Utah Latinos hosting holiday gathering to promote unity, spread cheer

By Tim Vandenack, KSL.com | Posted - Dec. 20, 2024 at 4:31 p.m.

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

SANDY — In a bid to spread holiday cheer and promote unity within Utah's diverse community of Latinos, community leaders are hosting a Christmas gathering on Saturday: We are Latinos.

"We want to unify the culture, so this event gets bigger and bigger and bigger," said organizer Miguel Echeverria, noting the diversity of Utah's Latino population, with roots in Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Mexico and many other countries. "I think you need to reinforce that because, in some areas, there might be division."

Some who are far from their home countries might feel a tinge of sadness, he said, and the free public event also aims to counter that. We are Latinos starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday and will be held at the Miller Conference Center on the Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus, 9750 S. 300 West in Sandy.

A dozen or so singers, dance groups and other Latino performers will provide entertainment, and 650 presents are to be given out to kids, though preregistration to claim a gift is required. Representatives from a range of nonprofit organizations and Latino businesses and service providers will also have booths at the event.

Apart from celebrating Christmas and the holiday season, Kalhu Arriagada, one of the organizers, said she hopes the event bolsters connections among Latino business operators in Utah.

Those planning to man booths have roots in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and other countries. "They can help one another," Arriagada said.

But she put particular emphasis on the entertainment and the invitations sent out to a broad cross-section of the Latino community. Organizers are Chilenos Buena Onda Utah, a group Echeverria runs; Panas en Utah, a social media entity geared to Latinos; and Arriagada.