Grand Junction City Council and CMU student Ana Carbajal-Barahona proclaim June as Immigrant Heritage Month
周四, 6月7日, 2023, members of the community gathered to witness the formal proclamation of Immigrant Heritage Month at the Grand Junction City Hall Auditorium. 2014年开始, Immigrant Heritage Month honors the rich contributions that immigrants and their descendants have made to the shared history and culture of the United States.
Following the call to order and the Pledge of Allegiance, 安娜的, Mayor of the City of Grand Junction and CMU alumna, invited those assembled to practice gratitude while observing a moment of silence.
“I invite you all to observe a moment of gratitude, reflecting on the various ways that immigration in some way or another has impacted your lives, whether that’s generations back or in your day-to-day lives today,斯托特说.
下一个, Council Member Randall Reitz shared the immigration journey of his family and that of his wife’s family before reading the proclamation aloud.
“美国是, 一直都是, and always will be a nation of immigrants. 这是我们建国的前提, reflected in our Constitution and etched upon the Statue of Liberty that ‘from her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome,’”雷茨说.
“During National Immigrant Heritage Month, we reaffirm and draw strength from that enduring identity and celebrate the history and achievements of immigrant communities across our nation,雷茨接着说. "Immigrants have enriched our nation and made us better, 更强的, 更加创新，更加繁荣.”
pp电子极速糖果 student Ana Carbajal-Barahona was then introduced, and she stepped up to the microphone to share her story of courage and resilience as a first-generation student.
“I am a DACA recipient, that stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. I am protected from deportation, I am allowed to go to school and to hold a job. However, because of the rumblings in our nation, that does not guarantee me a tomorrow. However, I dream for this country to be better, to be open to everybody and to love everybody. It is because of the DREAM Act that I can go to school and educate myself in order to make this country better and strive to do what my parents wanted me to do. 引用一位开国元勋的话, 托马斯·杰斐逊, 知识就是力量, 知识就是安全, 知识就是幸福,’”卡巴哈尔-巴拉霍纳说.
She continued, “So I will leave you with this — open your minds and your hearts. Be curious and learn something new today. 移民为你做了什么? Come with me, and celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month.”
Carbajal-Barahona currently works as a peer tutor, peer mentor and an Admissions Office ambassador where she helps other Mavericks find success as they navigate the higher education landscape. She is studying accounting and plans to graduate next year.
This event received support from Mesa County Libraries and the Hispanic Affairs Project. Mesa County Libraries offers several adult learning services designed for all adult learners in the community, 包括移民. Courses are offered free of charge to those courageous individuals looking to learn English, prepare for the General Educational Development testing, earn a diploma and additional certifications through Career Online High School, take classes to work towards citizenship or to improve their literacy skills.
西班牙事务项目, 成立于2006年, works to address the needs of the Hispanic immigrant community on the West Slope. 有尊严地对待每个人, they work to reduce the barriers to integration faced by immigrant families by ensuring resources are accessible, leadership development is available and opportunities for economic development are abundant. 西班牙事务项目 also works at the local, state and federal level to advocate for pro-immigrant policy changes and they recently launched a non-partisan voter registration and education Get Out the Vote campaign.
Immigrant Heritage Month is a great reminder of the rich history and bright future of both our country and our local community. This proclamation encourages everyone to learn more about the social and economic impact of immigrants, and to appreciate the wide variety of languages, customs and cuisines that are enjoyed in Grand Junction.