¿Cómo celebras a tu comunidad? How do you celebrate your community? On October 15, the Gaynor community gathered in the Performing Arts Center for “Gaynor Celebrates Nuestra Comunidad,” a celebration in honor of Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month. With music, food, activities, and a thrilling performance planned for the evening, it was sure to be a wonderful event.
Before walking into the PAC, the smell of delicious food wafted up the stairs and into the South Lobby. Catered by Barrio BX, there were dishes of fritura picaderas, sorullitos, and arroz con gandules, with flan and tres leches cake as dessert. Attendees immediately helped themselves to the mouthwatering menu, and the trays were picked clean by the end of the night. Mariachi Leones de Columbia, a student-run mariachi band at Columbia University, welcomed guests by playing their renditions of mariachi music as the room steadily filled.
There was a plethora of activities set up for the event: Gaynor Technology Integrator and Math Instructor Michael O’Neill hosted a sofrito station where one could grab ingredients to make sofrito at home, there was a raffle for picture books about Hispanic heritage hosted by The Bronx is Reading, and crafting supplies were spread across every table for attendees to decorate masks inspired by the Dominican carnival. It was a flurry of activity as masks slowly filled with gems, raffle tickets piled up, and fresh sofrito was enjoyed with chips.
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Stella Mulatu began the evening’s program with an introduction to the various activities taking place around the room, as well as an announcement for the raffle winners. Gaynor students and siblings scurried up to the stage as their names were announced, and excitedly ran back to their seats to flip through their new books. Stella then opened the floor to Alba Hernandez, one of the three Gaynor parents who graciously helped this event come to life. Alba introduced Legacy Women, the all-women’s drum, song, and dance troupe that were to be the highlight of the evening. She spoke of the importance of recognizing Hispanic/Latine culture, and the role it plays in our lives and our communities.
Legacy Women began their performance at the entrance to the PAC, weaving their way down the stairs among the crowd, and up towards the stage, drumming and singing the entire way. They encouraged guests to join in the chanted chorus, and get out of their seats to feel the rhythm of the music being played. As they performed a series of songs rooted in powerful drum beats and call and response, members of the Gaynor community jumped up to dance and enjoy the music.
October 15 was a wonderful celebration of the Gaynor community and an opportunity to recognize and celebrate Hispanic/Latine culture within it. Special thanks to Alba Hernandez, Carla España, and Gianni Lopez for their contributions, as well as to The Bronx is Reading and Legacy Women for partnering with Gaynor to create this memorable event.
