Governor Quinn Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

CHICAGO – September 9, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today joined with community members and officials from across the state to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month. Governor Quinn also unveiled the 2009 Hispanic Heritage Month Poster and encouraged building owners and managers to participate in the 2009 Mexican Independence Day Chicago Skyline Tribute.

“Hispanic Heritage Month gives people across the state the opportunity to celebrate the remarkable contributions of the Hispanic-American and Ibero-American communities to Illinois,” said Governor Quinn. “I am honored to take part in this important celebration.”

Governor Quinn joined Latino Art Beat founder Don Rossi to unveil the 2009 Hispanic Heritage Month Poster. The poster will be displayed alongside posters of Ibero-American countries throughout Hispanic Heritage Month. Latino Art Beat is a Chicago-based not-for-profit arts organization that awards scholarships to high school students through its arts competition.

The posters will be displayed on the ground level of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago from September 21 to 30. From October 1 to 15 they will be displayed in the South hallway of the State Capitol building in Springfield.

On September 16, Mexican Independence Day, the fifth annual Chicago Skyline Tribute will illuminate Chicago's skyline in green, white and red - the colors of the Mexican flag. Twenty buildings are already taking part in the tribute, with more joining every day. If a building is unable to change the color of its exterior lights, they may still take part in the tribute by displaying a Mexican flag on the 16th.

Hispanic Heritage Week began in 1968 to recognize the contributions of Hispanic-Americans to the United States. In 1988, the celebration was expanded to Hispanic Heritage Month, which now runs from September 15 through October 15.

Governor Quinn was joined by Hon. Patricia Maza-Pittsford, Consul General of El Salvador, Dean of the Chicago Consular Corps and Vice President of the Ibero-American Consular Association in Chicago; Hon. Gustavo Lopez, Consul General, Guatemala; Hon. Gustavo Martino, Consul General, Argentina; Hon. Gonzalo Andrade, Consul General, Ecuador; Hon. Agustin Rodriguez de la Gala, Deputy Consul General, Mexico; Edwin Cardona, President, Puerto Rican Parade of Chicago; Carlos Tortolero, Director, National Museum of Mexican Art and Trustee, University of Illinois; Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago); Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago), Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios (D-Chicago); Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D-Cicero); Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago); Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago); and Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago).

For more information or to join the Chicago Skyline Tribute please contact the Office of Governor Quinn at (312)-814-2121. (Spanish version of this press release)