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The Latino Chamber Of Commerce Of Monmouth, Inc Organized With Great Success A Networking And Community Health Screening Event To Celebrate The US Hispanic Heritage Month. Typical Folkloric Dances From Colombia And Peru Along With Latino Poetry Reading Were The Highlights Of The Event.
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| The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Monmouth County organized a networking and community health screening event to celebrate the Hispanic Heritage month (September 15 through October 15). The event was held Friday, September 16, 2005, at the facilities of the Battleground Country Club, Manalapan. The event, cosponsored by the PNCBANK and the Monmouth County Art Council, attracted about one hundred and fifty guests that included businesses owners, academia, banking and financial institutions, the Boy Scouts of America Council, the Centers Players of Freehold, Family & Children Services and miscellaneous other community services groups of Monmouth County. The Meridian Family of Medical Centers provided the medical staff for the community health screening.
Mr. Roberto Bustamante, Public Information Officer, Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey, delivered Warm Greetings from Honorable Richard Codey, Acting Governor of New Jersey, to the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Monmouth County. Also present were the mayor of Colts Neck, honorable Lillian Burr, a Republican who is running for Monmouth County Freeholder and Ms. Rebbecca Aaron a Democrat who is also running for Monmouth County Freeholder. The event included folkloric dancing performed by groups of children from Colombia, Café & Orquidea, and from Peru, Sangre de Campeones, also Lissette Gutierrez read poems from Latin America. It was an ocassion to meet all members under a different setting to discuss business opportunities while enjoying the evening cocktail hour and an excellent dinner, along with Latino folkloric dances followed by dancing music exclusively selected for their entertainment what follows are photographs that reflect the event’s success.
Allison Trujillo Strong sang the National Anthem, born in Colombia. At the tender age of 15 has already an impressive resume of achievements. A summary of her achievements follows: Awards she won the State Hispanic Parade “Miss Chiquitica Contest” 2003 and the NJ Network Hispanic Youth Show Case 2000, 2002, 2004.
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Solos Performed for the US Department of Justice Annual Hispanic Heritage Program 2003, Rutgers University National Anthem 2002, Liberty State Park September 11 Memorial, accompanied by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra 2001.
Chorus Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus 2000-2002, John Harms Center for the Arts 1999, 2000, 2001. Theatre, Once Upon A Slipper, a Disney Revue, Park Players 2002, Secret Garden, Mary Lenox, Park Players 2003 and Man of la Mancha, Park Players 2004.
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September 15 through October 15 is the National Latino Heritage month celebration. During this period, America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Two folkloric dance groups participated in the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Monmouth County celebration of the Latino Heritage month. The Cafe & Orquídea (Coffee and Orchids) which is a group of about twenty five Colombian youngsters dedicated to perform folkloric dances primarily from their native country, Colombia, South America and the folkloric dancing group Sangre de Campeones (Blood of Champions) which is a group consisting of four well trained youngsters that perform folkloric dances from their native country, Peru, South America.
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The Café & Orquidea danced the Cumbia and Curralao, which are typical folkloric dances from Colombia and Salsa whose origin has not been identified clearly. The Cumbia began as the local dance music of the black community of the Atlantic coast of Colombia. The dance is said to be the result of a courtship process between black male slaves and the Indian women native to Colombia. The marked limping step represents the chains placed around the slave's left foot. This dance is very popular in Panama, Venezuela, Peru and it is considered the national dance in Colombia. The first four photographs above depict the members of Café & Orquidea wearing their traditional Colombian costumes. Sangre de Campeones danced the Marinera, which is a very elegant dance. The dance involves flirting between a couple, who each twitches a handkerchief in their right hand, while keeping the beat during what is a fairly complex choreography. Dance steps, characteristic of the Marinera include the coqueteo (flirting) and the skillful cepillado footwork (literally "brushing"). The daring Marinera features the man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and poncho and the lady dressed in an intricate Moche lace dress. The next four photographs above depict the two Peruvian couples that formed Sangre de Campeones, wearing their traditional Peruvian costumes.
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The above photographs show Mrs. Lillian Burry, mayor of Colts Neck addressing the members of the Latino Chamber of Commerce, accompanied by important personalities of the County, some of the folkloric dancers and of Luis Navarro, County of Monmouth and Alberto Moreno, General Contractor. Honorable Burry is running for the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.
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The Chamber also participates in the building of bridges not only of friendship and understanding but of knowledge among the various Monmouth County communities. Alice Berman, past president of the Monmouth County Art Council and Darryl Hughes, Manager of the Meridian Family of Health Centers speak to the members of the Latino Chamber about intercultural exchanges and important community health issues. It is noted that the Monmouth County Art Council was recently awarded a Citation of Excellence by the NJ State Council on the Arts in recognition of exhibiting the highest standards of excellence in its artistry, operations, governance, and public benefit. Carlos Dragonetti, Director, Boy Scouts of America, David A Crow, Director Merril Lynch, and Karl Loch, Metropolitan Life, all are active members of The Boy Scouts of America Council of Monmouth County (BSA). The Council is working with the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Monmouth County, Inc. in the very successful Latino Boy Scouts Outreach Program. This program is under the leadership of Carlos Dragonetti as Director of Scout-outreach program. Bernice Garfield-Szita, President of Centers Players of Freehold, her husband Bob, Bernadette Gill, Board Member Centers Players of Freehold and Alice Berman, past President and Board Member of Monmouth County Arts Council are shown in the photograph.
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Mr. Roberto Bustamante, Public Information Officer, Office of the Attorney General, presents to Louis Rodriguez, Executive Director, Latino Chamber of Commerce of Monmouth County, Warm Greetings from Honorable Richard Codey, Acting Governor of New Jersey. In its statement governor Codey stated among others that "New Jersey is unique in its rich ethnic diversity and cultural heritage, having served as the gateway to groups of immigrants coming to this country to find freedom and opportunity. Hispanic Americans are a vital part of the State of New Jersey and continue to make important contributions to the social, cultural and economic fabric of the Garden State.”
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Shown above are many other important personalities from the about one hundred and fifty guests that included businesses owners, academia, banking and financial institutions, and miscellaneous other community services groups of Monmouth County.
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The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Monmouth, Inc. wishes to express its gratitude to Alenjandro Roman, Editor of the El Observador Newspaper for covering the event. Also, special thanks to German Valencia for the photographic work presented herein. Those that wish to obtain copies of the photographs may contact German at 732 579 1220.
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