Mexican Consul Holder to Iowa and Nebraska Maria Guadalupe Sanchez Salazar (left) shakes hands with Senator Kevin Kinney. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Washington’s Summer Classic came to a close Sunday evening with Noche Latina and one special guest was in attendance.

Mexican Consul Holder to Iowa and Nebraska Maria Guadalupe Sanchez Salazar arrived in Washington Saturday. She met with community leaders Saturday evening, learning about the local community from Senator Kevin Kinney, Father Bernie with St. James Church, city council member Kathy Salazar, school board member Heidi Vittetoe, business owner Lorraine Williams, director of the Washington Public Library Debbie Stanton, professor Monie Hayes of Kirkwood Community College, representatives of Latinos for Washington, Inc., and others.

Consul Sanchez explained her office aims to protect the human rights of Mexicans living here, as well as access to health care and education. She also encourages people to get their children’s official documents registering as Mexican nationals, dual citizens, which she said will not affect their U.S. nationality and citizenship. “On the other side, they’re going to get all the advantages of being Mexicans,” said Sanchez, which she explained includes a lower cost to higher education in Mexico, later in life it will be easier for those people to conduct business in Mexico, or purchase property. And speaking of healthcare she said, “They’re going to have free insurance. We have some aspects in which we are better than the United States, few, but there are some, and one of those is the health system.” For contact information to the Consulate click here.