CLEVELAND — Spray painting a 12-foot tall mural isn’t just a side project for Reinaldo Contreras, it’s a symbol of his pride.
Contreras was born and raised in Lorain, but still carries close ties to his heritage as the grandson of Mexican immigrants. Now, he’s taking the culture and history that’s been passed down through generations and showcasing it on the walls of the Mexican Mutual Society.
“I want to spread the word of how Mexicans were important to this country years and years ago, and we still are,” Contreras said.
The social club has remained in the same building on South Lorain for nearly a century and has become a staple in the community.
Contreras said reimagining the historic space took around two weeks, perfecting each detail in an effort to raise cultural awareness.
“This is the Aztec calendar. So this calendar dates back ages for our ancestry,” he said. “And, you know, it’s just a symbol in the culture that people really look towards for like guidance and comfortability.”
Joel Arrendondo, president of the Mexican Mutual Society, said the painting depicts Mexican symbols but is meant to unite all Latin American cultures.
“The whole concept of it makes people proud to know that their heritage,” Arredondo said. “If you notice the bright, vibrant colors, those are very prominent in many of the other countries and cultures of South and Central America.”
Conteras said his work preserves a mural painted by a group of students 40 years ago at Mexican Mutual Society. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)
The society is officially unveiling the mural at its end-of-Hispanic-Heritage-Month celebration on Oct. 18, Arredondo said.
“We’re going to have a dinner. We’re going to have speakers. I’m going to have Renaldo talk to us about his mural, what inspired him, and all the other details that come with it,” he said.
This year, Contreras said, he hoped his passion inspired others to reflect and reconnect with their past.
“We got to take advantage of these times right now,” Contreras said. “It’s kind of hard with everything that’s going on in the world. But I think right now we should be praising our culture the most.”
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story included the wrong spelling for the name of Reinaldo Contreras. This misspelling has been corrected. (Sept. 22, 2025)