Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Hispanic Heritage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Latino Employees Organization marks Hispanic Heritage Month, announces events and scholarships
Summary
The Latino Employees Organization (LEO) presented to council about Hispanic Heritage Month activities, scholarship awards, outreach and recent mobilization to support residents amid federal immigration activity.
At the Sept. 16 City Council meeting the Latino Employees Organization (LEO) presented its activities for Hispanic Heritage Month and highlighted recent advocacy and employee engagement across city departments.
Joy Contreras, president of LEO and public information officer for Long Beach Utilities, said LEO immediately mobilized resources and guidance when ICE activity was reported in the city and that the group's work felt “like an act of resistance and resilience” amid recent federal immigration enforcement. Contreras noted that people of Latin American origin make up nearly 44% of Long Beach’s population and described LEO’s work on community engagement, scholarships, fundraising and professional development.
Vice president Susie Gonzalez described LEO’s recent programs, including a Dia de los Muertos altar, a Truro 5K that raised $20,000 for scholarships and scholarship awards to eight Long Beach students attending Cal State Long Beach and Long Beach City College. Gonzalez said LEO helped bring more than 700 employees to a Dodger night co-hosted with the mayor and city manager.
Contreras and council members invited the public to upcoming LEO events, including a scholarship awards event later this month and LEO’s fifth annual Churro 5K on Oct. 18. Council members thanked LEO leaders for their work and for supporting employees and residents during periods of federal immigration enforcement.
The presentation was informational; council did not take policy action at the meeting.
