Recognizing September 15th through October 15th as Hispanic Heritage Month in the City of Philadelphia.

Recognizing September 15th through October 15th as Hispanic Heritage Month in the City of Philadelphia. WHEREAS, Hispanic Heritage Month began as a commemorative week introduced in June of 1968 by California Congressman George E. Brown, who represented East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, areas with significant Hispanic and Latino populations; and WHEREAS, The initiative to recognize the contributions of the Hispanic community gained momentum during the 1960s, a period marked by the civil rights movement and increasing awareness of the United States' multicultural identity; and WHEREAS, On September 17, 1968, Congress passed Public Law 90-48, officially authorizing and requesting the President to issue annual proclamations declaring September 15 and 16 as the start of National Hispanic Heritage Week, and encouraging the people of the United States, particularly the educational community, to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and WHEREAS, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Week on the same day; and WHEREAS, Hispanic Heritage Month is now an annual celebration that honors the history and culture of the Latino and Hispanic populations in the United States, having expanded from its original week-long observance in 1968 to a month-long commemoration; and WHEREAS, Hispanic Heritage Month extends from the middle of September through the middle of October, a period chosen to coincide with the …