Sylmar : College Celebrates Latino Heritage Day

The Associated Student Organization at Mission College hoped to send a signal of openness and action to the community Wednesday at its Latino Heritage Day celebration.

“We just tried to invite everyone we could,” said ASO Vice President John Edily, speaking over the blare of a band playing Colombian music. “Students, teachers, politicians, community groups, businesses. We wanted everyone here. We’re trying to make our campus as open as possible.”

At the entrance to the event, which commemorated the independence of more than 20 South American and Central American nations, clipboard-wielding students encouraged people to register to vote. Inside, tables were set up to inform people of services offered by several social organizations.

Last year, the ASO sponsored a much smaller multicultural festival, organizing a luncheon with a few speakers. This year, the student organization, under new President Daniel Cardenas, decided not to hold back.

“We have never really been recognized for anything,” said Edily, speaking about the ASO. “We want that to change.”

San Fernando Mayor Joanne Baltierrez, who attended Mission College, and Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon were two of the elected officials who spoke at the event.

“Today we are here to celebrate a new history,” Alarcon told the gathering of about 100 students, faculty and residents. “We must improve our representation in city councils, on school boards, in the state Assembly and Senate, in county government,” he said, emphasizing the need for Latinos and other immigrants to participate in the political process.