by Ednilson Quintanilla

As NLC?s Race Equality and Inclusive Communities Week begins on Sept. 25, Chandler, Ariz. will be celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month as a way to recognize the contributions to the city?s growth and development made by Hispanic families who lived there during the first 50 years of the city?s inception, from 1917 to 1967. 

This 7th annual Race Equality and Inclusive Communities Week is designed to showcase what cities across the country are doing to promote racial and ethnic equality and to make their communities more inclusive year-round.  

Earlier this year, Chandler, one of the 91 cities that have joined NLC?s Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities, called on its residents to identify Hispanic families for the annual Pioneering Hispanic Families Photo Exhibit.

The exhibit in Chandler is one of several events organized by the city?s Human Relations Commission and its private partners for the annual Hispanic Heritage Month, which the city is celebrating from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30. It features photographs, family stories and detailed interviews of current relatives, illustrating their struggles for self-reliance, resilience and pride, which have helped shape the roots of the Hispanic community and the city.

Other events taking place in the city during Hispanic Heritage Month include folkl?rico ? a traditional Mexican folk dance ? workshops, an educational forum and college night, a Hispanic book and author signing workshop, the Miss Mariachi Pageant and the Chandler Mariachi Festival.

Chandler is further advancing its commitment toward building an inclusive community by supporting a comprehensive group of programs. Since 2001, the city has continually funded the Special Events Sponsorship Program, which supports events that provide cultural and educational enrichment, highlight the community?s diversity and heritage, community pride and enhance economic vitality.

This program funded 10 groups in 2005, including the Chandler Lions Club for a 4th of July celebration, the South Chandler Self Help Foundation for a black history celebration and the Tribal Council of Arizona for the Miss Indian Arizona Pageant.

Other key activities supported by the city include:

? Chandler?s Annual Multi-cultural Festival and the Celebration of Unity, which highlights cultural diversity through music, dance, art, storytelling and other forms of artistic expression;

? The Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program, which provides education funding for young American Indian women;

? A Cinco de Mayo Celebration and Chihuahua Races, featuring festivities such as a salsa dance competition, entertainment and food vendors;

? The Black History Celebration, which highlights contributions made by African Americans to Chandler and the world; and

? The C?sar Ch?vez Teacher of the Year Award, honoring local educators for exceptional leadership in teaching.

Plano Celebrates Diversity
Also a member of NLC?s inclusive communities partnership, Plano, Texas, showcases its standing as an international community with its annual Plano International Festival, this year held on Saturday, Oct. 21.

With more than 80 languages spoken, restaurants representing more than 100 different cultures and home of multinational firms such as JCPenney and Frito-Lay, Plano?s melting pot of cultures inspired the city to establish the festival to increase awareness of its cultural diversity and multicultural contributions to the city and to promote communication between its diverse groups.

When the festival debuted in 2005, it featured 70 cultural booths, an international fashion show, a Parade of Nations, ethnic music, dance performances, a food court, children?s activities and a naturalization ceremony for new citizens.

This year, the city expects to build on its previous experiences with events such as an enhanced Parade of Nations, where children from the Plano Independent School District will wear traditional costumes and carry flags from their native countries.

The festival is planned by the Plano International Festival Corporation, a not-for-profit organization, and is underwritten by the City of Plano.

Share Activities
NLC encourages cities sponsoring activities related to Race Equality and Inclusive Communities Week to share their events. NLC will highlight the activities of some of these cities in Nation?s Cities Weekly and on www.nlc.org.

To share activities, send the title of the event with a short description of it to Chris Hoene via e-mail at hoene@nlc.org or fax at (202) 626-3043.

For more information about the week and a tool kit containing sample resolutions and press releases, as well as examples of activities in other cities, visit NLC?s website.

Details: For additional information on Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations in Chandler, go to www.chandleraz.gov, and for more on the Plano International Festival, visit www.planointernationalfestival.org.