Hispanic Heritage Month will begin Wednesday and numerous events are lined up on the calendar in the Permian Basin for the 30-day celebration.
The event will start with a Vaquero Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Dos Amigos on Golder Ave.
Ector County ISD Superintendent Scott Muri will be the keynote speaker at the event.
Hispanic Heritage of Odessa Executive Director Carol Uranga says this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month will have an education theme to it.
“The entire month is dedicated to educating our kids,” Uranga said.
The Hispanic Heritage of Odessa will also be announcing their billboard, which will be displayed at 2760 Andrews Highway.
“Our billboard is called ‘Our Future,’” Uranga said. “It’s a billboard filled with kids in different careers. In the middle of that is a little girl in her cultural dress because no matter what they become, they take their culture and their heritage with them.”
State Rep. Brooks Landgraf will also be at the program for the “Leilah Alert.”
Also on Wednesday, will be the Pioneer Family Exhibit Reception at 2 p.m. at the Ector County Library.
The El Grito De Dolores is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the La Margarita Festival Grounds on 1257 W. Monahans St.
That event will feature Folkloricos, mariachis, costumes and food trucks.
On Thursday, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be having its banquet at 6 p.m. at the Odessa Marriott.
Friday, Sept. 17, will feature a Serenata en el Pueblo where the mariachi band will play for 20 minutes at different locations.
“We’re going to do it in the nursing homes and public entities,” Uranga said. “It depends on how many sponsors we get.”
The list of events for the Hispanic Heritage Month will also include the Linda Abila Medical Professionals Awards at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 30 at the MCM Elegante and the Business Exellence Awards at 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Business Professionals Premier Ballroom 6482 W. University.
On Oct. 9, the Tamaleras play will take place at 6 p.m. at Ector Theatre.
The month’s events will wrap up with the Dia de la Raza Fiesta Finale at 7p.m. Oct. 15 at Ajuuas.
All of the awards last year during the month were held virtually due to COVID.
“We did some good things,” Uranga said of last year. “The media was good in putting us out there. We made it upscale. We had a lot of cooperation. I think we did a good job. But we’re ready to go with the flow whether we’re doing a live event or a virtual event. We feel it’s important to continue doing what we’re doing and acknowledge the accomplishments that Hispanic individuals have done for the community.”
Uranga also was thankful for the supporters in the Permian Basin who help put these events on during Hispanic Heritage Month.
“We do appreciate the supporters that we have in the community,” Uranga said. “Those people that want to be a part of our events, they understand and we have a mutual respect. That’s what keeps us going. We’re all one group of people, under God. We’re all the same. But culturally, and reality, we are different. It can be at an individual level but we accept who we are and work together. We try to be a part of everything we can be and lend our support to as much things in the community. We have a really good and viable membership and we’re all excited to start our Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.”
If you go
- What: Vaquero Breakfast.
- When: 7:30 a.m. Sept. 15.
- Where: Dos Amigos.
- What: Pioneer Family Exhibit Reception.
- When: 2 p.m. Sept. 15.
- Where: Ector County Library.
- What: El Grito De Dolores.
- When: 6 p.m. Sept. 15.
- Where: La Margarita Festival Grounds.
- What: Hispanic Chamber Banquet.
- When: 6 p.m. Sept. 16.
- Where: Odessa Marriott.
- What: Serenata en al Pueblo, Mariachi Serenade.
- When: Sept. 17, throughout the day.
- Where: Various places.
- What: Don Quixote Educator.
- When: 6 p.m. Sept. 29.
- Where: ECISD Administration Building.
- What: Linda Abila Professionals Awards.
- When: 11:30 a.m. Sept. 30.
- Where: MCM Elegante.
- What: Business Excellence Awards.
- When: 6 p.m. Oct. 7.
- Where: Business Professionals Premier Ballroom 6482 W. University.
- What: Tamaleras Play.
- When: 6 p.m., Oct. 9.
- Where: Ector Theatre.
- What: AHORA Reading Program, Mentor’s Lunch.
- When: 11:30 a.m. Oct. 12.
- Where: Holy Redeemer (2633 Conover).
- What: Latina Charlas Outstanding Hispanic Women.
- When: 6 p.m. Oct. 14.
- Where: Premier Ballroom (6482 W. University).
- What: Dia de la Raza Fiesta Finale.
- When: 7 p.m. Oct. 15.
- Where: Ajuuas (2100 Andrews Highway).
