An inside look at Delaware’s Hispanic community

Those in Millsboro, De had the chance to take inside look at Hispanic Culture, and likewise the Hispanic community had a chance to share it Sunday at the 21st Festival Hispano.

With immigration being a hot topic debated in the upcoming presidential election, those like Monserrat Matos, who came to the US from Mexico when she was 12-years-old, tell 47 ABC, the festival provides an opportunity for people to educate themselves.

“I think that coming here helps people to see all of us, all Hispanics ,all immigrants as actual people. Not as just a number or statistics or just as undocumented immigrants,” Matos said.

Matos also said the festival is a necessity, so that younger generations can learn about their culture.

“They’re raised here, even if they’re Hispanic, they’re being raised here; so their culture is this culture. So for them to get to see and continue to know about their own culture, we have to have festivals like this where they can see the traditional dances and they can learn more about their own culture,” Matos said.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2000 and 2010 the Latino population growth accounted for more than half of the nations total growth. In Delaware, where the Hispanic population roughly accounts for 9 percent, that growth was felt too officials say.

“Most of the increase has been children that have been born here. We still have new people moving in and people moving out, but we have a significant population that is born here – they’re U.S. citizens just like me. They’re home town in Georgetown Delaware just like me,” said festival volunteer Allison Burris Castellanos.