The heartfelt event was an official ceremony at the State Capitol that recognized the resilience, contributions, and cultural identity of the Venezuelan community in the Commonwealth
This Wednesday, June 25, the Pennsylvania State Capitol in the city of Harrisburg was the setting for a heartfelt commemoration: the celebration of Venezuela Day in Pennsylvania. The event was organized by the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus, in collaboration with Casa de Venezuela Philadelphia and the organization Gente de Venezuela, with the aim of recognizing the contributions of the Venezuelan community to the Commonwealth.
“It’s a declaration of unity, visibility, and pride,” the organizers said, emphasizing the importance of honoring a diaspora that has grown in both size and impact across the state.
The Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Honorable Johanna McClinton, led the group of speakers with a speech delivered in Spanish—a gesture warmly welcomed by attendees as a powerful show of solidarity and respect for the Latino community, and especially the Venezuelan one.
Other speakers included Representative Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz; Nelly Jiménez-Arevalo, Director of Migrant Affairs for Montgomery County; Norman Bristol-Colón, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development; and Eduardo Hayek, a social worker, interpreter, and journalist, and editor of IQ Latino and Te Lo Cuento News.
The ceremony was hosted by Univisión journalist Gheisha Torres, and featured a musical performance by Ramón Guerra, a master multi-instrumentalist who played traditional Venezuelan pieces on the violin, bringing both nostalgia and joy to the event.
During their speeches, participants reflected on the longstanding ties between the United States and Venezuela, while also addressing the challenges faced by the Venezuelan diaspora: the political and humanitarian crisis under an authoritarian regime, the human rights violations in their country of origin, and the increasing complexities of the U.S. immigration system.
“Despite all of this, the diaspora has shown remarkable resilience, bringing their values and traditions to every corner of Pennsylvania—from classrooms to hospitals, from businesses to universities and neighborhoods,” said Emilio Buitrago, founding member of Casa de Venezuela Philadelphia.
Venezuela Day in Pennsylvania was not just an act of institutional recognition, but also a moment to reaffirm the identity and contributions of a community that, through effort and dignity, continues to leave its mark throughout the state.