Project Celebrates Latino Legacy in Bethlehem

Northampton Community College (NCC) celebrated the release of a digital booklet, Latino Roots of Bethlehem, with a reception and panel presentation on September 25 at the Fowler Family Southside Center. Those in attendance included community members whose family stories are featured in the booklet; representatives from Patillas, Puerto Rico, a sister city to Bethlehem; and students from the Bethlehem Area School District. 

“This a great day for our community, and when I say ‘our’ I mean all of us,” said Shawn Thomas, vice president for workforce development & community partnerships at NCC. “Legacy can only live when someone takes the time to protect it. Latino Roots of Bethlehem ensures that future generations know their history.” 

Latino Roots of Bethlehem has been a multiyear passion project for Antonia “Toni” Fernández, community engagement specialist at NCC. Inspired by a study commissioned by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Voces de la Comunidad exhibit at Bethlehem Area Public Library, Fernández sought to uncover the stories of Latino steelworkers, educators, advocates, and cultural leaders who established themselves in Bethlehem’s South Side and contributed to the city’s success.  

“This booklet preserves the stories that have shaped our city and is to inspire the future generations,” said Fernández. “This project is for you [students]. We hope that you look at your own family and ask questions. Each of you has a beautiful timeline that we hope you bring forward.” 

Guillermo Lopez, Jr., board president for the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley moderated a panel on Latino contributions to Bethlehem from the 1940s to the present. Panelists included Myrna Rivera, retired executive for Bethlehem Steel; Julio Guridy, executive director for Allentown Housing Authority; Javier Diaz, director of video & broadcast content for PBS39 WLVT, and Sue Rodriguez, retired registered nurse.  

The panelists shared stories of how their family members came to Bethlehem, many to work at Bethlehem Steel. They all spoke of the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to family that it took for their parents and parents-in-law to start a new life in their adopted city.  

Rodriguez, representing her family on behalf of her father-in-law, Juan Rodriguez, spoke about her 47-year career as a visiting nurse. She noted that many of her clients in Allentown spoke Spanish at home, but their children were uninterested in learning Spanish.   

“Don’t put that away,” she encouraged the students attending. “Celebrate it.” 

Diaz, representing his mother, Delia Rivera Diaz, discussed his mother’s fighting spirit and work as a community activist, particularly when it came to encouraging her community to register to vote. He remembers the windbreaker emblazoned with the American flag that she wore when she gave community members a ride to the polls.  

“She made us believe that you belong wherever you want to be,” he said, noting that she also taught him the importance of opening doors for others.  

Along with the stories of influential community members, the project also includes a timeline of Latino milestones in the life of the city, ranging from the recruitment of Mexican steelworkers in 1923 to the founding of cultural celebrations, schools, and community centers through the 1990s. 

The Latino Roots of Bethlehem project was supported by NCC and a dedicated advisory team, PPL, United Way, and Highmark Health.