Concert to mark SCOW’s anniversary

As published in the Record Journal Tuesday June 19, 2012

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — The Spanish Community of Wallingford is celebrating its 40th anniversary in style, with a Latin music and dance concert Saturday night at the Paul Mellon Arts Center.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. and a preconcert reception will start an hour earlier. Performers include the Mariachi Real de Mexico, the Villalobos Brothers and the Ballet Folklorico Raices de Mexico.

Stephen Knight, a member of SCOW’s board of directors, said it is the biggest fundraiser the group has ever held.

“It’s a stretch for an organization of our size,” he said. “It’s a big deal for us.”

Forty years ago, a group of local Latinos gathered in a South Cherry Street storefront to create an organization to help Spanish speakers adjust to life in town. Four decades later, SCOW has its own building, an executive director and support staff, but it continues with the same mission: to help the town’s growing Latino population.

Knight said fundraising is important for SCOW, which receives most of its financial support from state grants. Rumors swirled last year that the state would substantially cut funding to the organization, but SCOW escaped with just a 5 percent reduction.

“We’re beginning to realize we can’t live or die by the state of Connecticut’s largesse, or lack thereof,” he said.

Maria Harlow, executive director of SCOW, said that the musicians in Saturday’s concert have performed in venues including Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to bring this quality of performers to Wallingford,” she said. “These are world class performers.”

Harlow said that in addition to raising funds, the concert is part of SCOW’s mission to bring awareness of Latino culture to Wallingford.

“The culture is so beautiful and so diverse,”she said. Knight and Harlow praised the cooperation they received from Choate Rosemary Hall, which offered the venue as well as helping with advertising, security and the sound system.

“I don’t think we could have pulled this off without Choate,” Knight said.

Mary Verselli, Choate’s director of strategic marketing and communications, said the school was happy to help.

“We’re proud to support SCOW and we hope the show is a sellout,” she said. “They were a pleasure to work with.”

The concert is part of SCOW’s effort to raise $40,000 in celebration of its 40th birthday.