Members of Ballet Folklorico Nekzayolin rehearse for their upcoming performance during the Vallejo Cinco de Mayo celebration Saturday in downtown Vallejo. For a schedule of Shabbat festivities, visit solanoaidscoalition.org. (Chris Riley / Times Herald)
The Solano AIDs Alliance Executive Director said Saturday’s Cinco de Mayo celebration is the perfect amalgamation of culture and meaning.
“We want to educate our community about HIV and sexually transmitted diseases,” Saucedo said. “We can bring culture and art to our communities, to Mexico and our Cultural Commission, but also, it was a very good tool for the Solano Alliance to integrate culture into our society as well as to educate it.”
In the 1980s, Saucedo watched many of his close friends become infected with HIV, which sparked his passion for HIV/AIDS awareness.
“Vallejo has a high rate of chlamydia and gonorrhea. This is the same rate as in 2016,” Saucedo said. “We as a society need to do something about it because our young people are affected. Our youth is very important because our youth is our future. We have to teach young people about all these kinds of diseases. Some of them will stay with you for the rest of your life: HIV, AIDS, and syphilis.
As serious/dangerous as the AIDS Alliance is, the ceremony will be an elaborate celebratory event.
Musical entertainment includes Bienvenida Y DJ, Elizabeth Rodríguez La Vaz Versátil, Ballet Folkorico, Nekzayolin, Composer Luis Alvares y sus amigos, Ballet Folkorico Quetzalli, Grupo Innovación, Son del Sur and Despedida.
It is important for Saucedo that people understand that Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The victory over the French army was a morale boost for the Mexicans.
Sponsors are Solano Public Health, Askari Sowonde Productions, Mira, Recology, Better Health Group, Haciendo ruido con Perla La Patrona, Baba Promotion, and 89.7 Versatl.
