Tompkins County proclaims Community Action Month, AAPI Heritage Month and Memorial Day observances

The Tompkins County Legislature used its May meeting to issue three proclamations honoring local and national observances. Chair opened the meeting and read a proclamation declaring May 2025 as Community Action Month, then invited Danielle Harrington, executive director of Tompkins Community Action, to receive the proclamation.

Danielle Harrington thanked county leaders and staff for supporting programs that help families with housing, food and Head Start services. "Our governing bodies, the board of directors and policy council, would really appreciate this opportunity for us to thank the staff that do the work," Harrington said, noting the organization's service across the county.

Legislator Veronica Pillar read a separate proclamation recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, summarizing the month's historical context and the theme of leadership and resilience. The legislature also read a Memorial Day proclamation for May 26, 2025; J R Claiborne, department head of Veterans Services, accepted the recognition and thanked the body for maintaining the tradition of honoring veterans.

Claiborne told members the proclamation "is a time when we all get to take a moment to acknowledge their bravery, their service," and thanked the legislature for the recognition. All three proclamations were presented as ceremonial recognitions and required no formal vote.