Hispanic Heritage Month Comes to Haven Plaza

On Tuesday, October 11, the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) Office of Government and Community Affairs hosted a community wide cultural event celebrating Hispanic Heritage at Haven Plaza. The celebration included food, music, dance, art and literature. There was a lively dance performance of bachata and merengue by Ricardo’s Folkloric Dance Group and another dynamic percussion performance by Annette A. Aguilar the String Beans and the Bean Bloco Percussion group.

Community members, students, and faculty all gathered around to rejoice and dance on the plaza to celebrate Hispanic culture. CUMC’s Faculty Club gave out ginger tea and empanadas which are both a popular and well-loved appetizer and beverage in many Hispanic countries. Literacy Inc. was also in attendance, they provided children of the community with free books and did a book reading in English and Spanish. Damaris Rodriguez from New York-Presbyterian volunteered to face paint to the delight of many children in attendance.

One attendee commented, "this is what a medical center should look like! This makes my heart warm.” during the performances and a student walking by said, “this is totally worth being late to class!”