West Palm Beach Esperanza Day Set For May 15

From the City of West Palm Beach:

May 5, 2021

The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the City of West Palm Beach, the West Palm Beach Police Department and Salento Coffee have teamed up for a community fundraiser and cultural celebration by activating an underused alleyway in Downtown West Palm Beach. “Esperanza Day” takes place on Saturday May 15, 2021 from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. in the alleyway near 120 S. Dixie Highway.

“We hope this event creates new connections in the West Palm Beach community through art, dance, music, and food from Latin culture, while also raising money for the Esperanza Community Center,” said City of West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James. “It’s also a great way to activate an under-utilized space in Downtown West Palm Beach.”

The event will showcase Hispanic folklore with special performances from Michu Michu band and Mariachi de mi Tierra musical groups. A special Colombian food and drink menu will be available from Salento Coffee. A percentage of sales will be donated to the Esperanza Community Center (ECC). Founded in 2019, the ECC’s goal is to help West Palm Beach appreciate their Latino neighbors, assist the day laborer community and their families, and provide accessibility to resources.

Esperanza Day is part of the DDA’s mission to improve quality-of-life in the Downtown District by connecting a series of pedestrian-oriented passageways into public spaces.

“The goal here is to create a more walkable City and creating a safer environment for all,” said Sherryl Muriente Manager of Urban Placemaking for the DDA. “We’re activating and encouraging the public to use this alleyway so it becomes a viable and beautiful passageway for pedestrians to utilize on a regular basis.”

For more information on the West Palm Beach DDA or Downtown West Palm Beach, please visit www.DowntownWPB.com/EsperanzaDay.

This press release was produced by the City of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.