Pride in their heritage

When Evelia Gonzalez Porto came to the Petersburg area 30 years ago, she found few Hispanics living here -- and those who did had no voice.

"At the beginning, we were very few and it was very difficult to be accepted. You always had to try to sort of make people believe in you, that you were really a part of the community, not a foreigner," she said. "I was educated, knew English well and it was still difficult."

A native of Colombia, she was an arts lover who had studied in Buffalo, N.Y. before moving to Virginia.

"I was taught early in life to give back to the community where you live," said Gonzalez Porto, who now lives in Richmond.

She did just that when she came to central Virginia. She became a promoter for Latino artists and a leader for Hispanic women entrepreneurs.

She became involved with the Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, which was just getting started. That involvement led her to other groups, including the Latin Ballet, and to numerous boards in the local and state arts community, including a seat on the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Since 2003, she has organized the Hispanic Women in Arts event that is held annually in Richmond and features amateur and local professional artists.

"I promote all of my artists . . . I want them to succeed and to become part of the system," she said. "They have to learn how to do it, how to go to the galleries, how to do the exhibits and then sell and market their art."

She is proud, she said, to see more opportunities for Latinos in the local arts community and in other areas.

"So how much we have advanced in 30 years? We have the Hispanic Chamber, we have the Latin Ballet, we have the Hispanic Liaison Office in the city of Richmond and the Hispanic Liaison in the governor's office," she said. "We have gone a long way. There is a certain awareness of our community."

The fight is still needed, but at a different level, she said.

"I always remember what my grandfather used to tell me, 'the wind hits only the trees that are taller, those are the ones that are hit by the heavy winds, so when you stand out, the wind is going to be against you, that means the criticism, but it doesn't matter, keep on going, don't look back, just keep on going.'

"I am not afraid of being left out anymore. This is my Virginia as much as anybody else's . . . I came with a lot of cultural wealth and that is something that people should take advantage of. We have brought a culture and that has to be respected and that has to be promoted."

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