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But after many inquiries from my wife, it eventually made me aware that what she had noticed
was indeed real and very obvious to me that it wasn’t something to ignore and not address
somehow, and I made the decision to analyze the situation further and research the reason for
such social segregation in the community. As I got more involved and more accepted in the
different social circles, it became very obvious to that what my beloved wife had notice was truly
a social issue based on the social fragmentation of our community across the 21 countries that
make up the Latino community in this country and state that socialized among like minded
country mates family and friends while leaving
out others as is customary with humans of all
spheres.
I became aware that the idea of the cookout was the right
one in 2001, when I decided that I wasn’t going to
organized the event any longer, and I was flooded with
calls and emails from members of the community
requesting that the cookout must go on, because they had
become accustomed to it and couldn’t be cancel and taken
away from them. After so much pressure, my friend Betty Bernal convinced my beloved wife
that if I wasn’t going to organize it, she was going to partner with and organize it and I agree to
allow them to organize it during the first week in August. Even with the delayed scheduling, the
community responded and thanks to the community insistence and Betty’s determination, the
Sunset Summer Cookout has become an annual tradition.
During the 2002 election season, there were so many political candidates present with their
campaign entourage and media material, that many individuals baptized the event with title “The
Latino Political Convention”, which still cause the biggest attendance turnout during the
electoral years. This tradition continuo during the 2010 event, which saw a record breaking
attendance of thirty five candidates covering the complete range of elected positions across the
state of Rhode Island.
My biggest satisfaction co founding the Sunset Summer Cookout with my Wife Eva, has been
the opportunity to achieve our mission to provide a forum to integrate our community and
allowed it to socialize without the social while celebrating friendship and human relation in the
harmony of our residence regardless of socio economic status, and providing accessibility to
Latinos from all walks of to life changing opportunities through the networking with many
individuals whom they would had never met otherwise and a forum for social adversaries to
In conclusion, the biggest value added for the success of the Sunset Summer Cookout, are the
thousand of Rhode Islanders of all walks of life, friends and family members from New York
and Massachusetts, that have honored us with their presence for the last 11 years. You are the
reason for the success of the event and place it into a classic tradition across the state, and Eva
and I are forever grateful for your support and commitment to our event.
Lastly I must conclude paying my deepest respect to many supporters and friends that became
part of the cookout network, who are no longer with us such as Robert “Bob” Graziano (2011),
Joseph “Joe” Fernandez (2010), Raymond (Tailor) Ogando (2009), Tony Marcella (2008). May
God have them in his glory and may they rest in peace as we shall never forget them.
I closing I look forward to you joining us Friday June 24, 2001 5:00 – 11:00 PM 11th Annual
Sunset Summer Cookout: A Rhode Island Moment of Inclusive Harmony & Diversity.
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