KCRA 3 is sharing the stories of the Latino community and highlighting literacy in the Capitol City during Hispanic Heritage Month. For the second year in a row, the Latino Book and Family Festival is returning to Sacramento. The event will feature award-winning authors, activists, and a youth Mariachi group from Stockton.
The Keynote speaker is Edward James Olmos. Olmos is known for his roles in Zoot Suit, Stand and Deliver, Selena, Battlestar Galactica and more. If you ask him, one of his biggest accomplishments is bringing literacy to underserved communities.
"To me, it's the most beautiful thing that I do...
This thing is amazing. This is our second year," Olmos said. "This will be our 75th festival somewhere in the country so this is the second time we are there in Sacramento.
You guys deserve it." On Saturday, Sept. 28, he'll participate in the Sacramento Latino Book & Family Festival at Sacramento City College.
The event highlights Latino authors and creators. Last year, more than 3,000 people came out to the literacy event. This year with Edward James Olmos participating, it's expected to have a bigger turnout.
"There will be book readings by authors, and Reyna Grande is going to be there, as an award-winner. Victor Villaseñor and myself will all be there talking with everybody," said Olmos. The actor points out that reading changes lives, and he wants kids in the community to see authors who look like them and share their stories.
"The books that we have there, the authors that we have they are just wonderful. For the little ones, just to inspire them to understand that I did not come out of my mother's womb saying 'to be or not to be', I had to learn how to do it," Olmos said. "I learned how to be who I am today by reading, and it started that simply.
" The Sacramento Latino Book and Family Festival will feature tasty food and entertainment like the Cesar Chavez High School Mariachi Band from Stockton. More than 60 award-winning authors will be signing books, and there will be literacy workshops. It's Latino-focused but organizers say everyone will benefit from attending this community event.
"Books that allow you to think and then have a difference in understanding of somebody else, and so all of that helps. To me, it's the essence. Reading is the key to advancing yourself as a human being," said Olmos.
" The Latino Book and Family Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m. at the Sacramento City College Quad.
KCRA 3's Leticia Ordaz will be one of the featured award-winning authors. She will take the stage to have a special conversation with Edward James Olmos at 1 p.m.
Leticia will host a free workshop called "How to Get Published" at 2:30 p.m. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter.
