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Julia De Burgos
celebrates seasonal festivities
By Arooj Ashraf, La Prensa Correspondent
Julia De Burgos Cultural Art Center celebrated Parrandon
Navideno 2011 on Dec. 16, with more than 400 people
attending to enjoy musical performances, plays, and games.
Children’s favorite characters Dora, and Elmo made a special
appearance while the Three Kings passed out candy. Home Depot
volunteers helped children make toy cars.
This year’s program was
hosted at the Cleveland Public Theatre to accommodate
guests and surpassed expectations. Students from Latino
Unidos of Cleveland State University dressed as Three
Wise Men and helped alongside the Young Latino Network
and Advocated of Culture and Knowledge.
Students from Esperanza
Inc. performed an adaptation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer and found themselves relating to the moral of the
story. Gabriela Johnson, an eleventh grade student from
Strongsville High, played the role of reindeer Blitzen; “It is
never OK to hurt someone for any reason,” she said. Johnson
said she has experienced bullying, name calling, and taunts by
other students growing up and relates to the pain Rudolph feels.
Other performances
included singing and dancing by Los Borinquen Boyz and
Explosión Divina. Modelos De Nuestros Sueños girls
presented a poem, “Navidad Latina,” to honor the memories
of loved ones passed away. Food was available for $1, and the
popular flan competition left mouth-watering impression on
everyone.
Taisha Ortiz
was crowned, Ms. Puerto Rico Image; “I am so happy, I am
shaking,” she said. The crowning was a surprise to Ortiz who
said being part of modeling group has helped her overcome her
shyness and she looks forward to learning to express herself
better.
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