Leadership team for Raices Creativas. Photo courtesy of the group.
At an upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, organizers hope that people will embrace their roots and their unique talents.
For the second year, a group of local artists and entrepreneurs will host a month of events aimed at bringing creatives in the Latino community together over shared interests and cultures.
Raices Creativas, which translates to “Creative Roots,” as the group calls itself, will offer free events in the Harrisburg area, from Sept. 13 to Oct. 5.
“We chose the name Raices Creativas as a collective and I think it just encompasses how all of us have creative endeavors and entrepreneurial ideas that connect us to our Latino roots,” said Leslie Avila, an event organizer. “Our goal is to empower each other and inspire each other.”
The events for the month are as follows:
- Sept. 13: Los Complicados perform at the LHACC Hispanic Heritage Festival, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
- Sept. 19-21: Latino Film weekend at Midtown Cinema, info for showings on the cinema’s website
- Sept. 26: Meet the Team behind Raices Creativas at Source Creative House, 6-8 p.m.
- Sept. 28: InspirArte y Cafecito-A Latino takeover at Consciousness Coffee, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Oct. 5: Café con Pan Art Showcase y Familia Cookout at Elementary Coffee Co., 12-3 p.m.
The team is especially looking forward to the movie weekend, as they shared that all of the films will be in Spanish. Finding showings of movies in Spanish is difficult, they explained. Additionally, they will offer special movie snacks like empanadas in place of popcorn.
The InspirArte y Cafecito event will showcase the many artistic talents within the Latino community, as people like Lupe Islas teach how to make tortillas and Magaly Rosado teaches jewelry making. There will also be painting and writing workshops, among others.
“You get to connect with other Latinos that are also in these unique areas of artistry,” Avila said. “We want everyone to feel safe and welcome.”
For Rosado, finding other creatives was important, as being an artist isn’t always as encouraged in their community as other, more traditional careers are. Last year, having just moved from New York, Rosado attended the events to try to meet like-minded people. This year, Rosado is helping to organize the events.
“There’s all types of people at these events,” Rosado said.
Islas is an artist and business owner, as well, and she loves the creative side to the events, but also simply appreciates the fellowship.
“Since immigrating from my country, I never felt like I fit in,” she said. “I felt disconnected. Now I have the feeling of belonging.”
The group invites everyone to participate in the events and hopes to continue expanding offerings in the future.
“We are so excited about everything,” Rosado said.
To register for events, click here. For more information, visit Raices Creativas on Instagram.
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