Valley High School in Sacramento hosted the Latino Book and Family Festival over the weekend, bringing together authors, creators, and community members to celebrate Hispanic and Latino heritage, literature, and creativity.
The event featured live music, a lowrider show, and a fireside chat with Emmy-winning actor and director Edward James Olmos and his son, Brandon Olmos, moderated by KCRA 3’s Leticia Ordaz.
Olmos, known for his work in “Miami Vice,” “Selena,” and “Blade Runner,” was issued a proclamation for his literacy efforts in Sacramento.
“We created the Latino Book & Family Festival 30 years ago. And it’s been growing and been continuing to move forward. And I come here to say thank you to the community. And the community deserves it. They’re so happy to be here and everybody—kids are here, families are here. And they get to understand themselves better through the usage of books,” Olmos said.
Janette Chaverri, who attended the festival, emphasized the importance of bilingual resources.
“My first language was Spanish. And as I’ve grown up, obviously we’ve learned better English and grammar and all that. But to have something in both English and Spanish so that I can pass that onto my grandson and generations to come—it’s priceless. Because speaking more than one language is the key to so many different opportunities in this life,” Chaverri said.
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