«Opina con Liliana Ospina» featured Ara Sotelo, a community leader founder of the Centro Cultural Hispano, which is helping many people and the community in the middle of the pandemic.
Ara Sotero arrived in Michigan in May 2003. «I am the mother of four girls, I studied tourism management with a specialization in hospitality, and I have a diploma in administration and marketing,» she says.
Seven years ago, she started as a volunteer on the board of Mexicanas por Michigan. She was there for five years, and although she still supports the association, she is no longer part of the board of directors, as she decided to structure the Centro Cultural Hispano.
The center has the objective of preserving cultural ties, language and Hispanic traditions in our community, with a particular interest in teaching these values to second-generation Latino children. «We carry our Hispanicity in our hearts, but our little ones tend to forget it, and this is a way to put our legacy on the table through activities such as Spanish classes, music, and festivities.»
Ara Sotelo, is not only a community leader but an entrepreneur. She operates two business lines; the first is social work, which is supported by the sale and export of sauces and condiments. The other is related to education, where it mentors children on healthy eating and learning to prepare their food while seeking to provide them with those necessary skills for their adult lives.
Within its mission, the Centro Cultural Hispano promotes the culture and preservation of our countries’ Hispanic heritage through community union. During the coronavirus pandemic crisis, the Hispanic Cultural Center has helped the community by collecting donations for people affected by the emergency.
They have also had information sessions on social networks about prevention and measures to protect families from Covid-19. This year, despite the coronavirus crisis, the Hispanic Cultural Center will host the Hispanic Festival in Ferndale. A couple of weeks ago they received confirmation from the city events director, and the event is still standing. It is scheduled for October 3 in the city of Ferndale.
