Through the Lens of MundoHispanico: Georgia’s Hispanic Community

Opens at the Atlanta History Center September 16, 2009

Over the past thirty years, the Hispanic community in Atlanta has grown nearly 1,000%, making it one of the fastest growing Hispanic population centers in the country. Georgia’s Hispanic community is diverse, yet united by a shared language; it is comprised of people from dissimilar communities in more than twenty countries in Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, including descendents of natives, Creoles, slaves, and emigrants.

As Georgia’s Hispanic community grows, so does its influence. The vibrancy and richness of life in Georgia is increasingly due to the contributions of the Hispanic community. Over the past thirty years, the Atlanta-based newspaper, MundoHispanico, has served as the voice of Georgia’s Spanish-speaking community, witnessing and recording its growth and its contributions in Georgia, including those of leaders in business, politics, and the arts.

Opening September 16, at the start of our nation’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, the Atlanta History Center presents the exhibition, Through the Lens of MundoHispanico: Georgia’s Hispanic Community. Presented in both English and Spanish, this new exhibition celebrates the 30th anniversary of MundoHispanico and its important role as a news outlet, while revealing stories and images from the newspaper’s archives that explore the growth, diversity, success, and growing influence of Georgia’s Hispanic community.

Similar to a newspaper, Through the Lens of MundoHispanico is organized by thematic sections: news, business, community, and arts and entertainment. MundoHispanico’s former publisher, Lino H. Dominguez, curates this exhibition showcasing more than 80 framed images and original stories from the paper. The stories and images selected characterize the challenges and achievements of Hispanics, including recent immigrants adapting to new ways of life, leaders in business, and confident pioneers breaking barriers to become leading Hispanics in their fields. In celebrating the importance of family and tradition, the exhibition also captures the dynamic cultural life that distinguishes the Hispanic community. Through this exhibition, visitors will gain a better understanding of the history, progress, and contributions of the Hispanic community in Georgia.

On display through January 3, 2010, Through the Lens of MundoHispanico is made possible by Bank of America, with support from The Atlanta Opera, AutoTrader Latino, CNN, Cox Enterprises, and Instituto de Mexico. Media support is provided by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, La Raza 102.3 FM, and Telemundo 47, with community support from the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Children’s Bilingual Theatre, Lanza Group, Latin American Association, and the Consulate General of Mexico.

Through the Lens of MundoHispanico is included in the cost of general Atlanta History Center admission. Additionally, as a proud participant in Bank of America’s national Museums on Us program, Bank of America customers receive free admission to the Atlanta History Center during the first full weekend of every month with their valid Bank of America ATM, debit, or credit card, along with a photo ID. Parking is free or visitors may use direct MARTA access. For more information, please call 404.814.4000 or visit www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

In conjunction with this exhibition, the Atlanta History Center also presents special family programs:

Dancing Through Time: Salsa
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Noon – 5:00 pm

Who invented salsa? Cuba is the country of origin, but Salsa is a mix of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances. Dancing through Time: Salsa explores this wildly popular genre through presentations, a live performance, and children workshops. Please note: workshops are limited, space is available on a first-come basis.

Free to members; included in the cost of general admission for nonmembers. For more information , please contact 404.814.4000 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

Funding for this program is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of Fulton County Arts Council.

Day of the Dead – Dia de Muertos
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Noon – 5:00 pm

Enjoy a day of cultural exploration at the Atlanta History Center! Smiling faces, brilliant colors, elaborately decorated altars, storytelling, and authentic Mexican food and music are just a number of things that visitors see during the annual program, Day of the Dead, or Dia de Muertos.

This ancient festival is rooted in Mexican heritage and serves as a way for families to remember their deceased loved ones and the continuity of life.

This outdoor program is free. For more information, please contact 404.814.4000 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

Funding for this program is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of Fulton County Arts Council, the Instituto de Mexico, and the Mexican Consulate.

Three Kings Day – Dia de Reyes
Sunday, January 3, 2010
1:00 – 5:00 pm

The holiday festivities do not end in December! In January, the Atlanta History Center celebrates the Hispanic holiday Three Kings Day, or Dia de Reyes. This Latin tradition is celebrated through storytelling, music, live performances, complimentary food, and activities designed for the entire family.

This outdoor program is free. For more information, please contact 404.814.4000 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

Funding for this program is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of Fulton County Arts Council, the Instituto de Mexico, and the Mexican Consulate.

ABOUT THE ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER:

Founded in 1926, the Atlanta History Center includes four signature exhibitions and the Howell and Nicholson exhibition galleries in the Atlanta History Museum; two historic houses, the 1928 Swan House and the 1860 Tullie Smith Farm; the new Fentener van Vlissingen Family Wing housing the Centennial Olympic Games Museum and the Goldstein exhibition gallery; the Kenan Research Center; the Grand Overlook special event space; and thirty-three acres of gardens. In addition, the History Center operates the Margaret Mitchell House. Located in Midtown Atlanta, the two-acre campus features the apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Gone With the Wind, two exhibition galleries, and a museum shop.

The Atlanta History Center is open Monday-Saturday, 10 am-5:30 pm and Sunday, Noon-5:30 pm. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for students 13+ and seniors 65+, $10 for youths 4-12, and free for children 3 and under. Nestled in the heart of the Buckhead district, the Atlanta History Center is located at 130 West Paces Ferry Road, N.W., 2.6 miles east of I-75. For more information, call 404.814.4000 or visit www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

ABOUT MUNDOHISPANICO:
The newspaper traces its origins to the Latin American Association. Founded in 1976, the association saw a growing need for publicizing its services to the community. By 1977, this need prompted the publication of a newsletter, Gaceta Latina. In October 1979, the association changed the publication to a tabloid format to better report the community’s news and the Gaceta Latina newspaper was born. In 1981, the newspaper changed its name to MundoHispanico to better reflect the cultural heritage of the people it serves and to emphasize its reporting function. The following year Lino H. Dominguez, former Executive Director of the LAA bought the publication. MundoHispanico was acquired by Cox Enterprises in 2004 and is currently a business unit of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Today, the publication has a weekly circulation of 71,500 in Metro Atlanta. More information is available at www.MundoHispanico.com.
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