On Thursday, Sept. 19, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners celebrated Hispanic and Latiné Heritage Month with a proclamation recognizing the significant contributions of Hispanic and Latiné communities, their diversity and their strength.
Hispanic and Latiné Heritage Month, celebrated annually nationwide from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, honors people who identify as Hispanic, Latiné, Latino/a, Chicano/a or indigenous, from Mexico or Central and South America.
Chair Jessica Vega Pederson shared her pride in her own heritage and the opportunity to celebrate with family, friends and colleagues. This year’s theme, “Raíces de esperanza: Roots of Hope and Resilience,” emphasizes drawing strength and resilience from cultural roots.
“For so many of us, some of our strength comes from a love of family and commitment to the depth of generational connection that we have,” said Chair Vega Pederson.
“I know this is true in the world of my parents,” she continued, sharing that her mother, in particular, has helped raise her children, her sisters’ children and many of her extended family, as well. “We are a family that connects, plays and celebrates together.”
Mario Cardenas, an employee in Multnomah County’s Behavioral Health Division, told the Board that while he’s proud of his roots — born and raised in Acapulco, Mexico — he also takes great pride in serving his community and the opportunities Multnomah County has given him. As part of the Behavioral Health Division, Cardenas helps break down the barriers to care his community often faces. He attributed his ability to do this to Multnomah County, whose services helped him get an education and find his passion.
“There is so much more to do. I have set a goal out of passion, resilience and firsthand experience and love for our community to support and create a welcoming space and to advocate so that our community can be uplifted and celebrated,” he said.
Another Behavioral Health staff member, Jesus Navarro Meza, shared his personal experience facing discrimination as an immigrant and his commitment to positive change and fighting against discrimination.
“Part of my daily goal is to help people rise up and get empowered to chase their dreams wherever they may be,” he said.
He also shared the importance of accepting and celebrating multiculturalism, not just in terms of different nationalities, but also within families and different walks of life.
Navarro Meza thanked the County for investing resources into the ongoing fight for a better future.
Ricardo Verdeguez from NW Instituto Latino highlighted the importance, but also the current lack, of culturally relevant treatment options for Latinos in Oregon, and advocated for the resurrection of a previously successful Latino program that helped him personally.
Verdeguez shared about his journey of struggling with substance use disorder and, in 2009, gaining access to a culturally specific treatment program that was in his own language. He’s now in long-term recovery. “Today, I can be part of the society.”
While the treatment program was originally founded by Multnomah County, Verdeguez said it ended because of the lack of bilingual and bicultural professional staff. He pointed out that there is only one culturally specific residential treatment program in Oregon, three hours away from Portland, and no culturally specific residential treatment programs for Latinas in Oregon.
“Today I would like to know if we can at least start the conversation to try to resurrect that good program that I was part of, the program that saved my life,” he said.
Yoana Molina Marcial grew up in a small town with limited resources, but since making Multnomah County her home 26 years ago, has become a community leader. She learned English, then began sharing what she learned about the resources available to her community, even stepping up to interpret when needed. But she knew the need for the community was much bigger than what she could address alone.
She rose up to become the director of operations for the Rosewood Initiative, a non-profit organization in East Portland that works with residents to empower and improve their neighborhoods by fostering community building and providing access to resources that promote economic stability, health and resilience, where she served for six years and oversaw an increase in participation by hundreds of people.
When COVID-19 hit the community, that need for resources only grew. “So I called together all of my Latina warriors” to show up and meet the needs within their own community, she recounted.
The group Molina Marcial started, appropriately called Guerreras Latinas, became its own nonprofit organization, and has already served over 10,000 families. She now serves as its executive director.
She recounted how the County helped by providing PPE supplies like masks, gloves and other essentials to prevent the spread of the virus that her organization distributed to the community.
“Invest in us, because we have come here to add value,” she said.
Alexis Ball, a program specialist senior with the Community Partnerships and Capacity Building team in the County’s Public Health Division, read the proclamation.
Board Remarks
“What you just presented today is the heart and soul of what is so meaningful in our County,” said Commissioner Sharon Meieran.
Commissioner Jesse Beason thanked the presenters for the contributions each brings to the community and brought further attention to the increase in Latiné individuals in leadership positions. “I can’t wait to see more reflective representation throughout jurisdictions across this state.”
Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards thanked those who shared their experiences for demonstrating “the power of what one person with heart and passion can move forward.”
Commissioner Lori Stegmann expressed her appreciation for the proclamation and the importance of diversity in Multnomah County. “Immigrants and refugees, people of color, we come here to add value.”
She also spoke to the significance of representation in leadership roles.
“You never know when a young person or somebody who just has a lower level of confidence doesn't believe in themselves, but when they see you, you give them that confidence,” she said.
Chair Vega Pederson acknowledged both the work that the County has done in serving the community, and the work remaining. “There is so much work to do making sure we’re growing access to culturally specific and language-appropriate services and care.”