This article was originally published in June 2022 and updated in May 2023. 

The 2022 Latino Cultural Festival at Ron Tonkin Field in June was a smashing success with about 8,000 people celebrating at the event organized by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

On Sunday, June 4, the 2023 Latino Cultural Festival will return to Ron Tonkin Field from 12 to 7 pm.

As a City and community, our appreciation of Latino culture and community members in Hillsboro continues all year.

About 25% of Hillsboro residents — 1 in 4 — are part of the broad Latino community with family connections to Mexico, Guatemala, and beyond.

Historically, Latino community members have had to overcome discrimination and barriers to succeed in our area and around the state.

The City of Hillsboro is committed to supporting the success of Latino community members and businesses. We are committed to removing barriers, eliminating discrimination, and building relationships and partnerships.

We understand our commitment is measured as much by what we do as it is by what we say.

Calle Diez: 10^th Avenue Visioning Project

This cultural hub for our Latino community is the focus of the City’s ongoing engagement directly with neighbors around the Downtown corridor. This includes outreach at M&M Marketplace, Shute Park Library, and other places where Latino voices are most present to help shape the future of Calle Diez, or 10^th Avenue.

M&M Marketplace

The El Sol weekly festivals at M&M Marketplace are part of the City’s partnership with M&M. We recognize the need to support Latino community members where they gather — not where we have a City facility — and M&M Marketplace is part of our Cultural Arts District.

Communication & Engagement

Bilingual Communications Specialist Beatriz Medel and other staff are having dozens of conversations with Spanish-speaking community members to identify communication wants and needs — and to elevate the City’s outreach and communication in Spanish.

Nueva Esperanza

This affordable housing project is a partnership with Bienestar and Housing Development Center to provide 150 new homes across from 53^rd Avenue Community Park. Many features of Nueva Esperanza were designed with input from Latino, Somali, and other community members — such as the number of larger units and a central playground for the three neighborhoods, or colonias.

Empowering Latino community members and businesses is part of our City’s values. We are not always perfect in this work, but we are committed to succeeding together.