Complete History of Fiesta Hispana
Under the leadership of President John F. Kennedy and his successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in recognition of the national plight of Hispanics regarding a lack of opportunities in business, employment, education, health, and myriad other areas of social development, the U.S. Congress passed a bill in 1964 calling for an annual celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Week (it was declared a month-long celebration in 1980).
In 1972 under President Richard M. Nixon’s 16-Point Program, now called the Hispanic Employment Program, a few Kansas City area Hispanic federal employees, in coordination with the Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board, initiated annual activities to commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Week. The activities were held in various federal sector job sites. The Hispanic leaders eventually determined to extend the celebration into the metropolitan Hispanic community by organizing a parade from downtown Kansas City into downtown Armourdale, Kansas.
In 1981 Department of Housing and Urban Development federal employees Rebecca Jaramillo, Jose Gonzalez, and Guadalupe Center staff member Ninfa Garza developed the idea of sponsoring a fiesta in connection with the parade. They named it Fiesta Hispana in keeping with the national intent to celebrate all of the diverse Latino cultures including Mexican, Central and South American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and Spanish in the U.S. Hispanic population. The parade was discontinued due to federal cutbacks in financial-logistical support, as well as cumbersome city codes and other requirements.
But, Fiesta Hispana continued in the heart of Kansas City’s Mexican community along Southwest Boulevard in 1982 and 1983, attracting ten thousand into the small ill-suited space.
From Fiesta Hispana’s inception the Guadalupe Centers has been the Fiesta’s principle community partner by providing the use of its many valuable resources for fiesta planning and preparation. In 1983 Cris Medina, Executive Director of the Guadalupe Centers, recommended the fiesta be moved from Southwest Boulevard to Kansas City’s newly constructed, and beautiful, Barney Allis Plaza where many more could gather more comfortably. This was achieved with political support from Kansas City’s first Hispanic City Councilman, Bobby Hernandez.
The following September, 1984, Fiesta Hispana attracted over 30,000 Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals and families with children eager to learn of their ancestry, searching for opportunities; and people in general seeking enjoyment and enlightenment.
On April 12, 1984, Jose Gonzalez, Rebecca Jaramillo and Ninfa Garza, with volunteer assistance from attorney-at-law William Lopez, the GKC National Hispanic Heritage Committee was incorporated as a State of Missouri tax-exempt corporation and in August, 1984 obtained IRS Federal 501 (c)(3) non-profit tax exempt status.
Fiesta Hispana in Kansas City’s Barney Allis Plaza has become the largest and most successful Hispanic fiesta event in the Midwest, attracting tens of thousands of local and out-of-town visitors to downtown Kansas City for twenty years. In fact, it threatens to outgrow its current location.
In an ongoing partnership with the Guadalupe Centers, Inc., Mattie Rhodes Counseling and Arts Center, and LULAC-National Educational Service Center, Fiesta Hispana presents over 60 professionally designed fiesta booths. Among these is a large Children’s Area, which provides special activities for small children and their parents, and a number of area colleges and universities conduct youth outreach efforts during the fiesta. As part of educating the public we have on display an impressive historical exhibit which documents, with photographs and news stories, the history of many local Hispanic settlers, as well as an exhibit of fine art.
A number of food vendors sell a variety of delicious authentic Latino and non-Latino foods from popular area restaurants and homes. Soda pop and other non-alcoholic refreshments are sold by Hispanic youths who raise educational funds. Other booths offer internationally imported curios, jewelry, clothes, rides, games, activities and toys, consumer information; employment opportunities; health services; and more.
Proceeds from the sale of Budweiser beer at the fiesta both benefit the Guadalupe Centers, Inc. and Fiesta Hispana.
Fiesta Hispana continuously features two days of a wide variety of entertainment, which includes international and national groups of folkloric and Spanish dance, as well as music from Mariachi and Tejano to Venezuela, Chile, Panama, Columbia, Ecuador, and much more.
Over the past twenty years the Hispanic Heritage Committee and Fiesta Hispana have been synergetic forces in:
1) Promoting an essential awareness and appreciation of the important contributions of Hispanics to the development of the U.S.
2) Developing vital community recognition of its responsibility to open opportunities to the growing Hispanic population.
3) Providing sorely needed venues for Hispanic adults, youth and children from throughout the Midwest to gather with others in a positive atmosphere to celebrate a healthy sense of pride in their Hispanic heritage and encourage them to further develop their individual capabilities.