Welcome Letters

Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor City of Los Angeles

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, it is my pleasure to invite you to celebrate
Latino Heritage Month.

Our City is home to people originating from all around the world. Each
culture contributes to the rich diversity that makes Los Angeles an
international capital. This month we continue to honor our rich Latino
heritage and highlight the work of artists who keep Latino traditions alive and
vibrant in our communities.

The Department of Cultural Affairs offers several events for your enjoyment. Look to this calendar and cultural guide to fi nd the numerous festivals, events, activities, and resources in your neighborhood.

Los Angeles truly is where the world comes together, and I encourage you
to explore the many facets of Latino culture by taking part in this month’s
festivities and visiting your Neighborhood Arts and Cultural Centers.

Join us in Celebrating Latino Art, Culture, and Pride ~ Nuestra Herencia.

Very truly yours,

Antonio Villaraigosa
Mayor

Olga Garay Executive Director Department of Cultural Affairs

Dear Friends,

The Department of Cultural Affairs is pleased to present this calendar and cultural guide celebrating the vibrant Latino culture and heritage that helped create and still shapes Los Angeles today. These events honor the extraordinary range of Latino experiences, from indigenous traditions to the contemporary voices of our artists and storytellers.

The events and activities included in this calendar represent a cultural extravaganza that we invite you and your family to enjoy. We have gone beyond outlining the well-established events, reaching out to include localized celebrations, festivals, and exhibitions that truly refl ect the distinctive Hispanic communities in Los Angeles and their respective traditions.

The monumental contributions of Latinos to the very foundation of Los Angeles have yet to be fully appreciated. This calendar is our modest attempt to inform you about some of the amazing programs and activities planned to help us all understand and appreciate the genius, folklore, artistry, and achievements of Los Angeles Latinos.

We engaged corporate partners and community leaders to support these events, and want to acknowledge our appreciation for their ongoing generosity (please see the list on page 114). We also extend our thanks to the many nonprofi t organizations, community groups, and artists whose efforts created this impressive listing of fun, educational, and exciting events.

We are also pleased to showcase the artistic works featured in this calendar, which have been produced by some of our City's fi nest Latino artists. Their vision pays homage to the past, but looks towards the future with a contemporary edge. Combined with the work of their fellow artists around the City, they represent the heart and soul of this year's Latino Heritage Month celebration.

As always, we have included a bibliography of educational reading materials to aid in the expansion of insights through the literary arts. Now, more than ever, it is important for our young people to learn more about the contributions of Latinos through a true historical context.

We hope you will share this calendar and experience many of these activities with your family, friends, and neighbors. We feel confi dent this cultural guide will encourage you to learn more about the intellect, creativity, emotion, diversity, and power of our Latino communities.

Olga Garay
Executive Director