Staff photo / R. Michael Semple
With flags of Hispanic countries displayed next to the U.S. flag, keynote speaker David Labra of Youngstown, board vice president of Hola Fest Youngstown and Thrive Mahoning Valley, addresses attendees Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Month at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.
YOUNGSTOWN — Webster’s Dictionary defines “heritage” as “something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor,” but for David Labra, the meaning is more multilayered.
“It’s important that we recognize our ancestors and their legacy, but more important that we carry the torch forward for the next generation of our community,” Labra, a community activist, musician and organizer, said.
That was the main theme that anchored the keynote speech he delivered for the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Month opening ceremony Thursday afternoon at the main branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County on Wick Avenue near downtown.
Youngstown State University, in partnership with the PLYMC, hosted the one-hour program, which also was part of YSU’s Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee, Student Affairs and Sokolov Honors College programs.
Hispanic Heritage Month is observed nationally Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and honors the cultures, histories and contributions of Americans with ancestry from Central and South America, the Caribbean, Spain and Mexico. Numerous local events include a film night, art exhibits, crafts and lectures.
In addition, Labra is a founding member of The Labra Brothers band and vice president on the boards of the Youngstown Hola Fest and Thrive Mahoning Valley.
In his talk, Labra recalled his father, Armando Labra of Canfield, contributed greatly to this country via working as a bricklayer on a variety of infrastructure projects in Texas before the elder Labra worked many years at the General Motors assembly plant in Lordstown.
“What stands out most about my dad — and the Latino community — is the pride they carry,” Labra said, adding that his father became a U.S. citizen courtesy of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
The landmark law aimed at targeting illegal immigration imposed employer sanctions for hiring undocumented workers, increased border security and enforcement and provided legalization to some undocumented immigrants and special provisions for farmworkers.
Calling them “the foundation of this country,” Labra said that immigrants — including the majority who live in the Mahoning Valley — display courage, proud sacrifice and a deep love for family and community.
It’s vital that people honor their legacy, but more important is what people do with it, Labra said.
“When we open our hearts to the beauty around us, it never disappoints,” he added.
Labra urged his audience and others to use their hands, hearts and voices to speak for and make an impact in their communities, help the next generation with love and be the change they wish to see in their families, communities and cultures.
In July 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau released data that stated an estimated 65.2 million Hispanic people live in the U.S., which also represents increases in nearly every section of the country, Isabella Martinez, a student in YSU’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, noted.
The university has celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month for more than 25 years.
This semester, YSU has more than 630 students of Spanish heritage, up from 500 a few years ago, Joy Polkabla Byers, the university’s intern vice president of student affairs and dean of students, said.
It’s important for people to take time to learn about others’ cultures and, by extension, discover more about their own families and themselves, she added.
“I feel very lucky to experience the culture of the world here in Youngstown,” state Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, said in her remarks.
McNally, who has Irish lineage, added she appreciates that the Mahoning Valley is a diverse and inclusive community that celebrates different cultures.
In addition to offering an array of programs and services to the Hispanic and multicultural communities, the Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana also works to instill greater pride and a sense of belonging while giving back to the communities it serves, Angelica Diaz, OCCHA’s executive director, said.
Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of Thursday’s gathering was a flag ceremony in which 22 Hispanic countries were represented. YSU students and others carried flags one at a time that were displayed next to one another, providing a colorful tapestry of culture and diversity.