National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic (Latinx) Heritage Month

This is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions, diverse culture and vast history of the Latinx community.

IMG_6782For this year’s observation of Latinx Heritage Month let’s explore Nantucket’s Hispanic Heritage with three fun facts:
  1. “The whaling industry acquainted Nantucketers with Latin American ports, especially those on the west coast of South America…”.
  2. “Nantucket High School only began offering Spanish as a foreign language in 1959… Nantucket’s resident population of Spanish speakers has increased dramatically, the high school has a Spanish club, and there have been requests for such public services in Spanish as story hours at the Nantucket Atheneum’s children’s library…”.
  3. Esmeralda Martinez (left) is a rising star in the Nantucket community. Martinez in a Land Use Specialist in the Planning & Land Use Services (PLUS) Department. Esmeralda serves on the Nantucket School Committee; she is the first person of Latinx heritage to hold elected office of Nantucket. This month (September 2022), Esmeralda received the Nantucket Civic Salute from the Nantucket Civic League for her dedication to Nantucket and the island’s Latinx community.


 

Here is more information on this monthlong recognition: