鈥淭he highest numbers are still in New York and Chicago,鈥� Mart铆nez-Fern谩ndez said, 鈥渂ut while northeastern Puerto Rican populations are declining, Central Florida’s is growing.鈥�
As part of the history center鈥檚 lecture series, he will discuss the factors that attract Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics here, including job opportunities, better schools and more affordable housing.
Mart铆nez-Fern谩ndez, an expert on Hispanic/Latino history and culture, says that while the Puerto Ricans coming to the area have assimilated into the community, they have been able to hold onto their cultural traditions and establish organizations and institutions similar to those on the island聽.
The History Center lecture will be 7-8:30 p.m. at 65 E. Central Blvd. Admission is $5 for nonmembers of the history center. Snacks will be provided.
Mart铆nez-Fern谩ndez聽also recently was聽interviewed on the relevance of the Hispanic vote in Florida聽for the聽PBS “Need to Know” program airing Oct. 19.
Another event by a 麻豆原创 historian will take place the following day. As part of 麻豆原创’s Department of History Authors Book Series coordinated by Mart铆nez-Fern谩ndez, 聽Dr. Brendan Lindsay, an adjunct instructor, will present his new book, “Murder State: California鈥檚 Native American Genocide, 1846-1873.鈥�
The free program will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Room 401 of Colbourn Hall.