Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

The History, The Significance, and The Impact of Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15th-October 15th

The History

Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States recognizes and celebrates the contributions of Latino and Hispanic American individuals and communities. Created in 1968 under the Lyndon Johnson Administration, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally just one week allocated by Congress to formally appreciate Hispanic American contributions. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded this into the full month that is recognized today.

The Significance

According to the 2022 U.S. Census, over 63.7 million people in the United States are of Hispanic origin. This accounts for 19.1% of the U.S. population. This number has been increasing for many years and is expected to continue expanding for the foreseeable future. Hispanic and Latino contributions in the United States have existed for centuries. It is important to honor these contributions and celebrate them to formally appreciate the impact that these people and communities have made.

The Impact

The implementation of Hispanic Heritage Month has served and will continue to serve as a time for Hispanic and Latin Americans in the United States to celebrate themselves and be celebrated by their communities. The recognition of otherwise unheard voices from the Hispanic and Latinx community has empowered business owners, government employees, teachers, service workers, and millions of others to develop a greater confidence amidst harmful stereotypes and a political climate that has demonstrated a negative impact on these communities. It is necessary to celebrate these communities and these individuals to move towards an equitable and responsible future.

The theme for Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 is Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America. This theme highlights contributions in STEM fields, the U.S. Military, entertainment, literature, and more.

Click Here to read more about this year’s theme. 

More resources for Hispanic Heritage Month will be in our “September at the International Institute of Akron” blog post!

La historia, la importancia, y el impacto de la Mes de la Herencia Hispana

15 de septiembre - 15 de octubre

La Historia

El Mes de la Herencia Hispana en los Estados Unidos reconoce y se celebra las contribuciones de los individuos y las comunidades latinoamericanos y hispanoamericanos. Creado en el año 1968 bajo la administración del presidente Lyndon Johnson, el Mes de la Herencia Hispana originalmente era solo una semana designado por el congreso para apreciar formalmente las contribuciones hispanoamericanas. En el año 1988, el presidente Ronald Reagan lo expandió en el mes completo que reconocemos hoy en día.

La Importancia

Según el censo estadounidense en 2022, más de 63.7 millón personas en los Estados Unidos son de origen hispano. Esto significa que 19.1% de la población estadounidense es del origen hispano. Este número ha ido aumentando para muchos años y está predicho a aumentar para el futuro predecible. Las contribuciones latinos e hispanos en los Estados Unidos han existido para siglos. Es importante honrarlas y celebrarlas para agradecer formalmente el impacto que han hecho estas personas y comunidades.

El Impacto

La implementación del Mes de Herencia Hispana ha servido y continuará a servir como un momento para los hispanoamericanos y los latinoamericanos en los Estados Unidos para celebrar ellos mismos y para ser celebrado por sus comunidades. El reconocimiento de las voces no escuchadas de la comunidad hispana y latina ha empoderado a los dueños de negocios, los empleados del gobierno, los maestros, los trabajadores de los servicios, y millones de los otros para desarrollar una confianza mayor en medio de los estereotipos dañinos y un clima político que ha mostrado un impacto negativo en estas comunidades. Es necesario celebrar estas comunidades y estos individuos para avanzar hacia un futuro justo y responsable.

 

El tema del Mes de la Herencia Hispana 2023 es Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America. Este tema destaca las contribuciones en los campos STEM (ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería, y matemáticas), las fuerzas armadas estadounidenses, el entretenimiento, la literatura, y más.

Haz Clic Aquí para leer más sobre el tema de este año.

¡Más recursos del Mes de la Herencia Hispana estarán en nuestro “September at the International Institute of Akron” entrada de blog!

September at the International Institute of Akron

As September unfolds, we find ourselves reflecting on an amazing month of unity and generosity here at the International Institute of Akron. During this time, IIA has welcomed 75 individuals from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Syria, and Burma to our community. Below, we’ll share stories of resilience, updates on our community initiatives, and opportunities for you to get involved in creating positive change.

September at the Institute 

This month, IIA has had the privilege of celebrating Welcoming Week between September 8-17. Through Welcoming Week, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places to achieve a collective prosperity.

IIA shared advocacy resources, immigrant-owned restaurants, and messages of welcome from our team through our social media platforms.

We also partnered with the Riverfront YMCA for Welcoming Week for an exciting afternoon with our Afghan community in the YMCA’s gymnastics center. It was a heartwarming sight to see the kids and families coming together for a day of fun!

Thank You for Your Generous Support of IIA’s Asylum Fund! 

We are overwhelmed with gratitude as we express our appreciation for your unwavering support of IIA’s Asylum Fund. With immense joy, we’re excited to announce that together, we have raised a total of $18,132, far surpassing our original goal of $10,000.  

Your generous donations are the lifeline that sustains our mission to provide refuge, protection, and a new beginning for those fleeing persecution and seeking asylum in our community. Each dollar contributed not only fuels our efforts but also sends a powerful message of solidarity and humanity to those in desperate need.

Thank you for being the driving force behind the positive changes we create together in Akron and Summit County.  

Upcoming Akron Events

Akron-Summit County Public Library to Host Yiddish Book Center “Stories of Exile” Discussion:

In October and November, Akron-Summit County Public Library will be hosting the Yiddish Book Center’s, “Stories of Exile” reading group series. The Yiddish Book Center's "Stories of Exile" Reading Groups for Public Libraries is a reading and discussion program to engage teens and adults in thinking about experiences of displacement, migration, and diaspora. In this program, librarians organize reading groups to discuss three books of Yiddish literature in translation and one book related to the experience of a community served by their library. 

To learn more about the programs offered throughout the series, or to register, please visit: https://www.akronlibrary.org/press-room/akron-summit-county-public-library-to-host-yiddish-book-center-stories-of-exile-discussions-at-several-locations

 

Lakota Nation VS. United States Showing at Akron’s Nightlight Theater:

Just in time for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, The Nightlight theater is offering two showings of the documentary Lakota Nation VS. United States (2022) on Sunday, October 1 (2:30pm,) and Monday, October 2 (8:00pm).

 The film provides an inside look at the Lakota fight to protect their sacred land. It is a provocative, visually stunning testament to a land and a people who have survived removal, exploitation and genocide.

Get your tickets to Lakota Nation VS. United States at: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=328006~6a36e7ec-5c5e-413d-824d-70502334ff01

Immigrant Spotlight: Lucie’s Path to Citizenship 

On May 26, 2023, Lucie Kazadi officially became a citizen of the United States after living in Kent, Ohio, for nine years as an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Her journey symbolizes the challenges immigrants face, from steep fees to a language and civics test, resonating with countless others who share the immigrant experience.

Lucie’s transformative Journey in Kent, involved overcoming language barriers and forging meaningful connections, leading to her introduction to the International Institute of Akron’s citizenship classes. With unwavering determination and the support of her community, Lucie conquered her doubts and passed her citizenship exam on that momentous day. Her story is a testament to immigrant resilience and determination, and you can read more about it at https://www.iiakron.org/blog/2023/9/15/citizenship-day-lucies-path-to-citizenship.

 
 

Recommendation Corner 

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15th to October 15th each year, we would like to share some valuable resources that highlight Hispanic, Latin-American, and Indigenous peoples of the Americas history in the United States.

Opened in June 2022, the National Museum of the American Latino is one of the newest Smithsonian museums. Located in Washington, D.C., this museum showcases a multitude of unique American Latino experiences and the collective contributions of the Latin American community in the United States.

Within the museum’s Molina Family Latino Gallery, there is currently a showcase of a documentary entitled “Somos” directed by Alberto Ferreras. This documentary highlights the diversity and complexities of Latin American identity.

Click the image below to learn more about the museum and to view the documentary’s preview.

Additional Resources:

It is important to acknowledge the harm that stereotypes and generalizations can create for communities facing barriers. The Latin American population in the United States is a community that experiences significant impact from these stereotypes. ThoughtCo. Provides a helpful article that addresses these common generalizations and their negative effects on the Latin American and Indigenous peoples of the Americas community, specifically within the United States.

Click Here to read the article.

Written by Alyssa Gonzales at Salud-America.org, “The Unsung Impact of Latinos on the U.S. Economy” is another great article to read to understand further the quantitative contributions of Latinos in the United States and how these contributions are underemphasized. Gonzales also includes ways that the reader can help local Latino communities.

Click Here to read the article.

How to Get Involved 

We are currently seeking for donations to support our efforts in assisting refugees and immigrants in integrating into their new communities.

If you can donate anything on the list of needs below, please contact, donated.goods@iiakron.org.

Current Needs:

-        Pots and pans

-        Towels and washcloths

-        Twin and full sheet sets

-        Pillows

-        Blankets and comforters

-        Dish soap

-        Bathroom and kitchen cleaner

-        Sponges, cleaning rags and paper towels

-        Laundry detergent

-        Trash cans

-        Trash bags

-        Brooms

-        Toilet paper

-        Soap

-        Toothbrush

-        Toothpaste

-        Combs and Hairbrushes

Thanks for staying up to date on everything IIA, and we look forward to sharing more information soon!

Citizenship Day: Lucie’s Path to Citizenship

 
 

On May 26, 2023, Lucie Kazadi officially became a citizen of the United States after living in Kent, Ohio, for nine years as an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Her accomplishment is not one that comes easily, as immigrants must pay hefty naturalization fees, become proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English, and pass a civics test on the U.S. government, history, and geography. Lucie’s story is just one of thousands of incredible narratives that embody the immigrant experience in America.   

When Lucie first arrived in Kent, Ohio, her new community immediately felt different from the one she left behind in the DRC. In Ohio, she noticed that people were outside far less often than in her home country, as though no one lived there. Eager to meet people in her community, Lucie began knocking on her neighbor's doors and introducing herself. She recalls, “I was going door to door. I’m a newcomer, I need to talk, and my English was very bad. Nobody could understand me. I was talking with a signal.” Over time, her determination paid off as she improved her English and established meaningful connections within her new community.

Lucie’s journey took an inspiring turn when she began working as a lunch monitor in several Kent schools. Through her work, she formed bonds with students and teachers who would play a pivotal role in her citizenship pursuit. It was a fellow teacher who introduced Lucie to the International Institute of Akron’s citizenship classes after she expressed interest in becoming a U.S. citizen.

In her initial three months attending citizenship classes, Lucie faced moments of doubt, saying, “All the questions they was asking me, I say, ‘I don’t have the answer, oh my gosh,’ but my classmates know everything except for me.” Discouraged, Lucie took a break from classes, coming back three months later with a renewed sense of determination. The students in the citizenship class at the International Institute grew close, helping and cheering each other on as they prepped for the exam. Outside of class, Lucie began studying the questions on the civics test 20 minutes per day, even using work breaks to practice questions and English. Larie Shaw, IIA’s citizenship class teacher, said that Lucie was an incredibly determined woman and worked hard to get what she wanted.

Lucie’s dedication did not go unnoticed at work. The teachers at the schools she worked in became aware of her pursuit and offered support. They helped her practice English and quizzed her on the test questions. Months of diligent preparation and collaborations with friends, co-workers, and IIA teachers led to the defining moment in Lucie’s journey: May 26, 2023, her citizenship exam. 

Middle Photo: Lucie with IIA Citizenship Class teacher, Larie Shaw

The day arrived, and Lucie, feeling nervous, asked a friend to drive her to the exam location in Cleveland. The immigration officer conducting the exam revealed that she had once been a teacher, instantly putting Lucie at ease, as her friends and co-workers were also educators. After completing the exam, Lucie received the news she had worked so tirelessly for – she had passed and was now a United States citizen.  

Reflecting on her newfound citizenship, Lucie expressed, “I feel comfortable. I’m so glad. They told me if you become a citizen, you will have more opportunity.” Lucie’s most eagerly anticipated privilege as a citizen is the right to vote and participate in elections, allowing her to have a voice in shaping the future of the U.S.

In parting, Lucie offered a piece of advice to those considering the path to citizenship: “If you have the opportunity to do something, do it. Don’t wait.” Her story serves as a reminder of the resilience and determination that immigrants like Lucie bring to the United States, enriching the country with their unique experiences and contributions. Lucie Kazadi’s journey is a testament to the enduring spirit of those who pursue their dreams and aspirations, no matter the obstacles they face along the way.