The Hispanic Service Providers of Tuscaloosa announces the Eighth Annual Brazos Abiertos (Open Arms) Festival, Sunday, April 10, from 2-6 p.m. at Riverside-Collins Elementary School. The festival serves as both an informational fair and cultural exchange.
A Community Service Provider Information Booth Fair and a Health Fair, where local doctors and nurses will be conduct free health, vision and hearing screenings, will be available, and the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice will present a special panel on immigration reform.
Experts will present informative panel discussions on education, crime and safety, nutrition and strengthening family health and wellbeing from the Alabama Department of Public Health, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, and the Tuscaloosa Police Department. The festival will also feature a live remote courtesy of "La Nueva" radio program (WWPG-AM / WQZZ-FM), children's activities, food and fun.
The Hispanic Service Providers is an alliance of Tuscaloosa city and county social service agencies and various community partners that have united to meet the needs of the growing Hispanic/ Latino community. This group has begun working to address issues such as the language barrier, education, health, safety, social service deficits, legal issues, and housing, employment and community inclusion.
Brazos Abiertos is an annual event allowing the Hispanic/ Latino community access to information regarding important issues. Community representatives will be available to answer questions.
The event is free to the public and both children and adults are encouraged to attend. If you would like more information about this event, call Wanda Martin of Tuscaloosa's One Place (867 Redmont Drive, P.O. Box 40764, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 at (205) 462-1000, or e-mail her at wmartin@etfrc.org.