HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2021.09.29 - 34887BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
September 29, 2021
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #21-373
Sponsored By: David Woodward, Karen Joliat, Thomas Kuhn, Christine Long, Charles Moss, Philip Weipert,
Penny Luebs, Yolanda Smith Charles, Kristen Nelson, Gwen Markham, William Miller III, Eileen Kowall,
Angela Powell, Charles Cavell, Michael Spisz, Michael Gingell, Marcia Gershenson, Janet Jackson, Gary
McGillivray, Adam Kochenderfer, Robert Hoffman
IN RE: Recognizing September 2021 as National Hispanic Heritage Month
Chairperson and Members of the Board:
WHEREAS from September 15, 2021, through October 15, 2021, National Hispanic Heritage Month is
observed by celebrating the ancestry, cultures and contributions of American citizens who came from or
whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America; and
WHEREAS this year's National Hispanic Heritage Month theme is "Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic
Heritage and Hope'; and
WHEREAS Hispanic Americans harbor a deep commitment to family and community, an enduring work ethic,
and a perseverance to succeed and contribute to society; and
WHEREAS the Bureau of the Census estimates the Hispanic population living in the continental United States
at nearly 6,000,000, plus an additional 3,500,000 living in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, making Iispanic
Americans almost 18% of the total population of the U.S. and the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the
U.S.; and
WHEREAS more than 1 in 4 public school students in America are Latino, and the ratio of Latino students is
expected to rise to nearly 30% by 2027; and
WHEREAS 36% of Latinos between the ages of 18 and 24 are enrolled in college, making Latinos the largest
racial or ethnic minority group on college campuses, including 2-year community colleges and 4-year colleges
and universities; and
WHEREAS 31.5 percent of Hispanics 25 years of age and older hold advanced degrees; and
WHEREAS Latino workers represent 62.9% of the total civilian labor force of the U.S., and the rate of Latino
labor force participation is expected to grow to 28% by 2024, accounting for approximately 48% of the total
labor force increase in the United States by that year; and
WHEREAS Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, holding posts at the highest levels of the U.S.
Government, including one seat on the Supreme Court of the United States, five seats in the Senate, 46 seats in
the House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS between 2017 through 2019, there were 9.7% Latino school teachers; 23.9% Latino management
professionals in businesses; approximately 6% of lawyers are comprised of Hispanic and Latinos; and 5.8% of
Latinos are physicians, and many others who contribute to the U.S. through their professions; and
WHEREAS the annual purchasing power of Hispanic Americans, has been estimated between $1.5 to $1.7
trillion, an amount greater than the economy of all except 17 countries in the world; and
WHEREAS there are more than 7.9 million Hispanic -owned fines supporting millions of employees
nationwide and contributing more than $600 billion in revenue to the U.S. economy; and
WHEREAS Hispanic -owned businesses represent the fastest -growing segment of small businesses in the U.S.,
with Latino -owned businesses growing at more than 15 times the national rate; and
WH EREAS countless Hispanic Americans have answered the call to protect the cause of freedom by serving in
our Armed Forces and have fought bravely in every war in the history of the United States, over 18,611,432
between 2014 and 2018; and
WHEREAS as of April 2018, more than 12.111'/0 of Latinos have served in post -September 11, 2001, overseas
contingency operations; and
WHEREAS as of 2015, there were more than 1,200,200 living Hispanic veterans of the Armed Forces,
including 136,000 Latinas; and
WHEREAS 61 Hispanic Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for
valor in action against an enemy force bestowed on an individual serving in the Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS a record 12,700,000 Latinos voted in the 2016 Presidential election, representing a record 9.2% of
the electorate in the U.S. An estimated 32 million Latinos were eligible to vote in 2020; and
WHEREAS the number of eligible Latino voters is expected to rise to 40,000,000 by 2030, accounting for 40%
of the growth in the eligible electorate in the U.S. by 2032; and
WHEREAS each year approximately 800,000 Latino citizens turn 18 years old and become eligible to vote, a
number that could grow to 1,000,000 by 2030, adding a potential 18 million new Latino voters by 2032; and
WHEREAS we celebrate the ancestry and culture of Hispanic Americans and continue to recognize the
valuable impact and immense contributions of Hispanic Americans to the economic, social, cultural, and civic
life of America and Oakland County.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby
recognizes September 2021 as National Hispanic Heritage Month and encourages our citizens, governmental
agencies, businesses, and schools to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans.
Chairperson, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: David Woodward, Karen
Jotiat, Thomas Kuhn, Christine Long, Charles Moss, Philip Weipert, Penny Luebs, Yolanda Smith
Charles, Kristen Nelson, Gwen Markham, William Miller III, Eileen Kowall, Angela Powell, Charles
Cavell, Michael Spisz, Michael Gingell, Marcia Gershenson, Janet Jackson, Gary McGillivray, Adam
Kochenderfer, Robert Hoffman.
&�� Date: October 07, 2021
Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2021-09-14 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations - Recjmmend to Board
2021-09-29 Full Board
VOTE TRACKING
Motioned by Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles seconded by Commissioner Permy Luebs to adopt the
attached Resolution: Recognizing September 2021 as National Hispanic heritage Month.
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Gingell, Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Eileen Kowall,
Christine Long, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Thomas Kuhn, Charles Moss, Marcia
Gershenson, William Miller III, Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Penny Luebs, Janet Jackson, Gary
McGillivray, Robert Hoffman (20)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
The Motion Passed.
ATTACHMENTS
None
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
1, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on September 29, 2021,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the sea] of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan on Wednesday, September 29, 2021.
I
Lisa Brown, Oakland Co ntr Clerk/Register of Deeds