Latino community

The Flanders, Northampton and Riverside Community Association elected its first-ever Latina to its board of directors this week, an expression of an outreach effort to diversify the organization in keeping with the demographics of the community it serves.

Local immigrants and supporters will participate in a national strike today as a way to peacefully protest the current anti-immigrant rhetoric, as well as a way to demonstrate the impact immigrants have on the local economy and society on a daily basis.

The tenor of political dialogue in the months leading up to last week’s presidential election led many members of minority groups — particularly Latinos — to fear a possible backlash in the wake of the President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.

The Hispanic Youth Leadership Club is a place where Latino students can be themselves and an opportunity for them to make a positive difference in the Riverhead community.

“How can you expect someone to come in front of a group of people and ask for help when those people are saying really ugly things about them and their families?” said Laura Lemus, civil rights advocate.

Victoriano Cohon-Garcia, 34, began drinking after word of his father's death arrived from Guatemala, according to Sister Margaret Smyth. "Once he started he was never able to pull himself out of that." It's a widespread problem in the local Latino immigrant community, she said.