ADRIAN — As part of Adrian’s Bicentennial celebration, a community-led cultural initiative hosted through LLEAD Adrian, titled Raíces de Nuestra Comunidad (Roots of Our Community), will honor the 200-year legacy of Hispanic and Latinx residents in Adrian and Lenawee County. Through storytelling, art, and cultural education, the event aims to uplift immigrant voices and foster a stronger sense of unity within Adrian.  

The bicentennial event will highlight the lasting impact of Hispanic and Latinx communities in shaping the area’s agricultural economy, perseverance through societal racism and injustices, civic leadership, religious leadership, public service, triumphs for workers rights, and Adrian’s diverse cultural landscape. It will also work to honor individuals dedicated to the betterment of those in need. 

As part of the initiative, community members will be invited to attend free, drop-in cultural classes that provide opportunities to explore Hispanic and Latinx traditions. These classes may include heritage-based arts, storytelling, culinary experiences, language enrichment, and more. Classes will be open to all ages, and the public is encouraged to participate regardless of background. 

Event times, dates, and locations will be announced soon on the Adrian Bicentennial website. 

In addition to classes, Raíces de Nuestra Comunidad will feature two major storytelling projects:

• Art & Memory Reconstruction: Local volunteers — including Adrian High School and Adrian College art students — will help recreate symbolic items and photographs that families may have lost during migration. Artworks may be displayed publicly with consent, or kept private if families choose. All privacy decisions will be respected.
• Oral History and Story Preservation: Families will be invited to write or record personal and family stories with the help of volunteers such as writers, journalists, bilingual individuals, students, and compassionate community members.  Stories may be archived — only with permission — in the Adrian District Library’s historical collection. Families may also opt to preserve their stories in print without digital upload. 

The goals of Raíces de Nuestra Comunidad are to:

• Celebrate the 200 years of Hispanic and Latinx contributions in Adrian and Lenawee County.
• Educate the public on the often-overlooked history of local Latinx communities and community leaders.
• Help younger generations — especially first- and second-generation children of immigrants — connect with their culture and language.
• Welcome residents from neighboring counties and express gratitude for their role in building a diverse, vibrant, and greater city of Adrian.
• Foster unity within the Hispanic and Latinx community as well as with Adrian’s non-Hispanic and non-Latinx populations.

Organizers are calling on writers, bilingual speakers, students, artists, and caring neighbors to volunteer for this initiative. Anyone interested in teaching, assisting families, or helping with story or art collection is encouraged to reach out. 

For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, contact LLEAD Adrian at latinoleadadrian@gmail.com.

As Adrian marks two centuries of growth and change, Raíces de Nuestra Comunidad stands as a celebration of identity, memory, and the strength of a united community.

Click here to read this story in Spanish.
De un clic aquí para leer la historia en español.