The Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre honored its founder, Margarita Grasing, during a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on Sept. 25, marking her retirement after 41 years of service.
Held at the organization’s senior program headquarters, the event doubled as an open house for community members and local leaders. Food, dancing, and music from DJ Mac Lovin’ helped kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, which officially began Sept. 15.
Grasing started the event off with welcoming all who attended. Several local politicians came out to honor Grasing for not only her contributions to the community, but her long-lasting friendship. Several presented her with citations and proclamations for her outstanding commitment to connecting with the Hispanic communities.
Assemblywoman Judy Griffin was amongst the attendees and presented Grasing with a proclamation, “I am so grateful that you have been here, serving the community,” she said. “I just want to wish you a well deserved retirement. I know you’ll still be involved with the community, but I am grateful that you have been here supporting the community and doing such amazing outreach.”
Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley also reflected on their friendship and Grasing’s enduring impact.
“What she has done for the village, what she has done for the community, what she has done for Nassau County is incredible,” she said. “And we are honored that she chose Rockville Centre to be her home base.”
George Siberon, executive director of the Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association, spoke on Grasing’s efforts for the county. “I love her to death,” he said. “She is the epitome of what a community leader should be, and is.”
Grasing shared her feelings on being honored by the community. “I’m grateful, they don’t have to do this,” she said. “It was my pleasure to work for the community, for the immigrants that built this country.”
As she enters retirement, her daughter, Marguerite Keller, is stepping into a leadership role to continue connecting with Hispanic communities in and around Nassau County.
“We all have our own differences.” Keller said. “We all come from different backgrounds. We’re all one part of the human race, and we should all be celebrated and embraced.”
To learn more about the Hispanic Brotherhood, HispanicBrotherhood.org.
