The
Organizational History of the Festival
de la Familia
The Festival de la Familia was established
in 1992 to enhance the Sacramento community's awareness,
understanding, and appreciation of Latino cultures, customs,
and traditions.
At the initiation of the Sacramento Bee,
local community leaders met to establish annual family-centered
events, which celebrate the richness, and diversity found
in Latino cultures. Sustained entirely by sponsors and
the work of more than 500 volunteers, the event draws
the attendance of more than 20,000 individuals each year.
It is the largest one-day event in Northern California.
More than 20 Latin countries have been represented through
dance, music, food, arts and crafts, and traditional
activities. Held
originally in Old Sacramento, the Festival moved to Cal
Expo in 2002.
The success of the Festival in accomplishing its education
and community awareness goals is due to its non-commercial
focus on family, culture and traditions. Corporate sponsors
provide funding to help support the event, and embrace
its goals. Event participants in all categories (children's
programming, arts and crafts, entertainment, community
outreach, and food) are screened and evaluated to ensure
activities are consistent with our mission and are family-oriented,
interactive and educational.
The Festival enjoys the strong support of local community
leaders, civic officials, and our sponsors. It is recognized
as a well-organized and well-managed event. This is due
to our committee structure of volunteers who work year-round
along with an event contractor.
The event shares with the community-at-large, cultural values,
customs and traditions that strengthen pride, awareness,
respect and participation. Our volunteers (more than 500)
cross cultural, ethnic, gender and age groupings to continually
build a better understanding and support for diversity in
our community. The Festival has earned the reputation for
being a well-organized, purposeful, and successful event.
The volunteers, sponsors, local and civic leaders share this
prideful reputation.
Organizational Structure
In 1997, the Festival de la Familia, Inc. was established
as a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization. This action
was taken to sustain the Festival de la Familia Event
and to promote other events in the community.
Festival de la Familia, Inc. is a volunteer organization.
The Board of Directors are responsible for all policy,
fiduciary, and legal decisions of any event organized,
operated, or sponsored under the aegis of Festival
de la Familia, and the Steering Committee develops
and implements the event itself. |
|
The Festival
de la Familia
Board of Directors |
| President |
Susie
Cano-Guzmán |
| Vice-President |
Hector Bautista |
| Secretary |
Jackie Gallegos |
| 2010
Event Chairperson |
Hector Bautista |
|
Gloria
Becerra
Joel Contreras
David Fabila
Paul Meinardus
Frieda Ramirez |
|
Our
Mission
The
mission of the Festival de la Familia Event is
to enhance the Sacramento community's awareness,
understanding, and appreciation of Latino cultures,
customs, and traditions.
Our
Goal
The
goal of the Festival de la Familia is to plan and
execute a family-centered event which celebrates
the richness and diversity found in Latino cultures.
Our Objectives
The objectives of the Festival de la Familia are:
• |
To develop a family-centered
event which promotes family-oriented, interactive,
and educational activities. |
• |
To create two-way information exchange about
services, opportunities, and needs of the Latino
community. |
• |
To develop a Mercado atmosphere which features
Latino art, food, crafts, music and entertainment. |
• |
To continuously strengthen and improve the
Event to ensure that it maintains its status
as a premier event in the Sacramento area. |
|
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