Proclaiming that September 15 through October 15, 2026 to be Latin American Caribbean Heritage Month.

Proclamation Whereas: Somerville is strengthened by generations of Latin American and Caribbean residents whose families, cultures, languages, work, creativity, and leadership are an essential part of our community; and Whereas: Latin America and the Caribbean encompass an extraordinary diversity of peoples and cultures, connected by geography and shared histories but shaped by distinct Indigenous, African, European, Asian, and blended traditions that cannot be defined by a single language, identity, or colonial history; and Whereas: The histories of Latin America and the Caribbean long predate European colonization, rooted in Indigenous civilizations, languages, knowledge systems, traditions, and relationships to land that have endured, evolved, and continue to enrich communities today; and Whereas: No single term can fully capture the complexity of Latin American and Caribbean experiences, including those of people and cultures whose histories predate Spanish colonization, those shaped by other colonial histories, and those that do not primarily speak Spanish; and Whereas: Somerville is especially proud of our Salvadoran, Haitian, and Brazilian communities, whose presence can be seen, heard, and felt throughout our city-in our schools, neighborhoods, restaurants and small businesses, arts and celebrations, community organizations, City workforce, and civic life; and Whereas: Heritage is something living and continually created through families and friendships, businesses and community organizations, art and music, food and scholarship, education and civic leadership, and the new traditions neighbors build together here in Somerville; and Whereas: Somerville celebrates the Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Indigenous languages, and many other languages spoken by our neighbors as expressions of culture, history, knowledge, and identity that deepen and strengthen our community; and Whereas: During the Year of the Neighbor, we recognize that belonging begins with knowing, respecting, and celebrating one another, and that our many histories and traditions do not divide us but help make Somerville the vibrant community we share; Now, therefore, I , Jake Wilson, Mayor of the City of Somerville, proclaim September 15 through October 15, 2026, as Latin American and Caribbean Heritage Month in the City of Somerville, and invite all residents to celebrate the histories, cultures, languages, contributions, and living traditions of our Latin American and Caribbean neighbors; to learn from the complexity and diversity of those histories; and to continue building a Somerville where every neighbor knows they belong. Jake Wilson Mayor, City of Somerville