For the Love of Turkeys: Spanish-Speaking Communities Unite For Thanksgiving 2024

Reporter: Rei Tedoco

PHOENIX—La Prensa Arizona hosted the Grand Thanksgiving Festival, which is dedicated to Hispanic communities and enhances the holiday spirit.

Barrios Unidos Park was packed with tents on Saturday, Nov.23. Each tent represented different organizations in pride of Thanksgiving. This event was giving out free turkeys for Thanksgiving to families and those in the community. Each individual or family was given a punch card that made them stop at every tent. Once the card was filled, they were able to retrieve a turkey. 

“It is a time of unity, the holidays are coming up,” Jazmin Moreno representing Poder Latinx, said. “ It truly is a great opportunity to connect with some of these individuals and share federal  policies, local initiatives, and events we have going on.”

Poder Latinx works to help build the Latino community and engage in insightful conversations to inform people about economic, environmental, and immigration justice. The Libre Initiative was another organization present, working on breaking barriers for the Latino community. Their big focus is on educating others in the Hispanic community and providing opportunities for individuals and their families to learn English.

“I get to know other people that may need our help. We can be able to help them. It is really important to me to be a part of something like this,” Jenn Cimorn, from the Libre Initiative said. “I come from Mexico and I get to learn English. I get to be more involved in the community and have a family here. It is so important to me to have support from others.”

Photo of Jenn Cimorn from the Libre Initiative

The Libre Initiative helped provide luchadors, which are lucha libre wrestlers. These wrestlers provided entertainment and a cross-cultural connection for all who attended the event.

The tag team performances of the luchadors.

As the luchadors grabbed a lot of attention from younger audiences, there were groups present that provided opportunities for children. Georgina Monsalvo works with the non-profit, Stand For the Children Arizona, which tabled with different resources for education and racial equity.

“We are happy we can provide services to the Latino community. We are actually providing a free reading program right now where we send 40 books to the home and once the program is over we take the families to the Children’s Museum and Science Center,” Monsalvo said. 

Photo of : Mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego

This event helped bring traction to some of the representatives in Arizona. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs spoke to the attendees in between one of the performances. 

“I love Thanksgiving, it is such a great time to be with family and to celebrate and enjoy,” Hobbs said. Joining Governor Hobbs in attendance was Mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego who gave her speech in Spanish. 

Arizona Governor, Katie Hobbs presenting at the Great Thanksgiving Festival

Outside of Hobbs and Gallego, were Phoenix council members and their liaisons. Brenda Muñoz Murguia works with councilwoman, Laura Pastor of Phoenix district four. 

“Even though this park is not in our district boundaries, this area of Phoenix is very historically black and brown. It’s great to be out here and giving back by letting them know we are here for them,” Muñoz Murguia said. “This is a grassroots effort to really connect one-on-one with the community face to face.”

With many representatives present and tables for people to connect at, the event had live music and performances from Hispanic roots. These performances helped light up and embrace Latino culture in the valley. There were also the winners of Miss Mundo Latina Teen who were invited on stage to dance with the performers.

“It is a blessing really, we are here. It is an honor to give back and I really love it.  We want to give young girls hope,” Brissa Ramirez, winner of Miss Mundo Teen said. “ I would love to let every young beautiful Hispanic woman know that everything is going to be okay and to keep on trying.”

Photo: Miss Mundo Latina Teens: Bertha Lara and Brissa Ramirez

With food, music, entertainment, and community collaboration this event became a success for La Prensa Arizona. In the holiday spirit, the Latino and Hispanic communities celebrated by giving thanks and saying thanks to all who participated.