Press Clippings

Cincinnati Enquirer
From the Enquirer in the editorial section. 
Sunday, May 2, 2004
Cincy-Cinco a reason to celebrate

Editorial

This weekend's inaugural Cincy-Cinco festival at Coney Island is far more than a grand new way for the area's Latino community to host a celebration of Mexico's Cinco de Mayo holiday. It reminds us of the fast-growing Latino presence in our region - and the challenges and opportunities that represents.

The festival, which began Saturday and continues from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, will benefit various area charities, notably Su Casa Hispanic Ministry in Carthage, which works to help immigrants.

It was organized by retired P&G exec Neil Comber and Alfonso Cornejo, vice president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to counter the increasing use - and commercialization - of Cinco de Mayo as an excuse for unrestrained drinking parties that aren't connected to anyone's cultural heritage.

The festival showcases a wide range of music, art, dance, food and more from Latino cultures, with pavilions that offer information on health, education and business resources available to Latinos. It should bring home the point that this is not one culture, but many - diverse in ethnic origins, customs, socioeconomics, politics, even language.

Hispanics, 37 million strong, are now the largest minority group in the United States, having surpassed African Americans. Census figures put the official number of Hispanics at about 21,000 in Greater Cincinnati, although some say with seasonal and undocumented workers the number could be as high as 50,000.

The Enquirer reported in March that Hispanic buying power in Greater Cincinnati has reached $300 million a year, and is growing 10 percent annually.

Area businesses and agencies are taking note. Channel 12 recently began an early-morning Spanish language news broadcast on weekends, titled Nuestro Rincon (Our Corner). The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission has hired a full-time liaison for the Hispanic community.

With this growth have come problems - issues of language, education, social services, poverty and immigration. But as Cincy-Cinco shows, the Latino upsurge adds a vital new diversity in outlook, expression and ability that Greater Cincinnati needs - and should welcome.