Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

October 10, 2018

Heritage Month Mask Project

Did you know that September 15 – October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month?  Many survivors find strength in their community, cultural identity, and heritage.  In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center staff members created masks that represent pride in their own traditions and cultures.

Please enjoy the large images in the following slideshow, and read below for descriptions of each mask.

 

Linda Garcia-Cruz – Trauma Therapist / Terapista de Trauma

"This mask is a celebration of my Mayan roots. The bird displayed is Guatemala’s national bird called Quetzal. There’s a good reason why we are called the country of “Eternal Spring.” The many colors are a tribute to Guatemala’s colorful traditions, as well as its diverse topography and lush flora and fauna. The colorful threads remind me of the rich history behind indigenous Guatemalans regional clothing. The flower and sun in the mask represent the spiritual connection I have to nature. Being Guatemalan brings me a sense of pride in the tradition I keep alive with the holidays I celebrate and the foods I eat, which were all instilled in me by my parents and grandparents."

 

Ruth Sudilovsky-Pecha – Trauma Therapist / Terapista de Trauma

"My mask is inspired by Familia, Tradición y Raíces, – Family, Tradition, and Roots."

 

Melissa Santana – Victim Specialist / Especialista en Victimas

"My mask looks a lot like the Puerto Rican flag which was painted on my cousin's face at the 50th Annual Puerto Rican Parade in Cleveland, OH. The non-traditional black and white flag represents solidarity and resistance, not mourning.
The black on the flag represents the struggles and mistakes that have happened to the people on the island for hundreds of years. It also represents the death of those powers and way of thinking that has led Puerto Rico to the way it is today. The bright white shining star and lines symbolize the freedom of the individual to think for themselves and to create and claim a better world for them and their loved ones.
Change must begin at home, inside of ourselves, in our communities, in our daily thoughts and actions. The flag helps people understand that there will always be dark and light. Good times and bad times. Fear. Uncertainty. Possibility. Brilliance. It should teach us how to work through these emotions in a positive manner and express ourselves without hatred.
The flag is a symbol that unites us all to fight together tirelessly against fear, frustration, pain, injustice, and misinformation. The flag and its colors represent hope. A new beginning. A new way of acting, creating, expressing. Above all it signifies love. Love for ourselves. For others. For the ancestors. For the land. For the culture. As long as we love and place it above all the negative factors in this world, then we will attain peace, joy, and freedom."

 

Ruth Nieves – Victim Specialist / Especialista en Victimas

"My Hispanic tradition makes me proud and makes me be happy to be a Puerto Rican woman. I love the family bond, the music, the food, and how we are united in the worst times and we can come together and still find joy."

 

Olga Rosado

"My mask is inspired by nature and the quote, 'The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth.' The colors I used represent the earth, vegetation, water, and the sky. Regardless of where we are from, we are all a part of the same world. The shells around my mask are to remind us that humans are mostly water. In this way, we are all connected to each other and connected to the earth."

 

Ana Maria Martinez – Trauma Therapist / Terapista de Trauma

"Colombian heritage for me means finding hope and happiness even in the darkest of circumstances. As a country and as a people we’ve experienced generations of war and violence, and yet we’re regularly ranked among the happiest countries in the world. It’s that spirit of resilience that colors my work and my view as a therapist."

 

Rachel Camargo – Victim Specialist / Especialista en Victimas

"I was inspired by 'El Día de los Muertos' (The Day of the Dead) a Mexican holiday that celebrates the life of deceased loved ones. This festive holiday is popular in the central and southern regions of Mexico and it is becoming more popular in the United States due to the children’s animated movie, Coco.
November 1-2, we believe the souls of our loved ones return to earth to visit and enjoy the food, candy, toys, drinks, and marigolds we prepared for them. We honor our deceased loved ones with altars (ofrendas) decorated with their favorite foods, flowers, toys, sugar skulls, calaveras, and drinks. On November 1, the souls of our deceased children come home to celebrate with us for a day and then return to heaven. Then our remaining ancestors come to visit on November 2.
Death is part of life and I learned this from the deaths of my older sister, Vanessa Camargo, my Tío Wilfredo Camargo, my Tía Nona Galvan, my Abuelita Amalia Corona, my Abuelito Julio Camargo, my primos Maritza and Nico, and my Tía Josephine Nemeth. I keep them alive through my memories, sharing their stories, and by celebrating El Día de los Muertos. It brings great comfort to me, knowing every November 1st and 2nd they come home to visit."

 

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Servicios

El Cleveland Rape Crisis Center ofrece terapia y asesoramiento a personas víctimas Latinas y Latinos que hayan sobrevivido abuso sexual y violación.

Ofrecemos un espacio sano y seguro donde se puede recibir ayuda, sí usted ha sido lastimado recientemente o muchos años atrás. El personal bilingüe le puede proveer apoyo, información, y recursos para mujeres, hombres y niños.