Public Employee Press

Latino Heritage Month 2007

Salute to the Dominican community

By ALFREDO ALVARADO
PEP photos by Clarence Elie-Rivera,
Elena Olivo and Charles Brown.

The annual Latino Heritage Celebration at DC 37 during October featured many exciting events that paid tribute to the union’s diverse membership and the contributions made to the city’s labor struggles by union activists and elected officials of Dominican ancestry.

“Making Diversity Work,” was the theme as Locals 420 and 1070 jointly celebrated Latino Heritage Month on Oct. 5 at DC 37 headquarters. Their keynote speaker was Malin Falu, the beloved Spanish-language radio personality, ordained minister and healing therapist from Santurce, Puerto Rico.

Local 983 dedicated its 6th annual Latino Heritage celebration on Oct. 12 to the memory of retired1st Vice President Ralph Dukes, a former Motor VehicleOperator at the Health and Hospitals Corp., who passed away Sept. 20.

Mark Rosenthal, president of Local 983, paid tribute to soldiers of Hispanic heritage who are serving in Iraq. “Hispanic soldiers make up 40 percent of the armed forces,” he said. The local’s keynote speaker was State of New York Judicial Delegate Ruben Dario Vargas, who commended Rosenthal for his leadership. “You are responsible for improving the living and working conditions of the members of this local,” he said.

“Latinos: Standing Together for Basic Human Needs,” was the theme of SSEU Local 371’s 16th annual celebration Sept. 28. Keynoter and City Council member Melissa Mark Viverito said, “Being in a union hall is always inspiring, because union halls are halls of justice.” The council member also denounced the military recruitment at public high schools and spoke in favor of increased funding for public housing in the city.

Events all month
On Oct. 18, the DC 37 Latino Heritage Committee presented the documentary, “Dominican Identity and Migrations to Hispaniola.” The film is by Professor Nelson Montilla, a Dominican-American who has extensively researched the migration of blacks and other people to the Dominican Republic during the last century.

Locals 372 and 1549 joined forces to celebrate their 17th annual Latino Heritage event on Oct. 19, closing out the month-long festivities. Their theme was “Dominicans United in Labor Struggles,” as they acknowledged the contributions of Local 372 Latina activist Ellie Bonilla, Community Board Manager Ebenizer Smith and DC37 Assistant Associate Director Henry Garrido.

“When I first ran for office, it was DC 37 that filled my headquarters with supporters,” said guest speaker and Queens Assembly member Jose L. Peralta. “I will never forget what DC 37 did for me.”

DC 37 and Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa emphasized the importance of union solidarity. “As working families, we have enough influence to change public policy. That is my message,” she said. Edgar DeJesus, recently named DC 37’s interim organizing director, encouraged members to sign up as volunteer organizers.

Echoing a similar theme, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts stressed to members the importance of attending meetings and staying informed. “The growth of our Latino community is the growth of our union’s diversity,” said Roberts at the finale.

“Our advancement as a community has to come from respecting our diversity as Latinos and in unity among ourselves,” said DC 37 Latino Heritage Committee Chair Santos Crespo, executive vice pesident of Local 372.