Macon Magazine

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 | maconmagazine.com 49 & Girls Club of Central Georgia, she is all in when it comes to Hispanic Heritage Month. Since arriving in Macon in 2015, Abarca has been active in the 30-day celebrations and feels strongly that Hispanic Heritage Month gives the general public insight into the world of those hailing from Spanish-speaking nations. She gets especially excited to share more during that period with her American-born husband, friends, and family. "Listening to the music, enjoying the food, and learning the language are all potential takeaways for non-Hispanics. This is a month when we can share our points of pride and add a different perspective that helps a community thrive," Abarca said. "Being a part of both the Hispanic community and the Macon community has contributed to my identity. I love sharing the beauty of that combination with this place I call home." Hispanics are here to stay. Since 2010, the Hispanic population has grown exponentially according to Charise Stephens, director of the Macon-Bibb County Office of Small Business Affairs. And according to Stephens's community outreach manager, Elizabeth Almena, a first-generation American and Wesleyan College graduate whose parents hail from Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, four to five thousand Hispanics are now living and working in Macon. Stephens looked into data after being appointed to her position by Mayor Lester Miller in recent years. She commenced ensuring that Hispanic needs wouldn't go unnoticed by local government. "Elizabeth initially interned in this office but became an employee because I was intentional in choosing someone that was bilingual and that could close the gap. The world is so much bigger than one group. It's a melting pot," Stephens said. "If we learn about each other's way of life and struggles, we can work better together." Manifestations of Stephens's vision are happening. The free, public Macon Hispanic Fest that took place on Sept. 17 featured food trucks, live music, vendors, a kid zone, giveaways, and a performance by the familia Madrigal from Disney's movie Encanto. The consulates of Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Honduras also attended. In the future, the office intends to encourage more Hispanic entrepreneurs by providing resources and technical assistance in Spanish, according to Stephens. Almena said having a person like her in place makes a difference and makes her proud to be a part of the county's effort to make Hispanics matter more. "Our goal in this office is to make the Hispanic population feel more included and not alone. Hispanic Heritage Month is a starting point for expanding our [Hispanics'] presence. Just knowing that we're here and are available has the potential to bring this community together," Almena shared. The county's primary partner in presenting the festival was NotiVisión Georgia, a Warner Robins media company owned by 41-year-old Monica Pirela. Originally from Venezuela, Pirela is the CEO of the four-year-old Facebook- and Instagram- based digital journalism platform that serves as the link between local government and the Hispanic community. NotiVisión Georgia has seized on the opportunities this "BEING A PART OF BOTH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND THE MACON COMMUNITY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MY IDENTITY. I LOVE SHARING THE BEAUTY OF THAT COMBINATION WITH THIS PLACE I CALL HOME." — NANCY ABARCA

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