Celebremos Hispanic Heritage Month_091509

Celebremos Hispanic Heritage Month: Honoring Our Past, Transforming Our Present and Leading Our Future By Tomás Alberto Ávila With a salute to the Mayas, Incas, Aztecs, Arahuacs, Tainos, Caribs and all the Americas Indigenous, and a bow to the many Hispanics in Rhode Island and the nation, Hispanic Heritage Month is once again upon us. In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month long celebration (September 15 – October 15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Mexico, the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean and Spain. September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. The four weeks of celebration are pack with social events and festivals honoring Hispanic contributions to the United States and the global community. Hispanic Heritage Month is the occasion for the Hispanic community to come together not only to celebrate their accomplishments, but to share with the rest of the country at large our diversity and pride as a people. Our citizens with roots in North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Spain have inherited an entrepreneurial spirit and an intense work ethic that have helped energize the strongest American economy in a generation. Throughout our history, America's promise of individual freedom and opportunity has drawn millions upon millions of immigrants from across the globe. As these newcomers arrived, they gradually wove their own traditions into the tapestry of our Nation's culture and society. Hispanic Americans have made significant contributions to the American Armed Forces, with more than 40 Medal of Honor recipients dating back to the Civil War. During the Korean War, the Boriqueneers (Buccaneers) of the 65th Infantry Regiment, Puerto Rican National Guard, led the last recorded battalion-sized bayonet charge by the U.S. Army on two hills held by the Chinese 149th Division Feb. 2, 1951. Hispanic Americans continue to serve proudly in the Armed Forces, at home and abroad, in the global war on terrorism. One of our Nation's greatest strengths is its vast diversity. The mosaic of races, ethnicities, and religious groups that comprise America provides us with a powerful energy and an ability to see the world from many viewpoints. Since our country's inception, Hispanic Americans have always been an integral part of this great mosaic such as Octaviano Larrazola (served 1928-29), became the first Hispanic American to serve in the United States Senate, follow by Dennis

Tomás Alberto Ávila

09/15/09

Chavez (formerly of the House, and served 1935-62), and Joseph Montoya (also formerly a House member, serve 1964-77). In 2004, Ken Salazar and Mel Martinez (the first Cuban American senator), and Bob Menendez was appointed and subsequently elected in 2006. Dennis Chavez and Joachim O. Fernández the First Hispanics elected to the United State House of Representatives in 1931, Ileana Ross-Letinen, the First Hispanic female elected to the United State Congress in 1989. Indeed the history, culture, and traditions of America are greatly influenced by the contributions of those individuals who have their origins in Spain and Latin America. While the impact of the Hispanic culture is manifest in our Nation's customs and traditions, this legacy continues on beyond the pages of history. Today, Hispanic Americans continue to make important contributions to our society. It would be impossible to think of American Government, business, industry, Armed Forces, agriculture, science, sports, and the arts without noting the presence and full participation of Hispanic Americans. Judge Sonia Sotomayor was recently sworn in as the first Hispanic to serve a United States Supreme Court Justice. Hispanic comprised 14 percent of President Barack Obama’s 304 nominees for senior administration positions requiring Senate confirmation, according to the White House. In addition to 43 appointments requiring Senate confirmation, representing, he has chosen 26 Hispanics for White House staff jobs more than any of his predecessors. According to Simon Rosenberg, CEO of the Democratic group NDN, which specializes in demographic and technological change. “America is going through one of the most profound demographic transformations in all of its history. The Obama administration is simply reflecting the emerging reality of America in the early 21st century.” Hispanics make up 15 percent of the U.S. population and about 8 percent of the overall federal workforce, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Office of Personnel Management. In Rhode Island, I like to highlight State Representative Anastasia Williams, District 9, The first Latina elected to office in 1992 in the state, Councilman Luis Aponte, Providence City Council Ward 10 the second Latino elected and the new generation of Hispanics that have assume leadership positions during the first decade of the 21st Century and are poise to lead our future and the state at the same time that the Latino community across the country assimilates into the main stream of the nation cultural tapestry; State Senator Juan Pichardo, Deputy President Tempore District 2, Adelita Orefice the first Latina appointed State Director of Labor and Training by Governor Donal Carcieri, Nellie M. Gorbea, former deputy secretary of state under Matt Brown Miguel Luna, City Councilman, City of Providence Ward 9, Enesto Figueroa, Director of Vital Statistics, City of Providence, Gonzalo Cuervo, Director of Community Relations, City of Providence, Grace Diaz, State Representative, District 11, Patricia Martinez, Director, Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Rafael Ovalles, Associate Judge, Rhode Island District Court, Stella Guerra-Brien, Councilwoman, City of Woonsocket, Luis Leon Tejada, City Councilman, City of Providence, Ward 8, Emilio L. Navarro, Councilman Ward 2, City of Cranston, Eunice DeLaHoz, Pro Tempore, Finance Chair, Councilwoman, City of Central Falls, Angel Taveras, Housing Judge, City of Providence, Melba Depeña, Executive Director, City of Providence Human Relations Commission, Anna CanoMorales, Associate Vice President for Grant Programs, The Rhode Island Foundation,

Tomás Alberto Ávila

09/15/09

Chairwoman, the School Board of Central Falls, State Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education, Victor Capellan, Chief Academic Officer/Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction of the Fall River Public Schools. As the Latino community increases in population, market share and potential growth, Hispanic Americans are an increasingly vital part of our economy. According the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2008 is 46.9 million, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 15 percent of the nation’s total population. In addition, there are approximately 4 million residents of Puerto Rico. A projected Hispanic population of the United States of 132.8 million on July 1, 2050 will constitute 30 percent of the nation’s population by that date. U.S. Hispanic purchasing power has surged to nearly $850 billion and is projected to reach as much as $1 trillion by 2010, according to new estimates. The rate of growth is nearly three times the overall national rate of the past decade, according to an analysis of data recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002 numbered 1.6 million. In the local business sector we also have seen a transition of young professionals moving into the main stream during the 21st century, such as Dr. Rick M. Quiles, MD, Pediatrician, CEO of Park Pediatrics, LLC, Jose R. Polanco, M.D.,CEO Edgewood Medical, Board Certified Internal Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Brown University School of Medicine, and Sussy De Leon, Broker/CEO RE/MAX New Horizons and Piñata Center, President, The Greater Providence Board of REALTORS, contributing to Rhode Island tie with Georgia for second place with 56 percent behind first place New York as States with the fastest rates of growth for Hispanic-owned firms between 1997 and 2002. The 2002, the Census Bureau found there were 3,415 Latino businesses statewide. Leading our Future into the second decade of the 21st Century are astronauts Jose Hernandez and Danny Oliva aboard the first shuttle mission to feature two Latinos, making their first space flight on the STS-128 shuttle mission that is orbiting the globe . as we finish this article. During the mission, Hernandez oversees the transfer of supplies and equipment between the shuttle and station, assist with robotics operations and serve as a flight engineer in the shuttle cockpit during launch and landing, Judge Sonia Sotomayor the first Hispanic to serve a United States Supreme Court Justice Mauricio Sabogal, until now CEO of Omnicom Media Group Latin America, was named managing director of Initiative Worldwide. It's the first time a Latino has been appointed to a global managing position within a media agency network and it's safe to say the move will make Mr. Sabogal the most important Latin American executive in the global media-agency business to name a few. Hispanic Heritage Month climaxes with el dia de la Raza or Columbus Day that celebrates the fusion of three cultures, the Indigenous People of the Americas, the European Spaniard and African. Hispanic-Americans can look back and acknowledge the impact that Spanish explorers and Africans had over the Americas and the birth of the Hispanic culture throughout the continent.

Tomás Alberto Ávila

09/15/09

In many ways, one month seems paltry when you consider the contributions made by Hispanics over the course of over 500 hundred years of history. From the earliest mission towns to modern day Miami, the vitality of the Hispanic community has always been evident. And as our presence grows we are slowly infusing America with our culture even as we in turn become more Americans. Hispanics are changing the face of America even as they are being changed by their new homeland. Felíz Hispanic Heritage Month to all!!

Tomás Alberto Ávila

09/15/09