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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-03-1996 - V-A 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda Item No. V-A_ ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 3, 1996 SUBJECT: Proclamation in Support of the Third La Fiesta del Pueblo in Chapel Hill on September 7 and 8 DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: _Yes XX No BUDGET AMENDMENT NEEDED Yes XX No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: • Proclamation Lucy Lewis, ext. 2251 • Press Release TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough - 732 -8181 Chapel Hill- 967-9251 Durham - 688-7331 Mebane- 227-2031 PURPOSE: To express support for the third La Fiesta del Pueblo on September 7 and 8 , 1996. BACKGROUND: On September 7 and 8, Orange County's Latino/Hispanic community will be holding the third La Fiesta del Pueblo, or Festival of the People, in order to build community and increase communication between this population and all other sectors of the community. Last year's Fiesta drew over 20,000 people from Orange County and across the state. The goals of La Fiesta seem especially timely this year, given recent media reports indicating opposition to the state's growing Hispanic population. The Orange County Human Relations Commission(HRC)will kick off its Bienvenidos/Welcoming Initiative at 3pm on September 7 at La Fiesta del Pueblo (see accompanying press release). The goal of this effort is to facilitate dialogue that can address concerns and fears and promote better understanding among Orange County's long-term residents and its newest members of different racial and ethnic groups, particularly Latinos. It is also intended to take a stand with a community that feels especially targeted by anti-immigrant sentiment. RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed Resolution and authorize the Chair to sign. eornti o 0 2 s� ♦i� s � h G3t00 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA A RESOLU'T'ION IN SUPPORT OF THE THIRD LA FIESTA DEL PUEBLO IN CHAPEL HILL ON SEPTEMBER 8 AND 9, 1996 WHEREAS, About 150,000 Americans of Hispanic heritage live in North Carolina; and WHEREAS, Hispanic Americans participate in all aspects of the economic, cultural and social life of the Orange County community; and WHEREAS, the Latin American community richly contributes to the cultural and social diversity that helps make the Orange County community an excellent place to live; WHEREAS the Fiesta del Pueblo will include the North Carolina Hispanic soccer league finals, Latin American dances, music, foods, arts, crafts, sports, and children's games to be enjoyed by everyone who attends; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners hereby expresses its enthusiastic support of the third"La Fiesta del Pueblo" celebration at Chapel all High School on the weekend of September 7 and 8, and encourage all residents to attend and participate in the festivities This the 3rd day of September, 1996. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair 110 SOUTH CHURTON STREET, HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27278 ■��!1'�- JJ_____ A IV A__.�fA AI T�I��L.�.�.�. AAR NC`1 PL1lAI�l fn I1A1'IA �_.� 7AGI _ CA V� .44M CAA.o)n AO_ _ �eenl► o e'. 3 s Cate,c HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release For more information, contact: - Lucy Lewis,.Director Orange County Human Relations and Relations Dept., 73 2-8 181 ext. 2250 -Andrea Bazan-Manson El Pueblo, Inc., 932-6880 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION TO KICK OFF BIENVENIDOS/WELCOMING INITIATIVE AT LA FIESTA DEL PUEBLO The Orange County Human Relations Commission will kick off its Bienvenidos/ Welcoming Initiative on Saturday, September 7, at 3PM, at La Fiesta del Pueblo `96, which is being held at Chapel Hill High School off Homestead Road in Chapel Hill. The Commission is initiating this campaign because of the growing number of Latino residents in North Carolina and Orange County, and the need to proactively provide opportunities to discuss the issues and address some of the resulting tensions that have developed. A Raleigh News and Observer article in March 1995 summarized the results of a poll describing North Carolinians' attitudes about the state's growing Latino population. Poll findings, including the result that 41 percent of those surveyed think the growing number of Hispanics is bad for North Carolina, indicate a significant amount of apprehension and opposition to this trend. A recent anonymous flyer in nearby -more - 110 SOUTH CHURTON STREET, HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27278 4 BIENVENIDOS/WELCOMING INITIATIVE Page Two Alamance County warning of illegal aliens conveyed negative stereotypes and false information about the Latino community. The goals of the Bienvenidos/Welcoming Initiative are to facilitate dialogue that can address concerns and fears and promote better understanding among Orange County's long-term residents and its newest members of different racial and ethnic groups, particularly Latinos, and to take a stand with a community that feels especially targeted by anti-immigrant sentiment. The Commission will devote one of its new Community Firesides open dialogue series to the topic, "What are the issues involved in welcoming a new population into our community?" It will also provide a packet of information to area churches and community groups about the campaign and offer to facilitate dialogue on this issue. A free yellow and orange bumpersticker, `Bienvenidos/Welcome to Orange County" will be available at La Fiesta del Pueblo and from the Human Relations Commission office in Hillsborough. Quinton Baker, Chair of the Human Relations Commission, expressed his hopes for the welcoming initiative, "Our hope is that the`Bienvenidos/Welcome to Orange County" initiative will help to focus Orange County citizens and residents on the real issues and concerns surrounding the influx of new populations into our communities. These real issues are about reaffirming our historically inclusive and welcoming atmosphere that promotes and allows for the incorporation of new peoples into the life and fabric of our community in a just and equitable manner. It is to say to our new friends and neighbors- `Welcome. Join us. And how may we help you adjust to your new community?"' - more - s 5 BMNVENIDOS/WELCOMING INITIATIVE Page Three The Orange County Human Relations Commission is charged with encouraging mutual understanding and fair treatment of all citizens, and encouraging actions which reduce tensions among residents of Orange County. This is the third year of La Fiesta del Pueblo, or Festival of the People, organized in order to build community and increase communication between the Latino/Hispanic community and all other sectors of the community.