President Barack Obama will hold an event in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington, D.C. today.
The White House American Latino Heritage Forum will be a series of meetings bringing together prominent members of the Hispanic community, including civil rights leader Dolores Huerta and Medal of Honor Recipient Leroy A. Petry, to focus on the government’s efforts on helping Latino students, small business owners, military veterans and artists.
The event will “celebrate the past and ongoing contributions of American Latinos who have helped shape America’s rich and diverse history,” according to the White House.
The Interior Department will host the forum, where Secretary Ken Salazar will continue his push for increased national historic sites across the country that highlight the contributions of Latinos.
“Less than 3 percent of all the national landmarks that we have – the highest designation you can receive as a historic landmark – are designated for women, Latinos, African Americans or other members of minority groups,” Salazar said last week. “That tells you that the score is not even.”
In June, Salazar ordered a national study called the “American Latino Heritage Theme Study” to investigate and identify other places that can be added as historic landmarks. Salazar also asked the public to weigh in with their own suggestions.
“Our country thrives on the diversity and ingenuity of its people,” said Salazar. “Through the centuries, American Latinos have contributed to all aspects of our society and our culture. They are entrepreneurs and public servants, laborers and farm workers, doctors and lawyers, activists and educators, and brave service members who defend our way of life at home and abroad. Our ability to harness the resources and talent of the Latino community will only strengthen our Nation’s ability to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”
[…] This celebration was similar to last year’s American Latino Heritage Forum by the White House to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, as previously indicated by La Plaza. […]