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Editor’s Note: In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the Tyler Morning Telegraph news staff joined together on this piece to recognize Tyler’s Hispanic community.

The Hispanic community of Tyler is growing – and thriving.

From introducing their native foods to Tylerites to passing down generations-long traditions in their own families, this portion of Tyler’s population takes immense pride in maintaining their roots.

Celebrating culture

Tucked in the back of Mosaic Way in Tyler sits Lemon Yellow Latin Bites. Co-owner Tahidi Pérez greets customers in Spanish or English. She enjoys being able to talk to other Latinos, especially those from Venezuela, where she is from.

“For the Venezuelans, they are transported to their country,” Pérez said of patrons who enjoy classics from the eatery. “That’s very gratifying for me.”

For Pérez, maintaining her cultural roots includes sharing her food, culture and language with others and celebrating it on a daily basis in her life.

In her home, she speaks in Spanish to her children and shows them chucherias, or snacks, from Venezuela.

Pérez came to Tyler eight years ago with her husband after he got a job offer. She came from Venezuela without knowing anyone. She started going to ESL classes and began taking her food to events when they celebrated holidays. Slowly, she began to build clients and later on was able to open Lemon Yellow, co-owned with Puerto Rican native Cris Berlingeri.

“I wanted to show the world a small piece of Venezuela, what it is and the food,” Pérez said.

Some of the classics offered at the bakery include arepas, which Pérez said represent Venezuela internationally. They are made out of corn dough and the fillings can be customized to a customer’s liking. Cachapas are like a pancake but made from tender corn which comes with queso de mano (venezuelan cheese). Pérez loves them because they transport her to her grandmother’s cachapas.

“She made the best cachapas in the world,” Pérez said.

Another favorite dish of Pérez’s are pastelitos andinos because they represent where she grew up in San Cristóbal, Táchira. The pastelitos can be filled with meat or guava and cheese.

“For me, gastronomy is a piece of what I miss from Venezuela,” Pérez said. “The people, the parties, the events.”

Some of the other foods you can find on display at Lemon Yellow Latin Bites are quesitos, pastelitos de guava, tres leches, flan, pan sobao, which are Puerto Rican dishes.

“That’s what ignites me,” said Berlingeri. “When I’m there and I see a person traveling from one of these East Texas towns or even Tyler and they find something that transports them to home – I love it. It’s so worth it.”

Berlingeri recalls bringing some quesitos for Pérez’s mother to try and she loved them. She had a home bakery and would sometimes order food from Pérez. Soon enough, the duo decided to start a business together.

“We just spent a lot of time in the kitchen to be able to bring in not only other Puerto Ricans that are here into that or other Hispanics, but bringing in East Texans and introducing them to our cultures,” Berlingeri said. “For them to know that Hispanic foods are not only tacos and chips [but there is] so much more to that, like South America, the Caribbean.”

‘A place I feel like I belong’

Berlingeri came to the U.S. from Puerto Rico for work. She moved to Galveston and later to Tyler. She has been in Tyler for seven years. She had trouble adjusting at first but started going to Grace Church and getting involved. Aside from co-owning Lemon Yellow, she is a dermatologist and is passionate about helping people with health. She also has a podcast where she shares health advice in Spanish and English.

“Tyler has ended up to be an amazing, beautiful place,” Berlingeri said. “It’s very welcoming of different cultures. I have really found a place that I feel like I belong.”

Chile native and Tyler resident Nury Burnett finds ways to stay connected to her roots and share her culture with others.

Burnett is part of a group of Latina women that created the Andina Fest in 2022 as a way to share their culture. The group includes women from Peru, Argentina, Venezuela and Chile. This year’s celebration included Batacuda, Brazilian drums, food from El Salvador, such as pupusas, and music from various Latin American countries.

Burnett was ecstatic to see how many East Texans – who were not Latinos – showed up to the inaugural and second annual festivals.

“At first, it was just us, who liked to eat, dance and sing – and there was no space here [for us],” Burnett said. But now, she said she feels accepted by the Tyler community and can feel its support.

Burnett mentioned the growth of restaurants like Lemon Yellow and Inka’s, a Peruvian restaurant, that are not only keeping Latinos connected to their roots but also inviting other cultures to learn.

“We can’t lose this moment. In 15 years, this Andina Fest had never happened. We made this space. We did it with a lot of love,” Burnett said.

Another founder of the Andina Fest is Lorena Rebagliati, who came to East Texas from Argentina 21 years ago. After her husband got a job in East Texas, they decided to come so they could raise their kids in a more peaceful environment. Rebagliati recently started a nonprofit to help immigrants called Monarca Initiative. Monarca Initiative is helping with the second annual Viva la Rosa Texas Rose Festival Hispanic float, in which multiple countries will be represented.

She enjoys seeing efforts like this that connect cultures together.

“It’s lovely seeing how people dance,” Rebagliati said, “how they feel the music of their countries in their hearts.”

Rebagliati has been making efforts to connect with people since she first came to Tyler, including getting involved with local nonprofit Literacy Council of Tyler. She ended up moving from taking classes to a volunteer for 15 years. She also volunteered at her kids’ school.

“My heart is always with the immigrant community,” Rebagliati said. “When I came, there was not much help. I had to learn by myself.”

Pastimes and traditions

Rebagliati makes a conscious effort to stay true to Argentine roots, and one way she does that is through maintaining traditions. For every cena, or dinner, they sit together as a family. They also do sobremesa, a talk after dinner. On Sundays, they eat an asado, which consists of grilled meat. Another tradition her husband does is mate, which is a tea passed around in a shared bowl. Her house also feels like a sanctuary and connects her to her roots.

Traditions and pastimes have been around since the beginning of time, cementing importance with their people through thousands of years. There are several such traditions that have been passed down generation after generation in Hispanic culture.

More than a sport

It’s been said that soccer is the heartbeat of Hispanic culture, pulsating with a rhythm that transcends borders and languages. The sport is a fiery expression of its shared history and dreams, a symphony of skill and camaraderie that weaves the Hispanic communities together.

Despite being miles away from their homelands, Latinos living in East Texas carry on these traditions with the same enthusiastic passion regardless of their geographical location.

Chris Avila, president of soccer club Tyler FC, explained soccer is more than just a sport in his culture.

“On the field, we tell our stories, celebrate our triumphs, and unite as one proud family,” he said. “Soccer isn’t just a game; it’s the embodiment of our spirit, connecting us to our roots and propelling us into the future with passion and pride.

“Here in East Texas, we’re nurturing soccer’s significance in Hispanic culture by focusing on youth development, inclusive community events, and cultural exchange. We’re providing professional training, and promoting understanding to create a vibrant soccer culture that unites our community.”

Avila said for someone deeply invested in soccer, it’s about preserving the sport as a pastime along with its sportsmanship and traditions to ensure its enduring presence in America.

“This involves passing down the love for the game through generations, maintaining the spirit of fair play, and upholding the rich cultural traditions that make soccer a global phenomenon,” he said. “By doing so, they help ensure that soccer remains a growing and integral part of American sporting culture.”

Marcos Rodriguez, co-owner of Elevate Soccer in Longview, echoed the cultural significance of the game and how it can be so easily shared with others.

“Soccer is not just a sport for the soccer community. It is a way of life that brings family, food, and fun together,” he said. “It is an avenue for players and fans to fuel a passion that has been passed down from generation to generation.”

Rodriguez said the soccer community and game is strong in East Texas and can be attributed to families continuing on the tradition in America, Texas, and East Texas.

“There is really good soccer in East Texas and it is only getting better due to the increased interest. The beautiful game is growing in East Texas and it is a direct reflection of the growth of soccer in the United States,” he said. “Soccer clubs, great coaches, and supportive parents are some of the many things making the push for soccer.”

Rodriguez said the traditions of the Hispanic culture transcends soccer as ‘just a sport’ and continues to be a way to unite a community.

“I have been involved in soccer for many years and there is one thing that transcends the stepovers, goals, and celebrations and that has to definitely be the people and their traditions,” he said. “I believe it is important for traditions to be passed on because they make us who we are and help unite families and friends.”

‘A celebration like no other’

Quinceañeras are an integral part of the Hispanic community where families celebrate their little girl making her passage into womanhood when she turns 15. It is a massive event, one that a family typically saves up for almost immediately following the birth of a daughter.

The celebration is centered on highlighting God, family, friends, music, food, and dance – a celebration families will tell you is just as important as Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Paulina Pedroza, community advocate and co-organizer of the Viva la Rosa project in Tyler, explained a quinceañera is an all day event which usually starts with mass.

“Many quinceañeras begin with a special mass, most of them locally, in the Catholic church, with her parents, godparents, and court of honor or damas and chambelanes, which usually consists of seven to 15 pairs of her friends and peers,” she said. “Once at church, the girl receives Holy Communion and commits herself to God and the Virgin Mary.”

“She might also bring a bouquet of flowers or other gifts to give to Virgin Mary. Before the Mass ends, the priest will bless the quinceañera,” Pedroza added. “Godparents will give her a Bible, a cross and a rosary.”

Pedroza said following mass, the party begins with music and dancing, some of which takes months of practice and starts with the father-daughter Waltz. The festive event also includes ceremonia de la ultima muñeca, gifts, dinner, cake, decorations, photos, and more.

A typical quinceañera can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $85,000 depending on the price of things such as the princess dress and band.

In East Texas, the tradition is just as strong and continues to carry on, Pedroza said.

“Generation after generation no matter if you are first, second or third immigrant generation here in town, at least one time, with one daughter, there will be a quinceañera,” she said. “The quinceañeras appeal to both new immigrants and those established for several generations but for different reasons.”

Pedroza explained, “for newer arrivals it’s about creating a display of affluence. For second or third generation Latino Americans, the quinceañera has become a way to reclaim traditions with which they have lost touch.”

Tyler has 12 quinceañera venues which celebrate, on average, 200 quinceañeras a year in the area. Many quinceañera photo shoots take place at the Tyler Rose Garden prior to the celebration.

“It’s a celebration like no other,” said Pedroza.

Prominent quinceañera photographer Cesar Angeles, owner of Cesar Angeles Photography, said getting photos is an important part of the quinceañera process – both before and during the celebration – and it’s a responsibility he takes very seriously.

“For me it is a privilege and an exciting responsibility as a photographer to be part of this tradition since these celebrations are so unique and full of emotion and culture,” he said.

He said his goal is to “immortalize each moment in the most authentic and beautiful way possible.”

“When I photograph quinceañeras, I make sure to pay attention to the details, from the costumes and decorations to the gestures and emotional expressions of each celebration,” Angeles said. “I seek to capture the essence of the celebration, from the elegance and joy of the Waltz dance to the seriousness and spirituality of the mass.”

Angeles explained being a quinceañera photographer is about much more than just taking a photo; it is about telling the story of tradition that continues to live on in Hispanic culture.

“… It involves more than taking photos, it is about capturing the essence and emotion, the culture and one of the most important days in the life of every quinceañera – it is a significant celebration and I am passionate about creating visual memories that last forever,” he said.

It is clear that Hispanic traditions transcend not only time, but also distance. The rich and vibrant culture is very much alive and well in East Texas and continues to benefit the community that surrounds it.

Population growth

In a state where Latinos make up the largest share of the population, the city of Tyler continues to see growth with residents from various Latin countries.

According to figures released in June by the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanic Texans made up 40.2% of the state’s population last summer. In Tyler, Hispanic or Latino residents comprise 21.7% of the city’s population of 101,286, according to July 2022 statistics from the U.S. Census.

“The Hispanic and Latino population are one of the fastest growing population groups,” said Nancy Rangel, president and CEO of the Tyler Hispanic Business Alliance. “They’re also contributing a lot to our community.”

These groups often have an entrepreneurial spirit and start businesses that help the economy, Rangel said. Not only are Hispanic entrepreneurs starting businesses, but they’re purchasing homes and vehicles and sending their children to local school districts.

In figures collected in January, 47.79% of Tyler ISD students are Hispanic. Students are from Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Peru and Spain, according to the district.

Based on the available data, approximately 50% of Chapel Hill ISD’s student population is Hispanic. Most students come from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Colombia or are born to Hispanic parents in the United States. Fifty-seven percent are currently enrolled in bilingual or ESL (English as a Second Language) programs to support Hispanic students’ language development and academic success. With most Hispanic students, it is crucial to continue providing effective language programs, such as bilingual and ESL, to support their academic success.

Understanding the demographics of the district’s student population is essential for creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

“Recognizing the diverse countries of origin within our Hispanic community allows us to celebrate their cultural heritage and foster a sense of belonging for all students,” Chapel Hill ISD said in a statement.

Manuel Reyes, senior business analyst at the Hibbs Institute for Business and Economic Research at UT Tyler, pays very close attention to statistics and demographic data within East Texas. He said the Latino population continues to increase.

“It’s growing. It has been growing for the past 10 years,” Reyes said in an interview with Morning Telegraph news partners CBS19.

The growth can also be seen in the rise of Hispanic-owned businesses, places for people to practice their faith in Spanish and festivals celebrating culture across East Texas.

“Hispanics are taking an important role in the economy,” Reyes said. “In the Texas economy, of course. And in this case … in Tyler, we have more and more people that are taking over important positions in companies, organizations, and government – everywhere.”

Leaders like Rangel take an active role to help community members thrive.

“It’s a community that, like so many others, wants to thrive,” Rangel said. “More and more of our community are engaged.”

Rangel reiterated this population is making a difference for all of Tyler.

“(These are) people that are contributing back to our economy (and) are making an impact … that are pumping in millions of dollars into our local economy,” Rangel said in an interview with CBS19.