Forsyth County Hispanic Liaison Program to host educational family festival

The Forsyth County Department of Public Health’s Hispanic Liaison Program is hosting an educational family festival on Saturday intended to connect the community to resources they might not know about. 

Josefina Acosta, the bilingual health educator for the Hispanic Liaison Program, said there will be Mexican folklore dancers, food trucks, and a bike rodeo at the event. But there will also be more than 30 vendors there to educate attendees on a variety of subjects. 

"They will bring information about services and resources available for the community," Acosta said. "And we will have health and safety education, childcare and school system information.”

There will also be mobile clinics from Novant Health and Winston-Salem State University conducting free health screenings, and providing information about low-cost services and clinics in the community. 

Representatives from the Mexican and Guatemalan Consulates in Raleigh will also be in attendance to provide information about their services.

“For instance, if you are from Mexico, and you need to renew your passport, or if you need a birth certificate, or you need a document from Mexico, the consulate will help you or give you the information so you can obtain that legal document," Acosta said.

Acosta said bilingual volunteers will be walking around the event to assist with any translation needs. 

The Family Fun and Educational Fest will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Winston-Salem. 

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.