Casa Azul shares and preserves Latinx heritage

Census numbers show North Carolina’s Hispanic population increased by 40% in the last decade. It’s the fastest-growing segment of the population in the state, making up more than 10% of everyone in North Carolina.

One agency in the Piedmont Triad believes that’s why it’s important to share Latin culture with everyone. 

“I think that for the longest time, I’ve been in Greensboro since 1997, and for the longest time, we were almost invisible,” says Claudia Femenias, the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for Casa Azul. “I mean, nobody really knew that Latinas were here. So this, when we started with this, was very nice to start teaching this. I think that creating this bridge of understanding, creating a safe space, creating culture and art and showing it to everybody, it does create a stronger community.”

Uniting and strengthening the community is Casa Azul’s mission. The nonprofit introduces people of different backgrounds, preserves and promotes Latino heritage, and works to strengthen families through cultural arts.

Femenias says Casa Azul began in 2011 with Dia de Muertos, the celebration of the Day of the Dead in Mexico. That used food, dance and music to teach people about the Hispanic tradition. 

Over time, Casa Azul added a Latino arts and education series and even introduced Latin writers into local schools. Volunteer staff now host about 20 different free programs, and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro helps support it with a $40,000 grant. It’s all designed to create a safe space for everyone in a community that values diversity.

“But we also strive to create bridges of understanding, to teach about the richness of Latino cultures, to the non-Latino, to the people in the community, Greensboro Community, High Point community, and Guilford County in general,” says Femenias.

Casa Azul is always looking for financial donations and volunteers to help with programs such as this year’s Dia de Muertos celebration. It kicks off this Saturday evening with a free reception. It will be in the Greensboro Cultural Center in downtown Greensboro. An altar exhibit created by local Latino artists will also be open to the public through November 8.