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New Rochelle proclaims April Arab American Heritage Month during inaugural recognition
Summary
City officials in New Rochelle presented a proclamation declaring April as Arab American Heritage Month at the city’s first formal recognition event, which included remarks from local leaders and a recorded interview with Dr. James Zogby of the Arab American Institute.
City of New Rochelle officials on an evening event presented a proclamation declaring April as Arab American Heritage Month and held the city’s first formal recognition of Arab American Heritage Month.
Sam Gomez, director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the City of New Rochelle, opened the program and said the city’s diversity motivated the recognition. “Our city is very, very diverse and very unique and so many different cultures live here and it is important for me and for the city to recognize them,” Gomez said.
The proclamation was read by Mayor Gabriel Ramos Herbert, who called the event “an honor” and said it was the city’s inaugural recognition. “Tonight, we honor that legacy and we celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that strengthen our city and remind us that the American dream is alive and well here in New Rochelle,” the mayor said, and he announced the proclamation “proclaiming the month of April as Arab American Heritage Month in the city of New Rochelle.” The proclamation was presented as a ceremonial action; no formal vote or council motion was recorded in the transcript.
City Manager Wilfredo Melendez thanked staff and attendees and said the recognition reflected the city’s diversity and the contributions of Arab American residents to New Rochelle and the wider United States. Melendez described the community’s cultural contributions — including family ties, food and civic involvement — and thanked organizers for staging the event.
The program included a recorded Comcast Newsmakers segment featuring Tatiana Anderson and Dr. James Zogby of the Arab American Institute. The segment noted that U.S. Census estimates from 2017 put the Arab American population at just over 2,000,000 and that the Arab American Institute’s research suggests a higher overall number; Dr. Zogby said, “So we estimate the number is approximately doubled what the census has from the studies that we've done by community.” The video also discussed generational and religious diversity across people from 22 countries of origin and the socioeconomic and educational profiles of many Arab American communities.
After remarks and the video, organizers invited attendees to a group photograph in council chambers to close the recognition.
The event was ceremonial and informational: it presented a mayoral proclamation, featured city staff remarks and an external interview, and did not record any formal legislative votes or enacted ordinances related to the proclamation.
