Orange County celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

From District 2 Orange County Commissioner Rod Love

The Hispanic Heritage Committee of Greater Orange County (HHCGOC) and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) on the lawn of the Orange County Administration Center, for their annual Kick-Off Party to celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month on September 18th, 2018.

Orange County Commissioner Rod Love

The event highlighted the culture and traditions of the Hispanic community through musical performances, traditional dances and art, delicious refreshments provided by Zaza New Cuban Diner and a presentation by Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

Following the outdoor festivities, the HHCGOC showcased beautiful vibrant paintings created by local Hispanic artists in the lobby of the Orange County Administration Center. The HHCGOC also accepted a proclamation at the BCC meeting acknowledging their efforts to promote and highlight the contributions made by individuals of Hispanic descent in Orange County since 1999.

“Orange County’s wonderfully diverse culture has helped us become one of the best places to live, work and raise a family! Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths – we’re so proud to celebrate the unique cultural heritage and tradition of our residents,” Mayor Jacobs said in her opening remarks. “Today, we gather to celebrate our Hispanic American citizens – which make up about a quarter of Orange County’s population – and to celebrate the tremendous contributions they’ve made throughout our community.”

HHCGOC hosts several events annually in collaboration with Orange County Government and Orange County Parks and Recreation. All events are free, family-friendly and open to the public.

To continue celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, the HHCGOC is hosting the fourth annual Mayor’s Cup Soccer Tournament Finals on October 21st, 2018. The tournament and trophy ceremony will be held at Young Pine Park, 5201 Young Pine Rd. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The series of youth and adult matches began on September 16th, 2018 and the tournament finalists will compete to win the Mayor’s Cup.

“We look forward to our community joining as we cheer on community’s youngest – and oldest – soccer players at the Mayor’s Cup,” said Marthaly Irizarry, HHCGOC chair. “Orange County has been nicknamed the ‘Soccer Capital of the South,’ and we love rejoicing in the fun this great sport has to offer.”

I applaud the HHCGOC and Orange County for putting on such an amazing event to bring everyone together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. As Attorney Greg Jackson and I had mentioned on Monday night’s episode of “Let’s Talk About Radio Show”, for those with Hispanic heritage, this month is about you and we will be celebrating right alongside you. I would also like to personally thank Dr. Jimmy Siberio and Pastor Juan Rodriguez from Oasis International Ministries for giving the invocation at the meeting of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners this week for their good work in the community. Residents who would like to watch the invocation may do so here http://netapps.ocfl.net/Mod/meetings/1.

In celebrating the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, I echo Mayor Jacobs in that our Hispanic American residents have diversified and made significant contributions to our community. It is the diversity of residents coming together to empower the community that makes me proud to be both an Orange County Commissioner and resident.