ADOPTED - APRIL 15, 2003

Agenda Item No. 11

Introduced by the County Services Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION DESIGNATING APRIL 30, 2003, AS `DIA DE LOS NIÑOS: CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS' IN INGHAM COUNTY

RESOLUTION #03-82

WHEREAS, in recognition and celebration of their country's future--the children, many nations throughout the world, especially within the Western hemisphere, celebrate `Día de los Niños' on the 30th of April; and

WHEREAS, children are the center of American families and represent the hopes and dreams of the citizens of the United States and should be nurtured and invested in to preserve and enhance economic prosperity, democracy, and the American spirit; and

WHEREAS, Latinos in the United States, the youngest and fastest growing ethnic community in the nation, continue the tradition of honoring their children on this day, and wish to share this custom with the rest of the Nation; and

WHEREAS, one in four Americans is projected to be of Hispanic descent by the year 2050, currently there are over 10.5 million Latino children, traditional Latino family life centers largely on its children; and

WHEREAS, the primary teachers of family values, morality, and culture are parents and family members, we rely on children to pass on these family values, morals, and culture to future generations, a day to honor the children of the Nation will help affirm the significance of family, education, and community; and

WHEREAS, the children of a nation are the responsibility of all its citizens, and citizens should be encouraged to celebrate the gifts of children to society--their curiosity, laughter, faith, energy, spirit, hopes, and dreams; and

WHEREAS, the designation of a day of special recognition of children of the United States will provide an opportunity to children to reflect on their future, to articulate their dreams and aspirations, and find comfort and security in the support of their family members and communities; and

WHEREAS, the National Latino Children's Institute, serving as a voice for children, has worked with cities throughout the country to declare April 30 as `Dia de los Niños: Celebrating Young Americans'--a day to bring together Latinos and other communities nationwide to celebrate and uplift children.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby designate April 30, 2003, as `Dia de los Niños: Celebrating Young Americans' in Ingham County.

COUNTY SERVICES: Yeas: Celentino, De Leon, Schor, Severino

Nays: None Absent: Holman, Nevin Approved 4/8/03