The City of Holyoke has recognized and celebrated Hispanic and Latino cultures over the years, including a Puerto Rican festival during the city's centennial celebrations in 1973 (see photo above). Such events have played a significant role in fostering community, preserving cultural traditions, and highlighting the city's rich and diverse heritage.
Holyoke also owes a debt of gratitude to many of its community leaders who have played instrumental roles in improving the lives of all residents. Two such leaders include:
Betty Medina Lichtenstein, an important community leader and former executive director of Enlace de Familias, became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to hold a public office in Massachusetts in 1985 when she won the first of four consecutive two-year terms on the Holyoke School Committee. In 2019, the City of Holyoke dedicated the street next to Enlace de Familias as "Betty Medina Way" to honor her work and legacy in Holyoke. Today, she continues her inspiring work at Enlace, currently spearheading the development of Enlace’s new Youth Department.
Carlos A. Vega (1950-2012) was a prominent Ecuadorian community activist who lived in Holyoke. He contributed significantly to social justice initiatives, notably as the executive director of Nueva Esperanza, where he facilitated the development of 400 affordable housing units in South Holyoke. His impact is still felt in the city, with his memory reflected in the Carlos Vega Park and through the Carlos Vega Fund, which supports social justice projects in the Greater Holyoke area.
The Holyoke school community is participating in a month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through October 15. Holyoke is a multicultural city with 81 percent of our students and more than half of our city’s residents identifying as Latino or Latina, so this recognition is especially important here. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the diverse contributions and experiences of American citizens whose roots come from Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, and Spain.