It was a night of fun and community as more than 400 people packed Queens Theatre in the Park for a celebration of Central American culture and heritage.
The event, which State Senator Hiram Monserrate and Queens City Councilmember Julissa Ferreras attended, featured native cuisine and artistic performances from Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. The evening’s featured performer was Manuel Escala and Friends, a musical troupe that features an all-star cast of Latin American performers.
“The Central American community and Latinos continue to make very positive contributions to the strength and vitality of the borough of Queens and New York State,” Monserrate said. “I am truly honored and blessed as a representative to recognize those contributions with such a wonderful display of talent, leadership and pride.”
During the event, Monserrate presented proclamations to several civic leaders and special recognitions to the Counsel Generals of Central America, who were present at the celebration, including the Honorable Laura Pizzaro of Costa Rica and The Honorable Rosa Maria Mérida de Mora of Guatemala.
“As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to thank the Committee for Central American Independence (CICA) for assisting in the coordination of the event and their efforts on behalf of our shared constituencies,” Monserrate said. “Our neighborhoods will only be strengthened when we come together at a very grass roots level to get involved and take action.”
At the end of the night, Monserrate also announced his intention to honor the Puerto Rican community with a similar celebration in November.
