Second annual Cinco de Mayo Street Fair returns to Cal Poly Humboldt
by Erandi Hernández Aguilar
El Centro Cultural Académico and the Gutswurrak Student Activities Center (GSAC) are celebrating their Cinco de Mayo Street Fair on May 5 starting at 2 p.m. in the University Quad. The event is free and open to the public.
This year’s Cinco de Mayo Street Fair has a theme of solidarity. The afternoon also includes performances by Las Cafeteras, Mariachi Mar Pacífico and Ballet Folklórico de Humboldt. Several local organizations and resources will be tabling at the event and offering an educational activity relating to the theme of solidarity.
Henry Lagunas, a student worker at El Centro and one of the lead organizers of the street fair shared that people typically mistake Cinco de Mayo with México’s independence day. Lagunas also touched on the pressures and expectations Latine students face. The Cinco de Mayo Street Fair serves as a way to combine joy and reflect on the ways in which people can express and act in solidarity with impacted communities.
“I know last year with Las Cafeteras performing I feel like that was the perfect type of tone that we needed for that time,” Lagunas said. “I think that still continues into this year in terms of having that happiness, but also having that moment where we can talk about global issues or global issues that are happening in our communities. I think it’s important to address those things and not hide or shy away from them.”
Associate Director of GSAC Michael Moore emphasizes the importance of organizing cultural and community events like Cinco de Mayo Street Fair and contributing to students’ wellbeing and belonging.
“The idea is we use our budget which is student fee dollars to enhance student wellbeing which affects retention and so whether it be us teaming up with the Umoja Center with some of their events or ADPIC with the Lunar New Year,” Moore said. “We want to make students feel welcome to enter our space or those around us, cause this one is on the quad.”
El Centro will have their Mercadito offering fresh produce. They will also be tabling and have graduation sashes available for pick up for Latine graduation if they have already been purchased. For more information about purchasing Latine graduation sashes contact El Centro Cultural Academico at lcae@humboldt. edu or (707) 826-5685.
