Hispanic Heritage of Odessa Celebrates 16th of September with Music and Pan Dulce at City Hall in Odessa

Odessa, Texas/September 16, 2025- This is DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS. Hispanic Heritage of Odessa held a special 16th of September event at City Hall in Odessa. Danny Barrera has the story. 

In celebration of the 16th of September and Hispanic Heritage Month, LULAC and Hispanic Heritage of Odessa provided entertainment for the City of Odessa employees and staff along with guest. The event featured a performance by Juana Jaquez and Mariachi Aguila singing well-known popular and traditional Mexican songs. 

(Cal Hendrick, Odessa Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration and recognition of the rich Mexican Culture and traditions. Visitors to the Odessa City Hall enjoyed a wide selection of Mexican sweet breads and juices.  

(David A. Vela, City Manager-City of Odessa, Texas) 

Hispanic Heritage of Odessa also had a special event for the older residents of Odessa at Ajuua’s Mexican Restaurant. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Hispanic Heritage of Odessa and LULAC Host Professional Women Luncheon

Odessa, Texas/July 14, 2025-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa and LU LAC invited local professional women who represent the city of Odessa, Ector County ISD and other institutions to a lunch hosted by La Hacienda Vieja. The purpose of the luncheon was to network, coordinate and strategize upcoming events that can make an impact on the social aspects of the community of Odessa. 

(Carol Uranga, Executive Director-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa & LULAC) 

Amy Henrick the first lady of Odessa opened the luncheon with words of empowerment to the invited guests at the event and expressed the importance of service to the community. 

(Carol Uranga, Executive Director-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa & LULAC) 

As 16th of September and Dia De Los Muertos is a short time away. Hispanic Heritage of Odessa hope to continue connecting with local government and other institutions to increase visibility on upcoming events. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, I’m Laura Waters. 

 

Young Men’s Leadership Conference Hosted by L.U. L.A.C. & Hispanic Heritage of Odessa

Odessa, Texas/May 1, 2025-LULAC and Hispanic Heritage of Odessa held a men’s leadership conference for ECISD High School students. 9th grade thru the senior class heard commentary from Sheriff Mike Griffis with the Ector County Sheriff’s, Detective Alex Reyes with the Odessa Police Department as well from Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick. 

Dr. Gregory Williams, President of Odessa College presented information to the Young Men’s Leadership class on the bond proposal that will impact future students and the local workforce. 

(Carol Uranga, Executive Director, Hispanic Heritage of Odessa/L.U.L.A.C-Odessa, Texas) 

Participating students at the Young Men’s Leadership training were bussed to the westside of Odessa near Walmart between West 16th street and West 22nd help Keep Odessa Beautiful pick up trash as part of the leadership training to beautify the city. 

(Sunshine Thompson, President-Keep Odessa Beautiful-Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick and First Lady Amy Hendrick were on location with students demonstrating through actions, the importance of community involvement to be a part of the solution in making the Odessa community a better place to live. 

(Cal Hendrick, Mayor-City of Odessa/Texas) 

(Gilbert Vasquez-Councilman, District 3-City of Odessa/Texas) 

Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick celebrated with ECISD High School students after a successful leadership cleanup activity. 

(Nat Sound) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

Odessa City Council Approve New City Manager , MLK Jr Street and Hispanic Heritage HOT FUNDS

Odessa, Texas/April 24, 2025-The Odessa City Council during its regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 22nd approved several key agenda items. The council approved Hispanic Heritage of Odessa’s request for $50 thousand dollars from the hot funds for cultural events for the 2025 season even though the applications for the HOT Funds were out of its traditional cycle. 

(Craig Stoker, Odessa Councilman At-Large-City of Odessa/Texas) 

(Carol Uranga, Executive Director-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa/Odessa, Texas) 

The Council unanimously voted and approved the renaming of East Murphy St to M.L.K., Jr Street in southside Odessa starting at South Grant Avenue & Murphy traveling east to the north service road of I-20 crossing over south Dixie and South Grandview. 

(Eddie Mitchell, Odessa Councilman, District 1-City of Odessa/Texas) 

(Craig Stoker, Odessa Councilman At-Large-City of Odessa/Texas) 

The Odessa City Council returned from Executive Session at approximately 8:45pm approved the selection of David A. Vela, the current Sweetwater, Texas City Manager as the new Odessa City Manager and voted to begin the contract process.  

(Cal Hendrick, Odessa Mayor- City of Odessa/Texas) 

(David A. Vela, Current Sweetwater, Texas City Manager-New Odessa City Manager/Odesa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

 

Hispanic Heritage of Odessa Celebrates the Life and Times of Salvador Guerrero

Odessa, Texas/September 22, 2024-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa and members of the local chapter of LULAC celebrated the life and times of Salvador Guererro hosted by the Ector County Library. The library featured a display of photos and memorabilia of the once community and political leader of the southside Odessa community. 

(Maria Flores Guerrero, Widowed wife of Salvador Guerrero) 

Salvador Guerrero was a World War II veteran, who served in the 348th Amphibious Engineer Combat Battalion. He was painter and an author who wrote Memorias, A West Texas Life. 

(Rachel Pacock, Daughter of Salvador Guerrero-Odessa, Texas) 

In the mid to late 70’s Salvador Guerrero hosted the first Mex-Tex radio show on Sunday mornings from 7am to 11am on AM1410 KRIG Radio, and was a co-host of the popular Spanish variety show Mexico-Tejano from the late 70’s to the mid 90’s. 

I know this because I was there for some of Sal’s celebrity adventures. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

LULAC & Hispanic Heritage of Odessa-“Breakfast With A Champion” Honoring Police Chief Michael Gerke

Odessa, Texas/August 25, 2024-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa, LULAC and members of the Black Cultural Council of Odessa along with guests and Odessa City Council members celebrated “Breakfast With A Champion” honoring Police Chief Michael Gerke. 

(Liliana Marquez, President-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa/LULAC-Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke presented a discussion of the threat of Fentanyl in Odessa and in Ector County and the laws that have been created by the Texas State Legislature to punish those that distribute and cause the death of someone knowingly or unknowingly ingesting Fentanyl. 

(Michael Gerke, Chief of Police-Odessa Police Department/Odessa, Texas) 

Other topics included the increasing problems with traffic and motorists not following or obeying traffic laws. 

(Liliana Marquez, President-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa/LULAC-Odessa, Texas) 

The LULAC-Hispanic Heritage Breakfast with a Champion event was hosted by Buyers 2 Arena Sports Event Center, and host by the Honorable Justin W. Low, of the 161st District Court. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.