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El Amanecer - The Sunrise
Official Newsletter of The Spanish American Center, Inc.
September - October, 2019
Hispanic Heritage Month Issue
News and Notes from Neddy
Dear friends , Spanish American Center supporters, collaborating partner agencies, clients, volunteers, and twin cities community members in general:
As we begin our fall season and the month of October, I have to let you know that September was such a productive month, as we launched our first successful Hispanic Heritage Month Fund Raiser, which kept us very busy for weeks.
I’d like to begin with giving my congratulations to Mr. Peter Bovenz i, his daughter Katie, and family as recipients of our own Enoelia Muñoz Award . Thank you, Mr. Mike Mahan, for receiving the award on Mr. Bovenzi’s behalf.  Our congratulations to Cheryl Boissy as well, on receiving your own citation from us The Spanish American Center, and from our Mayor Mazzarella.
I’m truly honored to have become the recipient of such a prestigious award as is The Latino Heritage Award , presented to me by the Board of Directors, the staff at the Center, and our volunteers, many thanks to all of you. I also want to thank Mr. Dean Tran, State Senator, for recognizing me as a Hispanic role model, and giving me The State Senate Official Citation. To Mr. Mazzarrella, our city Major, thank you for awarding me a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Leominster. Last, but not least, thanks to Ms. Natalie Higgins, State Representative, for giving me a citation from the House of Representatives. I was deeply moved by all of it.
Our wonderful Board of Directors deserves much recognition because of their dedication, efforts, hard work, and having gone the extra mile to make this event possible. Without their support, and their many hours of intense coordination this event wouldn’t have been possible. Simply, Gracias!
Finally, thanks to my staff for your participation, commitment, and cooperation in making this special occasion for the Center a great success. To every single Center’s sponsor please accept our deep gratitude for your generosity, and kindness towards the Center.
A big shout out to Georgie Rodriguez for being our awesome MC at the event! Thanks Georgie!
Happy Autumn, and many blessings to all, 


OUR 2019 Caribbean Dinner Dance Fundraiser was a resounding success!
Sending our thanks to our generous community SPONSORS, DONORS and GUESTS!
Hispanic Heritage Civic Honors
We honored long time community activist and Latinix advocate Nedinia "Neddy" Latimer, our Executive Director, for her decades of work to improve the lives of the less fortunate throughout North Central
Massachusetts. Above, Senator Dean Tran presents a Citation from the Commonwealth. Left, Mayor Dean Mazzarella presents a citation on behalf of the City of Leominster.
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Want to give back and help the environment? Pick up a $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag at the Hannaford store located at 927 Merriam Ave, Twin City Plaza, Leominster MA during the month of September. The Spanish American Center will receive $1 donation for every bag sold! 

Thank You, Hannaford!
We wish to welcome our good friend Eugenio Burgos (who many know from his wonderful guitar playing and singing with his trio Los Soñadores ), who has begun working here at our ever busy food pantry. Mr. Burgos will ensure that the pantry remains stocked and will be assisting Anne Bissonnette throughout the week. Welcome, Eugenio. Great to have you with us!
SAC welcomes two new additions to our Board.
New Board Member Mr. Georgie Rodriguez is well known as a long time friend and volunteer at SAC. He brings his vast community connections, devotion to his church family, civic knowledge, on-radio personality skills (WPKZ -Fitchburg) and - his fantastic smile to our Board. Georgie lives in Fitchburg with his beautiful wife, Daisy. He is currently running for City Council there. Georgie was a huge help in planning our recent fundraiser. Welcome Georgie!
Ms. Linda Velez Scullane is also a long time friend and former employee who joined our active Board of Directors in September. Now working at Mt. Wachusett Community College as the Director of STEM Starter Academy, Articulation and Curriculum Pathways, Linda has worked for Headstart, Shriver Job Corps and the Spanish American Center in the past. She brings her impressive knowledge of community issues, education, and the needs of our Latino youth. Welcome, Linda!
Thanking our
DAY OF CARING VOLUNTEERS
FROM IC CREDIT UNION!
SAC participates in
Panel of Local Latinx Leaders
at Mt. Wachusett Community College
Focus on Using & Developing Leadership Skills
The Spanish American Center Staff and two members of our Board of Directors recently participated in a panel discussion about leadership skills for Latinix citizens which was held at Mt. Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA as part of that institution's ongoing "Tea Time" conversations. The Tea Time Speaker Series event was organized by a campus-wide team led by MWCC Gateway to College Resource Specialist Sharmese Gunn .The Spanish American Center's food service program also provided ethnic food for the event.
Photo above right: Full house of participants at MWCC Event!
Photo at Right: President James Vander Hooven welcomes a panel of Latinx leaders to a Tea Time Speaker Series event at Mount Wachusett Community College.

For link to full article at MWCC click this link LATINX LEADERS!
Recent Generous Donations!
In addition fto our Sponsors listed in the opening article, we are happy to recognize the generosity of these donors who have been very supportive of us and of our programs:
  • Digital Federal Credit Union for a donation of $2,500.00!
  • Leominster Service Center for a donation of $200.00 (Kevin)!
  • Real Deal Van Lines Moving and Storage for a donation of $500 (Dave LeBlanc)!
¡Muchas Gracias a todos!
Some final thoughts . . .
(Editor's note - the following letter was received a few days following our fundraiser/Caribbean Dinner Dance. It contains thoughts worth sharing with our readers about the true meaning of community. i'm proud to share it here.)

Dear Cheryl.
" I just wanted to say that as far as I’m concerned the event was a great success because what I witnessed was all races coming together -- united, dancing, laughing, having real fun, and enjoying themselves in a relaxed, and great atmosphere. It’s rare for me to go to an event where people are able to do that. There’s diversity, camaraderie, the respect for each other that was so unique.
I know I have to think in terms of fund raising but, if we accomplished something that great as far as I see it, it was worth while. Our community needs it, and we were setting an example of tolerance and appreciation for each other’s cultural backgrounds. I want to take the opportunity to express how proud I was of being a small part of it." -Sonia Rodriguez