By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
MILLVILLE – Long before Ivelise "Eva" Perez started running as a candidate for the Millville City Commission, she always had a passion for the local Latino community and families.
That is what attracted her – and is driving her – to make sure the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Parade and Celebration in Millville turnout to be wildly successful.
The mother and community partnership coordinator at the Holly City Family Success Center, Perez said she has seen countless times in her position how Latino families struggle to find basic needs.
"As a Hispanic professional in the field of helping Hispanic families thrive in the community, I realized that there are little to no bilingual resources within the community I serve," Perez said. "It's a struggle to connect the families to much needed services due to language barriers."
She said the event was born out of that need to make sure the Latino community is not only seen, but embraced and celebrated in Cumberland County.
The need is definitely there. According to the new 2020 U.S. Census figures in New Jersey, Hispanics make up 34.4% of the population in Cumberland County, the third-highest percent than any county in New Jersey. Hispanics make up 42.7% of the population in Passaic County and 40.4% of the population in Hudson County.
Eyes will be on the Latino community in November as the county will have a chance to elect its first Latina county commissioner ever in education administrator and Democrat Pricilla Ocasio-Jimenez and play a role in elected its first Latina state senator in Legislative District 1, local attorney Yolanda Garcia-Balicki, also a Democrat.
"I was trying to figure out a way to highlight and connect bilingual resources/services to Hispanic families from in and around the area," Perez said. "Events are always a great way to attract a big crowd. The ideal population was the Hispanic population, therefore a Hispanic Parade and Celebration came to life."
The business community is starting to respond. Sponsors include the Inspira Health Network, one of the largest healthcare providers in South Jersey with primary and physicians practices in Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem and Camden counties.
The CompleteCare Health Network, the Cumberland County-based network grounded in providing low-income and otherwise health disparate people with high-quality, affordable and accessible health services over 19 locations in Gloucester, Cumberland and Cape May counties, is also a sponsor.
"This is a great opportunity to celebrate our heritage and connect the families to much needed resources," Perez said. "This will be the first of its kind in the city of Millville and the community is very excited."
Of course, any time an event is the "first of its kind," there is always a certain amount of pressure to make sure everything goes right and people walk away with great experiences. Perez said she excepts more "fun" that pressure on Sunday when the event all comes together.
It will start with an awards ceremony where Millville Mayor Michael Santiago, the city's first Latino mayor as well as city commissioner, will be recognized with other community leaders at 11:30 a.m. A parade will follow down High Street with the celebration taking place at Lakeside Middle School's athletic field.
"The Hispanic community and community as a whole is looking forward to this celebration," Perez said. "Not only will the community be able to enjoy a family day out to celebrate their culture, they will also be a part of making history in the city of Millville. This will be a proud and important day for the Hispanic community and all of those who support us as well."
QUESTION: Are you looking forward to Millville's Hispanic Heritage Parade and Festival. Answer in the comments section.
The latest on Front Runner New Jersey.com:
Check Out FRNJ EXTRA Here. Note from AC JosepH Media: If you like this story and others posted on Front Runner New Jersey.com., lend us a hand so we can keep producing articles like these for New Jersey and the world to see. Click on SUPPORT FRNJ and make a contribution that will do directly in making more stories like this available. Thank you for reading.
