On Saturday, Sept. 14, Goshen held its fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Festival. The event was created for the purpose of educating our broader community about Hispanic Heritage Month and to enjoy dancing, food and music, but most importantly, to celebrate and embrace these beautiful cultures that make up our community-wide family.  Not only were there over 80 vendors present but there was something particularly special on the stage. The newly launched Mariachi ECoSistema (ECo) ensemble got the opportunity for the second year in a row to perform various traditional mariachi songs for the entire festival.  If you somehow haven’t caught...

By Aysia Adkins • October 4, 2024 • Arts

On Saturday, over 12,000 people from the Goshen community and beyond gathered at Powerhouse Park for the 4th annual Hispanic Heritage Festival.  The festival celebrated each Hispanic culture through food, singing, dancing, traditional performances and activities for all ages. From the hot pupusas sold at the El Salvadorian food stand, the overflowing cups of tropical fruit smothered in Tajin, to the Mexican Consulate’s “Cry for Freedom” (El Grito) ceremony, all traditions were represented in one way or another.  Lily Herrera, a junior broadcasting major from Santa Clarita, California said, “It’s always so cool to see people of all ethnicities and...

By Sadie Brenneman • September 19, 2024 • News

National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for celebration, and with Goshen College’s new status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, the Latino Student Union is feeling the pressure.  “I do feel like there’s a big pressure on  this month,” said Gladys Leon Diaz, one of the student leaders of LSU. “Just to make sure we’re being inclusive enough. As an HSI … there’s just no way we can’t do anything or do the bare minimum.” Hispanic Heritage Month comes at a difficult time for students. Falling just weeks after they arrive back on campus, there isn’t much time to get plans...

By Tyson Miller • September 28, 2023 • Features

Goshen College welcomed a new music group to campus last Friday. People may have come for the Performing Arts Series concert with Flor de Toloache, but they also had the opportunity to listen to the debut of a new Mariachi group from ECoSistema. Mariachi ECo, led by Hillary Harder, is a group that has been in the works since the spring. Gilberto Pérez, Jr., dean of students, approached Harder with the idea for the group. Growing up in South Texas, Pérez was surrounded by a culture of Mariachi, and he wanted to bring that to the community here. ECoSistema felt...

By Sarah Miller • September 14, 2023 • News

“I want to share my story. I want others to not struggle, and to have the support that I didn’t have” — that’s how Rocio Diaz describes her work at Goshen College.  Diaz is the director of community engagement and adult outreach, working for the school’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE).  Her job description is extensive and has evolved significantly over the past few years. After moving from Texas, Diaz began working for GC as an administrative assistant for the Center of Intercultural and International Education on Feb. 13, 2008 — an important date to Diaz. “I have it written...

By Daniel James • March 30, 2023 • Features

National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. People whose families emigrated from Central and South America, the Caribbean, Spain and Mexico are celebrated for their contributions and cultural heritage. After months of planning, the Hispanic Heritage Festival will return to downtown Goshen for the 2nd year this Saturday from 1:00 to 11:00 pm. The event was brought to fruition by Community Pro Education, a nonprofit organization promoting inclusion and cultural diversity.  “[The] Hispanic Heritage Festival is a great opportunity to bring the community together,” said Manny Cortez, the president of Community Pro Education. “We...

By Jakyra Green • September 15, 2022 • News