COLUMBUS, Ind. — Su Casa’s Diversity Gala celebrated its in-person return to The Commons in a big way Friday after being forced into streaming events in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
The gathering attracted a sold-out crowd of 352 people, according to organizers.
And organizers far exceeded an $80,000 goal by raising an estimated $100,000, said Whitney Amuchastegui, Su Casa executive director.
“We are just so thrilled,” Amuchastegui said. “We have experienced such incredible support. It’s such a special thing to be able to celebrate the diversity of this community, and we are so pleased that we have the opportunity to do so.”
Manhattan Band, an Ohio-based group playing everything from mainstream pop to Latin tunes, provided music. Local disc jockey Carlos Ramirez also provided tunes. Cummins executive hospitality team provided a mix of Latino and East Asian foods.
Su Casa is a non-profit organization in Columbus, serving as a cross-cultural bridge between Bartholomew County’s Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations. Celebrating and educating the community about the culture represents a portion of the organization’s mission.
This year’s event was different in that represented a team effort among a mix of organizing organizations: Cummins Latino, Pride, and the East Asian Employee Resource Groups of Cummins.
Organizers have long stressed that Su Casa plays a key role it plays in helping Latino families in a myriad of ways when they arrive in Bartholomew County. They have emphasized that helping Latino families acclimate to Bartholomew County as smoothly as possible makes the whole community stronger.
Information: sucasaindiana.org
