Gov. Ned Lamont was joined by several commissioners and other officials at El Santo in West Hartford to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

By Ronni Newton

Gov. Ned Lamont chose El Santo, a Mexican restaurant in West Hartford Center owned by natives of Mexico City, as the venue to spotlight the culture and contributions of the state’s Hispanic population during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

At lunchtime on Friday, Oct. 4, the governor was joined by several staff members and commissioners who spoke about their own experiences as Hispanic Americans before sharing a meal at the restaurant.

Mellaney Castro, director of Communications and Strategic Engagement for the governor’s office, emceed the event, and said she is personally a “very proud Puerto Rican that is excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.”

Xiomara Zamudio, owner of El Santo along with her husband, Daniel Chávez, said both are natives of Mexico City and coming to this county and starting a business, “wasn’t easy,” but they continue to work hard “to show people our culture.” She expressed her thanks for the support and said she was honored to welcome Gov. Lamont and to be able to showcase the restaurant as they celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Seila Mosquera Bruno, commissioner of the Department of Housing, said she was privileged to attend not only in her official role but also “as an Ecuadorian immigrant.”

She arrived from Ecuador “with hopes and dreams to create a better life for my family, just like many of you,” Bruno said. She was driven by the values instilled in her by her grandmother, of a heritage that is seen in art, music, and “cherished in our food.” Caring for families and support for neighbors is a large part of that tradition.

Housing is essential, she said, “and I’m so thankful that Gov. Lamont has allowed me to support his vision for Connecticut residents by allowing everybody to have access to options for affordable homes.”

Members of the Hispanic community are not just residents adding to the diversity of the state, Bruno said. “We are contributors, we are innovators, and outlets for change. Every day I carry the pride of my Ecuadorian roots,” she said. “As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I invite each of you to embrace your roots and share your stories. Let us celebrate culture and richness … and the future we want to build together,” she said, before also addressing the crowd in Spanish.

Department of Correction Commissioner Angel Quiros was born in Connecticut to parents who migrated here from Puerto Rico in the 1960s. He was raised on Park Street in Hartford. “I never thought that growing up in the inner city that I would one day have the opportunity to be a commissioner,” he said.

Quiros said he shares the governor’s vision to have a diverse workforce at the Department of Correction, and to provide programming and services for those who are incarcerated “so when they come back out into the community they can be positive taxpaying citizens.”

Anthony Anthony, the state’s chief marketing officer, spoke about the state’s “Make it Here” initiative and how the state is working to share its identity. “Connecticut is far and away one of the best states in the country to live, work and play, but beyond that there’s much that makes it great.” It’s the most diverse state in New England, and one of the most welcoming states in the country, he said.

“Here today we have small business owners, we have folks who are in government, but we all started in the same place, as kids trying figure out a living, and that’s what ‘make it here’ means … giving everybody the opportunity to make their family, their community, and make their business,” Anthony said. There are so many stories of people of Latin descent contributing in so many ways, he added.

Thea Montañez leads the governor’s kids cabinet, and said that 20% of the state’s population is Latino or Hispanic – the highest number in New England. About half of Connecticut’s Hispanics are Puerto Rican, as she is. Her father was among those who migrated from Puerto Rico after World War II to work in the tobacco fields.

“It’s our spirit of generosity and our unwavering commitment to caring for one another and the places we call home that are of the many reasons why I am so proud to be a Latina,” Montañez said. “We learned that we are to do what we can, with what we have, where we are,” and she said she believes that’s why so many have gone into public service. When she began working for the City of Hartford, and later for the governor, her father said it was something he never could have imagined.

Lamont said El Santo, located at 977 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center, is an amazing place. “It took a lot of grit coming right out of COVID to get this thing going,” he said of the restaurant that celebrated its second anniversary in May, adding that he also admires the “spunk” evident in the neon signage such as one that reads, “Tequila may not have all the answers but it’s worth a shot,” he said.

“I love what you’re doing here, and I’m really proud that you call Connecticut home,” the governor added. We in Connecticut treasure the fact that Hispanic Americans call Connecticut home, and thanked those present, including his commissioners, for making the state go and hopes to continue to make them feel like it’s a place for them.

Other commemorations of National Hispanic Heritage Month are taking place throughout the state, as well as in West Hartford. On Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz was scheduled to visit Coracora, located on Shield Street in the Elmwood section of West Hartford. Coracora is a second-generation family-owned Peruvian restaurant, that has been honored with multiple state, regional, and national awards, including being named a James Beard Award finalist and semifinalist. They are in the process of building out a new flagship location in Blue Back Square.

At Tuesday night’s West Hartford Town Council meeting, Mayor Shari Cantor read a proclamation celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, asking the community to reflect on the contributions that Hispanics have made and will make in the future, the profound impact on the country, and the importance of celebrating cultures and tradition.

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