The Village of Hoffman Estates’ Cultural Awareness Commission held a Hispanic Heritage Fiesta featuring food, live music, youth choir performances and dance troupes from multiple Latin American countries.

Organizers opened by listing foods available, including Salvadoran pupusas, Mexican tamales, Puerto Rican arroz con gandules, Colombian empanadas, fried plantains and churros. Jose Verduzco was introduced as the annual musician who would play through the end of the event.

The Saint Hubert Singers, a children’s chorus directed by Michelle Dominique, performed several songs in Spanish. After the choir’s opening set, Mayor McLeod — joined on stage by Trustee Anna Newell, Trustee Gary Palafis, Trustee Gary Stanton, Trustee Karen Arnett and Village Clerk Patty Richter — addressed attendees. “We celebrate the greatest achievements of the Hispanic, people, and we're very proud to celebrate today,” the mayor said, adding that “we are all Americans no matter where we came from or our forefathers came from.”

Event organizers described the Cultural Awareness Commission’s schedule and membership, noting the commission meets monthly and organizes four annual events: Martin Luther King Day in January, Black History Month events in February, a Unity Day in June and the Hispanic Heritage event in October. Commission members named during the program included Catherine McCord (chair), Ximena Tristan Bigura, Susan Cooper, Jennifer Dobbins, Mimi Ferlida, Sandra Laoz, Renee McMillan, Carrie Milletic, Arlene Montanez, Ayesha Nahma, Jean Stone and Bonnie Wurster.

The fiesta continued with a sequence of folk and popular dances: an Argentinian Gato and Chacarera, Bolivian Cuenca (also noted as related to marinera in Peru and Chile), Colombian cumbia presented by a group billed as Cafe y Arepa en Movimiento, Venezuelan tambores, and Dominican bachata and tambores performed by Extreme Latin Dance. Organizers explained the cultural origins of each dance and invited audience participation for a closing bachata and a pinata for children.

The program emphasized intercultural exchange and volunteer involvement; organizers invited Hoffman Estates residents and workers to join the commission and contribute ideas for future events. The event was celebratory and informational in nature; there were no formal votes or municipal actions taken during the program.