Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 each year, and this weekend on In Focus we open a conversation on the contributions of this diverse community here in New York.

Casimiro Rodriguez, Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York president, joined JoDee Kenney to discuss the group’s mission. Since 2011, Rodriguez said, the organization has worked to promote and preserve Hispanic culture, with construction on the Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute underway. Rodriguez also highlighted several events during Hispanic Heritage Month across Buffalo, including the Salsa for a Cure Red Dress Affair, benefitting Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Details for the Salsa for a Cure Red Dress Affair can be found here.

For more information on the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York, head to hispanicheritagewny.org.

You can watch the full interview with Rodriguez above. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting Upstate New York, on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.