In Pictures: MCC celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month at Regional Technology Center

FLINT, Michigan — Mexican chemist Luis Miramontes has impacted the lives of millions of men and women since 1951 but has gone largely unnoticed for his major contribution to the development of the first active ingredient in birth control pills.

Miramontes developed on October 15, 1951, the molecule norethindrone, derived from wild Mexican yams (barbasco) while working for the Mexican company Syntex. Prior to his discovery, physicians were looking for modified progesterone, the hormone that prevents ovulation during pregnancy, that would survive the digestive tract and allow more bioavailability for the hormone to uptake in the body. Miramontes was able to develop a solution by adding a triple-bond carbon molecule to the end of the progesterone molecule. 

Miramontes is one of many Hispanic men and women who have made major contributions to the world of science, technology, and math. In 2018, norethindrone was the 138th most prescribed drug in the United States. 

A display honoring Latinx leaders in STEM is displayed during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)On Thursday, September 28, Mott Community College’s Technology Division celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month at the Regional Technology Center (RTC) in Flint. Miramontes was acknowledged and honored on a beautifully designed display board featuring STEM historical Hispanic figures. The event provided food, dancing, live music, and a guest speaker: Mott Community College’s trustee, Art Reyes. 

Reyes has worked as an electrician for General Motors for 28 years, starting at AC Spark Plug, and is now a member of Flint Truck Assembly. Reyes is also a United States Army Veteran who served from 1987 to 1995. He is a MCC alum and received a bachelor's degree in management and organization development from Spring Arbor University. 

During Reyes’ speech, he touched on how much his apprenticeship as an electrician helped him develop and learn a skill that would provide a sustainable living for the rest of his life. His focus is getting more people into trade schools to get hands-on qualified and licensed training without the overwhelming debt of a four-year college degree. 

Art Reyes gives a speech during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)“Currently in the state of Michigan, there are about 19,000 apprentices in the state. That's not enough for what we see in General Motors in particular, but in the skilled trades industry,” said Reyes. “There are people who have higher seniority in trade that are looking to retire and move on. We need to have people taking classes who are getting into apprenticeships so that way, those ranks can be filled.”

Diversity and inclusion needs in the skill trades were brought to the audience’s attention during Reyes’ speech. 

“Currently of the 19,000 or so apprentices that are in Michigan, approximately, 7% are Latinx, nearly 80% are white, and unfortunately, less than 7% are Black,” said Reyes. 

According to Zippia’s research summary demographics in the United States, the most common ethnicity of trade specialists is White (67.3%) followed by Hispanic or Latino (11.5%) Asian (11.4%), and Black or African American (5.5%).  

Dr. Madonna Jackson, the academic dean in the Division of Technology at MCC, was one of the main organizers of the event. 

“The purpose of the event was really twofold,” said Jackson. “We wanted to introduce Hispanic culture to some of our students. And then we also wanted to make sure anyone in the community could familiarize themselves with what can be done in this building with a degree that is from the trades and technology. Anyone can come for a year and can walk out of here and make very good money.”

Mike Abbasspour performs with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)The evening ended with a live performance from El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil. EBFE is a non-profit organization focused on the preservation of Mexican culture and enriching children’s lives through dance, music, and education. EBFE’s mariachi musicians and folkloric dancers are made up of gifted performers who brought vibrancy and life to the event at MCC. Mike Abbasspour sang “Si Te Vas” beautifully as the dancers captivated the audience, and Hispanic culture was celebrated and honored. 

“We want our Latinx community in Flint to feel welcome in our building here at Mott Community College,” said Jackson.

Scroll below to see more photos from MCC’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration:

Gean Vincent Almendras performs with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)
El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)Lucas Perro performs with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)
Mike Abbasspour performs with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)Alphonse Buclay performs with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com) Shea Socrates with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com) El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com) Hannah Nettleton with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com) Hannah Nettleton with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com) Hannah Nettleton with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com) Hannah Nettleton with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com) Hannah Nettleton with El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil performs during Mott Community College’s Technology Division’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Regional Technology Center in Flint on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside.com)