City of Bloomington Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2011

For more information, please contact:
Melissa Britton, Latino Outreach Coordinator, Community and Family Resources Department, City of Bloomington, 349.3860
Jared Schlemmer, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3406, [mailto:schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov]

Bloomington, IN -- The City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department (CFRD) invites the community to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

The Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs will recognize the recipients of the Latino Leader and Organization/Agency awards at the National Hispanic Heritage Month Reception on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 4:30 p.m. at La Casa, 715 E. Seventh Street. The recipient of the Latino Leader Award is Sonia Velazquez and the recipient of the Organization/Agency Award is Positive Link of IU Health Bloomington. Both will be honored for being influential role models and advocates, and for their continuous and effective involvement in the Latino community. This event is free and open to the public.

Award recipients also will be recognized during the Big Ten Network televised Indiana University Womens Soccer game vs the Michigan Wolverines on September 18 at noon. IU Athletics is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and FIFA World Cup participant, Columbian National Team member and IU junior forward Orianica Velasquez.

The sixth annual Fiesta del Otoño fall cultural festival will also be celebrated on September 24 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bloomington Farmers' Market. Local Latino artists and community members from many different Latin American and Caribbean countries will be present to showcase their traditions and talents through food, dance, music, activities for kids and more. Bring the whole family to this free event, brought to you by CFRD, IU Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and IU Health Bloomington Positive Link.

For more information on National Hispanic Heritage Month events, contact Melissa Britton, Latino Outreach Coordinator for the City of Bloomington at 349-3860 or [mailto:brittonm@bloomington.in.gov].

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