Cultura
The Latino Center of the Midlands is a place where being Latino, Latina, or Latinx is celebrated. We’re a community center where culture thrives; a place where the door is open to everyone. Our community comes from many different countries and we created this page to celebrate that diversity.
Cultural Spotlight
I was born and raised in South Omaha, and my family is from San José Iturbide, Guanajuato, and Guadalajara, Jalisco. Community has always been at the center of who we are grounded in the mindset of “echarle ganas” — giving your all all and pushing forward. That drive reflects what I love most about being Mexican: our strength and resilience, even in the face of hardship. Something unique about Mexico is that many people don’t realize just how diverse our culture is! Mexican culture has been shaped by Indigenous, African, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Spanish influences. Food like tacos al pastor, a popular dish in Puebla created by Lebanese immigrants, demonstrates the beauty of weaving these global influences into the heart of our everyday life.
Jacqueline Gomez
Programming Assistant
Sayings and Slang
Aperrar – Persevere (Chile)
To move forward with a plan of action even in the face of difficulties.
Estril – Rip-off (Nicaragua)
This phrase is used to describe situations where one has overpaid for a small quantity of something.
Muela – Daydreamer (Honduras)
Used to describe someone who often gets lost in their thoughts.
Flasheando – Flash (Spanglish)
Most of our staff are bilingual, and at our office, you’ll hear a variety of Spanglish words. The correct word in Spanish is destello.
- Did you see that bright flash of light last night? I think it was aliens!
- ¿Viste ese destello brillante anoche? ¡Creo que eran extraterrestres!
Trailblazer
Jovita Idar | Journalist
As a fearless Mexican-American journalist, activist, and suffragist, Jovita Idar devoted her life to justice and empowerment. Through her family’s newspaper, La Crónica, she amplified the voices of Mexican-Americans facing discrimination and helped spark collective action through the First Mexican Congress, which united Mexican communities against labor exploitation, segregation, violence, and inequality. And when the Mexican Revolution erupted, her compassion carried her across the border to serve with La Cruz Blanca, caring for the wounded with unwavering resolve. From standing up to the Texas Rangers to defending women’s rights, Jovita Idar’s boldness reminds us that change begins when we find the courage to speak out against oppression.
