EVERETT—Snohomish County recognized Hispanic Heritage Month starting with the City of Lynnwood on September 8, followed by Snohomish County on September 10.
Dr. Julieta Altamirano-Crosby join by the Deputy Consul Gerardo Javier Guiza Vargas from the Consulate of Mexico in Seattle and Honorary Consul of Spain, Luis Fernando Esteban, along with dozens on members of the Latin descent were presented with a Resolution by the Snohomish County Council recognizing September 15 through October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month.
“As an immigrant myself, I carry a story of resilience and hope, a story shared by many of you,” said Dr. Altamirano-Crosby who is also the first Latina elected as Snohomish PUD Commissioner. “I also carry the love and sacrifices of my parents, grandparents, and ancestors, whose values of family, hard work, and service continue to guide me. This celebration is not only about remembering where we come from, but also about honoring what we are building together: a future that is inclusive, equitable, and full of opportunities for the next generation.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Hispanics comprise 68 million or roughly 20% of the nation’s population of which an estimated 1.14 million persons of Latin descent living in Washington state. Approximately 100,000 Latinos call Snohomish County home.
Congress first established the National Hispanic Heritage Week on September 17 in 1968. Two decades later, President Ronald Reagan expanded the recognition to a full month. Then, a year later, President H.W. Bush proclaimed National Hispanic Heritage Month and in 2020, President Donald J Trump set the dates to be September 15 to October 15.
September 15 is chosen as the start of Hispanic Heritage Month to honor the anniversary of the 1812 independence declarations of five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—and Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrating their independence on September 16, 18, and 21 respectively.
“However, amid this celebration, our community also faces real fears; the fear of deportation, family separation, and restrictions on essential services,” Gerardo Javier Guiza Vargas, Deputy Consul of the Consulate of Mexico in Seattle, told council members. “These concerns have had a chilling effect on community participation, eroding trust in public institutions and heightening concerns about racial discrimination. Even so, the Hispanic and Latino community shows admirable resilience every day; we enrich the culture and the economy with vision, conviction, and determination.”
He encouraged member civic participation by persons of Latin decent to get involve and run for political office and be active participants in this political process, because only then, he said, “can we guarantee the rights of your families and the rights of future generations.”
Honorary Consul of Spain, Luis Fernando Esteban, reflected on his 54-year journey since working for Iberia Airlines and visiting Everett, expressing enthusiasm for Snohomish County’s business potential.
Initially focused on Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond, he said the Spain now see Snohomish County as a prime business hub.
“Just to give you an idea, in the last two months, together with my son, is the one developing all the business between Washington State and Spain,” he said. “I visited Snohomish County six times in two months. I’ve been here six months. We meet the county executive, with the developer…. I paid a visit to the Port of Everett, and it’s a beauty. Everything you develop here is like you learn from the mistakes in the South [of Washington state], and you fix it, and now you are taking off like a rocket!”
Esteban also shared a major Boeing order for 50 737 MAX planes by Iberia, shifting away from Airbus. His son Nigo is currently leading efforts to bring Washington state companies, including those from Snohomish County to trade fairs in Madrid and Leon to further strengthen business ties between the two regions.
During Tuesday’s event, several community leaders were recognized for their contributions to cultural preservation and community building in Snohomish County:
- Maria Casey, founder of Fat Brush Art Workshop, was recognized for inspiring creativity and cultural expression through art, particularly for special needs communities.
- Micaela “Mika” Sarmiento, a Bolivian activist, expressed gratitude for her heritage and daughter, emphasizing her commitment to social, cultural, and environmental causes. She quoted Cesar Chavez on cultural respect, advocating for diversity as a strength against racism and intolerance.
- Zita Paulino, founder of Folklore Oaxaqueño Senteo, was honored for preserving Oaxaca’s cultural heritage through traditional dance, expressing pride in sharing her culture.
- Tony Hernandez, representing the Hernandez family and Los Gavilanes Mexican store, was acknowledged as a community pillar since 2006, noting the strong support from Snohomish County for the growing Hispanic community.
- Estela Carrera-Infante, founder of Familias Fuertes Comunidades Prósperas, was celebrated for her 35 years of work with migrant and Latino families, providing parent education to foster self-esteem and stronger family bonds.
- Jorge Enrique Gonzalez Pacheco, a Cuban American poet and founder of the Seattle Latino Film Festival, was recognized for promoting Latin American cinema. The festival, in its 17th edition (October 10-18), represents over 20 Spanish-speaking countries and plans to expand to Spokane.
- Paula Madrigal, the Music Director of Orquesta Northwest, is a Mexican American conductor trained in Mexico, Spain, and the U.S., deeply committed to classical music, Latino culture, and inclusive musical education. Teo Benson, the Executive Director, is a violinist and educator who performs globally and leads the Halcyon Music School in Ballard, driving the organization’s mission forward. Together, they blend their expertise and passion to advance Orquesta Northwest’s commitment to musical excellence and community engagement.
“I appreciate the recognition to do Hispanic Heritage Month,” Snohomish County Councilman Sam Low told recipients. “We all have a heritage or roots, as we heard earlier today.”
“Gracias por todo,” Councilman Strom Peterson said. “It is so great to be part of the, as Council Member Low said, the greater family of Snohomish County. But what you bring to the community is invaluable. The work that you do to support each other, to support everybody, I think, especially in this time. It is a very scary time for many in your community. And I think this shows that Snohomish County is standing with you. So, we will stand together and protect each other and care for each other and appreciate what we all bring to each other.”
On Monday, September 8, the City of Lynnwood recognized 2022 Lynnwood Times’ Person of the Year Karina Gasperin, who was representing the Snohomish County Latino Coalition, Mujeres con Actitud Latina and Wellbeing Community Center, Lynnwood City Council candidate Dio Boucsieguez, and other members of Latin and Hispanic heritage.
“This proclamation is more than a symbolic gesture — it is a recognition of generations of contributions, hard work, and cultural richness that our communities bring to the city of lynnwood every single day,” Gaspin shared with council members. “From the fields to the classrooms, to local businesses to public service, Hispanic and Latino individuals have played— and continue to play — a vital role in shaping the Washington state we know and love. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s reflect on the deep roots and traditions that connect us all to our ancestors and guide our future.”
Author: Mario Lotmore
