TATTNALL COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)—Communities throughout the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry have been celebrating Hispanic Heritage for the past month. In Tattnall County, the cultural celebration is growing each and every year. Many people are just starting to learn about the large Hispanic population there. According to South Tattnall Elementary School Assistant Principal Claudia Martinez, that population is growing steadily with the available agricultural jobs, low cost of living and good schools in the area. Martinez has been working to showcase the culture that runs deep in this area. She said she grew up in Mexico in a state near the Texas border. Four years ago, she brought a little slice of her home here through the now annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Tattnall County High School. Now, it has drawn quite the large crowd. "Growing up, we had these folkloric dances and live performances," Martinez said. "I was a part of them, and I loved them and enjoyed them. When I came to the United States, there was none of that. And so it was in my doctoral program that I realized that I can make a difference. I can make it happen over here." This event and the other small celebrations throughout the month gave the children and their parents a chance to feel seen, recognized and celebrated. People from all kinds of backgrounds came together to show their love for Hispanic music, dancing and food. Local Firefighters and Therapy Dogs pose together for a Charitable Project Professor Michael Van Wagenen from Georgia Southern University's Department of History weighed in on the importance of recognizing this community. "When you see resources channeled into events like this, it's really important, because it helps people in smaller communities understand that their experiences also matter," Van Wagenen said. Along with graduate student Jessica Benitez, Van Wagenen created a pop-up museum exhibit, showcasing Mexican food in the U.S. He said many people came by and shared their gratitude for the display, the items reminding them of home. "When they see some of the kitchen implements, they get really excited," Van Wagenen. "They want to touch them and tell stories to their children about how they use something or how grandma used to use these sorts of old tools and implements. So that's fun, too. But it's also for some people, this is the first time that they're seeing these kinds of things or learning about these kinds of things. And to kind of see that light bulb go off and make connections to their lives today and to what the United States is today is very helpful." He added that as the U.S. becomes more and more of a melting pot, there is far more influence from different cultures. "I think that for the overall well-being of society, for us to understand one another and appreciate one another is definitely going to move us forward in a positive direction," Van Wagenen said. "And I think events like this are fantastic for creating that kind of environment, of sharing cultures." Martinez said, "My favorite part, I think, is just being able to see how everyone comes together, being able to see the smiling faces of the students, and just seeing how proud they are and just displaying who they are."