Ode to Latine Culture
Young people who reside at our Covenant House flagship site in midtown Manhattan and at our Bronx sites had special opportunities last week to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, thanks to volunteers from longtime partners Tao Group Hospitality and Relish Caterers.
“The Latinx youth have unique experiences that shape who they are, and this particular awareness month is an ode to those experiences and who we are,” said Tao Group Hospitality volunteer Wendy, whose parents came to the U.S. from El Salvador.
Wendy was among the volunteers (see photo above) from Tao Group who brought games and snacks to our Manhattan residence located just steps from Times Square. The snacks included elotitos, nachos, palitos, and caramelos de leche, all typically found among the great diversity that is Hispanic culture.
Open Space for Cultural Conversations
The games the Tao Group Hospitality volunteers shared were meant not only to spark a good time but to “create an open space for cultural conversations,” said Senior Vice President of People Practices & Community Affairs Judy Tepperberg of Tao Group.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated across the United States from September 15 through October 15. At Covenant House New York, about 40% of the young people we serve identify as Hispanic or Latine. Across all our sites in the U.S. and Canada, about 20% identify as Hispanic or Latine.
Relish Caterers, a CHNY partner who just last month supported our Youth Art Show with delicious mocktails and hors d'oeuvres (see photo at right), this time will share with our Bronx residents some Latine favorites, including pollo al ajillo, Impossible Tinga Tacos, arroz amarillo, and calabacitas. The celebration will mark the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, though our young people’s pride will go on.
Preparation of the dishes involves volunteer engagement at every level, from Relish Event Planner Spencer Kondak, to Executive Chef Mark Russell, to the cooks and chefs who prepare the dishes, the warehouse team that packs them up, and to the drivers who “ever so cautiously deliver the delicious meals. Production at Relish is always a team effort!” said Senior Manager of Marketing and Media Kasie Sullivan.
The time and effort our partners pour into providing unique experiences for our young people is not lost on the youth, who savor every bite, every sip, and every moment of these special get-togethers.
Corporate Partners Give Back
“Relish is a proud supporter of CHNY, from providing monthly donations and direct volunteering with the youth, to simply being friends in the neighborhood,” Kasie said. “While community engagement is an essential piece of Relish’s initiatives, the team is pleased to have the ability to give back to the youth, especially seeing the level of gratitude and appreciation from both youth and staff.”
For Tao Group Hospitality, Judy notes how special it is to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our young people. “We love celebrating Hispanic culture, especially because almost half of our population at Tao Group Hospitality identifies as Hispanic,” she said. “It’s really gratifying to be able to transfer our skills of embracing our team members’ cultures and making them feel supported to our extended communities like Covenant House.”
For Wendy, that shared celebration is personal. “Hispanic Heritage Month is a time I take to reflect on my roots. It’s a month that reminds me to celebrate where I come from. My parents sacrificed their dreams to give me a better life in the U.S. This opportunity with Covenant House is a great way to give back to the community and shows how supportive we are of individuals chasing their own dreams while coming from difficult backgrounds.”
Judy adds, “We are extremely grateful for our partnership with Covenant House. We love finding ways, even if they are small, to support the immense ways in which Covenant House helps homeless youth find their path and purpose.”
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