CHICOPEE — For the fourth straight year, the C3 Hispanic Heritage Domino Tournament will return to Wisnowski Park on Saturday, Aug. 29, from noon to 6 p.m.
Chicopee Police Department Public Information Officer Travis Odiorne told Reminder Publishing that the upcoming family-friendly celebration includes a dominoes tournament, local vendors, cultural music, food, kids’ activities and community resources.
Participation in the tournament is free, and there are prizes for the winners. According to Odiorne, it is a chance for people of all ages to come together, celebrate Hispanic heritage and connect with local services.
Chicopee Police Department’s C3 Unit Police Officer Elly Rodriguez came up with the idea for the event to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in a meaningful and culturally relevant way.
Dominoes is a game deeply rooted in many Latino households, especially in Puerto Rican culture. The event’s goal is to build stronger community connections by bringing residents, youth, families and service providers together to learn and celebrate the culture.
“The event kicked off a couple of years ago as a way to have our C3 officers be more involved in the [Chicopee] Center. It’s always great when we’re doing events in the community to have the community come out and show their support for our members.” Odiorne said. “It means a lot to the officers involved because it shows that we are making a difference to our community because they do come out and participate in these events and show their support.”
The community event also seeks to strengthen relationships and trust between residents and local organizations. According to Odiorne, it gives people access to services they might not have known about otherwise and helps build a sense of pride and unity within the community.
Chicopee Police Department’s C3 Unit is responsible for organizing the event. Odiorne said it helps police officers build trust, empathy and connection with residents.
C3 Policing’s goals include creating a safe environment, fostering community relationships, reducing gang activity and violence, and establishing effective youth and parental programs. Odiorne said these are achieved through community meetings, walking and bike patrols, and events such as Coffee with a Cop, youth sports events and community picnics.
Vendors, sponsors and participants can sign up for the tournament by contacting Rodriguez directly at Erodriguez@Chicopeepolice.com or by filling out the forms provided.
Odiorne said the tournament has grown each year, and he hopes that trend continues at this year’s event.
