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Date: 9/22/2021
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Spanish-American Association (WSAA) is branching out, literally and figuratively, to revitalize the 26-year-old social and cultural group.
It recently launched a collaborative partnership with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Greening the Gateway Cities project. Its purpose is to increase the number of trees planted in urban residential areas of Massachusetts gateway cities like Westfield.
“Adding trees to our properties and tree belts is the right thing to do for a healthy tree canopy and healthy living,” said WSAA President Agma M. Parrilla-Sweeney. “WSAA is pleased to contribute to this environmental justice project in downtown Westfield. It will help create a healthy community in which to live, shop, and work.”
All trees are free to homeowners, renters, or businesses. Parrilla-Sweeney said the program is designed to reduce household heating and cooling energy use by increasing the tree canopy.
“This is an important way to help low-income residents reduce their utility costs,” she added. “It may sound too good to be true, but the program is a really beneficial program for residents and the city if people are willing to get the trees.”
Parrilla-Sweeney said WSAA has been spreading the word about the benefit of planting trees. During this summer and now into the fall, WSAA has been at the Westfield Farmers’ Market to help residents sign up to get trees. Once residents sign up, DCR will plant the trees they’ve selected for their properties.
“This is an investment in our future,” said Parrilla-Sweeney. “These trees may be small now, but in 10 to 15 years these will be large shade trees.” She said the tree-planting program is one of several partnerships WSAA is seeking with local organizations.
The partnerships have the potential to increase WSAA membership as well as active participation in the organization among Latinos and non-Latinos in the Westfield area.
“We want to grow our organization with more people of all ages and ethnicities,” Parrilla-Sweeney said.
Partners include the Westfield Atheneum, Westfield on Weekends (WOW), Westfield State University, and the Westfield Historical Commission. WSAA and the Atheneum have discussed holding a “Conversations in Spanish” hour on a regular basis at the library.
“We’ve had some very positive feedback from the Atheneum and residents about doing this program,” said Parrilla-Sweeney. “There are a lot of people in the Westfield area who know Spanish and would like to have a place to go where they can have conversations in this language.”
Also in the works: a partnership with WOW – the organization devoted to enriching the creative vitality of the city through a variety of entertainment programs as well as artistic and cultural events. Parrilla-Sweeney said WSAA plans to meet soon with WOW leaders to “find common ground and mutual support.”
The WSAA president said her group has been in touch with the Historical Commission about ways to document the history of Puerto Ricans who migrated to Westfield from their native island during the 1950s to work on area farms.
“We want to work with the commission to create a formal entry into the history of the city that documents the story of Puerto Rican families who came to Westfield,” she said.
Having a state university in Westfield offers another opportunity for WSAA to engage with young Latinos.
“We want to reach out to these students to share Latin music and culture in Westfield,” explained Parrilla-Sweeney. “We want to help them to better understand their cultural heritage and take pride in it.”
She said WSAA hosts its annual flag-raising ceremony at City Hall to fly the flag of Puerto Rico next to the flag of the United States. She said “It helps all Puerto Ricans – especially younger ones – not only to feel like they belong to the community of Westfield but also to feel valued as Puerto Ricans.”
The organization has had a longstanding commitment to help young Latinos pursue dreams of higher education. To that end, WSAA annually awards scholarships to deserving students going to college.
“One of our top concerns has been to advocate for a good education for Latinos,” said Parrilla-Sweeney. “Education is a keystone to a successful future. This is what we are about.”
In addition to college scholarships, WSAA also offers merit scholarships for nontraditional students, such as someone pursuing a master’s degree or getting their first college degree after being in the workforce.
“It may not be a huge amount of money, but it lets people know we’re here for them if they need help paying for college,” said Parrilla-Sweeney.
She said the organization at one time had 50 members. To save money when the pandemic hit, WSAA closed its Court Street office. The pandemic also contributed to a loss of members and forced the cancellation of its Caribbean Golf Outing, a major fundraiser for its scholarship fund, for the past two summers.
She added that WSAA contributes to the community by supporting local community events and businesses, pays tribute to the heritage of the city’s Puerto Rican and other Latino citizens, and embraces diversity in Westfield.
“Our goal when this organization was founded, as well as now, is to celebrate Hispanic culture, to espouse higher education, and to honor parents and families who settled in Westfield from Puerto Rico,” explained Parrilla-Sweeney. “We strive to be a role model for Puerto Rican and Latino communities and the youth of Westfield.”
Parrilla-Sweeney said WSAA helped raise money for 30 Puerto Ricans who came to Westfield after being displaced from their homes when Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017. WSAA also had partnered with Peoples United Bank to recommend Latinos and others to join its PATH Plus financial literacy program, which prepared individuals to qualify to buy their first home.
WSAA was formed in 1995 by the adult children of the first Puerto Rican families that migrated to Westfield more than 70 years ago. Its mission is to empower Latino citizens by encouraging active participation in the Westfield community.
“I think we’ve been a successful organization. We’ve been here for Latinos in our community – and that’s important,” said Parilla-Sweeney. “Our goal is to continue to be an integral part of this community.”