Celebration to Highlight Latino Culture

The flyer calls the event “Festival, en Celebracion de la Independencia de Mexico.” Organizers Rose Marie de la Pena and Marie Helen de la Pena Brown, two sisters who teach school on the Westside, describe it as a community-wide celebration of Mexico’s independence from Spain.

‘We are throwing a party for la raza --for the people,” de la Pena said.

The free daylong event Sept. 14, featuring arts, crafts, music, drama and foods of Mexico and other Latin American countries, will be held at Felicia Mahood Center, 11338 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles. It is the latest community event sponsored by the nonprofit Institute for Hispanic Cultural Studies, which the women founded three years ago.

The sisters were born in San Antonio, where, they said, the Latino culture is preserved and plays a part in residents’ lives.

Based on what they have observed as teachers and as active members of the Latino community, they are convinced that many members of the burgeoning Latino population here are losing touch with their culture.

Many Latinos in East Los Angeles maintain their traditions, whereas those on the Westside tend to assimilate, De la Pena said.

By presenting a variety of Latino artisans, musicians, artists and literature at the festival, the teachers hope to increase awareness and pride in Latino culture and awaken the entire community to the contributions they have made to Southern California life.

Changing Perceptions

They also hope to change what they see as an unfair and inaccurate perception of Latinos here.

Brown, who teaches at Broadway Elementary School in Venice, said, “People on the Westside see us (Latinos) against two backgrounds, Cinco de Mayo and the V-13s (a Venice Latino gang).

“I guess that is what motivated us. We would like to see an increased awareness of Latino culture. We think it’s unfortunate that it’s always the gangs that get the publicity.”

De la Pena, who taught English as a second language for 10 years at Edison Elementary School and now teaches it at Grant Elementary and Santa Monica College, said it is imporrtant for children to have role models such as some of the successful Latinos who will be featured at the festival.

“There are few Hispanic cultural events on the Westside of town, except in the schools,” she said. “In the schools, the information is directed to the children, not to the public at large.

“Many people think Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day.”

It actually was Sept. 16, 1810, when Mexicans began the 11-year rebellion that resulted in the country’s independence from Spain. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of the Mexican army over French forces in the city of Puebla in 1882.

Recognizes Excellence

The women belong to the Assn. of Mexican American Educators, which recognizes efforts and excellence of Latino students with scholarships and certificates, and to the League of Latin American Citizens.

De la Pena is a former board member of the Latino Resource Organization, which has presented Independence Day celebrations at Santa Monica’s Memorial Park.

Brown, who earned a master’s degree at UCLA in folklore and mythology, is president of the Hispanic Section of the American Folklore Society.

The two said they hope the festival, to be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., will both entertain and educate and become an annual event. They received a one-time grant of $2,100 from the Folk Arts Program of the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Previous institute programs have included slide presentations by muralist Barbara Carrasco, a demonstration of pinata making by Emma Perez Suquett; a slide presentation of Latino art by Mary McGregor Villareal; music and poetry by Xavier Pacheco, and an illustrated lecture on Costa Rican folklore.

Last fall, under the auspices of the institute, de la Pena conducted two workshops for Santa Monica teachers on the significance of “El Dia de los Muertos,” the Day of the Dead, a Mexican tradition blending the Roman Catholic celebration of All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2 with the more ancient acceptance of death of the Indian culture.

Fills a Need

The institute’s board members are De la Pena; Brown; Adelle Martinez, director of the Neighborhood Youth Assn.; Joe Gonzales, a Santa Monica electrical contractor, and Geri Gonzales Eckert, a Spanish teacher and a former attache to Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the 1984 International Olympic Committee.

Yolanda Becerra Jones, executive director of the Santa Monica-based Latino Resource Center, said the institute fills a need.

“There is very little on the Westside that is constant and ongoing. You never see a music or art festival that focuses on Mexican or Hispanic art. I think Latinos go to East Los Angeles for it.”

She praised De la Pena and Brown: “They roll up their sleeves and really get out there and deliver.”