Latinos Unidos of the Hudson Valley Celebrates 20 Years

NEWBURGH – Latinos Unidos of the Hudson Valley hosted their 15th Annual Hispanic Heritage Cultural Celebration on Friday, November 5 and the organizations 20th anniversary.

Following more than 18 months of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, many attendees were overjoyed to be once again in the presence of old friends and neighbors. During the opening reception, people could be seen catching up with one another, looking at photo’s on cell phones and enjoying their time together.

Latinos Unidos Board member Dr. Karen Eberle-McCarthy spoke about the groups mission and provided an overview of what they have been doing for the past year. Latinos Unidos has always been committed to the quality of life issues effecting Latinos in the Hudson Valley, and that did not change during the pandemic year.

The group refocused their energy on working to facilitate education on, and the distribution of, the COVID-19 vaccine. For fourteen months, Latinos Unidos was heavily involved in the food distribution at the Armory, assisting those in need during the global pandemic. Eberle-McCarthy said, “This was particularly important work as we helped those who had lost their jobs. They were able to get food.” More than 500 families were offered assistance. That astonishing news was met with a round of applause from those in attendance.

Latinos Unidos is concerned with equality and fairness for all. They work to maintain the dignity and integrity of the individual and improve and empower the community through actions that are respectful of diversities within our cultures. To that end they have also resumed their educational workshops including citizenship classes at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center.

On the topic of education, George Abaunza, Vice President for Academic Affairs for Mount Saint Mary College, who was in attendance, was then asked to speak. “We are all about trying to provide opportunities and to prepare our students for the world. We are very proud of that and we are working very hard every day to make that happen,” he said.

Speaking on his new job at the college, Abaunza said that during his interview in February of 2020, he noted that the demographics of Newburgh don’t match the demographics of Mount Saint Mary College. They responded, we know and we want to do something about it. To which he replied, so let’s continue the conversation then.

Abaunza announced the college’s plans for the Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness. It will provide health care, counseling and programming for the Newburgh community. “We are going to welcome community members there for free health care and free programming.” He also announced that the new executive director of the center will be Genesis Ramos.

Latinos Unidos President Peter Gonzalez had the honor of presenting the Hoy Award to two individuals – Daisy Vale and Eddie Ramirez. “The Hoy Award is presented to people who have made a difference in their community,” Gonzalez said. And the two honorees have made an impact in many peoples lives.

Daisy Vale received the Hoy Award for her extensive volunteer work in the community. Vale sits on the board of numerous organizations including Cornerstone Family Health Center and dedicates numerous volunteers hours to organizations like the Newburgh Armory and Nora Cronin Presentation Academy.

Eddie Ramirez, Jr. accepted the award on behalf of his father Eddie Ramirez who was killed in a car accident earlier in the year. Ramirez was known for producing many Latino Festivals during the summer in the Hudson Valley as he loved to share his Puerto Rican culture with the community. He used the money raised from the festivals and an annual Latino Gala as a fundraiser for the Hudson Valley Latino Scholarship.