LYNN — It was billed as the first Sporting and Recreational Fair, presented by the Friends of La Voz, a Spanish-language publication from the Essex Media Group.
But it was more than that, said Carolina Trujillo, the director of the La Voz publication, and community relations director for EMG.
“We are approaching our first anniversary (which is in November),” said Trujillo. “It’s the end of the summer, and what we wanted to do was to bring visibility to our brand and to our place in the community.”
Trujillo said the day was a resounding success, with more than 500 people showing up to McManus Field behind Lynn Tech to hear music, watch dancing, and play both softball and soccer.
“The community came together to support the paper, and to help us expand our footprint in the area,” Trujillo said. “Everybody enjoyed themselves. There was entertainment for all ages.”
She also said that there were people there representing many Central and Latin American countries as well as those from the Caribbean.
“We want to make this an annual event,” she said.
Those who attended got to sample free food and popcorn. Besides softball, there were two soccer matches over the course of the day, one for adults and another for children.
There was also a resource fair, where different vendors provided literature about their businesses and services, including Family and Children’s Services of Lynn, Lynn Community Health Center, Perfect Dental of Peabody, Lynn Economic Opportunity, Lynnway Lounge and Restaurant, Cultura Latina Dance Academy, La Vida Scholars, Vibra Daniela Tours, Veronica Robles Cultural Center, Royal Prestige, the Lynn YMCA, New York Life Insurance, Eastern Bank, Los Tunanteros, E-Para todos and Carlos Hernandez, a candidate for Congress in the 6th District.
There was also plenty of entertainment, beginning with Danny D, a singer, and including Cultura Latina, Veronica Robles and Los Tunanteros.
Sponsors included Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development, KIPP Academy, North Shore Latino Business Association, State Reps. Dan Cahill and Brendan Crighton and State Sen. Thomas McGee, the Lynn EDIC, Eastern Bank, Stars Advertising, Landy Rent a Tool, Lynnway Lounge & Restaurant, the Law Office of Michael Cerulli, Upside Media LLC, La Vida Scholars, Taso Nikolakopoulos and Jamie Figueroa, candidates for Councilor-at-Large, Latina Center MARIA, Con. Seth Moulton, Lynn School Committee member Jared Nicholson, the Lynn Museum, Lynn Community Television, The Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce, Huascar Beato-AFLAC agent, and The Item.
The organizing committee consisted of Trujillo, Magalie Rowe, a teacher at Breed Middle School; Figueroa; and Frances Martinez, executive director of the North Shore Latino Business Association; and Gilmar Deleon, a business owner and Lynn resident.
