LYNN — Lynn celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the spirit, culture, and achievements of the Hispanic and Latino community in the city at City Hall on Tuesday.
The Hispanic Heritage Month celebration consisted of two keynote speakers, who were both given mayoral certificates from Mayor Jared Nicholson, while six leaders in the Hispanic and Latino community were given Latino Change Agent awards for making a difference in Lynn. Michelle La Poetica, who was named as Lynn’s first poet laureate in April, was given an official introduction at the celebration, and the event concluded with a raising of the Hispanic Heritage Month flag outside City Hall.
“We see the growing influences of Latinos across every sector of America. At the same time, we are also seeing a political climate that overlooks — and in some cases, actively diminishes — the incredible contributions of the Latino community. We know the story of Hispanic heritage in this country has been one of resilience, solidarity, and promise. Together, we can shape a more inclusive future,” Nicholson said.
Pastor Eduardo Caceres of La Iglesia De Dios de la Profecia spoke about the rich cultural presence that the Latino and Hispanic communities have in Lynn.
“Immigration is not just a movement of people, but a flow of hope, dreams, and talents that enrich every corner of our community. Our Hispanic presence flourishes like a diverse garden where traditions from multiple Latin American nations converge,” Caceres said.
He added, “From the altars of our schools to our sports fields, from health centers to artistic spaces, we have woven our culture into the very heart of this city, creating a vibrant wall of progress and unity. We are more than immigrants; we are builders of dreams, bearers of hope, and architects of a prosperous future.”
Keynote speaker Dania De La Cruz, who was also recognized as a Latino Change Agent, is a Lynn English High School graduate, a council member of the Lynn Youth Adolescence club, and a lead youth organizer for Neighbor to Neighbor. As a child of Guatemalan immigrants, she got involved in local advocacy after feeling frustrated and voiceless while witnessing the treatment of the Hispanic and Latino communities around her.
“By being young and Latino and outspoken, your presence is significant. As much as people in power tell you included spaces aren’t crafted for us, we have the right to make them ours. Especially now, in the current political climate, we must take up these spaces — because if we don’t, what does the Latino narrative look like?” De La Cruz said.
She added, “I’ve watched politicians spew hatred and defame the culture I was raised in since I was 9. It angers me, and I know it angers you, too. You are never too young or too Hispanic to be involved. I encourage any person in Lynn and beyond to remember the town that watched you grow up and led you into adulthood. Internalize it, let it motivate you, and do your best to uplift it in any way you see fit.”
Latino Change Agent Awards were given to: Anaima Piccirillo, licensed program director of Boys & Girls Club of Lynn; Juan Antonio De Leon, founder and director of Leones Soccer Club; Yajaira DeJesus-Rodriguez, founder, CEO, and artistic director of Cultura Latina Dance Academy; Jhonattan Santelises, owner and fitness trainer at Jas Nutri-Fit; and Cindi Cristina Flores, therapist at Lynn Community Health Center and a founder at Lynn Rapid Response Network.
Nominees included Karina Arreaga, Jesse Lobato, Ivelisse Garcia, Vivian Ianotti, Lennin Peña, Faustina Cuevas, Berta Tavares, Liliana Patino, and Maria Fernada-Canton.
“In a time of challenges and change, these are the voices that remind us of their resilience and vision that defined their community. Their leadership is proof that progress is possible, and hope is still alive,” said Faustina Cuevas, Lynn’s DEI Officer and Senior Advisor to Mayor Nicholson.
