First Latin American festival achieves connection toward Latino residents

The city of Gastonia ended Hispanic Heritage Month on Saturday with its first Latin American Festival, connecting Gaston County's growing Latino community with resources and other residents.

"We wanted to create an event where all the resources that are available to the community can be in one place so that the community can connect with each other while finding out about resources that can be helpful to them," said Gastonia Police Assistant Chief Nancy Brogdon, the first Latinx woman to be appointed as assistant chief earlier this year.

Growth of Latinx residents 

Gaston County has seen a fast increase in its Hispanic/Latinx population according to the latest U.S. census. In 2010, the Hispanic/Latinx population was at 12,204. Since then, it has increased 64.4%, resulting in 20,068 Hispanic/Latinx residents living in Gaston County.

This growth has inspired many Latinx residents to open businesses, be active in their community while exposing other non-Latinx residents to their cultures through food, music and community events.

Planning an annual tradition

Upon being promoted to assistant chief, Brogdon knew her position allowed her to come up with ways to better officers with the Latino community.

"The department and I have been talking about events that can make a connection toward the Latinx community," said Brogdon.

"These conversations happened while having lunch at WoW and sharing ideas with other Latinx residents, so we wanted to create a safe space for the Latino community to make that connection and say, 'We are here for you.'"

With sponsorship of WoW Supermarket, Latinx police officers such as Alvaro Jaimes put together the event on Saturday outside of the supermarket's premises to expose Gaston County to its Latinx people.

"We have people from all parts of South America here. We wanted them to connect with each other. Know that there are people who share the same culture, language and customs," said Jaimes.

Giving Latinx residents an opportunity to connect

Nicaraguan Gastonia resident, Esmina Romero, has been residing in the city for 10 years without realizing fellow community members who share her same culture.

"I am very happy to be in a place with all sorts of Latinx cultures. I was surprised at how many people from Nicaragua live here as well and I even got to support a Nicaraguan-owned business where we got to purchase items native to our country," said Romero in her native language.

Aside from community gathering activities, the festival featured a number of health resources for the Latinx community to take advantage of.

Because of language barriers and fear of deportation due to different immigration statuses, many Gaston County Latinx residents live in the shadows, unaware that they are eligible to receive various resources and services in their language regardless of their status in the country.

Some resources are imminent towards their health, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizations such as The Department of Health and Human Resources and Kintegra were present to educate the Latinx community of its health services.

"We are offering free Covid vaccinations and testing. Many people in the Latinx community do not know that they have the opportunity to access these resources so we are here with our Spanish-speaking employees to make sure the community takes advantage of these resources," said Kintegra's community resource advocate, Ruth Dobbins.

"The connections we are having within the community are priceless and contagious. It makes others want to be involved with people who look like them," she continued.

Additional efforts

The city's efforts toward connecting with the Latinx community go beyond events. 

The county has taken action to show they welcome the Latinx community with open arms as they are part of the percentage of the population that makes Gaston County the melting pot that is becoming.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, Gastonia, Ranlo and Bessemer City made a proclamation officially declaring Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

City leaders are currently in the works to spread this proclamation towards other Gaston County municipalities.

"Many things are in the works to continue to connect not only with Latinx residents but other minorities. We want everyone to feel welcomed and this is just the beginning of more to come," said Jaimes

Beatriz Guerrero can be reached at 704-869-1828 or on Twitter@BeatrizGue_