VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Celebrating Hispanic Culture in Syracuse
Madyson Diaz: The city of Syracuse has been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month for the past three weeks. I spoke to Syracuse community members on the importance of honoring their heritage.
Diaz: Syracuse’s Hispanic community continues to shape the city’s culture. Syracuse YWCA CEO Fanny Villarreal came to Syracuse from Peru over 30 years ago. She says diversity is what makes the community special.
Fanny Villarreal: “There is a salad, and we bring one type of sauce, somebody else another type, and then it creates a beautiful dish for everybody to share.”
Diaz: The Hispanic community in Syracuse includes Latinos from all over and she couldn’t be prouder of her roots.
Villarreal: “Everybody always asks me about Machu Picchu or Nazca Lines. And then I say, well you all can come and see that at the local restaurant, Peruvian restaurant Inkas.”
Diaz: Inka’s manager Sebastian Ramierz says that Hispanic restaurants like Inkas help introduce people to the culture.
Sebastian Ramirez: “It’s a great way to, one, kind of show off the language cause a lot of our dishes are in spanish and a lot of our staff is also Hispanic. People are always asking questions.”
Diaz: That pride in sharing culture is strong, but so are safety concerns among many in the community.
Stephanie Avalos: “I think there’s a big fear in the community, especially in the restaurant industry where a lot of the workers are predominantly from Central America, South America. Trying to make a living and making sure you’re getting home to your family.”
Diaz: Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder that Hispanic culture should be celebrated year round.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the culture, history and contributions of Syracuse’s Latino residents.
According to Data USA, about 10.3% of Syracuse’s population identifies as Hispanic, a number that continues to grow as the city becomes more diverse.
One community leader, Fanny Villarreal, CEO of the YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County, came to the city from Lima, Peru, in 1993. Villarreal says it’s diversity that makes Syracuse so special.
“There is a salad, and we bring one type of sauce, somebody else another type, and then it creates a beautiful dish for everybody to share,” she said.
Villarreal says when she first arrived in Syracuse, her family was one of the only Peruvian families in the area. Today, Syracuse’s Hispanic community includes more people from across Latin America — something she takes great pride in. Villarreal points to local Peruvian restaurant, Inka’s, as a great place to see Peruvian culture without having to leave the city.
At Inka’s, celebrating Hispanic heritage goes far beyond the food. Manager Sebastian Ramirez says restaurants like Inka’s help introduce people to Latino heritage.
“It’s a great way to kind of show off the language, cause a lot of our dishes are in Spanish and a lot of our staff is also Hispanic,” Ramirez said. “People are always asking questions. Not so much about Peruvian culture, but Spanish culture in general.”
Similar to Villarreal, Ramirez also notes the changing demographics of the city. He says where Syracuse’s Hispanic community once leaned heavily toward Dominicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans, he’s seeing a broader mix of Latino backgrounds. He adds that he’s seen more Latin American restaurants and food trucks popping up.
Having grown up without many other Latinos around him, Ramirez says he enjoys being unique and hopes to see even more Hispanic cuisine represented in Syracuse.
Inka’s server and bartender, Stephanie Avalos, also says she’s incredibly proud of her heritage. But alongside that pride, she adds, there are many issues within the Hispanic community. One of the bigger concerns being ICE.
“I think there’s a big fear in the community, especially in the restaurant industry where a lot of the workers are predominantly from Central America, South America,” she said. “I would say it’s definitely [a] safety [issue] as far as work is concerned — trying to make a living and making sure you’re getting home to your family.”
Even so, Syracuse Latinos have been celebrating their culture for the past three weeks, with more celebrations still to come. The month’s festivities will conclude with several events. Villarreal says there will be a proclamation with the Onondaga County Executive on Oct. 19, followed by a closing ceremony and radio gala at the Marriott Hotel on Oct. 25.
For Syracuse’s growing Hispanic community, their pride and heritage will leave lasting impacts on the city. And while Hispanic Heritage Month may only last a few weeks, it’s a reminder that Latino culture deserves to be celebrated all year long.