Des Moines official proclaims Sept. 15–Oct. 15 Latino Heritage Month; festival dates announced

Connie Bozen, Staff member, read a city proclamation on Sept. 8 declaring Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, 2025, as Latino Heritage Month in Des Moines. "And now, therefore, I, Connie Bozen, do hereby proclaim 09/15/2025 through 10/15/2025 to be Latino Heritage Month," Bozen said during opening remarks. A meeting participant identified in the transcript as a commenter added, "The Latino Festival will be Saturday and Sunday, September. We invite everyone to come and enrich our culture with our cuisine, our music, and everything, and enjoy it with us." The proclamation text read during the meeting highlighted Latino contributions to Des Moines and noted that 16% of the city's population is Latino, calling attention to multiple languages and cultural heritages. The proclamation and the festival announcement occurred during the meeting's opening ceremonial items before regular business began. No formal council action or vote on the proclamation was recorded in the meeting minutes; the text was presented and a photograph was taken after the proclamation was read. The meeting proceeded to roll call and routine agenda business following the ceremonial presentation.