City of Palm Bay to Rename Roadway in Honor of Community Activist Samuel C. Lopez, Ceremony Set March 10
By Space Coast Daily // March 4, 2022
Members of the public are invited to attend
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The City of Palm Bay will hold a roadway renaming ceremony for Samuel C. Lopez Way on Thursday, March 10 at 9 a.m. at Palm Bay City Hall.
Members of the public are invited to attend the commemorative renaming ceremony.
During the November 18 meeting, the Palm Bay City Council unanimously approved the request to rename the entrance roadway to the City Hall Complex in honor of Lopez, who died on January 11, 2021.
The proposal was brought forward by former Palm Bay Mayor Ed Geier to commemorate the many contributions made to the City of Palm Bay by Lopez, who in 1977, started United Third Bridge to foster a spirit of brotherhood and patriotism encouraging and supporting the advancement of all minorities while promoting equality among all.
Upon, moving to Melbourne he started the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which is held yearly in Palm Bay and is going on its 25th year. It has become the largest parade in Brevard County.
Through UTB he partnered with Brevard School Board to engage kids in the arts instituting art contests and promoting music and chorus. He and his wife Teresa started the Miss Puerto Rico Pageant and the Miss Latina Pageant to encourage young girls to get involved, learn to speak publicly and dress for success.
He also founded Brevard County’s Annual Family Salsa Festival, in which he brought many Puerto Rican artists and Salsa performers to our county and promoted cultural diversity.
He succeeded in naming Juan Ponce de Leon Park in Melbourne Beach, where today a statue stands. He served on Brevard County’s Historical Commission and was honored by Col. Peck to hold all evidence proving that Melbourne Beach was the actual landing of Juan Ponce de Leon, hence the Discovery of Florida.
He was a force to be reckoned with when it came to Labor and inclusion. He advocated for minorities to be recruited and hired within the local Police Departments and government offices. He spearheaded relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Maria and advocated for the release and family unification of immigrant detainees.
In the efforts to promote Hispanic businesses in Brevard County, he organized and started the only Hispanic chamber on the Space Coast. The Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce began as a means to promote local Hispanic Businesses with the focus on reaching everyone. For the past 18 years, he participated in the Hispanic Business Expo and connected the community with Hispanic business owners and those that wanted to work with our community.
Related Story:City of Palm Bay to Host Free Movie in the Park, Showing ‘Spirit Untamed’ on Saturday, March 5
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