Central’s Latino Leaders will be walking with JROTC in the Cinco De Mayo parade this year on May 10 down on 24th Street. Similar to last year, the groups will be passing out candy and representing Central by wearing coordinating T-shirts.
Latino Leaders is in the process of getting their T-shirts ready, and kids are encouraged to bring their own flags to represent their culture. They will also be doing face painting for the public.
Senior Xavier Jefferson is the art director for Latino Leaders, as well as the activities coordinator. Jefferson enjoys having creative freedom and connecting with people with this role.
He is excited about getting more clubs from Central involved in the parade and about having a lot of other students there
“This year will be different, we want to have a bigger voice in the parade, and I think the main part is we want everyone to have fun,” Jefferson said
Vice president of Latino Leaders Ximena Altuzar is in charge of getting all information together and making sure everyone is on track.
“We’re gonna bring lots of posters and I’m excited to show out and celebrate,” Altuzar says
Altuzar is also excited about all the support Llatino Lleaders is getting this year, since there are two sponsors this year and everything seems to be more organized.
Elsie Melgar is a sponsor for Latino Leaders and the Bilingual liaison here at Central. Melgar is the point of contact for parents that speak Spanish, and helps EL students here as well. Melgar stepped in as the sponsor for Latino Leaders when the last Bilingual liaison had left as she was the sponsor for the club as well.
Melgar is excited about walking with Latino Leaders for the first time, but as a sponsor the role can be a lot, Melgar has to get everything on track and ready in time for the parade.
Here in Omaha we are having the parade, but in Chicago they cancelled it due to concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Cinco de Mayo could have lots of differences from the past years.
“J just because of the tensions going on right now there might be lower attendance,” Melgar says.
The rising tensions are not stopping Central students from celebrating and showing out in this parade.
Cinco De Mayo festival is May 9th-11th.
