This article originally appeared in The Chronicle
LORAIN — Latino public servants Lorain and one from Cleveland gathered on Friday to celebrate the progress of the Latino community in Northeast Ohio and how they could work together to further that progress.
City Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr, D-6th Ward, organized the event as a continuation of past efforts to unite with other leaders in the Latino community in Lorain and beyond.
The event started with a presentation of a video on the history of the Puerto Rican and larger Latino community in Lorain. The video explained how hundreds and eventually thousands of Puerto Ricans, who are American citizens, moved to Lorain starting the 1940s largely to take jobs in the city’s robust steel and manufacturing industry.
These new residents faced many issues upon their arrival, including reluctance from landlords and others to rent or sell them homes. The video focused on how the community came together to build itself up, and leaned on the already present Mexican community for guidance, community and even housing.
“I am emotional just watching this video, and I think of all of us here,” Lorain Safety Service Director Rey Carrion said. “You know, the sacrifices that were made by those that came here – and we all have a connection to them – is why we are here today. To hear the stories and the sacrifices, living in the basement or the attic or not having an opportunity, I think they would all be proud of this moment tonight to know what this community has done through their efforts and their sacrifice.”
Arroyo said that this cooperation served as a guide for a wider effort to unite Latino officials and residents to further progress in their community.
“The purpose was (to say) we are not alone, and we are fighting together,” Arroyo said. “We realized in 2015 and 2016 that this county was taking a turn, and it was against the Latinos. So we decided to get together in 2017 and meet up, and we made it happen. I am still friends with some of those Latino elected officials who have gone on to become senators in Massachusetts, federal judges in Florida and other elected officials across the country.”
Cleveland City Councilwoman Jasmin Santana, who represents the city’s 14th Ward, was also present to be honored by Lorain leaders.
The first Latina ever elected to Cleveland City Council, Santana said that the Latino community was being targeted and ostracized in national politics, making it more important than ever that Latino leaders cooperate beyond their own cities.
“How could we work together in this world and what we’re experiencing with Latinos being targeted,” Santana said. “This is not the time for us to work in our own silos, this is the time for us to come together. If they attack Lorain, Ohio, they attack Cleveland, right? And if they attack Cleveland, they attack Lorain. So I wanted to make it a point that I start this new year working together. That we can share best practices, that we can advocate together, protest together and really work together.”
Along with Santana, Arroyo and Carrion, also being recognized at the event were Lorain Treasurer Terri Soto, 4th Ward Councilwoman-elect Eileen Torres, 5th Ward Councilwoman-elect Sabrina Gonzalez, Chief of Staff Rick Soto, Lorain Democratic Party Chair Mary Santiago, Lorain Board of Education member-elect Diamaris Rosario and Lorain County Board of Elections Director-elect Lisette Garcia.
Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or [email protected].
