OLA of Eastern Long Island Promoting Unity Through Music

Last year, as tensions across the United States escalated because of the impending election, OLA (Organización Latino-Americana) of Eastern Long Island, a nonprofit agency that was founded in 2002 to “promote social, economic, cultural, and educational development within Long Island’s East End Latino and Hispanic communities,” set out to find a unique way unify the East End, and provide a sense of community.

“By the end of the summer, when the all the negative rhetoric around the election was building, I was convinced that we must create a project that showed how beautifully our East End represents unity, generosity and collaboration,” noted Minerva Perez, Executive Director of OLA.

Perez decided that she would focus on music and partnered with Willy Fuentes to create a new arrangement that all could appreciate. Their masterpiece includes 12 singers and 16 musicians who represent African American, Latino, Anglo, Shinnecock, and Peruvian Indigenous members of our community. Its vocals showcase all ages, and is sung in both Spanish and English.

“We even have a Town Supervisor featured in this song,” shared Perez.

The community inspired R&B classic musical collaboration will debut during Pachanga for Peace and Unity, headlined by Mambo Loco, Certain Moves, Mila Tina, and special guests on Saturday, March 11th at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor.

Admission is $20 to $35, and the concert begins at 7 p.m.

Bay Street is located at 1 Bay Street in Sag Harbor. For more information, visit www.baystreet.org.