RELEASE: October 14, 2003

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DHS embraces first Hispanic Heritage Celebration, highlights DHS talent

The Department of Human Services (DHS) took to heart Governor James E. McGreevey’s departmental directive to observe Hispanic Heritage Month – the first time a sitting Governor has promoted such a widespread observance -- and created activities and events statewide. Highlight of the department’s activity was its Inaugural Hispanic Heritage Arts and Culture reception at the Central Office in Trenton, hosted by Commissioner Gwendolyn L. Harris, on October 7. It featured flamenco dancers, music, poetry and an art exhibition. At least nine DHS statewide programs held week long or month-long festivals.

Emceed by Browns Mills resident George Burgos -- an EEO officer with DHS who loaned part of his personal art collection for display in the DHS lobby -- the reception drew a standing-room-only crowd of employees who munched on treats like tacos salad, guacamole and salsa, pastelillos de guyaba y queso (pastries with guava and cheese), pan dulce, bacalaitos (cod fritters), and empanadillas.

Legislative liaison Hermenegildo Santiago III of Trenton, originally from Brazil, read some dramatic Portugese poetry. And graphic artist and Ewing resident, Enrique Berdecia and his wife Ana, demonstrated the Salsa and Merengue.

Sharron Bolen of Princeton and Takako Araki of Doylestown, PA, neither of whom are of Hispanic heritage, explained the gypsy background of the flamenco and danced several versions it. Bolen recently retired after 25 years with New Jersey Departments of Labor, Transportation and Personnel. Takako works for a Japanese Language school. They have performed with local classical Spanish and Flamenco dance troupes, the Dance Espanola of Princeton and the Flamenco Troupe of Princeton, for the past 10 years, performing for community events, schools, churches and fairs, plus Malaga Restaurant in Trenton and other local restaurants.

Using conga drums and bongos, actor, playwright, director and percussionist, Claudio Mir of South Brunswick had the audience in stitches with his performance of La Cultura del Tambor, which is a percussion lecture-demonstration in which Mir introduces various Caribbean rhythms, explaining the origin and social context in which they were created. He received a degree in Drama from the School of Fine Arts of the Dominican Republic and a degree in Visual Arts from Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts. He has written music for theater and radio commercials. His plays Lo Mio es Mio and The Mondongo Scam were commissioned by the Latino Lab of the New York Public Theater and by the Dance Theater Workshop (DTW).

Artists whose works were shown at the cultural reception are listed below.

(left to right: Elizabeth Torres, Marcial Ramos, Irely Martinez Montes and Isabell Villacis)

An accomplished poet, painter and radio host, 15-year-old Elizabeth Torres, of Elizabeth, read one of her original poems in addition to showing at least six of her paintings. She published her first Books of Poetry, had painting exhibitions, and illustrated books and magazines by age six. She has international awards, has been recognized by the Union County Freeholders and is ¨Cultural Ambassador of the City of Elizabeth, NJ¨. Her artwork has been presented in Universities and Cultural Centers in Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal, and this year in France.

Also from Elizabeth, artist Irely Martinez Montes read her poetry and displayed a variety of her paintings. She studied art at the Inter-American University in San Germán, Puerto Rico by age 16. She restored religious icons, painted signs, and worked with Puerto Rican distillers, Serrallés Company, creating promotional material, signs, and boat sail decorations, as well as hand-embossed greeting cards. She studied under the late master Fran Cervoni Brenes and has created designs for the glassware industry and garment painting market, as well as teaching materials for children with learning problems. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1997, Irely now focuses on her primary love -- painting her memories of Puerto Rico. Her first exhibit in November 2001 was at the Public Library in Elizabeth, where she joined the Elizabeth Arts Council

An art prodigy since he was two, 13-year-old Marcial Ramos of Union City, attended the reception and showed four of his larger paintings. He emigrated from Cuba with his family in 1995, is called “Young Picasso” in Union City, has appeared on TV and radio shows, has won a United States Achievement Academy National Award and an All- American Scholar Award and currently has six paintings featured at Paula at Rigoletto Restaurant in Weehawken, New Jersey.

Twenty-four-year-old Isabell Villacis of South Bound Brook exhibited four of her large paintings and attended the reception with her mother. Weighing only one pound at birth in 1979, she has severe cerebral palsy, but thanks to her mother, Ana Villacis, she found a talent for art at age ten. For the past two years she has worked with Tim Lefens, founder of A. R. T. - Artistic Realizations Technologies – a non profit organization that offers alternative ways for people with severe physical limitations to express themselves. Her favorite medium is acrylics, and she plans a series of shows around the state.

Andrés M. González of Edison, born in Colombia, was unable to attend the reception but had some of his works shown. He is a 24-year-old visual arts student at the Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts, having transferred from Middlesex County College where he received an award in Art Excellence. He has been in the U.S. for five years, is learning various art styles and techniques, and specializes in painting and printmaking -- especially the human form.

Sidebar:
Other divisions of DHS create client participation activities to observe Hispanic Heritage Month. From September 15 through October 15, the Division of Mental Health Services (DMHS) has a piñata full of articles and Hispanic website links with DHS’ Central Office staff, to enhance their knowledge of the contributions of people of Hispanic heritage to the history of the United States.

Also under DMHS, Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Winslow Twp., Camden County, set up a multicultural booth with an Hispanic emphasis at its Training Fair in early October, had a “Latino Food Week mid-month, then is ending the month with a dance party for patients. Trenton Psychiatric Hospital in Mercer County had an Hispanic Luncheon featuring a special Cuban dessert and later held a Multicultural Awareness Festival in its gym with the theme "Celebrating Diversity through our Passion, Caring and Excellence. It featured a motivational speaker, salsa dancers, an a cappella chorus called Voices of Harmony, a Tin Pan drum performance, and ethnic finger foods and snacks.

Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Parsippany is hosting “Octoberfest” on four days throughout the month for Hispanic and other ethnic groups, including an Hispanic meal and an Hispanic performing group. Ann Klein Forensic Center in Trenton held a late September patient/staff party to the music of Carlos Santana, Gloria Estefan, Tito Puente, Ruben Blades, Ricky Martin and Enrique Inglesias, serving food from Mambo’s in Trenton that included cassava meat pies, beef turnovers, red beans and yellow rice, sweet plantains, fried cassava with garlic sauce, and flan. During the month patients have created Hispanic decorations and bulletin board, and staff has held discussion groups, shown Hispanic culture films and read related material with the patients. The patient newsletter featured an Hispanic informational quiz.

Senator Garrett Hagedorn Gero-Psychiatric Hospital in Glen Gardner, Hunterdon County, is incorporating Hispanic activities into group activities. The Storytelling group has Hispanic short stories, Senior Center Game Show group is doing Hispanic crosswords, words finds, etc., and the Art groups are doing self portraits using a Hispanic art technique called retablo. Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center in Farmingdale, Monmouth County, has had the children cook Spanish food and discussing Hispanic artists, musicians and culture in each classroom, had an article in Brisbane Times on the history of Hispanic Heritage Month, and acknowledging the ethnic diversity of the Brisbane Center.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) held an afternoon "Coming Together” event at its Trenton offices for staff to learn more about the Latino culture.

National Hispanic Heritage Month spans September 15 to October 15, 2003 to coincide with its precursor -- Hispanic Heritage Week, which began nationally in 1968. Several Latin American countries celebrate their Independence days on September 15, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; Mexico celebrates its Independence on September 16, and Chile's Independence Day is Sept. 18.

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