Proclamation
National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed between September 15 to October 15 to celebrate the histories, cultures, and significant contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Hispanic history has played a prominent role in American history, and today, Hispanic/Latinos are the largest racial or ethnic minority, in both our state and the nation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic/Latino population of the United States is over 60 million, comprising almost 19% of the total U.S. population.
Nearly 16 million Hispanic/Latino Americans live in California, comprising 40% of our state’s population. More than 9,300 Hispanic American residents live in the City of Alameda where they make up 12% of our population.
Generations of Hispanic/Latino Americans have helped shape our society, economy, culture, and values as political and civic leaders, scientists, educators, artists, advocates, and service providers. They include labor leaders and civil rights activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta who co-founded an organization that became the United Farmworkers Organizing Committee; Justice Sonia Sotomayor, daughter of Puerto Rican parents who became the first Latina, and third woman, to serve on the U.S.
Supreme Court; Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina to go to space when, in 1993, she flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Dr. Ochoa later became the first Latina Director of the Johnson Space Center; Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony Award-winning composer, playwright, actor, and creator of the musical, “Hamilton;” visual artist Frida Kahlo, author Sandra Cisneros, California's U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, California Assemblymember and Alameda resident Mia Bonta, and many more.
Alameda stands with Hispanic/Latino Americans' efforts to overcome prejudice and discrimination, and fight for workers and immigrants' rights, access to healthcare, housing, education, and equal treatment under the law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Mayor of the City of Alameda, do hereby proclaim September 15, through October 15, 2025, as
National Hispanic Heritage Month
in the City of Alameda and encourage all Alamedans to learn more about the identities and historical legacies of Hispanic/Latino Americans that enrich our communities and shape our state and our nation.
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
Mayor