MANCHESTER MARKS HISPANIC HERITAGE WITH OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF LATINO COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Community members gather at the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Day Event, celebrating culture and unveiling the first Latino mural in Manchester’s history — a vibrant tribute to Latin American heritage and identity. Foto: MLAC. 

Boceto Media · Interview to Dr. Cruz MLCA - Manchester CT

A community group focused on serving Manchester’s Latino population has recently formalized its operations and is gaining visibility with strong support from local organizations.

The Manchester Latino Affairs Council (MLAC) was founded in 2007 and reactivated in 2018 by Dr. María W. Cruz, an education professional and long-time Manchester resident. For years, the group carried out its work—organizing cultural events and outreach programs—informally. In June 2025, MLAC took the step of becoming a formal nonprofit under Connecticut state law.

“There comes a point when resources and referrals just aren’t enough,” Dr. Cruz told Boceto Media. “We need a community center with real structure, not to provide all services ourselves, but to connect people to them.”

She explained that uncertainty in federal policy toward community resource initiatives was a key reason for pursuing state-level nonprofit status. This designation enables MLAC to receive grants, secure donations, and maintain financial accountability through annual filings, things that became possible thanks to support from a hired attorney and accountant.

“At our core, we rely on donations, both community-wide and individual. We needed to get our financial records in order, and that meant hiring an accountant. It was a demanding process,” Dr. Cruz said.

MLAC now partners with six churches, local schools, town agencies, and institutions like Goodwin University and Hartford HealthCare. Participation in its events, including annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations and the Three Kings Day festival, has grown from roughly 150 attendees in 2019 to about 450 last year. New projects in development, such as a heart-health walk for Latina women, serve not just as cultural milestones but as meaningful community outreach.

Dr. Cruz envisions MLAC becoming a permanent resource hub for underserved and undocumented Latino residents. Plans are underway to establish a permanent center offering educational support, legal aid, and health and mental health services by referral.

“Everything we do is about building trust. Events are the starting point, but our vision is for enduring, systemic support,” she said. “Housing is the greatest need, followed by food, safety, and clothing. These issues affect many people, regardless of background. Even those born and raised here in the U.S., including Caucasians, face them. But they’re especially urgent for the Latino community.”

MLAC’s official nonprofit launch will coincide with Manchester’s first-ever Hispanic Flag Raising ceremony at town hall on September 15. The flag, featuring symbols from all 22 Latin American countries, marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month and symbolizes the community’s presence in the city.

Led by a five-member board—all of Latino heritage—and increasingly recognized in neighboring towns such as East Hartford and Windsor, MLAC aspires to be a model for Latino-led advocacy across Connecticut.

“This is about survival, dignity, and inclusion,” Dr. Cruz said. “We’re no longer responding to needs. We’re creating something that lasts.”