Colombian Flag-Raising Event a Moment to Celebrate Successes in America

NEW BRUNSWICK – The Carteret councilman who, in his role as school superintendent, spearheaded a major rebranding of the Middlesex County Magnet Schools.

The husband and wife restauranteurs who opened the doors last year at MiLina Cuisine and Colombian Steakhouse in Sayreville.

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The chairman of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and a leader at Valley Bank whose business savvy has helped untold small-business owners.

Friday’s cultural celebration and flag-raising ceremony at the Middlesex County Administration Building was a moment to mark the many contributions Colombians have made in and around the county.

These leaders in business (Carlos del Valle and Lina Bejarano), commerce (Luis O. De La Hoz) and government/education (Jorge E. Diaz) were recognized during a ceremony hosted by Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny and organized by New Brunswick Councilman Manuel Castañeda.

Angel Londono, a Monroe resident and member of the Union County Sheriff’s Department, was also honored, although he was not able to attend.

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Diaz, who has served as superintendent since April 2022 of five Magnet Schools (formerly known as Vo-Tech), said his successes and those of the others honored Friday send a powerful message to others in the community.

“It signifies leaving a legacy for our people, letting people know that you can achieve success in America,” Diaz said. “And so my family came out like many immigrants who come to the United States looking for a better life, looking to make sure their children have a wonderful education, have all the opportunities that Americans have always enjoyed. And I think that as we get more involved in our communities and make an impact, we’re leaving a legacy for our children.

“My children will see that we’ve made a life for our family. They’ll respect the fact that we’ve worked really hard. And, with every family that sees all the success stories, I think there’s growth. There’s growth for our community and I think it just leaves a wonderful mark.”

Diaz’s legacy has been sweeping, going back to when he was hired as the principal of Roosevelt Elementary School in New Brunswick in 2006. In 2015, he was promoted to principal of New Brunswick High School. In 2017, he was hired as superintendent of schools in South Amboy, where he was recognized as superintendent of the year by the Middlesex County Association of School Administrators.

In Carteret, he has served seven terms on the council, including in the roles of council president and deputy mayor.

Like many of the 75 or so people who attended Friday’s ceremony, eating empanadas, drinking Colombian coffee and helping raise the Colombian flag at the corner of Bayard Street and Elm Row, Diaz has an immigrant story to tell.

His parents immigrated to the United States 60 years ago. Diaz was the first family member born in the United States, but the family struggled in its new homeland. His grandmother and her nine children lived for a while in a one-bedroom apartment in Jersey City.

“They made sure we had an education, they made sure that we made an impact in our lives,” he said. “But, the first impact they said was to make an impact in your family. Family, first and foremost. And after family, leave an impact on your community. And so, I decided to embark on a career in education.”

Castañeda ticked off the contributions Colombians and Colombian culture have made to the world, ranging from the pop hits of Shakira to the distinct paintings of Fernando Botero to the short stories of 1982 Nobel Peace Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez.

Castañeda also noted that Colombia ranks second in the world when it comes to geographical diversity, considering the country spans 440,000 square miles from the peaks of the Andes to the banks of the Amazon.

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