How much do you know about the history of Hispanic and Latino culture and community in Rockford?
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Rockford Register Star has partnered with La Onda, a newly-formed nonprofit organization, to help share and celebrate the impact of Hispanic and Latino people, businesses and organizations in and around the Rockford area.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Visit rrstar.com or the Rockford Register Star newspaper each day to read about the people and places that make up Rockford’s Latino community.
Ramiro Ramirez may not be a name that sounds familiar lately, but his impact on the Latino community in Rockford has been significant since the early 1980s. Ramirez’s contributions were many that ranged from Hispanic social clubs to the local Hispanic entertainment industry.
The Hispanic Cultural House was created by Ramirez and other parents of children in the school district’s bilingual program. Their mission was to cultivate Latino culture and literature, as well as participate in social functions where they displayed their homeland traditions. The Hispanic Cultural House also sponsored a Colombian and Mexican dancing group that performed at several local functions, such as festivals and parades throughout the Rockford area.