CARIBBEAN TODAY


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 ~ A Caribbean Today advertising feature

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15, the anniversary of Independence for five Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and
Nicaragua to Oct. 15. In addition, Mexico declared its Independence on Sept. 16, and Chile on Sept. 18. The term Hispanic, as defined by the United States Census
Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the U.S. of any race. On the 2000 Census form, people of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin could identify themselves as
Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or "other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino". More than 35 million people identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino on the 2000 Census.


Broward County celebrates

with art, music and culture


Weeks of celebration
 climax mid-October
 as Broward County,
Florida marks Hispanic
Heritage Month.
 Among the attractions is a
multi-cultural art exhibit in
the Governmental Center
lobby, 115 S. Andrews Ave. in
Fort Lauderdale, which coin-
cide with Hispanic Heritage
Month, celebrated in the
United States between Sept.15
and Oct. 15.
 There will also be a
Hispanic Cultural and
Educational Center, a
15,000 square-foot space
located on the third floor of
the Broward County Main
Library. The center's collec-
tion will feature 20,000
books in Spanish, as well as
an extensive collection of
Spanish-language movies
and music.
 In addition to the collec-
tion, the center will also house


a computer lab, specifically
designed for Spanish speakers,
a children's area for Spanish-
language story time and a
large exhibit space that will
frequently feature exhibits
and programs from different
Spanish-speaking countries.
 "It has been a long-time
goal of mine to create a
Hispanic Cultural and
Educational Center where
the public can come to see,
learn, and experience the
many aspects of Hispanic
history and culture," said
Commissioner Diana
Wasserman-Rubin.

VARIETY
 The month-long cultural
exhibit in the Governmental
Center lobby features items
from a variety of Latin
American countries, including
paintings and pieces and other
assorted media created by of a
number of female artists from


South America. The featured
artists include Denise Plazas
(Colombia); Maria Teresa de
Triana (Colombia); Malavi
Mendoza (Argentina);
Teresita Mesa (Colombia);
Ana Candioti (Argentina) and
Liliana Gerardi (Argentina).
The art exhibit is being coor-
dinated by Mujeres Latinas,
an organization dedicated to
assisting women of Latin ori-
gin and their families integrate
into American society.
 "This is a wonderful way
to celebrate Hispanic heritage
and Broward County's rich
history and cultural diversity,"
said Wasserman-Rubin.
 In addition, Broward
County Libraries Division is
sponsoring more than 50 pro-
grams celebrating Hispanic
culture.
 For a complete listing of
library programs, visit
www. broward.org/library.
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* 42.7 million
The estimated Hispanic population of
the U.S. as of July 1, 2005, making
people of Hispanic origin the nation's
largest ethnic or race minority.
Hispanics constituted 14 percent of
the nation's total population.

* About 1
...of every two people added to the
nation's population between July 1,
2004, and July 1, 2005, were Hispanic.

* 3.3%
Percentage increase in the Hispanic
population between July 1, 2004,
and July 1, 2005, making Hispanics
the fastest-growing minority group in in
the U.S.

* 102.6 million
The projected Hispanic population of
the U.S. as of July 1, 2050. According
to this projection, Hispanics will consti-
tute 24 percent of the nation's total
population on that date.

* 22.4 million
The nation's Hispanic population during
the 1990 census just slightly over
half the current total.

* 7.6 million
The number of Hispanic citizens who
reported voting in the 2004 presidential
election. The percentage of Hispanic citi-
zens voting about 47 percent did
not change from four years earlier.

* 64%
The percentage of Hispanic-origin peo-
ple in households who are of Mexican
background. Another approximately 10
percent are of Puerto Rican back-
ground, with about three percent each
of Cuban, Salvadoran and Dominican


1 the United States.


origins. The remainder are of some
other Central American, South
American or other Hispanic or Latino
origins.
 Roughly half of the nation's
Dominicans live in New York City, with
about half of the nation's Cubans resid-
ing in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
(Source: AmericanFactFinder)

* 13
The number of U.S. states with at least
500,000 Hispanic residents. These
states are: Arizona, California, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, Texas and Washington.

* 43%
The percentage of New Mexico's popu-
lation that is Hispanic, highest of any
state.

* 4.6 million
The Hispanic population of Los Angeles
County, California the largest of any


 county in the nation.

 I 19
 Number of U.S. states in which
 Hispanics are the largest race or
 ethnic minority group.
 $222 billion
 Revenue generated by Hispanic-
 owned businesses in 2002, up 19
 percent from 1997.
 9.5 million
 The number of Hispanic families
 who reside in the U.S. Of these fam-
 ilies, 63 percent include their chil-
 dren under 18 years old.
 22%
 Percentage of U.S. population under
age five that is Hispanic, as of July 1,
2005.
* 31 million
The number of U.S. household resi-
dents age five and older who speak
Spanish at home.

* $35,967
The median income of Hispanic house-
holds in 2005, unchanged from the
previous year, in real terms.

* 21.8%
The poverty rate among Hispanics in
2005, unchanged from 2004.

* 58%
The percentage of Hispanics age 25
and older who had at least a high
school education in 2004.
Edited and reprinted from RTO
Online
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Hispanics have enriched America Bush


National Hispanic Heritage
Month 2006
 Americans are a diverse
people, yet we are bound by
common principles that teach
us what it means to be
American citizens. During
National Hispanic Heritage
Month, we recognize the many
contributions of Hispanic
Americans to our country
 Through hard work, faith
in God, and a deep love of fam-
ily, Hispanic Americans have
pursued their dreams and con-
tributed to the strength and
vitality of our nation. They have
enriched the American experi-
ence and excelled in business,
law, politics, education, commu-
nity service, the arts, science,
and many other fields. Hispanic
entrepreneurs are also helping
build a better, more hopeful
future for all by creating jobs
across our country.
 The number of Hispanic-
owned businesses is growing at
three times the national rate,
and increasing numbers of
Hispanic Americans own their
own homes. We continue to ben-
efit from a rich Hispanic culture
and we are a stronger country
because of the talent and cre-
ativity of the many Hispanic
Americans who have shaped our
society.
 Throughout our history,
Hispanic Americans have also
shown their devotion to our
country in their military service.
Citizens of Hispanic descent
have fought in every war since
our founding and have taken
their rightful place as heroes in
our nation's history. Today,
Americans of Hispanic descent
are serving in our Armed
Forces with courage and honor,


and their efforts are helping
make America more secure and
bringing freedom to people
around the world.
 As we celebrate National
Hispanic Heritage Month, we
applaud the accomplishments of
Hispanic Americans and recog-
nize the contributions they make


to our great land. To honor the
achievements of Hispanic
Americans, the Congress, by
Public Law 100-402, as amend-
ed, has authorized and request-
ed the president to issue annual-
ly a proclamation designating
Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as
"National Hispanic Heritage
Month".
 I call upon public officials,
educators, librarians, and all the
people of the U.S. to observe this
month with appropriate cere-
monies, activities, and programs.

The above is an edited version
of a proclamation issued last
month by U.S. President
George W. Bush marking
National Hispanic Heritage
Month.
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Daily life in one of
 Imperial Spain's most
 important outposts
in the New World will be re-
created Oct. 7-8 at the 18th
Annual Colonial Arts and
Crafts Festival in St.
Augustine, Florida.
 The festival is scheduled
to be held on the grounds of
the Colonial Spanish Quarter
Museum and will feature
skilled craftsmen in authentic
period clothing demonstrating
a wide range of crafts that
were essential for survival in a
Spanish colony of the 1700s.
 Weaving, spinning, bas-
ketry, lace making, and natu-
ral dyeing are just a few of the
crafts to be demonstrated. In
addition, the festival will fea-


ture storytellers, colonial
music, and special activities
for children.
 The Colonial Spanish
Quarter will provide an
authentic setting for an educa-
tional and fun look at life in
old St. Augustine. The
entrance to the Spanish
Quarter is on historic St.
George Street.
 Sponsored by the St.
Augustine Textile Guild, the
festival is funded in part by a
grant from the St. Johns
County Tourist Development
Council.
 It will run from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. each day. Admission is
free. For more information,
call 904-825-5033.
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Facts you should know


Reliving old Spain in the New World

at St. Augustne's arts and crafts fest


October 2006