Their father, Juan Carlos Villasenor, a native of Mexico City and a small business owner, had learned of the Feria Financiera Prosperidad (Financial Fair: Plan Prosperity) from commercials on the Spanish-language television network Univision, a co-host of the wide-ranging, informative gathering on financial literacy o March 21.
The Villasenors made the trek from Santa Clarita and joined thousands of others for sessions on how to start a small business, pay for college, take control of credit, get legal advice on immigration issues and, for veterans, how to find resources and access benefits.
Univision journalist Oswaldo Borraez, joined by university officials and local celebrities, opened the fair with a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside Bovard Auditorium. He spoke to the commonalities of the immigrant experience in the United States.
“It’s part of what it is to come to this country, to have a dream, to make it reality and that you, as business people, with the support of banks, with the support of financial institutions, you can realize those dreams,” Borraez told the attendees in Spanish.
All sessions were conducted in Spanish and a number of speakers were heard using the words sueños (dreams), éxitos (success), oportunidad (opportunity), and sí, se puede (yes, you can) throughout the day.
By Ana Beatriz Cholo