WDIC to shepherd Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation; volunteers sought with Sept. 3 draft deadline

The Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee agreed Wednesday to work on a proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and to present a draft to the Tompkins County Legislature on Sept. 16.

Why it matters: proclamations are a formal, public acknowledgment the committee typically prepares on behalf of the legislature for heritage months; a timely draft is required to meet clerks’ deadlines for agenda packet publication.

Details: Chair Veronica Pillar said Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 and that the committee had been contacted by the Latino Civic Association to prepare a 2025 proclamation. The committee acknowledged an example of last year’s proclamation in the meeting packet and invited volunteers to help draft updates or new language. Pillar asked volunteers to submit updates or requested changes by Sept. 3 so the clerks can circulate the draft to legislators and meet the agenda production deadline for the Sept. 16 legislature meeting. No final proclamation was adopted at the WDIC meeting; the clerk will receive the draft for legislative review.

Ending: Committee members volunteered to assist with drafting; the final proclamation must be submitted to the legislature in time for their Sept. 16 meeting.