Grand opening of HOLA Hispanic community center 265 N. State St. Painesville Ohio May 5, 2022
HOLA Ohio is a 501c3 Latino organization based in Painesville with a mission to empower the Latino community by creating opportunities through education, outreach, leadership development and economic advancement. In 2016 HOLA embarked on a project to develop a Hispanic community center to meet the demands of the growing Latino community and demand for its services. On May 5, 2022 the HOLA Hispanic Community Center had its grand opening.
HOLA Founder and CEO Veronica Dahlberg welcomed the crowd.
Veronica Dahlberg
She then introduced a color guard from the Naval Reserve Center in Akron who posted the colors.
Color Guard from Naval Reserve Center in Akron
12 year old Tania Daniela Nicasio led the national anthem.
Tania Daniela Nicasio
Then Father Alexander Spenik of St. Mary Catholic Church who gave a blessing.
Father Alexander Spenik
Watch a video of the color guard, national anthem and blessing.
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Veronica Dahlberg told of how the HOLA Community Center came to be and then other supporters and dignitaries spoke. Unfortunately the lighting in the video is not the best because of a slide show in the background.
Avery Dennison's Tonya Horn
Manuel Lopez, Chair of the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission
Wesley Gillespie of Erie Bank
Christine Shoop, Painesville City Council president
Ohio State Senator Kenny Yuko
Geoff Lipnevicius of Lincoln Electric
Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik
Land Bank Director John Rogers
representative of Congressman David Joyce
Claudio Uribe-Garcia from the Mexican Consulate in Detroit
Then the ribbon was cut to officially open the new center.
The festivities continued with delicious food made in the new kitchen and performances by the band Los Jilgueros de Altamira from Mexico and the HOLA Folkloric Dancers.
