The Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) celebrated its 50th anniversary on September 30 at the Mexican Cultural Institute during Hispanic Heritage Month.
The event brought together D.C. leaders, longtime community members and performers to recognize five decades of work representing and connecting the District’s Latino community.
The celebration followed Washington’s annual Hispanic Fiesta Parade and Festival of Nations.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser reflected on MOLA’s history and future, saying, “I am so proud to be here among so many friends who have been here for all of those 50 years of my life, and to be with some friends who are going to be here for the next 50 years.”
Sonia Gutierrez, a community leader who helped establish MOLA, recalled how community members organized to create the office, saying, “We got the community. We got community involvement. We went to the city council with the legislation and the legislation passed and created it.”
The celebration also highlighted Latino culture through music and dance
Sylvia Perdomo, a Latina dancer who performed at the event, said it is important to “feed, to cultivate who we are internally.”
