Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos will host a two-day live and virtual event beginning on Friday, Oct. 16 through Saturday, Oct. 17 in celebration of its 10 years in operation.
The dream of Centro’s founder, Ofelia Vasquez-Philo, was to have a place where the richness of Hispanic culture could be archived and shared with not only the families of Hispanic heritage, but to the whole community. The distinctive musical genres, dancing, history, poetry, art, and more were being absorbed and mixed in a Tex-Mex blender. Nostalgic elders and younger generations needed a place where they could find pride in their roots and authentic values of their culture even as they melded into the broader “American” identity.
With a handful of like-minded friends Vasquez-Philo started meeting, formed a board of directors, and established a nonprofit for what they envisioned. Through persistence, clarity of purpose and good fortune, San Marcos Consolidated ISD was willing to let the group occupy the recently empty Bonham School Building to start its venture. On Sept. 18, 2010, Centro Cultural opened its doors to the community.
