Dear Sopris Sun readers,
I’m excited to share that this year marks the fourth year of our special campaign celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. Over these five weeks, we dedicate time to honoring the history, culture, achievements and contributions of the Spanish-speaking community throughout the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. This year is a little different from last year’s campaign, but we continue to create a space where we recognize and celebrate our community from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
When I first started this campaign, I had no idea how much it would teach me. Over these past four years, I’ve had the opportunity to witness how the campaign has evolved, and how much more there is still to do. I know that what we print today represents only a fraction of all the businesses that exist throughout our valleys.
And as we prepare for these special editions, there is something this experience continues to remind me:
Our community is defined not only by what we achieve, but also by what we contribute.
This is more than a campaign. Beyond the businesses featured in these editions, there are people behind each one, with their own stories and dreams. This is an opportunity to leave a mark on the history of our valley and preserve these stories for generations to come, so that, many years from now, someone who grows up or lives here can look back and know who came before them, who dreamed, took risks, built and paved the way.
We are leaving a mark on the future of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys. Perhaps one day, someone who grew up in these valleys will come across these pages and recognize a name, a business, a story or a familiar face. A printed newspaper does not disappear easily. Its pages can be saved, shared and rediscovered years later.
Join us in amplifying your voices, your achievements and also your needs.Because when we print our stories, we are not only celebrating who we are today, we are also leaving a mark for those who will come tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Margarita Alvarez Contreras
Marketing and
Development Manager
As you turn through the pages of these upcoming weeks, I invite you to think about the people behind every story:
- Workers
- Parents
- Artists
- Business owners
- Teachers
- Volunteers
- Neighbors
People who, often behind the scenes, make things happen, take risks, and bet on themselves.
What does being part of this community mean to you?
You can participate by sharing a short message celebrating our valley’s Latino community: an anecdote, something you have learned, a special experience, or a recognition of a person, business, organization or place that is meaningful to our community.
We will be sharing these letters throughout the month in the Letters to the Editor section on page five of Sol del Valle.
The history of our valley is also shaped by the stories of the people who have called it home. We want to hear your voices and learn what being part of this community means to you.
Tell us your story, and let’s celebrate our community together!