Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival made history and is still thriving
holaiowa.substack.com
By Christina Fernández-Morrow, Hola Iowa Des Moines was different in 2000. There was no Wells Fargo arena, very few taco trucks, and no festival celebrating Latino culture and contributions. JoAnn Mackey, a state employee at the Division of Latino Affairs, wanted to change that. She began floating the idea of a Latino Heritage Festival to anyone who would listen. “I was knocking on doors and talking to everyone.” Des Moines was on the cusp of change and it was the right time to propose such a big idea.
Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival made history and is still thriving
Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival made history…
Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival made history and is still thriving
By Christina Fernández-Morrow, Hola Iowa Des Moines was different in 2000. There was no Wells Fargo arena, very few taco trucks, and no festival celebrating Latino culture and contributions. JoAnn Mackey, a state employee at the Division of Latino Affairs, wanted to change that. She began floating the idea of a Latino Heritage Festival to anyone who would listen. “I was knocking on doors and talking to everyone.” Des Moines was on the cusp of change and it was the right time to propose such a big idea.