Latino Festival on Saturday aims to bridge local college-community gap

The Hermanos of La Unidad Latina/Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc. of Cornell and the Latino Civic Association of Tompkins County will host a Latino Street Festival Saturday, April 25, from noon to 6 p.m. in the 300 block of West Court Street, across from the Greater Ithaca Activities Center.

The day's activities will include a basketball tournament for youths, ages 13 to 17, a talent show with group and individual performers from Cornell, Ithaca College, Beverly J. Martin Elementary School and Ithaca High School, and local and regional vendors from Ithaca, Rochester and Syracuse selling typical Latino dishes, as well as information booths manned by local service agencies.

The basketball tournament will be a three-person team elimination contest. A cash prize will be awarded to the two top teams. The talent show will feature music and dance performances ranging from Argentine Tango to Urban Latino stepping. The food festival will offer dishes from the various Latino nationalities living in Ithaca. The human service agencies' booths will provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the myriad of services available in Ithaca and Tompkins County.

"The purpose of the event is to bridge the gap existing between Latino students at Cornell and the local community," said Leonardo Vargas-Mendez, president of the Latino Civic Association.

"Both communities share the vision of a united community and are committed to ensure the success and advancement of the Latino population," he said. "The Latino festival is a community-building event that helps us to know each other better and learn of our differences in unity."

"It will be an opportunity for Latinos to understand each other better and celebrate our shared language and culture through food, art performances, education and sport," said Juan Baharona, president of Lambda Upsilon Lambda fraternity. "It also provides the greater Ithaca community with an unprecedented opportunity to learn about the local Latino community, its growth, civic accomplishments, its ethnic and social diversity and cultural richness."