featured dancers and drummers from Buffalo’s El Batey Dance Center and Baila Salsa Dance Company, several local Hispanic artists and craft makers, and music by DJ Chaz. The event also featured a display of flags representing Puerto Rico, and the world’s 20 Spanish-speaking nations.