Celebrating heritage
5/6/2026From traditional dance and cultural celebrations to food and storytelling, residents across central Iowa are finding meaningful ways to preserve and share their heritage. For many, these traditions not only honor the past but also help build community and connection for future generations.
Tania Barbosa
A beautiful mixture
Tania Barbosa is of Mexican-Lebanese heritage. Her great-grandparents left Lebanon and settled in Mexico. After many years, they returned to Lebanon when her grandfather was 3. Decades later, amid civil unrest, he chose to move his family back to Mexico. Tania’s mother was 11 at the time.
“The family lived in an apartment where they became very good friends with the neighbors — my father’s family,” Barbosa says. “That’s where they met, fell in love and married.”
Mexico has a large Lebanese community, allowing her family to remain connected to their roots.
“Saturday lunches at my grandparents’ home were the best,” she says. “We would often hear conversations in a mix of Arabic, French and Spanish.”
Growing up in a multicultural household inspired Barbosa to pursue international business. Early in her career, she joined DuPont and later accepted an international assignment in Wilmington, Delaware, where she lived for 13 years. She met her now ex-husband there, and after he received a job offer in Iowa, they relocated with their two children.
“We are very proud of our history and enjoy passing traditions from one generation to the next,” Barbosa says.
Source: Johston Living, April 2026; by Ashley Rullestad
Giancarlo and Betsy Amato
Preserving Italian connections
Giancarlo “John” Amato and his wife, Betsy, have built a family life deeply rooted in their Italian heritage — one shaped by tradition, food and a devotion to togetherness.
Their kitchen remains the heart of that legacy. They still make Italian dishes by hand, and the family pasta sauce recipe — passed down from Amato’s mother — has become a treasured heirloom. In 2022, Amato printed the recipe on notecards and tied them to small wooden spoons as thoughtful gifts for guests.
His pride in his heritage traces back to his childhood. Amato grew up with a father who immigrated from Italy to the United States in the early 1950s. His mother, who was of French and Irish descent, was born in the United States, but the Italian influence in the household was unmistakable.
“My dad did instill a sense of pride in our Italian heritage, and we were able to spend a month there every summer growing up,” Amato says. “We loved the lifestyle, the food, the love for soccer and the bond of our family.”
Source: North Polk Living, April 2026; by Lindsey Giardino
Jennifer Juarez
Heritage of dance
For Jennifer Juarez, her heritage is central to her identity.
“Being Mexican has always been a big part of who I am,” Jennifer says. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how important it is to stay connected to those roots. It helps me feel closer to my family, my ancestors and where they come from.”
Food, traditions and celebrations all play a role.
“Our family traditions make me feel connected to my ancestors,” she says. “Cooking recipes passed down through generations connects me to the places my family comes from, and celebrations bring us together as a community.”
Dance is another meaningful connection.
“One of the most important ways I connect to my heritage is through a Mexican folkloric dance group, GF Jóvenes Embajadores, which my mother-in-law started in 2002,” Jennifer says. “My husband and I began helping last summer. It’s been a meaningful experience because we’re helping keep traditional dances and music alive and sharing them with our community.”
Source: Altoona Living, April 2026; by Sean Dengler
Andrea Barutta
Cherishing Italian traditions
Italian-born Andrea Barutta is passionate about his heritage — not only preserving it, but ensuring his two children experience the same traditions he did growing up.
One way he stays connected is by volunteering with the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa, which is undergoing a $25 million renovation. He serves on the Heritage Council, helping organize events focused on Italian traditions, including fundraisers and food and wine events.
He also serves as committee chair for the Iowa Economic Development and Finance Authority and is involved in Iowa’s sister state relationship with Veneto, Italy, where he was born.
Barutta was raised in Padova in the Veneto region. He recalls a longtime tradition of La Befana, celebrated Jan. 6. The holiday features a folkloric old woman — similar to Santa Claus — who delivers candy and small gifts to good children and coal to those who misbehave. At the end of the day, an effigy is burned in a bonfire.
He speaks Italian regularly and meets with a small group of Italians in Des Moines for breakfast conversations. His accent often sparks curiosity.
“People are intrigued. I have an authentic Italian accent — not like Luigi,” he says with a laugh. ♦
Source: Waukee Living, April 2026; by Jackie Wilson
