Convención Hispana 2024

This year’s community-wide convention, will be the 40th Anniversary of Convención. It is a FREE EVENT for the entire Hispanic Community of Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, and all the organizations and staff who serve or have an interest the Hispanic Community.

Event Date
Saturday September 21, 2024

Time
9:30 AM to 4 PM

Location
Max Hayes High School
2211 W. 65th Street (by Clark Av)
Cleveland, OH 44102

Admission
FREE of charge

Download the Convención Program »

Activities at Convención Hispana 2024 include:

• Keynote speaker: Rita Moreno - Academy and EGOT Award winning actress, singer, dancer (West Side Story, Broadway shows, films)
• Free breakfast and lunch 
• Health screenings 
• Multiple resource exhibit tables  
• Workshops (e.g. immigration, financial literacy)
• Naturalization Ceremony for new citizens
• Children’s arts and crafts  
• Essay contest for college scholarship prizes
• Door prizes & raffles (e.g. television, iPad, airline voucher credits)  
• Music, music, music
• Much more!

We will also pass resolutions to address major needs in the community, such as for economic and workforce development, education, health and behavioral health, immigration, faith based, empowerment and policy. 

• What do you think are major needs?

For feedback and more information contact Celie Gandarilla, Coordinator for Convenciόn Hispana 2024, (216) 307-8623, HispanicRoundtable.info@gmail.com 

What is Convención Hispana?

Typically Convención Hispana attracts some 3000 people. At the convention also numerous community services are provided. A typical Convención Hispana will have a resource fair, job fair, health fair, health screenings including, among other things, on hypertension and diabetes, workshops on economic development and other issues, essay contest, business pitch, and community and business booths, among other things. The keynote address will be made by Rita Moreno, of West Side Story fame, and one of the few in history to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and tony “EGOT”. Please see Cleveland Foundation blog post: Convención Hispana 2019.

Notable agenda items which have become a reality over the years include:

• The Hispanic scholarship fund, now known as Esperanza
• The Hispanic Business Association
• The Hispanic Contractors Association
• The Mercado project, now known as CentroVilla25
• The Hispanic Senior Center
• The Hispanic Domestic Violence Center
• Bilingual Ballot In Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties
• Significant keynote speakers over the years have included:
• Former Secretary of HUD and former presidential candidate Julian Castro
• Former Secretary of HUD Henry Cisneros
• Rita Moreno of West Side Story who he won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner (EGOT) and
• Grammy winner and world-renowned singer and guitarist Jose Feliciano.

Other examples of initiatives and issues on which the Hispanic Roundtable has led includes:

• School levies
• Education reform
• Economic development and inclusion
• Immigration reform
• Digital divide
• Health disparities
• Voter registration
• Nonpartisan candidates and issues nights
• Matchmaking Mentoring between Cleveland CEOs and young Latinos
• Puerto Rican migration to Cleveland post-hurricane Maria programming
• Leadership on the transition in Cuyahoga County government from county commissioners to the county executives and council form of government, among other involvement.
• Coordinated the vaccination of more than 3000 Hispanics during covid in various community venues

Read More About the Resolutions Passed at the 2019 Convención »