Carnaval Latino highlights values, heritage and successes of Hispanic community in Kalamazoo

Last Saturday, the Hispanic American Council celebrated their heritage with the first ever "Carnival Latino." The carnival included traditional Hispanic and Latino food, music and cultural fare. In Kalamazoo, there are about 3,600 residents of Hispanic or Latino descent, making up about 5 percent of the city’s population. However, they have a significant impact on the community at large.

The Hispanic American Council provides a variety of programs that engage the youth of their community. They have also brought with them inspiring stories of triumph, as the one told about Francisco Vargas, owner of La Mexicana Market on Portage Road.

Seventeen years ago, Vargas came to the United States from Mexico as a migrant farm worker. Like many immigrants, he encountered challenges along the way, having difficulty with English and sacrificing much so that his family could have a better life.

But he worked tirelessly and now owns one of the Edison Neighborhood’s most popular markets — which sits just several hundred feet from where Vargas once sold vegetables out of his pickup truck when he was working in the fields.

Vargas’ son, Jairo Vargas, said that his father’s determination is an inspiration for all.

“He gave up everything to come here,” he said. “He had nothing. It’s great to see how far he made it and it goes to show that it really doesn’t matter who you are. If you work hard, you can make it.

“He’s pretty inspiring to everyone. You can do whatever you want if you are willing to make sacrifices and have the dedication.”

“It’s a Cinderella story,” said Mercedes, 40, who at age 16 came to the U.S. from Nicaragua to seek political asylum after a revolution there.

Their stories reflect the toil that so many Hispanic families undertake to make a better life for themselves here.

“Our stories are of family values and determination,” Mercedes said. “We know that the impossible might take longer for us, but we will get there. We are hard workers and we are determined.”

Read the full article at: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/09/carnaval_latino_highlights_val.html