Latino Community columbia road between quarry road and 17th street nw
this is the heart of Washington’s Latino com- munity.Once centered here and in nearby Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights,the community now extends throughout the region. As early as the 1910 s,the Mexican,Ecuadoran, Cuban,and Spanish embassies clustered nearby on 16 th Street.Spanish-speaking diplomats and staff called this area home and often remained after their tours of duty ended.In the 1950 s political turmoil and economic hardship brought Puerto Ricans and Cubans,followed later by South and Central Americans—particularly Salvadorans and Nicaraguans. Latinos built dynamic cultural and business communities held together by bonds of food and language.By the 1970 s,the Ontario Theater showed Spanish-language films (later the rock band U 2 played there) and Manuel’s Latino disco was a hot night spot.The Omega restaurant thrived,and small groceries including La Sevillana and El Gavilan offered familiar foods and gossip. With growth came leaders such as the Puerto Rican Carlos Rosario,who lobbied for city services and recognition. In 1970 Latinos organized the Hispanic Heritage Festival,which attracted thousands, serving notice that Latinos had arrived.The city responded in 1976 by opening the Office of Latino Affairs.Needing more space,the popular Hispanic Festival moved to the National Mall in 1989 . Along this block are numerous social service organ- izations.These were seeded in 1960 ,when the ecumenical Church of the Saviour opened Potter’s House,a pioneering coffeehouse and religious center.Since then the church’s ministries have grown: Jubilee Housing,Servant Leadership School, Columbia Road Health Services,Family Place, Jubilee Jobs,Joseph’s House,the Patricia M.Sitar Center for the Arts, and others.
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