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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cleveland Chapter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>CELEBRATES<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Hispanic Haritage Month<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cleveland is taking an opportunity to recognize and thank our Hispanic and Latino members for the contributions made and the importance of their work on “changing what it means to be blind” in the National Federation of the Blind. Therefore, we will salute our Hispanic and Latino American members by highlighting their stories and influence in what has helped to shape the fabric of the National Federation of the Blind. We will begin our celebration by getting to know Rosy Carranza, who is the National Co-Chair for the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> Before Rosy’s introduction, here is some history behind the celebration on Hispanic Heritage Month. So, keep watching for her story in the near future.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Also, other Hispanic leaders will be forth coming. These biographies will be put on Cleveland’s email, ListServe and on Facebook during September and October. Each week, you will come familiar with them. Some you will know, but others you may not. Hopefully, you will have an opportunity to meet them in the future. However, I can assure you that their stories will be motivating and with humility. So, watch for their life changing edifications. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;border:none;padding:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Observing Hispanic Heritage Month</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community. Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week” under President Lyndon Johnson, but it was later extended to a month during President Ronald Reagan’s term in 1988.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Since then, the month has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-national-hispanic-heritage-month-2019/"><span style='color:#316194'>officially proclaimed National Hispanic Heritage Month</span></a> in a release on September 13th, saying: </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the accomplishments of Hispanic Americans, who have enriched our culture and society and helped make America into the incredible country it is today. Hispanic-American men and women embody the American values of devotion to faith and family, hard work, and patriotism through their countless contributions as leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and members of our Armed Forces. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Observing Hispanic Heritage Month allows our country to show its recognition and support for the work Latinos are doing in helping this country grow.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>