Edinburg Mayor gives shoutout to Letty Leija at grand opening of ACE Center

Rio Grande Guardian's Podcast

EDINBURG, Texas - At a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the City of Edinburg’s new Arts, Culture and Events (ACE) Center, Mayor Ramiro Garza made a point of singling out for praise Letty Leija.

The director for the office of library and cultural arts played a big role in the project from the very beginning, the mayor said.

“I want to take this moment to highlight the extraordinary contributions of a lady named Letty Leija. We all know who she is. Her dedication and work were vital in bringing this dream to fruition,” Garza said.

"Ms. Letty, I just want to tell you on behalf of myself - and I don't think I'll be off the wall here to speak on behalf of even former leaders here that are in the audience - your leadership has been a driving force behind this project. Your efforts made a lasting impact in Edinburg's cultural future, and we are forever grateful to you.”

Garza said Leija would no doubt pay tribute to the team she had around her and the many volunteers that played their part.

“But you were the driving force. And yes, there are a lot of people here, lot of volunteers that have been behind this, but you were the driving force. And I just want to say thank you for all that you have done and for making sure that no matter who was in office, you guys are pushing and pushing to make this happen. So let's give her a hand please.”

There was loud applause from the audience.

The ACE Center is located at 315 W. McIntyre in Edinburg, next to City Hall. The 36,000-square-foot venue is a $14 million joint investment by the City and Edinburg EDC. It's designed to be a hub for creativity, discovery, and artistic growth.

“Let me just mention real quick what this facility is about. This is a hub for artistic expression, cultural celebration and community connection. It's a place where creativity has no boundaries, welcoming all ages with programming that reflects the diversity and richness of our evolving culture,” Mayor Garza said.

"This state of the art facility features spaces for dance, theater and music, studios for painting, a digital and graphic arts computer lab and gallery spaces to showcase the talent of local, national and international artists. It will serve as a home for theater performances, creative workshops, and, of course, as a heartbeat to all our Edinburgh many festivals.”

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