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Ms. Gonez, Ms. Ortiz Franklin, Ms. Griego - Celebrating Latino/a/e Heritage Month in the Los Angeles Unified School District (Res-007-26/27) (Waiver of Board Rule 72)
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Whereas, The United States has observed Latino/a/e Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 since 1988 to commemorate the contributions, heritage, achievements, and cultural influences of Latino Americans in the United States;
Whereas, Latine Heritage Month also recognizes the intersectionality and diversity of the U.S. Latino population, incorporating indigenous histories and celebrating the independence days of several Latin American countries including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua;
Whereas, Latinos also include people of African and indigenous descent who are too often ignored when talking about the history, culture, and contributions of Latin American peoples, despite making up about 10% of U.S. Latinos;
Whereas, This month-long recognition serves as an opportunity for all Americans to learn more about Latine history, promote cultural awareness and inclusivity, and celebrate diversity both in the present and in our nation’s history;
Whereas, U.S. imperialism and military intervention in Latin America, including in countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, Chile, and Nicaragua, has led to mass migration of people fleeing civil wars and economic hardship to the United States;
Whereas, The U.S. Latine population has grown to become the second largest racial or ethnic group in the United States in the last decade, reaching 62.6 million Latinos as of 2021 and accounting for 19% of all Americans;
Whereas, The state of California is home to the largest Latine population in the country, where they comprise 40.3% of the state’s overall population, and almost 50% of the population of the County of Los Angeles;
Whereas, Communities like Pico-Union, Boyle Heights, Koreatown, South East Los Angeles, Pacoima, San Fernando, and others are the...
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