By Rogelio Alvarez
East Los Angeles College will host a Cinco de Mayo celebration, which includes a ribbon- cutting ceremony, food-tasting and a mariachi opera performance titled, “El Bracero,” next Thursday.
“We want the entire Monterey Park and East LA community to get to enjoy and see what the new East LA College looks like,” ELAC Public Information Officer Alejandro Guzman said.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will showcase the new Student Success and Retention Center, Campus Student Bookstore and the Campus Quad. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the campus quad located between the E3 and E7 buildings.
“It’s an opportunity for us to talk about and celebrate the opening of these buildings,” ELAC president Marvin Martinez said.
ELAC administrators, the Associated Student Union and faculty have been planning the ceremony since February.
“It’s definitely a lot of coordinating, but it’s worth it because then what you get on May 5 is an event that reflects everyone’s efforts,” Guzman said.
Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees members, local elected officials from the surrounding cities, California State Assembly leaders, local residents, students and faculty have all been invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The keynote speaker will be Hilda Solis, LA County Supervisor,” Martinez said.
Solis is part of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Martinez will give a speech on the development of the new buildings. Special guest attendees will
be given a tour of ELAC’s new facilities.
“We’re just trying to invite everybody. We want this to be an all-inclusive type of event,” Guzman
said.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony ends at noon,
ELAC’s ASU will host “Taste of ELAC,” a food-tasting event at the campus quad.
“We (will) open up the quad and all the student organizations, about 30 of them, will have food booths. They’ll be selling food and drinks,” Martinez said.
People can sample food and drinks from each club’s booth.
Wristbands will be sold at the event and will grant attendees the opportunity to sample as much food and drink as they want.
“It’s an opportunity for students to make money for their organizations,” Martinez said.
As part of the day-long Cinco de Mayo celebration, “El Bracero” will have a free matinee performance at 3 p.m. at the Ingalls Auditorium for students. The ELAC foundation will also host an auction at 5:30 p.m. outside the Ingalls Auditorium. Proceeds from the event will go toward ELAC scholarships.
Before the evening performance of “El Bracero,” the ELAC Foundation will host a “Taste of East LA.”
“The foundation has gone out to businesses in the community for sponsorships and also local restaurants to see if they want to have booths and do food-tasting. We’re trying to get confirmation on the food, the wine and tequila tasting as well,” Guzman said.
The East Los Angeles College Scholarship Foundation will also host a 7:30 p.m. performance of “El Bracero.” Tickets can be purchased for $15 for a seat in the back section, $20 for center section seating or $25 for front section seating online at elac-foundation.org.