About

The Latino Civic Association (LCA) of Tompkins County traces its roots back to 1971, when Héctor and Josie Vélez arrived in Ithaca and began hosting small community gatherings to connect the growing Latino population. These events, originally held at their Crescent Place duplex, became annual celebrations that eventually moved to larger venues such as the Knights of Columbus hall, Cornell University, and Ithaca College as attendance grew.

In 1994, a group of local Latino residents—including Héctor and Josie Vélez, Leonardo and Cecilia Vargas, Guillermo and Margarita Santisteban, Miguelina Tabar, Eric Rosario, and Vilma Santiago-Irizarry—formalized the association to create a forum where all members of the Hispanic community in Tompkins County could share their voices. With support from Cornell University and community members, the first Executive Body was elected, and LCA’s first official holiday gathering drew over 150 attendees.

Since its founding, the LCA has continued to evolve. The board has changed over the years, and today we are proud to be led by a new group of committed community members:

• Yen Ospina, President

• Julia de Aragón, Vice-President

• Stacey Dimas, Treasurer

• Maia Consolo, Secretary

The Latino Civic Association continues to celebrate Latino culture, foster community connections, and advocate for the voices of Latinos in Tompkins County.