The city of Syracuse celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month on Tuesday.
Organizers of a ceremony at City Hall say it highlights the role that the Hispanic community plays in the city.
It also shines a spotlight on how diverse the city is.
“Hispanic Heritage Month really speaks to Hispanic culture across various countries,” Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens said. “It is so critical for us here in Syracuse because of just the diversity we have in this city.”
“This is a very important celebration for the Hispanic community,” Syracuse Common Council President Rita Paniagua said. “It’s a time that we all come together [and] we share our cultures, different cultures. Even if we all speak Spanish, we also share the differences in our language. And, most of all, we recognize all the contributions our Hispanic community brings, not only to our area, but to New York state and the United States.”
“I think the recognition is very important, but more than anything, the message is for education,” said YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County Executive Director and CEO Fanny Villarreal. “There are a lot of people that said we are not here, and we want to educate the community at large that we are here, our roots are here and we are just trying to make a beautiful city.”