WASHINGTON, D.C. — The District opened Hispanic Heritage Month on Tuesday while marking the 50th anniversary of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, which has served as a liaison between Latino residents and the D.C. government since 1976.
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15. The Bowser administration said the Latino Affairs office will work with District agencies and community groups on events across Washington during the observance.
The office has assisted more than 70,000 residents over five decades through language access, workforce training, civic engagement and help navigating housing, health and education systems, according to the District. Its Latino Community Development Grant program awards local nonprofits grants of up to $50,000.
District officials said funding for the office’s grants has grown by nearly 80% since 2015. The portfolio includes the Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant, and the administration said 2026 grants have supported community organizations, new Latino-owned small businesses and government outreach.
Three events highlighted by the District are Cumbia Fest at Lamont Plaza on September 26, the Fiesta DC Parade of Nations on September 27, and an invitation-only Noche Cultural at the Mexican Cultural Institute on September 30.
The Latino Affairs office was established under the District of Columbia Latino Community Development Act. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the anniversary recognizes generations of Latino residents who have contributed to Washington’s culture and civic life.
Source: Executive Office of the Mayor, District of Columbia
Featured image: Participants in the 2019 Fiesta DC parade. Historical representative photo by Evelin1017 via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Washington Herald
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Washington, D.C.
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