October is Hispanic Heritage Month

Oct 5, 2014News

This is the month in which we pay special attention to the many contributions that individuals of Hispanic ancestry have made to our community.  It is the time when we celebrate individual success, and encourage cultural understanding and inclusion.

There are many members of our community who are engaged every day in making our world better.   Eva Garza Dewaelsche does so as the President and CEO at SER Metro-Detroit, Raquel Castañeda -López, our first Hispanic member of Detroit City Council, is a strong representative of the community, and JoAnn Chavez, Vice President and Chief Tax Officer for DTE Energy proves each day that Hispanic women are smart, and strong, yet caring.

While many Detroit Public Schools are showing academic progress, Academy of the Americas offers a unique bilingual academic program in Spanish and English.  The new DPS Charter School Escuela Avancemos Academy has adopted the Expeditionary Learning model for its students.  Instruction is in Spanish and English and their students are expected to perform very well which has been the pattern in other schools across the country where this model is in use.

The DPS Foundation salutes our schools and trusts that they will prepare the next generation of Hispanic leaders like those noted above.


We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community – and this nation.  – Cesar Chavez