Grand opening of HOLA Hispanic community center in Painesville

HOLA Ohio is a 501c3 Latino organization based in Painesville with a mission to empower the Latino community by creating opportunities through education, outreach, leadership development and economic advancement. 

In 2016 HOLA embarked on a project to develop a Hispanic community center to meet the demands of the growing Latino community and demand for its services.

On May 5, 2022 the HOLA Hispanic Community Center had its grand opening.

Leading the national anthem

Ribbon Cutting

Photos and videos of the HOLA Hispanic Community Center grand opening

Sister Alicia Alvarado

Sister Alicia Alvarado was born in Villalba, Puerto Rico.  Her work in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio has earned her the moniker of “The patron saint of the local Hispanic Community”. 

There are many “firsts” in her history including being the First Hispanic woman on the Board of Trustees of Cuyahoga Community College and serving as Executive Assistant to Cleveland’s first Hispanic Councilman Joe Santiago for Ward 14. 

Sister Alicia has received numerous awards for her work in social justice and her ministry among the Hispanic population.

See more about Sister Alicia Alvarado

On April 17, 2018 Sister Alicia will be inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  More about the Cleveland International Hall of Fame induction event and how you can participate

Cleveland Indians Hispanic Heritage Night

The Cleveland Indians hosted Hispanic Heritage Night on Friday, Sept. 15 at Progressive Field as part of Major League Baseball’s broader Hispanic Heritage Month efforts.

The Tribe played host to a large group of Hispanic fans at Progressive Field that evening, plus a DJ played the club’s players’ favorite Latin music throughout the game.

The Tribe’s 40-man roster includes 13 players of Hispanic descent, including fan favorites Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramírez, Carlos Carrasco, Edwin Encarnación and more. On Opening Day, 235 players -- almost 30 percent of the league -- were of Latino descent and in a recent ESPN poll, more than 60 percent of Hispanic people living in the U.S. consider themselves fans of Major League Baseball.

The increased activity surrounding Hispanic Heritage Month is an extension of the league’s “Ponle Acento” (“Put an Accent on It”) campaign, launched in 2016 to highlight the distinctive mark that Hispanic and Latino players and fans leave on the game.

Players wore #PonleAcento shirts during Batting Practice that day as seen in these photos by Brittney Zivcsak courtesy of the Cleveland Indians.

Carlos Santana

Francisco Lindor

See more from Cleveland Indians Hispanic Heritage Night 

Asians are fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the US

Li Li, MD, PhD has over 25 years of experience as a primary care doctor and family practitioner.  Dr. Li is also a Mary Ann Swetland Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.  He spoke at an event hosted by Immigration Attorney Margaret Wong about the health issues of the Asian population.

  In this video, Dr. Li says that Asians are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the US but unlike Hispanics the growth comes more from immigration than birthrate. 

Asians in Cleveland

Hispanics in leadership roles in Cleveland

Jose Feliciano, president of the Hispanic Roundtable, asked Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish about how the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County are doing with having Hispanics in leadership positions.  This was at the 2016 Convencion Hispana.

Hispanics in Cleveland

Question about Contributions of Hispanics in Cleveland

Jose Feliciano, president of the Hispanic Roundtable, asked Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish about the accomplishments of local Hispanics.

This was at the 2016 Convencion Hispana.

Hispanics in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County

Convencion Hispana 2016 – Mayor Jackson, County Exec Budish

Jose Feliciano, president of the Hispanic Roundtable, introduced Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish at the 2016 Convencion Hispana. The two leaders then gave their opening remarks.


Hispanics in Cleveland

Convencion Hispana 2016 – Jose Feliciano introduction

Jose Feliciano, president of the Hispanic Roundtable, told how the Convencion Hispana is meant to “transform our community” and has the 3 goals of Economic Development, Empowerment and Education.

He said that somewhere in the US is a Hispanic person living now who will be the first Hispanic president of the United States.

Hispanics in Cleveland

 

Carolyn Balogh inducted in Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Carolyn Balogh was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame for her work in both the Hungarian and Hispanic communities.  In her acceptance speech Carolyn told of the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/hungarian/hungarian.htm

Dr. Maria Pujana inducts Carolyn Balogh into Hall of Fame

Dr. Maria Pujana inducted Carolyn Balogh into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame for her work in both the Hungarian and Hispanic communities.  Dr. Pujana was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame in 2014.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/hungarian/hungarian.htm

Diversity Center Awards

The 60th annual Humanitarian Award Dinner of the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio honored Rick Chiricosta, President and CEO of Medical Mutual of Ohio, and Jose C. Feliciano, Partner at Baker Hostetler.


ClevelandPeople.Com congratulates these two worthy choices and gives a special shout out to our Puerto Rican and Hispanic Ambassador, Jose Feliciano

Jose Feliciano Jr and Sr. at the Diversity Center event