by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com
Even before Nosotros and Claremont Heritage’s inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month celebration wrapped in 2024, organizers were envisioning this year’s model. And, on Thursday, September 25, that vision becomes reality as they combine to host “Tale of Two Cities,” from 5 to 10 p.m. at Padua Hills Theatre, 4467 Padua Ave., Claremont.
Advance tickets for the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration and Claremont Heritage fundraiser are $50-$60 at claremontheritage.org/hispanic.html through Monday, September 22, or $80 at the door.
“Tale of Two Cities” references Claremont’s sister city connection with Guanajuato, Mexico, which began in 1961 following multiple trips to Mexico by the Garner family.
“I think if anything, just to make reference that here are two cities that share that kind of affinity for culture and art and history is what I think maybe what Bess Garner, probably why she was so adamant about [it], because there’s archival footage of them down in Mexico and recording people dancing and doing all these things,” said Nosotros President Joel M. Gonzalez. “So, I think it was really important for her to kind of bring that here.”
Nosotros President Joel M. Gonzalez and Claremont Heritage Executive Director David Shearer at the inaugural joint Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in 2024. Photo/courtesy of Claremont Heritage
The connection parallels the event’s observance of Hispanic Heritage Month and Latino culture. “My goal for Nosotros and with my personal goal when I presented it to” Claremont Heritage Executive Director David Shearer “was I really want … people to just understand each other and leave understanding that — again it’s Hispanic Heritage Month — the rich Mexican-American, Latino culture that has existed here, and it’s going to continue to exist here,” Gonzalez said.
Indeed, the links that bind Claremont and Guanajuato are still alive today. Courier publisher Peter Weinberger was part of a sister city trip to Guanajuato in his youth. Claremont boasts a cul-de-sac called Guanajuato Drive that features aplaque highlighting the sister city connection.
“Tale of Two Cities” will include live music and dance performances, short films, an art exhibit featuring local and regional artists such as Richard Martinez, who studied at the University of Guanajuato on the first sister city scholarship offered by the school. Also expected are delegates from Claremont and Guanajuato.
Actor and activist Nicholas Gonzalez — whose credits include “Resurrection Blvd.,” “Anacondas,” and “The Good Doctor” — will serve as grand marshal. “It’s a true honor to serve as Claremont’s first Grand Marshal for its second annual celebration of the rich Mexican-American and Latin culture and history that has shaped the community,” Nicholas Gonzalez wrote in a statement. “It is deeply meaningful to me, and I’m proud to be part of this effort to honor and uplift our heritage and culture.”
In the months leading up to this year’s event, Gonzalez reached out to Guanajuato officials in an effort to rekindle the partnership.
“In reaching out multiple times to the consulate and myself reaching out to Guanajuato, I was finally able to make contact with them barely two weeks ago,” Gonzalez said. It turned out that officials from Guanajuato had the same idea, because on May 5 they sent a letter to Claremont asking to rekindle the relationship.
The letters from both parties passed “like two ships crossing in the night,” Gonzalez said.
After receiving the letter from Guanajuato, Mayor Corey Calaycay — then unaware Gonzalez was pursuing the same goal — asked Alex Gomez Aguilar, a Pitzer College student he’s hosting in his home, to help explore reinstating the relationship. As it turned out, Aguilar is from Guanajuato.
Now plans are in motion for the Claremont City Council to host a sister city rededication ceremony featuring Guanajuato delegates during its meeting next Tuesday, September 23.
Early bird tickets for “Tale of Two Cities” are $60, $50 for Heritage members, at claremontheritage.bigcartel.comthrough Monday, September 22, or $80 at the door. The event runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, September 25, at Padua Hills Theatre, 4467 Padua Ave., Claremont. Proceeds support Claremont Heritage programming and events. More info is at claremontheritage.org/hispanic.html.