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BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

Photograph by Laura Geiser

In photo (form left to right): Jasmine Arroyo, Deborah Mercado, Gabriel Vivas, Diana Vivas, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, Dr. Maria Montes Morales, Dr. Jose O. Mejia, and Dr. Gabriel Rincón.

On Thursday, October 6, Borough President Marty Markowitz hosted a celebration in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month at Borough Hall. The Borough President honored Jose Mejia, M.D., Chair of Woodhull Hospital’s Department of Medicine and Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine; Dr. Maria Montes Morales, Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at Boricua College; and the Mixteca Organization of Sunset Park, which offers educational and health care assistance to immigrants.

“Congratulations to all of tonight’s honorees for representing the very best of Brooklyn,” said Borough President Markowitz. “From the Dominican Republic to Mexico to Puerto Rico to Peru, I’m proud to report that in Brooklyn we are one great big familia. Here at Borough Hall, we are working to improve the quality of life for all Hispanic Brooklynites, while creating new economic opportunities for Hispanic businesses and workers. I recently met with several Latino leaders to increase the level of cooperation among Brooklyn’s diverse Spanish-speaking communities, and to help address key issues and challenges with the collective attention and action they deserve. Please remember that anyone can contact my office anytime through our hot line for Spanish speakers — at 718-802-3955.”

Following the ceremony guests enjoyed a reception featuring a Mariachi performance by Real de México and the display of artist Shirley Miranda-Rodriguez’s “Tiza collection,” a series of photographs of children and their chalk art. The Vivas family of Coney Island, who survived a plane crash in Peru in August attended the event as special guests.