Reps. Harris and Candelaria Reardon honor Mexican American recipient of first Indiana Heritage Fellowship Award

EAST CHICAGO – State Reps. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) and Mara Candelaria Reardon (D-Munster) honored East Chicago resident Debra Bolaños on Saturday, May 4 during the 49th Annual Cinco De Mayo Fundraiser for being one of two Hoosiers selected to receive Indiana University’s inaugural Indiana Heritage Fellowship Award and for her continued passion for promoting Mexican heritage through dance and community organizing efforts in East Chicago.

Bolaños is a first-generation Mexican American born and raised in East Chicago, where she has been a ballet folklórico dance instructor at her family’s studio for 25 years. She is also active in a number of community organizations, notably Sociedad Cultura Civica y La Reforma, of which she is the founder and president.

“I’m proud to honor Debra, a longtime resident of East Chicago, for her commitment to her students and her ability to connect Mexican Americans to their heritage by teaching them folklorico,” said Harris. “Receiving the Heritage Fellowship Award is a testament to Debra’s passion for building a sense of community and pride for Mexican culture. We are grateful for her efforts to instill an appreciation for Mexican culture in her dance students and in the community through her work with Sociedad Cultura Civica y La Reforma and other organizations.”

Candelaria Reardon added, “We are lucky to have a passionate community leader and artist like Debra, who is teaching young Mexican Americans about the traditions of Mexican culture through dance and community engagement. Young Latinas and Latinos need leaders in our communities that they can look up to and learn from to keep the spirit of our culture alive in East Chicago and other communities across Northwest Indiana.”   

The Indiana Heritage Fellowship Award recognizes a traditional artist who has made outstanding contributions to their artistic tradition and to their community. The award was presented by Traditional Arts Indiana, a program of the Mathers Museum of World Cultures at Indiana University to Bolaños on Saturday April, 27, 2019. Harris and Candelaria Reardon surprised Bolaños with a resolution they co-authored on behalf of the Indiana House of Representative to congratulate her for receiving this high honor, and recognize Bolaños for her continued efforts to teach and embody Mexican American culture in her dance studio as well as in her community.

Harris is a member of the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs, the Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

Candelaria Reardon is the first Latina elected to the Indiana House of Representatives. She is the Chair of the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs, a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, and a member of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

Both members host the annual Latino Fellows Day at the Indiana Statehouse to teach Latino students about how the Indiana General Assembly works.