Teaneck Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month With Community Mural

TEANECK, NJ — “Sí se puede!” is the message Councilman Michael Pagan wants to communicate to Teaneck residents this weekend. The phrase, which translates to “yes we can” in English, will be sprawled across the Richard Rodda Center’s parking lot this Sunday, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Township of Teaneck, in collaboration with Unidos Para Teaneck, will reveal the mural painting at the community center on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 2:30 p.m. The words “sí se puede” have already been outlined in the parking lot, but this Sunday, residents are welcome to grab paint rollers and fill in the letters themselves.

“Sí se puede” is a very significant phrase to the Latino community, Pagan explained. President Barack Obama made the phrase famous when he ran for president in 2008, but it was originally coined by labor union activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in 1972 for a labor union movement in California.

“Latinos know the phrase well, not only in Teaneck, New Jersey but across the state, and even across the world because sí se puede is a very positive phrase meaning, yes we can. Anything is possible. For example, in Teaneck, anything is possible.”

Pagan said the most recent census shows the Latino population in Teaneck increased by 34.5% in 2020, making it the fastest growing population in not only Teaneck, but also New Jersey and across the country. With there being over 8,800 Latinos in Teaneck currently, Pagan said the council wanted to do something to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from September 15 to October 15.

The reason it starts mid-month is that September 15 marks the independence anniversary of five Hispanic countries — Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. It is also followed by Mexico’s Independence Day on Sept. 16 and Chile’s on Sept. 18.

Teaneck’s first elected Latino councilman, Pagan said this mural and the message it sends is something he feels personally connected to.

“It means a lot to me because I grew up in Teaneck, and there were certain teachers in the public school system, they were Latino, [that] used to say to me, Michael, you can be anything you want when you grow up as long as you're willing to work hard for it,” Pagan said.

“No one's going to hand you anything, but if you're willing to work hard for it, sí se puede. And that's what I want the little kids in Teaneck, not just Latino kids, but all kids in Teaneck to know.”

Pagan raised over $1400 via GoFundMe to make this event possible and reached out to artists in Jersey City to help create the outline for the mural. The Richard Rodda Center, where the event will take place, is where over 160,000 COVID-19 vaccinations were administered to Teaneck residents.

Pagan said this is a significant location for the mural because it is representative of the strength and resilience of Teaneck’s community.

At Sunday’s event, the township will also honor the Teaneck Southern Little League baseball players for advancing far in the Little League World Series. Pagan said there are many Latino kids in the league, as well as many African American and Asian kids.

There will be a lot of “family-friendly Spanish music” played during the event, according to Pagan, as it is meant to be a celebration of Latin culture.

Desiree Ramos Reiner, the first Latina elected to Teaneck’s planning board, will emcee the event, and speeches will be made by Pagan, as well as Mayor James Dunleavy. Pagan said he is expecting a big crowd, but he encourages anyone to join in on the festivities and help decorate the mural.