For the last five years, a group of Springfield women has partnered with the Springfield YMCA to bring the community an annual Hispanic Heritage festival with music and food.
Cindy De Leon Jordan has called Springfield home for the last 28 years. Six years ago, she and three other Latinas came together to start what would become an annual gathering to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from September 15 to October 15.
The women now make up the Hispanic Women of Springfield, with members from Bolivia, Nicaragua, Mexico, Puerto Rico and more.
Jordan, of Puerto Rican descent and originally from Chicago, said the organizing committee wants to emphasize learning and unity at the festival.
"This is one of the things that we do to support our Hispanic community," she said.
The festival also shows the Springfield community about the differences in cultures within the Hispanic community, despite having a shared language, she said. "We welcome everyone and want everyone to experience it."
The 6th Annual Hispanic Heritage Family Festival is Sunday, September 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Gus and Flora Kerasotes YMCA.
To talk about the festival and what it brings to the community, Jordan spoke to reporter Daisy Contreras:
Reporter Daisy Contreras is a volunteer with the Hispanic Women of Springfield.
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