To: Delrico J. Loyd, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Jerome Threlkeld, Organizational Development Coordinator
title
RE: Approval to recognize September 15 - October 15, 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Genesee County
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of a resolution recognizing September 15 - October 15, 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Genesee County
BACKGROUND:
One of the Genesee County Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission’s goals is to enhance the county’s reputation for being welcoming to all
DISCUSSION:
Members of the Genesee County Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission met with community members to co-curate this resolution being proposed to the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Inclusive, Collaborative Culture - Members of the Genesee County Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission met with community members to co-curate this resolution being proposed to the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
WHEREAS, beginning in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson the United States observed Hispanic Heritage Week, which was expanded to National Hispanic Heritage Month under President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and has been celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15, which coincides with the independence days of many Latin American countries; and
WHEREAS, many of the first Hispanic families to settle in Genesee County worked on farms as migrant workers-labor that was and still is hard, often underpaid, and serves as the basis for the fresh food we enjoy even today-while other early families came to work at General Motors; and
WHEREAS, these early families, many of whom settled in the Eastside and Rollingwood areas in Flint, created a sense of community, built vibrant organizations including the American G.I. Forum, a Hispanic veterans group, and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, the first parish in the state organized and paid for directly by Hispanic families, championed by Father Eduardo Lorenzo (who himself was an immigrant from Cuba and passed away last year) as a place to meet the spiritual and community needs of Spanish-speaking residents; and
WHEREAS, the early generations of Hispanic families contributed to the overall culture, vibrancy, and enrichment of our Genesee County community, through everything from shaping the proud tradition of Golden Gloves boxing (selflessly coached and sustained by Lalo Pérez and assisted by Jesse Ascencio for the CERCA Center) to serving as leaders in education and union organizing, and
WHEREAS, cultural organizations such as El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil serve the children and grandchildren of the first Hispanic generations in Genesee County and foster equity, both in terms of promoting bilingual literacy and imparting the cultural traditions of dance and music as an expression of the historical interaction of different ethnic groups, from the influence of polkas and accordion music brought by German immigrants in the northern mining towns of Mexico to the fusion of West African percussion combined with Spanish footwork as seen in son jarocho in the southeastern state of Veracruz; and
WHEREAS, several celebrations marking Hispanic Heritage Month will be taking place in Genesee County, including a two-day Folklórico Festival of music and dance to be held at the University of Michigan-Flint on September 19-20, and the launch of the Children’s Bilingual Book Parade at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library on September 26 at 2 pm.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, hereby recognizes the month of September 15 to October 15, 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Genesee County and encourages all county departments to engage in celebratory activities and appropriate recognitions, such as participation in community events, sharing stories, and learning about Latinx/Hispanic-Americans and the contributions they have made to our county and nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Genesee County Clerk/Register is directed to provide one copy of this Resolution to each city, village, and township within Genesee County and to each County Clerk in the State of Michigan.