Pasadena Celebrates Its Latino Heritage

Angelica Salas and Yuny Parada Will Lead the Parade.

By News Desk

Celebrate the 25th Annual Pasadena Latino Heritage Parade and Festival on September 16, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

This year’s theme, “Reaching for the Stars,” recognizes the achievements of Latinos in the United States. This event enriches the community by bringing together family and friends, warmth and culture, as well as values and tradition. More than 2,000 participants and spectators are expected to attend the parade and festival. The parade begins at the intersection of Los Robles Avenue and Buckeye Street. The parade route heads south on Los Robles Avenue and culminates in front of City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.  Immediately following the parade, the festival will feature live entertainment, educational booths, free activities for children, and food available for purchase.

The parade’s Grand Marshal is Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)  and The Community Grand Marshal is Yuny Parada, Local Latino Rights Activist. Salas is a prominent figure in ethnic and mainstream press and is often quoted on all issues related to immigrant well-being. Under Salas’ leadership, CHIRLA and its national partners have built the foundation for the upsurge in immigrant rights activism. She is a leader in national coalitions of organizations that have successfully mobilized millions of immigrants to demand just and humane immigration reform with a path to citizenship, family reunification, and protection of civil and labor rights. One of her greatest accomplishments at CHIRLA has been the transformation of a social service provision coalition into a statewide mass membership organization that empowers immigrants to engage in advocacy on their own behalf. Angelica comes by her understanding of the immigrant experience firsthand.

As a five-year-old, she came to the U.S. from Mexico to rejoin her undocumented parents, who had come to the U.S. to provide for their family.  Pasadena, California has been home since she arrived in the U.S.  She is a graduate of Pasadena High School and holds a B.A. in History and Sociology from Occidental College. B. She received an Honorary degree from her Alma Mater in 2007. Angelica Salas is married to Mayron Payes, an immigrant from El Salvador, and has two adult children, Maya and Ruben Payes.

Lola Osborne, Acting Director of Pasadena’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department said:

We are excited to celebrate the 25th annual Latino Heritage Parade and Festival. We invite the community to bring their family, friends, and lawn chairs to join us for this marvelous celebration.”

The Pasadena Latino Heritage Parade and Festival is sponsored by the City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the Pasadena Latino Heritage Parade and Festival Committee. For more information,  call (626) 744-6530.