10/12/2026
OUR FIRST HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION & YOUTH ART CONTEST!
What began as Scrantonās first Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration and Youth Art Contest became a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our culture and give our young artists a chance to shine.
We wanted this event to be something special, and we put a lot of heart, time, and hard work into making it happen. Seeing our students share their artwork and creativity made it all worthwhile!
First, a HUGE shout-out to our board members and event committee! We had a few last-minute hiccups, but you stepped up, took on responsibilities, and worked together to help make this event happen. We appreciate your time, dedication, and willingness to jump in wherever you were needed. We couldn't have done it without you!
And we can't forget Ian Hofman & David DjKillakwest Cole! You know how sometimes you gain family through marriage? Well, we gained family through our board members! Thank you both for all your help and for jumping in when we needed you. We appreciate you more than you know!
Our young artists were at the heart of this event. This was about more than a contest. It was about celebrating our youth, honoring our culture, and giving these students the recognition they deserve. We hope they left feeling proud of themselves and knowing how much their community believes in them!
A SPECIAL THANK-YOU TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS!
Amy Morel, Associate Broker at Luxe Homes Real Estate, and Affordable Pennsylvania! Your sponsorship helped make this first event possible and allowed us to recognize and reward our student artists. Thank you for supporting our youth and helping us make this event a success!
We also want to thank our judges for giving their time on a Saturday to review the artwork and help select the winners. We know it wasn't an easy decision!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!
We are so proud of each of you for sharing your creativity and talent with us. Keep creating, keep believing in yourselves, and keep sharing your gifts with the world. We hope this is just the beginning of many more opportunities for you to shine!
It was also wonderful to see families come together, get to know one another, cheer on our young artists, and enjoy a day filled with art, music, dance, culture, and fun! Bringing people together, creating connections, and giving families the opportunity to share these experiences is what community is all about.
Thank you to the organizations that joined us with resource tables, shared valuable information, and helped families learn about available services. A special thank-you to the Community Justice Project, Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center, Building Blocks Learning Center, and Affordable Pennsylvania for being part of the event. We also appreciate STARS at Marywood University for sharing the students' pottery and tapestry display. Thank you all for helping make the day even more meaningful!
A special shout-out to Valeria QuiƱones and WNEP-TV for helping spread the word about our event and shining a light on our youth, our culture, and the work happening right here in Scranton!
Our folklore dancers brought our cultures to life through their beautiful performances. Seeing our traditions shared with the next generation is a wonderful reminder of why these celebrations matter.
A N Z HOTEL , thank you for continuing to support our organization and the work we do. We are grateful to have you alongside us!
To everyone who volunteered, helped behind the scenes, encouraged our students, attended the event, or contributed in any way, THANK YOU! Every bit of help made a difference, and we appreciate each and every one of you.
We are so proud of our first Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration and Youth Art Contest. It was a celebration of our youth, our culture, and the people who make our community stronger. We hope to continue creating opportunities like this for our young people for years to come!
This is what community looks like. This is what happens when we come together. And this is why we do what we do.
