CHICOPEE — For the second straight year, the Hispanic Heritage Domino Tournament will be hosted on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lucy Wisnowski Park, 32 Chestnut St.
Thanks to the help of a donation from the Latino Economic Development Corporation, the event is set to feature a day of fun and community spirit with various food trucks, a live band and a DJ.
The public is encouraged to sign up for the tournament and enjoy the festivities.
The LEDC announced a donation of $1,000 to the Chicopee Police Department’s C3 Unit for the Hispanic Heritage Domino Tournament.
The donation was presented by LEDC Executive Director Andrew Melendez.
The mission of the LEDC is to empower businesses by providing access to case management coaching, capital, and essential connections. Their mission is to support local businesses and foster community engagement.
“The commitment of LEDC to helping bring this event to Chicopee is a small example of our mission to support local businesses and foster community engagement,” said Melendez, “We believe in the power of community events like this to bring people together and highlight the rich cultural heritage that makes Chicopee so special.”
The C3 Policing Unit’s mission is to facilitate unity of effort and criminal intelligence gathering through interagency, community and private enterprise cooperation.
The essential goals of C3 Policing include creating a safe environment, fostering community relationships, reducing gang activity and violence, and establishing effective youth and parental programs. These goals are achieved through community meetings, walking and bike patrols, and events like coffee with a cop, youth sports events and community picnics.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from LEDC,” said Officer Elly Rodriguez from the Chicopee Police Department’s C3 Unit. “This donation will help us create a memorable event that celebrates Hispanic heritage and strengthens our community.”
Mayor John Vieau talked about the importance of the C3 unit and this event.
He said, “I look forward to having one of our C3 members, who are responsible for creating the event who focus on downtown and public safety and building those positive relationships with our community and the goal of as mayor, we’re trying to erase the [stigma] of Chicopee Center.”
He added that is goal is to make sure people feel safe everywhere in Chicopee and the Police Department and other partnerships help with that goal.
“Making sure there are special events like this Hispanic Heritage Domino event where you bring the community, and you get to showcase what Wisnowski Park is. Right now, in the middle of downtown Chicopee is a very special place that we use now for our farmers market. It’s a very unique park, it’s a neighborhood park and the goal is to make sure the people who come down there feel safe and these community relationships is what it is all about,” Vieau said.
Vieau said he was appreciative of the generous donation and that it will go a long way with hosting the event.
He said, “I would like to thank the executive director from the Latino EDC for his generosity and contributions to the city of Chicopee, especially during Spanish heritage month. We are going to be hosting our second annual dominoes tournament and with the funds from the Latino EDC, we’re able to make it into something much more special.”
Melendez talked about why he thought it was an easy decision to donate to the event and help bring the community even closer together.
He said, “Being able to support the city and the Police Department, being able to bring people together. This is not just a dominoes tournament, this is a celebration of Chicopee and a celebration of culture. Regardless if it’s going to be supporting just the Latino community on this event, we’re really celebrating all of Chicopee and inviting Polish, Irish and Italian to all come together and have some fun.”
The LEDC wants to support bringing people together because it helps bring people to support small businesses downtown, according to Melendez, and this event is a great way to promote that.
He said, “The more we partner together, there’s power in partnerships. The reason the LEDC wants to support is because we believe bringing people together means that lets spend some money, support some businesses downtown. Supporting communities that are looking to be lifted up, that’s an exciting thing. When you’re making decisions on where you want to do some extra activities or go out to eat, how you support the community is having a hub like your small businesses and having a downtown and this event brings awareness to that area.”
Melendez left one final message and said, “Know the date, show up and start practicing. It’s going to be fun with live music and businesses you will be able to support. It’s a very, very nice thing.”
