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City of Charleston News Flash

Posted on: September 15, 2022

Mayor Tecklenburg and Latinx Advisory Council Announce National Hispanic Heritage Month

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and the Mayor’s Latinx Advisory Council announced the city’s National Hispanic Heritage Month 2022 observances at a press conference Thursday.

“The Latinx Advisory Council has done an outstanding job of producing this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month calendar of events, in collaboration with the City’s Cultural Affairs Department,” Mayor Tecklenburg said. “Thanks to these efforts, this year’s calendar is twice as large as last year’s calendar.”

Latinx Advisory Councilmember Nilsy Rapolo provided a Spanish interpretation of Mayor Tecklenburg’s opening statement. Representatives from organizations that sponsor more than 40 Hispanic Heritage Month events also attended the press conference. 

In a proclamation reading, Mayor Tecklenburg announced September 15 – October 15 as “National Hispanic Heritage Month” in the city, aligning with the national observance. 

The U.S. began recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. On August 17, 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to a month-long recognition by enacting National Hispanic Heritage Month into federal law. 

A calendar of Hispanic Heritage Month Lowcountry events is available here: https://conta.cc/3BgRO6m

The September 15 press conference was livestreamed on the following Facebook pages: 

About the Latinx Advisory Council: The Latinx Advisory Council is composed of 38 civic leaders involved in healthcare, education, business, law, media, cultural affairs, social services and grassroots organizing. The council’s mission is to “advise the mayor on efforts in the city of Charleston that improve diversity and inclusion, mobilize civic engagement, improve the quality of life of Charleston residents, and inspire harmony and cooperation among Charlestonians.” 

Representatives from the following organizations attended the press conference:

  • Latinx Advisory Council member and Business Growth & Development Co-Chair Nilsy Rapalo
  • Caja de Cuerdas Latin Band Leader Hector Salazar
  • Charleston Opera Theater Founder/Executive Artistic Director Harold Meers
  • Charleston Southern University Director at the Center for Global Education Stephanie LeVan
  • Circulo Hispanoamericano de Charleston Vice- President Paula Tejeda and Program Coordinator Asela Rodriguez Laguna
  • El Informador Newspaper Editor-In-Chief Pedro De Armas
  • Hispanic Business Association Board Member Charlie O’Brien
  • Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera Founding Artistic Director Dimitri Pittas
  • Latin Groove LLC Co-Founder Luigi Bravo
  • Lowcountry Local First’s Good Enterprises Program Director Raquel Padgett
  • Medical University of South Carolina’s Alliance for Hispanic Health Advisor Caroline Davila
  • Norsan Media’s Territory Manager Vanessa Gongora
  • The LENS Foundation of Charleston’s Initiatives & Events Chair Iskra Salcedo

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